_11th Feb., 1801. Stratton Street._--During the Rebellion in Ireland made by the United Irishmen, it used to be the phrase, when a disturbance broke out in a town, to say, ‘They have got the Union among them.’ That cant saying might now be applied to a higher sphere, as since the Union of the Kingdoms the Cabinet has been divided, and at this juncture broken up. Reports and opinions are so different and various that I can collect nothing that gives me a very distinct idea. At present all that can be depended upon is that Pitt, Grenville, Dundas, Windham, Lds. Camden and Spencer, have resigned their places, and are virtually out of office, altho’ the former remains in until he has made the loan and opened the Budget. The occasion of this extraordinary breaking up of the Administration is the King’s peremptory refusal of assenting to the Emancipation of the Catholics, a measure Ministers consider themselves as pledged to, and a promise of which was one of ye instruments of conciliation to all parties to obtain the Union. [Sidenote: PITT’S RESIGNATION] It now appears that the King was all along against the Union, foreseeing that this question would be the price of it. It appears incredible that Ministers should esteem themselves so irrevocably bound to the Catholics, when the opinion of the King has uniformly been against complying with that measure, which they must have known at the time they held out the promise to the Irish. The King believes, and the belief so inculcated is sedulously maintained in his mind by the Bishops (especially by ye Archbishop of Canterbury and Dr. Stuart,[158] the Primate of Ireland), that any such relaxation towards the Catholics is incompatible with his Coronation oath. It was owing to these differences that the meeting of Parlt. was delayed on account of the tenor of the Speech. Pitt wanted it to breathe toleration and indulgence in the true spirit of amity; the King absolutely rejected all such promises. During the week in which the Speech was adjusting, there were many rumours of a change of Administration; indeed, one day they were so current that I believed enough to be tempted to send to Lansdown House to ascertain whether its noble owner had been sent for from Bath. Several tradesmen distributed their commodities gratis, so great was the joy; but on the Saturday previous to the meeting of Parlt. all was supposed to be amicably settled owing to the interposition of the Speaker, who was closeted with the King several hours during the Queen’s concert. However this honourable friend was occupied in a different negotiation than that designed for him by his munificent patron and employer--in one no less surprising and despicable than of tripping up his heels and offering his services to replace him. This huge and monstrous act of ingratitude was known publicly last Saturday, and Pitt on Monday, in his place, announced his resignation, and Ld. Grenville last night in the House of Lords spoke to the same effect.