Thursday, Dec. 12th, 1786.
My dear Brother,
You do not say a word in your letter of Apsley and his deer.
Sir William Bowyers' man has declined the clerkship for himself,
and has no son old enough for it. I have a very handsome letter
from Mulgrave, leaving the Wardrobe Keeper to my disposal. On
inquiry, it appears to be worth at least £100 per annum, besides
apartments in Chelsea, and coals and candles. But residence is
absolutely necessary.
You will therefore judge what to do with it; but the Clerk's
place must be filled up without further delay. I have allowed
the widow of the Wardrobe Keeper to remain in the office till
March; but if you decide on the man, I can, in order to prevent
accidents, appoint him now to take possession in March. I
mention this the rather as I fear that, to my great sorrow, I am
going to have a new colleague, which I will explain to you in
ten days, by which time I hope to be at Stowe. It gives me very
real concern, because it is impossible for any man to have
behaved in a more gentleman-like and friendly manner than
Mulgrave has done on every occasion; and I fear his successor
will have _a clan_ upon him, but that is not settled.
You know my _principal_ object: should I press to have it opened
for me now? If I did, I believe it would be done; but I am so
much pleased with my present situation, that I am unwilling to
quit it so soon, especially as every year removes difficulties
in the way of the other. Yet, perhaps, it is not prudent to let
opportunities pass by one. On the other hand, I shall, I am
confident, be able in the next session, by the help of my
present situation, to put myself much more forward in the House
than I have hitherto done, which appears to me a great object to
attain, previous to accepting of what after all, I fear, will
wear the appearance of putting myself _hors de combat_.
I am not in the same mind about it for any ten minutes together.
Pray write something to me by the return of the post.
I am much grieved to hear so unpleasant an account of Lady
Buckingham, but earnestly hope that what she goes through will
be confined to suffering only, and that you will not be
disappointed in an object so interesting to you both.
Nothing is yet known of law enactments, nor is it by any means
certain that Lord Mansfield resigns during his life, which is,
however, in all probability, no very long period.
Fawcitt will have the red riband with another person, who will
surprise you.
What should you think of an arrangement to be settled now, and
to take place at the opening of the session of 1788? The worst
is, it would be known, which would be unpleasant to me in a
thousand ways. I never had a point to decide which puzzled me so
much. That very circumstance will probably make me pass it, as
if I take any step, I must do it within a day or two at
furthest. Pray write to me.
Ever most affectionately yours,
W. W. G.
If it is done in the manner I last mentioned, you must
understand that it will be irrevocably fixed, as a positive
engagement will be taken for my present office to be given at
that time; so that if I alter my mind in 1788, I shall be an
independent country gentleman.