Dublin Castle, May 6th, 1783.
My dear Lord,
My former letter will have sufficiently stated to you my full
determination that my private feelings should not prevent me
from showing to you every personal regard, which is so much your
due. My line was long since adopted; and standing upon public
grounds, I could not yield to the honourable testimonies which I
have received, much less to any solicitations from the King's
servants, _if any such had been made_. But for particular
reasons I desire to assure you that, neither directly or
indirectly, have I received, since the hour of their
appointment, any such intimation, or any solicitation to
continue in this Government till after your appointment. For
_that_ attention I should thank them, as I should not have
conceived that they could entertain any real wish that I should
act with people with whom I did not agree in general principles.
But my complaint is, that the kingdom has materially suffered by
this delay; that it still suffers; and that this consideration
will not permit me to remain, independently of the
considerations of a personal nature, which I strongly feel.
Under these circumstances, I must strongly press upon your
convenience. I feel it, and, with truth, I regret it, as a real
misfortune; for, from private friendship, I would do everything
which could mark my regard; but you will see, upon your arrival,
that I have not exaggerated the difficulties of the country
under such an interregnum. I accept your expressions of esteem,
as I should, with every wish to return them by real services. I
think that I have the means of assisting you by information, and
you may command me; but I must be relieved before the 25th of
May, for reasons which involve my public character and credit;
and when I fix that period, I assure you, my dear Lord, that I
sacrifice much of my private feelings to a desire of
accommodating you. In truth, I wish to you every success in your
undertaking; and I feel a most unpleasant difficulty in the
present moment, from my private sensations with respect to you,
and the other principles, public and private, which make me
appear to fail in attention to you. This is my only uneasiness.
But at all events, let me continue to stand well in your
regards. As to every article of domestic accommodation, much
time might be spared if you would commission our friend Baugh,
or send your steward to Ireland. In all this, do as you will;
but be assured that
I am, my dear Lord,
Your very faithful and obedient servant,
(Signed) Nugent Temple.
P.S.--When I fix the 25th of May, I allow one month from the day
of the notification of your acceptance--a time, I confess,
short; but, in truth, I was prepared within that period. At all
events, though I mean to urge that day in my despatches to
Government, all that I am anxious about is to be relieved before
the 4th of June, as you will see particular reasons of delicacy
for my not holding that Court. And when you recollect that from
the 17th of February the Government of Ireland has been nearly
at a stand, you will see the necessity of it in a public point
of view; and be assured, that personal impatience or want of
regard to you has no share in the resolution which I have taken
not to be in Ireland upon that day.
Your Lordship will derive little advantage from the
communication of my ideas on the subject of Parliament, as the
Cabinet, by their prorogation, have decided that arduous
question; but be assured, that I have every inclination to show
to you every attention of that nature; although I must think
that the conduct of the Cabinet has acquitted me of every _duty_
of communication.
I have added this postscript, having kept my letter one day,
expecting Mr. Grenville. I must now close it, with every
expression of regard and esteem.