render of your Majesty's prerogative, which would deprive your Majesty of the control which your Majesty ought to possess over the measures of your Government. It is true that the increased number of the Peerage, should that measure be resorted to, must depend upon the strength of the opposition in the House of Lords, over which your Majesty's Ministers have no power; and it is this very circumstance which makes it impossible for your Majesty's Ministers at present to state what the necessary number may be; but Earl Grey still anxiously cherishes the hope that it may not exceed, or, at all events, not greatly exceed, the number before mentioned to your Majesty, and greatly will he rejoice if it shall be ultimately found to be less. When the idea of a partial creation, in the first instance, was submitted to your Majesty by Earl Grey, he undoubtedly at the same time recommended, for the reasons he then stated, that it should be confined to the eldest sons not in Parliament; but that proposal falls to the ground with that of the partial promotion itself. In a general one, the eldest sons whose claims are the highest must necessarily be selected, whether they at present have seats in the House of Commons or not. Earl Grey has no fear of the result of any popular elections, except that which may arise from the unwillingness of the best candidates to spend money to secure a seat, which, if the Bill succeeds, can only be held for a very short period. This circumstance might possibly, in some places, afford an opening to persons who, in a different state of things, would have no chance of

success.

Earl Grey was fully aware of your Majesty's objec

tion to any creations except from the three classes, of eldest sons, collateral heirs of childless Peers, or Peers of Scotland and Ireland; and he does not feel himself authorised to say anything in opposition to your Majesty's opinion on this point. But he trusts it will not be thought inconsistent with the deference which he owes to such a declaration of your Majesty's opinion, to suggest with all humility, in looking to the future character and dignity of the House of Lords, which it so naturally and so justly is your Majesty's most anxious wish to support, that perhaps that object may be more effectually promoted by the addition of Commoners of ancient families and great wealth, than by that of Irish and Scotch Peers, to many of whom not now possessing seats in the House of Lords the latter advantage does not belong. This consideration, however, is only humbly submitted, without being pressed upon your Majesty.

Upon the concluding remarks in your Majesty's letter, Earl Grey would humbly submit this observation. In the first place, that there is a fundamental difference between a representative and an hereditary assembly, and that the patron of a close borough has over his nominee, falsely called a representative of the people, an influence which is always active and operating. An addition to the House of Lords may be said to overcome the independent will of that assembly as constituted at the present moment, on a particular measure. But it is to be remembered, that the new Peers will hold their seats by as independent a tenure as the old ones; and if properly selected, though the number may be inconveniently increased, will not de

tract from the general respect due to the House of Lords as composed of subjects of eminent station and large property.

Earl Grey has to offer many excuses for having so long trespassed upon your Majesty's attention. He has been led to do so, that his motives in every part of these transactions may be clearly understood by your Majesty. In conclusion he has only further to express his grateful sense, which he is confident will be shared by all his colleagues, of your Majesty's confidence and favour, in allowing your servants the power of acting up to the full exigency of the case, it being understood that the contemplated addition shall be deferred till it may appear certain that, without such addition, the strength of the Government will be insufficient to bring the measure of Parliamentary Reform to a successful issue.'

All which, &c.

GREY.

No. 316.

Earl Grey to Sir H. Taylor.

(Private.) Downing Street, Jan. 16, 1832. My dear Sir, I have to acknowledge your letter of yesterday, accompanying the King's answer to the Minute of Cabinet, and also your two letters which I have received by the post this morning.

With respect to the first, I don't know that I have any thing material to add to the letter which I wrote to His Majesty before I left Sheen this morning. Know

ing how much alive His Majesty is to all the difficulties connected with the subject which has been lately under discussion, I must feel doubly grateful for the strong proof of confidence shown by His Majesty in consenting to adopt the proposition contained in the last communication of his confidential servants.

I thought it my duty to submit to His Majesty the observation which I have made in my letter of this date, with respect to the limitation of the new creations, should any be made, to the three classes which have been so repeatedly defined; but, as I stated at the same time, without meaning to press it upon His Majesty. I am not aware of any further difficulty as likely to arise on this point; but if there should, it will be the duty of the Lord Chancellor and myself to wait upon His Majesty at Brighton whenever he may command our attendance.

I have a letter from Lord Lansdowne this morning, in which he says that he does not think the Council for appointing the new Sheriffs can be held before the end of the month. I would therefore propose to His Majesty, that it should take place on Tuesday the 31st, if that day would be convenient to His Majesty, when the Recorder's reports (I believe there will then be two due) and the appointment of the Fast may be settled at the same time.

I made yesterday a communication to Lord Albemarle on the subject of the payments from the savings of his department. I sent him a memorandum on the present state of the law, by which it appears that any saving upon the sums allotted to one department may be carried to another, but that no transfer of this de

scription can be made to the Privy Purse till the account of all the classes can be balanced at the end of the year. I have, however, again desired Mr. Ellice to send me a full explanation of this matter, which I hope to receive before I close this letter. I am, &c.

GREY.

No. 317.

Sir H. Taylor to Earl Grey.

Brighton, Jan. 16, 1832.

My dear Lord, I have had the honour of submitting your Lordship's letter of yesterday to the King, with that from the Lord Advocate enclosed, which I return, and for the communication of which His Majesty orders me to thank you.

His Majesty read it with great interest, and was particularly pleased with the account it gives of the improved state of the manufacturing districts, especially Paisley, where so much distress had prevailed, and of the peaceable and orderly demeanour of the people at public meetings.

With regard to some other points, His Majesty receives the Lord Advocate's report as that of a very able and well informed man and acute observer, but yet as somewhat highly coloured by political feeling. That which relates to the Unions appears to His Majesty a subject of uneasiness, and he hopes that the Lord Advocate and others may be right in their an

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