As I do not at all partake in the _virtuous_ enthusiasm for the cause of Jacobinism in Spain, I allow myself to hope that things there are going on well. I am entirely of opinion that the war is a most unadvised step on the part of France, and that nothing could be more impolitic, except our having the folly to mix ourselves in the squabble either way by word or deed. Some wiseacre in the House of Commons has said that Lord Chatham declared that not a gun should be fired in Europe _without his leave_. Lord C---- came into office when this country was involved in a war in which she had so much the worst of it, that all men despaired of the issue. He went out of office before the peace was made, and his merit was that he had by his successes in the war secured the means of making an advantageous peace. Secondly, in which part of his administration did any power of Europe take out a licence for shooting from him? Yet this is the sort of nonsense that passes current. Adieu. CHAPTER XIII. [1823.] IMPORTANT DEBATES. EXPENSES OF THE CORONATION. STATE OF THE PENINSULA. MR. PLUNKET'S DISAPPOINTMENT. CONDITION OF IRELAND. DESPATCH FROM THE LORD-LIEUTENANT. THE KING OF SPAIN AND THE CORTES. MR. CANNING IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. LORD NUGENT'S BILL FOR RESTORING THE FRANCHISE. FESTIVITIES AT CARLTON HOUSE. THE MARQUIS OF HASTINGS. THE FRENCH IN SPAIN. LORD ELDON. CANNING. PEEL AND ROBINSON. THE PRESS IN INDIA. THE KING AT "THE COTTAGE". IRVING AND THE HEAVENLY PAVILION. POLICY OF AUSTRIA. THE KING IN COUNCIL. SCHISMS IN THE FRENCH CABINET. CHAPTER XIII.