, as well as to the
public, to leave to your successor his decision as free and open as
your own is now, on points which may be of such infinite importance
to his Government. To have failed in this instance would, I am
sure, much add to the many grounds of regret which will press
themselves upon your mind.

I will say no more on all these points. I have now written you a
dissertation, instead of a few lines, as I had intended, but my
anxiety on the subject has drawn me on. The groundwork of all this
difficulty may, after all, be removed by Taylor's refusal, or by
Pitt's exertions; but I again repeat that I am not sanguine on that
head, and it is certainly more reasonable that we should prepare
our minds for a contrary event.

Believe me ever, my dear brother,
Most affectionately yours,
W. W. G.

Why should you feel yourself offended because particular marks of
favour have been shown to Burrard and Lenox, two most steady, warm,
and deserving friends of ours at all times, and in all
circumstances?

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

April 10th, 1789.
MY DEAR BROTHER,

I have just received your letter of the 7th, and feel myself bound
to answer the question which you put to me as directly and as
explicitly as I am able to do. The business remains hitherto in the
same situation as when I wrote last to you. A further answer has
been received from Major Taylor, in which he still persists in his
former refusal; but by some confusion about dates, it is not
perfectly clear whether this is his final answer to the
notification which had been made to him, that he must renounce his
further expectations from the King if he refuses this. We were
desirous to delay any communication with the King upon the subject,
till it was perfectly clear that the plea of his engagement to
Taylor was removed by the refusal of the latter, because we thought
that, under those circumstances, the representation of what was due
to you would come with greater force. I am, however, obliged to say
that there is a further difficulty, even supposing this of Taylor
to be removed by his refusal. The King has destined _his_ Majority
of Dragoons to Garth, one of his equerries, and has had the folly
and precipitation to communicate this intention