Whitehall, May 12th, 1788.
My dear Brother,
I have just seen Fitzherbert, and have had some conversation
with him about the Mastership of the Rolls. We were interrupted;
but he said enough to convince me, that it is clearly better
that I should take the reversion of Lord Clanbrassil's office,
leaving the Rolls for such present arrangement as you can make
of it. Besides what he mentioned, I have an additional reason,
which I did not state to him; but which had nearly decided me
before I saw him. It is, that I believe the arrangement which I
mentioned to you at Stowe, and which you so clearly thought the
most desirable that could occur for me, is now so nearly
settled, that it is very unlikely that anything should prevent
its taking place before the prorogation of Parliament, which
must be in about three weeks, or a month, at furthest. I think
you will clearly understand what I mean, when I refer to our
conversation in the flower-garden at Stowe, and to the
particular sense which I have always entertained of your
kindness on that occasion. Fitzherbert, however, tells me, that
he sends off the messenger on Thursday, when I will write to you
more explicitly on this subject, and on the other arrangements
connected with it, which, however, are still in great measure
undecided; but the thing itself I now consider as almost
certain. It would be an unpardonable affectation in me,
especially when writing to you, to whom I have been accustomed
to think aloud, if I were to attempt to disguise from you, that
the prospect is, in the highest degree, pleasing to me, as
holding out to me a situation, though far above my pretensions,
yet so circumstanced as to give me hopes of filling it without
discredit. I know how much you will share my satisfaction, and
have, therefore, no difficulty in expressing it to you. It is
not a little heightened, by comparing it with what I mentioned
to you as having been since proposed to me, and what I was so
near being compelled to accept. There is, however, still one
contingency, which may prevent this from taking place: I think
it not a probable one. I am obliged to write a little in the
Sphinx style, but on Thursday I will speak more openly. I could
not, however, resist the desire of taking the first moment to
tell you, generally, the situation of this business.
We had the account yesterday of the _lit de justice_, which was
held at Versailles the day after the King had besieged his
Parliament at Paris. He has taken from all the different
Parliaments throughout the kingdom the power and function of
registering edicts, and has created, or (as the "Arrêt" says)
_renewed_ a _Cour plénière_ for that purpose. This _Cour
plénière_ is to consist of the _grande chambre_ of the
Parliament of Paris, with the addition of the Princes and Peers,
of one member to be named from each of the other Parliaments,
and of the person filling great offices (Charges de la
Couronne). These will make, in all, about one hundred and eight
persons, if the calculation, I saw, is right. They are all to be
named by the King; but all to hold their situations for life.
All edicts are to be registered by them for the whole kingdom.
This expedient may give a present relief; but it seems a most
dangerous experiment to concentre so much power of resistance in
one body of men appointed for life.
There had been no tumult whatever at Paris on this occasion.
Some difficulty was expected in the provinces, particularly at
Rouen and Rennes; but nothing was known of what had passed
there. I do not recollect that I have any other news for you.
Ever most affectionately yours,
W. W. G.
The next letter touches upon the reversion, and enters into a detail of
the contemplated changes in the Administration consequent upon the
retirement of Lord Howe.