course could have no effect for the present year; but it is worth looking at prospectively; and I have written to Lord Hill to desire he would furnish me with the opinions of such generals as he may think most competent to give one, and send them to me together with his own before July. The question respecting the Blues and the clothing of the Household troops has been decided as he wished. What has passed between you and Lord Camden is exactly what I should have expected from a man of his honourable character. I shall be very happy to see and talk with him whenever he may wish it. I am, &c. GREY. If there are any Peers at Brighton, and you have no objection to interfere in such matters, could you urge them to come to town for to-morrow's division? No. 329. Sir H. Taylor to Earl Grey. Brighton, Jan. 25, 1832. My dear Lord, The King has ordered me to send your Lordship the enclosed letter from Lord Londonderry and a copy of the answer. I have been directed to add a private note, desiring him to be here at halfpast six, and to dine here on that day. I have, &c. H. TAYLOR. No. 330. Earl Grey to Sir H. Taylor. Downing Street, Jan. 26, 1832. (Private.) My dear Sir,-Buried in papers which I have not had time to look over till this morning, and obliged to be prepared upon them for to-night's debate, I can only acknowledge your letter of yesterday. * I hear this morning that there will not be a division on Lord Aberdeen's motion, but I have no assurance that I can depend upon; and I have been obliged to put many of the friends of the Government to great inconvenience by desiring them to come. The discussion will be very mischievous, though I am quite determined to avoid, as much as possible, every topic of an unpleasant nature; but if attacked I must defend myself. I am, &c. GREY. No. 331. Sir H. Taylor to Earl Grey. (Private.) Brighton, Jan. 26, 1832. My dear Lord,-I have had the honour to receive and to submit to the King your Lordship's letter of yesterday, who orders me to add to what he had ordered me to say on a former occasion respecting Political Unions and other objectionable associations, in consequence of the communications made to him and the addresses received, that he had never doubted the vigilance of his Ministers, or your Lordship's determination to resist these encroachments upon the administrative authorities and laws of the country. An instance occurred yesterday of the spirit in which these associations are encouraged. A petition was left at my door for the King, amply provided with signatures, in favour of the five culprits condemned to death at Bristol. The person who left it did not wait, or give his address, nor was there any attached to the petition, otherwise I should have returned it on account of the highly objectionable wording, which is insulting in the greatest degree to the judge and special commission and the administration of the government and law of the country. I received the King's commands to send it to Lord Melbourne, and I have since learnt that those who signed it are of the lowest classes, and a sort of branch of the general Political Union. Having occasion to see the High Constable this morning, I gave some of the names to him that he might keep his eye upon them. His Majesty was very glad to hear that you are determined never to have any dealings with Mr. O'Connell, except at arm's length, and he hopes that Lord Anglesey will adopt the same resolution. The progress of the Reform Bill in the House of Commons appears to. His Majesty satisfactory, and he wishes that the prospects in the House of Lords were equally so. Lord Aberdeen's motion is obviously made, as you observe, with a view to a trial of strength; and I sincerely hope he may be disappointed, as, independently of the general hostility to the Government, the occasion taken is mischievous and inconsistent with the view he, of all others, ought to take of the interests of the country in its foreign relations. The King had concluded that the deficiency in the revenue would produce a minute revision of the estimates, but is glad to hear that it is not intended to propose any reduction in the strength and efficiency of the army. I believe that some reductions in the staff have taken place since the sitting of the last Finance Committee. It was expected, at that period, that a new system of supplying the clothing would be proposed, and I prepared a short memorandum on the subject, which I can send you, if you wish it, or I can give it to Lord Hill. Your Lordship will, I am certain, have learnt with deep regret, before this reaches you, the melancholy event which occurred in the Pavilion yesterday, as all who knew poor Greenwood, and had any intercourse with him, must have loved and respected the amiable, excellent old man, nor do I know any one who will be more sincerely and generally regretted. I had been playing at whist with him, and towards eleven o'clock he complained of headache, and we advised him to quit the hot room and go into the gallery. He walked out alone (as we were afraid of fussing him by accompanying him), and very steadily, but I followed him, and found him sitting in the gallery. He told me he felt unwell, and would go to his room, got up, moved one step, said he feared he should not reach his room, and fell back on my arm senseless, and with a rattle in his throat. Lord Erroll appearing at the door at this moment, I begged him to call Mr. Davies the surgeon, who came immediately and loosened his neckcloth, which seemed to relieve him a little, though he continued senseless, and Mr. Davies said he feared death was approaching. Sir Philip Sidney and Mr. Hudson joined us, and we carried him up to his room, when he recovered for a moment, said he should soon be better, was very sick, could not swallow some salvolatile and water, breathed hard three times, and expired without a struggle or apparent pain. The whole of this melancholy scene did not last more than ten minutes, and excepting those who had carried him to his room, all had continued ignorant of the occurrence and catastrophe. There was a large party, and I waited until they had left the house, and then broke the sad event to the King, who was greatly shocked and affected, as he was very partial to poor Greenwood. I sent a messenger to Mr. Charles Hammersley last night, and I expect him every moment. To me this event and the circumstances attending it have been very trying. I was attached to the good old man as to a father, and I believe that this feeling was cordially returned. He had been particularly well and cheerful since he came, and had told my wife and me and others how well he felt; but yesterday he went out without his great coat, and walked slow for some time with Lord Chatham; and he complained afterwards to Lady Taylor of a chill, and thought he had caught cold. Sir M. Tierney thinks the immediate cause of his death was the rupture of a vessel near the heart, and the |