st, we shall feel ourselves
considerably embarrassed. I put the idea of a _bona fide_
junction, as I have already said, wholly out of the question,
being persuaded that the thing is impossible, and that our
opponents will never seriously intend it. Their proposals, if
any are made, will, I am convinced, have no other object than
that perhaps of satisfying the Prince of Wales, if your
information respecting him is well grounded, and of lessening
the odium of Pitt's removal in the eyes of the public, and
holding him out as a haughty and impracticable character.
Against this he must defend himself as well as he can, but the
whole will, I am persuaded, be nothing more than a match at
fencing; and the guard which I mentioned to you before, of
insisting on his present situation, seems as good a one as any
other. I have delivered to him your letter, and shown him that
which you wrote to me. He has desired me to say that he will, if
possible, write a few words to you by this messenger, but if he
should find that quite impossible, without delaying him, he has
begged me to express how strongly he feels your kind and
affectionate conduct towards him.

His popularity was never greater than in the present moment, and
if the Prince should be so ill-advised as to dismiss him, it is
probable that the current will run at least as strongly in his
favour as it did in his father's.

I have written you a dissertation rather than a letter, but I
know the desire which you must feel to be as fully informed as
possible, not only of facts, but also of opinions and
intentions. I need not mention to you how confidential every
part of this letter is, but particularly that part which
respects our intentions as to the settlement of a Regency;
because we conceive it of the utmost importance, though these
and many other ideas are floating in the public, to keep our
enemies as ignorant as we can of our real intentions in this
respect.

Of the different questions which you have stated respecting
Ireland, in the case of a demise, you will certainly be much
better able to judge than I am; but I cannot help wishing you to
look into the Act of Settlement in Queen Anne's time, and to
consider whether that does not provide for the continuance of
Irish officers, civil and military, as well as English.