W. H. F.

P.S.--The King comes to town on the 18th to remain for some little
time. Does not return to Brighton, but, on his leaving town, goes
to the Cottage at Windsor.

The Catholic question as introduced this session by Mr. Canning,
created more than its customary amount of political excitement,
because, though one in which the Duke of Buckingham, his family and
friends, had long taken a consistent interest, it was pressed forward
by the Opposition to embarrass the recent coalition and the Government.
The reader will shortly see the result.

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

Whitehall, April 4, 1822.

MY DEAR B----,

I called to-day upon Plunket, and found him still in great doubt as
to the course which it might be expedient for him to pursue on the
Catholic question during the present session.

The bias of his own mind is evidently to defer the agitation of it
till the next session, and he dwelt much on the disadvantage which
might arise if Lord Londonderry, though supporting the measure,
should cool in the active personal exertion to influence votes and
to fix the wavering which he exhibited last session. Altogether, he
considered the question as too important for him to decide upon
singly, and therefore was disposed to request a meeting of its
principal Parliamentary friends on Tuesday, the 16th, the day
before the Houses re-assemble. In the interim he hoped to hear
again from Ireland, and to see Lord Grenville. He would also be
very anxious to communicate with you on the subject. It is obvious
that if it is to be brought forward, it must be before Canning's,
as it would be absurd to carry up the general measure after the
Lords have rejected the more limited one.

My uncle Tom is very favourably inclined to Canning's proposition,
as he thinks that the admission of the general proposition is too
great a change to expect at once from the House of Lords, while the
proposition of the strongest of the detailed points, one by one,
might be more likely to succeed. With this view, he told me that he
had himself more than once suggested trying a personal Bill to
enable the present Duke of Norfolk to sit and vote, and afterwards
for the other peers, leaving the laws as they stand. This, I
confess, I should not be so well inclined to. It will be an