Pall Mall, Dec. 25th, 1782.
My dear Brother,
All the effect which I hoped for by the official despatch has
been produced by the confidential communication. Townshend has
had this morning a long conversation with Lord Shelburne, the
result of which is a compliance with your wishes. But this will
be done by an official despatch, and not by a Cabinet minute, as
they cannot venture to meet a Cabinet upon it. Still, however, I
think that is sufficient for you--sufficient to authorize you in
present, and to justify you in future. I write this in great
haste, in order if possible to prevent the measure which I
recommended in my last.
Thurlow will probably oppose it in that House. They talk of
altering the bill, _but not materially_. I put the question
explicitly, whether it was to contain a recognition, and was
answered that it should. Townshend asked me whether you would be
likely to pledge yourself that this should satisfy, as he
thought that might possibly be expected. I said it could not be
expected that you should _pledge_ yourself for madmen, but that
you certainly _hoped_. He then said that it would take a day or
two to prepare and send in circulation the despatch, and hoped
this would make no material difference. I said certainly not, if
I was allowed to state this conversation to you. To this he
agreed. Then I mentioned the dissolution. He said that you
seemed to agree that this would take effect much better with the
news of a peace, and that (he might tell me confidentially) this
must be decided within three days, unless something very
unforeseen happens.
On this idea I wait here a few days longer, and then shall bring
your despatches with me, and go back if you think it right.
I think the event shows how much more strongly your
determination operated, as I said it would, than all the
reasoning possible.
Believe me ever,
My dear brother,
Most sincerely and affectionately yours,
W. W. G.
The "Order" referred to in the following letter is the Order of the
Knights of St. Patrick, instituted in Ireland, under the Viceroyalty of
Lord Temple, on the 5th of February, 1783.