Whitehall, April 16th, 1789.
MY DEAR BROTHER,
I came to town yesterday with Mr. Pitt, and found your letter of
the 11th, and this morning I received yours of the 12th. I was much
mortified that I was not able to write to you yesterday evening,
as I had intended to do, first by the post, and afterwards by a
messenger. But different circumstances arose, which made it
impossible. I could have wished to have answered your letter at
length, in order to state to you everything that occurs to me upon
it; but I cannot now do this without unnecessarily delaying the
messenger, and I wish to lose no time in letting you know the exact
state of the business, as it now stands. Taylor has accepted, which
considerably increases the difficulty of making a point with the
King to undo what he has done for him. But another solution has now
offered itself, on which I cannot help feeling rather sanguine. We
have just heard of the death of General Mackay: Pitt is now writing
to the King, to represent the propriety of making any arrangement,
which this event may give rise to, subservient to the purpose of
removing this difficulty, and to desire to see the King, in order
to converse with him upon that point. The King will probably
appoint to-morrow; but as Pitt may not be back till late, I thought
it better to send off this messenger, as my letter is now a day
later than I meant to have written, and I can easily judge of your
impatience to hear from me on this subject.
Lodge Morres will be instantly dismissed, with such a letter as you
mention.
You shall hear from me again to-morrow, or Saturday, at latest. I
hope you have not taken any step on the receipt of our letters of
Sunday; but if any letter of formal resignation comes from you, I
should feel myself justified, under these circumstances, to stop
it.
In answer to your questions about Pitt, I beg you to believe that,
however warm and sincere my friendship is for him, yet that it
would not stand one moment in the way, if I thought him acting
dishonourably or unfairly by you. I may, to-morrow, have time to
write more at large on that subject; but, in the meantime, let me
assure you that I am the grossest dupe in the world if that is the
case. I am impatient to hear the result of Monday.
Ever most affectionately yours,
W. W. G.