Pall Mall, March 12th, 1783.
My dear Brother,
Before you receive this, which is intended to go by the post,
you will most probably have received a messenger from me with
the particulars of the new arrangement which is going on. Lest
any delay should arise, I just write by this conveyance to let
you know that the King has this day again seen Lord North, and
acquainted him that he was content to waive his objection to the
Duke of Portland's being at the head of the Treasury and that he
desired that a scheme of a Ministry might be submitted to him on
that idea. From him Lord North went to the Duke of Portland;
what has been the result I know not.
I am sure you will excuse me if I own to you that I do not quite
like your letter to the Duke of Portland, a copy of which I
received from you last night. My objection to it is, that it
seems to court too much, what I understand it will produce, a
second application upon the subject. I subscribe much too
heartily to your reasons to imagine, and still less to wish,
that this application may be successful; on the contrary, I own
I should have desired that room had not been given for it, which
I think is rather too much the case. In other respects I like
the letter perfectly.
I cannot close this without expressing to you what I feel upon
the reception this night of a letter from Bernard, informing me
of your goodness to him, and full of gratitude and
acknowledgments to you upon the subject; it has most truly
relieved my mind from what has been a burthen upon it.
Adieu, my dearest brother,
Believe me ever most affectionately yours,
W. W. G.