their proceedings regarding the Queen. I cannot give
you the exact words.

W. H. F.

[60] Lord Nugent.

As might have been expected, soon after the meeting of Parliament, two
or three of the Opposition members began an active agitation in favour
of the Queen; but the majority of the members were opposed to much
discussion on the subject, and it became evident that her cause was
daily losing ground in that assembly. On the 26th of January, during a
debate on a motion respecting the omission of the Queen's name in the
Liturgy, Lord Castlereagh made a forcible reply to the attacks upon his
colleagues, in which he vindicated the conduct of the Government, and
taunted the Opposition with their proceedings against the Queen on
former occasions. His argument was directed against Lord Erskine, who
had recently, in the House of Lords, while referring to the Queen,
expressed himself offensively towards Ministers; but Lord Grenville's
friends considered that he was attacked, and were warm in their
indignation. Lord Grenville and Mr. Thomas Grenville, however, were
more tolerant.

MR. W. H. FREMANTLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Stanhope Street, Jan. 31, 1821.

MY DEAR LORD,

After I received your letter, I called at Lord Liverpool's, but
could not gain admittance; since that, I have been considering more
fully the subject, and think that any explanation now, after the
lapse of so many days, and when the whole debate is gone by, could
lead to no one advantage; and I fear also that Lord Grenville might
fancy I improperly interfered on a question so personally
concerning himself. I have no doubt Lord Liverpool would ask me if
I were authorized by him to express his anger, or to call for an
explanation; and he would probably write to Lord Grenville upon the
subject. The offence was undoubtedly great, and such as you were
justified in resenting; but I am thoroughly persuaded it was one of
Lord Castlereagh's bothering Irish arguments which led him on, and
that it was no premeditated attack on your friends. His object was
to lay it on Lord Erskine; and in the conversations I have since
had with his friends, they have told me he was extremely sorry that
your friends should have felt hurt, that he never meant it, and
that his only object was to expose the conduct of Lord Erskine. All
this, you will say, may be very true, but is