Whitehall, August 10th, 1786.
My dear Brother,
I said nothing to you in my last about going to Court, because,
as everybody in town had gone on Friday, I did not think it
material for you to come up, considering your distance; and I
was unwilling to advise your putting yourself to any
inconvenience of that sort, which did not appear to be
absolutely necessary.
But yesterday's levée was fuller than Friday's, and crowded with
all sorts of people, particularly the Opposition, who came from
all quarters of the kingdom. This being the case, I cannot help
thinking that you would do right to come up for the next levée,
which is Friday next; the King keeping the Duke of York's
birthday on Wednesday, at Windsor. I mentioned the subject
to-day to Pitt, who seemed to think it very desirable that you
should do this, as a mark of attention, in return for the many
civilities which we have lately received from that quarter. As
several places have addressed on the occasion, I think if you
would bring up an address from the loyal corporation of
Buckingham, it would be a sort of apology for your absence
hitherto.
The Committee of Trade is to be declared that day in council.
Lord Hawkesbury is to kiss hands as President, and your humble
servant as Vice-President. Lord Hawkesbury also kisses hands for
the Duchy, and Lord Clarendon for the Post-Office, in the room
of Lord Tankerville, who goes out upon a sort of quarrel between
him and Lord Cartaret. Mornington kisses hands to-morrow for the
Treasury.
I believe these are all the arrangements that will now be made.
The seat on the Bench is not yet disposed of, and from what I
judged by the Chancellor's looks the other day, when I saw him
at council, I very much fear that a more extensive law
arrangement will soon be necessary. Lord Mansfield is also said
to be worse again.
Adieu, my dear brother,
Believe me ever most sincerely and affectionately yours,
W. W. G.
That the weight of Lord Buckingham's opinions was strongly felt in the
nomination of Mr. Grenville and others to office, is abundantly
testified by a letter of the same date, in which Lord Mornington
ascribes to the favourable recommendations of the Marquis his seat at
the Treasury.