e
most influential men, who had previously voted with the Opposition,
passed over to the Ministerial benches, including Burke and Wyndham, and
the Lords Portland, Spencer, Fitzwilliam, Loughborough, and many other
peers and commoners. Lord Loughborough, who had so often run in couples
with Thurlow, was now appointed to succeed him on the Woolsack; and
Ministers, acquiring augmented strength from all quarters, addressed
themselves vigorously to the task of preparation.

The letters of this year are scanty, but not unimportant, in their
references to passing events. Taken in connection with the history of
the period, which is too familiar to require any further elucidation,
they will be found to throw a new light upon some points of contemporary
interest.

LORD GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Whitehall, Jan. 19th, 1793.
MY DEAREST BROTHER,

It is at length settled that Lord Loughborough shall take the Seals
on Wednesday. He has written a long letter to the Duke of Portland,
which has not been answered. It is as yet very difficult to say
what proportion of the _ci-devant_ Opposition will follow Lord
Loughborough's example, and join Government avowedly, but I am
inclined to hope a pretty large one. The Prince of Wales has also
written to the Duke of Portland, and sent a message to us,
declaring his intention to join Government. I have not seen the
letter, but _my informant_, to whom it was shown yesterday morning
by the Duke of York, told me it was proper and explicit.

424 against the referring the judgment to the Assemblees Primaires,
283 for it.

The first question, of guilty, decided almost unanimously; the
third, that punishment should be inflicted, was deferred to the
10th.

Brissot's report, which you will see in the French papers, seems
well enough calculated for our purpose. The thing must now come to
its point in a few days; and we shall, I trust, have appeared to
the public here to have put the French completely _dans leur tort_.

Ever most affectionately yours,
G.

LORD GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Whitehall, June 12th, 1793.
MY DEAREST BROTHER,

In consequence of what you requested in the conversation we had at
Dropmore, I write to mention to you that the vacant Ribands are
to-day to be given to Lord Salisbury, Lord Westmoreland, and