e was gone
he wrote three letters, which have been seen by the person who told
me--one to his mother, the Duchess of B----, saying how sorry he
was to have offended her by this marriage, but he was sure she
would forgive him if she could witness the happiness he then
enjoyed; the second to Lord Fitzroy Somerset, saying he was the
most miserable man breathing, that he had been entrapped to marry,
and he should never feel a moment's happiness again; the third to
Lord Alvanley, saying that he had been obliged to marry; that he
begged he would let him know what was said upon it, particularly by
the girls (he had been making love to Lady Caroline S----). Hoped
they would not quiz him, for he was unhappy enough.

Can you fancy such folly and such profligacy? The fact is, I really
believe he has got ... or that she made him believe it, and
therefore compelled him to marry her. There is nothing but this
sort of gossip stirring in town. The debates are most tedious, and
the Houses very thin. I believe the Opposition as weary of it as we
are. Phillimore will have some plague with his Marriage Bill, but I
have no doubt will carry it, though the Chancellor is outrageous,
making a prodigious noise about it, and sets up the
Attorney-General to oppose it.

W. H. FREMANTLE.

The Lord Chancellor not only continued to set his face strongly against
the Grenville portion of the Government; but there exists evidence
that while doing so he began to look favourably upon Opposition. He
accepted an invitation to dine at Holland House, and there met, as he
acknowledges, Lords Holland, Grey, Lauderdale, and "several of the
Opposition."[84] A step like this from such a man, is extremely
suggestive, and rumours of sweeping changes in the Administration
followed, as a matter of course.

[84] See his letter to Lady Bankes, Twiss, vol. ii. p. 71.

CHAPTER IX.

[1822.]

SIR WILLIAM KNIGHTON APPOINTED KEEPER OF THE KING'S PRIVY PURSE.
HIS SENSE OF DUTY SOMETIMES OPPOSED TO THE KING'S INSTRUCTIONS.
HIS IMPORTANT SERVICES IN LESSENING THE ROYAL EXPENDITURE. ARRESTS
IN IRELAND. CANNING AND PEEL. LAMENTABLE DEATH OF THE MARQUIS OF
LONDONDERRY. ESTIMATE OF THIS DISTINGUISHED STATESMAN. LETTER FROM
THE KING ON THE SUBJECT. THE ROYAL VISIT TO SCOTLAND. SIR WALTER
SCOTT'S RELIC. PROSPECTS OF THE GOVERNMENT. THEIR NEGOTIATIONS WITH
MR. CANNING. HIS SPEECH