Pall Mall, March 24th, 1783.
My dear Brother,
Since I wrote last, things have again taken a different turn;
though I am not sufficiently informed of the particulars of what
has passed to say any more than that the King has insisted upon
seeing the list of inferior arrangements, which having been
declined (obviously from a want of agreement upon the subject),
the King wrote a note to the Duke of Portland, which was very
decently handed about at Brookes's last night, to say that he
would trouble him no further on the subject.
To-day the prevalent report during the whole morning, was, that
Pitt had accepted; but when Coke put the question to Pitt in the
House of Commons, previous to making his motion, the latter said
that he knew of no Administration being formed.
Coke then made his motion, which I enclose to you, as nearly as
I can recollect it. Very little opposition was made to it, and
it passed without a division, though not without a good deal of
conversation on the part of Fox, Lord North, and Pitt. Nothing,
however, material passed beyond the old ground of coalition and
non-coalition. Pitt's speech was inimitable. McDonald made a
speech which was not very pleasant, supposing that Pitt should
join the Gowers, as it turned entirely upon an avowal of all his
old principles, which he charged Lord North with having
abandoned, &c., &c.
I am utterly at a loss as to forming any conjecture, but my
wishes are very strong that the King would suffer the new allies
to make their arrangements, and try their strength. Adieu.
My dear brother,
Ever most affectionately yours,
W. W. G.
T. Pitt's daughter is either dying or actually dead, which
prevented his attendance. I pity them exceedingly, for no people
dote more on their children.