the anniversary of his first election for Westminster.
[238] The new appointments were, Lord Howick, Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs; Mr. T. Grenville, Admiralty, in place of Lord
Howick; Mr. Tierney, President of Board of Control, in succession to
Mr. Grenville; Lord Sidmouth, President of the Council, in place of
Lord Fitzwilliam; and Lord Holland, Lord Privy Seal, in place of Lord
Sidmouth.
[239] Lord Holland states fully his reasons for accepting office in
a letter to Lord Lauderdale, dated September 22. It is published in
_Memoirs of the Whig Party_, ii. 53.
[240] Early in March Murat was given the Duchy of Berg and Cleves,
ceded to Napoleon by Bavaria, and other territories claimed by Prussia
were occupied by French troops a month later--this without any
communication to the Prussian Cabinet.
These and other arbitrary actions, following closely on the formation
of the Confederation of the Rhine, opened the eyes of the Prussians
to the true policy of the French Emperor, but the final blow to their
_amour propre_ was the discovery of their Ambassador in France,
Lucchesini, that Napoleon had cheated them over Hanover, by his
willingness to restore it to England, and that he threw no obstacles in
the way of the immediate re-establishment of the Kingdom of Poland.
[241] Prince Louis Ferdinand, nephew of Frederick the Great, was born
in 1772. He served with distinction against Napoleon and was killed at
Saalfeld in 1806 in command of the advance guard.
[242] ‘They want ordnance, and yet would begin by spiking one of their
great guns.’ Lord Holland relates this as another remark of Windham’s
upon the proposal.
[243] Sir Home Popham’s expedition to South America, where he effected
the capture of Buenos Ayres on June 28. He had been originally
despatched to the Cape of Good Hope, where he met with complete success
and annexed that colony to the British Empire. Fired with this triumph
he made his way to the Rio Plate, without any instructions from
Government, who on hearing of his destination took steps to stop him,
but their orders arrived too late. Buenos Ayres remained in his hands
until August 4, when it was retaken by the Spaniards, with severe loss
to the British.
[244] Lord Morpeth was sent to Berlin to offer the assistance of
England conditionally upon the immediate restoration of Hanover. He
arrived at headquarters two days before the battle of Jena, and found
Haugwitz, with whom he was to negotiate, unwilling to meet him in
any way. The intriguing Prussian still hoped to retain Hanover, and
expected after the battle to be able to say so. The result, however,
was contrary to his expectations, and as no diplomatic negotiations
were possible in the confusion after the battle Lord Morpeth returned
to London.
[245] Bartholomew Frere (1778–1851), a younger brother of John Hockham
Frere, and son of John Frere, M.P. for Norwich. He was Secretary of
Legation to his brother in Spain and held various minor diplomatic
posts.
[246] M. Jacobi, the Prussian Minister, had left England when
diplomatic relations between the two countries were broken off in the
spring. He passed Lord Morpeth on the sea, and reached England early in
October.
[247] In the interval which elapsed since Lady Holland’s last entry
in her journal the whole position of Europe had again changed. The
Prussian army, decimated in one day at Jena and Auerstadt, had
practically ceased to exist; Frederick William was a fugitive at the
eastern end of his dominions in Königsberg. Napoleon had occupied
Berlin, and in two months had become master of many of the Prussian
fortresses, which it should have taken him years to reduce. Lucchesini
in the course of his negotiations for peace in Berlin was even ready to
give up those strongholds which had not surrendered, but the patriotic
party were too strong to allow the King to consent to further ignominy.
Russia was prepared to give her assistance, and this nerved Frederick
William to continue the war. Haugwitz resigned, but the King rendered
this lucky event ineffective by also dismissing Count Stein, the only
really able man in his councils.
[248] War was formally declared between Russia and the Porte towards
the end of December.
[249] Gustavus IV. succeeded, at the age of fourteen, to the crown of
Sweden after his father’s assassination in 1792. His hatred of Napoleon
and inclination towards an English alliance were the leading features
of his reign--features to which he so obstinately adhered as to cause
his country much unrest and suffering, and his own downfall. He was
deposed in 1809 in favour of his uncle.
[250] The dissolution took place in October, and the new Parliament met
on December 15. Tierney was defeated at Southwark by Sir Thomas Turton.
He obtained a seat, however, at Athlone.
[251] Sir Samuel Auchmuty (1756–1822), born in New York, of Scotch
descent. He served the crown in America as a volunteer, obtaining
a commission. He went to India, where he saw much service. He took
Monte Video, and showed considerable skill on this expedition
until superseded by General Whitelocke, who arrived with further
reinforcements. He later returned to India, and was also employed in
the East Indian islands.
Sir Home Popham, who was court-martialled in March, and reprimanded for
his share in the unauthorised expedition to Buenos Ayres, remained with
his fleet off the Rio Plate after the loss of the town. The Government
were much disconcerted by the whole affair, but the enthusiasm of the
public forced them to send reinforcements instead of orders of recall.
Three thousand men were despatched with Sir Samuel.
[252] General Robert Craufurd (1764–1812). He served under Lord
Cornwallis in India, and was Quartermaster-General in Ireland during
the insurrection of 1798. His force was joined to General Whitelocke’s.
He commanded a light brigade in the Peninsula and was killed at the
storming of Ciudad Rodrigo. This expedition was intended for the
conquest of Chili, but was diverted to Buenos Ayres.
[253] Aaron Burr’s (1756–1836) conspiracy was a sequel to his defeat
for the Presidency of the United States by Jefferson in 1801. This was
mainly brought about by General Hamilton’s influence, which was again
brought to bear against him in 1804 when he stood for the Governorship
of New York. A duel took place in which General Hamilton was shot
dead. Burr after this went to the West and established himself on the
Mississippi. He gained over General Wilkinson, the commander of the
United States army at New Orleans, to assist him in his schemes, though
nobody appeared to know their exact trend. Jefferson, however, grew
alarmed, Wilkinson recanted, Burr was arrested, and the whole plot
fell to the ground. Burr was acquitted of actual treason, and went to
Europe. There he remained, first in one country, then in another, till
1812, when he returned to America. He took no further active part in
politics, and died in extreme poverty.
[254] Lord Mulgrave was Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 1805–6.
[255] Preparations for this expedition ceased with the fall of the
Ministry. Their successors again took the project into consideration,
but the troops destined to take part in it under Sir Arthur Wellesley
were sent instead to Portugal.
[256] Charles, third Duke of Richmond; born in 1735, died on December
29, 1806. He was succeeded by his nephew, Colonel Lennox.
[257] The charges of immorality raised against the Princess of Wales by
Sir John and Lady Douglas were laid before a Committee of the Cabinet
in 1806 for investigation. It was composed of four members, the Lord
Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice (Lord Ellenborough), and Lords
Grenville and Spencer, with Sir Samuel Romilly, the Solicitor-General,
as legal adviser. Their report acquitted her of the more serious
charges, but animadverted with severity on the levity of her conduct.
The Princess replied with a letter to the King ‘the joint composition
of Lord Eldon, Mr. Perceval, and Mr. Plomer; the first furnishing the
law, the second the argument, and the third the prolixity. It concluded
with a request to be restored to the comfort and honour of his
Majesty’s royal presence’ (_Memoirs of the Whig Party_, ii. 151).
This the King referred to the Cabinet, and after many deliberations,
with the exception of Mr. Windham, they concurred in the report.
It is curious that Lord Eldon, who it is here suggested was the secret
adviser of George III., was also the confidential adviser of George IV.
at the time of the trial in 1820.
[258] This incident is fully described in _Coke of Norfolk_, ii.
69–73. Mrs. Berney and her friend were in the habit of parading the
town every day in a carriage decked in Colonel Wodehouse’s (the Tory
candidate) colours. One day, however, the Whigs produced a carriage
arranged to closely resemble theirs in every particular, but flaunting
the rival hue. A riot ensued, for which the Berney family held Coke and
Windham responsible, though they had in no way countenanced the trick.
All three candidates were convicted of treating, but as no petition was
brought against Colonel Wodehouse, he retained the seat. Mr. Coke’s
brother, Edward Coke, resigned his seat for Derby, for which the former
was elected; while the latter took the vacant seat at Norwich. Mr.
Windham was returned for Higham Ferrers by Lord Fitzwilliam.
[259] ‘A clear and precise rule was laid down for the regulation of
the circuitous trade by the enemy to the colonies, which defined the
difference between a continuous and intercepted voyage’ (Alison,
_History of Europe_, v. 677). The discussion of the question
of impressment of seamen was postponed till some future occasion,
owing to the difficulties which surrounded it. The British Government
pledged themselves in the meantime to use their powers with the utmost
moderation. President Jefferson, however, refused to ratify the treaty.
[260] At the rupture of the Treaty of Amiens.
[261] Lord Minto had been appointed Governor-General of India. He at
first refused to accept office, and only did so at the earnest desire
of Lord Grenville. That he was loath to do so is shown by letters,
published in vol. iii. of his _Life and Letters_, to Lady Minto,
who on the score of health was precluded from accompanying him. Fox
first offered the appointment to Lord Lauderdale, but the Court of
Directors refused to receive him. He therefore consented to waive his
claim to the dignity.
[262] In answer to Lord Howick Mr. Perceval explained that the word
‘attached’ was taken from a letter of Mr. Fox to Talleyrand published
in the Correspondence, in which he had ‘subscribed himself “with the
most perfect attachment”’ (_Hansard_).
[263] William Roscoe (1753–1831), the author of the _Lives_ of
_Lorenzo de’ Medici_ and _Leo X._ He was elected in the Whig
interest as member for Liverpool in 1806, but was defeated at the
succeeding election.
[264] William Frederick, second Duke of Gloucester (1776–1834), son of
William Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and Maria, Countess of Waldegrave.
He married, in 1816, Princess Mary, George III.’s daughter.
[265] Adolphus Frederick, Duke of Cambridge (1774–1850), seventh son of
George III.
[266] This is probably the paper printed in _Memorials and
Correspondence of C. J. Fox_, ii. 340, &c. It was to be delivered
to the King in 1789, with the memorial, also drawn up by Minto and
Burke, containing a justification of the Prince’s and Duke of York’s
conduct during their father’s illness. Both documents were discussed at
a meeting of the Whig leaders held at Carlton House, and it was decided
not to present the memorial with this paper, but to accompany it only
with a short explanatory letter.
[267] Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland.
When the Grenville Ministry first took office on Mr. Pitt’s death no
stipulation was made to the King regarding the Catholic question. The
Irish Catholics, seeing Ministers in power most of whom they knew to
be favourably inclined to their claims, began at once to agitate for
the removal of disadvantages under which they laboured. The greatest
anomaly was, that by the Act of 1793 Irish Catholics could become
officers in the army there (though still unable to rise to certain
staff appointments), but could not hold that rank in England. A
promise, however, had been made at the time that matters would be
speedily readjusted. This and other points were brought to Mr. Fox’s
notice soon after he had taken office, but he advised a postponement
of the suggested petition to Parliament, as likely for the present to
be of no permanent advantage. He stated, however, that he was quite
willing to risk a dissolution of the Ministry on the question, if they
so wished it. Better counsels prevailed; but after Mr. Fox’s death
the matter again came to the front. Ministers were in a dilemma. On
one side they risked the King’s displeasure, on the other they would
be obliged to proclaim certain parts of Ireland where agitation was
breaking out, on a question with which they themselves sympathised. The
former evil was considered the least, and it was decided by a clause
in the Mutiny Act to allow Irish Catholics and Dissenters to serve in
the English army. To this the King was agreeable; but Ministers desired
to go further. It was found easier to bring forward the matter in the
form of a Bill, and one was drafted which opened the staff appointments
to the Catholics, and also allowed English Dissenters to serve in the
army and navy. Lord Howick thought he had received the King’s consent
to this, but subsequently the latter flatly refused to confirm it. The
Bill was dropped, but the Ministers reserved for themselves the right
to bring forward the question again, should circumstances so demand.
This the King requested them to withdraw; they refused, and were at
once dismissed.
The Correspondence and Minutes of the Cabinet, referred to here and
subsequently, are printed in the Appendix to Lord Holland’s _Memoirs
of the Whig Party_.
[268] Lieut.-General Whitelocke (1757–1833). He distinguished himself
in St. Domingo in 1793–4, but failed signally before Buenos Ayres. In
his attack on the town he showed himself incompetent to deal with an
unexpectedly determined resistance, and agreed to a convention whereby
the English troops were obliged to withdraw. On his return to England
he was tried by court martial and cashiered. Lord Holland states in
the _Memoirs of the Whig Party_ that this appointment was due
to Windham’s dislike of General Whitelocke (who held the post of
Inspector-General) and his desire to appoint someone as his successor
who would be more willing to carry out his schemes.
[269] Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland in her own right, Lord
Granville Leveson-Gower’s sister-in-law, only daughter of William,
eighteenth Earl of Sutherland. She was born in 1765, and married, in
1785, George Granville, Earl Gower, who succeeded his father as second
Marquess of Stafford in 1803, and was raised to a Dukedom in 1833. The
Duchess died in 1839.
[270] This was in accordance with the resolution which Mr. Rose says
in his Diary he had taken never to say a word or give a vote on the
subject. He disapproved not of the abolition of the Slave Trade itself,
but of the methods pursued in putting it down, which he considered were
unfair to the colonists.
[271] Arthur James, eighth Earl of Fingall (1759–1836), who succeeded
his father in the titles in 1793. He was one of the leaders of the
Catholic movement at this time.
[272] John, second Baron Ponsonby, of Imokilly (1770?–1855), son of
William Brabazon Ponsonby, first Baron Ponsonby, who died in 1806. He
was Ambassador in Constantinople and Vienna and was created a viscount
in 1839. His only sister married Lord Howick.
[273] William Elliot, of Wells, the Chief Secretary. He died in 1818.
[274] William Conyngham Plunket (1764–1854), created Baron Plunket in
1827. He was appointed Attorney-General for Ireland in 1805 by Pitt,
and retained this office under the Whig Government.
[275] Mr. Charles Kendal Bushe.
[276] See _ante_, ii. 174. Mr. Eden was Secretary to the American
Commission and Mr. Allen Assistant-Secretary.
[277] A Committee was appointed on February 10, on the motion of
Mr. Biddulph, member for Denbigh Borough, to examine the efficiency
of regulations and checks, already introduced, to control public
expenditure; to consider what further steps were advisable for the same
object, and to diminish ‘the amount of salaries and emoluments without
detriment to the public service.’
[278] William Garrow (1760–1840), barrister, who sat in several
Parliaments in the Whig interest. He was knighted in 1812; made
Attorney-General in 1813, and Baron of the Exchequer 1817–32.
[279] This was the pamphlet drawn up by Perceval, and known as ‘the
Book.’ It was never given to the world, for just as the Princess’s
friends resolved upon its circulation, the Ministry was dismissed and
the Tories returned to power. A few copies escaped from the printers’
hands, and were bought back for large sums by the Government.
[280] Owing to the infraction of treaty obligations in Moldavia and
Wallachia by Turkey, largely instigated by Sebastiani the French
Ambassador at Constantinople, Russia thought fit to declare war with
the Porte late in 1806. Alexander, however, had need of all his forces
to meet the French in Central Europe, and he suggested to the English
Government that a fleet should be sent to Constantinople to secure
their joint interests, and to demand the dismissal of Sebastiani. This
was done, and Arbuthnot, the British Minister, was ordered to insist
on the latter point, on the pain of instant bombardment. Unfortunately
Arbuthnot had to leave owing to ill health, and Sir Thomas Duckworth,
the British Admiral, allowed himself to be drawn into fruitless
negotiations, and finally withdrew without accomplishing his object.
The force sent to Egypt under General Mackenzie captured Alexandria,
but lost a large number of prisoners in an attack on Rosetta. Nothing
further was effected, and the troops were removed in the autumn.
[281] John Armstrong (1758–1843), American Minister in France and Spain
1804–10.
[282] The Right Hon. Charles Long (1761–1838), afterwards created Lord
Farnborough (1820), Secretary of State for Ireland 1806, and Paymaster
of the Forces for many years.
[283] George Rose (1744–1818), a devoted adherent of Pitt. He was for
many years Secretary of the Treasury, and held various minor offices
under the Tories.
[284] This is amusing and interesting, in light of Lord Malmesbury’s
conversation with Canning, which he quotes in his diary as having taken
place on March 14. Canning ‘said, what he had told me before, that he
had received and rejected overtures from Lord Grenville.... He declared
with a threat that he never would sit in the same Cabinet as Addington.’
[285] Sir William Drummond, born about 1770; died in 1828. He was
appointed Minister at the Court of Naples in 1801, and again in 1806,
and Ambassador to the Porte in 1803.
[286] No action was taken in these matters owing to the fall of the
Ministry, and Canning allowed the question to lapse.
[287] Alexander Hamilton, Marquess of Douglas (1767–1852), British
Ambassador at St. Petersburg. He succeeded his father as tenth Duke of
Hamilton in 1819.
[288] He stated in a letter to Lord Holland, dated April 27, that he
wished to attach himself completely to the Prince.
[289] Right Hon. Charles Bragge, who married Lord Sidmouth’s sister,
and took the additional surname of Bathurst in 1804. He sat in the
House of Commons 1790–1823, and died in 1831.
[290] Philip, third Earl of Hardwicke (1757–1834), son of the
Right Hon. Charles Yorke. He succeeded his uncle in 1790, and was
Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland from 1801 to 1806.
[291] Lord Hardwicke’s half-brother, Charles Philip Yorke (1764–1834).
He was Secretary at War, 1801–3; Home Secretary, 1803–4; and First Lord
of the Admiralty, 1810–11.
[292] March 18.
[293] Charles Manners-Sutton (1755–1828), raised to the See of
Canterbury in 1805, and father of Viscount Canterbury (for many years
Speaker of the House of Commons).
[294] Lord Auckland was President of the Board of Trade. His letter is
printed in _Lord Auckland’s Journal and Correspondence_, iv. 300.
[295] Charles William, Viscount Milton (1786–1857), only son of
William, fourth Earl Fitzwilliam, on whose death in 1833 Lord Milton
succeeded to the titles. He remained member for Yorkshire until 1831.
[296] The figures were: Wilberforce 11,806, Milton 11,177, Lascelles
10,989, the two first being therefore returned. Wilberforce’s
expenses, after many of his supporters had paid their own, amounted
to 28,600_l._, while those of his opponents were reckoned to be
200,000_l._ (_Dictionary of Nat. Biog._).
[297] Mary Elizabeth, born in 1806. She married, in 1830, Thomas
Atherton, third Baron Lilford, and died in 1891.
[298] Peter Leopold Louis Francis Nassau, fifth Earl Cowper
(1778–1837), who succeeded his brother in 1799. He married, in 1805,
Amelia, daughter of Peniston, first Viscount Melbourne. After Lord
Cowper’s death she married Lord Palmerston in 1839.
[299] The Hon. Sir Arthur Paget (1771–1840), second son of Henry, first
Earl of Uxbridge. He held various diplomatic posts, and was appointed,
in 1807, Ambassador to the Porte. He retired from the service two years
later.
[300] David Richard Morier (1784–1877), son of Isaac Morier,
Consul-General of the Levant Company at Constantinople. Commencing at
the age of twenty, he held various diplomatic posts in the East, was
secretary to Lord Castlereagh at Châtillon, &c., and was for many years
Minister at Berne.
[301] Mr. Adam brought a motion in the House of Commons on July 2,
1807, in defence of the warrant for a pension to the Scotch Judge,
Lord Cullen, of 400_l._ a year, with a reversion of 200_l._
for life to his wife. He argued that it was fair, if a judge was not
sufficiently well off to keep up his position. Lord Cullen was devoting
two-thirds of his income to pay his father’s debts.
[302] It was burnt in 1831 by the mob, on account of the opposition of
its owner to the Reform Act.
[303] ‘Conversation’ Sharp.
[304] The _History of Brazil_ was the only part published.
[305] George William, sixth Duke of Argyll (1766–1839), who succeeded
his father in 1806. He married, in 1810, Caroline Elizabeth, daughter
of George, fourth Earl of Jersey, and previously wife of the Earl of
Uxbridge (afterwards Marquess of Anglesey), whom she divorced.
[306] Lord John Russell.
[307] Lewis, describing this visit in a letter to his mother, says,
‘I happened to wake about six o’clock, and hearing the billiard balls
in motion, I put on my dressing-gown and went into the gallery, from
whence looking down into the great hall, I descried Tom Sheridan and
Mr. Chester (who had not been to bed all night) playing with great
eagerness. Fortunately, Tom was in the act of making a stroke on
which the fate of the whole game depended; when I shouted to him over
the balustrade, “Shame! Shame! A married man!” on which he started
back in a fright, missed his stroke, and lost the game’ (_Life and
Correspondence of M. G. Lewis_, ii. 5).
[308] Hon. Henry Edward Fox (1802–59), afterwards fourth Lord Holland;
always a weakly child from birth. He was afflicted with a form of hip
disease, which gave him much trouble all his life.
[309] Lord Holland says in the _Memoirs of the Whig Party_: ‘Mr.
Ponsonby was brought into Parliament at the beginning of the session
for the purpose of assuming an ascendency over a large, intelligent,
and independent body of gentlemen with scarcely twenty of whom he was
personally acquainted. A preposterous scheme!’
[310] William Belsham (1752–1827), author of a series of works, which
he combined to form a _History of Great Britain to the Conclusion of
the Peace of Amiens_.