4^2 POLITICS. [1809. 



receive. I confess I exult not a little in your victory 

 over these miserable intriguers, whose folly is nearly 

 equal to their meanness, and who seem to be quite as in- 

 capable of managing their own affairs as of governing 

 the country. The motive of their message it is very 

 difficult to unravel, but (as it is utterly impossible 

 that they could have any hopes of their wretched offer 

 being listened to) I presume it may have been sent in 

 compliance with the injunctions of the Court, whom 

 they may have made to believe that it was a fair offer 

 of a coalition. The answer will open their eyes on 

 this point ; and indeed it is not impossible that the 

 courtiers may have joined in the offer without much 

 hope of your accepting it, meaning to come down 

 with other terms should you refuse. One thing is 

 clear, with the country it can do them nothing but 

 harm if they stop short in their advances, and try to 

 go on themselves. It is (and must be universally 

 considered so) a plain avowal of their weakness. 



"And now (supposing there is no further advance 

 made to you) the difficulties which led to the mes- 

 sage are at least as great as before. I am no believer 

 in Perceval and Eldon taking in Lord Melville; and 

 the former, at least, must be averse to Wellesley, from 

 his saint connections. But even if those feelings are 



o 



overcome by the impending danger of leaving their 

 offices, what do they gain ? Lord Wellesley is use- 

 less in the House of Lords, or nearly so ; and neither he 

 nor Lord Melville brings them one atom of weight in 

 the House of Commons. Their grand difficulty is the 



