Every human being seems to condemn in the strongest terms the conduct of Wellesley; there never was such an ass, and if he has hatched all this trumpery and made Plunket his dupe, the latter will never get over it; such is the belief, and it really looks like it. Plunket must of course come to the meeting, and we shall then see what he chooses to disclose to the public; for a justification he must make. The Opposition are not disposed to attack Lord Wellesley, and are of course in trammels on the question, but there are plenty of Orangeists who will not be wanting. The thing that I think looks most suspicious in all these measures, is the unmeasured applause which the Opposition papers give to Canning, and I hear that at Brookes's he is much the most popular man in the country; we know his avidity for popular applause, and I own I cannot but entertain some fears as to the abstainment on his part from all intrigue; the best security against this will be in the meeting of Parliament, when he will be soon brought in contact with those who are now upholding him. He does not come in for Liverpool, but for Harwich, as also Mr. Herries. Young Disbrowe comes in for Windsor, in the room of Sir Herbert Taylor, who resigns his seat. The Duke of York has been alarmingly ill, but is now much better; I understand you met him at the grand chasse at Ashridge.
Although it is very likely the French Government will be forced into a war, yet I am for my own part still disposed to think they will not, from all Lionel Hervey tells me on the subject; it is fraught with too much danger to France itself, and too certain a failure in the object for which the war is contemplated, to be persisted in, however they may bully and prepare for it. Canning has certainly recommended himself greatly to public opinion by the line he has adopted, and though we are given to understand there has been considerable differences in the Cabinet upon it, he has never changed his tone for one moment, and has carried his views.
Adieu, my dear Duke,
Ever most unfeignedly yours,
W. H. F.
THE RIGHT HON. CHARLES W. WYNN TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.
East India Board, Jan. 31, 1823.
My dear B——,
The die seems at length to be cast, and the throw cannot be altered, though the French continue to profess the same desire of avoiding war, and with as much sincerity as they have done throughout the discussion. They have taken the worst course, and in the worst possible way. I really am so much out of humour with the gros cochon, that I rather hope that his life may be prolonged, so as to taste a little of the evil which he is about to produce. Poor Liverpool is in a state of worry and dejection which exceeds anything I have yet seen, but I am assured by Lord Melville this is not for him extraordinary when hard-worked.
The Speech states the King, faithful to his principles, &c., to have declined any measure which could lead to a foreign interference in the internal affairs of France; his endeavours to prevent hostilities, and his determination if they should take place, to use every effort to put an end to them, maintaining in the mean time the strictest and most exact neutrality; pleasure at the state of the Revenue, and that Parliament will be enabled thereby to relieve the burthens without any violation of public credit; condolence to the agriculture, congratulation to the commerce.