apology. I told him
it was quite impossible, "Why," said he, "you did not mean to
offend the Duke of Cumberland, I am sure." "No, sir," said I; "I
did not wish to offend him, but I did not say a word that I did
not mean. When we meet the Royal Family in society, they are our
superiors, and we owe them all respect, and I should readily
apologise for anything I might have said offensive to the Duke;
but in the House of Lords we are their peers, and for what I say
there I am responsible to the House alone." "But," said the King,
"he said you turned on him as if you meant to address yourself to
him personally." "I did mean it, sir," said I, "and I did so
because I knew that he had been here, that he had heard things
from your Majesty which he had gone and misrepresented and
misstated in other quarters, and knowing that, I meant to show
him that I was aware of it. I am sorry that the Duke is offended,
but I cannot help it, and I cannot make him an apology."'

[Page Head: DUKES OF WELLINGTON AND CUMBERLAND.]

The Duke went on, 'I was so afraid he would tell the Duke that I
was sorry for what I had said, that I repeated to him when I went
away, "Now, sir, remember that I will not apologise to the Duke,
and I hope your Majesty will therefore not convey any such idea
to his mind." However, he spoke to him, I suppose, for the next
time I met the Duke he bowed to me. I immediately called on him,
but he did not return my visit. On a subsequent occasion [I
forget what he said it was] I called on him again, and he
returned my visit the same day.'

The Duke then talked of the letter which the Duke of Cumberland
had just written (as Grand Master of the Orange Lodges) to
Enniskillen, which he thought was published with the most
mischievous intentions. However, he said, 'I know not what he is
at, but while I am conscious of going on in a straightforward
manner I am not afraid of him, or of anything he can do,' which I
was surprised to hear, because it looked as if he was afraid of
him. I asked him whether, with all the cleverness he thought
belonged to the King, he evinced great acuteness in discussing
matters of business, to which he replied, 'Oh, no, not at all,
the worst judgment that can be.' This was not the first time I
had heard the Duke's opinion of the King. I remember him saying
something to the Duke of Portland about him during the Queen's
trial indicative of his contempt for him.

In the meantime the Duke of Cumberland