In the case of a Regency, my idea is that as soon as the King's
illness is communicated to Parliament here, which will not be
till after the adjournment, directions should be given to the
Lord-Lieutenant and Council of Ireland to assemble the two
Houses by special summons; and that our Bill, whatever it is,
should be communicated to them in a speech from the
Lord-Lieutenant, and should be passed _verbatim_ in the Irish
Parliament. Some opinions here seem to doubt the necessity of
this; there has, however, been very little discussion upon it.

You will easily see the impossibility of doing anything about
your commissions, which must share the fate of many others in
England. I much fear that Tompkins's office at Chelsea will
stand in this predicament. The form is, that a recommendation
goes from this office to the Secretary of State, who takes the
King's pleasure upon it. The first step has been taken, but the
latter has been impossible. If my successor is a gentleman, he
will confirm the appointment; but the chances are so much
against that, that I almost despair.

Adieu, my dear brother.
Believe me ever most affectionately yours,
W. W. G.

I had written before your messenger arrived a long letter in
cypher, which this opportunity of writing will save you the
labour of decyphering. In case, however, we should want to use
the cypher any more, pray add the following names: 5, Sheridan;
6, Duke of Portland; 7, First Lord of the Treasury.

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

Whitehall, Nov. 14th, 1788.

My dear Brother,

By a cursed blunder of Lord Sydney's messenger, he went away
last night without calling for my letter. Lord Sydney sends
another man to-day; but I have resolved to keep him till I can
send you this morning's account. That of yesterday evening was,
I think, in so far favourable, as it clearly shows that the King
is no longer in that settled state of derangement without other
disease, which was most to be apprehended, but that his disorder
is taking some turn, and whatever that may ultimately be, it
must be far more desirable than the continuance of his former
state. I am assured, that it was last night the opinion of
medical people, that the turn which seemed probable was one from
which it was not too sanguine to hope t