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.