ve to you about them. But I think it right to mention to you
the state of the business, in order that you may know exactly how
it stands. An unexpected difficulty has arisen where we least
looked for it, on the part of Lord Hawkesbury, who has declined
exchanging the Duchy for the Mint, although he has been distinctly
told that the Cabinet is to be given him with the latter, and not
with the former. Whether he is playing any game in this we are
unable to discover, but such is the answer which he has given,
after having taken time to consider of it. This, as you see, at
once stops the whole business _in limine_, unless some solution can
be found for the difficulty; and I must confess I do not now see
what solution there is for it. It was not till two days ago that
this great man gave his answer, and therefore it is still, I think,
by no means impossible that his stomach may come down when he sees
Pitt determined to abide by this as a condition of the other, which
there is indeed no temptation to grant him without it. On the whole
it may be only a piece of magnificence, in order to give to his
admission to the Cabinet the appearance of a favour done by him,
instead of one received. But of all this you are as well able to
judge as ourselves, and none of us have anything to go upon but
conjecture. A few days may probably enable us to form a better
judgment, and for that we must wait.

It is, I am sure, unnecessary for me to say how much this
unexpected difficulty has hurt both Pitt and myself. I am racking
my brains to find a remedy for it, and shall be truly happy if any
such should occur either to you or to us.

The accounts of our dear Catherine are now such as I hope to put
all idea of present danger out of the question; but it has been a
most alarming attack, and I fear is only the earnest of much
suffering and frequent illness from the same cause, the existence
of which seems now to be but too clearly ascertained.

Everybody in London has been ill. I have not escaped my usual cold,
but am now getting well. I rejoice in the satisfactory account
which the Bulkeleys give of you.

Ever, my dear brother,
Most affectionately yours,
G.

They have suddenly stirred in Ireland a question about spirits,
beer, &c., which they seem to und