proceed, if at all, with
better expedition.

In the House of Lords, the Chancellor and the Bishops will
certainly persevere in their resistance; but if there really is
that change of course on this subject in higher quarters, which
common prudence so loudly calls for, I should not at all fear their
opposition.

All will depend on that. But indeed I do not see why Liverpool
himself should (on the grounds on which he has always argued the
question) be debarred from taking the wiser resolution to acquiesce
in such a measure if it comes up from the House of Commons, rather
than to set the House of Lords singly to stand in the breach
against the claims and wishes of five-sixths of the population of
Ireland.

Whether he will be clear-sighted enough to see this course, which I
think lies plain before him, or whether he has stoutness enough to
adopt it, I know not; but sure I am of what he _ought_ to do.

The King must certainly, if he means to go to Ireland in May, mean
to carry this boon with him; and if he does, his visit will be
productive of more good than one could easily describe. If
not,--then, for _good_, read _mischief_.

I send you back your Neapolitan news. My only wish is that the
matter was settled, and had been so long ago.

"Lord Lansdowne writes word to a correspondent here," says a
contemporary letter-writer, "that everything in England has fallen in
price, except the Grenvilles. They certainly have made an excellent
bargain, in proportion to their talents, reputation, and numerical
strength. Were Lord G---- still in the full vigour of life and
exertion, one should not be surprised at any sacrifice made to obtain
so powerful a support; but by his retirement from public affairs, one
would have thought that the value of the family was reduced near to
that of the half-dozen votes they can bring into a division."[61]

[61] Lord Dudley's "Letters," p. 301.

The first of the next series refers to a private quarrel that at the
period excited a great deal of notoriety:--

RIGHT HON. THOMAS GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Cleveland Square, March 13, 1821.

MY DEAR LORD B----,

Nobody can be more sensible to your kindness in what you have done
respecting Henry, than Charles is; neither do I find in him more
reluctance respecting his beginning a communication with Lord C----