and I have the satisfaction of finding that I concur generally in their views of the subject, and indeed, know no better way of expressing my opinion, than by referring you to a memorandum which, I believe, it is their intention to deliver to you to-morrow morning.- -I am, my Lord, your obliged and obedient humble Servant,

VASSAL HOLLAND.

Camelford House, May 23d.

No. 8. Memorandum from Lords Grey and Grenville, May 24th, in Reply to Lord Wellesley's Minule, No. 4. May 24th, 1812.

persons in official stations, by the engagements of the Country, the prospect of ultimate success, the extent of the exertions necessary for its attainment, and the means of supporting those efforts without too great a pressure on the finances and internal prosperity of the Country.-On such questions, therefore, no public men, either in or out of office, can undertake for more than a deliberate and dispassionate consideration, according to the circumstances of the case as it may appear, and to such means of information as may then be within their reach. But we cannot in sincerity conceal from Lord Wellesley, that in the present state of the finances, we entertain the strongest doubts of the practicability of an increase in any branch of the public expenditure.

i

No. 9. Lord Wellesley to Lord Grey,. dated 27th May, communicating the termination of Lord Wellesley's Commission. My Lord, I take the earliest opportu

to your Lordship. The paper (No. 2) has not reached me until within this hour. It appeared to me to be important, that the intelligence which it contains should be conveyed to your Lordship, to Lord Gren-. ville, and to your respective friends, as soon as may be practicable.—I shall be happy to have an opportunity of stating to your Lordship and to Lord Grenville, at any time that you may appoint, the whole course of my conduct, since I had the honour of seeing you.- -I have the honour to be, with great respect, my Lord, your Lordship's most obedient and faithful ser

In such a moment as the present, we feel it to be the duty of all public men, both by frank and conciliatory explanations of principle, and by the total abandonment of every personal object, to facilitate, as far as may lie in their power, the means of giving effect to the late vote of the House of Commons, and of averting the imminent and unparalleled dangers of the country.nity of communicating the enclosed papers -Lord Wellesley has selected two among the many important subjects which must engage the attention of any men, who could, in such circumstances, be called upon to consider of the acceptance of stations in public trust. On those two points, our explanation shall be as distinct as it is in our power to make it.--On the first, indeed, our opinion is too well known, and has been too recently expressed, to need repetition.- -We have derived a very high gratification from Lord Wellesley's powerful exertions in support of the claims of the Roman Catholics, as well as from the manner in which that subject is adverted to in his Minute, and we do not hesitate to assure him, that we will warmly support any proposal made by any Ministers for the immediate consideration of those claims, with a view to their conciliatory adjustment; a measure without which, we have already declared, that we can entertain no hope, in any case, of rendering our own services useful.

-As to

the second point, no person feels more strongly than we do, the advantages which would result from a successful termination of the present contest in Spain. But we are of opinion that the direction of military operations in an extensive war, and the more or less vigorous prosecution of those operations, are questions, not of principle, but of policy; to be regulated by circumstances, in their nature temporary and fluctuating, and in many cases known only to

vant,

WELLESLEY.

I shall remain at home for some time, and shall be happy to see your Lordship and Lord Grenville, if it should be con

venient.

No. 10.-Mr. Canning's Statement to Lord
Melville, enclosed in No. 9.-26th May,

1812.

Lord Melville having stated to Mr. Canning that the ministers, his colleagues, were considering, under the special com-. mand of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, how far they could advance to meet the first of the two propositions laid down as the basis of the Administration, proposed to be formed by Lord Wellesley; Mr. Canning feels it necessary, before he offers any observation on that statement, to: inquire in what situation Lord Melville's

colleagues consider themselves as standing at the present moment.-1st. Do they consider Lord Wellesley's commission at an end, and the former Administration as reestablished ?-2d. Are the discussions, which are now going on among them, directed to the ascertaining the possibility of the individual members of that Administration, or any of them, acceding to an Administration to be formed by Lord Welley; or to some proposal to be made by them as a governinent to Lord Wellesley and Mr. Canning?-If Lord Wellesley's commission is considered as at an end, it is essential to Lord Wellesley's honour that the fact should be publicly known. He has entered upon communications which he could not terminate at the point to which they were brought, without distinctly stating his commission to be at an end.-If what is now in contemplation is some new proposal to be made to Lord Wellesley and Mr. Canning, from the former Administra tion revived, then the revival of that Administration ought to be made matter of notoriety and the proposal itself must be distinctly stated, before Lord Wellesley and Mr. Canning can form any judgment

upon it.

No. 11.-Lord Melville's Communication to Mr. Canning, enclosed in No. 9.May 27, 1812.

the terms in which the two principles, proposed as the basis of a new Administration, are stated in Mr. Canning's Minute, and in that sent to Lord Grenville and me by your Lordship. I think it necessary to call your Lordship's attention to this circumstance, because if these discussions should proceed further, it may become of the utmost importance.-I am, with the highest regard, my Lord, your Lordship's very faithful and humble servant, GREY.

No. 13.-Lord Wellesley to Lord Grey, 28th May, transmilling an explanatory Paper, No. 14, signed by Lord Wellesley. My Lord, I should have returned an earlier acknowledgment of the honour of your Lordship's letter of yesterday, had I not thought it necessary to see Mr. Canning before I troubled your Lordship with my answer to your observations on our respective minutes.-Having carefully examined those papers, and compared them with our view of the points to which they refer, we have drawn the enclosed paper for your Lordship's information, and have authenticated it by our respective signatures.-I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, my Lord, your Lordship's faithful and humble servant, WELLESLEY.

No. 14.-Paper signed by Lord Wellesley
and Mr. Canning, and transmitted to
Lord Grey, in reply to Lord Grey's
Leller, No. 12.

The variance in point of phrase in the two Propositions as stated by Lord Wellesley and Mr. Canning, in their Minutes of Conference, arises from this circumstance, that Lord Wellesley and Mr. Canwithout having thought it necessary previning went to their respective conferences

Lord Melville called upon Mr. Canning, and informed him, in answer to the questions which Mr. Canning put to Lord Melville yesterday,-1st. That Lord Wellesley's commission is considered by the Prince Regent as at an end.-2d. That the persons now holding offices, hold them only until their successors shall be appointed. Lord Melville had understood Mr. Canning yesterday to say, that Lord Wellesley was of opinion that his commission was at an end; but that he (Mr. Canning) doubt-ously to reduce, into a written form, the ed it. This was a mistake. What Mr. Communications, which they were to make, Canning stated was, that Lord Wellesley being in full possession of each others' seuwas in doubt as to the Prince Regent's in-timents upon the subject of them.-The tention; and that he (Mr. Canning) had no means of forming any opinion upon it.

No. 12.--Lord Grey to Lord Wellesley, 27th
May, on the subject of some words in Mr.
Canning's Minute, No. I, of the Commu-
nication to Lord Liverpool.

My Lord, I have the honour of returning the papers which your Lordship was so good as to put into my hands this morning.

I observe a material difference between

two minutes were written by them as containing the substance of their respective communications; that of Mr. Canning in Lord Liverpool's presence; that of Lord Wellesley immediately after his return from Lord Grey.-There does not appear to Lord Wellesley and Mr. Canning, to be any substantial variance in the first proposition.-The word "early" in Mr. Canning's Minute, might be exchanged for the word "immediate" used by Lord Wellesley, without, in any degree, altering the

lesley, May 29th.

My Lord, I had last night the honour of receiving your Lordship's Letter, enclosing a paper explanatory of the difference which I had remarked between your Lordship's minute and Mr. Canning's, together with a copy of the latter.-I beg your Lordship to be assured, that in the observation to which I had thought it necessary to call your Lordship's attention, I could have no object but that of preventing the possibility of any future misunderstanding. We had not entered into any explanation (which, under the circumstances of the mo

sense; as with a motion actually pending | been duly distributed, or apportioned, this in the House of Commons, which (but for proposition Mr. Canning certainly does not the events which have recently taken place) intend either to affirm or to deny; simply would have come on this very day, the because, not having been in the governobject of which, was to compel the execu- ment during the last two years, he has not tive government to take the subject of the sufficient information to be able to proCatholic Question into consideration, it nounce an opinion, whether the exertions cannot be necessary to say, that Mr. Can- of those two years have or have not been ning has no wish to defer that considera- below the proper scale, or have been well tion; on the other hand, consideration by or ill administered; nor how far they may the executive government is the object now admit of being extended, or of being which it is Lord Wellesley's intention to more judiciously applied.-He concurs, recommend; nor does he conceive any fur- however, entirely with Lord Wellesley in ther Parliamentary proceeding to be neces- wishing to extend them to the utmost power sary or practicable, this session, than such of the country, and to apply them in the as might be sufficient to ensure, either by manner best calculated to answer their end. compulsion upon a hostile Administration, WELLESLEY. or by pledge from a friendly one, the conGEORGE CANNING. sideration of the question during the recess, with a view to its being brought before No. 15.-Lord Grey's Reply to Lord WelParliament, by the recommendation of the crown, early in the ensuing session.-A committee to inquire into the state of the laws, has been already negatived in both Houses, this session. A "conciliatory adjustment" of the claims of the Irish Catholics is the object which Lord Wellesley and Mr. Canning have equally at heart: and it enters equally into both their views, that to be "conciliatory," that adjustment must be so framed as to embrace the interests and opinions of the English Catholics also, and to obtain the enlightened and deliberate consent of the Protestants of both countries. They would think any adjustment, would perhaps have been premature), ment very imperfect, which, instead of of the details of the conduct necessary to extinguishing discontent, only transferred give effect to the first of the propositions it from the Catholic to the Protestant. offered by your Lordship as the basis of a But they concur in entertaining a confident new Administration. From the difference belief, that the great purpose of securing of the terms used by Mr. Canning in statthe peace of the empire, may be best an- ing that proposition, I was apprehensive swered, not by giving a triumph to any that it might be his opinion, in concurrence one party, but by reconciling all.-In the with your Lordship's, that no Parliamentary substance of the second proposition there proceeding, with reference to the Claims of is no variance as to any practical and pro- the Catholics, should take place during spective purpose, though undoubtedly there the present session. To such an opinion I is, and it is natural there should be, some could not have assented; and I felt it to be as to the past, arising from the difference of due both to your Lordship and Mr. CanMr. Canning's and Lord Wellesley's re- ning, immediately to draw your attention spective situations.-When Mr. Canning to a point, on which it was so desirable says, that the Peninsular War is to be car- that there should be a clear understanding ried on "with the best means of the coun- between us. I hope it is unnecessary for "try," he intends the greatest scale of ex- me to state, that I can look at the situation ertion, which the means of the country may of the Catholics (both Irish and English) be found capable of sustaining.-If Lord with no other view than that of the public Wellesley's expression, "a scale of ade-interest; and that nothing can be further quate vigour," may be construed to imply the proposition, that the late exertions of this country have not been proportioned to the great object of the war, or have not

from my disposition or my intention, in a matter of such pre-eminent importance, than to give to any one party a triumph at the expense of another. But I do not con

GREY.

No. 16.-Lord Wellesley's Reply to Lord
Grey, May 29th, 1812.

My Lord, I request your Lordship to accept my sincere thanks for your letter of this day's date.-In the actual state of af

ceive that the Repeal of the disabilities, of the highest regard, my Lord, your Lordwhich the Catholics complain, can give ship's very faithful humble Servant, any just cause of discontent to their protestant fellow subjects; and I am strongly of opinion, that the efficacy of that measure must in a great degree depend on its being carried into effect with the least possible delay, and with the clearest demonstrations of a conciliatory and confiding spirit. Under this impression, I should very re-fairs it might be deemed premature to enluctantly abandon the hope of passing a ter into any more particular discussions, Bill for such Repeal, even during the pre- than those already submitted to your Lordsent session; but if this cannot be done, I ship on the points, to which you have adhold it to be indispensable, that the most verted with so much perspicuity, ability, distinct and authentic pledge should be and candour.-But I cannot omit this opgiven, of the intention, both of the Ex-portunity of assuring your Lordship, that ecutive Government and of Parliament, to I have derived from the sentiments, so take this matter up as one of the first mea-justly expressed in your letter, a firm exsures of the next. To a proceeding of this pectation, that if the advice which I have nature, from the paper signed by your Lordship and Mr. Canning, I am led to hope that you would not be adverse.-As to the second proposition, the difference

No. 17.-Lord Wellesley's Minute of Communication to Lords Grey and Grenville, June 1st.

humbly offered to the Prince Regent should be ultimately approved, a happy prospect will open to the country of recovering internal peace, and of prosecuting the war with which I had observed was much less imsuccess, under an Administration worthy of portant. It is impossible to reduce a ques- the confidence of the Prince, and of the tion of this nature to any fixed principle. people, and equal to the arduous charge of Whatever we can say, with our present public affairs, amidst all the difficulties means of information, must necessarily be and dangers of the present crisis.—I have general and inconclusive. The whole sub-the honour to be, with the highest respect, ject being left open to future consideration and decision, I can have no hesitation in and obedient servant, my Lord, your Lordship's most faithful WELLESLEY. subscribing to the proposition, that, if it should be found expedient to continue the exertions we are now making in the Peninsula, they should be conducted in the manner best calculated to answer their end.— I have, I fear, troubled your Lordship Lord Wellesley stated that he had, on much more than is necessary under the cir- that morning, received full authority from cumstances of our present situation, and I the Prince Regent to form an Adminiswill only add, that if we should be called tration under His Royal Highness's comupon to pursue these considerations in their mands; and that he was specially authopractical details, it will be my most anxious rized to communicate with Lords Grey and wish, that no difference of opinion may be Grenville on the subject.—That His Royal found to exist between us respecting the Highness entertained no wish to exclude conduct to be adopted by a Government, from the proposed Administration, any perequally solicitous for the internal peace and son, or description of persons, who could harmony of the Empire, and for the pro- unite in the principles on which the Adsecution of military operations in such a ministration was to be founded.-That the mode as may appear most conducive to our two propositions stated in Lord Wellesley's ultimate security. Lord Grenville, to Minute of May 23d, and subsequently exwhom I have communicated your Lord-plained in the letters which had passed beship's letter, and its enclosures, desires tween Lord Wellesley and Lord Grey, of ine to express his cordial concurrence in the dates of the 27th, 28th, and 29th of this wish. I have the honour to be, with (To be continued.)

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