PITT (William, 'The Younger', 1759-1806, Prime Minister)

First Four Pages of a long Autograph Letter to "my Dear Lord" saying that he has "this instant received the King's Answer to the letter which I wrote to Him on the unfortunate subject of the Lt Col^cy vacated by Col Gwynne in which I represented to Him as earnestly as possible the Inconvenience which I apprehended from his proposed Arrangement. I am truly sorry to say that He seems thoroughly determined not to yield on the Point of the Lt Col^cy, but He agrees not to hurry the Conclusion of the Business, and points at the Proposal of an Exchange with Col. Fawcett, as what He conceived to be your Object for Col Nugent. It is difficult to say why this Point has been originally so strongly taken up by the King, but He had gone so far in holding out a Majority of Dragoons to Garth (which on his first plan would have been vacated by Taylor's accepting the Lt Col^cy) that I am sure no Consideration will now induce Him to agree to any other Arrangement but that of substituting some other Maj^r in Taylor's Room. I cannot say a word to justify this arrangement, but where he has a Point so much at least as this appears to be especially at this Time, I hope and trust you will go as far as on this material consideration you think possible,to give Way to It I really flatter myself that the exchange with Fawcitt will furnish a Solution for this very distressing difficulty, and as by that means Col Nugent will not appear to have been passed by. You may be enabled to agree to the other arrangement, as one where the King's Personal Wishes are concerned and which therefore you will not obstruct. This line is surely perfectly consistent with your Credit and Dignity, and if it is so, I trust for all our sakes, and for that of the Public, you will not allow yourself to be actuated by any Resentment on account of these Circumstances in this transaction, which might otherwise naturally enough provoke it. I have settled with Sir George Yonge that a Lt Col^cy ... may be immediately vacated for Fawcitt, and there will I am persuaded be no difficulty in giving him the Rank of Col. at the same time ...", 4 sides 4to., Hollwood, 12th April



Item Date:  1789

Stock No:  40116      £425

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