the newspapers. I am only
astonished that the secret has been preserved longer than any
similar one which I recollect, as it has been in agitation ever
since Canning came into office, and the hope of assisting it by
inducing Van to take my office was one of the considerations most
strongly urged upon me at the close of our discussion relative to
the Speakership.

For the best possible reason I cannot tell you our finance plans,
but I trust that considerable reduction of taxes must form a part
of them, agreeably to Liverpool's assurances. In the course of two
or three days I shall know more.

Robinson[104] will be a decided improvement on poor Van, both in
manner and popularity with the House, but as to measures, Liverpool
must of course give the orders, and he obey. Still he is a man of
sense and judgment, though perhaps deficient in energy, and if (as
I am told) Huskisson will draw well with him, it really is the best
appointment, both ostensibly and in fact, that we have materials
for.

Lord F. Somerset's instructions are decidedly to act under
A'Court's orders, and only to make those communications from the
D---- of W---- to Alava and other individuals, which could not with
any propriety be conveyed through the accredited Minister, and
which would in truth excite all the clamour against interference in
the internal affairs of Spain, which we most desire to avoid.

With respect to the question of sugars, I am very far from having
formed any definite opinion, and am disposed to go into the
Committee which Van last year pledged himself to grant, with a most
impartial spirit. The bias of my mind certainly is to believe that
by no means in our power can the ruin of the old sugar islands be
averted, and that the present plan only sacrifices the East Indies
to the new ones, which in their turn will be obliged to give way to
the S. American Continent.

The state of India is now certainly most critical, as by the
successful introduction of the British muslins you have completely
destroyed that which till within a very short time has been their
great staple export, and which now they have ceased to use
themselves. I doubt, however, whether Robinson will even consider
himself bound by Vansittart's pledge to go into the Committee, as I
know he disapproved extremely of its b