the proposal, he mentioned it as being whimsical, that, as the great
distress was the want of talent in the H. of Commons, they should
therefore move their best speaker into the House of Lords.[242] Ld.
Howick is _now_ desirous of retaining the Admiralty; he is satisfied of
the impolicy of giving up such a mine of patronage, and has, in idea,
been long enough in possession of the Foreign Office to be weary of it,
but unluckily it is too late. The Foxites have not _one_ office which
has patronage annexed to it.
[Sidenote: THE NEW CABINET]
The plan is finally fixed:--Mr. Grenville, Admiralty; Ld. Howick, F.
Department; Ld. H., Privy Seal; Ld. Sidmouth, P. of the Council; Ld.
Fitzwm., Seat in Cabinet, without office; Tierney, Board of Control.
Ld. Howick had a thousand _freaks_, for they were too wild to be called
plans, the burthen of which was that if he could not do things his own
way, he would go out. He assured Ld. Holland through the General, and
to _himself_ also, that he considered himself merely as _locum tenens_
during the period of his being in the H. of Commons, and that his being
in the office ought not to be considered as an obstacle to Ld. H.’s
views, he knowing also what Mr. Fox’s intentions had been upon that
subject. In short, as far as professions and assurances can go, we must
feel satisfied that he will make the offer when he is removed to the
H. of Lords. The General says, ‘I have no doubt he is sincere now, but
when the impression of Fox’s loss wears away, perhaps his intentions
may change.’
_22nd._--Messenger from Lauderdale. He has had a severe bilious attack,
caused, D. Stewart thinks, a good deal by the sad tidings from England.
Talleyrand full of overstrained civility. England, he said, had a right
to dictate her own terms, she being in a most commanding station.
France has only to be careful not to concede too much. They want to
have back Surinam and Demerara. L. has demanded Cuba in exchange.
Capture of Buenos Ayres produced little sensation at Paris.[243]
Emperor left Paris. Ld. Morpeth is to go to Berlin immediately.[244]
_25th._--In consequence of Ld. M.’s declining to go on acct. of the
shortness of notice, Ld. Henry Petty having expressed some desire to
go, Ld. Howick gladly caught at it, and it was mentioned to the King.
Upon Ld. Holland hearing of it, he did his utmost, both in conversation
and by letter, to dissuade Petty, who was so much shook by Ld. H.’s
arguments that he was as eager to seek a pretext to avoid going as
he had been before to get one to go, and he availed himself of some
difficulties about putting the Seals into commission. Ld. Carlisle
wished Morpeth to go, and accordingly he has agreed, and very kindly is
to take B. Frere[245] with him, whom he will leave, in case he comes
away, as Chargé d’Affaires, which will be getting B. F. employment, and
perhaps a grade hereafter.
Lds. Grenville and Howick wrote to the Prince after Mr. Fox’s death.
His answer to Lord Howick was that he wished for no change but that
Ld. Holland should have his uncle’s Seals. But, being in the meantime
informed of the arrangements agreed upon, he wrote to Ld. G. that his
political interest was buried in the grave with Mr. Fox, but that, as
it was probable he might at some future time be again forced to public
matters, he thought it proper to say that he was ready to give his
support to the present Administration, on acct. of the friends he had
in it, and that he should always look to ye friends of Mr. Fox, and
particularly to Ld. H., as his own political friends.
[Sidenote: LORD HOLLAND’S POST]
The Duke of Bedford in writing, and the D. of Norfolk in conversation,
have also expressed to Ld. H. that they look upon him as his uncle’s
representative in the Whig Party. Ld. H. stipulated, as it was his
uncle’s wish, that the first blue ribbon was to be given to the D. of
Norfolk. Agreed to.
Ld. Holland strenuously against sending any person to Prussia, but to
allow whatever business there may be to be transacted by the Minister,
Jacobi,[246] who is at Hambro’ [_sic_] on the part of Prussia, and by
Mr. Thornton on our part, our Minister at Hambro’.
On the 10th October, the funeral of Mr. Fox. He was accompanied to the
grave by his old friends, public and private, and by the Ministers. I
was present in a gallery erected for me in the Abbey over the grave.
* * * * *
_12th December, 1806._[247]--The fragment of the Prussian army may
amount altogether to about 50,000 men. Old Kalkreuth, who made his
escape after the Battle of Auerstadt, is in Dantzic with 12,000.
The King is not at Petersburg, but whenever he is, his councils are
directed by Haugwitz more than ever, which makes him perfectly nugatory.
The Russian Proclamation, which declares the necessity of Wallachia
and Moldavia being occupied by their troops,[248] has excited alarm
and distrust in the Austrian Cabinet. Those Courts are wrangling about
punctilios, just as if Bonaparte were not alive. The Austrians want
to coalesce with Russia, but they are afraid and undecided; however,
Pozzo di Borgo, who is in the Russian Military Service, is despatched
to Vienna to see whether he can bring about any co-operation. Little
can be expected even if he does, Bonaparte has so completely secured
his rear and kept a communication with France by means of menacing and
cajoling, that all attempts against him are idle.
[Sidenote: KING OF SWEDEN]
The King of Sweden, tho’ very wrong-headed, and ill-gifted with that
rare commodity common sense, has some notion of honour and high sense
of it. Bernadotte, either at Altona or Hamburg, made some overtures to
the Swedish Minister, saying that Bonaparte had always considered the
King of Sweden as the only high-spirited Monarch; talked of the old
alliance between France and Sweden, and threw out hints of Bonaparte’s
willingness to give him Norway. The only notice the K. of Sweden
bestowed upon this was a severe reproof and recall of his Minister for
listening to any proposals from the French, and giving instructions
to have the whole proceeding laid before the Danish Government, in
order to show them the perfidy of the French, who were soliciting their
friendship.[249] Our Government intend to augment his subsidy, and hold
out a prospect hereafter of giving him ships to assist in the conquest
of an island, Martinique or Guadalupe. The Danes are terrified, and
will yield Holstein if the French should be peremptory; not, it is to
be hoped, with impunity on our part.
The Opposition are full of jokes against Tierney; they say the
dissolution was entirely his scheme, that by its suddenness they might
be taken by surprise and unprepared, but that it appeared that he
himself was the least prepared, and the most surprised. He lost the
Borough.[250]
An abundance of speculators have gone with English goods to Buenos
Ayres, enough to make a glut in the market, and merchants have sent
over, it is said, to buy English goods, as they will be quite a drug
there. Auchmuty[251] is gone with considerable reinforcements thither.
General Craufurd’s[252] expedition is to land at Val Paraiso in the
South Sea; it was delayed so long that the passage by Cape Horn
would be impracticable, therefore they must go round the Cape, a
voyage of eight months. This expedition was delayed on account of the
negotiation. Peace was once expected, but even then it was a mistaken
policy, in my humble opinion, as Bonaparte is an enemy who will respect
you more, if you will not only show your teeth but bite with them too.
The Government of the United States has detected the conspiracy which
has long been gathering to break off the Northern from the Southern
States, and so to make the Allegany Mountains the boundary. Mr.
Burr,[253] who killed General Hamilton, is the head of it, and orders
have been given to arrest him. General Wilkinson with the army is in
the South and declared for Burr.
[Illustration:
_J. Hoppner Pinscit, 1798_ _Emery Walker Ph.sc._
_John, Viscount Boringdon_
(_afterwards Earl of Morley_)]
[Sidenote: BURR’S CONSPIRACY]
Burr laid the whole plot open to our Minister, and asked the
assistance of England; Merry transmitted the communication to Ld.
Mulgrave,[254] who, as usual, returned no answer.
Ld. Grenville calls the American a _Mob Government_, and one too weak
to carry its own measures into effect.
The Scotch Peers elections have gone well; Ld. Melville was cruelly
disappointed, he expected to carry four, and only carried Ld. Aberdeen.
Kinnaird behaved imprudently and foolishly; however, Ld. Lauderdale’s
dexterity and activity carried him through. Till the very moment before
the election, Lord Melville reckoned upon carrying _four_.
Deliberations in the Cabinet upon an attack on Mexico; Ld. Grenville
sent to Ld. H. Sr. Arthur Wellesley’s plan.[255] Sir Arthur Wellesley
appears to have obtained all his information with respect to the
accessible points for attacking S. America, New Spain, from a Mr.
Frazier.
_18th December._--Lauderdale entertains no doubt whatever that the note
so very offensive in its language to him was written, and also that it
was written by the Emperor himself; and, moreover, that the Ministers,
to avoid a severe reprimand from him for having ventured to suppress
it, have thus impudently ventured to publish it officially. The other
speculation is that the order for the publication of the correspondence
was sent from Berlin, and the clerks published _all_, _brouillons_
included. This is the most probable.
The melancholy year of 1806 died with another loss: the D. of
Richmond[256] died at Goodwood of suppressed gout and a liver
complaint, discovered only after death.
News of the recapture of Buenos Ayres believed by the Government. It
rests upon the declaration of a Portuguese Captain, who reached Lisbon
in 43 days from Pernambuco; he says a Spanish schooner came in there
dismasted, who was the bearer of dispatches to Old Spain, giving an
account of the retaking of the town after a severe contest. It must
be highly gratifying to Ld. Howick that he should have made his manly
exposition of Sr. Home Popham’s improper conduct before this news, when
the shabby people will be as ready to cry against the business, as they
have been ready to praise it. An instance of the money-getting spirit
of Sr. Home came to my knowledge lately. He wrote to the merchants
at Manchester advising the exportation of certain goods, but to his
own agent he bid him send him, upon speculation, a large quantity of
silk stockings, with a hint that this order should not transpire. B.
Frere assured me he was acquainted with the silk-stocking merchant who
supplied the articles.
[Sidenote: LORD ELDON AND THE KING]
The business of the Princess,[257] which is now before the Cabinet, is
highly perplexing, and from the answer given by the K. to the Minute
of the Cabinet, there is good reason to suspect he has some secret
advisers. The style is much too business-like, and shows too much
knowledge of law to be his own. This suspicion is confirmed by the line
of conduct taken in the H. of Lds.; it is quite distinct from Canning’s
in the H. of Commons, as they did not move the Address. Ld. Eldon
had for many years the management of the D. of Portland’s estates;
in consequence of which, he had frequent access to him, and thereby
acquired considerable influence over his mind. The King has appointed
the D. of Portland his Master of his own private Monies. Thus upon
pretence of his private affairs, the K. has a channel of communication
with Ld. Eldon, which Ministers can in no way get at or interfere with.
There are avowed schisms amongst the Opposition; Canning is distinct
from Perceval, and from Castlereagh. If the _great man_ of all does
meddle in the H. of Lds., those in the Commons are not entrusted with
the secret of his benign influence.
A curious petition under the Treating Act against Messrs. Windham and
Coke, curious because it is not brought by the rejected candidate, who,
on the contrary, declares he is not privy to the petition. It is the
result of female spleen and revenge, a retaliation upon Mr. Windham for
an election trick played by his party against these incensed heroines,
Mesdames Atkins and Berney.[258] They had induced some electors to
come forward and petition under the Treating Act; the three candidates
unwisely consented to treat, not suspecting mischief could ensue from
any other quarter. Mrs. Atkins was a celebrated actress, formerly of
the name of Walpole. Her coadjutor is as great a virago as herself.
‘_La vengeance est douce à l’esprit d’une femme._’ Windham had a double
return, so will sit for some rotten borough. Serjeant Lens, who is his
counsel, rather despairs of making out a defensible case.
The expedition of General Craufurd, which was _not_ to take Teneriffe
on its way to the S. Sea because it would take too much time, is now
loitering and beating off the Cape de Verd Islands for want of convoy,
which convoy has not at this moment quitted England.
_January 4th, 1807._--The American Treaty is at length signed; it must
go to the U. States for ratification before it can be made public.
The only point gained is the settling the ill-humour, and fixing the
continuous voyage;[259] the seamen question is still unsettled.
[Sidenote: DEBATE ON THE NEGOTIATION]
_6th January._--Last night upon the subject of the negotiation,
Whitbread took the most hostile line against Government, arguments
mingled with invective against their conduct from the beginning to the
end of the negotiation. He _applauded_ Ld. Yarmouth’s proceedings,
censured the recalling him, as well as the motives assigned for it, and
found fault with everything done by Lauderdale; concluding the whole in
the most personal manner to Grey, by moving the _same_ amendment that
Grey himself had moved on the Address to the King when Ld. Whitworth’s
papers were under consideration.[260] Ld. Yarmouth, conceiving himself
to be the injured party, spoke with warmth against Ministers; Perceval,
with bitterness and scurrility against Fox. This strange conduct of
Whitbread’s will be productive of great mischief, and unfortunately
Ld. Holland, from an apprehension of being overcome if he risked
mentioning his uncle’s name in public, did not speak on the night of
the debate in ye House of Lords. His silence and Whitbread’s garrulity
will corroborate the French story of the Fox party being discontented
with Lauderdale’s conduct. This, however, can and will be justified
immediately by his speaking, with or without an opportunity.
During the debate L. sat next to the Prince, who seemed mightily to
relish Ld. Yarmouth’s occasional raps at the Grenvilles, and shortly
after opened very freely upon his dissatisfaction; told him to sound
H. upon the subject of the Pss., in which he spoke as if he suspected
he was _given up_, and to ascertain whether, if so, he, Ld. H., was
prepared to go out upon it; deeply deplored the loss of Fox, who was
a _man_, fair, open, and attached. L. collected, which combined with
other circumstances that had come to his knowledge, that Ld. Moira
is playing a deep game, by trying to draw a line in the Cabinet of
Prince’s friends and Grenville’s. He has never recovered the double
disappointment, first, of not being made First Lord of the Treasury
and Patron of Scotland, and, secondly, of not being acknowledged the
successor of Fox in the Whig party. That is to say, the Prince styles
himself the head of the Whig party, in imitation of his uncle, the D.
of Cumberland, who was so in 1764, forgetting how foolish that was, but
how much more foolish it is in an Heir Apparent! However, with this
idea thrust upon him by Ld. Moira, he is the more likely to concur
with Moira’s views, who would content himself with being styled his
assistant upon such an assumption.
Ld. Holland dined at the India House where Ld. Minto had been sworn
in;[261] Ld. M.’s spirit excessively depressed. If annoyed at going,
why seek the appointment by such means?
[Sidenote: WHITBREAD’S SPEECH]
_7th January, 1807._--A universal groan, a spontaneous, unanimous
feeling of disgust in the H. of Commons, when Perceval attacked the
character of Fox. The tune of it was that all the kingdoms of Europe
had sunk by treachery, bribery of their principal persons; that
Talleyrand, the base, corrupt Prime Minister of France, had been the
agent; yet this _immaculate_ character was the _attached_ friend of
Mr. ----.[262] The House shuddered, and interrupted the pronouncing of
the name. He animadverted upon the correspondence carried on between
them. Whitbread’s speech made a considerable impression upon some of
the most valuable men in the House, but was not conclusively reasoned;
he having completely overlooked the necessity of keeping faithful to
our allies, the Russians. Some think that the greatest mischief done
by his speech was the drawing out some very warlike sentiments from
Grey, who answered both injudiciously and inconsistently (with former
declarations) with regard to the duration and principle of the war,
which he stated with all the exaggerated declamation of a pupil of the
Pitt school. This is a most unfortunate error, and is the more to be
regretted, as the case upon ye papers was so strong, and might have
been defended upon the true principles of Mr. Fox’s pacific policy.
Roscoe[263] spoke yesterday for his maiden speech on the Thetford
Petition: Windham says his manner is dull, coarse, and provincial. I
do not think his talents are such as will enable him to _add_ to his
reputation by his public speaking.
_February 8th._--Serjeant Lens called to give me an acct. of the state
of Norfolk Committee. Windham is in great agitation, even beyond what
such a circumstance ought to excite. _His_ imprudence has been quite
incredible; however, nothing decisive has yet appeared against him.
There were two of his indiscreet letters afloat; one has been rescued,
but the other is still in the hands of the enemy--the one of the most
mischievous purport unluckily. Each letter was a threatening to dismiss
the persons, to whom they were addressed, from their employments, if
they did not vote, and in the one in the field Ld. Grenville’s name is
used.
Prince came and stayed a considerable time. He is looking less ill than
he did a month ago. Ld. H. advised him to do nothing about the Pss.,
telling him in as civil terms as he could that his unpopularity in the
country was so great, that any publication of proceedings on his part
would only confirm the belief in a conspiracy against her. He also
advised him to conciliate the Duke of Gloucester,[264] whose ambitious
views of alliance with the young Princess were apparent, and tho’ not
necessary to encourage, were worthy at least of observation, as he
might secure his friendship by civility. He expressed great abhorrence
of him, said he was a fool and a Saint: said it had often occurred to
him that his brother, the Duke of Cambridge,[265] would be a proper
husband for his daughter, that such connections were common amongst
Catholics, and that Parliament could grant a dispensation as fully as
the Pope. He has promised to take no steps without consulting his legal
advisers.
[Sidenote: LORD MINTO’S PAPER]
Ld. Minto came to take leave, he was to set off for India in half an
hour. Prince seized and dragged him into the little room, said, ‘H.
you may come too,’ and then asked Ld. Minto to give him the statement
which was drawn up by him and Burke on the King’s recovery in 1789,
in which they had entered fully into the Queen’s conduct during H.M.
illness.[266] Ld. Minto was extremely disturbed, and hardly knew how to
reply. He stammered and said it was of no use, such a paper now would
be of no service, except _historically_. However the P. pressed him so
hard, that he was compelled to acknowledge that it was in Ly. Minto’s
possession.
Prince had been at Windsor the night before. King’s blindness worse:
great flightiness upon two topics, upon the name of Sir Sidney Smith
being mentioned, and upon the Irish bishops, whom he said were all
Catholics and should never preach before him. P. seems to have been
greatly struck at the Pss. observation, about four months after their
marriage, on Soulavie’s _Memoirs of Catherine_, whom she said was a
great princess, and served for an example ‘_à toutes princesses_.’ He
seriously believes that it has passed in her mind to adopt Catherine
as a model, and as a proof he declares that she wore usually men’s
clothes, and received many navy officers in that attire at Plymouth.
A Cabinet on the 9th in consequence of letters from ye Duke of
Bedford.[267] The Catholics are proceeding with their petition, and
some of the eager ones persist in laying it before Parliament this
Session. Ministers are urged to determine speedily what is to be done
for the Catholics, in order to prevent the petition, if possible, from
coming forward. He thinks nothing will satisfy the C. at present short
of three concessions:--
1. The insertion of the same clause in their favour in the Mutiny Bill
of England, that was inserted some years before the Union in the Mutiny
Bill of Ireland.
2ndly. Their admission to be Sheriffs of Counties.
3rdly. Their admission to Corporations.
[Sidenote: THE CATHOLIC QUESTION]
The Cabinet determined upon granting the first, but object to the
second, as a point that involves the whole Catholic Question and
is objectionable on the same grounds with their total exemption,
without being attended with the same advantages to themselves. The 3rd
must depend upon individual Corporations. The Ministry have already
declared, and are ready to repeat their wish, that the Catholics
should be in full possession of every advantage secured to them by the
existing laws. Such the Government of Ireland has shown to be the wish
of the Ministry, and it is only by continuing the same system, that the
object of procuring the admission of Catholics into the Corporation
can be attained. The sketch of a letter to the D. of Bedford was then
read, and agreed to be submitted to the King. Besides the topics
already mentioned, it referred to an understanding that prevailed in
Ireland when the proposed clause of the Mutiny Bill was carried in the
Irish Parliament by Lds. Clare and Hobart, that a similar clause would
be inserted in the English Mutiny Bill. Very doubtful whether the K.
would consent; also doubtful how far many of the members would continue
to persevere in pressing it upon him. A proof of his indisposition
towards Catholics:--in a private audience with Ld. Howick, he expressed
surprise at the conduct of the Elector of Saxony, whom he had hitherto
considered an honourable man, ‘tho’ nothing better can be expected of a
Catholic, but a man must be greatly degraded to break an oath. I would
sooner submit to be trampled upon and killed.’
Determined, if the others would not press the matter, that Lds. Howick,
Henry Petty, and Holland should go out. Some think that the trifle
required is sufficient to produce the relapse of insanity, and that it
would be as well to have the _burst_ upon the great point of all.
_Feb. 10th._--Answer from the King. H.M. approves of what his Ministry
have said on the subject of the application to have Catholic Sheriffs,
but he, ‘Trusts the Parlt. would never under any circumstances agree to
the clause in the Mutiny Act. H.M.’s objections do not result from any
slight motive. They have never varied, for they arise from principles
by which he has been guided thro’ life, and to which he is determined
to adhere. He had hoped that the question would never again have been
agitated.’ (A copy from the original.)
In consequence of this answer from H.M. there was a meeting of the
Cabinet this eve. in which it was determined unanimously to persevere.
A respectful answer to H.M. was accordingly prepared, stating at full
length the reasons which induced the Cabinet to persist in their
opinion and determined them to bring the question before Parlt. It is
uncertain whether the K. will yield, dismiss them, or try to divide
them. Ld. Sidmouth and Ld. Ellenboro’ have behaved well, and even
stoutly. Erskine betrays great backwardness, tho’ he must go with the
rest. Whilst the letter for the K. was read, he affected to be asleep,
but Ld. Holland roused him and called his attention to this _important_
paper.