Pall Mall, Jan. 2nd, 1783.
My dear Brother,
After the many changes and delays which have occurred in the
course of this business, I think I may at last congratulate you,
and what is infinitely more, the two kingdoms, on its being
brought to such an issue as you desire.
I told you in my last despatch that Townshend seemed to me much
alarmed lest he should have gone too far in his letter to you,
and that at the same time I had assured him that you would not
think he went far enough, as the whole question turned upon the
point of recognition, which was very distantly alluded to in his
letter. When I saw him yesterday, his alarms appeared to be
increased. This morning, however, he told me that he had been
with Conway, who understood his authority to be quite sufficient
for what he had done, and with Lord Shelburne, who said that it
was a damned thing, and that he wished Lord Temple would have
stood it, but that it could not be helped, and that he
(Townshend) must therefore think over with the Crown lawyers
such a preamble as should recognize in future, without any
retrospect whatever. To this point Townshend said he thought
your Bill went; and therefore he told me he was to send it down
in that shape in which you sent it (excepting the omission of
the words _of right_ in the two places where they occur) to Lord
Camden for his opinion. I then mentioned what I had hinted to
him before in the way of resolutions, which might, I thought, be
so drawn as to preclude the idea of retrospect. He wished to see
the form I had adopted; upon which I gave him, as coming from
myself only, the enclosed paper, which you will see differs a
little from that which I sent you before. Both these he sent to
Lord Camden, with a letter, desiring that he and myself might
see him to-morrow morning for his ideas on the subject. You will
observe that _he_ is from principle warm for Irish claims; and
therefore I think it not a bad quarter to begin with.
I flatter myself you will approve of my reason for withholding
your despatch No. 16, as the word _courts_, without _of law_,
which we have scratched out, certainly includes the Peers; and
nothing would have been so agreeable to Lords T. and S. as a
point of form which they need not have mentioned till towards
the conclusion of the business, and so might completely have
gained their darling object--time.
Still, however, I thought much of that letter--too important to
be lost--and therefore threw it together into the enclosed
paper, which I sent to Townshend the night before last, together
with a copy of such parts of his despatches as authorized you to
pledge the faith of Government, _he having asked me for them,
not for himself_.
While I was still in a state of suspense, your letter and
despatch of the 29th reached me. I thought it best to keep the
latter till this morning, when, I need hardly say, I did not
deliver it, though I thought proper to read it to Townshend, in
order, as I told him, that he might be perfectly acquainted with
your feelings on the occasion, and might see I had not
exaggerated them. You will remember that your next despatch is
numbered 16. If it comes before you receive this, I will alter
it. To-morrow you shall know the result of Lord Camden's
conversation, upon which much I think depends; though after what
has now passed, I have no idea of the possibility of their
drawing back again, even if they were so inclined.
Brooke's business, Jemmy tells me, passed the Treasury
yesterday.
You will have had an answer, such as it is, about the Duke of L.
and Hussey Burgh.
With regard to Perry, I have written to you already fully on the
subject.
I have talked once or twice about Portugal; but they want
exceedingly to be quickened, _là-dessus_.
Townshend desires to make you an apology through me, and will do
it himself when he writes, for the delay. From him no apology
whatever is necessary. Adieu.
My dear brother,
Ever yours,
W. W. G.
When I pressed Lord Shelburne about Hussey Burgh, he said he
thought there would be no objection to promising him that he
should be made as soon as any one. I stated this to Townshend
this morning, who is to speak to the King about it again
to-morrow.
About this time another subject was engaging the earnest attention of
Lord Temple--the foundation (already alluded to) of an Order of
Knighthood in Ireland. Several letters relating to the details of the
institution, and the claims of different noblemen to be admitted into
it, passed between Mr. Grenville and his brother. The following is
selected as a specimen:--