St. James's Square, Nov. 7th, 1789.
MY DEAR BROTHER,
I am persuaded it is unnecessary for me to say how sincerely sorry
I am to be obliged to acquaint you that the King's answer to Pitt's
letter of yesterday is such as to give, I am afraid, very little
hope indeed of success in the business to which it relates. The
King says, however, in it, that in compliance with Pitt's request
he defers giving a final answer till he sees him on Wednesday, so
that we cannot consider the subject as closed till then; but I
fairly own to you that I think there is now very little ground for
expecting a favourable result. The King does not enter into the
subject at all in his answer, but only refers to what has formerly
passed upon it.
I heartily wish that I was the channel of more pleasing
intelligence, and this the more, because though I certainly do not
see this point exactly in the light in which you seemed to consider
it when we conversed upon it, yet the success of it would have
afforded me real satisfaction, independent even of the
gratification of your wishes.
Believe me ever, my dear brother,
Most affectionately yours,
W. W. G.