This opinion produced a bon mot from a man who never made one before. A person asked Lord Brome[160] who was to succeed his father (Ld. Cornwallis) in Ireland. ‘Most probably Bonaparte,’ replied the youth.
Lady Clare began abusing Ld. Cornwallis furiously before the Duchess of Gordon, who coolly answered that she ‘had never heard him abused but for two things, one was the not putting the town of Seringapatam to the sword, the other, that in Ireland he never whipped nor tortured.’ The retort was keen, as Lord Clare[161] made a speech in favour of the enormities committed by the Orangemen, which is called and known by the name of ‘The torture speech.’
THE KING’S ILLNESS
8th March, 1801.—The King is recovering as fast as he can, say the courtiers; Pitt’s people cautiously say he may amend, but it must be slowly; Opposition declare he is as mad as the winds. Upon the first signal of madness the Prince notified to Ld. Fitzwilliam that circumstances were similar to those in ’88–’89 and that it was his intention to consult those who had been his friends at that period, and he wished Ld. F. to discuss it over with those with whom he had acted at that period. Ld. F., rather precipitately, sent off an express to St. Anne’s to fetch up Fox, who came early the next morning. Ld. Moira saw Grey and the D. of Bedford (separately) and proposed to each the formation of an Administration in case of a Regency, without either Fox or Pitt. This they declined, and unequivocally declared they would never take office unless Fox was the efficient man in the Cabinet. Ld. Moira had a private interview afterwards with Fox, in which nothing very material passed. The Chancellor begged to see Fox that they might refer back to their joint proceedings in ’88: Fox was astonished at the C.’s want of memory. He did not think his forgetfulness was wilful. In the course of their meeting, Loughborough gave him to understand that he was authorised to express Pitt’s wishes for an accommodation in private, and his disposition to adjust their differences of opinion upon the question of right, but Fox declined the interview on hearing the arguments, adding that the House of Commons was the proper place for political opponents to debate in.
Pitt is still Minister. The King’s illness occurred on Saturday, and the patent to admit Addington was to have been signed on Thursday: thus Addington has given up an immense place of £7000 pr. ann., and undergone the expense of his election, for the bare honour of having been thought worthy of His Majesty’s confidence.[162] Windham says he is one of the gentlemen who are shut in. Those only who are fairly out are Lord Spencer and Ld. Grenville.
The first act of Ld. St. Vincent’s Administration[163] was a pretty hard rap at Ld. Spencer’s; he gave the command of the Channel fleet to Ad. Cornwallis,[164] a man whom Ld. S. had brought to a Court martial and in a manner laid aside and disgraced.
Ly. Spencer[165] cannot reconcile herself to the insignificance of being out of power; she is carrying on an intrigue with Mrs. Fitzherbert thro’ Jack Payne to reinstate Mr. Pitt, by making him acceptable to the Prince. Ly. S. is the greatest prude alive, and yet because it is her interest she passes many hours daily with Mrs. F.[166] The latter is rancorous against Fox; she has never pardoned his compliance with the Prince’s orders in the last Regency, when he declared that no marriage had taken place between them.
9th March.—A person said to the Duchess of Gordon that Pitt, now he was out of office, would have leisure to amuse himself and indulge in his favourite recreations. Among the latter Pope Joan was named. ‘Aye,’ said the Dss., ‘I wish he would think more of Joan and less of the Pope’—more of the ladies and less of the Catholics.
MR. GEORGE PONSONBY
George Ponsonby, distinguished in Ireland as a pleader and orator, has carried the election for the County of Wicklow. During the poll a man upon the hustings assigned for reason of his voting against him that common report said he had been connected with the United Irishmen. ‘Common report is known to be a liar,’ said Ponsonby, ‘and so, I think, are its trumpeters.’ More is expected from him in the Imperial Parlt., than from all the Irish put together; his talents are supposed to be well adapted to the English style of debate, and his language good without being too florid, the common defect of Irish eloquence. He is cautious, and will not hastily risk impairing the reputation he has already acquired. Mr. Fox has not the highest opinion of his political honesty, but Grey, who loves with fervour every person connected with him, is jealous at the suspicion.[167] We must wait to see how opportunity may tempt and time mature his propensities.