Pall Mall, Dec. 28th, 1782.
My dear Brother,
As, in consequence of your letter of the 25th, I mean to stay
over the 21st of January, I write immediately to explain to you
what I referred to in my last about the Order. It is not of any
very great importance; but as I then expected to have seen you
in a few days, I thought I should be able to explain it better
by word of mouth.
It relates to the difficulty of reconciling the business of the
Commoners who have been talked of for it, with the King's strong
approbation of your only having proposed sixteen, and his very
great disinclination, which Townshend has repeatedly expressed
to me, to increase the number even to eighteen or twenty. I
suppose you mean sixteen _exclusive_ of the Sovereign and Grand
Master. I apprehend Conolly, Ponsonby, O'Neill, and Daly to have
been talked of. The difficulty is greater, because I understand
that the two first have more than once refused peerages. This,
however, you will arrange as you think best. The King was
pleased with the motto, _Quis separabit?_ To this would apply
very well the Collar which Hawkins told me had been thought of,
of trefoils and roses alternate. Townshend will write, or has
wrote, to you for a plan, which plan is meant to include Badges,
and all other playthings belonging to it. You'll break Percy's
heart if you settle it all without him. Pray oblige me, as a
herald, so far as to appoint a genealogist, and to make the
Knights deliver in pedigrees three descents back at least: that
is the number in the Garter Statutes, which I send to you. The
Thistle and Bath have both genealogists--the last must be an
arduous office. I do not apprehend that the names are meant to
be sent as part of the plan, nor indeed can you do that yet. Do
you offer one to the _Nolo Privy Councillari_, or do you draw
the line of none but Privy Councillors?
I called the other day on the Archbishop of Cashel, and was told
that he was gone for Ireland; but I'll know in a day or two.
Adieu.
Ever yours,
W. W. G.
The King seems to expect to get two Red Ribands by it--Lord A.
and Lord B. Query the latter.