=Source.=--_The Diary and Correspondence of Charles Abbot, Lord
Colchester._ London, 1861. Vol. III. p. 472.
March 27th. Heard from the Duke of Newcastle a fuller account of
his interview with the King, at Windsor, on Saturday last. (The
former account I had received from Lord Falmouth.)
He arrived at Windsor at two, and requested an audience. At the
end of two hours, when he was exhausted and almost asleep, the door
of his apartment was opened, and the King was announced.
The King received him very graciously; believed he understood
the subject of his visit; entered at great length into the whole
history of the Roman Catholics, from the reign of James II. down
to the present time. Professed himself a "Protestant, heart and
soul." Declared he never would give his assent to any measures for
Roman Catholic Emancipation. And, when pressed by the Duke as to
the new form of his administration, he assured the Duke "that the
First Minister should be for the Protestant side of the question,"
and, as to Ireland, that the Chancellor there should be Protestant
also. He added that the present audience would be necessarily known
to everybody; but "he must keep faith with his Ministers." He said,
"the courage of his family had never been questioned." When assured
that, in choosing Protestants for his Ministers, his choice would
be supported by a large and powerful body of Peers, and pressed
for an assurance that his choice would be made accordingly, he
said, again and again, "Do you doubt me? But it is not I who fail
in my duty. It is you in Parliament. Why do you suffer the d----d
Association in Dublin?"
The Duke of Newcastle clearly saw that the Chancellor had lost
his former influence with the King. It was evident that the King
knew the Duke of Rutland's opinions upon the present subject. The
King's sentiments were strongly expressed, but there was reason to
apprehend that considerations of ease and repose might outweigh his
principles.
The Duke told the King plainly that the support or opposition
of himself, and of those for whom he was acting, would depend
on the choice that the King should finally make in forming his
Administration.
In parting, the King very graciously told him "he never need ask an
audience _in form_, he was always welcome," and hoped he would come
and fish there in the summer.
(_N.B._--The King did not finish the audience without talking to
the Duke about his _tailor_.)