distinct line of policy. There were yet many old wounds
to be healed, many differences of opinion to be reconciled, and much
personal asperity to be soothed, before Fox and Lord North could satisfy
the claims and resentments of their adherents, and combine in the
formation of a Government. We learn also from this letter, that the King
was strenuous in his support of Lord Shelburne (which had been obvious
enough all throughout), and that he had now prevailed upon him, as he
had before done with Lord North, to persevere in the face of the
desperate phalanx that was arrayed against him. Government trusted to
the divisions which were understood to be agitating the new Opposition,
and which it was hoped would ultimately lead to its dissolution.

MR. W. W. GRENVILLE TO LORD TEMPLE.

Pall Mall, Feb. 19th, 1783.

My dear Brother,

I wrote to you yesterday morning by a messenger, in order that
you might receive the earliest information of the event of our
decision. I was then infinitely too much harassed by the fatigue
and want of sleep to attempt entering into the detail of the
debate, being indeed scarcely able to hold my pen at all. You
will since have seen it at length in the papers. I therefore say
nothing upon that subject.

I have since at several different times sat down to write to you
fully upon the situation of things here, and upon your letter of
the 11th, which I received last night. But I find it so
difficult to offer any reasonable conjecture upon the probable
event, and things have taken so different a turn from that which
you supposed, and on which you argue, that I have thought it
better to confine myself to the following facts (being all I
know) on the authenticity of which you may depend. From them you
will yourself collect the different circumstances which may
occur, upon which you will be [enabled] to form a decision very
material to your future character, honour, and happiness. If any
of these should take place before I hear from you again, you may
depend on the earliest notice which I can give you.

In the first place, Lord Shelburne never has made any offer
whatever to Lord North.

Secondly, the coalition between Lord North and Fox is very far
from being formed; so far indeed, that _I know_ they have
differed, not only on loaves and fishes, but on the subject of
high and responsi