Part 56 (2/2)

Respecting the fate of the two Bills in the Lords, I apprehend the first half of George's (granting the elective franchise) will pa.s.s, the other miscarry. I can hardly think it possible that the t.i.the Bill should, notwithstanding Liverpool's eagerness upon the subject.

Out of eighty-four days which we had sat, up to Monday last, forty-nine have been occupied in Irish business! We now _begin_ to be heartily tired, and _therefore_ may, I hope, be expected to travel _au galop_.

Ever affectionately yours,

C. W. W.

[116] The Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland.

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

East India Office, June 30, 1823.

MY DEAR B----,

A'Court has, as you will have already learnt, very properly declined the invitation of the Regency to Cadiz. He is directed to proceed to Gibraltar, unless he shall find that the King, after being, as intended, restored to nominal liberty and sanity at Cadiz, shall press his going there as affording a certain degree of protection to his life.

The removal to Cadiz I take to have been a mere act of desperation.

Many members of the Cortes have slipped away, and it is a fact that the Regency could not get any individual to hold office _ad interim_ under them, or even a clerk to countersign their letter to A'Court. They may have in Cadiz, it is said, possibly from 10,000 to 12,000 men.

Harrowby's disappointment seems to sit easy upon him.

I enclose a letter just received from P----.[117] I do not know what foundation he has of the report of dudgeon in the Home Office. It is perfectly true that his objection to reversal of attainders was supported by no one. Both he and his man complain much of being left to carry through the t.i.the Bill una.s.sisted by Plunket, and I think not without reason.

It certainly is odd that a measure for getting rid of t.i.thes should fall into the hands of the members for the Universities of Oxford and Dublin, and of a candidate for that of Cambridge.

It is quite determined to carry it through in the present session.

Ever affectionately yours,

C. W. W.

[117] Not preserved.

LORD GRENVILLE TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

Camelford House, July 3, 1823.

I most heartily join with you in taking joy at what I consider as _the triumph of the cause of freedom_ in the Peninsula;--having read enough to know, and having seen enough to observe, that of all possible tyrannies--and I cordially hate them all--the most contemptible, corrupt, and cruel is the tyranny of absolute democracy, most especially when resting, as in Spain and Portugal, on that new instrument of freedom, a mutinous and self-governed army.

Your friend Sir Robert[118] makes a pretty figure in this puppet-show!

[118] Sir Robert Wilson.

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