then is, that all these considerations press upon my mind with so irresistible a weight, that I really cannot bring myself to the adoption of a measure to which, as we now stand, there appear to me to be such insurmountable objections. I never had, I believe, at any time an overweaning confidence in my own opinions. I am accused indeed, sometimes, of giving way too much to those of others. I do not wish to defend myself against this charge. I am not ashamed of abandoning an opinion when I am satisfied it is wrong. In the present case, what can be a stronger proof of the sincerity of my conviction, than that it holds out against the opinions of the Chancellor, yourself, and Holland, and many persons whom I not only esteem and love for their personal qualities, but who, I am convinced, have the strongest feelings of regard and attachment to me individually. It is painful to differ from such persons, but our conviction is not dependent on our will.

With regard to the question which you put to me, I will take example by your frankness in answering it. As at present advised, I do not think anything would induce me to be a consenting party to a large creation of Peers. The consequence of your resignation then would be, the immediate breaking up of the Government; for, if I refused to come in, I should now find it still more impossible to go on, without you.

I have written this as fast as I could after reading your letter. More time would have enabled me to state better all I feel on this subject, and even to bring forward much that I am sensible I have omitted; but I was anxious, as soon as possible, to convey to you the

impression which your letter has made on me, for the kindness of which I must once more offer you my heartfelt thanks.

Believe me, &c.

GREY.

I should like to have this letter back again at your leisure, that I may have a copy taken of it.

A sad account from Kilkenny; the first trial has ended in an acquittal against the clearest and most positive evidence.

No. 380.

Sir II. Taylor to Earl Grey.

(Private.) Windsor Castle, March 16, 1832. My dear Lord,-Your Lordship will observe, from the letter enclosed, that I availed myself of the discretion confided to me in so flattering a manner, to submit to the King the copy of your letter to Lord Althorp; but I showed that only, nor did I take any notice whatever of my having seen the others, which I return. They are indeed immaterial as compared with yours.

I fear I have faintly described the impression made upon the King by your letter, nor how much he has been gratified by the sentiments it expresses, or by your confidential communication of them. I hope that what I have written by His Majesty's command will prove satisfactory to you, both with reference to the course you have pursued, and to the assurance it conveys of continued support, and the latitude given with respect to the exercise of the power confided to you.

The letter respecting Lord Hill must unfortunately prove less satisfactory; but it occurred to His Majesty that, if your Lordship should think fit to take further advantage of the view which has been in general taken of the situation of Commander-in-Chief as not being a political one, and to extend your forbearance to allowing Lord Hill to pursue his own unrestricted course upon this question, it would be satisfactory and due to you to have it in your power to show that His Majesty had made up his mind to accept of Lord Hill's resignation, if you should consider it expedient that he should do so. I shall at any rate have a copy of my letter to you ready to send to Lord Hill, but its communication would probably produce his immediate resignation.

I have, &c.

H. TAYLOR.

P. S. His Majesty has been much pleased with the result of the Duke of Wellington's motion yesterday evening.*

No. 381.

Sir H. Taylor to Earl Grey.

Windsor Castle, March 17, 1832.

(Private.) My dear Lord,-The King has honoured me with his commands to acquaint your Lordship that, after you had left him the day before yesterday, he saw Lord Hill, and endeavoured to impress upon him the importance which His Majesty attached to his voting for the second reading of the Reform Bill; and it is with very

A motion for papers respecting Belgium, which was withdrawn after an explanation had been given by my father, which was considered satisfactory by the Duke of Wellington.

great concern that His Majesty admits that he could not prevail upon him to acquiesce in his wish, and that Lord Hill pleaded his known feelings and sentiments as being adverse to the measure, and the necessity of consistency, as motives which must preclude him from giving any other than a negative support to this measure, namely, by absenting himself from the discussion and the division, although ready and willing otherwise to give a general support to the Government, as he has hitherto done.

The King cannot conceal from your Lordship, that he has felt mortified and disappointed by this result of his communication with Lord Hill, as he is perfectly sensible of the importance of securing the direct vote, upon this occasion, of a Peer holding the high and important office which his Lordship fills, and of the difficulty and embarrassment under which the Government must be placed by his continued hostility (for hostility the King, adverting to his official situation, feels it must be called), and by the impression it is calculated to produce, and the clamour it must raise.

Your Lordship is well aware of the great personal regard which the King feels for Lord Hill, of the estimation in which he holds his character, and of the importance which he attaches to his continuance in a situation for which he is so well qualified, and which he fills with so much credit to himself, so much advantage to the service and the country, and so much to His Majesty's satisfaction. You are aware of the confidence which His Majesty places in Lord Hill's integrity and impartiality; and that His Majesty believes him to enjoy, in the same degree, the good opinion and confi

dence of the Army. His Majesty is sensible also that you share these sentiments; that you have sought to give to Lord Hill every possible proof of your cordial and friendly feeling towards him; and that Lord Hill has taken every opportunity of expressing his sense of your conciliatory proceedings and those of your colleagues, with whom the duties of his office bring him into communication, and of the facilities which he hence experiences in the discharge of his duties.

Under these circumstances the King cannot doubt that you would lament, as he would, on every account, the occurrence of such a state of things as should place His Majesty under the necessity of accepting a resignation which he does not deny that he understood Lord Hill he was prepared to tender, though he avoided noticing the expression of such readiness.

His Majesty had flattered himself that Lord Hill would not, any more than many others who are guided by a view of the actual state of things, have deemed himself precluded, by the desire of adopting a consistent course, from supporting the Government upon this occasion ; and that he would have been influenced by the same feeling which has been shown by others (not similarly circumstanced from official situation) to take a course which might tend to relieve His Majesty from embarrassment, and from the necessity of resorting to an alternative which he deprecates; and His Majesty orders me again to repeat that he has been mortified and disappointed by the result of his communication with Lord Hill.

His Majesty, considering it due to Lord Hill that he should be apprised of his feelings on this occasion,