Note 385 — JOURNAL OF ELIZABETH LADY HOLLAND (continued 5)

Lord William Cavendish Bentinck (1774–1839), second son of William Henry, third Duke of Portland, who saw much service in various parts of the world and rose to the rank of major-general in 1808. He was appointed Envoy and Commander-in-Chief in Sicily in 1811, and for three years was practically governor of the island. His sudden departure, after a stay of only ten days, had the desired effect of alarming the Sicilian Court, which became much more amenable, after his return, to the reforms he proposed to introduce. The King was notoriously incapable of reigning, and the power was in the hands of the Queen, who detested the English, and was intriguing with the French.