fully into every part of the question, and was so particular in the instructions given for the observations made in his letter, that I need not trouble your Lordship with any thing further on that subject, than to say that, upon reading the Minute of Cabinet, His Majesty observed that it is conclusive, and will render unnecessary any personal discussion with your Lordship and the Lord Chancellor.

The King orders me to say that Tuesday the 31st inst. will suit him as well as any other day, for holding a Council, and he desires that it may be so appointed in due time; but the notice had better be short, otherwise His Majesty will be inundated with applications for audiences. They are, indeed, becoming very inconvenient and frequently embarrassing, and yet the declining them would, in many cases, create great soreness of feeling, and be liable to misinterpretation.

Lord Kinnoul, who presented the address from the county of Perth, stated that he could not avoid doing so in his character of Lord-Lieutenant, although he does not concur in the greater part of the sentiments it expresses. His language was indeed friendly, and he unequivocally admitted the necessity of Reform of the representation, particularly in Scotland.

Lord Aylesbury has applied for an audience, and is coming this day, but I am ignorant of the object. And Lord Camden has also requested to be permitted to come here to present an address from Kent, as you will perceive by his letter which I enclose. Lord Camden is an old friend, has been in habits of great intercourse with the King, and His Majesty has not felt at liberty to hurt his feelings by declining his request; but

I cannot help saying that the labour of all this is trying to the King, as is the continual excitement.

The King is much obliged to you for your attention to the communication I was directed to make on the subject of the household excesses and surplusses, and has ordered me to say that the letter addressed to you by Mr. Ellice is perfectly satisfactory to him. I have kept it, in case of further reference or inquiry. I have, &c.

H. TAYLOR.

P.S.-His Majesty orders me to add that Lord Aylesbury came to declare his entire concurrence in the sentiments of Lord Wharncliffe, of which he had understood His Majesty to be in full possession.

No. 321.

Earl Grey to Sir H. Taylor.

Downing Street, Jan. 18, 1832.

My dear Sir Herbert,-I desired Mr. Wood yesterday to acknowledge your letter of the 16th, not having time to write myself. I now, therefore, sit down to acquit myself of that duty, though I am not aware that I have any thing material to add to what I have already written. Whatever allowance may be made for the colouring which strong political opinions may give to the statements of the Lord Advocate, they certainly will still afford matter for the most serious meditation. I have before told you that they are abundantly confirmed by what I hear from other quarters, and from some most impartial observers of passing events. From Lancashire

the accounts are of the same description; the same present tranquillity, the same encouraging appearances of reviving trade, and the same patient expectation of the result of the Reform Bill, with the same determina tion in the event of its failure. His Majesty's opinion of the incompatibility of permanent establishments like that of the Unions with all regular Government must command the entire concurrence of every man who looks at these things in their true light. Their Their power of control, now exercised for a purpose that is temporarily useful, may be at any moment exerted in a manner that would be fatal to the peace of the country. We must, therefore, look with anxiety to the means of putting an end to these associations. To do so by law, or by an exertion of force, is very difficult; and undoubtedly in this, as well as in all similar cases, we must prefer the suaviter in modo, if it can be combined with the fortiter in re. I look therefore, with a sanguine hope, to the success of the measure of Reform. Even in that case I do not doubt, that there would be many who would wish to perpetuate and extend these Unions for other objects. But when the great object of Reform is carried, I have a confident belief that the middle and more influencing classes of the community would be separated from them; they would then become powerless and more easily dealt with..

I beg you will offer His Majesty my humble thanks for the communication you have made to me by his orders, of his having given audience to Lords Salisbury and Verulam.

After receiving them, it certainly could not be ex

I

pected that His Majesty should refuse to Lord Kinnoul admission to his presence for the same purpose. have myself had many addresses sent to me, with a request that I would present them in person; but not to trouble His Majesty unnecessarily, my answer has uniformly been, that the levees having been discontinued, no proper opportunity of doing so was afforded me, and that I had, therefore, transmitted them to the Home Secretary. And this, as it is the usual, would I think in general be the better course.

I have been all the morning at the Committee on Irish Tithes. It has afforded further evidence of the distressing and almost hopeless state of that question. I see no way but to fix the payment on the landlords. The name of tithes and all the misery of their collection would be avoided, and the landlord would be indemnified in the shape of rent. I hope that the Irish proprietors, seeing the danger and necessity of their situation, may consent to some arrangement of that nature; but I must add that all I know of them does not afford much encouragement to that hope.

I am, &c.

GREY.

P. S. Some mistake as to the appointment of the Welsh Sheriffs, in consequence of the change that has taken place in the judicature, will make it necessary to postpone the Council for another week. I have communicated this to-day to the Archbishop, and he must arrange his Fast accordingly.

No. 322.

Sir H. Taylor to Earl Grey.

Brighton, Jan. 18, 1832.

My dear Lord, I have the honour, by the King's command, to send your Lordship a letter from the Duke of Buckingham, which His Majesty received this morning by post, to which I add his Grace's letter of transmission to me, and copy of my answer.

His Majesty will be obliged to you to return the letter at your leisure. He was much struck with the remarks it contains on Political Unions, the establishment of which your Lordship is aware that His Majesty views with extreme displeasure and suspicion.

I have, &c.

No. 323.

H. TAYLOR.

Earl Grey to the King.

Downing Street, Jan. 19, 1832.

Earl Grey presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs leave to offer to your Majesty his best thanks for your Majesty's letter of the 17th, and for the other communications through Sir H. Taylor, which he had the honour of receiving last night. When your Majesty has been graciously pleased to approve generally the advice offered to your Majesty by your confidential servants, it would ill-become Earl Grey to