Memoirs of the Court of George IV | Page 7

I have
heard of no others. It seems now understood that the whole Militia will
be called out. Manchester, as Lady Grosvenor tells me, is quieter; as
Harriet writes, is as bad as ever. Scotland is still only quiet from the
military force there, but the temper is said to be as bad as ever.
MR. W. H. FREMANTLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.
Stanhope Street, May 8, 1820.
MY DEAR LORD,
We had a heavy debate last night,--Tierney very able, and Huskisson
good,--but an evident indisposition of the House to the subject; and the
division on the part of Government very bad--only 99 majority. They
cannot get attendance, and the report of dissension on the part of the
King and his Ministers is no doubt the cause of this; notwithstanding,
however, I am quite sure there can be no change, and a very short time
must commit the Opposition with the King on the subject of the Queen.
Tierney last night touched upon it, and complained that she was not
recognised by the Bill or Civil List, and yet acknowledged by the Lord
Chancellor of England. You will see hardly any addition of names to
the Opposition, or any increased numbers, but the feature is the want of
attendance of the Government friends. Everybody believes the report of
Denison having stated to his nephew his determination to disinherit him
if he accepts the new situation. We must see the result of this in a very
short time, should it be the case.--The ladies are not to walk at the

Coronation, and it is to be on the cheapest scale. No dinner. The
estimate is called 150,000l. All your members were present yesterday,
and if we had voted against the Government, only see how we would
have diminished their numbers.--Mr. Chard is in a peck of troubles. He
has not got the address, without which it is useless to go to the
Levee.--I was glad of Brougham's mention of Lady Grenville's pension
(it certainly was not an attack), because it produced an authorized
declaration of its surrender, which was received with great applause.
You have no conception with what attention Baring was heard in a full
house last night, when for an hour or so he described the commercial
state of England in the most lamentable terms. It had great effect--The
King never shows himself. He has never been out of Carlton
House.--Lady C----[17] goes to him of an evening, and he has had his
usual dinners of Sir Carnaby Haggerston, Forester, and two or three of
this description. His language is only about the Coronation and Lady
C----: very little of the state of the country.
I will keep this open, in case anything occurs.
Ever, &c.,
W. H. F.
P.S.--I have just seen Chard, who is in despair about the address; but he
has determined, by my advice, to defer his presentation to Wednesday
se'nnight, in case we hear nothing of the address to-morrow morning.
[17] Lady Conyngham.
RIGHT HON. THOS. GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF
BUCKINGHAM.
Cleveland Square, May 9, 1820.
MY DEAR LORD B----,
The Opposition, you see, continues to muster in their original force of

160 upon their great questions, and though they do not increase, it
seems to me that there is either an indifference or a disinclination in
many to give any active support to Government; for while the Ministers
produce only their ordinary numbers, their antagonists always are able
to command their full force,--and if that disproportion continues, it will
not do, particularly under the alarmed, and restless, and fearful
circumstances of the country. You see, by the loud cheering of Baring,
how strongly the impression prevails in the House that the present evils
demand great and vigorous remedies; and though, perhaps, I may be
less sanguine in the application of these theories, I see plainly that the
House and country are so alarmed as to call for great talents and great
vigour in their Ministers--much greater than they are likely to find--for
the only new feature of yesterday's debate on the part of the
Administration was to show that, upon a commercial question, the head
of the Board of Trade is in opinion with Baring, while that of his
colleagues is against him. This is a wretched beginning on a topic of
such overruling importance.--The Coronation stands for the 1st August
I hear of no more new peers yet. I think the less you hear of the man the
better: you should only have to do with the master. Lord Arundel told
me yesterday that they do not go yet, if at all. Sir Francis[18] at Lillies
is really the ne plus ultra!!!
[18] Sir Francis Burdett.
RIGHT HON. THOS. GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF
BUCKINGHAM.
Cleveland Square, May 11, 1820.
MY DEAR