but there is not the slightest foundation for the Letters. reports of the murder and imprisonment of Sir George "I am glad to hear that Elizabeth's cold is so much better, and hope that, with this beautiful weather, it will soon get quite well. I have been of late so busily engaged in preparing the army estimates, that I really have not had time to write to you. However, that ordeal is now nearly over, though there is still hanging over me some little discussion on the report. It is very gratifying to me to find that I got through the business in a manner that was generally considered satisfactory. My friends were of course bound to say that I had acquitted myself well; but I have received expressions of commendation from the Opposition, which are the more flattering, as they may be considered as conveying the real opinion of those from whom they proceed. Windham was pleased to make honourable mention of me in his speech; and, what I certainly least expected, A distinguished member of the H.E.I.C. Civil Service, at that time Governor of Madras. Then Governor-General of India. As Sir Gilbert Elliot, he was, in 1779, Envoy Extraordinary to Vienna; Viceroy of Corsica, 1797, when he was made a peer; President of the Board of Control in 1806; Governor-General of India from 1807 to 1813, when he was raised to an earldom. He died in 1811. Letters. Whitbread, with whom I had never before exchanged a word, took occasion, as he met me entering the House yesterday, to say some very handsome things to me about perspicuity and information. The 'Courier' gives a very good report of what I said, barring a few mistakes in figures, of which, however, it is only surprising there are so few. "We had last night a most extraordinary display of folly, coarseness, and vulgarity from Fuller, who, because Sir John Anstruther,* Chairman of the Committee, would not take notice of him, when he several times attempted to rise, in order to put some very gross and absurd questions to Lord Chatham, flew out into such a passion, and swore, and abused the Chairman and the House to such a degree that it became at last necessary to commit him to custody. As he went out he shook his fist at the Speaker, and said he was a dd insignificant little puppy, and snapping his fingers at him, said he did not care that for him or the House either. He is now amusing himself with the serjeant-at-arms, and I think was very lucky in not being sent to Newgate or the Tower. "I shall not be able to get down to Park Place this week, but I have ordered a new pair of pumps, and as soon as they are ready I shall take the first opportunity of running down to join your dancing parties. * "Did you see the following epigram the other day A distinguished lawyer, who had been Chief Justice of Bengal from 1798 to 1806. in the Chronicle" if you did not it is a pity you Letters skorbi miles in, and I send it you; it is by Jekyll;* 4 LA TEE t his sword undrawn, Letters. "MY DEAR FANNY, "War Office, Friday, Oct. 19, 1810. "Despatches are just arrived from Lord Wellington, dated the 5th inst. The French had pushed on their outposts towards Coimbra on the 30th; and on the 1st Lord Wellington fell back by Pombal to Leyria and Alcobaça, where he arrived the 5th, and on the 7th, the day on which Walsh, the messenger, left Lisbon, he was expected at Rio Mayor, near Santarem.* Lord Wellington says the army are within a few leagues of the ground on which he means them to fight the enemy; and as the French were advancing with the evident intention of fighting, a battle must ere this have been fought, which will decide the fate of Portugal, and probably of Spain. The French were at Condexa. Nothing of consequence had happened in the retreat, only a few skirmishes between the cavalry and light troops. * "When Massena retired, he took up a defensive situation before Santarem. He was now blockaded by the British forces, and had to depend for his supplies on the bare country behind him. "On the 6th of March, Wellington, who long maintained, contrary to general opinion, that Massena would be forced to retire from want of provisions, received information that he had retired, and immediately put his troops in motion in three columns. He pursued the enemy with skill; and on the 6th the French crossed the Aquado into Spain.” -KNIGHT'S History of England, vol. vii., p. 539. ↑ Note from an Officer in the Guards." As Lord Wellington said, the army at the time he spoke of was within a few miles of the spot where it was intended to fight a battle. But we met with no provocation from Massena, whilst the game of our chief was a defensive one. We were covered by the lines of Torres Vedras in a triple defence. These lines were maintained harmlessly for six weeks, when Massena broke up and retired, Nov. 16, 1810.” Stuart sends an intercepted letter from Massena, Letters. dated Vizeu, September 27th, which gives a striking picture of the state of his army. He complains dreadfully of the roads: 'Nous passons par des chemins affreux hérissés de rochers.' His artillery and baggage have suffered much, and must, he says, rest two days at Vizeu to repair damages. He says he means to go to Coimbra, where he hears the English and Portuguese army is. He says: 'Monseigneur, nous passons à travers un désert; on ne rencontre nulle part une âme;' that consequently he could get no guides; that his men lived on potatoes they dug up, and grain they gathered in the fields. Our army were in high health and spirits. "Adieu! Love to all, "Ever your affectionate brother, "PALMERSTON. This wind must bring us news in a day or two." "MY DEAR FANNY, "War Office, Oct. 29, 1810. "Still no news from Portugal, and, as the wind blows, no probability of any for some days. "I went down to Conyers' on Monday morning to breakfast, shot there on Monday, and returned to town on Tuesday morning. The party consisted of William and Lady Caroline Lamb, and a Dr. Dowdeswell. The day was terribly stormy; it blew an absolute hurricane, and therefore I killed only one brace of pheasants. Lamb was luckier, and always * Afterwards Lord Melbourne. |