luded to in yesterday's conversation. I should
hope, however, that the appearance of your resolution will put
an end to this scene of procrastination, disgraceful to you and
dangerous to the country; if it does not, I am sure the
resolution itself is most absolutely necessary to vindicate us
to ourselves, as well as to others, from the consequences which
we both foresee.

In the meantime, my dear brother, I cannot close this letter
without expressing to you the extreme pleasure and satisfaction
which I feel when, after having confided so much to my
discretion, you express yourself satisfied that, however
unsuccessful I may have been, the failure of my endeavours to
procure this long-expected answer has not been owing to any want
of zeal or judgment in me, but to those to whom the consequences
are really to be imputed, and who have on that account already
made themselves most deeply responsible both to God and their
country.

Believe me, my dear brother,
Ever most sincerely and affectionately yours,
W. W. G.

D'Ivernois is here, and going over almost immediately to Ireland
with two other _commissaires_.

If any decision should drop from the skies before I receive your
letter to Townshend, I will suppress it entirely.

MR. W. W. GRENVILLE TO LORD TEMPLE.

Pall Mall, Dec. 25th, 1782.

My dear Brother,

All the effect which I hoped for by the official despatch has
been produced by the confidential communication. Townshend has
had this morning a long conversation with Lord Shelburne, the
result of which is a compliance with your wishes. But this will
be done by an official despatch, and not by a Cabinet minute, as
they cannot venture to meet a Cabinet upon it. Still, however, I
think that is sufficient for you--sufficient to authorize you in
present, and to justify you in future. I write this in great
haste, in order if possible to prevent the measure which I
recommended in my last.

Thurlow will probably oppose it in that House. They talk of
altering the bill, _but not materially_. I put the question
explicitly, whether it was to contain a recognition, and was
answered that it should. Townshend asked me whether you would be
likely to pledge yourself that this should satisfy, as he
thought that might possibly be expected. I said it could not be