outh in the caravan, or to Botany Bay in a transport. To
neither of these, however, did I attach as much blame as to the not
notifying the death of the Princess Charlotte, which I think the
most brutal omission I ever remember, and one which would attach
disgrace in private life, even in a case where a divorce was
pending, or had actually taken place.

My great objection is to the spirit of irritation and provocation
which dictated the whole, as if they wished to goad her into the
course she has since pursued, instead of endeavouring by all means
in their power to avert what every other man in the kingdom felt to
be a most hazardous and perilous crisis.

I am much inclined to think that you are quite right as to the key
which explains Peel's conduct. Still, I hear from all sides how
_we_ are to come in after Easter. This may proceed either from
a desire to strengthen themselves by really combining us with Peel
in a new arrangement, or (which I think more probable) from a
design of cajoling us into present support.

An apology was transmitted to me from Castlereagh, through Lewis,
for his attack on the Commission of 1806, professing it to have
been quite _inadvertent_, and merely levelled at Erskine, without
_recollecting_ that Lord Grenville was equally implicated.

I certainly hear from many quarters that the country gentlemen are
loud in their representations to Ministers of the necessity of
their strengthening themselves, if they wish for a continuance of
support. Probably this will be answered by Canning's return, and
the accession of Peel.

I have just heard, on the authority of a man who told me that he
had seen Lady O----'s letter, that H---- A---- having eloped from
Florence with her second daughter, she followed them, and when she
found them, he had taken poison. Now, why they should take the
trouble of eloping, and, still more, why he should take poison, is
not easy to conceive.

LORD GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Dropmore, Feb. 1, 1821.

My brother has just shown me your letter, and I trust I need not
assure you that I am, as always, most deeply sensible of your
affectionate kindness; but I am perfectly _horrified_ at the
notion which it has suggested to you, on an occasion which surely
does not call for the smallest manifestation of any