nment kept up their numbers in
the division, and Opposition lost ten. I understand from all
quarters that last Friday was, considering all circumstances, as
good as the Wednesday before was _bad_ for Government.
Notwithstanding this happy recovery, there is yet a heavy and
severe clamour against Dundas, and I shall not be surprised if
his unpopularity should very materially injure Pitt's character
and Government. It was by his influence that a Mr. Tierney was
kept out of the direction, and a Mr. Elphinstone brought in,
which last has turned out the most violent opposer and the most
formidable Government has had at the India House; and there is
great reason to think the other, if he had been supported, would
have been a friend, though that docs not seem clear. However,
those two men have been the most active and useful to the
Opposition in all the late contentions in Leadenhall Street,
where Mr. Dundas _ought_ to have had a majority.

All this business has given Fox advantages, which he has not
neglected; and although Mr. Pitt may be secure as to the
continuation of his power, yet the former has and will gain
character, as a firm and manly straightforward politician; which
the other begins to lose by nearly adopting the principles of a
Bill which he had reprobated and condemned. Devaynes tells me
that a few dozen of claret, and two or three dinners, would have
operated with many in the direction; but Rose and Steele follow
Pitt's example in that respect, and vote such company boors not
deserving of such notice.

Your brother William suffered a mortification last Wednesday,
which, I am told, has vexed him: the moment he got up to speak,
the House cleared as it used to do at one time when Burke got
up. I hope it proceeded from accident, for if it continues it
must hurt him very essentially. The day after he was in uncommon
low spirits, and croaked very much. There seems a general
complaint of Pitt's young friends, who never get up to speak;
and I am not surprised at their timidity, for Fox, Sheridan,
Burke, and Barre, are formidable opponents on the ground they
now stand upon. Young Grey has not yet spoke on either of these
last days, and he is hitherto a superior four-year-old to any of
our side. I have kept Sir Hugh Williams and Parry steady to
their tackle; the latter