28 EFFECT OF THE RECALL [1812. 



and good behaviour of this country lasting, when it 

 begins. But for this Act we never should have be- 

 lieved in an American war. The message shows that 

 the repeal will suspend hostilities at any rate, that a 

 short negotiation will lead to it, and our victory in 

 this country will be then very complete. 



" By the way, all the people I have seen, and all 

 my correspondence with different meetings, evince how 

 much the Opposition have gained in the country by 

 this practical proof of the wisdom of these measures. 

 They say a thousand times, ' Had Lord Grey been 

 minister this would not have happened/ I also think 

 the rejection of the prince's offer popular, though of 

 this I am not so sure ; it is less intelligible. But that 

 you are very popular upon the whole, I plainly per- 

 ceive. Indeed, such men as Eoscoe, c., are already 

 quite reclaimed. I don't mean that things should be 

 undertaken from mere love of popularity, but it is a 

 good assisting reason, when they are excellent in them- 

 selves ; therefore I hope we shall, next session, make a 

 vigorous assault on the farmers' property-tax. I gave 

 a general notice, in consequence of which hundreds of 

 persons have written and applied to me. You remem- 

 ber talking of it four years ago. Northumberland should 

 really take the lead in this matter ; it belongs to it. 



" There is a great wish at Liverpool, in the Tory 

 party, to have a compromise Canning and me with- 

 out any contest, I have not given my answer, but 

 wish to know Low it strikes you. Of course I mean 

 on the supposition of our finding it quite impossible 

 to carry two. .My own feeling has always been rather 

 to have nothing to do with it unless this were possible, 

 and even easy, for it is as well for us to have the two 



