Pall Mall, March 13th, 1783.
My dear Brother,
I have just received yours of the 7th, and am utterly at a loss
to imagine what Mornington can have stated to you which has
given you apprehensions about the Irish Bill. It has passed the
House of Commons without a single dissentient voice in any one
stage of it, and I know of no considerable opposition likely to
be made to it in the House of Lords, except possibly from the
Chancellor or Lord Loughborough.
In all events, I should hope you would very seriously reconsider
the two ideas which you throw out. That of a precipitate
departure, before the arrival of your successor, would bear so
very strongly the appearance of fretfulnesss and intemperance,
and would be liable to so many ill consequences in Ireland that
might arise, and would all be imputed to you, that I own I
should deprecate it in the most eager manner, especially as I
should think you would most fully acquit yourself, both to your
own character and to the peace of the two kingdoms, by
protesting against such a measure, and by declaring your
intention of remaining only till you could deliver over the
Sword of State to some person authorized to receive it.
With respect to the other, it brings back very strongly to my
mind what I felt and still feel on the subject of Eden's conduct
last year. I cannot think that we are either of us justifiable
in withholding from persons in the King's Government any
information upon the situation of Ireland; but that, on the
contrary, the best mode of enforcing acquiescence in your wishes
as to the Bill, would be by a communication of opinions on the
subject. Such a communication must of course be made with
prudence and caution, always bearing in mind the essential
difference between committing ourselves to a friend and to a
foe. But still, as to facts and leading outlines, I think we
have no choice.
As your letter does not imply any wish of a particular secresy
on the subject (although it is certainly not a thing to be
wantonly proclaimed), I thought it would be a sort of return for
confidential communications which I have transmitted to you, and
a step liable to no objections, to state your intention to Pitt.
Jemmy's opinion agreeing with mine, I took an opportunity in a
few words to say that an intimation had been made to you of a
wish that you should continue, in case the arrangement under the
Duke of Portland should take place, and that you had thought
yourself bound to decline it. (I did not think myself at liberty
to mention the Duke of Portland's letter specifically, as it is
marked _secret_, although the thing itself is well known and
talked of.)
His answer was very much the kind of thing I expected,
expressing his great satisfaction that your ideas on the subject
of the late Opposition and new Government concurred with his,
and at the same time his concern and apprehensions on the
subject of the effect likely to be produced in Ireland by such
an event. I only added, that he would easily see that although
it was a thing which must in a few days be publicly known, still
it ought not to be talked of beforehand.
I have expressed to you in my letter of last night what I feel
upon your goodness to Bernard. To these I am now to add my
acknowledgments of your kind wishes in my behalf. I will not
pretend to say that I am indifferent on the subject, but I can
with the greatest truth and sincerity assure you that I feel
much more pleasure and satisfaction in the affection and love
towards me which produces those wishes, than I could in the
accomplishment of them to their utmost extent. And whilst I
continue to possess that affection, I shall look with much less
anxiety to other objects which are in my estimation of so much
less value.
In these sentiments believe me, my dearest brother,
Ever most affectionately yours,
W.W.G.
Upon reading this over, I find I have said not a word about a
Ministry. Lord North saw the King yesterday, and from him went
to the Duke of Portland; but at twelve o'clock to-day I know
from authority that the latter had not seen the King, and that
no name was fixed for any one department; which is, in a few
words, all that I know.