Whitehall, May 9th, 1783.
My Lord,
Your Excellency may be assured that it is not the wish of His
Majesty's servants on this side of the water to detain your
Excellency in Ireland a moment longer than the time that will be
necessary for your Excellency's successor so to arrange his
business here, as to be able to relieve your Excellency in your
Government.
Since the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 29th of
last month, I have shown to the Earl of Northington all your
letters respecting your earnest desire of quitting your present
situation without delay, and received yesterday from his
Lordship the letter which accompanies this packet. I have reason
to believe that his Lordship is endeavouring to get himself
ready for his departure, with all possible diligence. His letter
will best explain to your Excellency when he expects to set out
for Dublin.
Your Excellency, in one part of your letter, seems hurt, that
mine of the 24th of last month did not convey, in terms
sufficiently explicit, a communication of His Majesty's gracious
acceptance and approbation of your Excellency's services. Your
Excellency certainly may infer, not only from that letter, but
from the whole tenor of my correspondence, that your
Administration of Ireland is approved by His Majesty; and having
substantially conveyed the royal sentiments on that subject, I
hope that I shall stand excused by your Excellency, if I should
not have used any particular form of words, though it might have
been more proper on the occasion, and more agreeable to your
Excellency's wishes.
I have the honour to be, with the greatest truth and respect, My Lord,
Your Excellency's most obedient humble servant,
North.
Earl Temple, Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland.