Chapter VI (2)

Your very faithful humble servant,

LIVERPOOL.

DR. PHILLIMORE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Whitehall, Dec. 13, 1821.

MY DEAR LORD,

Since I had the pleasure of seeing your Lordship I have been
assured, upon information on which I think I can rely, that I may
perfectly well hold one of the Commissionerships of the Board of
Control and continue the exercise of my profession; if this be so,
and you see no objection, it really seems to me that if they refuse
to turn out the King's Advocate, it would be most desirable that
you should press my going with Wynn to the Board of Control, upon
an understanding that, on the death of Lord Stowell, I should
succeed him as Judge of the Admiralty. I will enclose a memorandum
containing the statement. It is very natural that Wynn should take
some person with him in the capacity of a Commissioner, and we know
that Sturges Bourne has made a vacancy there; it must, however, be
understood that I am not to be a Privy Councillor, as that would
prevent me from arguing causes before the Privy Council.

Wynn has as yet received no answer from his letter to Lord
Liverpool, which is rather singular. The idea is very general that
Canning will not go to India.

Believe me,

Yours gratefully and sincerely,

JOSEPH PHILLIMORE.

Since writing the above I have been summoned to a _Cabinet at
next door_ on the arrival of Lord Liverpool's despatch, which,
of course, you will receive by this post.

_Memorandum for the Marquis of Buckingham._

King's Advocate, if an arrangement can be made for the removal of
the present King's Advocate, which, from his unfitness for his
situation, would be a desirable arrangement for Government;

Or,

The promise of being Judge of the Admiralty, whenever Lord Stowell
shall make a vacancy, and in the meantime to go with Wynn as one of
the Commissioners (with a salary) to the Board of Control, if the
duties of that office should not conflict (as I am assured they
would not) with the exercise of my profession.

THE EARL OF LIVERPOOL TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Bath, Dec. 16, 1821.

MY DEAR LORD,

I have this morning received the favour of your letter, and I
derive sincere pleasure from the satisfactory conclusion of the
communications that have passed between us. I can assure you that I
look forward to the connexion which has now been formed, as one
that is likely to be highly advantageous to the public service, as
well as truly gratifying to my personal feelings.

There can be no objection to your putting yourself in communication
with the Secretary of State for the Home Department respecting your
title, and the time is now come when you may properly write to the
King to acknowledge his Majesty's gracious intentions.

I feel with you all the importance of the whole arrangement taking
place as nearly as possible at the same time, and if I wish for a
short delay, it is because I am convinced that Lord Wellesley and
Mr. Goulburn will find great facilities in carrying the point
respecting Mr. Plunket, from being able to say that the general
arrangement is suspended till it can be brought to a conclusion.

Mr. Goulburn is now with me, and proceeds to Ireland to-morrow;
Lord Wellesley will leave London, I understand, on Wednesday, and I
am to see him here on his way. I will certainly recommend to the
King to make Mr. Fremantle a Privy Councillor; I shall be most
happy if it is in my power to open a seat at the Board of Treasury
for him. I feel he would be of great personal use to me at that
Board; but I cannot be confident as to my success in this respect
until after my return to town.

Believe me to be, with great truth,

My dear Lord,

Very faithfully yours,

LIVERPOOL.

THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Strathfieldsaye, Dec. 16, 1821.

MY DEAR LORD BUCKINGHAM,

I have received a letter from Lord Londonderry which gives me
reason to hope that your discussions with the Government have been
brought to a conclusion to your satisfaction. I cannot express to
you the gratification which this circumstance affords me; and most
particularly [when] I think that I have been, in some degree,
instrumental in bringing about an arrangement which is, I trust, as
agreeable to you as I am sure it is beneficial to the country. I
could not avoid writing these few lines to congratulate you; and I
beg you to believe me,

Ever yours most sincerely,

WELLINGTON.

LORD GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Dropmore, Dec. 20, 1821.

I think you are certainly right in what you propose to do as to
your own title. I am not herald enough to see any difficulty in
your son's being _commonly called_ Earl Temple, as at present;
and I should vehemently suspect that any difficulties arising on
that head at the College, have nothing else in view than the
payment of a third set of fees.

If, however, you give way to them, I should incline to recommend
your taking the Marquisate of _Temple_. I wish I were not in
the way as to that of Grenville; and should you and he prefer that,
most undoubtedly I could have no claim to object to it; but I could
not recommend it, because he as well as I should then experience,
to a much greater degree, the inconvenience which already results
from the confusion of Granville and Grenville.

I return Lord Liverpool's letter, which is very handsomely
expressed.

I know nothing of French politics, and care as little as possible.
I am sick of reading two or three columns about them every day in
our English papers. I cannot much praise the wisdom of letting the
Ministerial papers here open a battery against the existing
Ministry (be it what it may) in France.

You must be aware of the case of the Earl of Euston, and others
similar to it. After all, I see no reason against his being called
Marquis of _Chandos_, if you find it necessary to take another
Marquisate, though I know no instance of the son's being called by
the _same title_ as that which his father has in a higher rank; but
it does not occur to me why it should not be so.

MR. W. H. FREMANTLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Englefield Green, Dec. 19, 1821.

MY DEAR LORD,

I am much obliged to you for your communication about the Treasury.
I should certainly prefer acting under Lord Liverpool, for whom I
entertain the highest personal respect and the warmest feeling, to
a seat in the Board of Control; and I feel, moreover, that I could
be of more use in the one than in the other. I am also much
gratified by the intention of recommending me for the Privy
Council, but I would by no means wish for such a distinction unless
I held one of the offices to which I have alluded, and which were
distinctly named to me by Lord Liverpool as open to your
nomination.

I won't worry you on my concerns more, knowing how much discussion
this whole subject has created.

Ever truly yours,

W. H. FREMANTLE.

MR. W. H. FREMANTLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Englefield Green, Dec. 21, 1821.

MY DEAR LORD,

I never for one moment doubted your kindness and friendship towards
me, which I have always felt, and on this occasion I was sure you
would keep Lord Liverpool to his engagement; but in looking at his
letter you will see that it is very vague, though probably he did
not mean it to be so, and I wished you to be aware of this in time.
I am quite sensible to your particular attention to my extra object
of Privy Council, which I was so anxious for you to press because
it was not stipulated. I am quite sure it will all end right, and
whether it is Treasury or Control I care little, but on the grounds
which I think would be most advantageous to you.

From what I hear, the blow is felt by Opposition. They are very
sore at the connexion you have formed, and endeavour to hold out
that the Government is not strengthened by it. There can be no
doubt of its increased strength, provided the whole of Canning's
party, with him at the head, do not form a junction with Lord
Lansdowne; and this seems impossible, for some time to come at
least. Indeed, those most connected with him still hold out that he
is to go to India, though not immediately. I was not aware till a
day or two ago that he was to have a Peerage previous to his
return, but not on his assuming the Government.

Ever truly yours,

W. H. F.

LORD GLASTONBURY TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Conduit Street, Dec 21, 1821.

MY DEAR LORD,

Nothing can be more honourable than the arrangements lately
proposed to you by Lord Liverpool, or more dignified and consistent
than your acceptance of them on your own part and on that of your
friends', whether considered in a public or private point of view.
I am most thankful to you for the communication of them, and I feel
most sensibly the very flattering and affectionate terms in which
you convey it. I share, believe me, most warmly in the pride and
exultation which yourself and every part of your family must feel
on your advancement to the highest rank in the Peerage. This was
the object of your good father through the whole course of his life
(who _justly_ considered it as the most _substantial_ proof of
Royal favour which could be given), as it has been of yours; and
you have now the gratification of obtaining it thus speedily, and
(as it must be universally allowed) without any dereliction of
principle or submission whatsoever. On the contrary, you have
asserted your right to maintain all your old opinions, and to
adhere to them in spite of all possible contingencies: nothing more
could be required by you, and your satisfaction must be complete. I
must likewise observe on your Dukedom (and I feel a pride in making
the observation), that you are to be called to it without a
companion, which adds considerably to the distinction. This great
boon, therefore, is conferred on you with every circumstance which
must make the acquisition complete, and, in any point of view, it
is of higher value as it brings no responsible situation in the
Cabinet or elsewhere with it. This would have appeared to me a sad
drawback in times like the present, which I may say, without
meaning to convey any censure on the Government, are truly
alarming. But your mind may [be], and probably is, of a more ardent
cast; and difficulties and dangers may be to you additional
recommendations. However, my grey hairs do not dispose me to thrust
my hand, like the old Roman, into a flaming fire; but better days
may follow, and the sun may again shine upon us, when such
situations may be more desirable, and will be attainable.

The Catholic question is the only point on which you differ with
any part of the King's Ministers, and on this point there has been
always a difference among themselves. I sincerely wish that the new
arrangements may bring this question to a happy conclusion, which
seems now more indispensably necessary than ever to the public
safety. But this is the only part of the change which I do not
quite approve. The appointment of Lord Wellesley is excellent,
provided he still retains sufficient bodily strength, and the
energies of his mind are such as they were several years ago in
India; but I think that I see a sort of _compromise in the
appointment_ of the Lord Lieutenant and his Secretary, who are
thought to come from different schools and to hold different
doctrines. This compromise has been already fatal, and we are now
tasting its fruits. The times will no longer bear such a line of
conduct. I therefore sincerely hope that the public suspicions on
this subject are unfounded.

My brother desires to join me in every sentiment which I have
expressed personal to yourself. We both desire to be personally
remembered to Lady B----, and I remain, my dear Lord, with the
sincerest esteem,

Ever affectionately yours,

GLASTONBURY.

MR. HENRY W. WYNN TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

St. James's Square, March 28, 1821.

MY DEAR LORD B----,

I saw Lord Castlereagh this morning, and am happy to say that his
reception of me was as favourable as I could have wished. He began
by a great deal of palaver about the obligation the Government were
under to _my_ family, and that he conceived I had an undoubted
claim upon them. At the same time he said that he was not enabled
to make any communication to me, but that he trusted soon to have
it in his power. When I told him that I was going abroad for six
weeks, he desired me to call on him on my return, and that he did
not doubt he should then be able to give me a decisive answer. I
consider this as almost tantamount to a promise, and that I have
very nearly obtained the object I have so long had in view. This I
owe entirely to you, and the most difficult task I have now to
perform is to express to you one half the obligation I feel for
your kindness. You will, I am sure, consider yourself as repaid by
the happiness you have procured to me and mine.

Ever your affectionate and obliged,

H. W. W.

Watkin has just brought in from the House of Commons the account of
the game being quite up with the Neapolitans.

MR. CHARLES W. WYNN TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Llangedwin, Christmas Day.

MY DEAR B----,

On Saturday I slept at Dropmore, in my way down here, and my visit
was well timed, as I just met Lord Wellesley, and had a great deal
of conversation with him. Ha was in high spirits, and very
entertaining, narrating his past victories over Indian cabals, and
anticipating his future ones over Irish. I cannot say that the
King's Lieutenant (as he took care more than once in conversation
to style himself) was received without that ceremony. On the
contrary, Mr. Dodsworth was Lord Chamberlain for the occasion, to
show him his room before dinner, and he found his own way into the
gallery afterwards, and had nobody even to carry up his candlestick
to bed.

In and about his carriage were five servants, among whom were two
young _gentlemen_ between eighteen and nineteen, who, by the
housemaid's report, made his bed. (I should have thought one would
have been sufficient to make or unmake it) Lady Grenville was cruel
enough not to repeat this to me till he was gone, so that I had no
sight of them.

He told me that he understood Downes made no objection to retiring,
and therefore he anticipated no difficulty or delay in Plunket's
appointment, as Saurin would not have the power to stop it, and
would only have to choose between promotion to the Chief-Justiceship
and dismission from the Attorney-Generalship. The latter is
reported to be troubled with scruples of conscience, not only from
his want of experience in criminal law, but objections to passing
sentence of _death_. Now, since as Attorney-General he must have
swallowed these sufficiently to direct capital prosecutions, I have
myself little apprehension of their choking him when he is to pass
sentence, or even if his office required him to execute it. Lord
Wellesley talked to me a good deal about Canning, and expressed his
belief that he really wished to go to India. If that is the case,
there can be no doubt, that whether he delays two or three months
on account of Lord Hastings or not, that it will end in his going.
He treated the reports of disturbance in Dublin as quite
ridiculous, and told us that they rested only on the depositions of
Patrick Maloney, a discharged serjeant, who tells of a meeting of
1700 men at night under Carlton wall, who were seen by nobody else
but Terence O'Tregan, who is to come forward hereafter, but at
present is confined at home, having caught a _could_ in his head,
and so keeping house.

MR. W. H. FREMANTLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Englefield Green, Dec. 27, 1821.

MY DEAR LORD,

Nothing can be more satisfactory or conclusive than Lord
Liverpool's letter, which fully confirms your interpretation. I am
perfectly satisfied, and shall wait with great patience and
pleasure his convenience.

I believe there is something in the change of Bloomfield. I have
heard it from a variety of quarters, but I doubt its being put into
execution, as there must be so much in the power of the individual,
from long habits and confidences. At present it is clearly not so,
for only yesterday I received a note from him, _under the King's
authority_, requesting me to learn from Charles Wynn for a
certainty whether he could place at the disposal of his Majesty a
writership for the year 1821, for a young man whom he was anxious
to send out to India. I have enclosed the note to Wynn. A pretty
good and modest demand, even before he is in office, or knows what
his patronage may be; and why it was to be conveyed through me, I
know not.

When this letter will reach you, I have not a guess. The floods
have stopped up all communication with London. There are not less
than twenty stages now at rest in Egham, and the water still
rising. The sheep, oxen, &c., all removed, and no provision for
this additional population. I see by the papers it is much the same
in your Northamptonshire neighbourhood. When do you expect your
patent will be ready?

Ever most truly yours,

W. H. F.

MR. W. H. FREMANTLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Englefield Green, Dec. 30, 1821.

MY DEAR LORD,

I heard yesterday the particulars regarding Canning, which I
believe to be true, and accounts about the trouble of a letter,
&c., which you had heard.

About a year and a half since, Lord Hastings wrote to Sir John
Doyle a private letter, in which he complained bitterly of the
conduct of the Board of Directors, saying as he had lost their
confidence, he should remain in India no longer. Doyle showed this
letter, and had authority from the Directors to say that so far
from Lord Hastings having lost their confidence, they entertained
the highest opinion of him, and should be extremely sorry if he
returned. In answer to this, Lord Hastings writes to Doyle to say
he is glad to find the Directors are satisfied with his conduct,
but that he should return to England, as he found his health and
spirits give way, and he was anxious to return. Upon the strength
of this letter the Ministers thought proper to act, and notified
their intention of naming Canning for his successor, transmitting
the letter of Lord Hastings to Sir John Doyle to the Court of
Directors as their grounds for appointing him a successor. The
Court return the letter, saying they could not receive a private
letter to a private friend as a ground for such an appointment, and
on this objection it was decided to write to Lord Hastings to know
decidedly his wishes on the subject of return. This letter was
prepared by the Court of Directors, and ended in leaving it
entirely at his option to remain or come home; and being sent to
the Board of Control for approbation, B. Bathurst scratched out the
latter paragraph, and left it with the intention of naming him a
successor, in compliance with the wish expressed by him to Sir John
Doyle. This letter went the 15th of last month, so that no answer
can be had for ten months to come; and I have no doubt Canning will
wait till that time under an assurance of supporting Government,
unless anything turns up in the meantime to make it worth his while
to take another position.

I hear from many hands the Opposition are violent with us; and
there does not seem to be two opinions as to the liberal and
handsome terms which have been made with you; indeed, I may fairly
say to you that Wynn's appointment is considered much beyond his
pretensions.--The King is living very retired; literally no one at
the Pavilion but the Conynghams and two or three of the household.
One of the grounds for believing in Bloomfield's disgrace is that
Lady Bloomfield is not there, being the first time she has ever
been absent from a party of this sort. I am very glad to hear the
Christmas quarter in the Revenue has kept up very well, and I
understand Vansittart talks of having a surplus of seven millions
this year. Such a result would very much lighten our labours in the
session. They are going to make a new Board for the preventive
service against smuggling, Sir Henry Hotham to be the chief, and
two other commissioners, Boyle and the officer now employed, whose
name I believe is Shortland. This will necessarily create a new
Board of Admiralty by the vacancy occasioned by Sir H. Hotham and
Warrender, who wishes to retire. I heard the new navy lord, but I
can't just now recollect who it was. I have never heard who comes
in the room of Warrender.

Ever sincerely yours,

W. H. F.

CHAPTER VII.

[1822.]

CHANGES IN THE GOVERNMENT. LORD ELDON'S DISSATISFACTION. MR. CHARLES WILLIAMS WYNN APPOINTED PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF CONTROL. OTHER MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS. THE KING'S SPEECH. TROUBLES IN IRELAND. THREATENED ATTACK IN PARLIAMENT ON MR. HENRY WILLIAMS WYNN. LORD GRENVILLE ON THE FINANCES OF THE COUNTRY. DEAN BUCKLAND. DISCONTENT OF THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN. THREATENED DISSOLUTION OF THE GOVERNMENT. DISMISSAL OF SIR BENJAMIN BLOOMFIELD.