e was no
opprobrious or harsh epithet he did not use. He dines with the Duke
of Devonshire to-morrow, and has a limited party to meet him in the
evening--a ball. I have not heard who are the invitations--but of
course Diplomacy and Opposition. The King has left out many of the
Ministers' ladies and his old friends to-night--such as the Duchess
of Rutland, Lady Bathurst; the only Minister's wife, Lady Melville,
asked.
I will keep this open, in case I have anything further to tell you.
Adieu!
Ever sincerely yours,
W. H. F.
House of Commons, Six o'clock.
I have little more to say, excepting that Lord Londonderry is
unwell, and no particular business will come on this evening. _Lord
and Lady_ Grey are certainly invited to Carlton House to-night, and
Tierney to the evening to-morrow, to meet the King at the Duke of
Devonshire's. The strongest rumours are afloat, and increase with
regard to _his leaning_ towards the Opposition; and certainly these
invitations do not discourage them. What he can mean seems
difficult to unravel.
MR. W. H. FREMANTLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.
Stanhope Street, June 16, 1821.
MY DEAR LORD,
I feel that I acted wrong in showing your letter marked
"Confidential" to Charles Williams, and am sorry I did so,
particularly as it has given you pain, but a variety of reasons
prompted me at the time; the subject was so important, and the
nature of the commission so delicate, that I did not sufficiently
consider how it might embarrass you. I am quite aware of the many
difficulties you have to contend with, and this made me feel (from
past experience) the danger of moving without explanation; however,
I can only say I am sorry I showed your letter, and it will be a
lesson to me in future to act with more caution.
The state of things is most critical and curious. Everybody now
acknowledges, and seems to admit, that changes must take place and
are pending, but what with the King's flirtation with the
Opposition, the strange absence and conduct of Canning at the House
of Commons, the illness of Londonderry, and the death of Lady
Liverpool, it is all loose and wild conjecture; my version is
this--I have no hesitation in saying, from what I gather, that Lord
Liverpool will not resign (the King has written him a most kind and
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