282 CORRESPONDENCE. [1815. 



the army and republican party together would set up 

 somebody possibly the King of Rome not so likely 

 now the Duke of Orleans. Bonaparte himself must 

 give the country some liberty and peace after taking 

 Belgium. I don't think he will soon try Eussian 

 campaigns again, or shoot people in woods by torch- 

 light. But the grand evil is that we shall have, ex- 

 pensive armaments, unless we have sense enough to 

 stand upon the defensive ; and even then it will be a 

 constant pretext for keeping up the establishments. I 

 daresay this and the chance of the old Princess being 

 destroyed (she can hardly be lost in the disturbance) 

 will comfort the great man mightily. 



" The corn-bill is of course forgotten by the mobs ; 

 and the farmers are in good heart at Bonaparte's get- 

 ting back ; but when I came here a week ago I found 

 clear proofs that the bill had made even loyal Church- 

 and-King folks Parliamentary reformers. Lord Fitz- 

 william's agents distinctly say that any Burdettite 

 would now turn out Sir Mark Sykes ! This reminds 

 me of a rumour that has reached me of Curran being 

 brought forward by Burdett in Westminster. This 

 was an idea of Holland House last summer ; but if 

 Burdett really gives in to it, his folly, in trusting to 

 Curran's honesty, is if possible greater than the only 

 other quality it can be ascribed to. Ever yours truly, 



" H. BKOUGHAM." 



On the 6th of July occurred an event which gave 

 me a shock as great as any I ever remember to have 

 experienced a shock caused not only by the horror of 

 the attendant circumstances, but by the sudden loss 

 to me of a warm friend with whom I had been for 



