St. James's Square, Dec. 7th, 1791.
MY DEAR BROTHER,
I mentioned to you last week, that there was a subject I wished to
talk with you about; but as my getting down to Stowe seems to grow
every day more and more uncertain, and as the subject in question
is now brought to a point, I am obliged to write to you upon it;
though I cannot so easily say all I wish upon it in this manner. It
is, shortly, to ask your advice whether, in consequence of Lord
Orford's death, I should not exchange my reversion of Lord Cl.'s
office, for the immediate appointment to the Rangership, which I
apprehend it is clearly in the King's power to grant for life. The
different reasons, _pro_ and _con_, will as readily suggest
themselves to you as to me. The great points to be gained by the
exchange are, first, the certainty of some provision, instead of an
expectancy, which I may never live to enjoy; and what is still more
than that, the great advantage of having that provision in this
country, instead of looking for it in Ireland, subject to the
chance of what injustice party may be able to do in Ireland, which
they could not do here, and subject, also, to the general chance of
troubles in that country, which I fear are too probable. Against
this, is to be set some difference (as I believe) in the value of
the two offices, though I have not yet been able to ascertain it;
and the degree of invidiousness and clamour which my receiving any
new favour (for such this would undoubtedly be considered) would be
subject to, especially at a moment when Government are rather under
difficulties, and when I must expect so many competitors, for a
thing in many respects so desirable.
The impression of my own mind is, I confess, very strongly for
taking the step. Pitt is entirely ready to acquiesce in what I
judge best, though I can see he is, to a certain degree, alarmed at
the impression it may make. The thing has been generally opened to
the King as a possible arrangement, in order to prevent his
entering into any other engagements. I cannot describe the real
kindness of manner and expression with which he assured me of his
readiness to do in it whatever I wished. It rests, therefore, with
myself to decide; and although I have, as you see, a strong bias in
favour of the step, I do not feel confident enough of my own
opinion not to be very desirous of knowing yours. I fairly own to
you, that if I was _in the same situation_ as I was a year and a
half ago, I should be inclined to let this go by me, and to run my
chance for some better opportunity. But I certainly feel that after
the conduct which Lord C. has observed towards me on the subject of
money, I am (even as with respect to him) hardly as much at liberty
as I was to consult my own feelings, supposing that it were
possible for me to put out of the question another consideration a
good deal more interesting to me.
If the thing is to be done, "then 'twere well it were done
quickly," in order to prevent applications from different people,
every one of whom might feel, to a degree, offended by the
preference, if his wishes were known. You will conceive, therefore,
for this reason, and from the anxiety of the suspense, how glad I
shall be to hear from you soon, as your affection is the only
quarter to which I can look for advice, founded on a view and
knowledge of my real situation. I hinted the thing generally to Tom
before he left town, but the unfortunate difference of politics
makes it impossible for me to talk over with him freely and fully
that part of the subject, which is a material one. He is getting
well very rapidly.
I have heard from Lord C. from Rome. He gives a very good account
of the health of the whole party. He had received letters from his
son and Mudge, which he tells me are all he could wish. He desires
to be remembered to you.
Adieu, my dear brother,
Ever most affectionately yours,
G.
1792.
MR. PITT'S BUDGET--THE STATE OF IRELAND--THE KING DISMISSES LORD
THURLOW--DISCONTENTS IN ENGLAND--FRENCH EMIGRANTS--RETREAT OF THE DUKE
OF BRUNSWICK--MEASURES OF INTERNAL DEFENCE--THE FRENCH CONVENTION
DECLARES WAR AGAINST ENGLAND AND HOLLAND.
Notwithstanding the vast expenditure to which the country had been
recently exposed, the Budget, at the opening of Parliament in 1792, more
than realized the anticipations of Lord Grenville. The statement laid
before the House of Commons by Mr. Pitt was a complete answer to the
apprehensions of the timid, and the taunts of the Opposition. There was
a clear surplus of L900,000 in the month of January, after paying the
interest of the National Debt, the annual million devoted to its
extinction, the Civil List, the naval and military establishments, and
all other items of current outlay. Upon this basis of unexampled
prosperity the Minister proposed to remit a large amount of taxation,
and to apply a further sum towards the extinction of the National Debt.
He did not regard this surplus as a temporary or transient incident,
but as the genuine and natural result of regular and permanent causes.
In the existing state of the continent, it was impossible to calculate
with certainty upon the future, and Mr. Pitt, even in this solid
condition of the national finances, was careful not to indulge in hopes
of too sanguine a character, which a sudden turn of events, beyond the
control of English influence, might frustrate and disappoint. His
language was explicit as to his confidence in the present, but guarded
as to his views of the future. "On the continuance of our present
prosperity," he observed, "it is indeed impossible to count with
certainty; but unquestionably, there never was a time when, from the
situation of Europe, we might more reasonably expect a durable peace
than at the present moment." The subsequent course of European politics,
unfortunately, did not bear out this expectation; but at the moment when
it was uttered, the lull that had set in on the continent, and the
flourishing state of our own trade and commerce, abundantly justified
the statement of the Minister. Some additional reliance on the stability
of our prospects might also have been drawn from the fact that the
destinies of England were never in abler hands than those to whom they
were confided in 1792, with Mr. Pitt at the Treasury and Lord Grenville
at the Foreign Office.
Parliament met on the 31st of January. The Speech from the Throne
announced the conclusion of the treaty between Austria and the Ottoman
Porte, and the agreement to preliminaries between the latter and Russia.
The maintenance of peace was regarded, under the circumstances, as so
certain that His Majesty was induced to recommend for the consideration
of Parliament an immediate reduction of the naval and military
establishments. The following letters, written before the opening of
Parliament, touch slightly on these affairs.