this Government; that the line is perfectly easy to be defined
to every man's understanding, though not reduced to a written
rule, and the limits easily seen, where the King's
recommendations cease to be the casual exertions of private
favour, and begin to be systematic interferences with the power
entrusted to his servants. Ask yourself which is the case in
this instance.

I could say much more upon this subject--particularly to state
the effect which a resignation on these grounds would have--but
I am satisfied, from the tenour of your last letter, that this
is a step you will not adopt, except on more pressing grounds.

I have not time to add anything more to this letter--not even
those assurances (which are, however, I trust, unnecessary) of
my constant, sincere, and zealous affection and interest in
whatever concerns you. You shall hear again from me at latest by
to-morrow's post.

Ever yours,
W. W. G.

MR. PITT TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Downing Street, July 3rd, 1788.

My dear Lord,

Nothing could happen to give me more pain than I have felt from
the contents of your letter of the 27th, and from the
circumstance which gave occasion to it. I trust, however, that
on full consideration you will see that there was, in some
respects, less ground than you imagined for the feelings under
which you wrote, and that what I have to mention to you will do
away every idea of your going to the extremity you mention;
which you must forgive my saying that the occasion can never
justify, either towards the public or yourself. It is most
certainly true that the general practice has been, and ought to
be, to wait for the Lord-Lieutenant's recommendation to vacant
commissions, and I undoubtedly understood that the King's wishes
respecting Colonel Gwynne were to be privately intimated to you,
so as to give you the opportunity of officially recommending
them.

I cannot, however, find that the general rule is founded in
anything but practice, or that there is any such promise as you
suppose in the instructions--that the King will wait for the
Lord-Lieutenant's recommendation to military commissions. There
is a clause containing a promise of this nature, but it refers
only to _ecclesiastical_ and _civil_ offices; and from the
manner in which commiss