ginning; nor, indeed, do I think that the county of Hertford is exactly the place in which such a beginning should be made: but I really think it would be wise that it should be made somewhere.

There is, in my mind, but one exceedingly weak part, and that is the state of the representation. This cannot be defended by words the thing is quite impossible; all that could be said would be that good perhaps is the result of it—but, though this may do very well in private argument, it certainly could not be said in public; and the thing must be glossed over as well as it could be done. There would, I think, be no very great difficulty in giving even a good turn to this; but it is, it must be confessed, a very difficult point, because no man can say beforehand what would be the consequences of touching it.

The last point I hope your lordship will allow me to touch is entirely private and respects my son. He is now with me on leave of absence from Paris, where, and at Berlin, he has now passed above four years in the situation of an attaché. His character and conduct will, I persuade myself, bear the strictest inquiry from those under whom he has served. He is twentyeight years of age, speaks and understands German and French, and being a real good scholar, is (if I am not misled by the partiality of a parent) fit to render himself useful in almost any situation. He has a turn for his present employment, and, if he can form any reasonable hope of advancing in it, I am sure he will not grudge any labour or pains in its pursuit. But if circumstances, of which I do not presume to judge, have closed the door against him, it is better for me at his time of life to endeavour to employ him in some line where he may render himself useful to himself, and, I hope, to the community. He really is too good for a mere clerk's situation, unless it is likely to lead to some better employment.

I am sure your lordship will excuse the freedom with which I write, and that, with the frankness which I have ever con

sidered as part of your lordship's character, if you can say anything to me upon this interesting subject, you will do it.

I have the honour to be, &c.,

JACOB BOSANQUET.

Lord Strangford to Lord Castlereagh.

Stockholm, October 7, 1819.

My dear Lord-I never felt so much difficulty and embarrassment in addressing your lordship as at this moment. I am absolutely destitute of expressions to convey to your lordship the deep and real sentiments of gratitude which your most flattering and obliging communication of the 18th ult. has excited in my mind. The appointment to which the Prince Regent has been graciously pleased to signify his intention of nominating me had long been my dearest and most favourite wish; and your lordship's kindness in thus enabling me to attain it has given birth to feelings which I trust and hope my heart can never forget.

I entreat your lordship to lay at his Royal Highness's feet the assurance of my humble and grateful acknowledgment of this high and distinguished mark of his Royal Highness's favour, which will stimulate me to make every effort, as long as life shall be granted to me, to prove my zeal and devotion for so good and gracious a sovereign. The only testimony of my respectful attachment to his Royal Highness and of my desire to manifest my obedience to your lordship's wishes, is by remaining at my post during this winter, notwithstanding the seriously impaired state of my health. I have, however, ventured to solicit permission to [return to] England early in the spring, as I have some family affairs of material consequence to me, which I am desirous to arrange before I am sent to my new destination. I beg leave very respectfully to recommend this request to your lordship's favourable consideration.

I have taken the liberty, in a despatch of this date, to call your lordship's attention to the proposal for a new tariff,

which has lately been revived by this Government. I hope that I shall not appear indiscreet, if I beg to mention my persuasion that, should this matter seem worthy of early notice, it would be in our power to make an arrangement highly advantageous to the manufacturing interest of Great Britain. Nothing would gratify me more than to have the honour and happiness of receiving and executing your lordship's commands upon this occasion, should you think [fit] to confide them to me during my further residence here.

I have the honour to be, &c.,

STRANGFORD.

Lord Cathcart to Lord Castlereagh.

St. Petersburg, October 9, (N. S.) 1819.

My dear Lord-I cannot let this messenger go without expressing my best thanks for the private letter with which you honoured me by Count Capodistrias' frigate, and for all the marks of confidence and friendly interest by which you have so liberally and so kindly distinguished me for a series of many years. Believe me, my dear lord, your esteem, independent of the distinctions which have followed it, is one of the circumstances of my life on which I have the greatest satisfaction, and which I shall always most highly prize.

Count Nesselrode has been extremely civil on this as on all other occasions. I have done everything in my power to lay a ground for establishing a prepossession in favour of Mr. Bagot, and I think I have succeeded with the Emperor and with Count Nesselrode; and I have not neglected Mrs. Bagot's interest with the reigning Empress.

Travelling with a family, I mean to avoid Courts, unless your lordship should send me any commands. I go by Riga, Königsberg, and perhaps Dantzig, to Frankfort on the Oder; from thence by Torgau, if the roads permit, to Leipzig; from thence to Frankfort sur Maine, when we shall visit the Prince and Princess of Hesse-Homburg; from thence by Coblentz and Cologne to Brussels and Calais, and looking at as many for

tresses as I can conveniently get at. All this can hardly be brought within six weeks, allowing a week to the Dwina, a week for the Vistula, a week for the Oder, and a week for the Rhine, viz., to Frankfort. My letters from hence will follow me, and those sent to meet me will probably begin to find me at Leipzig. I stand at your mercy and indulgence for the most favourable application of the regulations at your lordship's disposal, in regard to financial arrangements for the expenses of evacuating this post, under this consideration of no small importance.

My son Frederick did not recover till very lately; and the moment the abscesses formed by his fever, and which became deep wounds, were in a state to enable him to dispense with professional assistance at least once every day, he took his passage in the first ship, and is now on board the Deniston, Reid, bound from Cronstadt to the Thames. His health is perfectly restored, and, if the wind changes, I hope he will soon have the honour of presenting himself to your lordship.

I think this Court will readily concur with your lordship in regard to the inexpediency of Conferences, except in what relates to the German constitutions. These are thought useful by this Cabinet, as proposed to be held at Vienna; but I am assured the Emperor Alexander does not intend to take any part, however he may recommend the consideration of the important points which this subject involves to the most serious attention of those who do take part as a necessary to ensure the general tranquillity.

I have the honour to remain, &c.,

CATHCART.

I will take means to make your lordship's kind attention to the Emperor's wish concerning Mr. Porter known to his Imperial Majesty.

Sir William à Court to Lord Castlereagh.

Naples, October 12, 1819.

My dear Lord-I cannot allow this messenger to return to England without conveying to your lordship my most sincere

thanks for the very great kindness I have experienced at your lordship's hands on the present occasion. I am fully aware how many and how powerful the competitors were who were ambitious of obtaining this distinction, and that it has been ultimately adjudged me is, I am also aware, less owing to my superior claims than to your lordship's protection. I was before under many obligations to your lordship as Secretary of State: I cannot but feel that I have now a heavy debt of gratitude to Lord Castlereagh.

Repeating my sincere and heartfelt thanks, I have the honour to be, with great respect, &c.,

WILLIAM À COURT.

At the risk of appearing insatiable, as I hear that many changes are in contemplation, I cannot but recall to your lordship how very great a point it is for me to be brought nearer home, if the move be consistent with my rank in the profession. I am now totally separated from my son, who is at school in England, and I have interests at home which, in these days of reform, require much personal attention. Except Constantinople, Naples is the furthest point at which I could be placed in Europe.

Count Münster to Lord Castlereagh.

Hanover, October 17, 1819. My dear Lord-I have been much gratified by your lordship's obliging letter, and I am perfectly sensible of the honour you do me in thinking that my presence at the meeting at Vienna may be of service. The late proceedings of the King of Wirtemberg prove sufficiently that I judged him right. I confess that his journey to Warsaw at this moment, together with the manner in which that coryphée of Liberalism, Capodistrias, has expressed himself at Copenhagen on the subject of the resolutions framed at Carlsbad, make me somewhat uneasy. The French party journals show sufficiently that Prince Metternich has hit the point; and, as I have reason to believe that