the Council, but it is believed that the Ministers had put in the
Speech a sentence expressive of satisfaction and sanguine hopes
about Ireland, and that at the last moment the King would not
agree to this; for after the Duke's audience, which lasted a good
while, there was a Cabinet, and it is supposed they knocked
under, for the paragraph about Ireland is cold enough. The Duke
of Cumberland is thought to have had a hand in all this, and to
have persuaded the King to be obstinate. We talked a great deal
about the situation of the Government and the state of the House
of Commons, and Tierney thinks that unless the Duke strengthens
himself he will not be able to go on; that Rosslyn and Scarlett
are of little use to him, and what he wants is the support of
those who will bring followers in their train, such as Althorp,
who has extensive connections, enjoys consideration, and would be
of real use to him. There is a strong report that Althorp is to
be Chancellor of the Exchequer, Goulburn Speaker, and Sutton[22]
a Peer. At present the Government is anything but strong, but
then there exists no party, nor is there any man of ability and
authority enough to make one. The Duke must strengthen himself,
and have recourse for the purpose either to the Whigs or to
Huskisson and his friends. These latter he detests, and he knows
they hate him and are his bitterest enemies. The Whigs he would
not dislike so much, but the King is averse to have them, and the
Duke is beset by his old suspicion that they want to break up the
Tory party and make him dependent on themselves. At the same
time, in taking in Lord Rosslyn and Scarlett, he has made some
advances towards them, though Lord Grey is displeased at his not
having shown him more deference and communicated to him his
intentions about Rosslyn. Lord Rosslyn asked Lord Grey's advice
as to accepting, and he advised him to take office, explaining at
the same time that he should not pledge himself to support
Government, though he was at present well disposed to do so, and
should be still more disposed when Lord Rosslyn became a part of
it. Tierney said it was very lamentable that there should be such
a deficiency of talent in the rising generation, and remarkable
how few clever young men there are now in the House of Commons.
The King did not like Lord Rosslyn's appointment; he hates all
the Whigs; indeed, he hates the best men of all parties, and
likes none but such as will be subservie