Whitehall, Jan. 19th, 1789.
MY DEAR BROTHER,
I was so knocked up on Saturday, that I found it impossible to
write to you; though there is one circumstance, which, if I had
been acquainted with, would have prevailed over all fatigue--I mean
that of Captain Nugent's having voted against us upon the second
division. The question has not been distinctly stated in any of the
papers, as far as I have seen. It was a proposal of Fox's, that
the restrictions, particularly that of peerage, should continue
only for a limited time; by which means, we should have been placed
in this sort of situation, that if, at the expiration of that term,
the King should be so far recovered, as to afford hopes even of an
almost immediate recovery, the Regent would be able, by a sudden
creation of Peers, to make it impossible for him to resume his
authority.
Nugent had voted with us upon the first question; but was, I
suppose, led away by some part of Fox's speech, which had the
effect of carrying over Bankes and about six or seven more of our
_conscientious_ friends. I think it right to mention this
circumstance to you, though not with any view of suggesting what
you may think it right to do. I shall, I own, be much mortified if
he should vote against us on Monday; but nothing that you can do
will be in time enough to prevent that. I do not feel that I can
take any measures on the subject, although I certainly have no
doubt what your wishes would have been if you were on the spot.
I find, from general report, that some of our friends are staggered
about the household resolution, which is to be proposed on Monday.
It is, therefore, probable, that we shall not carry this by so
triumphant a majority as we have the other questions. I think,
however, there is little doubt that we shall carry it; and that is
the point of real importance.
I shall be anxious to hear the event of your meeting. You will have
observed that, by Lord Sydney's despatch, a latitude is given you
of proroguing, in stating the opinion of the King's servants on the
different points. I thought, when the despatch was shown to me,
that this was a favourable circumstance, as, from your letters, it
seemed to me at that time very doubtful whether you would not have
adopted that measure; and, in that case, I felt that you would
certainly have been glad to have this sort of sanction.
Believe me ever most affectionately yours,
W. W. G.
The Duke of Leinster has, as I suppose you know, written to the
Prince of Wales, to offer himself to him. The consequence has been,
that Lord Charles Fitzgerald has declared, that he does not
consider himself in a situation to be turned over from party to
party every half-year; and that he has hoisted an Orange cape. He
will, as I understand, not go over to Ireland at the meeting; and I
take it for granted, that in case of a dissolution the Duke will
not re-elect him.