is not, therefore, wholly
impossible that the negotiation may be resumed, as the King's
object seems to be to set them quarelling between themselves
about the different parts of this arrangement. At all events, I
think your letter cannot but do good, and I will certainly
remain here to deliver it.

Acting strictly on this sound advice, Lord Temple addressed to His
Majesty the following letter, in which he enters at length into the
peculiar obstructions to which he had been exposed through the whole
period of his Administration in Ireland, and unreservedly submits for
His Majesty's consideration the reasons which led to his resignation.

LORD TEMPLE TO THE KING.

Dublin Castle,

March 23rd, 1783, Two o'clock, A.M.

Sire,

I have this moment received from Mr. Grenville the detail of the
conversation, with which your Majesty was pleased to honour him
on the 16th instant. I will not attempt to state the feelings of
gratitude and respect with which I have received the testimonies
of your approbation, and the signal proofs of that
condescension, with which you were graciously pleased to inform
me of the situation of the kingdom at this most alarming crisis.
Every feeling of duty and of inclination call upon me to offer
my situation and opinions to your Majesty's consideration; and,
as I have no official means of conveying them, I trust to your
goodness to excuse what must be a long detail, but truly
interesting to me, as your good opinion must ever be the object
of my eager wishes.

When your Majesty did me the honour to destine me to this high
office, I unaffectedly felt that diffidence, which my
inexperience and scale of talents naturally suggested to me. I
will not say that I was insensible to the hopes of building my
honest fame upon the event of my administration, but I solemnly
protest my principal object was to contribute my small share to
the support of your Majesty's Government, abandoned in a
situation, from various reasons the most critical, upon grounds
which appeared to me upon every principle, public and private,
wholly indefensible. To the natural difficulties of my
undertaking, I had the additional misfortune of not finding
myself peculiarly in those confidential habits with your
Majesty's servants, to which, in such a situation, I should
naturally look