7S STATE OF PARTIES. [1813. 



going on, than in order to give yon any information. 

 I have only been twice to the westward of Charing 

 Cross since the day I dined with you at Lord Rosslyn's. 

 One of the times was to see Lord Tlianct, who was in 

 town some weeks ago ; and I am extremely glad to 

 tell you I never saw him better. His recovery is 

 really one of the very few satisfactory circumstances 

 in these bad times. She has, it is said, had a fausse 

 couche, which is entertaining enough. 



" The people in this place have been crazy about 

 the late victory, and will probably not come to their 

 senses till Lord Wellington beoins in November to 



o o 



fall back towards Portugal, which, I presume, a peace 

 in the north, or even, without that, a refitting of his 

 artillery, &c., from the depot at Thoulouse, is very 

 likely to occasion at the usual season/''" In the mean time 

 the Prince is resolved to snatch a little popularity for 

 his own share, and has got up a dinner at Yauxhall 

 for the purpose, I hear it is currently reported that 

 the Princess has intimated her intention of going, 

 which has thrown them all into the greatest conster- 



o 



nation. What truth there may be in it I can't pre- 

 tend to say, not having seen her for these two months, 

 and only had any correspondence when some matter 

 relating to her business required it. 



" I take the most gloomy view possible of public 

 affairs, being sure that the more melancholy one's 

 forebodings are they are always the more likely to be 

 realised. I presume that the Crown never was so 

 entirely freed from an Opposition since the Revolution; 

 and witli all the honesty which is to be found scat- 

 tered up and down amongst our friends, there is one 



* " The late victory," battle of Vittoria. 



