Stratton Street, April 22nd, 1789.
MY DEAR LORD,
The week passed hath not afforded an item of information worthy the
sending you. I have now a circumstance or two to mention in the
political line, and a little scandal to garnish it with, of a sort
"_quod predetendici potuisse, et non potuisse refelli_." Of
business in the first place. Steele told me yesterday, that on Mr.
Fox's motion this day to repeal the Hop-tax, it was meant to give
it up with the best grace possible. The next piece of Parliamentary
intelligence is respecting the Slave Trade; a committee from the
planters and merchants of the West Indies waited the other day on
Mr. Pitt, to put the short question, whether Government supported
Mr. Wilberforce in his motion for the _Abolition_ of the Slave
Trade? Mr. Pitt answered, that "He must decline committing his own
opinion thus early, and that the Cabinet had not yet sat in
discussion of that question." The gentlemen of this committee speak
of Lord Hawkesbury as against the _extent_ of Mr. Wilberforce's
proposition, and that Administration are generally (Camden and
others) with Lord Hawkesbury. _Je ne m'en mele pas._
I know of no other business to engage the attention of Parliament
after Easter but my poor Bill, which is much amended and enlarged
from last year. It seems to have general support. I have thought it
more candid to read it a first time and print it, deferring the
second reading to the first week of meeting after Easter, when I am
engaged to the House to open fully the principle of my undertaking,
in what your Lordship terms _memoires raisonnees_. If I succeed in
this Bill, as I _expect_ to do, relating to the able poor, I shall,
next sessions, proceed to accomplish the rest of my plan, by
amending and giving force to (where necessary) the Bastard, Vagrant
Laws, and generally those of police respecting the poor. The plan
is extensive, but I have much considered it. I think I have it
clear in comprehension, and can pursue it through each effect on
the industry and manners of our people. I cannot be idle, _ainsi je
veux quelque part me faire ministre_.
For the dish of scandal I promised, it is of marked importance as
to the character of those whose character must have leading
consequences in this country; and, in fact, it is no scandal, it is
a shameful truth; otherwise, tales of this sort, are not such as I
like blotting my paper with. In the first place, on the ball given
by White's Club, at the Pantheon, the Prince of Wales sent round to
canvass _non_-attendance by every one of his party; yet both
himself and the Duke of York took the tickets sent, and then the
Duke of York sent them all to be sold, at Hookham's, to any one
that would buy them. The fact was intimated at White's, when the
stewards adopted a regulation to preclude the mischief of improper
company, by directing that the person subscribing, or to whom the
tickets were sent, should put his name. The Duke thereon _put his
name_, and the tickets were sold, with the prostitution of the
title of "_York_." To close this disgraceful detail, a ball, the
same night, of ----, was given at the Horse Guards, expressly for
the Duke of York. I have not authentically heard whether the Prince
of Wales was of the party. The day will come when Englishmen will
bring these Princes to their senses.
Adieu, my dear Lord; health and prosperity, and success in all you
undertake, be yours; and to me, the happiness whilst I have life,
of signing, your affectionately devoted and obliged friend and
servant,