Wimbledon, Sept. 14th, 1789.
MY DEAR BROTHER,
I received your letter of the 6th respecting your resignation, and
your subsequent letters of the 10th and 11th. You are too much
aware of the extreme difficulty of finding persons willing and
qualified to undertake the office which you are quitting, not to
expect some little delay before we can say anything to you
respecting the choice itself, or the mode or exact period of your
resignation; though I certainly agree with you, that, if you have
entirely abandoned the idea of returning, the formal notification
of that intention ought not to be long delayed. It certainly would
have been a satisfaction to me, both on public and private grounds,
if the state of your health would have admitted of your completing
your triumph even more decidedly than you have already done, though
I trust that is sufficient.
The finding a proper person to replace you is, indeed, no easy
task; because, although I am entirely of your opinion, that by
proper management, the situation of English Government in Ireland
is secure; yet, on the other hand, I cannot but feel how very
little mismanagement would throw us back again, and how much more
the crisis seems to demand, than is, I fear, to be found in any of
the persons who may probably be to look to that situation. It will
certainly be my wish on many accounts, that the change of the
Lord-Lieutenant should not affect Hobart's situation.
I have not yet seen him, as I have not been in town for this last
week; but if he is come, I suppose I shall either to-day or
to-morrow.
The question about Lord Loftus can, I think, end no otherwise than
as Hobart proposes. I shall, however, not say or write anything on
the subject to the King till I have seen Hobart. I have no
difficulty in conversing with him quite freely about his own
situation, as when I saw him in town last, I told him very fairly
what my wishes would be in the event of your quitting the
Government; but, at the same time, told him as fairly, that nothing
could be decisively fixed on that subject till your successor was
appointed, and his wishes consulted.
I enclose you a letter from Lord Clonmel, which was transmitted to
me with one which I also send you a copy of. I shall merely write
an answer acknowledging the receipt, and saying, that agreeably to
his desire, I have transmitted it to you.
I heartily wish, that the distance of Teignmouth was not such as to
put all idea of our meeting there entirely out of the question;
especially as Nepean's being ill makes it still more impossible for
me to leave this neighbourhood.
We have no sort of news. The French Assembly is going on with
endless disputes about their Constitution; but one ought to be much
more interested than I feel myself in the event of these disputes,
not to be heartily tired of hearing of them. The main point appears
quite secure, that they will not for many years be in a situation
to molest the invaluable peace which we now enjoy.
Ever most affectionately yours,
W. W. G.
P.S.--I had almost forgot to mention, that on hearing of the
contest for Cornwall, and being informed that no time was to be
lost, I took upon me to desire Camplin to write to Dale to exert
himself in favour of Gregor, our candidate, having every reason to
believe that you would have no other wish on the subject, than that
of helping to keep out an enemy.