No. 344.

Earl Grey to Sir H. Taylor.

Downing Street, Feb. 1, 1832.

My dear Sir, I have the pleasure of announcing to you for the information of His Majesty, the acceptance of the office of Secretary-at-War by Sir J. C. Hobhouse. This appointment appears to give a great and general satisfaction.

We had another proof last night of the effect of such an Opposition as the present; though Sir R. Peel and Mr. Herries, not very creditably to themselves I think, went away, the whole body of their friends, with the exception of Mr. Courtenay and Mr. Frankland Lewis and Mr. Charles Wynne, voted in support of a motion,* which, if they had been in the Government, they must have resisted. Here again the junction of many members acting from local interests, or particular opinions, gave a strength to the division which it ought not to have had; the numbers however, making allowance for these circumstances, were as good as could have been expected.

I enclose a list of voters similar to that of yesterday. I am, &c. GREY.

This was a motion by Colonel Davies for a Committee to enquire into the distressed state of the glove trade.

No. 345.

Sir II. Taylor to Earl Grey.

(Private.) Brighton, Feb. 2, 1832. The King was very glad to learn, from the letter with which your Lordship favoured me yesterday, that Sir J. C. Hobhouse had accepted the office of Secretary-atWar, and that this appointment appears to give general satisfaction. His Majesty was aware, and had indeed mentioned to me, that you would have been glad to place Sir Henry Hardinge in it, if circumstances had admitted it. His services in that situation were indeed invaluable, as I can testify from daily intercourse and cordial co-operation while I was Adjutant-General, but I do not know whether, as matters stand, Sir J. Hobhouse will not better answer the general purposes of the Government.

I return the lists which accompanied your Lordship's two letters, and which I have submitted to His Majesty.

These lists show, as your Lordship observes, that the addition made to the strength of the Opposition by members of popular principles upon these occasions, has been very small, and that various motives influenced those who usually support the Government in opposing it upon this; but, considering that the fate of the Reform Bill, of which they are warm supporters, is identified with the existence of the Government, it appears extraordinary that they should have run the risk; and does not, in His Majesty's opinion, entitle them to much confidence hereafter. That the Radicals

are not to be depended upon by any established Government, the King believes that you are quite as much disposed as he is to think; and, as to those who profess opposite opinions, and have become, from circumstances, the party opposed to Government, although they may not always take the course which is most creditable and most consistent with the principles they professed and contended for when in authority, it is in the natural and usual routine that, once constituting a party in opposition, they should take advantage of every opportunity to embarrass the Government, and if possible to drive them from the offices which many of them may be ambitious again to fill.

All this appears to His Majesty to be borne out by experience, and it is very possible that the House of Commons, as now constituted, presents greater elements of discord, and offers less ground of confidence to a Government upon general questions, than it will after the Reform Bill has passed, and the feelings and views begin to become more settled; nor is it unlikely that the majority coming into Parliament under the influence of a measure which has been introduced by the existing Government may feel to be connected with it by the principle of that measure; but this does not, in His Majesty's apprehension, relieve the Government from the risk of being abandoned by members so circumstanced, whenever popular feeling, or popular clamour and prejudice, however unreasonable, shall be opposed to the views and measures of the Government ; and His Majesty cannot lose sight of the growing influence of the press, nor of the extraordinary power which it unfortunately possesses, of exciting popular feeling, and of producing prejudice and misconstruction.

Your Lordship will say that these are all signs of the times, and that the evil which His Majesty apprehends would at any rate have arisen. This is granted, but unfortunately does not mend the case.

The King has read this letter, and says that it expresses correctly what he meant I should say; and that, after all, it only confirms an opinion often expressed by His Majesty, that the House of Commons has gradually acquired a degree of power and influence which must cramp the exercise of the executive functions of the Government, and often prove seriously embarrassing to it, and prejudicial to the interests of the country. The King will be anxious to learn the result of Lord Wynford's motion. I have, &c.

H. TAYLOR.

No. 346.

Earl Grey to Sir H. Taylor.

Downing Street, Feb. 3, 1832.

My dear Sir Herbert,-Accept my best thanks for your letters of the 1st and of yesterday.

I have written an account of the debate to the King, which I regret not having sent off last night, as you say His Majesty was anxious to receive it. There never was a more complete discomfiture than that of the Opposition. The motion itself, according to all

The motion was one made in the House of Lords by Lord Wynford, for ordering the attendance of the Judges to give their opinion to the House as to the legality of what had been done by the Government with respect to the payment of the interest on the Russian-Dutch Loan. After

form and precedent, was absolutely untenable; and even Lord Lyndhurst would not have voted for it. They threaten, however, to come again to the attack, on a motion of direct censure; but I think, after a little time for cool reflection on the irresistible argument of the Chancellor, they will abandon this intention if they really entertained it.

It is undoubtedly true, that a party in opposition has too frequently availed itself of an opportunity of embarrassing the Government, though not in accordance with their previously declared principles and opinions. But I think I never knew this carried to such an extent as by the present Opposition. Without citing more instances, I would refer you only to the question of the Timber Duties, and to that of the other night, where the attack against the Ministers was for having adhered to the treaty which they themselves had negotiated when in office. I think I can with confidence refer you to the conduct of the party now in power, when opposed to the late Government, as never having exhibited any similar instance of faction. you will take the trouble of looking over the list of debates and divisions, you will find that no question was brought forward or opposed, except on principles to which they were previously pledged. On many you will find that Ministers received their unequivocal and unhesitating support. If I had been factiously inclined, I leave it to any body to say whether, on the Catholic question, it was not in my power, in perfect

If

the Chancellor's speech, Lord Eldon spoke strongly against the Government, but did not approve the form of the motion; and, after a short reply from Lord Wynford, it was withdrawn.