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
The debate last night was much more decidedly in favour of
Government than either of the former--at least, so it appeared to
me; but perhaps I may be prejudiced, from having taken a part in
it. Wilberforce made a remarkably feeble, vacillating speech, and
at last turning the scale in favour of the motion by the
make-weight of popular opinion, which he allowed to be formed on
false and mistaken principles. Lamb spoke most strongly against the
motion, but concluded by voting in its favour, because the question
had so much disturbed the country, that the true honour would
belong to the party which first conceded it. Acland's was one of
the most impressive and efficient speeches I ever heard. And on
this state of the debate, Castlereagh most wisely, and to the great
satisfaction of the House, allowed us to go to a division at a
quarter before one, instead of keeping us till six or seven, which
would have been the inevitable consequence of his speaking. To our
great amusement, Creevey, Fergusson, Wilson, Lambton, and Sefton
were shut out, and afterwards received the inquiries of their
friends whether it was not from scruples of conscience, and being
unable to make up their minds, that they had abstained from voting.
The party is certainly unlucky; for on a preceding night, Lord
Carhampton and Luke White paired off and went comfortably to bed,
without finding out that they were on the same side. We now, I
trust, are rid of the Queen's business, though I still fear we must
have one night on the Milan Commission; but nobody has yet given
notice of a motion on the subject.
I was rather surprised on Monday night to find Ministers so weak as
to be totally unable to risk a division on Davie Gilbert's proposal
of throwing Grampound into the Hundreds, and that afterwards, when
joined by us and by several members from the Opposition, they were
beaten two to one; much, I think, owing to Ward's speech. I have
now, I think, sent you gossip enough for one day.
Ever yours,
C. W. W.
Have you heard that a match is declared between Lord Dartmouth and
Lady Frances Talbot? To see them together will be somewhat like
Lord Bulkeley and Lord Abingdon at the Encoenia.
One of the principal subjects of political interest was the Catholic
question, brought forward in the House of Commons on the 2nd of March
by Mr. Plunket, in a Committee of the whole House; and a Bill for the
Emancipation of the Catholics was introduced by him on the 7th of the
same month, the second reading of which was debated on the 16th, and
carried by a majority of 11.
LORD GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.
Hanover Place, March 5, 1821.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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