Memoirs of the Court of George IV. 1820-1830 (Vol 1): From the Original Family DocumentsBuckingham and Chandos, Richard Plantagenet Temple Nugent Brydges Chandos Grenville, Duke of
History
Memoirs of the Court of George IV. 1820-1830 (Vol 1): From the Original Family Documents
Buckingham and Chandos, Richard Plantagenet Temple Nugent Brydges Chandos Grenville, Duke of
Great Britain -- History -- George IV, 1820-1830
Parliament was opened on the 5th of February by the King in person;
but before the Parliamentary campaign was commenced, some anxiety
was felt by the friends of the newly-appointed envoy to Switzerland,
in consequence of a threatened opposition to his appointment from
the Whigs and Radicals. This portion of the House of Commons
affected to treat the recent coalition as a matter of very little
importance,--nevertheless, it was believed that they would gladly
seize upon any opening for an attack upon the Government and their
new friends; and it was imagined that the disappointment which had
followed from the expectations excited by the overtures of the Court
last year, would give an additional stimulus to their hostility.
MR. HENRY WILLIAMS WYNN TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.
St. James's Square, Feb. 1822.
MY DEAR DUKE,
I am sorry to hear that you have such authentic accounts of the
attack on _me_. I have still reason to believe that none will be
made till the general one on the Civil List. Charles has had a
conversation with Lord Londonderry, who says that he is perfectly
ready to meet any attack, both as to the time the mission had been
vacant, and as to the expediency of having a person there with my
rank. With respect to the first, he says that as soon as Canning
left Switzerland, he took the King's pleasure as to Lord
Clanwilliam's appointment, which was approved, but that in
consequence of Hamilton's illness, he was appointed, _ad interim_,
Under Secretary of State, and that he liked the business so much,
that he now wishes to hold the situation permanently. With respect
to the expediency of appointing a Minister, he defends it on the
plea of all the great powers having a representative there with
that rank, and that in case of disturbances in Italy, it might be a
very important post. In point of expense, I find that it will be
more considerable than Munich, Stuttgard, or Frankfort. Lord
Londonderry thanked Charles for my offer, but said that he did not
see any necessity for accepting it, and that it would be of bad
consequences, as showing weakness at the first start. Duncannon
told Phillimore that they were not making any whip for the first
days.
Many thanks for your box, respecting which I have sent to inquire.
I kiss hands on Monday, after which I will call in Pall Mall, in
hopes of finding you arrived.
Ever yours affectionately,
H. WILLIAMS WYNN.
The references to the late Dean of Westminster, to be found in the two
following letters, are not without interest. The Duke of Buckingham was
anxious to engage him as a travelling companion in a tour he was about
to undertake, in which he proposed to avail himself of every opportunity
for adding to his knowledge of geology.
LORD GRENVILLE TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.
Dropmore, Feb. 17, 1822.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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