Part 52 (1/2)
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 pa.s.sed, 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 antic.i.p.ated. 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.