The journal of Elizabeth Lady Holland (1791-1811) Volume 2 (of 2)Holland, Elizabeth Vassall Fox, Lady
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The journal of Elizabeth Lady Holland (1791-1811) Volume 2 (of 2)
Holland, Elizabeth Vassall Fox, Lady
Holland, Elizabeth Vassall Fox, Lady, 1770-1845 -- Diaries
Ld. Grenville seemed thunderstruck at Grey’s urging that if a motion
was made by the enemy against the union of the offices of Treasurer
and Auditor, it would be impossible to prevent many of their own
friends from voting against them. In the evening Ld. G. wrote to Grey
to say that the point in discussion could not be canvassed by them in
conversation. Proposed by Grey that Ld. Spencer should be First Lord
of Treasury; Grenvilles all eager to declare that he had entirely
withdrawn from public life. Various other modes suggested, such as
Ld. Grenville’s placing the Auditorship in trust and not receiving
the salary whilst he enjoyed the Treasury. On the 16th matters seemed
in a state of complete disunion, and the differences between the
two Lords began to be talked of in public. In stating the friends
with whom Ld. Grenville said he should consult before he came to a
final determination, he mentioned Lords Stafford and Carrington. He
now talked of giving up all idea of forming an Administration, and
recommending the Prince to keep the present Ministers; but Ld. Grey
will not agree, as in his opinion it is a scandalous desertion of the
Prince. Tom Grenville has begged Grey not to be offended at any dryness
and formality in the style of Ld. Grenville’s letters, as official
habits early in life make all he writes upon topics of business seem
as dry as a chip. In conversation it had been thrown out that the
Treasury stripped and degraded would not be fit for Ld. Grey to accept,
but that George Ponsonby or Lord Lansdowne might do the duties of it;
but this was not listened to, it being impossible, notwithstanding all
Lord Grenville said of the present salary, patronage, and influence
of the Treasury being a usurpation upon the patronage of the Home
Department, to consent to such a glaring alteration as to reduce that
which had been hitherto considered as the first office in the State
to as low a condition even as a mere Lord of the Treasury. From Lord
Temple’s language, which is violent and indiscreet, and from Tom’s,
which tho’ milder and more guarded betrays much soreness, it is clear
that it is not the numbers of the H. of Commons which induced them to
urge a junction with Mr. Canning, but that they felt they had no man of
their _own_, and could not submit to be represented by such persons as
Whitbread, &c.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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