Pall Mall, Feb. 8th, 1783.
My dear Brother,
Lord Nugent tells me that when he saw the Primate, he observed
to him that, by the list of officers of the Order, there was no
mention made of any prelate, although in other respects the
Garter was implicitly followed; and he says he thought, by the
Primate's manner, that he himself wanted to be that prelate; as
that officer is, you know, superior in rank to the Chancellor of
the Order.
If this be the case, I can see no reason why the offer should
not be made to him, which might still be done by your writing to
say that that office had been omitted, from the impossibility of
giving it to any other person but himself, and a doubt how far
he might like the trouble; but that you had daily expected him
in Ireland, and meant to ask him the question; but the time now
drawing near, &c., &c.
Nothing else has passed on the subject, except a third
application from Lord Clermont, through General Cuninghame, to
whom I stated the total impossibility, &c. I expected Lord
Bellamont to have asked it to-day; but he did not drop a word
upon the subject.
Ever yours,
W. W. G.