Memoirs of the Court of George IV. 1820-1830 Part 55

The Duke of Wellington, who undertook the office of peace-maker between Mr. Canning and Mr. Wynn, refers in the course of the following communication to the well-known verse--

"I do not like thee, Dr. Fell, The reason why, I cannot tell, But this, in truth, I know full well, I do not like thee, Dr. Fell."

THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

London, May 30, 1823.

MY DEAR D----,

I received your letter of the 28th, and took steps immediately to effect your object. Although not so important as the affair of the same description I settled before, it is not so easy, as the disposition and manners of the men are very different, and it will take more time. But I am at work upon it, and have communicated with Lord Liverpool, who agrees with me; and I recommend that Charles Wynn should act as usual, and take no notice either of the continuance of the contrary state of things, or of any change which we may produce. I know there is no reason for the conduct complained of, excepting it be the same that was given for the dislike of Dr. Fell.

I will let you know anything that may pa.s.s upon this subject; and I beg you to

Believe me,

Ever yours most sincerely,

WELLINGTON.

The state of our foreign relations elicited from Lord Grenville the following characteristic communication, referring to a boastful speech often attributed to Mr. Pitt.

LORD GRENVILLE TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

Dropmore, Tuesday.

I send the pet.i.tion by the coach. I believe I mentioned to you my wish that nothing should be said upon it, except that you present it in my absence on account of illness.

As I do not at all partake in the _virtuous_ enthusiasm for the cause of Jacobinism in Spain, I allow myself to hope that things there are going on well. I am entirely of opinion that the war is a most unadvised step on the part of France, and that nothing could be more impolitic, except our having the folly to mix ourselves in the squabble either way by word or deed.

Some wiseacre in the House of Commons has said that Lord Chatham declared that not a gun should be fired in Europe _without his leave_. Lord C---- came into office when this country was involved in a war in which she had so much the worst of it, that all men despaired of the issue. He went out of office before the peace was made, and his merit was that he had by his successes in the war secured the means of making an advantageous peace.

Secondly, in which part of his administration did any power of Europe take out a licence for shooting from him? Yet this is the sort of nonsense that pa.s.ses current. Adieu.

CHAPTER XIII.

[1823.]

IMPORTANT DEBATES. EXPENSES OF THE CORONATION. STATE OF THE PENINSULA.

MR. PLUNKET'S DISAPPOINTMENT. CONDITION OF IRELAND. DESPATCH FROM THE LORD-LIEUTENANT. THE KING OF SPAIN AND THE CORTES. MR. CANNING IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. LORD NUGENT'S BILL FOR RESTORING THE FRANCHISE.

FESTIVITIES AT CARLTON HOUSE. THE MARQUIS OF HASTINGS. THE FRENCH IN SPAIN. LORD ELDON. CANNING. PEEL AND ROBINSON. THE PRESS IN INDIA. THE KING AT "THE COTTAGE". IRVING AND THE HEAVENLY PAVILION. POLICY OF AUSTRIA. THE KING IN COUNCIL. SCHISMS IN THE FRENCH CABINET.

CHAPTER XIII.

Lord John Russell brought forward in the House of Commons his motion for a reform of Parliament, on the 24th of April, which, after an animated discussion, was negatived by a majority of 280 to 169; but a more important debate was that which arose out of a motion made by Mr.

J. Macdonald, for an address to the Crown censuring the conduct of Ministers in the late negotiations with foreign powers. It continued for three days--28th, 29th, and 30th of the same month--and gave occasion for the delivery of several effective speeches, particularly those of Sir James Mackintosh and Mr. Brougham against the Government, and of Mr. Peel and Mr. Canning in its defence. In the end, however, the policy of Ministers was endorsed by Parliament, the division being in their favour by a majority of 372 to 20. A few days later, the attention of the House was taken up by a charge preferred by Mr.

Plunket against Mr. Thorpe, the High Sheriff of Dublin, for having caused the bill of indictment against the rioters at the Dublin Theatre to be ignored. Debate followed debate on this subject, till the House adjourned about the middle of May. But the subject was resumed on the 23rd and on subsequent days, when a fierce attack was made by Opposition members on the conduct of Orangemen and on the system they supported. On the 26th, the motion was rejected in a small House by a majority of 131 to 77, when Mr. Plunket voted in opposition to Ministers.

We now resume the correspondence. The first paragraph refers to the state of affairs in the Peninsula, a complication regarded in England with increasing anxiety; but the writer, as will be seen, soon pa.s.ses to a subject that excited at the time a good deal of interest among the economists--this was the expenses of the Coronation, some of which, it is plain, were open to objection. Subsequently, Irish politics--that had been rendered more interesting since the appointments of the Marquis Wellesley and Mr. Plunket to two important offices in the Government of Ireland--began to a.s.sume larger dimensions. From these causes Mr. Canning's position had become anything but a bed of roses.

THE RIGHT HON. CHARLES W. WYNN TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

East India Office, June 11, 1823.

MY DEAR B----,

All the accounts from Spain speak of the enormous expense to the French, and that the most effectual means resorted to to resist the invaders consist in the patriotic spirit with which their friends draw upon them. They are also distributing money very largely to the Portuguese insurgents.

The spirit of reaction and the cry for the Absolute King, with the Inquisition, mean time greatly embarra.s.s them. They have increased the columns detached to the south to 20,000 men. Scarcely anything is known of what is pa.s.sing at Seville, and much apprehension is entertained for the King's life.

Hume has given notice of a motion for a committee to examine into the Coronation expenses, which is most embarra.s.sing. It must, I suppose, be resisted; but true it is that the crown, made up of hired jewels, was kept till within the last three weeks, so that there will be twenty-two months' hire to be paid, which might have been saved, amounting to 11,000_l._ The charge of 24,000_l._ for robes is also terrible!

THE RIGHT HON. CHARLES W. WYNN TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

Whitehall, June 14, 1823.

MY DEAR B----,

The Duke of Devonshire's motion on the state of Ireland certainly comes on on Thursday, but what is to be its precise nature is not yet known, probably even to himself. Plunket went to Ireland on Thursday, much out of spirits, antic.i.p.ating all evil from the irritation of the two factions, and I fear from the want of energy and vigour in him who ought to control them. You will see the violent proceedings of the Catholic meeting, and their talk about _physical strength_, &c. I am glad to find that Blake, the Catholic barrister, is appointed by Lord Wellesley, Deputy Remembrancer of the Exchequer, as I think he will be of use in Ireland, and will strengthen Plunket's influence.

I do not wonder that in this weather you are averse to quit the country, but I think you are quite right in coming for such an occasion as the present, upon which an explanation of your views may be extremely useful.

Ever affectionately yours,

C. W. W.

If you can, pray come on Wednesday. Brougham is on that day to move in the House of Commons on presenting the R.C. Pet.i.tion, and in case I should wish to speak, I should particularly like to have talked the subject over with you previously, in order that we may chime in as far as may be.

THE RIGHT HON. CHARLES W. WYNN TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

East India Office, June 17, 1823.

MY DEAR B----,

You must not wonder that Plunket did not stop to visit you in his way. He has now been four months absent from Ireland, suffering all the while from vexation and indifferent health, which have produced the effect of making him low and hypochondriac about himself. He was convinced nothing but the native breeze of the potatoes could revive him, and he was besides not a little uneasy as to the consequences of this absence upon his professional business, and very anxious again to see his family. Nothing else could, I will not say justify, but excuse his turning his back upon the t.i.the Bill while in the Committee, which I must say it was his duty to have stayed if possible to have fought through; but he is thoroughly dejected, and often talks of the probability of his being obliged to retire.

Lord Hastings, I apprehend, returns only to see whether he can get any better appointment than the mission to Naples, which, as he intended to go to Vienna, not a little disappoints him. I am going to Cabinet, and if I hear any news, will add it.