Hertford Street, July 19th, 1797.
MY DEAR LORD,
I assure you that I felt no difficulty or delicacy whatever in
communicating your letter to Mr. Pitt as soon as I received it, and
I flatter myself that throughout the whole of the arrangement
relative to India I have never been found deficient in any mark of
regard for my old friend Hobart's interest or honour. Mr. Pitt
authorized me to inform you that he would very soon write both to
you and to Lord Hobart; and to that letter, whenever you receive
it, I must refer you for the detail of facts on which Mr. Pitt is
more competent to afford explanation than I. I must however
declare, in justice both to Pitt and Dundas, that I see nothing in
the conduct of either to justify the least suspicion of any other
than the most cordial sentiments of good-will towards Hobart. I
have said the same thing to Mr. Sullivan, whom you will probably
see, and stated the grounds of my opinion at large. Mr. Pitt does
not appear to admit that Lord Hobart's interests ever have been or
can be made matter of negotiation. He says he has acted in the
whole transaction, and will continue to act, conformably to his
sense of public duty, and his unaltered feelings of friendship for
Lord Hobart, to whom he will not fail to give a full statement of
all his conduct. I believe Mr. Dundas's view of the subject to be
nearly the same; but not being at liberty to communicate your
letter to him, I have not been enabled to enter so fully with him
into the discussion of its contents. However, I can inform you that
his favourable intentions towards Lord Hobart remain precisely the
same.
Mr. Sullivan will immediately communicate in person with Mr. Dundas
on all the points of this business, and you will learn the result
from him.
Nothing but the continual hurry and interruptions to which I am at
present exposed could justify my having delayed so long the
acknowledgment of your kind letter. Pray, my dear Lord, accept my
cordial thanks for the many marks of friendship which it contains.
I do not expect to sail before September, and you may be assured
that I will make it my business to see you before my departure.
Ever, my dear Lord,
Yours most sincerely and affectionately,
MORNINGTON.
The remaining letters of the year refer at intervals to the events in
progress on the continent; events which occupy so large and prominent a
space in history, as to render any detailed allusion to them
unnecessary.