Ld. H. this morning, through Ld. Granville Leveson, proposed a Cabinet place _immediately_ to Canning if they should remain in office, or return to it after a victory over the Court. Ld. G. Leveson received the overtures thus made rather coldly. He seemed to think that Canning would take the opposite side to Ld. Sidmouth, and in the evening he seemed disturbed by a speech of Bragge’s,[289] who had said when asked what part Ld. Sidmouth’s friends meant to take in the present differences, ‘Why, stick by the King, to be sure.’ It is not known that any person has as yet been sent for by the K. to consult with about a new Administration. _19th._--Letters from the D. of Bedford and Ld. Ponsonby. It seems that the Catholics had been induced by the exertions of Ld. Ponsonby and representations from the Castle, aided by the proof given by Ministers of their unabated zeal in their cause by the clauses in the Mutiny Bill, to abandon the intention of petitioning Parliament this session. But when these letters were written, rumours had arrived of the difficulties in carrying through the Mutiny Bill, and that Ministers were suspected of an intention to give way upon that point. Early to-day Lds. Eldon and Hawkesbury went to Windsor in consequence of a message from the King communicated to them by ye D. of Cumberland. In the course of the morning they called upon ye D. of Portland, with the King’s commands to form a new Administration and to consult on that subject with two of Mr. Pitt’s friends. Reports of the D. of Portland declining to act on acct. of his infirmities; others again that he declined acting if Ld. Melville was to be one of the Ministers, or if it was resolved to dissolve Parlt. Ld. C. Spencer came from Burlington House and reported them as being greatly alarmed. Ld. Hardwicke[290] called in the evening at Ld. Grenville’s, and having inquired into the truth of the pledge said to have been demanded by the King from his Ministers, Ld. G. showed him the King’s note, on which Ld. Hardwicke expressed himself perfectly satisfied with the conduct of Ministers and thought they could not have acted otherwise with honour, and that those who had advised the King to demand such a pledge were impeachable. He concluded by assuring Ld. Grenville of his support and of that of his brother, Mr. Yorke.[291] Wilberforce also called on Ld. Grenville, and expressed much concern for what had happened, as well as approbation of the conduct of Ministers.