;ET. 30.] THE COURT. 393 



connections with Eussia or of the questions relative 

 to Sicily, expecting a good deal too much from the 

 former, and not seeing all the evils of our attempts 

 in favour of the latter. Buenos Ayres is not quite 

 given up ; but at any rate they think it must have 

 been retaken by our expedition. 



" The merchants are a good deal laughed at for 

 having been taken in by the scheme to such an 

 extent, and Popham is given up by almost every- 

 body. 



" The king's health is pretty good ; but on Irish 

 affairs he is by no means more sound than formerly. 

 This part of the subject is very ticklish, and has of 

 late given very great uneasiness ; but nothing is to 

 be done in the way of emancipation, though I much 

 fear a petition will be presented, and, of course, op- 

 posed by Lord G. and the Foxites, which would be 

 rather unpleasant. I believe they say within these 

 two days that things are looking better in Ireland 

 than before. All this is quite extraneous. 



" The prince has been really ill t and is still in a 

 very unpleasant way, though somewhat better. He 

 is reduced to water or iced punch and turtle, and no 

 wine nor animal food. 



" This I know for certain. I have been down at 

 Brocket Hall during the holidays, and the Melbournes 

 (who by the way expected him there as an invalid) 

 say he is exceedingly touchy about his health, so that 

 he will neither take medicines nor allow anybody to 

 say he is ill. The story of his being so much in love 



