appeared to be equally applicable to
Cabinet Ministers. It will be seen from the following communications
that they were likely to lose the support of one of their most
influential friends at Court. Sir Benjamin Bloomfield, however, was not
so completely disgraced as the writer tries to make it appear, for, on
the 1st of April he was gazetted as a Knight Grand Cross of the Bath,
and lived to enjoy several other honours and advantages.

THE RIGHT HON. W. H. FREMANTLE TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

Board of Control, March 10, 1822.

MY DEAR DUKE,

You can have no idea how much advantage we derive from the division
of the other night, being of much greater importance to the
Government than to us, and it is so felt by the Opposition. Nothing
could be more absurd than Tierney's conduct, speaking entirely
against Creevey, and by his vote identifying himself with the
Opposition upon it. Lord N---- was really the height of folly, to
call it by no other name, for the division was so miserable a one,
and so completely confined to the Opposition, that there was no one
reason why he should have come up for it.

I am rather surprised at your saying that you think Ireland is
looking worse; it is not thought so here. I asked both Peel and
Plunket on Saturday, and their accounts from Ireland and their
private opinion on the subject were much more favourable. Plunket
told me he was satisfied that as yet nothing had emanated from
Dublin, that whatever were the steps of insurrection either at
Limerick or Cork, they proceeded without communication or
combination with Dublin. I am quite persuaded the only thing for
the Government to establish and confirm their strength would be to
force Canning into the Cabinet. It is the height of madness to let
him go abroad in the present state of the House of Commons.

As to the conduct of the K----, it is inexplicable. He is praising
Lord Liverpool on all occasions, but sending invitations to nothing
but the Opposition. The communications on the subject of Bloomfield
are now carried on by the Duke of Wellington. How this is to end no
one guesses, as to the provision that is to be made for him. With
regard to Ireland I am quite satisfied the great man is holding the
most conciliating language to both parties; holding out success to
the Catholics, and a determination to resist