hich would only give me about L1,000 per annum in the
very situation in which I do not want it. The arrangement with
Hutchinson, or almost any other, appears to me infinitely
preferable. On the whole, however, I leave it for your
determination; but I think, unless any fresh inconvenience from
the delay, beyond what I now see, occurs to my mind, that I
shall postpone taking any step in it till I have your answer to
my former letter.

As to the state of things here, I know not well what to write. I
have very little expectation of our not being beat whenever the
Navy Promotion is again brought in question; and what the
consequence of such a defeat is to be, I profess not to be
prophet enough to foretel. I do not think that people in general
are aware of the extent and importance of the blow; but it will
not the less have its full effect when it comes. You will not
wonder, therefore, that I look forward with no very pleasing
reflections to it, and that even that circumstance should make
me particularly anxious that the present opportunity may be the
means of securing to me something more permanent than any
Government in this country seems likely to be.

Adieu, my dear brother,
Ever most affectionately yours,
W. W. G.

You will have seen Sir G. Howard's speech, and will hear much
nonsensical speculation upon it. We have no suspicions of that
nature.

MR. W. W. GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Whitehall, April 29th, 1788.

My dear Brother,

I have just received your letter of the 25th. You will have
observed by my last letter, that I have not delivered the
recommendation, but that I called upon Lord Sydney with your
private letter, in order to mention the circumstance to him, and
to desire him to say nothing of it till he heard again from me.
He behaved with great kindness to me, and assured me he would do
in this business exactly what I wished. My own ideas at present
incline to taking the Rolls for life: if any other solution
should offer while you are in Ireland, it will be always equally
possible to arrange it; and if not, I think the question of the
legality will bear at least a great deal of argument. My own
opinion rather is, that I could support such a patent against
anybody. But at all events it will be a much more difficult
under