Volume 2 — JOURNAL OF ELIZABETH LADY HOLLAND (continued 5)

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

The debate on the Address went off very triumphantly for the Opposition in the Lords, and, as far as the negative success of the failure of Ministers in making an impression, did so in the Commons. Ld. Grenville made a masterly speech in which he pressed strongly the atrocity of the Copenhagen business, the impolicy of their conduct with regard to the U. States, rather depreciated the prospect of the advantages of the emigration of the Portuguese to Brésil, and touched lightly upon peace. The novelty of the night was Ld. Kenyon,[314] who did not acquit himself formidably. Some considered Mr. G. Ponsonby’s speech as a complete failure, but more temperate judges say it was not so, and the accident of not moving the Amendment arose from a misapprehension of more protests than his alone. Mr. Canning appears to have assumed the lead, and by an endeavour to appear dignified he was heavy and obscure, instead of being, as formerly, pretty flippant. Perceval excelled him much, but the fair ones allow there was not a good speech made in the whole debate. Mr. C. professed that Governt. had laid down a rule, which was to act directly contrary to what they found had been the conduct of their predecessors, and hitherto they had not erred.

On Monday, the 1st of Feb., we moved to Pall Mall. I had been confined many days with a smart inflammation in my eyes.

On Wednesday, 3rd Feb., a long debate in the Commons on Mr. Ponsonby’s motion for further papers on the Danish Expedition.[315] Altho’ he had spoken before, yet this was considered as a debut; his friends were rather anxious, as his forte lies more in reply than in the opening of a business. However, he acquitted himself well, and people seem to be generally satisfied with him. He was answered by Mr. Canning in a speech remarkable chiefly from its length, and the abundance of gross untruths; he read extracts out of those very despatches he refused to give to the House, and in one instance (a dispatch of Ld. Howick’s to Mr. Garlike) read a sentence which, if he had read the context, would have given a different colour to the whole matter. He was very flippant and offensive, and showed neither more nor less ability than usual. Mr. Mills[316] [sic], his élève, was quite extinguished; it was the first occasion on which he had attempted to speak without previously writing his speech, so he is completely given up by all and laughed at by his own party. Ld. Palmerston’s maiden speech was not attended either with the bad or good qualities of a young beginner; he had practised in debating societies, and formed an unimpressive, bad manner. Some of Opposition who are for the expedition yet voted upon this question, but would not if it had been a vote against the Ministry for that measure. Upon the whole the effect of the debate was rather against Opposition.

Sick of, and indifferent to the measures of a hopeless Opposition, I have omitted noticing any occurrence.

SOLANO’S DEATH

July 1808.—Mr. Campbell, whom we knew at Madrid, returned from Spain with the Deputies from Seville.[317] He remained at Cadiz during the disturbances, surrender of the French fleet, and murder of Solano.[318] The conduct of Solano he ascribed to the greatest infatuation, proceeding from a blind confidence in O’Farrill.[319] The leading people at and about Cadiz, as soon as Murat’s massacre[320] on the 2nd of May was known, urged Solano to hoist the Spanish flag alone, and summon the French fleet to surrender to the Spaniards. He temporised; he was at length threatened that unless he did something decisive against the French by the ensuing day, his life should answer for his conduct. The people showed great symptoms of discontent, called him embustero, &c. Amongst the mob many persons supposed of eminence were in disguise. During this period of hesitation on his part, young Perico Giron (whom we knew intimately at Madrid) escaped, upon hearing the events at Madrid, from his regiment at Badajoz, and arrived at Cadiz and challenged Solano. But no duel took place, for the fatal day came when the people assembled tumultuously around his house, called for him to appear and justify his inaction, none of the measures required by the inhabitants having been adopted. He appeared upon his balcony. The sight of him seemed to incense the mob; they attempted to force the entrance of the house, the gateways were barricaded. Upon seeing their fury, he got through the roof of his own house, and gained admittance into that of Mr. Strange (an Irish wine merchant), where he was concealed in a hiding-place so effectually that the mob, after searching, as they imagined, every place, were going off, when unfortunately a man, who had been employed only 14 days before to paint over a panel in order to cover a hiding-place, betrayed the concealment and discovered Solano. He made no resistance; the people hurried him to the place of execution. In going thither, some person said he ought to have a priest, upon which Solano said that it was unnecessary, as he had nothing to confess; this he frequently repeated, till at length the mob lost all restraint, and upwards of fifty bayonets were plunged into his body, and his corpse was hacked and mutilated shockingly in a moment.

As soon as this disgraceful act of cruelty was over, the necessity of having some Governt. was felt, and it was agreed almost by acclamation that Morla, Don Thomas Morla, who had formerly been the Captain-General of Andalusia, and had distinguished himself by the prompt and decisive measures which he had taken to prevent the progress of the yellow fever, was the best fitted to fill the station now vacant. Morla, it was supposed, had not entirely made up his mind as to the side he should take, and that, like Solano, he waited for Dupont’s[321] army. However, he had no choice, and accepted with reluctance the honour. He harangued the people with great ability and fortitude, assured them that if he undertook the charge he would fulfil it rigidly; that they knew him to be inflexible, nor should he depart from what he thought his duty, notwithstanding the dreadful spectacle he had just beheld. He gave an immediate proof of his cleverness and dexterity; during the tumult, about eight hundred of the Presidarios, galley-slaves, broke into the Arsenal, armed themselves and others. Morla was aware of the danger, and also of the impolicy of allowing such men to bear arms, and resolved upon disarming them instantly. He ordered processions to be made through the streets of the Capucins and other Franciscan friars, who were to chant hymns and prayers requesting the citizens to lay down their arms. By night almost all the inhabitants had deposited their arms at the feet of the friars.

DUKE OF INFANTADO

I was pleased to find such a favourable opinion prevailed with regard to the Duke of Infantado.[322] He had been exiled from his own estates, and lived at San Lucar, where he had acquired the esteem and confidence of all who saw him. Thus his conduct at Bayonne is conceived to arise entirely from compulsion. He was dismissed the Court in consequence of that affair at the Escorial in which he was involved, as there was a paper found in his possession signed by the Prince of the Asturias, nominating him as President of Castille, in which capacity he would have had the governt. of the country. The Prince contended that this instrument could have had no power but after his mother’s death, in proof of which he alleged that the seal was affixed upon black wax, and it was only to obviate the danger that might have arisen in the country should his mother and the Prince of the Peace have been able to shut him up and attempt an exclusion or Regency.

We went in July to Woburn; Mr. Brougham was with us. Our party consisted of Lauderdale, D. of Argyle, W. Elliot, Adam, etc. Extremely pleasant place, both grand and comfortable, and the park very pretty in some parts. Went over to see Luton, belonging to Ld. Bute. The house was built by his father, the Minister, and does no credit to his choice of an architect, the Adams. The collection of pictures is very numerous, the Flemish and Dutch schools are the finest, altho’ amongst the great number of Italian pictures some are good. The most remarkable portraits are those grouped with some malicious skill by Sr. Joshua. They are those of Ld. Bute and his Secretary, Jenkinson, now Ld. Liverpool.[323] The Prime Minister is represented with all the pomp and dignity of office, a splendid dress and commanding air; he is taking, rather than receiving, from his Secretary a bundle of papers, which the Secretary, with a most submissive air, is holding in his hands. The story tells itself,—the Duke of Lerma and Gil Blas; the abject, fawning, sly Secretary, and the haughty great man. People say Sr. Joshua Reynolds marked the characters so strongly in order to stamp the origin of a man, whose sneaking qualities he foresaw would raise him to distinction. Ld. Liverpool, I have been assured, offered frequently a very large sum to withdraw from the eye of the public this memorial. The Library is very extensive, and the three rooms which join it are handsome, altho’ it might have been infinitely better.

WILLIAM BELSHAM

We went to Hinckley to see Henry E., who had been there about a month with his aunt; his limb is not worse. From thence for one night to Farming Woods, belonging to Ld. Ossory; charming spot, fine trees, abundance of deer, and wild woodland scenery. Slept at Bromham, Mr. Trevor’s, a pretty water place on the banks of the Ouse. From thence for three nights to Mr. Whitbread’s at Southill. Ly. Madelina Palmer[324] was there. With the exception of the Trevors for one day, the rest of the company was remplissage of the very worst sort, fulsome flatterers, and disgusting dependents. Mr. Belsham, the gazetteer or pamphleteer, who calls his heavy compilation a History of England, was one of them; his manners and appearance are positively offensive to all the senses. He extols Whitbread to the skies, and makes him believe no man can serve the country with equal talents and honesty, and that nothing but Ld. Grey’s envy at his superiority could have kept him out of the highest offices in the late Administration. He has composed a virulent libel against the late Governt., which he circulates about the country, and boasts of his forbearance, that out of consideration to Mr. Whitbread’s affection for Ld. Grey that he does not publish it. It is particularly offensive to Grey, and the subject most urged is the failure of the negotiation. Mr. W. has an unfortunate relish for the society he indulges in at Southill.

Returned on Thursday, 11th August. On ye 19th August news arrived officially from Ld. Collingwood of Dupont’s surrender to Castaños in Andalusia.[325]

16th August. The Spanish Deputies dined here. They are five in all, viz., Visconde de Matarosa[326] and Don Andres de la Vega (these were the first, who came from the Junta of Oviedo). The Visconde is a very young man, not above 19; la Vega is a sensible, well-informed man, esteemed by his countryman Jovellanos. Sangro is the Deputy from Galicia; he had been named to go to Bayonne, but escaped and was sent with another, Freyne,[327] who has since returned to Coruña with arms, &c., &c. The Sevillian Deputies are Jacome and Apodaca. Jacome is a member of the Junta at Seville. The latter is the admiral who commanded these last two years at Cadiz, and to whom the French fleet surrendered. He is very lively and pleasing in his manners, and of the whole mission he is the one who has the most usage du monde.

He ascribes the misfortune of Solano to the machinations of a faction actuated by personal hatred. Had Solano complied with the demands of the mob, the consequence would have been the complete destruction of their own fleet, as at that moment the ships were so intermingled that the French could have sunk the Spaniards. Apodaca seemed satisfied with himself for his dexterity in getting out the Spaniards and not endangering them. They were in great spirits at the surrender of Dupont, and also at the news of the evacuation of Madrid. It appears that Joseph Bonaparte withdrew from thence on ye 29th, after staying only 3 days in his Capital, rather hastily, with the spoils and plunder of the palaces. He is at Segovia, with a force of 23,000, waiting orders from Napoleon. Moncey and his shattered Valencian army are with him. Mr. Vaughan writes from Coruña that Mr. Stuart (who was formerly at Petersburg) was received with great demonstrations of regard and friendship; the officers, naval and military, had shown him Ferrol, and as he returned the villages were illuminated. They had heard of Sr. A. Wellesley’s landing at the mouth of the Mondego, the river so praised by Camoens.

We left home on Sunday, August 22nd, for this place Boundes, Ld. Hy. Petty’s. Made an excursion from thence along the coast from Hastings to Brighton; passed a few days at Mr. Beauclerk’s, and returned home, 1st September.

At the end of October the Hollands set out for Spain, and did not return until the following August. Lady Holland continued to keep a detailed account of their travels and the information which reached them concerning the movements of the opposing forces in Spain and the progress of the war. This portion of her Journal, however, is omitted.

On August 12th, 1809, reached Holland House, where we found the children and my mother perfectly well. The Pettys and Beauclerks and many of our friends came from the country to see us, and stayed a few days in the house.

LORD LANSDOWNE’S DEATH

22nd Nov.—It is too distant from this present period to make a review of all the occurrences from that time to this. Mr. Canning and Ld. Castlereagh fought on 21st Sept. Ld. Wellesley has accepted his recall,[328] and is daily expected; many believe he is coming upon the misapprehension that the Premiership has been offered to him. Lord Lansdowne[329] died on 14th Nov., which event is fatal to the Opposition by removing Petty from the H. of Commons. He has endeavoured to annoy Petty by his will and much disrespect for his father’s family, by making the remainder over to Ld. Winchilsea, and then to Ly. Lansdowne and her 2nd daughter.[330] To the latter, they say, a lease for 21 years is granted of L. H.

On 7th Nov. I was brought to bed of a daughter.[331]

Tuesday, 21st Nov., 1809, Ld. H. on this day completed his thirty-six years. He dined at Ld. Winchilsea’s.[332] Mr. Allen and I alone. He read in eve. Berington’s Life of Henry II., a work not without merit, tho’ the language is frequently barbarous.[333] The character of Becket is well drawn, and from his close researches into monkish chronicles he gives many interesting anecdotes which throw light upon the manners and mode of life in those times. He is a Roman Catholic priest, and tho’ one sees a bias, yet he has more liberality than usual with persons of his class. Indeed, at Rome he was suspected of giving up the cause of the Church too much: accordingly for some time he was suspended from his clerical functions by a papal mandate. He is also the author of a life of Abelard and Eloïsa, and possesses in manuscript, which he dare not publish, a history of the revival of learning.

Mr. Canning wrote to Ld. G. Leveson: ‘Lord Chuckle [sic] is, I hear, sufficiently recovered to take his prescription; accordingly, I shall send my letter to-morrow, and the other shall go abroad the day following.’ So we may expect to-morrow to see this long announced and much looked-for second statement.[334]

Henry and his tutor, Mr. Shuttleworth, left us on Sunday for Hinckley.

Wednesday, 22nd.—Mr. Tierney, Mr. Grenville, and Ld. Darnley dined.

Thursday, 23rd Nov.—Ministerial papers announce very triumphantly that Ld. Wellesley has accepted the office offered to him by them, and is to come home immediately and fill his place.

Ly. Eliz.[335] came, the first time I have seen her since her marriage with Duke of Devonshire; I could not utter a congratulation upon the occasion. The Lambs, Mr. Windham, S. Lockington, Sr. Robt. Wilson, Mr. Stuart, Duke of Argyle, Ld. Robt. FitzGerald, Ly. Affleck dined.

Mr. C.’s statement is not yet out. My mother returned from Gosport with Charles, whom she had been to see on acct. of his illness.

Friday, 24th Nov.—Ld. Wellesley has written to Mr. Canning assigning his reasons for accepting, but what they are I know not.

PANSHANGER

14th Dec., 1809.—The Whig Corporation of Nottingham having done Ld. H. the honour of choosing him their Recorder, vacant by the death of the D. of Portland, it was necessary for him to go there and take the oaths. Accordingly we took the opportunity of making the journey in part with him, and of paying some visits on our way, for change of air for me after a confinement is indispensable to keep off a whole train of nervous disorders, and I did not much relish the notion of a trip to Nottingham to share his civic honours. On this day we went to Panshanger, on the banks of the Mimram, a very Asiatic sound! A pretty place of Lord Cowper’s in Hertfordshire. We took Tierney with us. Found besides the family, Lds. Essex, Erskine, and Mr. Giles Lewis. No news of the result of the election at Oxford,[336] but the Grenvilles began to despond.

Drove out to see the new college at Haileybury, a large, ugly, mean-looking conventual building. In the eve, news came of Lord Grenville’s success at Oxford; carried it by a majority of 13.

15th.—Drove to Woolmers, a dismal, damp, ill-kept house, belonging to Ld. Stafford. It was too cold to walk to the spring, and, indeed, I am too lame to undertake any excursion on foot.

16th, Sunday.—We were to have gone away, but delayed our departure in order to see Ly. Melbourne, who was coming on the ensuing day.

17th.—Ly. Melbourne came.

18th, Tuesday.—Set off and resolved to go as far as we could, as Ld. H. was to be at Nottingham to a great dinner on Wednesday. The roads were in a very bad condition owing to the great fall of rain; however, we reached Stamford and slept.

19th.—Ld. H. set off alone to Nottingham. Mr. Allen, Charles, and I went to see Burleigh, a stately edifice, not improved by the bad taste of the last proprietor. A few good pictures, and several beautiful portraits of Mde. de la Vallière after her profession, in the dress of the Order. Ascertained that the story of Ld. Exeter having made a bonfire, in the courtyard, of Voltaire, Rousseau, &c., was true. This was done to edify the people at Stamford during the alarm, to teach them to shun the doctrines of those apostates from religion, morality, &c. From thence we went to Grantham, where I resolved to take up my abode till Ld. H. returned.

20th.—Went to see Belvoir, which is undergoing a thorough reparation and improvement by Wyatt. It commands a staring, ugly view of the Vale of Belvoir. The antique baronial costume of the castle is destroyed by the introduction of modern fortifications and of artillery mounted upon the walls. The collection of pictures is very good. The famous ‘Sacraments’ of Poussin, and a pretty Murillo with three Virgins in white, exactly in the style of those in the famous ‘Transito de Santa Clara,’ in the convent at Seville. We sent for novels to the circulating library, and sat up reading the trash it furnished half the night.

21st.—Ld. H. returned pleased with the reception he had met with from his fellow Burgesses, and we got on to Stilton, a bad, dismal inn.

CAMBRIDGE

22nd.—We went to Cambridge, to show Mr. A. the colleges, &c. Got there by daylight. Dr. Davy,[337] the Master of Caius College, made us dine with him; a good-natured, trifling, insignificant man. Lord Percy, Dukes of Rutland and Gloster are to be the candidates for the Chancellorship, whenever the D. of Grafton will die and give them an opportunity of trying their popularity.

23rd.—A fall of snow which rendered the walking across the Quadrangle unpleasant. The Library at Trinity is very handsome, but the books are the least to be praised in it. A good bust of Newton. The chapel contains a statue of Newton; the countenance is full of expression and genius, but the sculpture is very moderate, altho’ considered by them as a chef-d’œuvre. Went to the chapel of King’s College. Glad that my recollection of Batalha was so fresh that it enabled me to compare the architectural styles and beauties. That of Batalha[338] is generally superior in execution, the taste of King’s chapel perhaps is more chaste and simple, but it does not possess one specimen of exquisite delicacy of sculpture; the roses and portcullis are coarsely carved.

Passed through Eaton and Bedford. Reached Ampthill to a late dinner. Waters very much out.

24th, Ampthill.—Ld. Ossory as usual kind and very pleasant. Capt. Waldegrave, a cousin, and son of Lady Waldegrave. Our old shipmate, Sr. John Sinclair, Dr. Hunt, &c. A contagious fever at Southill prevents our visit; Lady Elizabeth ill. Mr. Whitbread came over to see us, much offended and irritated at the anonymous circular; ascribes all as intended offences from Grey and Tierney to him. Reached Brocket on the 27th.

28th, Brocket.—Large family party with the addition of Messrs, Luttrell and Nugent. Ld. Kinnaird dined one day, grave, good-humoured, and agreeable; his illness has subdued and softened his naturally irritable character. We were to have set off again on the 1st January for Woburn, but I was seized with such a severe headache that I was compelled to return to my bed; sent an excuse for that day to the D. of B. by Aleck, who was to meet us at St. Albans on the following day.

Monday, 2nd January, 1810.—Very much alarmed at the account brought by Aleck of Charles having met with a severe fall. Contrary to a promise given me by Lady Anne (and his uncle),[339] she allowed him to go out with her to a fox chase. He cut the inside of his leg between ham and knee dreadfully. Reached Woburn late, and after a hasty dinner Mr. A. and I set off to see Charles; found him with fever. Went again next day to see the wound; found it a most dreadful gash, as bad as anything can be which has not touched a vital part, and may not perhaps do him a permanent injury.

Sunday, 7th.—Ld. H. was so much pressed to go to town that he went to see Lds. Grey and Grenville, and dined at Mr. Grenville’s. Duke of B. went next day and returned to dinner, bringing Lord Holland down with him. Ld. Kinnaird, Mr. Chester, Delmé Gunning, Morrice, General Fitzpatrick, Tavistocks, &c., compose off and on the party.

10th Jan.—We this day brought Charles over from Ampthill, who bore the motion of the carriage tolerably. He will oblige us to defer going away much longer than we intended to be absent from home.

DEBATE ON THE ADDRESS

Left Woburn on ——. Stayed at H.H. until Monday, 22nd Jan., the eve of the meeting of Parlt., and on that day took possession of our former dirty habitation in Pall Mall. On 23rd there were very sanguine expectations entertained of not only a good division, but even of a majority of 13 in the Commons, it being confidently asserted that many of the stoutest adherents of the former Ministry would keep away, such as the Lascelles’, Pagets, Ld. Newark, &c. However, every one of these came up, and after a flat debate the majority was all on the wrong side. Numbers, 167 to 263.[340]

Mr. Ward made a brilliant display, and all the young gentlemen, movers and seconders, acquitted themselves with propriety. Mr. Canning voted for the Address in a bad, blundering speech, in which he did not redeem the pledge he had made of justifying himself in his place in Parlt. It was rather a whimsical coincidence that Ld. G. Leveson could not vote, not being in time to take his seat. This is the third time in his Parliamentary life that he has been baffled in voting upon dubious occasions however. In the Lords the attempt to stir Ld. Wellesley failed. Lord Grey’s speech was a most finished oration. The division was great, 92; numbers which would formerly have broken up any Administration.[341]

On Friday Lord Porchester’s motion of inquiry into the Walcheren expedition was most unexpectedly carried by a majority of 9 against Ministers.[342] Wilberforce behaved in the most flagrant but sanctified manner; he deserted his friend Perceval at the critical pinch. Mr. Ponsonby is recovering his reputation; he made a sharp, sarcastic speech which produced a considerable effect and reconciled those who had snouched most at him. Mr. Canning acted against inquiry, and upon observing to Ld. Temple that he (Ld. Temple) was in a majority, was answered, ‘Yes, and the best part of it is that it was without yr. assistance.’ Ld. Castlereagh, whose manly conduct and being considered as an injured man by the House has conciliated him much public esteem, voted for the inquiry.

Ld. Wellesley made his debut in the character of Minister upon the thanks of the House being moved to Ld. Wellington. Some commend, and others disparage his speech; perhaps the middle line of praise would be nearest the truth. He was rather oriental in his style of praising his brother, but much may be owing to his feelings upon such a subject as that of his brother’s merits undergoing a slighting review.

Poor Hoppner, the painter, is dead. Public attention and sympathy has been fixed by the sudden and mysterious disappearance of Mr. Eden,[343] who left his father’s house in Old Palace Yard on Friday eve., having previously told his servant he should return in an hour, and from that time to this, an interval of ten days has elapsed without any tidings. A man was seen on that Friday, at 9 o’clock, scrambling upon the ice on the Thames, who, upon being called upon to stop, rushed on and plunged into the stream. Poor young man, he was to all appearance the last person in the world likely to lay violent hands upon himself.

Sunday, 28th Jan., 1810, Pall Mall.—A belief afloat that Prince Stahremberg is the bearer of an offer of peace from Ld. Wellesley to Napoleon. He went yesterday to Paris.

Lds. Thanet, Erskine, Sr. Philip Francis, and Don Domingo de Souza[344] dined.

WINDHAM’S WILL

June, 1810.—It appears that Windham from the period of his leaving College had kept a diary; the last entry was on the day the operation was decided.[345] He says: ‘This day sentence has been passed upon me,’ It fills 15 vols. in 4to., and according to his will is annexed as an heirloom to the proprietor of Fellbrigge; so in case of failure of issue in Capt. Lukin, it will fall into the hands of the Egremont family. A curious instance of weakness in Windham, and one that probably never would have been drawn forth, but for the feelings stirred up by the French Revolution: he has put Lord Egremont into the entail of his estate, treating him as a relation. During his life the relationship was never claimed, and certainly not admitted, either by him or by Ld. Egremont; the mode of spelling the name is quite different. He left six thousand pr. ann., at least, to his wife, who has most indecorously exposed to public sale all his books and common pamphlets; the latter especially are scribbled over entirely with his own observations on the margin. These have been bought up by the booksellers, and will hereafter be sold as immensely valuable from possessing his notes. There is a pamphlet of Sr. S. Romilly’s upon the state of Criminal Law, which is entirely written over by W.; and the strictures intended merely for himself to reply to in the H. of Commons are most likely not calculated to please Romilly, or indeed could they have been designed for his eye.

When Perceval proposed last year, 1809, to Lord Grenville and Grey to form a part of his Administration, some private correspondence in consequence of this overture took place between these Lords. They agreed perfectly in the propriety of rejecting the terms as proposed, but as it was just possible they might be addressed again upon a similar occasion, they discussed the state of their own views, &c. Ld. Grenville told Grey that whenever they came into office, and were enabled to make the concessions deemed necessary to the Irish Catholics, he intended to propose that his brother, Lord Buckingham, should be the person sent over; that he had always contributed so disinterestedly to the support of the party, that as it was his wish to go, he considered him entitled to it. This hint was not relished, nor was it combated; but the Grenvilles are great graspers and encroachers.

At the Installation[346] Lord Grenville promised the heads of Houses to supply them with venison, having been promised by his brother 15 brace. A few days before the festival Ld. B. sent to say he could not furnish any venison, and but for the good nature of private friends he would not have been able to fulfil his engagement. The Duke of Bedford told me this, and was one of the persons applied to, and gave 4 brace. Ld. B. is envious of his brother, and enjoys his feeling any mortification.

THE LAKE COUNTRY

We made an excursion for seven weeks to the North in order to amuse Henry, and try the effect of change of air, as he was not well. We went by Derby and Lancashire to Appleby Castle, Ld. Thanet’s. We stayed there a few days in order that Ld. H. might get some fishing; from thence we went to the Lake of Ullswater, and dined at Patterdale. Returned and slept at Penrith.

At Keswick we saw Southey, who was very agreeable; he is just about publishing two epic poems. Windermere is the pleasantest and most agreeable of all the Lakes to my taste. Mr. Dumont was of our party. We went rather impromptu to Edinburgh, by the Kelso road, to see Melrose Abbey. Kelso is a charmingly situated town and exceedingly pretty. Melrose Abbey disappointed me greatly, especially after John Clerk’s praise, who described it as the finest remains of the richly wrought Gothic in the Island. I did not mind Walter Scott’s poetry, but was very considerably chagrined at its being so very inferior to many even in England. The high roads now making in Scotland are very characteristic of the nation; they are scientific and thrifty, for they are upon good principles, but are excessively dangerous and alarming from the parsimony with which they are executed. They are contrived to go upon the mountains like terraces or ledges, so that the up and down is avoided, but then they are rather narrow, and there is not the smallest parapet or any protection which intervenes between the poor traveller and the deep valley below.

We remained only two days at Edinbro’. During that time poor Lady Rosslyn[347] died unexpectedly at Rockville. We dined one day with Mr. Clerk,[348] and were visited by the few persons then in town—Jeffrey, Murray, &c. We went to Dunbar; then to Howick; and spent a couple of days with Sydney Smith at Heslington, near York. I went to the Roman Catholic convent in York, to visit the daughters of Mr. Gordon, of Xeres; they seemed dejected and apprehensive that the state of Spain would prevent them from joining their family.

We made a deviation from the North road to see Lincoln Minster. We were repaid for the inconvenience of a very bad road and without exception the worst inn in England, as the Cathedral is very curious and magnificent. It is not so large as that of York, but the workmanship is much richer. I was startled when I entered the Cathedral at York; I could scarcely credit that it was the identical building which appeared spacious and lofty formerly, my eye having been recently so accustomed to the Cathedral at Seville which is about three times the size of York. At York the centre aisle is wide, but the two side aisles are narrow and low, whereas at Seville there are five aisles all equally wide and lofty, and beyond are large side chapels (at York there are none).

From Lincoln we went through Spalding to Peterboro’; I asked at Spalding how far off it was to the Fens. The postmaster replied that there were no fens in Lincolnshire now, and that geese were full as scarce as in Middlesex or elsewhere. I think it impossible he can be correct, for, tho’ draining may do much, yet I remember such dykes and embankments against the waters then covered with flocks of geese, about 23 years ago, that it cannot be possible those waters can have been carried off, the bottom made sound, and put into tillage; about Boston and Crowland I meant. Peterboro’ Cathedral has a beautiful façade; the inside is not worth much. Katherine of Arragon and Queen Mary of Scotland[349] are buried there.

We returned here[350] on August 2, and found all well; the library wall rebuilt, but the house not in a condition for our reception. Accordingly we are going off in a few days to inhabit the Govt. House at Portsmouth, which Genl. Fox has lent most kindly to us.[351]

GENERAL FERGUSON

The few days we have been here we have seen Tom Sheridan and his wife, Ld. Erskine, D. of Argyle, Ld. Robt., Gen. Tupper, Mr. Whishaw, Kemble, Gen. Fox, Caroline Fox. I went one night to the Haymarket and saw the Iron Chest. General Ferguson[352] has been compelled to leave Cadiz on acct. of his health; he is afflicted with a liver complaint which is always aggravated in a hot climate. He acted the part of a real friend to our dear boy,[353] he went out with him in the Lively, and assumed a parental authority over him. He also, upon arriving at Cadiz, removed him from that ship, and placed him with Capt. Codrington of the Blake, where he now is, and is gone up to Minorca to escort the Spanish ships from Cadiz thither. He confirms the stories of the desertions from the French armies, and himself conversed with three native-born Frenchmen, who had deserted from want of pay and want of food, the most pressing want.

On Thursday, — August, left home for Portsmouth. Henry, &c., accompanied us; the girls were to follow a few days later. Mr. Dumont came with us; we slept at Liphook, and reached Portsmouth on Friday. The Government House is a very large, rambling habitation, and was formerly a Cistercian convent.[354] From the interior arrangement of the rooms, and very inconvenient distribution of space, one can still trace its monastic origin. The conventual church, now converted into the garrison chapel, communicates with the great apartment, and access is immediate into the tribune. In that church Charles the Second married the Infanta of Portugal.

CAPTAIN MOORE

The séjour of this place has little to recommend it in the way of drives or walks, as the confinement of a garrison town is inconvenient for either, and indeed the whole neighbourhood more or less partakes of the stir and din of war. We see a few naval and military persons. General Whetham, the Lt.-Governor, a sprightly man, who talks good French, and has a superficial smattering of the light reading in that language; he was wounded in Flanders, and is a great favourite upon the Terrace at Windsor. Capt. G. Moore,[355] the brother of the General, whose good sense seems to have been bestowed in a fair division upon him, is a pleasing, well-informed, manly, gentlemanlike person. They are an affectionate, united family, and full of amiable qualities; he alluded to Sir John with feeling, his eyes were full of tears when in the course of some conversation he mentioned the narrative written by his brother James.[356] He told me that had the General lived to return and lay aside his command, it was his opinion that an explanation must have taken place with Frere, as the gross personality and insulting language in his correspondence must have been apologised for or determined(?) in some decisive manner. Capt. Moore was at Lisbon when the Court embarked for the Brésils, and accompanied the Portuguese squadron thither, having on board many of the attendants and dependants of the Prince Regent.

21st Sept., 1810.—Capt. Moore told us that one day at Rio Janeiro when Sr. Sidney Smith presented Capt. Schomberg to the Prince Regent, the Prince said he was exceedingly happy to see Capt. S. again, as he was the first Englishman he had seen after he left Lisbon.[357] This was said by the Prince in a particularly marked manner, as if he meant it to convey an indirect contradiction of Ld. Strangford’s account in the Gazette of what passed on that occasion. Capt. Schomberg was Sir S. Smith’s Captain when the Portuguese Court embarked for Brésil, and was sent in a boat to the Prince’s ship, on board of which he went after it was on the outside of the bar. Sir S. Smith and Ld. Strangford went afterwards on board the P.’s ship together. Capt. Moore is persuaded that Strangford never saw the P. R. till he went on board of his ship with Sir Sidney. Capt. Moore saw the Confiance, on board of which was Ld. S., attempting the night before to get over the bar, and observed to someone near him that Yeo (the commander of the Confiance) would not get to Lisbon before it was dark. The Prince weighed anchor next morning before it was light. We knew from Setaro how Strangford passed that night, and that the Prince had left his palace and embarked with an intention of sailing with the first fair wind two days before.

We have also seen Don Tomaso Blanco, the 2nd-in-command on board the Algescias; he is the cousin of the author of the Español. He gave me the news of Mde. Ariza having returned to Madrid, where she was acting a considerable part owing to the influence she possesses over Urquijo.[358] He was a dependent originally of the Alba family, and owed his station in life to their favour and influence, which she now avails herself of by claiming in return his protection. The Town Major, who is under our roof, dined with us. Ld. Amelius Beauclerk,[359] a nephew of Ld. Bessboro’s, and very like a Cavendish in his appearance and demeanour. Capt. Irwin, the commander of the Puissant, a sheer hulk, on board of which Charles was mustered during the period of his residence at Dr. Burney’s at Gosport.

THE FRENCH PRISONERS

Great alarm prevails amongst those military in office, such as General Whetham and Sr. Roger Curtis,[360] in regard to the French prisoners. There are 17,000 at Gosport, and, in the hulks 4000 convicts lie very close to them, and Governt., by some strange mismanagement, has allowed French officers on their parole to live in this neighbourhood. They say there is a general system of organisation, that each officer has his corps, that a correspondence is maintained between them and Napoleon’s Govt., and that it is his policy to keep them in this country so that they might assist him in the case of an invasion. There was in the winter 40,000 prisoners; the number is increased to 70,000 at present.

We drive and walk out in the morning, and our evenings are usually employed in reading or hearing Mr. Dumont read French. The Lively was wrecked on the rocks near Malta; the fault is ascribed to the Lieut. of the watch and the Master. The former neglected his official duty of apprising the captain when they made land. This accident happened early in Sept.; it made my heart ache, notwithstanding Charles is safely deposited in another ship. Capt. Stewart, of the Seahorse, now stationed at Palermo, to whom Charles was recommended by Gen. Fox and Ld. Keith (it being our intention that he should join him in the Mediterranean), being apprised of his sailing in the Lively, immediately upon hearing she was wrecked sent express to Malta to order him a supply of money and proper equipment, and also to secure a speedy passage from thence to him. All this was done in a most obliging and gentlemanlike manner, so as to leave a strong desire upon my mind of returning the civility whenever any opportunity should occur.

He describes the situation of Sicily as insecure, and the prospect of a speedy and inglorious termination to our career in it.[361] The Queen is hostile to the English; which she manifests in every way by opposing all propositions for the defence of the Island, by influencing the inhabitants in ascribing to their profuseness and extravagance the high prices of all the articles of life, and by maintaining a correspondence with the enemy’s Courts in Italy. Murat, with his 40,000 men, was encamped within sight, and whenever the Toulon fleet can assist him a descent may be expected upon the Island, and already the blockading fleet has been driven twice from Toulon as far down as Nice. I have also a letter from Lady Amherst[362] written in great trepidation.

Miss Fox and Miss Vernon came to us; we lodged them in a tolerable apartment in the High Street; they arrived on the 10th October.

On Saturday, 13th, we set off to spend a few days at Mr. Beauclerk’s. Slept one night in our way at Arundel Castle. The alterations are not completed, the whole is done upon a grand scale, but without much taste, and without any comfort. The party was very numerous and far from select, a mêlée of neighbours and various dependents. Sr. Arthur Pigott[363] was the only person I was acquainted with. Met at Beau.’s, Major Capel. He was in the Galician campaign, and considered the retreat as so disgraceful, that had the Commander survived many general officers, for their own justification, would have insisted upon inquiry.

News of the brilliant repulse of the French at Busaco brought by the Apollo in 100 hours from the Tagus.[364]

Slept a night on our return at Worthing, to see Lord and Lady Lansdowne. Returned to Portsmouth on Saturday, 20th October; remained till 27th, and went to St. Anne’s, where we spent two nights. Returned home on the 30th, and went to the play.

The King’s illness declared; it has long been suspected that the physicians were detained as much on the account of the father as on that of the daughter.[365]

BATTLE OF BUSACO

In the Apollo, General Simon, who was made prisoner at the affair of Busaco, came home. He tells a story of his having accompanied Masséna to reconnoitre the position of Busaco, and that upon his observing que la position était forte, Masséna with some asperity replied, ‘Yes, but I have seen many stronger forced.’ Simon construed this retort into a reproof, and answered only by requesting that if any attack was to be made, he might be entrusted to lead on that occasion. Accordingly he commanded a division on that day; the ascent was so steep that he was compelled to dismount, and was soon surrounded, and made prisoner.[366]

The King being incapable of affixing the sign manual to the Act for the further prorogation of Parliament, the two Houses met in consequence of the prorogation expiring on Nov. 1st. It being an unexpected meeting, very few persons, especially of Opposition, were present. Ministers, however, had foreseen the event for a day or two, and Treasury Notes were issued and messengers sent to Cheveley and other Ministerial houses in the country. Ld. H. supported the proposal of adjournment and deprecated all discussion, adding that he could have wished the adjournment had been from day to day only. Sheridan flourished, and affected to speak the sentiments of the Prince. He had artfully fortified Tierney in his unsettled feeling upon the occasion, and Tierney had injudiciously, in consequence of some strange crotchet, abstained from going down. The Prince resides at Windsor, and conducts himself with very unusual discretion; he has not seen or sent to any person whatever. Sheridan has attempted to see him, but hitherto without success.

2nd Nov.—Pss. Amelia died. She was the youngest, the prettiest, and the most beloved of all the Princesses; her life had been artificially prolonged but to suffer, as her complaints were incurable and of excruciating pain. Previous to her receiving the Sacrament, in compliance with the earnest entreaty of the Prince, she consented to see the Queen, with whom she had inflexibly refused to have an interview, saying that she ascribed the misery she had undergone for 10 years, and perhaps her actual hopeless situation, to her hardness of heart. After seeing her, she dictated a letter to the Prince telling him that his eloquence had prevailed, and taught her to survive resentment, the last feeling in the human breast.

The P. and D. of Cambridge are joint executors to her will, which the Prince has determined shall not be proved. The P. behaved throughout with the greatest tenderness, and previous to her death facilitated their interviews. The P. is behaving with the utmost circumspection and decorum, owing partly to the occupation of fulfilling his sister’s wishes and ordering the ceremonial of the funeral with which he is entrusted. He has not seen any of the Opposition.

THE KING’S ILLNESS

Ld. Grenville, who came to town yesterday (9th Nov.), has had two visits from Tommy Tyrwhitt.[367] He represents the first as an inspection of his state of mind and body (reports being current that he was bad and dying). He smiled and said he had passed muster very well. The 2nd visit was to state the condition of the King, but the communication was verbal, and the channel not such as to lead to anything very confidential. If the bulletins between this and Tuesday should be favourable, the news from Portugal good, and their nerves strong, it is supposed Ministers will hazard the attempt of an adjournment; if not, a summons for the meeting of the Privy Council will be issued, and an examination of the physicians take place on Wednesday, and their report be brought before the House and taken into consideration on the day following that which is fixed for the meeting. Probably even amongst themselves they are as yet undecided how to proceed. Ld. G. Leveson (who speaks the language of Ld. Harrowby probably, but does not adopt his views or sentiments) is of opinion that if the Regency should be proposed, it will be clogged with limitations and every species of restriction, and that any artifice will be resorted to likely to incense the Opposition and impel them to utter some rash expressions which will ruin them with the public.

14th Nov.—Our leading Lords are each to maintain their former doctrines in ’88. Ld. Grenville grounds his line upon the course he adopted when he was Speaker, and refers to his speech, or rather book, published with his authority. He even goes the length of consistency so far as to hint that he would advise the P. to suggest himself the limiting his powers as Regent; par parenthèse, if he were to drop such an opinion at C. house, his favour would vanish instantly. On the other hand, Ld. Grey is equally firm in maintaining his own opinion, which he urged so strongly formerly. If this difference between them should transpire before to-morrow, Ministers would avail themselves of it and get them debating amongst themselves. Grey and Lauderdale came up last night; I have been with them, and sitting for two hours by the bedside of the latter, who is ill, and will hardly be able to attend to-morrow. It is one of the few occasions when his absence will perhaps be an advantage, as he would proclaim opinions I fear he has imbued his companion with already too much, viz., that it would be manly and due to the country to express the necessity of the King’s abdicating even if he should recover from this temporary derangement, for the loss of sight and increasing deafness are infirmities incompatible with the performance of the kingly functions. This uttered in public will completely ruin their cause; for, strange as it may appear, the increasing maladies of the K. endear him to the country.

THE KING’S ILLNESS

The jokers say that the K. reigns upon the sense of taste and touch, having outlived the others. On Saturday he had a lucid interval; he asked what had been done, for ‘I know my situation!’ Poor, wretched man, these returns of reason are most melancholy. Ld. Moira was hurt and angry at not being sent for; he wrote up to C. H. to know the reason. He was answered that the P. had neither written nor sent to anybody. Such is Court favour! For who so favoured as he was? Ld. Grenville says he knows that the K. was ill several days before it was imparted to Perceval, but who knew it, or who caused it to be kept secret, he does not know. The D. of York is behaving ill to the P., taunting him with old allusions, and when there is a favourable symptom exulting in a manner which denotes his joy that they have a chance of escaping his dominion. The sending for Reynolds and Willis was without the knowledge or consent of the R. family. Ld. Grey shakes his hopes by his fears as to Portugal; he considers the case as desperate, and Ld. Wellington’s army quite ruined. This belief is grounded upon Ponsonby information, and none of that family can be credited, especially Snouch[368] and Ld. Ponsonby.

On the 15th Parlt. met in the Lords. The Chancellor and Ld. Liverpool held out great hopes of a recovery. Ld. Grey worked skilfully upon very tender ground, no other than in plain English saying that if the King recovered it was only to a state of dotage, and that the loss of sight and hearing disqualified a man, without even the loss of reason, from fulfilling the functions of a sovereign.[369] The Ministers were not in spirits, else they might have replied and done him great mischief in the country. Ward, who is a friend, sneeringly observed that the Whig earl would make few proselytes to the doctrine deposing the Monarch. Ld. Grenville spoke, but, I was sorry to hear, in a feeble, disorganised state. Ld. Moira took a line of his own in favour of adjournt., affecting to speak the language of the P. Indeed, with much affectation, he told Lds. Grey and Lansdowne that his speech he was conscious was bad, but that was always the case when a person spoke contrary to their own opinion; but he was compelled by instructions from a quarter he was bound to obey, designating as distinctly as possible the Prince. In the Commons Burdett provoked a division, in which persons voted as they liked. Grey, Lauderdale, Ld. Ponsonby, Jersey, and Tierney came here after the debate and dined. The King is certainly worse, and the Ministers are puzzled.

27th Nov.—Ld. Grenville quitted town the day after the adjournt., oppressed by the recollection of his former opinions delivered when Speaker; but since, whether the continued illness of the King or other equally cogent reasons have convinced him that he may relax, it seems he has written to Ld. Grey, to inform him that upon reflection he does not feel the necessity so imperious of urging these opinions, for tho’ he maintains the same principles, yet expediency qualifies them at present. It is expected that the summons for the convoking the Privy Council will be issued this evening indiscriminately to all Councillors.

AFFAIRS AT CADIZ

Mr. Adair, alias the melancholy Jaques, arrived here a few days ago, and still continues our inmate in his way from Constantinople. He stopped at Cadiz, and brings very interesting accounts of the first meeting of the Cortes.[370] Arguelles, Capmany, Gallego, Torneros are the leading speakers. I know very little upon these matters, but it strikes me that they have been guilty of great impolicy in excluding the Grandees from their body, as it must make them feel irritated at the slight. Were I one of that class, shut up upon that dreary causeway, my sole occupation would be to quit them and join any party where my territorial influence would be considered; for these Grandees, with scarce any exception, fled with the Patriots, and sacrificed their all to what they considered was the common cause, but which to their consternation and mortification they now find was only the cause of a few; not to say that it would be some satisfaction to assist in overthrowing the patriotic Junta, created upon principles far different from the former practice when the Cortes used in ancient times to be assembled. By this scheme of exclusion they create in the heart of the little community a strong interest against themselves. Formerly the bravo Militar, which was the nobility, were an integral part of the Cortes; now they are not called. Mr. Stuart, of Lisbon, and Ld. Wellington write home against them as having a Jacobinical tendency, and being merely a réchauffé of the French Revolution.

The latest Governt. accts. are to the 12th from the Tagus, Sr. Robt. Wilson[371] en debite news of the 15th, with the story of Drouet having joined with 15 bataillons, which makes about 9000 men. Sr. Robt. is greatly and justly offended at having been dismissed officially the Portuguese service; this naturally enough tinctures all his opinions and disposes him to view au noir both Wellington’s and Beresford’s campaign. The enemies of Wilson accuse him of having taken great credit to himself for resistance in the Puerto de Baños after the battle of Talavera, whereas Ld. W. has recently discovered that he did nothing whatever there.[372] Also there is another charge, which, if substantiated, is serious, but from his general reputation is considered as highly improbable, viz., peculating in his transactions about raising the Lusitanian Legion. He is a very active officer, and whatever blemishes he may have in rhodomontading, I know from experience, having been in the country at the time, that when every other English officer took to his heels, he alone remained, and by setting a good face upon matters kept in check at Salamanca a French corps of 6000 men, when he was in Ciudad Rodrigo with only a few half dismounted cannon and some of his miserable Legion.

Bulletins bad; Ministers defer till the latest hour issuing the summons of the Privy Council. Great failures at Liverpool. Huskisson’s pamphlet upon the report of the Finance Committee, a very general topic of conversation.[373] L., a little jealous, accuses him of stealing some of his own best observations and disfiguring them for concealment.

28th.—Hurrah! Huzza! A long and delightful letter from Charles, and a copious journal of all that has occurred since he sailed from Cadiz Bay, 7th August! He writes from Gibraltar Bay, 5th November, then in quarantine on acct. of symptoms of fever. Inquires if the ex-pigs are likely to have a little suck. Seems not so keen for Navy as before; thank Heaven, if he should at the end of a year sicken of it! Oxala!

The Privy Council is called to-day for the examination of physicians. Baillie remains at Windsor to attend the K. during the absence of the others, but comes for examination to-morrow. Great rumours of adjournt. being again intended.

29th, Thursday.—Evidence of the medical men favourable as to amendment, but nothing said as to the time for recovery.

THE PRINCE OF WALES’ CONDUCT

Dec. 6th.—There has been a communication with the Prince; the complection of the business is not very favourable. It seems that in consequence of a trivial expression dropped accidentally in a conversation Ld. Grey held with Mr. Tucker, the latter gentleman conceived it to be sufficiently important to induce him to repeat it to Col. McMahon[374] to report to the Prince. The expression was that affairs were in that state that, ‘if the Prince were to hold up his finger he would have every thing his own way.’

The Prince, who sees Adam frequently, had talked to him frankly enough in general. One day during their conversation the Lord Chancellor solicited an audience: the P. desired he might be admitted, and at the same time begged Adam to wait, as he should soon close his conference with the C. It was, however, of some duration, but when Adam returned, he assured him the visit was merely one of form respecting some circumstances connected with the Pss. Amelia’s will; that he had listened and made no reply beyond a very formal bow. This might, or might not be true; Adam had his doubts. The Prince then began saying (which astonished Adam) that he had received a communication from Ld. Grey, who implied that he had not taken part enough in the business of the K.’s illness. That he might be right or wrong, but that he was resolved upon remaining quiet; that he esteemed both Lords Grenville and Grey, but could not see them; that if they wished to serve him they ought to ask Ministers in Parlt. whether any official notification had been made to the Prince of the condition in which H. Majesty was; also that if he were compelled by circumstances to maintain them, yet if they got into minorities by their mismanagement, he might then be enabled to follow his inclination and call them,—Opposition, to his Council. He desired Adam to communicate this to Lds. Grenville, Grey, and Mr. Ponsonby; Tommy Tyrwhitt also told Ld. Grenville. It was agreed that a respectful answer should be conveyed to the Prince, couched in all the usual proper terms; the substance, however, declining to adopt any line of conduct expressed through a secret understanding, as it would be doing exactly what they had so much deprecated during their own Administration—that of the King ostensibly employing them, but, at the same time, consulting with his secret advisers. Ld. Grenville said that the position of affairs might be such that were the Prince to consult him, he did not know but that he might recommend him to keep the present Ministers; but having done that he must withdraw and act upon his own principles until he was publicly called as an adviser. The expression which put Ld. G. upon the alert was that of the possibility of minorities, which he construed into a determined plan of Prince’s betraying those he openly supported. Ld. Grey was compelled to leave town on acct. of Ly. Grey’s lying-in.

Subsequent to this transaction, Adair, on the pretext of giving the P. some curious anecdotes of his Embassy, solicited an audience, and by dint of solicitation at length obtained one. In the course of the interview, the P. launched out in his eloquent, rhodomontading manner, abused the late Ministry (always excepting Ld. H., whom he professes so much to love), whom he accused of treating him worse than his avowed enemies. Added that he knew they now complained of his not sending for them, but that he would be d—— if he did; they accused him of being timid and nervous, but that by G—— they and the world should see that he was un homme de nerf; that he would not be dictated to by the haughty freaks and caprices of any man; turned frequently to the portrait of Mr. Fox, whose death was to him an irreparable loss, for he really loved him, and in any critical juncture his advice was always that of a sincere friend who was blessed with the soundest head man ever possessed; abused the late Cabinet for their treatment of him in the affair of the Princess, and, in short, spoke with all the vehemence and irritation of an offended and wounded mind.

7th Dec., 1810.—The bulletin yesterday was less favourable, and that of to-day is indifferent; admits that the disorder had returned, but that some hours of sleep had refreshed him. By the private acct. it seems that his bodily indisposition is rather alarming, a recurrence of the stoppage in his bowels; his body is greatly emaciated. Phipps, the expert oculist but very silly man, has been prevented by Willis’s orders from seeing him, as he was detected in talking upon religious matters, future state, dying, &c., &c. The report yesterday was that Ministers, if by the King’s relapsing they should be compelled to resort to some mode of Regency, intended to have that of the Lords Justices. To-day Mr. Grenville told me that the scheme was to make the Queen Regent. All these schemes will perplex and frighten the Prince, and drive him to resort to his friends. Ld. H. saw McMahon, who declares that Ld. Moira and Sheridan, who are affecting to speak the language and sentiments of C. House, on the contrary, have displeased the Prince, whom they do not see and whom they have not had any authority whatever from to act as they do. Whilst the P. is in town he sees no person whatever but Lady Hertford, with whom he spends the whole morning and evening. Mr. Michael Angelo Taylor he sees as a butt, but with him he holds no sort of intercourse respecting his political opinions. They say Govt. has money for 10 days longer.

15th Dec.—On Thursday the Houses met; the K.’s health not being in a state for the physicians to report upon with any hope of immediate recovery, Ministers did not suggest an adjournt., but proposed a Committee for the purpose of examining the physicians. The choice of persons in Commons was very fair, in the Lords less so, as neither Lds. Lauderdale, Holland, or Stanhope are named, which, considering the absence of Ld. Grey, is not so right.[375] Except Ld. Erskine and the D. of Norfolk, there is not a man who will ask a leading question, and these will be overruled. The Prince broke down in Kensington on his way to Windsor. When Ld. Grenville heard of it he affected to be facetious, and wondered the Princess did not offer him a bed; true it was the Prince was excessively afraid of her offering him a carriage, which she certainly would have done had she known of it at the moment. The projects of raising money by the Privy Seal, &c., are dropped.

THE GOVERNMENT RESOLUTIONS

18th Dec.—It appears from the examination of the physicians that the King’s illness is such that a Regency must be resorted to immediately; consequently yesterday Mr. Perceval proposed 3 resolutions the same as those in 1788. 1st, that on account of H. M. indisposition he was unable to discharge the duties of the kingly office. 2ndly, that it was the duty of the House to see that the kingly office be properly filled. 3rdly, that it was necessary to provide for the proper discharge of the same by way of a Bill to pass through both Houses of Parlt. Sheridan, Ponsonby, and Adam have thrown down the gauntlet and taken the field; the Prince’s household will vote. There is a Call of the House, and now the Prince takes a part there will be a very good division. Some of the most sanguine go the length of expecting a majority; there is no doubt but many shabby ones will desert the Ministers. The usual supply of those upon these occasions from the City will fail on acct. of the report of the Bullion Committee, as they will prefer taking their chance of keeping Perceval Chancellor of the Exchequer to making the Bank pay in specie.[376]

It was not with any satisfaction I heard of a few additional votes by the accession of Mr. Canning and his friends upon this question. Majorities, even if helped by a faithless associate, are mere ropes of sand. Faithless and unprincipled are the leading traits in that gentleman’s character. It is said that he complains of having met with so little warmth from the Opposition, with whom he would have acted long ago had he been encouraged. The greediness for numbers makes me dread his reception; all who dislike Whitbread, and that is a huge majority, and all who feel the incapacity of Snouch, are inclined to hearken to his overtures. Ld. Castlereagh, though labouring under many heavy charges for his conduct towards the Irish Catholics, has still maintained a sort of integrity of reputation for private honour; he also has the advantage of being a person whom the Prince would prefer if any junction were to be made with new men, and his ambition is of a limited nature, as he would confine himself to his department and only promote persons either from goodwill towards them, or for the general advantage of the Administration to which he belonged. He makes no high professions of exalted principle, but as a gentleman and man of honour he might be trusted. In the late curious quarrel between him and Mr. Canning, his conduct was much admired, and his bitterest enemies said how infamously must he have been treated by his colleague, when even in Ireland he is considered as the injured party.

Several questions in the Committee were expunged. In that of the Lords the word mind was employed, when Ld. Westmorland, with an air of the greatest feeling and pathos, implored that it might be erased, as it was too shocking to have on record: this great delicacy from him, who is at this moment dictating evidence to enable him to confine his own wife, in order to avoid the expense of a separate maintenance. Sheridan laughed at the conduct in the examination of the physicians, where he said they questioned the physicians about the mental malady and the mad doctor upon the bodily disease. It appeared that the Chancellor was introduced to the K. by way of a medical expedient by Vaughan, who had observed that in his presence the King had more self command. In consequence of this transpiring, the Chancellor, in their Committee, conceived himself bound to go the whole length of the business to acquit himself of seeking the interview with the King.

MacMahon says the Regency is to be accepted on any conditions by the Prince, who will return the same letter by way of answer, as that he sent in ’88 (said letter, Mr. Adam says, was written by Lord Minto, materials from Mr. Fox); that he may probably tell these Ministers that it is his intention to keep them for decency sake, but that he has no confidence whatever in them, and cannot feel that he is fulfilling his duty. In short, if they do not, which he expects they will, resign upon this intimation, he will keep them a month to give the King a chance of recovery, and then dismiss them. The Queen will have the custody and control of the King’s person and household, and to set off with, she can appoint the Chamberlain, now vacant by the death of Lord Dartmouth.[377]

THE KING OF SWEDEN

The King of Sweden[378] lives chiefly with the French Princes, and now occupies the apartment vacant by the death of the Queen of France. He is très in-amusable, very much absorbed in his own thoughts, and indifferent to all that is going on around him. He has very little money, but will not accept of any from the English; 500l. and jewels estimated at 30,000l. on the Continent are all he is worth. When lodged at the hotel, he asked for an inferior apartment to that which was prepared for his reception, and accused the master of imposing upon him by charging for a whole bottle of wine, when he had only drunk about half of it and returned the remainder. He does not speak of the Swedes with any irritation, allows they were in the right for dismissing him as he did not suit them, resolves not to attempt to be restored, and only hopes his moderation may induce them hereafter to consider his son. This is not madness certainly, but nevertheless he is reckoned to be in a state of melancholy madness. Lucien Bonaparte is arrived,[379] but he is not to be allowed to come to London; Ludlow is named as his place of residence.

24th Dec.—On Thursday, the day of the debate in the H. of Commons upon the resolutions, the Prince received a letter from Mr. Perceval informing him of the intentions of the Ministry. To this the Princes wrote what they call a solemn protest of the male branches of the Royal family, disapproving of the limitations and restrictions. Prince also wrote a good reply, which was the composition of himself and Sheridan. War between Perceval and the Prince being openly declared, all the household, &c., of Carlton House voted. This, however, produced no great accession of rats, only the Seymours and Mr. Monkton. The Grenvilles being disunited upon the subject may acct. for the badness of the division. Mr. Horner made an admirable speech, full of sound argument upon constitutional doctrines, and illustrated with most accurate learning. Tierney says he gave the House for two hours two quarts of Allen’s milk without their making a wry face; alluding to S. Smith’s joke that Mr. A. is quite a milch cow to the politicians, whom he furnishes with matter and argument, and has in this business done so abundantly to those who are studying the subject. Mr. Canning made but a bad attempt at pleasantry. Ld. Castlereagh, speaking of the conduct of Addington’s Administration during the K.’s illness, said he believed that Governt. did not practise any concealments towards him, or something to that effect. The House immediately applied it as a slap to Mr. Canning. Others say it was a mere slip of the tongue. Wm. Lamb on the following day distinguished himself very greatly; he is certainly one of the most rising men in public. The great feature of that night’s proceeding was Perceval’s indiscreet avowal of his principles of delay and Ministerial Regency (without limitations), from which Tom Grenville remarks that as Perceval has now declared himself King, Lords, and Commons upon his own responsibility, the whole question is shortened and made much less complicated.

DUKE OF QUEENSBERRY’S DEATH

The D. of Queensberry died to-day without a struggle at three o’clock; his will has not yet been opened.[380] His heirs-at-law are the D. of Buccleugh, Sr. Chas. Douglas, Lord Wemyss.[381] He expressed a wish of altering his will yesterday, but was too rambling. He said he had been a fool in leaving legacies, for in fact all belonged to Bonaparte, and any distribution was idle. He has always said and believed in this.

On Sunday, 6th Jan., the Prince sent to see Ld. Grenville, who accordingly waited upon him at Carlton House; the communication was made through Mr. Adam. Prince, when he came, desired this might be considered as a joint application to him, as well as to Ld. Grey, who unfortunately was not arrived in town. The immediate object of the interview was to have advice how to frame the answer to the deputation which was coming from the two Houses, to offer the Regency. He then told Ld. G. that he felt his situation very embarrassing, that it would be difficult to act in any way to please people, or make a strong Government. That he heard from those who were in the H. of C. that the great difficulties rested there, that he wished Ld. G. to understand that he was against exclusions, and if it were judged expedient to resort to additional strength, meaning Canning, he had, whatever his own opinions respecting him individually were, no objections to the experiment. He said there was also another topic which he had at heart, the restoring his brother to be Commander-inChief.[382] Ld. G. replied that he should bear in mind all H.R.H. had said, and consult with his friends upon the subject, but that he thought it an act of duty without any hesitation to state that the obstacles to the restoration of the D. of York were insurmountable; that they existed amongst those most attached to the Whig Party; that he himself deplored the injustice of persons upon that subject, and, if he might venture to use such an expression, to so exalted a character. He added that he felt the greatest compassion for the Duke, who had been so cruelly misrepresented and slandered. The Prince bid him communicate with Ld. Moira and his other friends. Adam told this on the day of the interview.

Ld. Grenville made a formal communication to politicians at his own house on the following Tuesday. Ld. H. had a private conversation with him in which he stated his own opinions upon the necessity, if they formed a Governt., of considering maturely the question of Spain and Portugal with regard to withdrawing the troops, &c.; also of the state of the press, which was under Ld. Ellenboro’ greatly harassed.

QUESTION OF REGENCY

On Wednesday night Ld. Grey arrived in town; he came here in evening, appointed on the ensuing day to go to Carlton House. Prince very gracious, cordial, and more communicative than with Ld. Grenville. Upon mention of additional strength in House of Commons, Grey remonstrated upon the fallacy of strength being obtained by the accession alluded to (Canning), where sturdy old friends would be lost entirely. Prince observed the clamour excited by Grenville’s resistance as Auditor to the issuing money from the Exchequer, conceived it fatal to his being attached to the Treasury; folly of his letter to Perceval. They separated most amicably. Ld. Grey went directly to frame a reply for P. to the deputation which was next day to offer, from the two Houses, the Regency. Informed the Prince, if their paper did not meet his wishes, that he dined at Ld. Holland’s in Pall Mall, where he should remain to receive H.R.H. commands. We had only Ld. Thanet and Tierney, Ld. H. confined by the gout. At twelve at night, Adam, accompanied by Sheridan, came from C. H., bearing a message from the P., which in plain language was a total rejection of the paper drawn up by Lds. Grey and Grenville, and sending them another, the joint composition of himself and S. Ld. Grey with great moderation and temper declined giving any opinion upon the subject, his own being rejected; said they could not be responsible for sentiments they had not written. Sheridan, who had thrust himself into the whole transaction, protested against their responsibility, alleging that the Prince was not himself in a condition to invest persons with responsibility, that he had drawn a paper, and Ld. Moira had done the same. After Ld. Grey went away, such a scene of duplicity and jealousy was exhibited by S. beyond all belief or description; it required all Adam’s forbearance and good temper to prevent great asperity in the discussion. Ld. H. contended for the responsibility, considering the sending for these Lords as an open act similar to that of a King upon his accession employing a certain set of persons to answer the address from the Privy Council, as his future Ministers.

They went off to C. H. at two o’clock. By Adam’s report, S.’s description of what had passed here was a most gross misrepresentation, and a malicious interpretation of every word uttered. They all parted in wrath; the P. determining to keep what S. made him believe was his own, whereas in fact it was S.’s. This is one of his artifices by which he ensnares the P., first suggesting ideas and words, which he dexterously contrives to make the P. believe are his own. (He avowed this to us some months ago.[383]) Some of Sheridan’s phrases were very bad. The Prince was to say in a taunting manner that he hoped the authority he was to be invested with would be as brief as it was restricted, showing a silly soreness towards the Parliament. On Friday the deputation came; and the paper composed by S. and the Prince was delivered. Grey and Grenville upon the rejection of their paper drew up a remonstrance glancing at secret advisers, which they delivered to Adam to give to the Prince. In the meantime the P. expressed a wish to explain to Ld. H. the whole transaction, and fixed calling upon him on Saturday. By a mistake of Ld. Moira’s, Ld. H. waited for him, as he ought to have told him that the P. could not come till this day, Sunday, 13th Jan., 1811, Pall Mall.

The interview was long; only Mr. Adam present. Authorised an explanation to the two Lords, that he did not conceive his application to them could as yet be considered as official. Consequently they were not in any responsible situation; that they proceeded upon a misconception.

GRENVILLE’S AUDITORSHIP

Sunday, 20th.—A very stormy week, but down to this evening the political horizon brightens. When the two Lords began to discuss arrangements the difficulties seemed insurmountable. Ld. Grey reminded Lord Grenville of the conversation they had formerly had together upon the subject of the impossibility of his holding his place of Auditor of the Exchequer with that of the First Ld. of the Treasury. Ld. Grenville alleged poverty, proposed that Tom,[384] who par parenthèse, has been voluntarily out of Parlt. these three years, should have the Admiralty and the first peerage. Upon the obstacle of the Auditorship being strongly re-argued, a singular paper was delivered in to Grey, in which statements were made of the condition of the First Lords for the preceding 40 years, all of whom had enjoyed large places with the Treasury; stating his own difficulties of undertaking such an expensive station with the mere addition of 1000l. pr. ann.; that he should be overwhelmed with debt. That he could not consent to take the Home Department without an express and distinct understanding that all the Patronage of Church and State which had hitherto gone through the First Ld. of Treasury, should be annexed to the Home Department. That the Minutes of Cabinet should be drawn up by Ld. G. and laid before the Regent or King; that he could not yield his pre-eminence; and rather an arrogant and flourishing termination. The whole composition evinced a sordid and low mind. Scarcely had it been sent, before Ld. Auckland was dispatched to recover it. Ld. Grey hesitated, because if a rupture became inevitable, it was such a complete acquittal of himself.

By-the-bye, I forgot to mention that the first hitch arose from a proposal on the part of Lord Grenville that, from the state of the H. of Commons they ought to look about them for strength, that the lists were not satisfactory, and that they could not be sure of majorities. The plain English of this was that they wanted an organ of their own, Canning for instance, as a barrier against the popular principles of the Whigs and the unpopular and odious manners of Whitbread, whom unfortunately all parties concur in hating, however they may respect him as a public character. Ld. Grey replied that upon consulting his own friends, he was satisfied that the numbers were such as to enable a Govt, to go on well, that by taking Mr. C. weight would be lost, not gained; for the gain would be 10 votes, and the loss of three times that number of real, staunch friends. That upon the mere report of such a junction already Mr. Coke declared his first vote under the new Governt. should be against them, if Mr. C. composed one of the Govt.; also that Messrs. Byng, Brand, &c., were of the same opinion, Ld. J. Cavendish, and most of the old Foxites.

WHIG DISUNION

Ld. Grenville seemed thunderstruck at Grey’s urging that if a motion was made by the enemy against the union of the offices of Treasurer and Auditor, it would be impossible to prevent many of their own friends from voting against them. In the evening Ld. G. wrote to Grey to say that the point in discussion could not be canvassed by them in conversation. Proposed by Grey that Ld. Spencer should be First Lord of Treasury; Grenvilles all eager to declare that he had entirely withdrawn from public life. Various other modes suggested, such as Ld. Grenville’s placing the Auditorship in trust and not receiving the salary whilst he enjoyed the Treasury. On the 16th matters seemed in a state of complete disunion, and the differences between the two Lords began to be talked of in public. In stating the friends with whom Ld. Grenville said he should consult before he came to a final determination, he mentioned Lords Stafford and Carrington. He now talked of giving up all idea of forming an Administration, and recommending the Prince to keep the present Ministers; but Ld. Grey will not agree, as in his opinion it is a scandalous desertion of the Prince. Tom Grenville has begged Grey not to be offended at any dryness and formality in the style of Ld. Grenville’s letters, as official habits early in life make all he writes upon topics of business seem as dry as a chip. In conversation it had been thrown out that the Treasury stripped and degraded would not be fit for Ld. Grey to accept, but that George Ponsonby or Lord Lansdowne might do the duties of it; but this was not listened to, it being impossible, notwithstanding all Lord Grenville said of the present salary, patronage, and influence of the Treasury being a usurpation upon the patronage of the Home Department, to consent to such a glaring alteration as to reduce that which had been hitherto considered as the first office in the State to as low a condition even as a mere Lord of the Treasury. From Lord Temple’s language, which is violent and indiscreet, and from Tom’s, which tho’ milder and more guarded betrays much soreness, it is clear that it is not the numbers of the H. of Commons which induced them to urge a junction with Mr. Canning, but that they felt they had no man of their own, and could not submit to be represented by such persons as Whitbread, &c.

However, at present (21st) all stands well again. On 18th Ld. Grenville with great good humour has given up his schemes of advancement (?), and is content to take the Treasury, yielding all the other offices to Ld. Grey’s nomination, excepting the Secretary at War for Ld. Temple, and the Board of Control, with a seat in Cabinet!! for Ld. Auckland; and with respect to the Auditorship, he offered to put it into trust, but could not afford to give up the salary, and all he required was that Whitbread should acquiesce in the arrangement and defend it, were it to be attacked in Parlt. This proposal was submitted to Whitbread, and strongly urged by Lds. Grey and Holland, but he could not be brought to agree, tho’ he acknowledged that in principle he had no objection to the Auditorship being vested in trust whilst Ld. G. held the Treasury. He admitted that so far from thinking that 4000l. a year was too great an addition to the present salary of the Treasury, that he was ready to propose in the House of Commons that the salary of that and of every high office should be raised to 10,000l. pr. ann., but he could not defend his holding the two offices. He grounds his objection upon a foolish piece of personal vanity, having last year demanded, in an imperative tone, of Perceval whether Yorke received his salary of Teller of Exchequer during his enjoyment of the emoluments of First Lord of Admiralty, and having, as he thought, intimidated them from it as he was answered in the negative, he could not bring himself to defend what he had by his tone reprobated in public. He was very obstinate in his manner, and gave a specimen of his want of conciliating disposition for hereafter, tho’ in this instance he was not so much in the wrong, as he had been assured in the beginning of the arrangements that Ld. G. would give it up. Whitbread continued inflexible, and on the 19th Ld. Grey wrote a very handsome letter to Lord Grenville’s proposal, in which he stated Whitbread’s unwillingness to defend the measure, expressing his own sincere regret at W.’s resolution, adding that he could not bring himself to act with Mr. Canning, and therefore nothing remained for him but to abandon all thoughts of taking part in the Govt., leaving Ld. G. at liberty to form whatever Administration he chose, which he was ready to engage he should not oppose, tho’ he could not assist. Ld. Grenville was hurt at Whitbread’s conduct. On 20th, in morning, Ld. Grenville consented to give up the salary of Auditor during his being at the head of Treasury. They were to go on the following day to the Prince, which is the day appointed for their answer.

21st Jan.—The paper they delivered to the Prince was to inform him that they were ready to undertake the Govt., but advising him before he undertakes the Regency to institute an examination of physicians as to the state of the King’s health, and if the result should be that it is probable that the King would be so far recovered within any limited time so as to be able to resume the exercise of the royal functions, in that case they advise him not to change the Ministers, giving them such an explanation of his motives for retaining them as would prevent him from being justly considered as approving, much less as adopting, the system of their policy. The whole was a very vague, loose way of expressing themselves.

THE QUEEN’S LETTER

On Tuesday the Prince sent for them again, and showed a letter he had received from the Queen (Mr. Adam would not allow me to take a copy). ‘My dearest son, you will be, I am sure, highly gratified to hear that the King is considerably improved in health; he had an interview this morning with Mr. Perceval, who was much satisfied with his whole appearance. He held a very reasonable conversation, and inquired with great interest all that had been done, and expressed himself with kindness towards you, and said he was pleased with yr. conduct pending this business. I send my own servant that there may be no delay in yr. receiving this agreeable information. (Signed) Charlotte,’

The Prince ridiculed the artifice, which was too gross to escape detection. What woman, he said, ever used the Westminster Hall term of pending the business? They thought him shook and little disposed to encounter the clamour of a change. He showed them a letter from Perceval in which he represented the state of public business as pressing. The Prince begged them to write the answer, which was done offhand.

On withdrawing they agreed to assemble a meeting of their future Cabinet to take the business into consideration, and on Thursday, 31st Jan., they met both morning and evening. It was agreed that they should, in consequence of the representation in Perceval’s letter of the state of the army and navy and the progress of private Bills (which he artfully had pressed on), communicate to the Prince that it would be subjecting the country to very material injury if he delayed 48 hours longer the bringing his mind to a determination, either of changing the Ministry, or retaining those now in their offices. In the meantime Sr. Henry Halford (Dr. Vaughan), who had been suspected of meddling more with the body politic than with the diseased physical body he was called in to attend, had frequent audiences of the Prince, in which he worked upon his imagination and fears by drawing the picture of the King agitated and thrown into an exa—tion [sic] which might end fatally; their removing his confidential servants would inevitably produce that effect. It is also suspected that he added if the King recovered and found things stationary he would not reassume the authority, and that the Prince might continue in power. There are besides a hundred little anecdotes, which by not writing at the time have escaped my memory. There was also a letter from the D. of Cumberland, who said, ‘Vaughan has behaved nobly to us all.’

The Prince was very much agitated, and on Friday he saw Adam, Lds. Moira and Hutchinson, to whom he stated the distracted state of his mind, and bid them do justice to his feelings. In the evening he sent Adam and Ld. Hutchinson to Camelford House, by appointment to Lds. G. and G., intimating that in consequence of the report of the physicians as to the probable recovery of the King, he had resolved not to remove the Ministers, hoped they approved, thanked them for their generous conduct, and begged to see them on the following Sunday, and also Ld. Holland, Mr. G. Ponsonby.

AFFAIRS IN SICILY

October, 1811.—Sudden return of Ld. Wm. Bentinck[385] from Sicily for further instructions, after an absence of only a few weeks, has surprised people, and convinced them of his want of capacity and timidity of character. It is understood that his instructions were merely an echo of those given to his predecessor, Lord Amherst, the substance of which was to induce the Court by moderate means to admit the native Sicilians into the Governt., and to diminish the burthens upon the people, and various other points of importance. Ld. Wm. is accused of having very unskilfully in his first paper to Circello betrayed the whole context of his secret instructions; whereupon its not appearing that Ld. Wm. had the power of withholding the subsidy Circello made a most able diplomatic reply, deprecating the interference of any foreign power, however allied, with the internal Governt., and giving it plainly to be understood that allies who acted thus might withdraw their forces. Upon the receipt of this, Ld. Wm., without further discussion, got on board the first vessel, which happened to be Capt. Clifford, of the Cephalus, gun brig, and came home. It is said Ministers were astonished, but declared everywhere that they were highly pleased at his conduct. As that is impossible, the glossing it over must be out of compliment to the D. of Portland. The report is that the Cabinet have resolved upon vigorous measures, and those who know the Queen believe she will not resist, but in case of her being so disposed, she is to be made to submit, and a retreat into Austria suggested as her best resource. The unfortunate Barons who were imprisoned in consequence of their appeal,[386] are left in severe confinement, and Prince Belmonte, who is in a precarious state of health, will certainly not survive the confinement in one of the worst dungeons, and in the most unwholesome spot in the Island. The idle English, by their silly language in the coffee houses have contributed much towards irritating the Queen. Fredk. Lamb[387] is at last to accompany Ld. Wm.

COMMISSION TO MEXICO

The Commissioners to Mexico are to begin their peregrinations in about 3 weeks; it is a trading voyage. Capt. Cockburn,[388] who is one and is to have the rank of Commodore and a flag, goes first to Lisbon to pick up Mr. Stewart; then to Cadiz for the Spaniards; to Jamaica for Mr. Morier; and finally to Vera Cruz. From what is said, the expedition seems to be rather a wild goose chase. It is not certain that the Spanish Governt. will accept the offered mediation. When it was originally proposed, they accepted, annexing the condition that if the colonies did not within 15 months fall into their allegiance to the Mother Country, that in that case the English should assist with military force and compel them to submit by subduing them. This condition has not been acceded to on the part of this Governt., but they send out this Commission, without waiting for the final determination of the Govt. of Cadiz, now they know that they are only to be supported in any pacific measures. The man upon whom much depends is Bardachi, a sort of Secretary of State, who, with some abilities and honesty, is full of prejudice against this country, and of an impracticable temper. B. Hoppner is Sec. to the Commission. Frere, who has been living here upwards of a month, to my astonishment expressed himself surprised and offended that he had been neglected by Ld. Wellesley, saying that from his knowledge of Spain he considered himself as the fittest to be employed; boasted of his influence over Bardachi, who owes his place to him, and various other such absurdities. I was petrified, it not being possible to acquiesce in the reasonableness of his complaint, or consider it as an injury the not selecting him.