444 POLITICS. [1822. 



Commons, unless a very great improvement takes 

 place in our affairs, and Peel turns out to be a much 

 more efficient man than anything I have heard of him 

 for I know nothing of him myself gives me every 

 reason to suppose him to be, it seems not impossible 

 that the Government may break up from absolute in- 

 ability to surmount the difficulties with which it is 

 surrounded. 



" In any case, Lord Lonsdale's opinion that it can- 

 not go on may possibly turn out to be the true one ; 

 and however improbable such an event may appear, 

 it certainly is possible that some negotiation may be 

 opened with the Opposition ; and the bare possibility 

 requires that, in prudence, we should be prepared for 

 it. With regard to principles and measures, there 

 could be no difficulty as far as you and I are con- 

 cerned ; our duty is plain and obvious : and with 

 regard to others, I should hope not more so, except, 

 perhaps, on the simple question of Parliamentary 

 reform ; with respect to which I should think it 

 necessary, if the Government was proposed to me, to 

 stipulate for some plan on a moderate principle, with 

 a pledge to resist anything more. But there is a 

 difficulty behind, or rather one which presents itself 

 in the first place ; and that is, How is a Government 

 to be formed in the House of Commons, and who is 

 to lead it 1 This question, I feel, can be answered by 

 you alone ; on you must depend, in the first degree, the 

 efficiency of any Administration that can be formed, in 

 whatever situation you might be placed ; and it is upon 

 this that I hope you will not be unwilling to state to 

 me confidentially and explicitly what your views and 

 wishes are, under the assurance that they cannot be 



