defalcation of strength which we have to apprehend arises from the
present disjointed and divided state of the Opposition, the members
of which are outrageous against each other, and, according to
Macdonald's report, may be expected by the next Session to split
into three or more distinct parties. He did not specify either the
persons likely to form these, or the points in dispute. At present
one can only see the Mountain and their lukewarm coadjutors; but
what the third is to be, remains to be shown. The amendments which
you suggest to the Catholic Bills appear to me, in general,
improvements, with the exception of the addition of the
Chancellorship of Ireland to the excepted offices, and the
requiring that the King should signify his _approbation_ to the
Bishops before the exercise of episcopal functions. Both of these
would have the effect of extremely diminishing the _effect_ of the
measure in Ireland.

Lord Grenville strongly objected to the exception even of the
English Chancellor, as justifiable upon no principle, when the
exercise of ecclesiastical patronage had been provided for in the
other part of the Bill; and it is difficult to discover what
principle can justify the exclusion of the Chancellor of Ireland,
which would not also extend to every other judicial situation. We
must recollect that the Irish Catholic barristers are just the body
who have, after the priests, the greatest influence, and whom it is
most desirable not to leave a perpetual badge of degradation and
inferiority upon. With respect to the necessity of signifying the
King's express approbation, it is one of the points which the Irish
clergy most objected to, and the omission of which has most
reconciled them to the measure; and if the efficient control is
attained, it surely is desirable that we should not be nice as to
the exact mode in which it shall be exerted. In my own view--and,
what is far more important, in that of my uncle--the question of
securities is, from the great alteration in the situation of Europe
since 1813, become of comparatively small importance, and rather to
be conceded to satisfy the scruples of others, and facilitate the
final success of this great measure, than to be insisted upon by
ourselves.

Dawson's speech against the army estimates last night occasioned
surpris