Ever most truly yours,

W. H. FREMANTLE.

MR. W. H. FREMANTLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Stanhope Street, July 4, 1821.

MY DEAR LORD,

You will receive with this another letter which I have written to
you, but which I told the Duke of W---- I would not send without
his first seeing, being upon a matter so important, and conveying
his message. Nothing can be so thoroughly weak as the proceedings
of the Government on this question: it is, as usual, holding off
and endeavouring to tide on, trusting to accident, but knowing
themselves to be incapable of continuing in their present form for
another session.

I had a conversation with the Duke, in which he evidently felt
embarrassed, because he admitted the folly of suspending any
measures, but was forced to admit, at the same time, he was
compelled to it. He talked over and admitted the inefficiency of
many members of the Cabinet, but then said there were reasons which
made it difficult to remove them, particularly when adverting to
Lord Sidmouth--said he knew how "silly a fellow he was," but that a
great following of the country attended him, and he would bring
more "_public_ opinion" to the Cabinet than any other member. It
was to his change, however, they looked. That it was impossible the
House of Commons could go on as it was; and the difficulty was, how
best to strengthen it, when there was in all parts of the House
_such a parity_ of abilities. I admitted this, but said the
disparity was only displayed in the Government benches; that B.
Bathurst, Vansittart, and others (I did not name Pole) were perfect
cyphers. It is clear that the efficient members--viz., Liverpool,
Londonderry, and the Duke of Wellington--have been thwarted in
their endeavours by the minor members of the Cabinet, and this
arising from the want of energy in Lord Liverpool. I said, "Do you
think the present supporters of Government, and the members of the
Cabinet whom you may remove, would or could oppose the new
Cabinet?" "Certainly not," he answered; "but though they would
support, yet it would be an unwilling and cold support, such as
could not be relied on." I made him feel as much as I could the
awkward situation in which he himself was placed, with the opinions
he entertained of the weakness of Government; and he really had