&T. 29.] DEATH OF FOX. 373 



procession is to be from the Duke of Bedford's, in 

 Stable Yard, to Westminster Abbey. 



" There has been great mystery as to the appoint- 

 ment of a successor to Fox. Having no authentic 

 information, I can only give you the floating rumours. 

 At present Lord Ho wick, under all the circumstances, 

 is the most likely man. Our friends naturally wished 

 for Lord Holland, and for some time had confident 

 hopes. I do not believe that these hopes now con- 

 tinue. The Admiralty, which will be vacated by 

 Lord Ho wick, may perhaps be offered to him; but his 

 indolence and want of habits of business would make 

 this office very irksome to him. Eeport yesterday 

 gave the latter appointment to Lord Buckingham, 

 who is an amateur of naval details, and came up 

 post-haste upon the news of Fox's death. I am far 

 from thinking this probable, but the report is not 

 pleasant; and the delay in the appointment seems 

 clearly to show that the parties do not entirely agree. 

 The present crisis is certainly very important to the 

 fragments of a popular party which still remain in this 

 country. If Lord Holland or Lord Lauderdale is not 

 admitted into the Cabinet upon the present vacancy, 

 I shall consider it as the annihilation of their party 

 in the administration, and the forerunner of a final 

 rupture : but these are surmises which I hope will be 

 falsified by the despatches which will convey this letter. 



" It seems to be quite settled that Lord Howick is 

 to be the leader of the House of Commons, and that 

 this will oblige him to quit the Admiralty, the con- 



