Oakley, Sunday, August 9th, 1785.
My dear Brother,
Having just heard a most curious piece of news, I take the first
moment of acquainting you with it, though, perhaps, you will
have been informed of it through some other channel. It is no
less than a sudden resolution taken by Wyndham of resigning his
office, in consequence of an inflammatory fever with which he
was seized at Oxford, on his way back to Dublin. Lord
Northington's friends in London have undertaken very kindly to
supply his loss, and have offered his secretaryship to Tom
Pelham, who has accepted, and waits only for the form of being
appointed by Lord Northington to the situation of his
confidential Minister and friend.
Their Irish peers are Clements, Matthew, Jonson, Pomeroy, and
Mr. Hutchinson; together with Deland, Pennant, and Pennington.
The wags say that this is the second voyage to the North Pole,
in which Wyndham has stopped short. I own I think he has used
his principal very ill, and himself not very well. The other's
accepting is not much less extraordinary.
I should not be quite surprised if Lord Northington should
follow his quondam Secretary's example. At any rate, conceive
the confusion in which the country must now be, with the
harvest, the election, and nothing like a Government; the
Secretary not appointed, and the Lord-Lieutenant doing business
_on Thursdays, from twelve till two_.
You see Hussy Burgh is not in the list. Should not you write him
an ostensible letter on the subject?
I shall go to town in a day or two at furthest, and will write
to you from thence.
Adieu, my dear brother,
Ever most affectionately yours,
W. W. G.
1786.
Mr. W. W. Grenville Joins Mr. Pitt's Administration.
While the Marquis of Buckingham abstained from active participation in
public business, he maintained the most friendly relations with Mr.
Pitt, warmly supporting the Minister in all matters upon which his
individual adhesion, advice, and local influence could add strength and
character to his Administration. That he persevered, however, in
cultivating the retirement he had chosen, in preference to throwing
himself personally into the ocean of action, may be inferred from the
following letter, which announces the accession of Mr. Grenville to the
Government as Vice-President of the Committee of Trade.