CHAPTER XII.

The changes that had taken place in the Government this year comprised the appointment of the Right Hon. Frederick John Robinson as Chancellor and Under Treasurer of the Exchequer, the Right Hon. William Huskisson as Treasurer of the Navy, and the Right Hon. Nicholas Vansittart as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, he was also raised to the Peerage by the title of Baron Bexley. Mr. Henry Watkin Williams Wynn had also been gazetted Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the King of Wurtemberg. The debates in the two Houses of the Legislature did not indicate any pressing necessity for more important alterations, the principal subject being the reduction of the National Debt, the Tithe System in Ireland, and the Irish Volunteer Corps; the last two giving occasion for attacks on the proceedings of the Government in Ireland. On these points the President of the Board of Control will be found sufficiently communicative.

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

East India Office, March 4, 1823.

MY DEAR B----,

Lord W----'s answer has at length just arrived, and is rather an extraordinary one. He professes himself still decidedly of opinion that the extension of the Act against secret societies is necessary, but indifferent as to the time of its being brought forward. He dwells, however, much on the importance and utility of Abercromby's motion, and urges a full Parliamentary inquiry into the condition of Ireland, the nature of the Orange societies, and of the impediments his Government has met with. In short, if instead of a private it were a public one, I should think that he was making a preparatory case of grievance prior to resignation, to be hereafter moved for in Parliament.

Nothing was decided in the Cabinet yesterday, which in the hope of receiving this despatch was adjourned till to-morrow; but I flatter myself the result will be to announce that we are prepared to bring forward the proposed measure, though I fear this notice will be accompanied by explanations from P---- which will provoke a debate, and make it necessary for each of us to state his separate views. I regret the discussion on general grounds, but most on account of Plunket.

Ever affectionately yours,

C. W. W.

I conclude, among so large a party as that at Strathfield-saye, you will have had little opportunity of conversation with your host.

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

East India Office, March 5, 1823.

MY DEAR B----,

Just returned from Cabinet, and going to the House. The determination, unanimous and quite satisfactory, to announce our own intention of bringing forward, immediately after Easter, a Bill to enforce the laws against secret societies, founded on the Lord-Lieutenant's despatches of November and January last, and fortified by what has since passed, and a general declaration of support to the Irish Government.

Ever yours,

C. W. W.

The letter I mentioned yesterday recommended inquiry and public discussion, for the purpose of placing in the broadest light the condition of Ireland, the nature of secret societies, the whole conduct of the Government, and of those who have thwarted and opposed it!! The two brothers strongly condemn the conduct of the third.[110]

[110] The Duke of Wellington, Lord Maryborough, and the Marquis Wellesley.

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

March 6, 1823.

MY DEAR B----,

My letter of yesterday will have prepared you for the debate, of which you will read the account in the papers. Undoubtedly the best course would have been to have given the notice of our intended Bill in the first instance, and so have precluded the debate, but P----[111] would not then have had the opportunity of making his explanation, to which he attached much importance.

Part of his speech was good, but he showed too much anxiety to justify himself and prove his own consistency, and a sort of soreness which conveyed, I find, pretty generally, the idea that he was acting on compulsion, which the Purple (Orange is not an epithet strong enough) speech of his brother-in-law and Under-Secretary strongly confirmed.

Canning expressed well and decidedly the concurrence and union of the Governments of England and Ireland. Altogether we have got through the business _so far_, more smoothly than I had anticipated. I remained silent, as you advised. When I spoke of unanimity yesterday, I should have excepted W. W. P----,[112] who was too apprehensive of the consequences of the measure in the north, to be swayed by paternal regard. Plunket continues to look wretchedly ill, and from his own account of constant headaches, &c., I cannot help feeling uneasy about him.

We have not for some time had any discussion on foreign politics, but I quite concur in the view which my uncles, the Duke, and you all take of it, except that I could not _swallow_ any permanent occupation of Spain by France without great difficulty.

Ever yours,

C. W. W.

[111] Mr. Plunket.

[112] William Wellesley Pole, created in 1821 Baron Maryborough.

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

East India Office, March 7, 1823.

MY DEAR B----,

It is true that there be many things which may arise between this and the end of the Session, but at present the one point upon which all the House of Commons seems to agree is, that we are the _best_ and WISEST Ministers since the days of Lord Burleigh, and we only stand in need of fans to hide our blushes when our modesty is so severely put to the proof by the compliments of the opposite side.

Seriously, the effect of the two last nights' debates, if properly taken advantage of by Wellesley, ought to place his Government for some time upon velvet, particularly when accompanied by the humble Palinodia of the Chancellor to the beef-steaks, which, I must confess, in despite of all regard for an old friend, seems somewhat contemptible. W---- has again the cards in his own hand if he knows how to play them, but the next _revoke_ will be fatal to him if it soon occurs.

Ever affectionately yours,

C. W. W.

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

East India Office, March 12, 1823.

I have little now to tell you, my dear B----, but that on Monday a private letter was written to W---- by Peel, with the concurrence of the Cabinet, containing strong assurances of support, but stating at the same time an opinion that the evidence did not warrant the committal for an attempt to murder, or the language of the addresses or answers, and terminating with a recommendation of endeavours to secure the co-operation of persons of influence and consequence, whatever their persuasions or opinions might be. Altogether it had too much the tone of a lecture, but was so strongly supported by the brethren, that as there was no particular