Whitehall, June 12th, 1793.
MY DEAREST BROTHER,
In consequence of what you requested in the conversation we had at
Dropmore, I write to mention to you that the vacant Ribands are
to-day to be given to Lord Salisbury, Lord Westmoreland, and Lord
Carlisle. I did not learn this yesterday till it was too late to
write to you. With respect to what you mentioned to me of your own
intentions, you know too well what my opinion is, and how anxiously
I am impressed with that opinion, to make me feel it right to urge
you with what could only be a repetition of all I have already
stated. But I wish to make it my earnest request to you that you
will not take any actual step till you have seen Pitt. I have not
told him anything of your idea of taking any measure on this
occasion but I have stated to him in general terms the uneasiness
you still seemed to feel on the subject of the former request, and
the possibility that this impression might be strengthened,
supposing Lord Camden's death to produce that sort of arrangement
to which you had so handsomely consented, but which might,
nevertheless, bring the other idea more forward in your mind.
His plan was (if he had not been hindered by the gout) to have run
down to Somersetshire for a week, at the close of the business in
the House of Commons, and to have been back before he could almost
be known to be gone. He had then intended to take Winchester in his
way. I have not seen him for several days, and cannot therefore say
whether this idea still holds, but at all events there could be no
difficulty in your coming to town for a day or two for that
purpose.
I urge this because I know you may fully rely upon his friendship,
and that even if he should not be able to alter the thing itself,
which I am sure I know not how he can, it is still, in my opinion,
very desirable that you should not take so marked a step without
hearing the advice of those who love you best, supposing even that
after all you should not be influenced by their reasoning upon it.
I say nothing about myself in all this, because I am sure you
believe me truly sensible of your constant and unvaried affection
to me, and unwilling to intrude upon you repetitions which I must
fear would be useless. But you will not attribute it to
indifference or unconcern about the thing itself, which, God knows,
are sentiments the reverse of what I feel upon it.
We have no news of any material event at the army. The siege was to
be opened on Monday, and they seem to entertain very sanguine ideas
indeed as to its speedy success. I have some doubt whether the
report from Paris, respecting Marat's new revolution, is to be
credited, though all the late accounts from thence seemed to
indicate an approaching crisis. I have a confused account from the
Hague, of the Duke of Brunswick having gained a decisive advantage
over the army that was Custine's. But it is not distinct enough to
place much reliance upon it.
Mudge is returned by the way of China with despatches from
Vancouver. I have not yet seen them, but I understand, generally,
that some difficulty arose about the restitution of Northa. It is
not, however, of a nature to create any real embarrassment. He has
brought a letter for poor Lady Camelford from her son, whom he
tells me he left in great health and spirits. We have not opened
it, but wait till Lord C. comes, which I hope will be about the end
of this month at latest. From what he says, Vancouver's expedition
is likely to continue so much longer, that I think of proposing to
Lady C. that her son should return by the first opportunity, in
order to go into some larger ship, which at his age now will
clearly be desirable. He will have served his time before he can
hear from Europe. Juan de Fuca's inlet is explored, and found to be
closed with high lands.
Ever most affectionately yours,
G.