Whitehall, Feb. 7th, 1789.
MY DEAR BROTHER,
I do not know of anything that has happened here since I wrote
last, which is worth mentioning to you. Our Bill is to be in the
Committee to-day, and Monday, so that I guess we shall not get it
into the House of Lords till Wednesday or Thursday. This will put
off the passing a little beyond my calculation, and I imagine the
Regent will not now be in full possession of his office till about
the 19th or 20th. I wait with much impatience to hear what has
passed on Thursday in the Irish Parliament. I find that people
here, those at least with whom I converse, are indifferent about
the success of the measure in Ireland, but are much exasperated at
the madness and folly of the people who are endeavouring to stir
fresh questions of separation between the two countries.
The accounts of the King still continue to be very favourable, but
I have not heard what degree of hope Willis grounds on this long
period of tranquillity. I should think that the breaking out in the
neck must be a favourable circumstance, but I begin to think the
time long if he still continues without real amendment of the
complaint itself. This, however, arises more from one's natural
impatience than from any reasonable ground which there is to think
worse of the case from this circumstance.
One hears of nothing now but of the intended arrangements. Among
these, the military is not the least curious part. His Royal
Highness the Duke of York is to be Commander-in-chief; Fitzpatrick,
Secretary at War; and there are to be four Field-Marshals;
consisting of the Regent himself, of the Dukes of York and
Gloucester, and General Conway. These Field-Marshals--of whom three
never saw a shot fired, and the fourth of whom has not served for
six-and-twenty years, except in the very peaceful situation of
Commander-in-chief in England for a few months at the end of the
war--make a pretty curious promotion. Faucitt is to continue,
notwithstanding a positive promise of the Duke of Portland's to
General Vaughan, for the sake of securing his vote and his
brother's. They are to make all the Colonels Major-Generals, down
to Lord Rawdon. The list of the Prince's aides-de-camp you will
have seen in the papers.
Lord Spencer is declared for Ireland.
The accounts from Bath say that Fox is better, and will recover.
The town and neighbourhood of Buckingham have voted an unanimous
Address to Pitt, without any of us knowing a word about it. It is
signed by near two hundred persons, as Jemmy tells me, for I have
not seen it.
I am living in hourly fear of having a meeting called in the
county, which would be a troublesome and useless thing, though, I
understand, the sense of the yeomanry is entirely with us. I hear
nothing of their intentions in case of a dissolution, but much
doubt, from what I hear, whether they will think of doing more than
ousting Aubrey, which they may do very peaceably; for by what I
hear, he would not have ten votes.
I have, at length, decided not to think of the Bolton Street house,
at least for the present year, as the repairs necessary to make it
habitable amount to so large a sum. Perhaps, if I was to be
re-elected after a dissolution it might be worth my while; but that
is, as you will easily suppose, a very doubtful contingency. Is it
not a singular thing that it should be doubtful at all, and that
there should be any chance of beating them in the new Parliament on
such a question as that?
Ever most affectionately yours,
W. W. G.
I open this letter again, to let you know that I have just received
an account of Sir Thomas Halifax's death, which happened this
morning. This circumstance is not a little perplexing to me,
especially in Bernard's absence. I have sent an express to Chaplin
to desire him to come to town to-morrow, and I shall then hear what
he says. The thing to be wished is, that we could secure Bernard's
election, now and hereafter, without much increase of expense; but
on that whole subject I am very much at sea, and there cannot be
time to hear from you and him upon it. Perhaps Chaplin may think it
better that we should now propose some other person, who might be
supported by Lord Chesterfield's interest, and not appear so
decidedly connected with us as Bernard is. We had a scheme for a
candidate of that sort at the general election, and Lord C. was
inclined to give into it. At all events, I think it is absolutely
necessary that Bernard should come over instantly, as his presence
is equally necessary, either as a candidate or in order to get a
repetition of the promises which this intervening election might
otherwise be construed to annul.
I have heard, since I wrote the preceding part of this letter, that
the Chancellor has been at Pitt's to-day, with an account that he
had seen Warren this morning, who had spoken to him in a very
favourable manner of the King's present state, and had even said
that he thought the amendment so material, that he had felt it his
duty, immediately on coming to town, to wait upon His Royal
Highness with the account. So there is a little bane for your rats.
Ever yours,
W. W. G.