curred so much
blame from Lord G---- and others in former negotiations, that I
acted as I did. The moment I got your first letter I determined to
act upon it, _without consulting any one_. It was your wish that I
should communicate with the Duke of Wellington (personally); I
concurred in that opinion, and I therefore instantly went to him.
_After_ I had so communicated with him, and had written the account
of it to you, I sought Charles Williams [Wynn], to inform him of
what I had done, and showed him the correspondence. I had a long
conversation with him, and maintained those opinions and the views
which you have suggested in your letter of this morning. Although
he deprecated the overture to the Duke of Wellington, yet I am
quite persuaded he is delighted at the prospect it has opened to
his views. I know not whether he may or may not have opened the
subject to his uncles, but it is impossible they can condemn a
proceeding which was called for by the general and increasing
rumours of the town; but even if they are so disposed, it is
necessary for every man to judge for himself. They might think it
right to remain quiet; you, on the contrary, think it right to
communicate your views and opinions confidentially to the Duke of
Wellington, with whom you had before conversed on the subject. I
have always told you, and I repeat it, that Charles Williams,
though most able and admirable as your chief in the House of
Commons, is too full of difficulty and _splitting of hairs_. My
opinion is, decidedly, that you should, under all the difficulties
of the present moment, and with the retirement of your uncles, get
into official station, and thereby official strength and power; and
when once that is done, your influence, your necessity _to any
future Government_, will be tenfold what it now is; but if you are
now to hold off, and to be fighting for general objects, and for
balance of Cabinet strength, and for questions and individuals, I
have no hesitation in saying that I think you will do wrong. These
will be the points, I perfectly well know, that will be uppermost
in the mind of your uncles and Charles Williams; but it is for you
to act for yourself, which I think you can manage without
quarrelling with them. With all these impressions on my mind, and
recurring to the blame I incurred f