STEPHEN’S DEATH
Sunday, Jan. 25, 1801, Staines Inn.—The complaint in my eyes and alarm about my poor child prevented me from enjoying myself during the last two months of my foreign excursion. After passing many watchful nights, and latterly for 8 together, by the side of my dear boy, he was snatched from me, alas, for ever.[153] He died on the day devoted to mirth, his dear father’s birthday. On ye 22nd early, we quitted H. H., and took up our residence at Ld. B.’s in Cavendish Square during their absence at Chatsworth. I was broken-hearted and dispirited for many weeks.
Soon after, Charles caught the measles, and luckily for my peace of mind had them most favourably. His little endearing qualities, and Ld. H.’s affection, the kindness of friends, and the hope of having more children, have to a degree soothed my feelings, but oh! my God, what anguish can equal the pang a mother feels who sees her infant struggling against death. What I have endured worlds should not bribe me to undergo again. Beauclerk, as soon as he heard of our distress, came to town to see us, and with real heartfelt interest entered into our sorrows. Mrs. Smith showed herself affectionate and tender: and the D. of Bedford continued in town, and stayed as much with us as possible; indeed, day after day he devoted to being in our company. We had taken a mere nutshell, a pied-à-terre, in Stratton Street; my spirits have been so low that the small and varying society that I got of evenings from those that drop in amuses and cheers me. I write at this moment at Staines, where I am with Charles and Ld. H., partly that the first may be shown to his uncle, and partly that Ld. H. may see his uncle, and endeavour, with Grey, to prevail upon him to resume his parliamentary functions.
Stratton Street, 30th Jan., 1801.—A rumpus in the Cabinet, supposed about the Catholics. The opening of the Imperial Parliament[154] has been delayed already three times, and the day for which it is fixed at present is not the one it will, according to all expectation, meet upon. Various reasons are assigned for the delay, and the wise-heads are full of strange and curious speculations upon the occasion. Some imagine Ministers are negotiating, not to obtain peace, but to get a reply from Bonaparte declaring his intention of maintaining the demand of the Northern Confederacy with respect to neutral bottoms, by which they will succeed in making the Northern war popular with the country. Others, that great concessions have been made to Russia to withdraw her from the confederacy, even to the sacrifice of Hanover. Others, that the King is more in want of Dr. Willis[155] than of his Lords Temporal and Spiritual assembled in High Parliament.
It is a curious circumstance to reflect upon, that in the course of a very few years France, whom we expected to crush and entered into a league against with half the powers of Europe, should now have so completely turned the tables upon us as to head triumphantly the most formidable combination that was ever undertaken. If the King of Prussia marches to Hamburg (which unquestionably is his object), and the French compel the Portuguese to renounce our alliance, we shall not have a friendly port from the North Pole to Africa.
SECESSION ABANDONED
Opposition mean to attend actively this session. Grey has renounced the errors of secession, and tho’ Fox still hangs back, I think a few strong divisions will be irresistible and make him return to the career in which he has outstripped every competitor. Ld. Darnley has attached himself with warmth to Opposition, and intends to bring on a motion upon the State of the Nation. To-day has brought another convert, Ld. Fitzwilliam,[156] who has expressed a wish of moving the amendment, one very hostile to Ministers and, strange to say, full of pacific wishes. His respectability, high name, and integrity of character carries great weight, and will add much to the slender forces of a disjointed, disbanded Opposition. The D. of Bedford pledges himself to nothing, but his inclination leads him to attend and would conquer, but for Ld. Lauderdale’s jokes, who is always telling him he delights in making a long prose to the House of Lords, for which he never indulges himself on any question but on those that would make Cicero or Fox prose, scarcity, poor laws, enclosures, etc., etc.
Ld. Wycombe, who obtained passports to go through France in his way to Florence to get witnesses, was at Paris during the explosion of the infernal car, and within 220 paces of it at the moment of its blowing up.[157]
11th Feb., 1801. Stratton Street.—During the Rebellion in Ireland made by the United Irishmen, it used to be the phrase, when a disturbance broke out in a town, to say, ‘They have got the Union among them.’ That cant saying might now be applied to a higher sphere, as since the Union of the Kingdoms the Cabinet has been divided, and at this juncture broken up. Reports and opinions are so different and various that I can collect nothing that gives me a very distinct idea. At present all that can be depended upon is that Pitt, Grenville, Dundas, Windham, Lds. Camden and Spencer, have resigned their places, and are virtually out of office, altho’ the former remains in until he has made the loan and opened the Budget. The occasion of this extraordinary breaking up of the Administration is the King’s peremptory refusal of assenting to the Emancipation of the Catholics, a measure Ministers consider themselves as pledged to, and a promise of which was one of ye instruments of conciliation to all parties to obtain the Union.
PITT’S RESIGNATION