Whitehall, April 29th, 1788.
My dear Brother,
I have just received your letter of the 25th. You will have
observed by my last letter, that I have not delivered the
recommendation, but that I called upon Lord Sydney with your
private letter, in order to mention the circumstance to him, and
to desire him to say nothing of it till he heard again from me.
He behaved with great kindness to me, and assured me he would do
in this business exactly what I wished. My own ideas at present
incline to taking the Rolls for life: if any other solution
should offer while you are in Ireland, it will be always equally
possible to arrange it; and if not, I think the question of the
legality will bear at least a great deal of argument. My own
opinion rather is, that I could support such a patent against
anybody. But at all events it will be a much more difficult
undertaking to remove me, and one less likely to enter into the
mind of our adversaries, than if the grant expressly gave the
office only during pleasure. I can lose nothing by taking it for
life, even if such a grant is bad, because that will at least be
equal to a tenure during pleasure; and if it is good, as I think
precedents, and even the true construction of the Act will make
it, I have attained the object which your friendship is anxious
to secure to me. You will observe that the argument of vacating
by non-residence does not apply to a grant for life, _with
exception of the ministration of justice_; but to a grant,
_quamdiu se bene gesserit_, under the statute which enables the
King to grant _judicial_ offices in that form. The latter would
clearly be forfeited by non-residence, and I strongly think that
the former is good in law.
I mention this, because you appear to feel considerable
difficulties in any exchange, and I am unquestionably very
anxious that an arrangement in which I fear you must, at all
events, sacrifice a good deal to my objects, may be attended
with as little additional inconvenience to you as possible.
Our friends are sanguine as to the event of Bastard's motion,
which is to come on to day. As this opinion is the result of a
personal canvass, I hope it is tolerably founded; but I am not
enough acquainted with the particulars to give any opinion of my
own upon it. Only I think I see amongst our friends a sort of
feeling of our situation, and some revival of that zeal which
has been so grievously wanted of late. Against this there is to
be set a very general impression of the badness of the question,
which is certainly in itself not a strong one on our side, and
is made less so in appearance by the necessity we are under of
declining all personal discussions, in order to adhere to our
principle, of the impropriety of such points being debated in
Parliament. I am, however, told that there are a few of Fox's
party who do not like the question, and will not vote against
us. Plumer is mentioned in particular, and there are, I believe,
two or three others. It is a dreadful thing for the general
strength of Government, to have these sort of doubtful days
recurring so often. I am inclined to think that the event will
be that Lord H. will now remain longer than he before proposed,
in order that he may not appear to be driven out by clamour, &c.
Sir G. Yonge is to have the red riband, which is comical enough.
I will take particular care of what you mention about
Fitzherbert; was he desirous of the riband? if he was, I should
think we might manage it on another opportunity; though, if I
was in his situation, I should certainly think myself better
without it. Trevor is to have the other, and to go immediately
to St. Petersburgh. Lord Harrington was to have gone there, but
thought he could not unless with the _rank_ of ambassador, which
was impossible. Lord Dalrymple goes to Turin, and Ewart is to be
appointed to Berlin. Lord Mansfield has resigned. Kenyon is to
take his seat the first day of next Term, but not to be created
a peer at present, in order to break the practice, which was
beginning to grow into a sort of right. I imagine, however, that
the state of the House of Lords will make it necessary to have
him there next year. McDonald is to be Attorney-General; Arden,
Master of the Rolls; Scott, Solicitor; and Bearcroft, Chief
Justice of Chester.
The impeachment is going on so slowly, that I see no prospect
even of the accusation being concluded this year. They talk of
sitting only to the Birthday; and, indeed, after that they would
find it impossible to procure an attendance, either of Lords or
Commons. Our business will certainly be over by that time. The
Budget comes on next Monday, and will be a glorious one; as not
only the current service of the year, but the extra expenses,
both of the Prince of Wales and of the armament, will be
provided for by the exceeding of revenue.
The 'Rusbridge' has brought an account from Madras as late as
the 9th of January. An answer had been received from Tippoo to
Sir A. Campbell's letter. It disclaims all idea of hostility;
and a friendly correspondence had passed between them since; so
that this storm is blown over, at least for the present; and in
the meanwhile we are acquiring more strength every day. It is
impossible to speak in terms of sufficient admiration of Lord
Cornwallis's conduct. I have not yet seen any finance papers
from this last ship; but I make no doubt of their turning out
well, from the general expressions of prosperity, &c., in his
private letters.
I send you over a case given to me by the Duke of Athol, who has
particularly desired my attention to the subject. He is to bring
it forward this year. Can you tell me where I can find any of my
father's papers upon it?
I have got the cypher, which answers perfectly. I keep it, in
order to have another made from it. I shall be anxious to hear
of your little girl's doing well.
Ever most affectionately yours,
W. W. G.