June 21st.
I have been waiting day after day, and have not got my answer
till a few hours ago. I am sorry to have kept you so long, but
you see it was impossible to avoid it. A report prevails that
Bougainville is arrived at St. Domingo with two ships, as
likewise are the four that were at Curaçao. They add that Rodney
had been obliged to burn three of his captured ships. La Motthe
Peguet has twice had orders to sail from Brest with his seven
ships, and as often been recalled. They expect Guichen soon with
the fleet from Cadiz of thirty-two ships: they are said to have
sailed on the 4th.
Pray tell Sheridan to be more cautious in what he writes by the
post. If I had time I should give him a lecture; but I want to
send away the messenger.
Adieu. Oswald affects to consider me now as fully authorized,
but I believe expects different news as soon as the Independence
Bill is passed; but I cannot help thinking you had better leave
him where he is, for his going away will mend nothing. I have
bought your wine.
Ever very affectionately yours,
T.G.
* * * * *
Within a few days after this letter reached England, the Rockingham
Administration had ceased to exist. The Marquis of Rockingham, whose
health had been declining for some time, died on the 1st of July, and
was succeeded in his title by his nephew, the Earl Fitzwilliam, who is
alluded to in these letters by Mr. Thomas Grenville. The first
intimation of this event conveyed to the Plenipotentiary at Paris was in
a letter from his brother, Lord Temple. The circumstances that
immediately followed are detailed in the letters of Lord Temple and Mr.
Sheridan, written on the same day, and in a letter from Mr. Fox on the
day following. The apprehension expressed by Lord Temple that Fox's
resignation would be ascribed by the public to a mean contest for
offices was not unfounded; although such a motive cannot be believed to
have influenced the mind of that statesman, the conviction of what he
felt to be his duty on this occasion being shared by Mr. Sheridan, Mr.
Burke, Lord John Cavendish, Lord Althorpe and others, who instantly
followed his example. The King's undisguised predilection for Lord
Shelburne arose from the nearer agreement of their opinions on the
American question, than existed between His Majesty and the Rockingham
section of the Cabinet, who were for an unconditional recognition of the
independence of America--a proceeding regarded by His Majesty with
aversion. The rapidity with which the changes were adopted furnished a
sufficient reason for Fox's determination not to act under Lord
Shelburne, that nobleman having accepted the appointment to the Treasury
immediately on the death of Lord Rockingham, without consultation with
his colleagues, and Lord Grantham being appointed in the same
unceremonious way to the secretaryship vacated by his Lordship. A
remarkable contradiction will be observed in the language held on this
occasion by Lord Shelburne, who is reported by Lord Temple to have
stated that he looked naturally to the Treasury, and knew no reason why
he should forego it, while to Sheridan he declared that he entered upon
the office against his wish.