I do not, however, hear anything of the Chancellor's resignation,
but everything points, I trust, to Van. Lord Redesdale is quite
superannuated, and nothing would seem to me so impossible as his
appointment.

Ever affectionately yours,

C. W. W.

THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

London, Sept. 14, 1822.

MY DEAR DUKE,

You will be anxious to learn the result of the discussions with Mr.
Canning, and I have great pleasure in informing you that he has
accepted the Foreign Office, and is to lead in the House of
Commons.

This was settled yesterday, but as I have been confined to my
house, I did not hear it till it was too late to write to you by
last night's post.

I hope to be able to set out for Vienna on Monday.

Believe me, my dear Duke,

Ever yours most sincerely,

WELLINGTON.

"The bitter pill" was at last swallowed by the King, and despite of
both open and concealed hostility from persons of influence very near
the Royal person, Mr. Canning filled the important position in the
Cabinet left vacant by the late Marquis of Londonderry. The reader will
presently see how soon he won powerful friends at Court; but superior
as he may have been in some things, his subsequent career shows--what
indeed his previous political life prominently indicates--that there
were other qualifications, less brilliant but more useful, possessed in
an eminent degree by his predecessor, in which he was singularly
deficient.

CHAPTER X.

[1822.]

MR. CANNING AGAIN IN THE CABINET. RUMOURED MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS.
MR. CANNING OFFERS MR. WILLIAMS WYNN THE SPEAKERSHIP OF THE HOUSE OF
COMMONS. A POLITICAL RUSE. THE KING AT WINDSOR. THE SPEAKER. FOREIGN
AFFAIRS. PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONGRESS OF VERONA RESPECTING SPAIN. MR.
HENRY WILLIAMS WYNN'S PROPOSED DIPLOMATIC CHANGE. MR. CANNING'S
UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE. CONDITION OF IRELAND. M. VILLELE.

CHAPTER X.

The addition of Mr. Canning to the Government was regarded with
different sentiments when looked at from different points of view. His
brilliant talents and great popularity were recognised advantages, but
then the necessity by which he might consider himself bound to put
forward an original policy, made reflecting politicians regard his
appointment with distrust. He appears to have exhibited a wish to serve
some members of the Grenville family, though not