seems very sour and crusty, and certainly does
not like Pitt, but I cannot believe he will do otherwise than right
on this momentous occasion.

* * * * *

We sat yesterday till eight, in the Lords, and thought Lord Camden
imprudent in touching upon what had passed in the Commons the day
before, as it gave the Opposition an excuse for being violent; it,
however, had one good effect, that the Chancellor opened enough of
his sentiments to show that he means to stand by his colleagues.
His speech was not long, but one of the finest I ever heard, and
made so strong an impression, that we gave him a merry "Hear,
hear," which you know is not very frequent in the House of Lords. I
think we shall carry the question of restrictions very powerfully
in the Lords, as I hear of no rats but the Duke of Queensbury, the
Duke of St. Albans, and Lord Rodney. In the Commons, a great deal
will depend on the state of the King's health at the time the
question comes on, and on the previous activity of Pitt and his two
secretaries, in talking a little to dubious friends, which they
have not time nor inclination to do, notwithstanding so much
depends upon it.

Adieu, my dear Lord. Our joint and kindest love and remembrance
attend you both.

Yours ever, &c.

Pray order your secretary to send me word of the number and income
of the tide-waiters' offices which you can spare me, as I have
dependants enough if they are as highly paid in Ireland as in
England. In the meantime I give you the name of John Thomas, for
one of them. Did you ever promote one Alexander Gammach,
tide-waiter at Belfast? Pray do before you quit Ireland.

MR. W. W. GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Whitehall, Dec. 11th, 1788.
MY DEAR BROTHER,

You will, no doubt, be as much surprised as I was, to find that the
notion of the Prince of Wales's _right_ was brought forward
yesterday by Fox in the House of Commons. It was a matter of no
less astonishment to many of his own friends, who were by no means
prepared for the assertion of such a doctrine. One should lose
oneself in conjecture, by attempting to find out what motive can
have induced him to take exactly the most unpopular ground on which
their side of the question can be rested. I was not in the