I certainly agree with Burke in the propriety of the old practice of communicating to the King's Government any intercourse which you may hold with a foreign sovereign, whether direct or indirect, which in any way refers to public subjects; and as there are obvious and numerous reasons for not making this to Canning, who would naturally be the proper channel, I think Liverpool would be the fittest. If you do not like to do this personally, I should, of course, be happy to do it for you. Ever affectionately yours, C. W. W. [123] Lord Maryborough succeeded the Marquis Cornwallis. THE RIGHT HON. W. H. FREMANTLE TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. Englefield Green, Aug. 21, 1823. MY DEAR DUKE, I am just come from Windsor, where I was summoned to attend a Council. Nothing occurred worth telling you excepting that Lord Maryborough, I learnt from himself, had got the Stag-hounds vacant by Lord Cornwallis's death. This was given in the most gracious manner by the King in a letter written with his own hand. I think _Wellesley Pole_ has been pretty well paid altogether. The Mint, the Cabinet, a Peerage, and now the Stag-hounds. Lord Liverpool, Canning, Peel, Lord Maryborough, Charles Long, and myself, formed the Council. His Majesty looked really remarkably well, and walked up and down the large state stairs without a stick, and about the apartments after the Council extremely well, much better than I had the least idea he could have done. You may judge how he shuts himself up when I tell you that this was the first time I had seen him since I have been here--now upwards of a month, indeed, six weeks. I should say from what I observed that the Cabinet were in high spirits, but nothing passed in private conversation to give me information. Canning was on his way to Liverpool, and Peel made it in his way from Dorsetshire to town, and he was to return in a few days. The state of Ireland improves greatly, and I suppose till the long nights commence, we shall not have the full state of alarm renewed. The Duke of Wellington is gone on his tour, and all business will be at a stand for the next six weeks. Ever, my dear Duke, Most faithfully yours, W. H. FREMANTLE. THE RIGHT HON. W. H. FREMANTLE TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. Englefield Green, Aug. 22, 1823. MY DEAR DUKE,