to hold out ideas which but a few years ago would indeed have
appeared visionary, and which there is now every hope of realizing.

The next letter refers to a matter of personal interest. A Rangership
had fallen vacant by the death of Lord Orford, and it appeared desirable
to Lord Grenville to effect an exchange between that office and the
reversion he held of the Chief Remembrancership in Ireland. Upon all
questions of this nature, as indeed on all questions that directly
affected himself and his own objects, Lord Grenville was always
reluctant to decide until he had first consulted Lord Buckingham, in
whose judgment and affection he reposed unbounded confidence.

LORD GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

St. James's Square, Dec. 7th, 1791.
MY DEAR BROTHER,

I mentioned to you last week, that there was a subject I wished to
talk with you about; but as my getting down to Stowe seems to grow
every day more and more uncertain, and as the subject in question
is now brought to a point, I am obliged to write to you upon it;
though I cannot so easily say all I wish upon it in this manner. It
is, shortly, to ask your advice whether, in consequence of Lord
Orford's death, I should not exchange my reversion of Lord Cl.'s
office, for the immediate appointment to the Rangership, which I
apprehend it is clearly in the King's power to grant for life. The
different reasons, _pro_ and _con_, will as readily suggest
themselves to you as to me. The great points to be gained by the
exchange are, first, the certainty of some provision, instead of an
expectancy, which I may never live to enjoy; and what is still more
than that, the great advantage of having that provision in this
country, instead of looking for it in Ireland, subject to the
chance of what injustice party may be able to do in Ireland, which
they could not do here, and subject, also, to the general chance of
troubles in that country, which I fear are too probable. Against
this, is to be set some difference (as I believe) in the value of
the two offices, though I have not yet been able to ascertain it;
and the degree of invidiousness and clamour which my receiving any
new favour (for such this would undoubtedly be considered) would be
subject to, especially at a moment when Government are rather under
difficulties, and when I must ex