He ascribes the misfortune of Solano to the machinations of a faction actuated by personal hatred. Had Solano complied with the demands of the mob, the consequence would have been the complete destruction of their own fleet, as at that moment the ships were so intermingled that the French could have sunk the Spaniards. Apodaca seemed satisfied with himself for his dexterity in getting out the Spaniards and not endangering them. They were in great spirits at the surrender of Dupont, and also at the news of the evacuation of Madrid. It appears that Joseph Bonaparte withdrew from thence on ye 29th, after staying only 3 days in his Capital, rather hastily, with the spoils and plunder of the palaces. He is at Segovia, with a force of 23,000, waiting orders from Napoleon. Moncey and his shattered Valencian army are with him. Mr. Vaughan writes from Coruña that Mr. Stuart (who was formerly at Petersburg) was received with great demonstrations of regard and friendship; the officers, naval and military, had shown him Ferrol, and as he returned the villages were illuminated. They had heard of Sr. A. Wellesley’s landing at the mouth of the Mondego, the river so praised by Camoens.
We left home on Sunday, August 22nd, for this place Boundes, Ld. Hy. Petty’s. Made an excursion from thence along the coast from Hastings to Brighton; passed a few days at Mr. Beauclerk’s, and returned home, 1st September.
At the end of October the Hollands set out for Spain, and did not return until the following August. Lady Holland continued to keep a detailed account of their travels and the information which reached them concerning the movements of the opposing forces in Spain and the progress of the war. This portion of her Journal, however, is omitted.
On August 12th, 1809, reached Holland House, where we found the children and my mother perfectly well. The Pettys and Beauclerks and many of our friends came from the country to see us, and stayed a few days in the house.
LORD LANSDOWNE’S DEATH
22nd Nov.—It is too distant from this present period to make a review of all the occurrences from that time to this. Mr. Canning and Ld. Castlereagh fought on 21st Sept. Ld. Wellesley has accepted his recall,[328] and is daily expected; many believe he is coming upon the misapprehension that the Premiership has been offered to him. Lord Lansdowne[329] died on 14th Nov., which event is fatal to the Opposition by removing Petty from the H. of Commons. He has endeavoured to annoy Petty by his will and much disrespect for his father’s family, by making the remainder over to Ld. Winchilsea, and then to Ly. Lansdowne and her 2nd daughter.[330] To the latter, they say, a lease for 21 years is granted of L. H.
On 7th Nov. I was brought to bed of a daughter.[331]
Tuesday, 21st Nov., 1809, Ld. H. on this day completed his thirty-six years. He dined at Ld. Winchilsea’s.[332] Mr. Allen and I alone. He read in eve. Berington’s Life of Henry II., a work not without merit, tho’ the language is frequently barbarous.[333] The character of Becket is well drawn, and from his close researches into monkish chronicles he gives many interesting anecdotes which throw light upon the manners and mode of life in those times. He is a Roman Catholic priest, and tho’ one sees a bias, yet he has more liberality than usual with persons of his class. Indeed, at Rome he was suspected of giving up the cause of the Church too much: accordingly for some time he was suspended from his clerical functions by a papal mandate. He is also the author of a life of Abelard and Eloïsa, and possesses in manuscript, which he dare not publish, a history of the revival of learning.
Mr. Canning wrote to Ld. G. Leveson: ‘Lord Chuckle [sic] is, I hear, sufficiently recovered to take his prescription; accordingly, I shall send my letter to-morrow, and the other shall go abroad the day following.’ So we may expect to-morrow to see this long announced and much looked-for second statement.[334]
Henry and his tutor, Mr. Shuttleworth, left us on Sunday for Hinckley.