Chapter IX: Part 9

_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.

[Sidenote: 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]

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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]

[Sidenote: 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; 500_l._ and jewels estimated at 30,000_l._ 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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 1000_l._ 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.

[Sidenote: 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 4000_l._ 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 10,000_l._ 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: AFFAIRS IN SICILY]