of Ceylon is bad. They expect the Mahratta War will end favourably, and soon. The Paris account of Wellesley being defeated is known to be false, from the dates.

Ever most truly yours,

E. COOKE.

MR. COOKE TO MR. BERESFORD.

North Row, Park Lane, 27th March, 1804.

I

MY DEAR BERESFORD,-Affairs begin to thicken. understand Mr. Pitt is going to hoist his standard, thinking it absolutely necessary that Addington should be removed, and a more efficient Ministry appointed. He is disposed and determined to effect that point if possible, though he is not ready for joining in a party for the purpose of forcing any particular set of men into power against the will of the Crown. I understand that this principle of destroying Addington's Administration will be co-operated with by the other parties of Opposition. I hear, also, that the Queen is anxious for Mr. Pitt's return to office, and the Duke of York particularly so.

Under these circumstances, it will be wished that all Mr. Pitt's friends should attend after the holydays; and I conceive you will be applied to from a high quarter. My ideas of your feelings are, that you will never take a part against Mr. Pitt, but that you do not like to take a part against Mr. Addington. Whatever you may do, I am sure Mr. Pitt would be very sensible of your attentions to him, in whatever way you could show them.

I understand the Opposition, if united, would consist of about 230, and above 200 could be brought into the field. Government allows them 183 decided. They have about 90 in the Lords.

The King is recovering; I hear he has seen the Queen, but not the rest of the Royal Family, yet Ministry say he is quite well, and quite fit for business; but I hear he is weak and requires rest greatly. Lord Euston, who voted with Mr. Pitt on the Admiralty question, resigned the Parks on Saturday last.

Immense patronage vacant, but I know not the distribution.

b

I suppose Lindsay goes to Kildare, and is succeeded by Butson.

They say Lord Winchelsea" gets the place of Groom of the Stole; but who succeeds to the Bedchamber I know not.

a

e

The Duke of Norfolk wants the blue ribbon, but I

George Henry Fitzroy, Earl of Euston, son of the Duke of Grafton and the Hon. Anne Liddell; born 1760; M.P. for University of Cambridge 1784 to 1811; succeeded his father 1811; Ranger of St. James's Park and Hyde Park; married, 1784, Lady Charlotte Waldegrave; died 1844.

b The Hon. Charles Lindsay, sixth son of James, the fifth Earl of Balcarres, and Ann Dalrymple; born 1760; consecrated Bishop of Killaloe 1803; translated to Kildare 1804; married, first, 1790, Miss Fydell; secondly, 1798, Catherine Cousmaker; died 1846.

The Rev. Dr. Christopher Butson, Dean of Waterford; consecrated Bishop of Clonfert 1804; died 1826.

d George Finch, eighth Earl of Winchelsea, son of the Hon. William Finch and Charlotte Fermor; born 1747; succeeded his uncle 1769; died 1826.

e Charles Howard, eleventh Duke of Norfolk, son of Charles,

believe the King promised it to Lord Chesterfield. The red ribbon goes to Paget, at Vienna. The green ribbon I have not heard about; nor whether Dalrymple succeeds Fawcett, and General Fox, Dalrymple; or whether Trigge succeeds Fawcett, and Fox goes to Gibraltar.

The decision which I have mentioned of Mr. Pitt is at present fresh, nor is it publicly known, and I write quite confidentially.

Could you say what Sir George Hill would do, or what part Lord Waterford would be likely to take? There will not be much time for explanation. You remember how you always said things must take this turn; it would have been better had they taken it earlier.

There is a second pamphlet by Bentley in reply to Long. I have not read it yet, but I hear it is very severe on Pitt. Foster takes a part with Pitt, and a hearty one!!

Ever most truly and sincerely yours,

E. COOKE.

MR. ROSE TO MR. BERESFORD.

Croffnells, 27th March, 1804.

MY DEAR BERESFORD,-Public matters of all sects and parties are in so odd a state at present that I

tenth Duke, and Catherine Brockholes; born 1746; succeeded 1786; died 1815.

a The Hon. Arthur Paget, third son of Henry, first Earl of Uxbridge, and Ann Champagne; born 1770; appointed Envoy to Diet of Ratisbon 1798; to the Court of the Two Sicilies 1800; to Court of Vienna 1804; Ambassador to the Porte 1807; married, 1809, Lady Augusta Fane; died 1840.

hardly know whether to wish you in this country or not. If it would disarrange any of your domestic plans, or distress you between friends who may be drawing different ways, I am sure you had better not come among us. Mr. Fox is acting with Lord Grenville, Mr. Windham, Lord Spencer, &c., &c. Mr. Sheridan is aloof from them, and endeavouring all he can to support the Government, liking anything better than Mr. Pitt's return to power. Mr. Fox puts that consideration from him, having said in answer to Mr. Sheridan lately at a meeting of his friends, that if he could effect that only, he thought he should do a great deal for the country. The Duke of Norfolk is also with Government; so, with Mr. Tierney, they have a good selection.

Mr. Pitt will not join in any system of opposition, nor disturb Government beyond proposing measures which he thinks, or may from time to time think, necessary for the preservation of the country, utterly unconnected with all parties and descriptions of men, but with many most respectable men adhering to him, and determined to pursue the same line. The strengthening that number is of course important. Now you really know all that I do. How the gentlemen from your side of the water will act when they come over, I believe no one can guess. I can assure you that I cannot form anything like an accurate judgment what a very large proportion of the English members will do. If you can give me any clue to the connections, habits, and opinions of any of your friends, you will oblige me. I mean such as are likely to be in the House this session. Some may possibly be induced to attend by the state of things.

The newspapers tell me that Mr. Grattan is to succeed your son in Dublin city; if so, I imagine he will range himself with Lord Fitzwilliam, who, I conjecture, is with Mr. Fox or Windham. I send this under cover to our friend Mr. Theophilus Jones, lest the curiosity of any other friend should induce its being opened, if known to be written by me; and yet if all the world read it I am not sure of much inconvenience arising from it, because there is not a word in it which is not strictly true, and as far as information goes, known to everybody as well as to me-I mean on this side of the water. It is a melancholy consideration that a great and highspirited country should be rolled in the dirt in the way we are by a Government, more remarkable, I think, for weakness and incapacity than any one that ever existed in any period of our history; but so it is. we must suffer under it remains to be seen. for a fortnight, and then return to London. join in affectionate compliments to you.

How long

I am here

All here

My dear Beresford, most truly and sincerely yours,

GEORGE ROSE.

MR. JONES TO MR. BERESFORD.

London, 29th March, 1804. :

MY DEAR BERESFORD,-As it is probable that the letter which Mr. Rose has commissioned me to forward to you may have originated from conversations we have had on your subject, in which we both agreed your retiring at this crisis from public business was highly