359 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1812. 



I 



superableobstacle to tny acceptance 

 of any station in the present admi- 

 nistration. 



I originally expressed my desire 

 to withdraw from Mr. Perceval's 

 administration, because my gene- 

 ral opinions, for a long time past, 

 on various important questions, had 

 not sufficient weight in that cabi- 

 net, to j ustify me towards the pub- 

 lic, or towards my own character, 

 in continuing in office. 



My objections to remaining in 

 that cabinet arose, in a great de- 

 gree, from the imperfect scale on 

 which the efforts in the Peninsula 

 were conducted. It was always 

 stated to me, that it was imprac- 

 ticable to enlarge that system. I 

 thought that it was perfectly prac- 

 ticable to extend the plan in the 

 Peninsula, and that it was neither 

 safe nor honest towards this coun- 

 try or the allies to continue the 

 present inadequate scheme. 



From Lord Liverpool's state- 

 ment upon this point, it is evident, 

 that since my resignation, it has 

 been found practicable to make 

 some extension of the system in 

 the Peninsula ; but it is still inti- 

 mated, that my views are more ex- 

 tensive than the resources of the 

 country can enable the government 

 to reduce to practice. 1, however, 

 still entertain the same views and 

 opinions, without diminution or 

 alteration; and I am convinced, 

 that a considerable extension of the 

 scaleof our operations in the Penin- 

 sula, and also an effectual correc- 

 tion of many branches of our sys- 

 tem in that quarter, are objects of 

 indispensable necessity, and of easy 

 attainment. 



With such a decided difference 

 of opinion in relation to the con- 

 duct and management of the war, 



ray return into a cabinet composed 

 as the present is, would offer to 

 me no better prospect than the re- 

 newal of discussions which have 

 hitherto proved unavailing. 



I learn from Lord Liverpool, 

 that he has received no authority, 

 in forming the intended adminis- 

 tration, to make any proposal to 

 any of those persons now designat- 

 ed by the name of " The Oppo- 

 sition " 



My inquiry on this point origi- 

 nated in a sincere conviction, 

 (founded upon an attentive obser- 

 vation of the general state of public 

 opinion, and of the condition of 

 the empire), that no ad ministration, 

 which shall not comprise some of 

 those persons, can prove advun- 

 tageous to the Prince Regent, con- 

 ciliatory towards Ireland, and equal 

 to the conduct of the war on a 

 scale of sufficient extent. 



It has been stated erroneously, 

 that the first act of the Prince Re- 

 gent upon his approach 1o unre- 

 stricted authority was, to establish 

 Mr. Perceval's administration : but 

 the fact is, that his Royal High- 

 ness's first act at that crisis was, to 

 dissolve Mr. Perceval's adminis- 

 tration ; and to endeavour to form 

 a cabinet upon a more extended 

 and liberal basis. This endeavour 

 was frustrated at that moment ; and 

 the formation of such a cabinet was 

 represented to his Royal 'Highness 

 to be impracticable. It has, how- 

 ever, since appeared evident to me, 

 from the discussions and declara- 

 tions which I have witnessed in 

 parliament, that his Royal High- 

 ness's benevolent intentions on that 

 subject are now perfectly practi- 

 cable ; and that their accomplish- 

 ment would tend to promote inter- 

 nal peace and tranquillity, and to 



invigorate 



