Harrowby's, which was assented to; "for," said he,
"as there has not been a dinner for so long, there will no doubt be
fourteen or sixteen there; and it will be a rare haul to murder them
all together."[6]

[6] Thistlewood's Trial, p. 37. Alison's "Europe," vol. ii. p.
425.

The next communication refers to the same incident, as well as to the
various rumours then in circulation:--

MARQUIS WELLESLEY TO MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Richmond, Tuesday, Feb. 29, 1820.

MY DEAR LORD,

Not having received any commands from you, and having nothing to
communicate beyond the rumours of the day, without any authentic
information, I have not lately troubled your Lordship with any
letter.

It was unnecessary to state that the stories of my being summoned
to the King, &c. &c., were all absolutely false. If I had received
any such summons, your Lordship would have been fully acquainted
with the whole transaction by express from me at the earliest
moment.

I believe an attempt was made to confirm the rumours by the
circumstance of his Majesty's gracious kindness in answering my
inquiries at the moment of his greatest danger, by expresses from
Carlton House. My carriage also was in town one day in the highest
paroxysm of the supposed squabble; but I happened not to be in it,
being confined at home by a cold.

I have not been in town, except to collect some account of the late
horrible plot, on the day after the discovery (when I was in the
House of Lords about half an hour), for a considerable time, the
weather and a cold having concurred to keep me at home.

I know nothing authentic of the quarrel, so much the subject of
rumour and noise, nor do I know more of the present designs or
future plans. I am at all times at your Lordship's orders, to wait
on you whenever you please; the weather is now so much improved,
that I can attend you in London any morning that may suit you; but
I really have nothing yet to state beyond the contents of my former
letters.

Always, my dear Lord,

Yours most sincerely,

WELLESLEY.

In the spring of the year 1821, their Royal Highnesses the Duke and
Duchess of Clarence lost their only child, the infant Princess
Elizabeth. Of this long-forgotten branch of the Royal Family, one who
was present at her birth says:--"She is christened by the name of
El