the moment Mr. Canning came into the Cabinet he laboured to
accomplish the recognition of the South American Republics, but
all the Cabinet were against him except Lord Liverpool, and the
King would not hear of it. The King was supported in his
opposition by the Duke of Wellington and by Lieven and Esterhazy,
whom he used to have with him; and to them he inveighed against
Canning for pressing this measure. The Duke of Wellington and
those Ambassadors persuaded his Majesty that if he consented it
would produce a quarrel between him and his allies, and involve
him in inextricable difficulties. Canning, who knew all this,
wrote to Mrs. Canning in terms of great bitterness, and said if
the King did not take care he would not let him see these
Ambassadors except in his presence, and added, 'I can tell his
Majesty that his father would never have acted in such a manner.'
At length after a long contest, in the course of which Peel came
round to him, he resolved to carry the measure or resign. After a
battle in the Cabinet which lasted three hours, and from which he
came heated, exhausted, and indignant, he prepared a memorial to
the King, and Lord Liverpool another, in which they tendered
their resignations, alleging at length their reasons, and this
they submitted to the Cabinet the following day. When their
colleagues found they were in earnest they unanimously surrendered,
and agreed upon a declaration to the King that they would all
resign unless the measure was adopted. This communication was
made to his Majesty by the Duke of Wellington, who told him that
he found Canning was in earnest, and that the Government could
not go on without him, and he must give way. The King accordingly
gave way, but with a very ill grace.[18] When he saw Canning he
received him very ill, and in a letter to him signifying his
assent to the measure he said that it must be his business to
have it carried into effect in the best way it would admit of.
Canning took fire at the ungracious tone of the letter, and wrote
for answer that he feared he was not honoured with that
confidence which it was necessary that the King should have in
his Ministers, and that his Majesty had better dismiss him at
once. The King sent no answer, but a gracious message, assuring
him he had mistaken his letter, and desiring he would come to the
Cottage, when he received him very well. From that time he grew
in favour, for when the King found that none of the evils
p