AND THE DUKES OF BICHMOND. 65 



much agitation and debate as to how they should 

 proceed. 



The Duke of "Wellington was of opinion that the 

 attack of the conspirators should not be prevented, 

 but that the cabinet dinner should take place, as if 

 nothing were suspected, at Lord Harrowby's ; and 

 that then, by a concerted arrangement, the whole 

 of the gang should be captured. Had the rest 

 agreed his plan was this : a picket of the Guards in 

 Portman Street barracks was to be warned for duty 

 of a nature not to excite suspicion ; a couple of 

 officers, in plain clothes and well mounted, were to 

 ride in the neighbourhood of Grosvenor Square as if 

 returning from the park, and directly they perceived 

 the gang assembling, were to gallop to the barracks, 

 and bring back the soldiers at the double-quick. 

 These on entering the square were to divide in two 

 bodies, and surround the whole of the south side of 

 the square : one party detaching men round by Audley 

 Street, and the others meeting them by Charles Street. 



As to the arrangements in Lord Harrowby's house, 

 each minister was to bring a pair of pistols in his 

 official box, to be accompanied by an able-bodied ser- 

 vant, well armed. Ministers usually brought servants 

 to the Cabinet dinners to assist in waiting. The dinner 

 was to be upstairs, but the dining-room below lighted 

 and prepared as usual in order to deceive the con- 

 spirators ; the hall was to be barricaded with heavy 



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