Pall Mall, Feb. 28th, 1783.
My dear Brother,
I have been, for these last five days, in the most anxious
expectation of being able to write to you something certain
about the situation of things here. Still, however, they remain
in the same unsettled state. The invincible repugnance continues
to operate in the strongest manner; it is avowed, and was
certainly the cause of the late offer, which has been declined;
notwithstanding the promises of support from many of those who
have voted with Lord North till now, and who are disgusted
either at his union with Fox, or his conduct to the King.
To-day, the prevalent report was that you had been sent for.
This I know to be otherwise, in present, though I think it not
unlikely to happen; as I know the King's wish--at all events to
exclude Fox and North, and particularly the first. If it should
be so, lights will undoubtedly be given you which I cannot
furnish, to which will of course be added every light which it
is in my power to procure. At present I rather believe, and from
no bad authority, that the idea is, Lord Gower at the Treasury,
Jenkinson, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Townshend to manage
the House of Commons, Pitt resigning. But the whole, even from
the best information, is but a scene of conjecture. In the
meantime, the situation of the country cannot be described. The
Government is broke up just at the moment when a Government was
most wanted. Our internal regulations, our loan, our commerce,
our army, everything is at a stand, while the candidates for
office are arranging their pretensions: in the meantime, we have
no money, and our troops and seamen are in mutiny.
One thing, however, is worth your attention: a Bill is to be
brought in on Monday to open our ports to American ships,
putting them, in all respects, on the footing of natural-born
subjects; which regulation is to continue, till it is known that
they refuse to do the like by us. How can this be done in
Ireland without a Parliament?
I cannot apply, for I have nobody to apply to, about your
Peerages. Adieu, my dear brother. One thing is worse than bad
Government, viz.: the having no Government at all.
Ever yours,
W. W. G.
I still retain my wish of _bringing_ over the third reading, as
I can be of no use in the House of Lords; although I believe
with you, that the disposition to oppose does exist.
All parties were desirous of strengthening themselves by an alliance
with Lord Temple. The coalition sought to engage him even before they
were themselves in a position to treat; and there seems to be no doubt
that, at this juncture, when every succeeding hour brought new incidents
and unforeseen difficulties, a movement was going on for placing him at
the head of the Government. Mr. Astle, writing to his Lordship on the
1st of March, says: "It is the opinion of men of different parties that
a majority in Parliament would act with your Lordship if you was at the
head of the Treasury. From what I have collected in the course of this
day, I agree entirely in this opinion. Some who have voted with Lord
North would draw with you." How far this contemplated escape from the
embarrassments that impeded the coalition might have been matured into a
practical shape had Lord Temple been in London, we can only infer from
the general confidence which was reposed in his ability, high character
and personal weight; but his distance from the scene of action precluded
the possibility of carrying the project into effect, even had he been
disposed to accept the position, which may be reasonably doubted. Events
pressed impatiently for a solution, and the activity of the hybrid
Opposition admitted of no delay. At the very moment when Mr. Astle was
hastily writing off to Lord Temple to apprize him that there existed
this desire to invite him to undertake the construction of a Cabinet,
General Cuninghame was dispatching another letter, to inform him that a
new Administration was actually in course of formation, of which he
could then give him no further particulars, than that Lord Rawdon was to
be called to the Upper House, and Townshend to be created a peer. In the
evening of the same day this piece of intelligence takes a more definite
and authentic form.