The ill health of Mr. Rigby, who held the appointment of Master of the
Rolls in Ireland, rendering it probable that a vacancy would shortly
occur in that office, the friends of Mr. Grenville proposed that it
should be given to him, and that he should hold it as a sinecure--a mode
of reward for public services which was in accordance with the practice
of the period. There were some difficulties, however, attending it,
which did not escape the penetration of Mr. Grenville. In the first
place, it had become a matter of discussion whether the successor of Mr.
Rigby should not be required to perform the duties of the office in
person, instead of being permitted to discharge them, as heretofore, by
deputy; in which event, Mr. Grenville would have declined the situation.
The second point upon which he hesitated referred to the permanency of
the office. Some doubt arose on the construction of the statutes as to
whether a life patent of the office would hold good; and the
apprehension that a future Administration might have it in their power
to raise the question, weighed strongly with Mr. Grenville, who
discusses the subject minutely in his letters to Lord Buckingham. But
there was a third consideration of still greater importance. Several
changes were in contemplation in the Ministry. Lord Howe, who was at the
head of the Admiralty, had latterly rendered himself extremely
unpopular, and signified his intention of resigning, and was only
restrained from doing so at once on the representations of Mr. Pitt, who
wished to take advantage of the circumstance for the purpose of
effecting other alterations in the composition of the Government.
Amongst the suggestions arising out of these proposed movements, Lord
Buckingham and Mr. Grenville were severally named for the Admiralty; but
neither of them were disposed to accept it. Lord Buckingham preferred
the position he held in Ireland, and Mr. Grenville held back, having
looked for some time to the Seals of the Home Department, for which he
had been assiduously qualifying himself, his ambition being constantly
urged in that direction by Lord Buckingham. The letter in which he opens
all these plans to his brother is affecting in its appeal to those
feelings of implicit trust and attachment which existed so warmly
between these distinguished men.