namely, that Talbot of Malahide came to me yesterday,
saying he considered the question to be of a personal nature, and
feeling the highest regard, affection, and gratitude to your
family, he could not think of voting upon it. That his party making
it a general question, he could not vote against it, but that he
should go away, which he did. I thought this a very handsome
conduct, and said I should certainly take care to communicate it to
you.

W. H. F.

DR. PHILLIMORE TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

Whitehall, May 11, 1822.

MY DEAR LORD DUKE,

Lest Wynn or Fremantle should not write to-day (for it has so
happened that I have seen neither of them), I just send your Grace
a few lines to say that the Catholic cause prospered last night,
the numbers being for the second reading of the Bill, 235; Noes,
223. Lord Duncannon told me that he had _never_ known a greater
exertion made against any measure than against the second reading
of this Bill. There were twenty-seven pairs in the House--_i.e._,
of persons who appeared in the House. My own idea is that all
further opposition to the measure in our House will be abandoned.
It certainly is most satisfactory to find the House of Commons so
steady on this point; but I must own I think the experiment has
been a hazardous one; if the measure had failed, the general
question must have been damaged. However, the result is most
favourable, and I should not be very much astonished if this Bill
was to pass your House. The most remarkable incident of last night
was the declaration of Mr. Skeffington (Lord Oriel's son), that he
had come to the conviction that the Catholic question must be
carried sooner or later.

I hear from all quarters that the Duke of York's canvass against
the Bill has been most active. Peel certainly took a higher tone
than he did last year. You will have heard from Wynn that the Swiss
mission, the general question respecting missions, and the repeal
of the Act which commuted offices for pensions, are to be made
vital questions (as the phrase is). At this I exceeding rejoice.
The post is going out.

Believe me,

Your Grace's most faithfully,

J. PHILLIMORE.

The long threatened inquiry into the diplomatic appointment given to
Mr. Henry W. Wynn came on on the 14th of May, when Mr. Lennard in the
Ho