which you take of the situation of
Lord Wellesley, and what I intended to convey to you was a
disapprobation of his having SWOOPED at such small birds, when the
Chancellor and Commander-in-Chief crowed in his face. He had only
to decide between the course of entirely overlooking the
transaction, and that of requiring _their_ dismission.

You will see the tone assumed by the _Courier_ to-night is
obviously with the intention of forcing the Orange part of the
Government into action. A Cabinet will be held to-morrow, when I
think the matter cannot fail to be brought forward.

Wellesley has played his cards wretchedly, particularly in not
communicating with anybody. I really believe that by a contrary
course he might have carried Peel with him. He has not even, I
understand, written to the King, whom he ought to have treated as
his sheet-anchor.

The information which you give me of the ascendancy of the Orange
faction in every department of Government, is strongly confirmed by
Plunket. His view is, that if the Act against secret and affiliated
societies is passed, it should be considered as the manifestation
of the resolution of Government, and be followed up by a private
communication that all persons in office who endeavour to evade it
and continue members of Orange Lodges, should be dismissed.

Canning appears engrossed in his own department, and certainly does
not seem to place confidence in any of his colleagues but
Liverpool. With Peel I have made much progress, and find him in
general more fair, more manly, and more statesmanlike in his views
than I had at all hoped.

I think it clear that either Lord Wellesley or Lord Manners must be
recalled. I still hope it will be the latter, but either way it
must decide what the future character and bearing of the
Administration is to be, and drive out one part of it.

Ever affectionately yours,

C. WILLIAMS WYNN.

THE RIGHT HON. CHARLES W. WYNN TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

House of Commons, Feb. 18, 1823.

MY DEAR B----,

In consequence of the very agitated state of Ireland, and the
certainty that the debate, instead of relating to the Catholic
question, would have wholly turned upon the late proceedings in
Dublin, it was generally thought at a meeting which this morning
was held at Plunket's, that it w