164 THE PRINCESS OF WALES [1813. 



subject, and he entirely agreed that this was the 

 proper course to take and the proper moment. We 

 fully considered the letter, and we agreed that it 

 would not be fit that Grey should be involved in the 

 responsibility of the step proposed to be taken, both 

 on account of the frequent personal differences as well 

 as political which had occurred between him and the 

 Prince, and on account of his station as leader of the 

 Wing party, the more especially as some of the leaders 

 in both Houses were known to lean strongly against 

 the Princess ; Sheridan of course, but also Tierney, 

 perhaps Ponsonby, certainly Holland House. It was, 

 however, deemed proper that our proceedings should 

 be fully disclosed to him ; and if he chose to interpose 

 his advice, he might have the opportunity, from what 

 had passed with him a short time before, of giving 

 us the full assurance of his general approval. It will 

 presently be seen that this was done. I returned from 

 ^outhhill to London ; but both Whitbread and I felt 

 the absolute necessity of warning the Princess of Wales 

 how momentous the step was, and impressing upon 

 her the absolute necessity not only of fully considering 

 it in all its views, but of being quite certain that she 

 had done nothing of any sort that could shun the light. 

 In all his advice to and support of the Princess, 

 Whitbread acted, as he ever did, an honest, manly, 

 and straightforward part. Considering her to be as ill- 

 used as possible, and without any just ground, he had 

 deemed it his duty to stand by her, and he did so 

 firmly and heartily. Not that he was on bad terms 

 with the regular Whig party, for they had entirely 

 retraced their steps towards him, which had led to 

 much estrangement in 1806, when he was left out of 



