JET. 47.] EARL GREY. 467 



"November 16, 1824. 



" MY DEAR LORD GREY, I received your letter on 

 Saturday, and agree entirely as to all you say of Can- 

 ning and Wellesley regarding the Catholic question. 

 They never will or can do anything but by accident 

 or compulsion, as long as they act on the principle (if 

 one may so call the most unprincipled ground ever 

 avowedly taken) that they are to make any sacrifice 

 or run any risk for the question. Indeed, Canning 

 very coolly says he is convinced a Government entirely 

 friendly to it is the least likely to carry it ! But 

 what I meant by ' speculations ' about the two, was as 

 to Canning's supposed object in going to Dublin 

 which I suspect was Cabinet arrangements. There is 

 a talk of Wellesley coming over here, and Lord Bristol 

 succeeding him. But this I can hardly believe. Stuart 

 is come home ; he arrived on Saturday evening, but I 

 have not seen him. Canning has used him very ill, 

 and both he and her family are loud against him. 

 Lady Holland is better, but there have been unplea- 

 sant symptoms, pains, &c. in the limbs, which, with 

 her habit and habits, naturally make one think of 

 dropsy. However, she is ten years too young for 

 that. He is extremely well ; Mary by no means so. 

 Did I tell you of Canning having given warning to a 

 friend of his that he might be prepared for an election 

 in February or March, meaning that they were to pass 

 a few necessary bills, and have a summer session ? It 

 seems quite absurd ; and even if Canning has any such 

 plan, his colleagues certainly won't allow it. 



" I saw Lord Darlington on my way to town, and I 

 think he certainly has Howick in his eye ; but not 

 having got your letter, I could not go into the subject : 



