ons
was essentially remodelled, no political pension has been granted
by any minister except to one of those with whom he stood on terms
of general confidence and co-operation. It is needless to refer to
older practice.

This is not to be accounted for by the fact that after meeting the
just claims of political adherents, there has been nothing left to
bestow. For, although it has happened that the list of pensions of
the first class has usually been full, it has not been so with
political pensions of the other classes, which have, I think,
rarely if ever been granted to the fullest extent that the Acts
have allowed. At the present time, out of twelve pensions which
may legally be conferred, only seven have been actually given, if
I reckon rightly. I do not think that this state of facts can have
been due to the absence of cases entitled to consideration, and I
am quite certain that it is not to be accounted for by what are
commonly termed party motives. It was obvious to me that I could
not create a precedent of deviation from a course undeviatingly
pursued by my predecessors of all parties, without satisfying
myself that a new form of proceeding would be reasonable and safe.
The examination of private circumstances, such as I consider the
Act to require, is from its own nature difficult and invidious:
but the examination of competing cases in the ex-official corps is
a function that could not, I think, be discharged with the
necessary combination of free responsible action, and of exemption
from offence and suspicion. Such cases plainly may occur.(70)

_To H.R.H. the Prince of Wales._

_August 14th._--I am much shocked at an omission which I made last
night in failing to ask your royal Highness's leave to be the
first to quit Lord Alcester's agreeable party, in order that I
might attend to my duties in the House of Commons. In my early
days not only did the whole company remain united, if a member of
the royal family were present, until the exalted personage had
departed; but I well recollect the application of the same rule in
the case of the Archbishop (Howley) of Canterbury. I am sorry to
say that I reached the House of Commons in time to hear some
outrageous speeches from the ultra Irish members. I will not say
that they were meant to encourage crime, but they tende