y have failed in making any
arrangement to strengthen themselves, owing to the want of the
King's confidence and support. For myself, if they attempt to go on
thus, I decidedly wish their fall, as I do not apprehend any
calamity from a Whig administration equal to that of the House of
Commons taking into its own hands the executive administration of
the country. To this we are every day making rapid progress, and I
fear that if we go much further, our return to the practice of the
English Constitution will be impracticable, and convulsion
ultimately the inevitable consequence. Till Ministers shall again
guide, instead of following the House of Commons, I have no hope.

The last report I hear is that the dispute about Canning is to be
compromised by his being appointed to succeed Lord Hastings; and I
feel little doubt that this would completely satisfy him, though it
could only strengthen Ministers inasmuch as it delivers them from
the dread of his turning against them. I should regret anything
which takes him from the House of Commons, for though I have no
respect for his character, yet he is of great use to check Burdett,
Hobhouse, Lambton, &c. &c.

If Ministers admit of Lord Conyngham's appointment to be Lord
Steward, it seems as complete a victory to the King as if he were
at once made Chamberlain, and will produce a lasting disgust in all
the quiet and decent from one end of the country to the other, who
have hitherto been the chief supports of Administration. Lord
Cholmondeley's promise of the next blue ribbon is not worth much,
since he is just as likely to drop as any one of your noble
brotherhood.

If one is to believe the newspapers, Lord Londonderry is to go into
Norfolk on a shooting-party before Henry could reach town from
Askrig. At all events, I have little hope that he will not put him
off with the same sort of postponements as he has hitherto used. I
quite agree with you that they at present consider us as
hackney-coaches bound to remain on the stand whatever the weather
may be, till they shall make up their minds to call us; and I hope
that you will be disposed to reject any continuation of similar
communication to that which they have already made to you, unless
it is accompanied with a direct and intelligible proposal.

As things are, I feel no temptat