_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]