^ET. 36.] EUROPEAN CRISIS. 97 



the Prince of Orange, it will be most pernicious. That 

 Prince is a madman if he ever listens to any but 

 Dutchmen. He has no other way of re-establishing 

 the confidence of the country in him. 



" I happened to be with the committee of the African 

 Institution yesterday, at Lord Bathurst's, about the 

 slave-trade business ; and though I saw he was very 

 civilly inclined towards Hogendorp, and listened atten- 

 tively to the full detail of his bad treatment by all 

 their people in succession, which I made him hear in 

 presence of the saints, making Windham (as in fact 

 he was) the only exception, and though he spoke as 

 if they might do all that was fair towards Hogendorp, 

 and mentioned him very respectfully, yet there was a 

 something which struck me in his way of speaking 

 on this subject as if they considered the Orange family 

 as entirely on their own bottom, or jure divino, and 

 not likely to please any one but themselves in govern- 

 ing or choosing councillors. The manner was this 

 as if he commended Hogendorp, and excepted him 

 from the mass ; a kind of amnesty or pardoning 

 manner, instead of the gratitude due to him as the 

 greatest benefactor of the family, for whom at least 

 for the country he exposes his life and property 

 most literally, should the French ever get back. I 

 hope I may be deceived. "Wilberforce afterwards went 

 to Castlereagh's on the same slave-trade business, and 

 promised to repeat what I had said about Hogendorp ; 

 but I daresay he left out the offensive parts. I am 

 told Castlereagh received what was mentioned of 

 Hogendorp very graciously; but I could not go 

 myself, being obliged to return to Westminster. 

 Believe me ever truly yours, H. BROUGHAM." 



VOL. IT. G 



