24 LETTER TO LORD GREY. [1812. 



motives, which, if altogether personal and private, and 

 on that account less respectable in some sort, are, I 

 know, quite free from any tinge, even the slightest, of 

 corruption or place-hunting. In truth, had Canning 

 been in office he would not have declared, or thought 

 of it ; and a year ago he often said to me (when 

 annoyed by things in the House of Commons) how he 

 wished you were all in office that he might join the 

 ex-party viz., Canning. I had several long and most 

 warm conferences with him before he made up his 

 mind, and of course said what occurred to me freely. 

 At the same time, when he put it to me whether, in 

 point of honour, he was acting blamably, I could not 

 say so, considering his loose connection at all times 

 with us, and his decided difference on some points. I 

 did not conceal from him, however, that this might not 

 be the opinion of all his friends. 



" I can tell you distinctly how this matter stands, 

 and I wish you would let Lord Grenville and any 

 other friends know it also, though, in general, it is 

 nine parts in ten personal. He greatly admires, some- 

 what likes, and in no little degree fears, Canning, for 

 his classical attainments, and his jokes and flings. So 

 do William Lamb"' and Granville Vernon, and so do 

 Peel and all the other young fry about the offices- 

 very inferior to our youths, of course. Now Ward, 

 like them, is a dealer in a sort of ware, very market- 

 able up to a certain price and for some time, but base 

 in its real nature, and which don't keep I mean little 

 prize essays of speeches, got up and polished, and use- 

 less, quite useless, for affairs. To Lave Canning the 

 leader in this line against them, and sneering at them, 

 * Afterwards Lord Melbourne. 



