Whitehall, Jan. 19th, 1789.
MY DEAR BROTHER,
Since I wrote my other letter of this date, I have received yours
of the 15th, stating your alarm at the lies spread in Ireland about
the proceedings of the Committee of the House of Commons. You will,
long before this, have received the report itself from me, and by
reading it, will have found how much more favourable the account of
the King's situation appears from that examination, and how much
you are in the wrong to suffer your noble spirit to be cast down by
such weak inventions of the enemy; and above all, how monstrous the
idea is that Fox is to gain with the public by a transaction which
only shows their inveterate malice against the King and Queen, and
its utter impotence. Your expressions of duper and duped, you will
see are equally inapplicable to our representations of the King's
situation, which I think you will still believe to be as authentic
and as credible as the lies which Grattan and Forbes retail from
the porter's lodge at Carlton or Burlington House. Seriously
speaking, I am vexed to see the importance which you attach to all
these reports, because I know that it must work and agitate your
mind. A whole life would not suffice, on my part, to answer every
lie in circulation: but I beg you to believe that although,
perhaps, naturally a little sanguine in my temper, yet that if
there was any really unfavourable circumstance which arose here, I
would not conceal it from you. The King is better ever since that
examination; and this I speak on no partial authority, but on the
information of Warren himself, who gave yesterday to the person who
repeated it to me a much more favourable account.
I have not time to answer the rest of your letter to-day. Our Bill
is not prepared yet, nor can be till the resolutions have been
agreed to by both Houses; but it will be short, and nearly in the
same words with the resolutions, adding only the oath of office
from the Regency Bill of 1765, and a few other particulars.
Ever yours,
W. W. G.