Life and letters of Sir Gilbert Elliot, first earl of Minto, from 1751 to 1806, when his public life in Europe was closed by his appointment to the vice-royalty of India

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'^' Delane

BOUGHT WITH THE) INCOME FROM THE

Chapter I

Lady Malmbsbuey's letters having carried us on to the summer of 1792, we must now retrace our steps to the spring of that year, when Sir Gilbert went up to London to attend to his parliamentary duties, and resumed his place as his wife's correspondent at head-quarters.

A slight delay was caused in his journey to town by a collision with a runaway couple to Gretna, who had carried off all the horses. ' The lady is a fortune, and pays all the post-boys largely herself, so she is not carried off by force, though she looks a miserable little creature.'

' London : March 24, 1792.

' . . . I dined yesterday at the " Star and Garter," at a sort of party club for members of the House of VOL. 11. I ^ B

2 LIFE AND LETTEKS [1792

Commons to dine every Fi-iday during the session. There are seldom above a dozen, but they are generally the leading people. Fox was accordingly there yesterday, and Grey. Sheridan came in late in the evening, just as we were parting. Fox is always pleasant in these sort of small and cosy companies ; and he has exactly the merit which he said he liked yesterday in Lord Sandwich, which was being very much engaged and eager in whatever he was about ; with this difference, that Fox is generally eager about better things than Lord Sandwich whose objects were mostly trifling and childish to the greatest degree. Lord Sandwich is supposed to be dying. Gerard Hamilton has had a severe paralytic stroke, which is not his first, and he is not expected to recover. . . .

' I am glad to find, I think, an appearance of greater moderation about the French affairs and our own constitution, etc., than there seemed to be last year. The conduct of France is not commended in everything as it was, by anybody that I have met with, and Fox spoke as ill of Payne's book yesterday as other people, which he did not do last Parliament of Payne's iirst book. There are certainly a certain number of people in the kingdom who are desirous of confusion ; but there always are, and always must be, some such men in every country. They do not appear to produce any effect, and that matter is now in the hands of Home Tooke and such persons, who will probably never be able to raise even a mob of the populace, but will certainly make no revolution. Francis, however, I am

^T. -10] BUBLINGTON HOUSE '6

sorry to say, is very furious, and, I think, ^vrong-ll©adecl on these points, and seems to have no objection to a convulsion. Sheridan is also one of those who think they might gain by confusion, and I am persuaded that he wishes to stir the lower ranks of the people even by the hope of plundering their betters. But I class him in a form very little above Home Tooke in character and estimation, and therefore in effect, in this country. . . .

' There is one of the finest pictures of Sylvester Douglas at Lawrence's I ever saw. Lawrence seems to me much improved this year. There is a picture of Grey just begun, wonderfully like.'

'London: Monday, March 26, 1792.

' I dined on Saturday at Burlington House, where there was but a small party. The Duke was kind as possible in his manner, and desired me to come, whenever I was disengaged, in a family way, which I propose to do now and then. If I can break through the Duchess's cold and particular ways, I should find it a pleasant resource. Lady Charlotte is a good-looking girl, but not up to beauty. I dined yesterday at Lord Sheffield's ; we had Lord North, the Douglases, and Lally Tolendal, a French emigrant ; I was entertained with his company. He was a principal leader of the moderate party in France, whose plan for their constitution was formed very much on the British model, and which is equally distant from the extremes of the two other parties. He is, of course, detested by both,

B 2 and has been in exile a good while ; he is now returning to Paris, not without some expectation of being hanged.'

' Tuesday, April 3.

' Yesterday was a busy day. I attended Mr. Grey's committee on the laws concerning debtor and creditor at eleven in the forenoon, and had no opportunity to write a line to you before I went to the House for the motion on the slave-trade. The question for a gradual Hbolition of the slave-trade was carried by a great majority. Wilberforce moved for the immediate abolition. Dundas proposed the amendment of gradual, and was supported by the Speaker, who, by the way, did not make a figure, but a much better one than mine on the Test Act, so I have no right to criticise. Fox licked both Dundas and the Speaker soundly, and stuck to Wilberforce. Young Jenkinson ' then spoke and proposed a scheme of his own. It was a set speech, composed and delivered in mimicry rather than imitation of Pitt, but so inferior, and I think so puerile in manner in spite of all the confidence, arrogance, and conceit that could belong to a veteran, that he put me in mind of a monkey brought in to dance on the rope after a principal performer. He will do, however, in the world ; for those qualities which make a man odious and unamiable in private life are very successful in public, especially when added to great application, and probably both to ambition and every other branch of the selfish and interested passions. I was, on the ' Afterwards second Earl of Liverpool and Prime Minister.

Mr. 40] MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS 5

whole, disappointed with him, but he is nevertheless an extraordinary boy. He makes more faces than his father, and is so ludicrous in action and grimace tliat his language has hardly fair play. Pitt delivered one of the greatest and most eloquent speeches I ever heard in my life, and being right, it went so far that one could hardly help almost liking him. But enough of speeches, which you don't like long accounts of.

' N.B. — I voted with Pitt and Fox for the immediate abolition.'

'London: Thursday, April 5, 1792. ' . . . I have seen more of Fox and his set this year than usual, having made a point to dine at a weekly club with him pretty regularly, and having been now and then at Brookes's. I should wish to get over the little reserve, both on his side and mine, which has kept us at a distance so long ; but I imagine, that without living something of the same life, which I am not equal to, this is not very easy to accomplish. I have seen a good deal of Douglas and Lady Katherine, and I am really happy to tell you that you have a very good chance, almost a certainty, of seeing them at Minto. I dined yesterday at Mrs. John Pitt's with the Cholmondeleys and Bellinghams. Cholmondeley is more absurdly uxorious than ever. ... He had hold of her hand under the table from the time the dessert was set down, not only squeezing but perpetually shaking it; and if he quitted hold an instant to make some gesture or action, he snatched it again as if they had met after a long separation. The whole was a great display, and would almost make one sigk of being in love with one's oivn wife. His mother is now living at Hartingfordbury, enjoying conjugal felicity with her husband at his parsonage. I am sorry, however, to find she is entirely bs,oken in her health and mind, to the extent of not knowing people nor remembering anything. Miss Palmer, Sir Joshua's niece, has about 30,000?. by his death, and everybody is marrying her. Who should you guess to have the best chance in most people's opinion, but Lord Inchir qidn, a fool of at least sixty or seventy years old ? Young Dick Burke is the most talked of, then Dr. Blackden, Mr. Malone, Dr. Lawrence, and Walker King. She has as many suitors as Penelope, but all of them taken together would not make one Ulysses. Lord Ossory, who had the first choice of a picture, has taken the Eeclining Venus, with a boy piping at her feet. You probably remember it as a beautiful picture. Lord Palmerston, who has the next choice, has taken the Infant Academy. ... I am going to-day at length to Beconsfield. Burke has been there ever since I came, except a day or two that he came to town on business, when I called in Duke Street bvit missed him. I wrote in the beginning of this week to say that Elliot and I proposed to go to Beconsfield to-day if he was to be at home, and I received the answer which I inclose to you. You will observe a little stiffness in it. I believe there was something of the same sort in mine. The truth is, that I have had a horror at this meeting, and that he does not know how to feel on the subject tEt. 40] EELATIONS WITH BURKE 7

either. I believe his disposition towards me to be affectionate and kind as usual, but I know his sanguine character so well that I cannot doubt of his being at heart deeply hurt and aifected at my withdrawing myself from the proceeding of last year. My own wish, and a very anxious one it is, is to return to the most unlimited cordiality and affection with him in point of private and personal friendship ; but, besides that I am unable to go all lengths with him on the subject which most engrosses his mind — the French question, I have felt so sensibly the evil of admitting any sway over my mind so powerful and sovereign as his was, and have found myself so often led to a fluctuation of opinion oh important points by yielding first to the influence of his authority, and then having to combat the same point with my own reason, and I think the particular subject of his present attention is so likely to lead to questions of immense moment on which every man should form an opinion of his own, and regulate his conduct by an unbiassed and temperate judgment, that I cannot again surrender myself so unconditionally even to Burke ; and this is a resolution which I mttsi acquaint him with. I doubt whether, on these terms, we can be as cordial as I wish, although our habits and intercourse may be undoubtedly kept up with the same external intimacy — if these two words can go together. I had a long conversation yesterday with the Duke of Portland on this subject, and there seems the less chance of a perfect recovery with me, as I find even the Duke is far from being on the same footing as he was with him. The Duke is strongly and fondly attached to him ; and I never saw anybody more deeply wounded than he seems by this interruption in their former habits. Burke, I believe, feels the same on his side, and they have met, and still meet, as often as opportunities offer, in the way of private friendship and society, both in town and country, but they have never once yet touched on the subject of last year's catastrophe, or of Burke's last pamphlet. I own I go in a great funk, and wish I was back again already, although I have a strong desire to express to Burke the continuance of my attachment for him. Elliot is a sort of mediator between us ; and I think is the only one out of Burke's family who is now as entirely his as we all were before.' '

' London ; Monday, April 9, 1794.

' . . . I am very much relieved in my mind by the renewal of my intercourse with Burke, as that subject has weighed pretty heavily on me ever since I left town last May. His reception of me was full of

' The following passage, which occurs in a letter of a later date, written by Mr. Elliot of "Wells to Sir Gilbert, gives an instance of the influence exercised by Mr. Burke over his friends :

' Young Burke had applied to Lord Fitzwilliam for the seat of Highaiu Ferrars, and was refused, Lord Fitzwilliam conceiving that young Burke would follow his father's footsteps, and in conversing with young Burke he used some unguarded expressions, and called old Burke the standard-bearer of Pitt. This produced a severe remonstrance from old Burke, which affected Lord Fitzwilliam so much that he kept his bed, and was actually ill for several days. When Burke heard this he was so much hurt in his turn, that he went to Lord Fitzwilliam and the whole thing was made up.'

^T. 10] VISIT TO BUEKE 9

kindness, and I have reason to be satisfied that there is much less difference in his affection for me than in the case of any other of his friends, with perhaps the exception of Elliot and the Duke of Portland. But with all tliis, I own I did not feel perfectly comfortable. He talked his own language about the French Eevolution, and his difference with his former friends on that subject, as freely as if I had no share in their dissent from him ; and this, Elliot tells me, is a distinction in my case, for with all his other friends he avoids the subject entirely. But the conversation on these points was necessarily all, or next to all, on his side ; and he never led to the only topic really interesting between us, or which seemed naturally to call for explanation — I mean my withholding all concurrence or countenance last year on that memorable and unhappy day, and the total suspension of all intercourse between us ever since. I saw that it was a measure with him to avoid this explanation, and I was not earnest to bring it on. But in the course of our conversation I did take occasion to say that I had found my mind fluctuate on this subject, and that I was so made as to be incapable of forming a judgment on which I could depend myself in any other way than by preserving the most temperate and cool tone of mind, and rather weighing and balancing all that was offered on all sides in a judicial way than trusting myself with anything like enthusiasm even for those sentiments which I am most inclined to approve and to partake in. I told him also that I was fully sensible of the great importance of the questions which seemed not unlikely to arise in this country, and to require a decision from every one of us, and that my thoughts were really not a little occupied with them ; and that the possibility of our being called upon to treat these questions as more practical than they had hitherto been in England added to my anxiety to be in possession of my own judgment on these points, and to put myself, by coolness, in a capacity to satisfy at least myself with the part I might think it right to take. The Duke of Portland called there yesterday, induced to do so I believe on account of my being there, and being pleased, both for my sake and Burke's, that we should meet in unity again. Dick is fortunately in Ireland, and the brother at Bristol. Mrs. Burke has been ill, and is a little altered in looks. . , . The weather has been charming — the primroses and violets in full blow, many of the shrubs in leaf, the blackthorn and all the cherry-trees in blossom. You do not know what pretty walks and woods there are beyond this place. Elliot and I strolled among them all yesterday forenoon while Burke was at church, and I often wished I had you for my companion instead of one who, with every excellence of heart and character, is dead to every sensation and enjoyment, and is therefore like a wet blanket to a fire, or a blight to the blossoms I was admiring. . . .

' The Duke of Clarence applied in form to Burke, at court, as one of Sir Joshua's executors, for a cast which Sir Joshua had of Mrs. Jordan's leg ; and Burke sent it to him accordingly, for which the Duke sent a note

^•r. 40] ASSOCIATION FOE PAELIAMENTARY REFORM 11

with his own and Mrs. Jordan's thanlcs. The cast was made by Mrs. Darner some time ago, before Mrs. Jordan was a princess, so that this testimony of her beauty was given to merit and not to rank. Bm-ke showed us the King of Poland's present to him on account of the honourable mention made by Burke of the late Polish revolution. It is a gold medal of the King, extremely well executed and extremely like him. It is accompanied by a very pretty note in the King's hand, and written in English. Besides this there was a festival given in Poland expressly in honour of Burke, at which there was a great display of magnificence, and a general illumination with devices expressing his name — such as his cypher E. B. combined with the arms of Poland, etc. Tliis may be set against Fox's bust in Petersburg.

' . . . The King of Sweden had received an anonymous letter the day on which he was assassinated, informing him of his danger and advising him not to go to the masquerade. The letter said that its writer was not his friend, but on the contrary one of his most determined enemies, but that he scorned to take his life in that way.' {This letter is not completed.)

'April U, 1792. ' . . . Grrey and Dr. Moore, brother of Sir John, dined with us yesterday. Lord Lauderdale, Grey, Francis, Covu'tenay, and a few others, among whom is Mackintosh,' the author of a book on the French Eevolution

' Afterwards Sir James Mackintosh, author of Vindicia Gallica.

on the democratic side, which is much commended by those who are of that way of thinking, have formed an association for procming Parliamentary reform in England ; that is to say, some new mode or other of electing the House of Commons. This association is in its infancy at present, but is likely enough to grow and to succeed in their first object, which is to excite a clamour and to raise a flame on this subject. They are to invite and promote associations all over England, and after giving notice in Parliament this year of a motion for Parliamentary reform next session, they are to employ the recess in forwarding the agitation of the question all over the island. A thousand schemes will therefore be formed ; the most violent will have the greatest number of supporters and the greatest clamour, and the business will soon be taken out of the hands which moved it and placed in worse. If any effect at all is produced by this association for Parliamentary reform, the business will not be confined to that object, but will of course run wild through the whole field of innovation. I was surprised at Grey's taking this part, as he seemed to me more temperate and considerate than most of my friends last year. He is fairly in for it now, and I see they are already dubbing themselves the only patriots in the country, and are making one another drunk with expectations of distinction and glory in this new course. I am very sorry for this, as I think it always possible in such a country as this, and perhaps in any country if people of weight and authority set about it, to create confusion, and always impossible

^T. 40] NEWS FROM NEWMARKET 13

to know what the issue of confusion will be ; but on the whole, I think a great majority of the nation will be for quiet, and that the example of France may rather secure than endanger us. At the same time, it is certainly possible that, like other examples, it may operate just the other way. . . . Dr. Moore seems to me a dull and rather foolish man, with the pretensions of a traveller and author, and a good deal of that unmeaning sort of Scotch philosophy which is so universal with that class of my countrymen. . . .

' There had been a report the day before yesterday that the Duke of York had shot himself at Newmarket, and it got into the World, I mean the newspaper of that name ; but there was not the slightest foundation for it. It was occasioned by a post-boy coming into Whitechapel, who, being asked by somebody. What news from Newmarket ? gave this account by way of wit. The fact is, however, that the Duke of York, and, I believe, the Prince, lost everything they played for at Newmarket, which was to a great amount. If anything can make a democracy in England it will be the Eoyal Family. People seem to think the Prince cannot live above a year or two, and that he has been threatened with apoplectic symptoms, but I do not know much of the foundation of this story. Others say he is going to marry a Princess of Brunswick, a beautiful woman. I went the day before yesterday to Sheen, and found a large company come like myself on chance. Sir Ealph and Lady Payne, Mr. Payne, Lady Stawall and your friend Mr. Somerville, who seemed a pair ; Lord Pernbroke, Miss Whitworth, Tommy Tinker, etc. Lord Pembroke is the ruin of a man of gallantry, -which is so far a melancholy spectacle, that when the gallantry decays there is nothing else left, and it forms a perfect companion, or, as the French call it, a pendant, for a decayed fine lady and beauty. Though these companions are no longer good company to each other, they are like two game-cocks exhausted by a long battle and lying by each other — still natural enemies, but both unable to fight. Lord Pembroke is perfectly gi'ey, and otherwise old-looking. However, he has certainly something of a natural manner, and of a man of fashion about him, that may y£t procure a tolerable place for him in society. Lady Payne is still more ruinous than he. But, like Lord Pembroke, her manners and politeness will make her just as good company as ever for all except the fighting cocks. Mr. Somerville I think a ton-ish young man of bad ton — a little of the coxcomb in the groom line.

' Lady Palmerston told me, by way of secret, that they are going abroad this summer with all their children for a year or two. Italy is their object. I wonder when you and I shall make a grander still ; but I own it is hope without much reason to feed on. By the time we are ready, I fancy we shall have no occasion to go abroad to see antiques and ruins though I flatter myself we shall never be able to perceive antiquity and ruin at home ourselves, whatever travellers who visit us may do. . . .

' I am going directly to Beckenham, and shall

Ml. 40] A NEW PLAY 15

stay till Monday, when I shall come to town as usual for the post. Tlie post is the first blessing of absent lovers, but it is hard work waiting for it. God bless you!'

' . . . . This new association for Parliamentary reform and the rising spirit for promoting innovations, is beginning to attract notice, and is likely to form an interesting future in our politics, if it does not come even nearer home than politics. Fox, I believe, does not join it or approve of it ; at least I hope not.

' I was yesterday at the new play written by Mr. Eichardson, whom I think you must have seen at Mrs. Carew's. He is a good-natured, pleasant-tempered, and poor man, and had a strong support of friends, particularly of our cloth. But in fact it is a flat play, and the moral but indifferent. The hero is a copy of Charles in the ' School for Scandal,' and it is meant to prove that a young man is the better for vices — which is a fashionable doctrine, and came clearly out of Sheridan's school. Modern moralists may be allowed at most to preach indulgence for vices, at least of some sort, but not to preach the vices themselves. Mrs. Jordan's character is serious, but seems to suit her full as well as the broad comedy in which she usually shines. This was my first play this year. The house is amazingly fine from its size and form, but it is far too large for a playhouse. One cannot distinguish a feature of the actors from a great part of the house, and one hears very imperfectly. New Drury Lane is to be less, but much larger than it.

was. Covent Grarden is also to be rebuilt on the same plan as Drury Lane. I saw Mrs. Crewe yesterday for the first time this year. She is as fat as me, and looks very old, but she refined and puzzled me as well as

ever.'

'London: April 28, 1792.

' . . . I dined the day before yesterday at the Pechels', who purpose to be at "Wilton Lodge this summer. Lord Charles Spencer, and his son Mr. Spencer with his wife Lady Elizabeth Spencer, second daughter of the Duke of Marlborough, were there. She seems a gentle, good sort of girl, tolerably well-looking but not to be called handsome. They seem unusually well and comfortable together for that sort of young couple of fashion. His passion is playing on the organ, and they have accordingly set up an organ in their parish church in the country, where he plays, and she has taught the children and girls to sing. They sing psalms together in company in London as other people sing Italian duets. But what I mentioned them for was to describe Lord Charles' delight with them in his quiet way. He is as much in love with his son as ycni are with any of yours.'

' Tuesday, May 1, 1792.

' This new association for Parliamentary reform begins to make a noise, and the subject has excited here the greatest possible anxiety, with considerable alarm for the possible consequences. You will see their paper, or manifesto, in Monday's " Morning Chronicle." Yesterday Mr. Grey gave notice in the House of his tEt. 41J THE XEW ASSOCIATIOM 1 7

intention to move something on this subject next session ; and he accompanied his notice with a short speech. This gave occasion to a long debate, or rather conversation, on the matter both of Parliamentary reform and of this association for bringing it about, which you wi]l see in this day's paper. You will see that many of Fox's friends have declared themselves strongly against this measure. Amongst those who think extremely ill of it I am one, and ought to have said so yesterday, but did not find resolution to rise. I was, indeed, exceedingly fatigued and worn out, having sat the whole day in and about the House from ten in the morning, and ate nothing till past ten at night, and eating at that time had not the effect of brightening me. If anything can prevent the mischief of agitating such questions for half-a-year together, without even hinting at any particular point that they purpose to confine themselves to, and at such a time as the present, it is the very general and forcible disavowal which they received yesterday from every side of the House, and which I hope they will receive in every part of the country from all those who have anytliing to lose by confusion. I am very sorry to see that Fox has taken a part in their support, although he has not signed the Association ; but he might just as well have signed it as made the speech he did yesterday. One effect will be, if not certainly to divide and break up our party, at least to expose it to very great danger of being separated, and drive Fox still further than ever from any hope of reconciling to him the moderate and prudent part of the country. The Duke of Portland is extremely displeased with the whole proceeding, and so, indeed, is much thfi greater part of his friends ot e^'ery description. Fox, I believe, was sincerely angry and dissatisfied with the Association, because it put him in the disagreeable dilemma of either changing his former conduct on the same question, or differing with a great part of those who act with him, and, indeed, with the most weighty and respectable part of his support. We all profess to desire not to break on this ground, but whether it can be avoided time will show.

' I must just tell you what it is which engages so much of the leisure I had for writing. The Stryning Committee disposes of one completely till it is time for the House, or for some engagement of business or other, and I have this day or two been in company in the evenings. I took Elliot to Beckenham' on Sunday. The Abbe Gautier was there on purpose to meet me, and teach me his method of teaching everything by games, and I made some progress. I shall bring down all his books and games, and shall both teach and ' uTTiuse my pupils a little, but I am not for carrying his system so far as he does himself. I returned from Beckenham yesterday in time to dress and breakfast before the Committee met at ten o'clock. Then came the slave-trade. I ate a chop upstairs with the Duke of Buccleueh, in perfect good humour and charity and civility on both sides. I am sorry to see him look very