Whitehall, May 16th, 1788.
My dear Brother,
I mentioned to you in my last letter, that Fitzherbert's
conversation had decided me in thinking it better for me to take
the reversion of Lord Clanbrassil's office (supposing it clearly
grantable in reversion), rather than the Mastership of the
Rolls. One reason which weighed with me, was the knowledge of
the arrangement which is to take place the first week in June,
and which I can now explain to you more particularly. The first
move is that of the Admiralty, from which Lord Howe retires,
agreeably to his former intimation. From what I understand from
Pitt, I doubt very much whether it would have been possible to
have prevailed upon him to alter his resolution; but, on the
whole, I think it infinitely better, considering his great
unpopularity both in the Navy and in the House of Commons, that
he should withdraw himself. The last division, and the question
having in consequence of it been entirely dropped, are
circumstances which I think are sufficient to show that he has
not been driven out; and by his retiring, we shall avoid many
other discussions, which would, I am persuaded, have been
brought forward. Pitt's intention is to place his brother at the
head of that department, giving him Sir Charles Middleton and
Hood for assistants; and prevailing with Mulgrave, if possible,
to accept the Comptrollership of the Navy. I have no doubt of
this arrangement being, in general, very acceptable; the great
popularity of Lord Chatham's manners, added to that of his name,
and his near connection with Pitt, are, I think, sufficient to
remove the impression of any objection in the public opinion,
from his being brought forward in the first instance in so
responsible a situation. To those who know him, there can be no
doubt that his abilities are fully equal to the undertaking,
arduous as it is; and to those who do not, Sir Charles
Middleton's name and character will hold out a solution. On the
whole, I am persuaded that this arrangement will not only be the
best that could be made under the present circumstances, but
that it will be a source of real and solid strength to Pitt's
Government, by bringing Lord Chatham forward, and by connecting
the department of the Admiralty with the rest of the
Administration, which has never yet been the case under Pitt's
Government, even in the smallest degree. The opening which
Mulgrave makes, enables Pitt to make Lord Sydney sole Paymaster,
and to give me the Seals of the Home Department. He has shown
much anxiety to bring this part of the arrangement to bear; and
I sometimes flatter myself, that in this part also of his
Government he will be considerably stronger than before.
I have obtained his permission to communicate to you the whole
of this plan immediately after its formation. I think its
execution probable, though not certain. It has as yet not been
communicated even to many of the parties concerned. He is to
begin by his brother, whom he sees to-day, in order to obtain
his final consent, which, from previous conversations, he has no
reason to doubt of. The other persons are to be talked to one by
one, and the whole to be done and declared the day before the
prorogation, in order that my writ may be moved. He thinks Sir
C. M.'s consent quite certain, and Mulgrave's highly probable;
but that part in which I am concerned does not depend on that,
as, even if Mulgrave refuses the Comptrollership, there is
another arrangement, though not one equally desirable, by which
he will vacate the Pay-Office. The only impediment that can be
thrown in my way is from the Duke of Richmond, who has,
certainly, if he is disposed to push it, a prior claim to Lord
Sydney's office; but there is the greatest reason to believe,
that he will prefer to remain where he now is. This will,
however, be ascertained in a few days, when I write to you
again. I think, if all this takes place, it will be a pretty
decisive answer to all the ideas that have been thrown out of
the King's wavering; and in that point of view, independent of
all others, it is extremely desirable. Under these
circumstances, I have no doubt that you will think that I have
done right in eagerly embracing the offer which has been made
me; and, also, that you will be of opinion that the reversion is
much preferable to the office in Ireland, which would, just at
this moment, expose me to much unnecessary odium, besides the
great inconvenience of a journey to Ireland, in a situation
which requires constant residence and attendance.
Ever most affectionately yours,
W. W. G.
A letter from Sir William Young, of the same date, elucidates the
imbroglio still farther, and is especially interesting as an
illustration of that peculiar trait in His Majesty's character--his
intimate knowledge and curiosity about persons--to which attention has
already been drawn. The whole description of the interview with the King
is a good specimen of familiar historical painting.