was in consequence deprived of his com- | feelings as I wish; I have travelled far, mission in the army by the Duke of York. I have made a long sea voyage-besides This unjust and unwise proceeding served which, particular circumstances have oconly to add to the unpopularity of the curred, known to you all, of which it is Ministry, who had been guilty of the folly better at present not to speak. This is one of procuring or assenting to the dismissal of the happiest days of my life; I have of one of the most distinguished military long wished to visit you; my heart has officers of that day for what was at most always been Irish. From the day it first only an act of indiscretion; and a liberal beat I have loved Ireland. Rank, station, subscription was at once raised to com- honours are nothing, but to feel that I live pensate Sir Robert for the loss of his in the hearts of my Irish subjects is to professional emoluments. me the most exalted happiness.' Amid all the folly and absurdity of His Majesty's rambling and rollicking address on this occasion there was one truthful statement in his closing advice and promise, 'Go and do by me as I shall do by you— drink my health in a bumper; I shall drink all yours in a bumper of good Irish whiskey.'

While these events were taking place in London the king was paying to Ireland the visit he had for some time contemplated. He embarked on board the royal yacht at Portsmouth on the 31st of July-the day on which the physicians became apprehensive that the illness of the queen was likely to have an unfavourable issue. When he reached Holyhead he learned that she was During the three weeks of the king's in imminent danger, and he remained there stay in Ireland all classes and parties till the news of her death reached him. seemed to vie with each other in the exuHe then crossed the channel to Dublin; berant expressions of loyalty and personal but as the wind was contrary he quitted esteem for their sovereign, and in predicting his yacht and embarked on board the that his visit would be productive of the Lightning steam packet, which in six happiest consequences. It was resolved to hours conveyed him to Howth. Although make a subscription to raise a testimonial his arrival was not expected the news soon to commemorate this auspicious event, and spread, and the Irish people poured out in O'Connell proposed that a royal palace thousands to welcome their sovereign. He should be erected' worthy of the monarch had been drinking all the way from Holy- and of the Irish nation,' with the hope that head, and, according to Fremantle, at the the king might be induced to pay frequent time of his landing 'he was in the last stage visits to the metropolis of Ireland. Dunof intoxication.' His conduct was in keep-leary, the port from which he embarked on ing with this report: 'His Majesty shook his return to England, was henceforth hands most cordially,' says the royal denominated Kingstown as a compliment chronicler, 'with every person within his reach, without distinction of rank or appearance.' And when he alighted in the Phoenix Park, he addressed the mob, who crowded around him, in a speech which too plainly indicated his condition. He could not express the gratification he felt at the warm and kind reception he had met with on the day of his landing. I am obliged to you all,' he said; 'I am particularly obliged by your escorting me to my very door. I may not be able to express my

to His Majesty. Even the Dublin Evening Post, the organ of the Roman Catholic and Opposition party, declared that the beneficial effects of the royal visit were already felt. 'It had been the harbinger of conciliation. In the course of three short weeks greater strides had been taken to allay faction, to remove prejudices, to diminish feuds, to decrease the ill-blood generated by a collision of opposite sentiments in short, to conciliate and to unite in the bands of one interest and one loyalty, than all the

exertions of good and wise men had been visit to Ireland could not be regarded at the able to accomplish in thirty years.'

Position of the Liverpool Ministry-Additions to the Cabinet-Agricultural Distress-Budget of 1822 - Conversion of the Navy Five per Cents -- Reduction of Estimates and Repeal of various Taxes-Death of Lord Londonderry (Castlereagh) -His Character and Policy-Visit of George IV. to Scotland-Readmission of Canning to the Cabinet - His Defence of the Government's Spanish Policy-Revolt of the Spanish South American Colonies- Mexico- Bolivia— Chili— Exploits of the Chilian Navy under Lord Cochrane-Recognition by Great Britain of the Independence of the South American Colonies-Canning's account of his Policy at this time-Amelioration of the Criminal Code-Reform of the Marriage Laws-Repeal of the Spitalfield Acts-The Navigation Acts-Insurrections in Ireland-Great Destitution and Famine in Ireland-Public Subscription for the Relief of the Peasantry-Roman Catholic Emancipation Bill -Repeal of Combination Acts-Strikes and Outrages of Workinen.

the country, in all its relations, to irretrievable ruin.'

The state of feeling which existed between the king and his ministers could not be concealed from the public, and their disfavour at court contributed not a little to weaken their authority in the House of Commons. They were plainly told by a leading agricultural representative that they had fully proved their inability to govern.' They were compelled to concede a committee on agricultural distress, were defeated on a motion for the repeal of the additional malt tax, and a second time on a motion for the repeal of the agricultural horse tax. Even Joseph Hume, though his economical proposals had made him no favourite with the Ministerialists, suc

THE Ministry of Lord Liverpool had at one time been very powerful; but its strength was now greatly diminished, both at court and in the country. The agricultural distress had raised a feeling of dissatisfaction among the country gentlemen, who had hitherto been its firmest supporters, but were now clamouring for relief, and angry because no adequate relief could be afforded them. The Ministry had lost the favour of the king, who annoyed them by continual fault-finding with their appointments. It was known that an uncomfortable state of feeling existed, in particular between His Majesty and the Prime Minister. As the Duke of Wellington informed Lord Liverpool, The king has never forgiven your opposition to his wishes in the case of Mr. Sumner (after-ceeded in compelling the Government to wards bishop of Winchester). This feeling has influenced every action of his life in relation to his government from that moment.' He took a malicious pleasure in thwarting every proposal of the Prime Minister, utterly regardless of the effect which such conduct exercised on the administration of affairs and the welfare of the country. So keenly did the Cabinet feel the annoyances to which they were thus subjected from the king's habits and character,' that the Duke of Wellington declared, there are few of us who would stay where we are, were it not for the consideration that, by resigning, we would give up the government to the Whigs and Radicals, or, in other words,

concede a select committee to inquire into the extravagant system of collecting the revenue, which in the previous session they had stoutly defended.

It had become evident, that unless the Ministry obtained additional strength, they could not long maintain their ground. With the exception of the Lord Chancellor and the Duke of Wellington, they all belonged to the class of 'safe and well-meaning men,' described jocularly by Mr. Canning as 'meaning very little, nor meaning that little well.' Lord Liverpool, who, though he himself belonged to that class, yet could appreciate superior abilities in others, made a strenuous effort at this juncture to procure the consent of the king to the reinstatement of

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Canning in the Cabinet, and at one time | public estimation, and gave great offence was about to intimate to His Majesty that to many of their best friends, who comhe and his colleagues would resign unless plained bitterly of the 'smart bounty' given this request was granted. But the king to the new recruits on their enlistment, angrily refused to accede to the proposal, of which it was thought that the old and partly because he was indignant at the staunch supporters of the Ministry would course which Canning followed on the have been much more deserving recipients.' queen's trial, partly because he believed The accession of the Grenvilles was espethat 'Canning's accession to the Govern- cially distasteful to Lord Eldon and the ment was peculiarly desirable to the Pre- Tories of his school. The Chancellor had mier.'* the sagacity to perceive that it foreboded. Lord Liverpool was more successful in still farther changes in a liberal direction. his effort to strengthen his Ministry by theThis coalition,' he said, 'I think will have accession of the Grenvilles. Lord Gren- consequences very different from those ville, the chief of this family party, had of expected by the members of administralate been gradually withdrawing himself tion who have brought it about. I hate from his former colleague, Lord Grey, and coalitions.' No small and insignificant showing a decided leaning towards the party was ever bought so dear as the rump Government. He had, indeed, given them of the Grenvilles,' wrote Mr. Bankes, an his strenuous support, both on the question influential supporter of the Government. of the Peterloo massacre" and of the Six All articles,' said Lord Holland, are Acts," though he and his friends still con- now to be had at low prices, except the tinued friendly to the claims of the Roman Grenvilles.' Catholics, to which the great majority of A much more important addition to their the Cabinet were hostile. He had now, strength was obtained by the Ministry at however, retired from public life, and de- this time, in the person of Mr. Peel, who clined to take office; but his nephew, the was induced to accept the office of Home Marquis of Buckingham, who was regarded Secretary, from which Lord Sidmouth reas the head of the party, was willing to tired. Even at that period it was said of support the Ministry for a consideration.' him by a high authority that 'talents, It was impossible to satisfy his 'immeasur- independent fortune, official habits and able pretensions,' as the king called them; reputation, and above all, general character but a dukedom was conferred upon him- both in and out of Parliament, have disself, while one of his cousins, Charles Wynn, posed more men to follow and more to was made President of the Board of Con- unite with him than any other person." trol, and another of the Wynns was Lord Sidmouth, who had retired from the appointed envoy to Switzerland, with a Home Office because, as he said, 'his official salary raised to £4000 a-year. Places at bed had become comparatively a bed of the India Board were also given to Philli- roses,' was assured by his friends that more and Fremantle, who sat for two of the principles by which his career had Lord Buckingham's nomination boroughs. been regulated would be steadily carried The bargain was not regarded as a profit-out by his successor, and that the 'subable one for the Government, who gained the accession of less than a dozen votes, while they lessened their own dignity in the *It was alleged at the time, that one cause of the king's dislike to Canning, was the proposal which the latter made, that the expense of the notorious Milan Commission should be defrayed by His Majesty himself, and not by the Treasury.

stitution of the one for the other could have no effect on the course of administration.' His lordship's complacency would have been considerably modified if he could have foreseen the vast changes in the old system of administration which his successor in office was to introduce.

The pressure of agricultural distress at sequence of these large reductions, 'perilous this time had produced great and increasing and merciless retrenchments,' as Lord Siddissatisfaction among the landed proprietors mouth termed them, would be no more and their tenantry, and numerous county heard of. But a considerable number of meetings were held, attended by noblemen the members of the House of Commons and other territorial magnates, at which were still dissatisfied with the financial resolutions were adopted demanding a re- arrangements of the Government. A production of taxation and of the public expen-posal to revise the diplomatic expenditure diture. The Government saw clearly that was prevented by the threat of Lord Lonsome steps must be taken in order to appease donderry, that he would resign if it were the discontent of their supporters. Accord-carried. But the House, by a majority of ingly when Parliament met on the 5th of 182 votes to 128, compelled the GovernFebruary, 1822, the members of the House ment to abolish the two junior lordships of of Commons were informed that the esti- the Admiralty, and the abolition of one of the mates had been framed with every atten- two offices of Postmaster-General was cartion to economy which the circumstances ried by 216 to 201. His Majesty appears of the country will permit,' and that His to have taken these reductions sore to Majesty had been enabled to make a large heart. He has been in a bodily condition,' reduction in our annual expenditure, par- wrote Lord Eldon, not enabling him to ticularly in our naval and military estab- bear well (what has greatly hurt him) the lishments.' This promise was redeemed to knocking off the postmaster after knocking a larger extent than had been anticipated. on the head the Admiralty lords. I don't The estimates for 1822 were upwards of a wonder that he feels, for they are stripping million and a half below those of 1821. the Crown naked.' The conversion of the navy five per cents. into four per cents. effected a further saving of £1,200,000. An attempt on the part of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to shift the burden of 'the dead weight,' as it was called the pensions granted to officers in the army, navy, and the civil service from the shoulders of the present to the succeeding generation, proved a failure. But he succeeded in carrying through a part of the original scheme in the face of the strenuous opposition of every member of Parliament conversant with economical principles, and was thus enabled to make an immediate reduction of expenditure at the expense of posterity. A tax of five per cent. was imposed on the salaries of the civil servants to assist in defraying the cost of their superannuations, and one of ten per cent. on the officers of the royal household and offices held at the pleasure of the Crown. It was estimated that the two assessments would effect a saving of £373,000

a year.

Still the demand of the country and of the Parliament for retrenchment was not satisfied. Mr. Joseph Hume adduced undeniable facts and unanswerable arguments to prove that the reduction both of taxation and expenditure ought to be carried a great deal farther, and was now for the first time listened to by the country gentlemen with marked attention and conviction. The Ministry voluntarily promised to remit the additional duty on malt, which had been fiercely assailed in the preceding session. A motion for the gradual repeal of the salt tax was lost only by a majority of four votes; and warned by this narrow escape, the Ministry reduced that obnoxious duty from 15s. to 2s, a bushel: they took off one-half of the duty on leather, abolished the tonnage duty on shipping, and the Irish window and hearth taxes. Thus an immediate reduction was effected in the expenditure of the country to the amount of £3,673,000 a year, and by the repeal of the various taxes enumerated, the tax payers were relieved of an annual

It was confidently expected that in con- burden of £3,500,000.