¹ Ashbourne Hall, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, owned by Sir Brooke Boothby and rented at this time by C.'s guardian, the Rev. William Leigh, for whom see below n. 2

² ‘W.L.’ was the Rev. William Leigh (1752–1808), s. of John Burridge of Rushall Hall, Rushall, Staffs. Educ. Harrow, Trinity Coll. Camb., Corpus Christi, Oxf. Rector of Little Plumstead with Witton and Brundale annexed, Norfolk, 1779–1808 and installed dean of Hereford, Mar. 1808. He was the author of at least four published sermons, three being published in Bath. ‘E.L.’ and ‘F.C.’, sometimes referred to as ‘Bess’ and ‘Fan’ respectively, were his wife and sister in law, Jane Elizabeth and Frances Canning, das. of Stratford Canning (1703–75) and therefore C.'s aunts, ‘L.P.’, sometimes referred to as ‘Tish’, was Letitia Perceval, da. of Jane Elizabeth Leigh by her first husband, Westby Perceval of Philipstown, King's co.

³ Mrs G. has not been identified but was probably the ‘nanny’ to the Leigh's children, Elizabeth or ‘Bessy’ and Frances Harriet or ‘Fanny’, both of whom were born in the 1780s

⁴ In Lincoln's Inn where C. had lived since 1790. His number was 13

⁵ The Dining Club, The Crown and Anchor, the Strand, see below, 31

⁶ Elizabeth and the Rev. William Leigh

⁷ His Scottish valet

⁸ William Pitt (1759–1806), prime minister 1783–1801, 1804–6. C. met Pitt for the first time in the summer of 1792 when he explained that he wished to owe his return to Parliament to him alone. Pitt accepted the commission and fulfilled it in June 1793, see Thorne, iii, 379–80Google Scholar

⁹ In Whitehall (see below, 28)

¹⁰ John Hookham Frere (1769–1846). C.'s contemporary at Eton and one of his closest friends; joint author of the Microcosm. A clerk in the Home Office

¹¹ William Sturges (afterwards Sturges Bourne, 1769–1845). C.'s contemporary at Christ Church

¹² Adélaide-Marie-Émilie Filleul, Comtesse de Flahaut and Talleyrand's mistress, see n. 14. She subsequently became Marquise de Souza

¹³ Earl of Wycombe and subsequently the 2nd Mq. of Lansdowne, M.P. Wycombe 1786–1802

¹⁴ Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754–1838); in exile in London but later French foreign minister

¹⁵ Count de Beaumetz, a close friend of Talleyrand, who lived for a while with other French exiles at Juniper Hall, Surrey. On the morning of 10 August 1792, a combination of the Paris sans culottes and the provincial fédérés broke into the Tuileries, the royal residence in Paris, and killed 600 of the 900 Swiss guards. This led to the abolition of the French monarchy

¹⁶ Robert Percy Smith (1770–1845). C.'s contemporary at Eton, one of his closest friends and known by him as ‘Bobus’; a joint author of the Microcosm. Elder brother of the Rev. Sydney Smith

¹⁷ William Windham (1750–1810). M.P. Norwich 1784–1802; the leading member in the Commons of the secessionist whigs led by the Duke of Portland. They supported the war and formed a coalition with Pitt in July 1794, Windham becoming sec. at war. He was an ardent supporter of French émigrés

¹⁸ The Comtesse de Flahaut's novel, published in London in 1794, was Adèle de Sénange ou lettres de Lord Sydenham. It enjoyed 8 subsequent editions, 1794–1808, see Angus Martin et al, Bibliographie du genre romanesque français 1751–1800, (London, 1977), 376–77

¹⁹ Paul Patrick was the brother of C.'s aunt, Mehitabel or ‘Hetty’ Canning, the widow of Stratford Canning, their father being Robert Patrick of Somerville, co. Dublin. The Patricks were of Irish merchant stock, there being a firm called Patrick & Co., wholesale merchants, of Bethseda Lane, Dublin. Paul Patrick, however, was based in London and was a partner in Patrick & Canning, merchants of New Broad St. ‘Harry’ was Henry, the son of ‘Hetty’. He was working in the family firm at this time and was later sent to a counting house in Hamburg to gain further experience in trade, see below, 285

²⁰ Where his aunt, Mehitabel or ‘Hetty’ had lived since the death of her husband, Stratford Canning, in May 1787

²¹ Robert Banks Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool. C.'s contemporary at Christ Church; M.P. Rye, 1790–1803; commr. Board of Control, Apr. 1793–99

²² He was a close friend of his Christ Church contemporary, Osborne Markham (1769–1827), s. of the Rev. William Markham, then archbishop of York

²³ Charles Greville (1762–1832) and his wife, Lady Charlotte, da. of the 3rd Duke of Portland. Greville's sister, Mrs Crewe, w. of John, later 1st Baron Crewe, was a hostess to the Portland whigs and was a long standing friend of the Cannings. She had taken up C. during his time at Oxford, C. spending part of every summer vacation at Crewe Hall in Cheshire

²⁴ Granville Leveson Gower, 1st Mq. of Stafford. C.'s Christ Church contemporary was his 2nd s. Granville Leveson Gower, 1st Earl Granville

²⁵ ‘The dinner … Cock Robin’ (p. 30), printed in Marshall, 46–49Google Scholar

²⁶ William Wyndham Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville, Foreign Secretary; Henry Dundas, 1st Visct. Melville, Home Secretary; Sir Richard Pepper Arden, 1st Baron Alvanley; John Jeffreys Pratt, Visct. Bayham and subsequently 2nd Earl (18 Apr. 1794) and 1st Mq. Camden, a ld. of Treasury; Richard Colley Wellesley, 2nd. Earl of Mornington and subsequently 1st Mq. Wellesley, a ld. of Treasury; Thomas Steele (1753–1823), commr. Board of Control and jnt. Paymaster Genl.; Hon. John Charles Villiers, 3rd Earl of Clarendon, chief justice in eyre North of Trent; Charles Philip Yorke (1764–1834), M.P. Cambs. and mover of the Address, 31. Jan. 1792; Hon. Edward James Eliot (1758–97), commr. Board of Control and his bro., Hon. John Eliot, 2nd Baron Eliot and subsequently 1st Earl of St. Germans

²⁷ The home of Dr. William Norris, surgeon of Old Jewry, who ministered subsequently to the Rev. W. Leigh and to C.

²⁸ His cousin, Elizabeth, da. of Mehetibal or ‘Hetty’ Canning and C.'s closest family friend

²⁹ Probably one of the three das. of 2nd Baron Hotham

³⁰ ‘The Dining Club … without it’, printed in NER, 452Google Scholar

³⁰ ‘The Dining Club … without it’, printed in NER, 452Google Scholar

³¹ The Carey Street Club

³² The two main political clubs. C. was elected a member of White's in 1794

³³ Lord Mulgrave was apptd. It. gov. of Toulon following its capture in August 1793; Thomas Graham, 1st Baron Lynedoch, was his a.d.c. and a kinsman of Dundas. Mulgrave's return to London coincided with the loss of the port, for which he was criticised, see Thorne, iv, 799Google Scholar

³⁴ The 9th Earl and 1st Mq. of Abercorn, a long standing friend of Pitt whose soirées at his Middlesex home, The Priory, were important events in the political and social calendars. There is a strong possibility that Abercorn played an important part in introducing Pitt to C., see Marshall, 32–33Google Scholar

³⁵ Vice-admiral of England 1792–96. The government believed that the whole of the French fleet based at Brest had put to sea and that an engagement with Lord Howe's forces was imminent. On 18 Nov. six French sail of the line and two frigates were seen and pursued, but escaped. The news had clearly not reached Whitehall

³⁶ Mrs Rachel Lloyd, Housekeeper at Kensington Palace. Possibly the wife of Sampson Lloyd of Bordesley, Warwickshire who m. Rachel, da. of Samuel Barnes of London and d.1814. Sampson Lloyd d. 27 Dec. 1807

³⁷ Unidentified

³⁸ The play was ‘The World in a Village’, a new comedy of uncertain authorship. It was followed by the two-act comic opera ‘The Flitch of Bacon’

³⁹ Probably Francis Newbury of Heathfield, Surrey who m. 29 May 1770, Mary Raikes, a sister of Thomas Raikes who was a close friend of Stratford and Mehitabel Canning, see p. 77 below and n. 175

⁴⁰ An eye ointment invented by his mother and which she hoped would produce additional income, see Marshall, 116 where ‘Colligium’ is incorrectly given as the nameGoogle Scholar

⁴¹ Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816), M.P. Stafford 1780–1806, a close friend of C.'s uncle, Stratford Canning and who became a friend of the Leighs through Mehitabel Canning. Sheridan, in the company of Charles James Fox, had been impressed with C. when the latter was at Eton, and so close had become the relationship tht some believed C. was his ward, see Hinde, 22Google Scholar

⁴² ‘Bess’ Patrick was the sister of Mehitabel and Paul. ‘Bessy’ was the da. of Mehitabel and the late Stratford Canning. The grandmother was probably Mehitabel Canning's mother, the wid. of Robert Patrick q.v.

⁴³ Matthew Lewis (b. c. 1750). Deputy sec. and 1st clerk at the W. O.

⁴⁴ Dr. Cyril Jackson (1746–1819); dean of Christ Church 1783–1809. A great friend of C. since the latter's Oxford days when he had successfully persuaded him to resign from the Christ Church Debating Club on the grounds that membership would be detrimental to his political career. See Bagot, i, 39n

⁴⁵ Sir Archibald MacDonald 1st Bt who was famous for his prosecution of Paine's Rights of Man in his earlier capacity of Attorney-General

⁴⁶ ‘I dined … and clever’, printed in NER, 452–3Google Scholar

⁴⁷ Charles Arbuthnot (1767–1850), a contemporary of C. at Christ Church and nicknamed ‘Gosh’. Précis-writer in the F.O.

⁴⁸ Charles Goddard (c. 1770–1845), a contemporary of C. at Christ Church. His mentor was Lord Grenville, the Foreign Secretary, to whom he was a private secretary. Later he took holy orders and was archdeacon of Lincoln 1817–44

⁴⁹ Ewan Law (1747–1829), the brother of Edward, the 1st Baron Ellenborough and husband of Henrietta Sarah Markham. M.P. Westbury 1790–95. He was counsel to Warren Hastings, the former governor-general of India, whose trial was coming to a conclusion in Westminster Hall. C's prediction about Edward Law's return for Westbury proved inaccurate, see Thorne, iv, 392Google Scholar

⁵⁰ ‘I dined … with Jenkinson’, printed in NER, 453Google Scholar

⁵¹ Lambeth Palace, C. was a close friend and contemporary at Christ Church of Charles Moore (1771–1826), the 2nd s. of Rt. Rev. John Moore, archbishop of Canterbury 1783–1805. He and Moore had spent July and August 1791 in the Netherlands

⁵² William Eden, 1st Baron Auckland, was British ambassador at the Hague. He was the brother of the archbishop of Canterbury's wife, Catherine

⁵³ George Rose (1744–1818). M.P. Christchurch 1790–1818; sec. to the Treasury

⁵⁴ Hon. Frederick North, 5th Earl of Guilford. M.P. Banbury 1792–94; chamberlain of the Exchequer

⁵⁵ John King (1759–1830)

⁵⁶ Samuel Reddish, C.'s half-brother by Samuel Reddish, the actor, who d.1785

⁵⁷ Lady Georgiana Augusta Leveson Gower, 4th da. of the 1st Mq. of Stafford

⁵⁸ Walter Borrowes, probably the 2nd s. of Sir Kildare Dixon Borrowes 5th Bt. (I) and a partner in the City firm of merchants in which Stratford Canning, C.'s uncle, had had an interest. Following the latter's death in May 1787, Borrowes became Canning's guardian. In 1793 a Walter Borrows (sic) is recorded as being a merchant of 10 Clement's Lane, London. He is later reeorded as possessing a small villa in Banstead, Surrey and as being a supporter of Catholic relief in Ireland, (see below, pp. 229, 256)

⁵⁹ As chief secretary in the room of Hon. Robert Hobart, 4th Earl of Buckinghamshire, (styled Lord Hobart 1793–96), who had left Dublin on 2 Dec. The rumour suggests that C.'s wish to hold the office, which he revealed later to Pitt (see below, p. 273), was already formed

⁶⁰ Charles Rose Ellis, 1st Baron Seaford, C.'s contemporary at Christ Church; M.P. Heytesbury 1793–96. His seat was Wootton in Beds.

⁶¹ John Thomas Ellis (1756–1836) who m. 6 Jan. 1794 and not 1795 as recorded in G.E. Cokayne, The Complete Baronetage, Antoinetta, da. of Sir Peter Parker, see n. 372

⁶² George Ellis (1753–1815), a contributor to the Rolliad, a series of whig satires on Pitt's administration which began to appear in 1784 and of which a complete edition was published in 1791

⁶³ General Wurmser, commander of the Austrian forces which retreated across the Rhine at the end of Dec.

⁶⁴ Vice-admiral of the fleet, commander in the Mediterranean since 1793, and responsible for the evacuation of Toulon

⁶⁵ Possibly Henry Hervey-Aston Bruce who m. 10 Nov. 1786, Letitia, da. of the Rev. Dr. Henry Barnard of Bovagh, Co. Londonderry, C.'s uncle by marriage. Bruce was cr. Bt. of Down Hill, co. Londonderry, 29 June 1804

⁶⁶ Thomas Sheridan (1775–1817), s. of Richard Brinsley Sheridan q.v.

⁶⁷ The only Smyth that might qualify is William Smyth (1764–1849) who is recorded as being at Eton 1780–82

⁶⁸ Jean-François de La Marche (1729–1806)

⁶⁹ Edward Hale Adderley (matric. Christ Church 4. Feb. 1790, aged 17), s. of Margaretta, wid. of Thomas Adderley of Innishannon, Co. Cork and w. of Hon. Robert Hobart, 4th Earl of Buckinghamshire

⁷⁰ Westby Perceval, the s. of Mrs. Leigh by her first husband of that name. He was drowned en route for India later in the year or early in 1795, Canning MSS, (12), C. to W. Leigh, 8, 28 Apr. 1794

⁷¹ Elborough Woodcock of Bloomsbury Sq. and Mortlake, Surrey, an eminent solicitor. His son, Henry (c. 1770–1840) became a clergyman and was apptd. prebendary of Salisbury, 1818

⁷² Probably the Rev. Charles Thomas Barker, matric. Christ Church 30 May 1777; B.A. 1781; M.A. 1784; Proctor, 1790

⁷³ ‘I dined … with Mr Ryder’, printed in NERT, 453–54Google Scholar

⁷⁴ Hon. Dudley Ryder, 2nd Baron and 1st Earl of Harrowby

⁷⁵ Rev. Dr. George Heath (1745–1822); assistant master at Eton, 1775–91; headmaster 1791–1801

⁷⁶ W. of Sir Gilbert Elliot Murray Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto, who was apptd. civil commr. of Toulon in Sept. 1793 but made his escape in Dec., see Thorne, iii, 695Google Scholar

⁷⁷ John Henry Newbolt (c. 1769–1823), m. 18 Feb. 1794, Elizabeth Juliana Rigby, 2nd. da. of Hon. Very Rev. William Digby, 3rd bro. of 1st Earl of Digby. She was maid of honour to Queen Charlotte

⁷⁸ ‘I called … the 21st’, printed NER, 454Google Scholar. ‘Council’ probably means a cabinet [council]

⁷⁹ Parliament reassembled after the Christmas recess on 21 Jan. 1794

⁸⁰ William Canning, s. of Stratford and Mehitabel Canning and therefore C.'s cousin

⁸¹ Frederick William Hervey, 5th Earl of Bristol

⁸² Thomas Wallace, 1st Baron Wallace. C's contemporary at Eton and Christ Church

⁸³ Lady Theodosia Louisa Hervey

⁸⁴ ‘In the evening … Beware of drinking.’ (p. 45), printed NER, 454–55Google Scholar and Marshall, 49Google Scholar

⁸⁵ The Borrowes and Higginson families were inter-related as a result of the m. of Sir Kildare Dixon Borrowes 5th Bt. (I) to his 2nd w. Jane, da. of Joseph Higginson of Mount Ophaly, co. Kildare. In the Directories for this date Philip and William Higginson are recorded as tea and wine merchants of various addresses in Dublin; and a firm of the name Higginson Barnard & Co., listed as merchants of New Court, Swithin's Lane, London.

⁸⁶ Isaac Corry (1752–1818). M. P. (I) Newry 1776–1800; commr. of Customs (I) 1789–97. He was in London to discuss Irish matters with the new chief secretary, Hon. Sylvester Douglas, 1st Baron Glenbervie, see Bickley, F. (ed.), The Diaries of Sylvester Douglas. Lord Glenbervie, (London, 2 vols., 1928), i, 34Google Scholar

⁸⁷ Unidentified

⁸⁸ Marcus Beresford (1764–97). He had vacated his seat for St. Canice in the Irish Parliament to make way for the new chief secretary, see The Diaries of Sylvester Douglas. Lord Glenbervie, (London, 2 vols., 1928), i, 41Google Scholar. Lord Hobart was going to India as gov. of Madras

⁸⁹ Possibly John Hayes St. Leger (1756–1800), M.P., Okehampton, 1791–96.

⁹⁰ Hon. George Vere Hobart (1761–1802)

⁹¹ Henry Charles Somerset, styled Lord Worcester and subsequently, 6th Duke of Beaufort. M.P. Bristol 1790–96

⁹² Lady Georgiana Augusta and Lady Susan Leveson-Gower

⁹³ ‘Leigh is … Coffee House’, printed in NER, 456Google Scholar

⁹⁴ ‘This was … the decision’ (p. 47), printed in Marshall, 50Google Scholar

⁹⁵ ‘During the dull … better still’, printed in NER, 456Google Scholar

⁹⁶ Charles Nevison Howard, e.s. of 15th Earl of Suffolk and styled Viscount Andover 1783–1800

⁹⁷ Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey. M.P. Northumberland 1786–1807 and a leading member of the Opposition

⁹⁸ Hon. Charles James Fox (1749–1806), the leader of the Opposition in the Commons. Fox and R.B. Sheridan q.v. had tried to engage C. for their party when the latter was at Eton, Fox evidently trying to teach him and Lord Holland ‘political lessons’ over dinner, see Bagot, i, 47n and Marshall, 8Google Scholar

⁹⁹ A subsidy treaty between Britain and Sardinia which was criticised by Fox on 27 Jan. sec Parl. Hist., xxx, cols., 1310–1313

¹⁰⁰ Henry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst. M.P. Cirencester 1783–94; teller of Exchequer and commr. Board of Control

¹⁰¹ Hon. John Thomas Townshend, 2nd Visct. Sydney. M.P. Whitchurch 1790–1800; ld. of Treasury 1793–1800

¹⁰² Hon. George Cranfield Berkeley (1753–1818). M.P. Gloucestershire 1783–1810 and surveyor-gen, of Ordnance 1789–95

¹⁰³ Charles Lennox (1764–1819) later 4th Duke of Richmond; M.P. Sussex 1790–1806 and sec. to master-gen, of Ordnance 1784–1795. C.'s initial distaste may have been due to Lennox having fought at least two duels, one with the Duke of York, see Thorne, iv, 414Google Scholar

¹⁰⁴ Probably John Dawkins (1773–1844); matric. Christ Church, 4 Feb. 1791

¹⁰⁵ Hon. Richard Bruce Stopford (1774–1844), 4th s. of James, 2nd Earl of Courtown; Eton 1783–91; matric. Christ Church, 30 Apr. 1792

¹⁰⁶ ‘I was … and steadiness’, printed in NER, 456–57Google Scholar

¹⁰⁷ Hon. George Villiers (1759–1827) 3rd s. of Thomas Villiers, 1st Earl of Clarendon. M.P. Warwick 1792–1802; paymaster of marines 1792–1810 and a Household official

¹⁰⁸ He was treasurer of the Household

¹⁰⁹ Lord Courtown was correct. Dr. Henry R. Courtney became bishop of Bristol in 1794. Lord Loughborough, subsequently the 1st Earl of Rosslyn, was Lord Chancellor 1793–1801

¹¹⁰ In a leader in the Morning Chronicle of 20 Jan. 1794 under the title ‘Theatre de la Nation’, it was pointed out that ‘The Manager’ (Pitt) had taken on several new performers for the new season (session) and that ‘great expectations indeed are entertained of a young performer, who has as yet never appeared upon any stage. What salary has been promised him has not yet transpired, but it is certain that the utmost industry was employed by THE MANAGER to secure him to his Company. It was said indeed, that he was bound apprentice to another Manager, that the lad had been prevailed upon to run away from his articles, and that the business was not unlikely to come to be the subject of a law-suit. This turns out however to be not true; he was we are assured, under no obligation to the gentleman who brought him up, but that of gratitude; and as strictness of morals is no more looked for in this Theatre than any other, if he acquits himself ably as an Actor, it is all the public have any right, or reason to expect from him.’ The allusions to the stage and to Sheridan were very pointed given C.'s sensitivities on those points.

¹¹¹ Portland was leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords and on 20 Jan. had called a meeting at Burlington House of those members of his party who wished, like him, to support the government's war policy. This divided the Opposition, Portland and his followers coalescing with the Government in July 1794. C. had first been introduced to Portland by the Duchess, a close friend of Mrs Crewe. In March 1793 he declined to be returned to Parliament by Portland on the grounds that the Opposition party contained parliamentary reformers, see Marshall, 43–44Google Scholar; Thorne, iii, 380Google Scholar

¹¹² Edmund Burke (1729–97)

¹¹³ John Sneyd (1760–1835), 5th s. of Ralph Sneyd of Keele Hall, Staffs.; rector of Elford, Staffs, 1792–d. Sneyd left Eton as C. arrived; and then went to Cambridge. They therefore became friends through a medium other than school or university — possibly that of Mrs Crewe

¹¹⁴ Hon. Edward Legge (c. 1767–1827), 4th s. of 2nd Earl of Dartmouth; matric. Christ Church, 14 June 1784; B.A. 1788; fellow of All Souls, 1789; bishop of Oxford 1815–d.

¹¹⁵ ‘I dedicated … Mrs Crewe's’ (p. 52), printed in NER, 457Google Scholar

¹¹⁶ A recent convert to the cause of Pitt and cr. Baron Lavington in 1795, see Thorne, iv, 737–38Google Scholar

¹¹⁷ Philip Metcalfe (1733–1818). M.P. Plympton Erle 1790–96

¹¹⁸ Edward Gibbon, the historian, who d. 16 Jan. 1794

¹¹⁹ William Adam (1751–1839), M.P. Ross-shire 1790–94 and the leading manager of the Opposition in the Commons

¹²⁰ Thomas Fyshe Palmer (1747–1802) and Thomas Muir (1765–98) were convicted by Scottish courts of sedition in 1793. On 4 Feb. 1794 William Adam q.v. introduced a motion, one of whose objects was to enable those convicted in Scotland to appeal to the House of Lords. The motion was defeated 126 v 31, see Thorne, iii, 30.Google Scholar

¹²¹ William Maxwell (1768–1833) of Carriden, Linlithgow; C.'s contemporary at Christ Church

¹²² ‘Bobus … power’, printed in NER, 457Google Scholar

¹²³ Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand Périgord

¹²⁴ Edward Miller Mundy (1750–1822). M.P. Derbyshire 1784–1822

¹²⁵ Lady Bristol's da. in law and da. respectively

¹²⁶ ‘I really tremble … could have been’ (p. 60), printed in Marshall, 52–60Google Scholar

¹²⁷ Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand Périgord

¹²⁸ Hon. Rev. Augustus George Legge (1773–1828), 5th s. of 2nd Earl of Dartmouth. C.'s contemporary at Christ Church

¹²⁹ Dudley Ryder had served as under-sec, of state for Foreign affairs, 1789–90

¹³⁰ Pitt's memory was sound, his father having negotiated a subsidy to Prussia of this sum in the second Convention of Westminster, signed on 11 April 1 758. C.'s choice of this treaty was judicious on two grounds: first, because Pitt's father had been its architect; and second, because Pitt himself was in pursuit of another Anglo-Prussian subsidy treaty despite the misgivings of his Foreign Secretary, Lord Grenville, see Jupp, P., Lord Grenville 1759–1834, (Oxford, 1985), 163–173Google Scholar

¹³¹ Thomas Powys (1743–1800). M.P. Northamptonshire 1774–1797 and an independent country gentleman

¹³² References to the radical London Corresponding Society and the British Convention of radicals held in Edinburgh in November 1793

¹³³ C. is reported to have said that if the ‘madness’ of the French republicans had been limited to ‘dressing up strumpets in oak-leaves, and inventing nick-names for the kalendar’ he would not have thought it worth while going to war with them, Parl. Hist., xxx, col. 1325

¹³⁴ Thomas Stanley (1749–1816). M.P. Lancashire 1780–1812 and a recent convert to the government's war policy.

¹³⁵ ‘Adderley … of all’ (p. 61), printed in Marshall, 60Google Scholar

¹³⁶ The future 1st Mq. of Ormonde, C.'s contemporary at Eton

¹³⁷ The future 6th Earl of Carlisle. C.'s contemporary at Christ Church but not ret. to Plt. until the following year

¹³⁸ John Hatsell (1743–1820); clerk of the House of Commons 1768–97

¹³⁹ The two sons of Richard and Mary Wilbraham Bootle of Latham House, Lanes were Edward Wilbraham-Bootle, (afterwards Bootle Wilbraham), 1st Baron Skelmersdale; and Randle Wilbraham-Bootle (1773–1861)

¹⁴⁰ The version of the speech in J. Debrett's Parl. Reg., 2nd series, vol.37, P.216 et. seq., conforms very closely with C.'s own and this suggests that he had committed a fair proportion to memory in advance. Later, he wrote of Debrett's version as ‘tolerably correct’, Canning MSS (12), to Rev. William Leigh, 16 May 1794. The Parl. Hist. version, vol. xxx, cols. 1317–29, is almost identical to that in Parl. Reg., except that certain words and phrases ae underlined in the latter, presumably at C.'s request. Digests of the speech are printed in Woodfall, vol. i, 204–206Google Scholar and in The Senator, 1st series, vol. 8, pp. 148–152. The first referred to it as ‘a very masterly maiden speech’; the latter, that it ‘displayed much talent and information, combined with a flow of elocution, which contained considerable promise.’ C. reported that of the newspapers the True Briton, Sun and Morning Herald gave the best accounts but the Morning Chronicle ‘treats me ill on purpose’, Canning MSS (12), Canning to Rev. William Leigh, Monday, 3 Feb. 1794. A selection of contemporary reactions can be found in Marshall, 61–62Google Scholar

¹⁴¹ John Wilkes (1727–97)

¹⁴² Monsignor Charles Erskine (1739–1811), later (1801), Cardinal. He was sent by the Pope to establish closer relations with Britain in view of the French threat to Italy

¹⁴³ Hon. Thomas Erskine (1750–1823), 1st Baron Erskine, the brilliant whig lawyer who defended successfully Hardy, Horne Tooke and Thelwall in the treason trials of 1794

¹⁴⁴ The Rochdale Canal Bill was a private bill to construct a canal from Sowerby Bridge Wharf in Yorkshire to connect with the Calder and Hebble Canal and so enable goods to be transported from Hull to Liverpool and from there, by canal, down to London. Leave was given for the bill to be introduced on 28 Jan. 1794 and despite some objections by mill owners on the rivers Roach, Irwell and Irk, was passed on 4 April, see The Commons' Journal, vol. 20Google Scholar, 63, 65, 126, 145, 153, 156, 162. George Travis was archdeacon of Chester

¹⁴⁵ Hon. George Villiers (1759–1827) q.v.

¹⁴⁶ William Lindsay, sec. of Legation, St Petersburg 1789–91; chargé d'Affaires, Berlin, 1791

¹⁴⁷ Hon. Thomas Pelham, 2nd Earl of Chichester; chief sec. (I) 1783–84

¹⁴⁸ William Wilberforce (1759–1833), ‘Wilberforce's motion … dined with him’ (p. 64), printed in NER, 457–58Google Scholar

¹⁴⁹ M.P.s with interests in the West Indies of whom there were between 20 and 30 in 1794

¹⁵⁰ Edward Miller Mundy who lived at Shipley Hall, Derbys., see n. 124 151 ‘He said … knows what’, printed in Marshall, 60Google Scholar

¹⁵² Henry Addington, 1st Visct. Sidmouth. Speaker of the House of Commons 1789–1801

¹⁵³ ‘Bobus … of the law’, printed in NER, 48

¹⁵⁴ George William Campbell, styled Mq. of Lorne and subsequently the 6th Duke of Argyll. M.P. St. Germans 1790–96

¹⁵⁵ Probably William Waggett (1771–1840); adm. Trinity, Dublin 25 Jan. 1788 aged 17; cld. Irish Bar 1795; subsequently recorder of Cork 1808–d.

¹⁵⁶ Warrcn Hastings (1732–1818). Gov. genl. of India 1773–85. His impeachment for corruption and cruelty in India began in 1788, and concluded with his acquittal in 1795

¹⁵⁷ ‘I dined … variance’, printed in NER, 458Google Scholar

¹⁵⁸ Henry Fox, 3rd Baron Holland, C.'s contemporary at Christ Church, and his sister, Hon. Caroline Fox

¹⁵⁹ Fox had raised the issue of alleged inadequate convoying of British fleets in the debate on naval supplies on 27 Jan and promised a motion which was put on 18 Feb. 1794

¹⁶⁰ The Rev. William Leigh had an interest in Staffordshire lime kilns and this was probably the reason behind his sponsorship of a canal bill. The identity of Mr Porson has not been established

¹⁶¹ The 2nd Baron Boringdon, subsequently 1st Earl of Morley. C.'s contemporary at Christ Church

¹⁶² Lady Webster, the future Lady Holland, recorded: ‘Reached Naples on the 26th February … A numerous band of young Englishmen from college; gambling and gallantry filled up the evenings and mornings.’ The Earl of Ilchester (ed.), The Journal of Elizabeth Lady Holland, (London, 2 vols. 1908), i, 120–21Google Scholar

¹⁶³ ‘At three … my bed’ (p. 69), printed in NER, 458Google Scholar

¹⁶⁴ John Smyth (1748–1811) of Heath Hall, nr. Wakefield, Yorks. M.P. Pontefract 1783–1807; ld. of Admiralty 1791–May 1794

¹⁶⁵ On 21 Feb. 1794 Sheridan moved for all despatches and statements of trade about Halifax to be laid before the House, Parl. Reg., 2nd series, vol. 37, 398–407Google Scholar

¹⁶⁶ Probably Dr. J. Turton (1735–1806); fellow of the R.C. of Physicians and physician extraordinary to the King

¹⁶⁷ Sheridan leased a house in Wanstead, see Walter, Sichel, Sheridan, (London, 2 vols. 1909) i. 537Google Scholar

¹⁶⁸ William Canning attended Mr Newcome's Academy in Upper Clapton, Mdx.

¹⁶⁹ Miss Costello and Mrs Costello of Connaught

¹⁷⁰ Lord Malmesbury, the most distinguished diplomat of his day, was on a special mission to conclude subsidy treaties with Prussia and the United Provinces – a mission accomplished on 19 Apr. 1794. Mrs Robinson was his sister, Catherine Gertrude, the widow of Hon. Frederick Robinson who had d. 28 Dec. 1792

¹⁷¹ Hon. Thomas Maitland (1760–1824). M.P. Haddington Burghs 1790–96 and a critic of the war

¹⁷² The Rev. Edward Maltby (1770–1859)

¹⁷³ Hon. Edward James Eliot (1758–97), see above p. 28 n. 26

¹⁷⁴ ‘I find … be over’, printed in Marshall, 62Google Scholar

¹⁷⁵ Thomas Raikes (1741–1848) of Freelands, Kent and Duntsbourne, Gloucestershire. An eminent London merchant and gov. of the Bank of England 1797–99. His sister, Mary, had m. Francis Newbury of Heathfield, Surrey, q.v. in 1770

¹⁷⁶ Probably Edward Van Hartals, a merchant of 6 Copthall St, London

¹⁷⁷ ‘In the House … construe it’, printed in NER, 458–89Google Scholar

¹⁷⁸ John Harrison (1738–1811). M.P. Gt. Grimsby 1793–96

¹⁷⁹ Where Lord Gower and Lady Sutherland had a villa

¹⁸⁰ ‘The debate … late in the morning’ (p. 81), printed in Marshall, 63–65Google Scholar

¹⁸¹ Joseph Jekyll (1754–1837). M.P. Calne 1787–1816

¹⁸² Norman Macleod (1754–1801). M.P. Inverness-shire 1790–96

¹⁸³ Brig. gen. and It.-gov. Toulon

¹⁸⁴ Sir James Murray, 7th Bt. M.P. Melcombe Regis 1790–1811. He had been adj.-gen. to the Duke of York in the Flanders campaign

¹⁸⁵ A reference to the Declaration published by Lord Hood and others at Toulon, 20 Nov. 1793, which set out British war aims.

¹⁸⁶ Similar versions of this speech can be found in Parl. Hist., vol. xxxi, cols. 254–55; Parl. Reg., 2nd series, vol. 38, 120–22Google Scholar; Woodfall, vol. 2, 197–99Google Scholar; and The Senator, 1st series, vol. 9, 969–71. The version in Parl. Reg. has C. quoting from Henry IV, pt. 1, and concluding ‘with an animated description of the cruelty, barbarity, and atheism of the French’

¹⁸⁷ John Courtenay (1738–1816). M.P. Tamworth 1780–1796

¹⁸⁸ Samuel Whitbread (1764–1815). M.P. Bedford 1790–1815

¹⁸⁹ Courtenay is reported to have said of C.'s speech: ‘… he had endeavoured to catch the spirit of it, but as soon as it was poured out, it evaporated. He strove then to condense the thin floating vapours, and make them palatable, but all his endeavours were in vain.’ Parl. Hist., xxxi, col. 255

¹⁹⁰ Philip Francis (1740–1818). M.P. Bletchingly 1790–96. Francis upbraided C. for his ‘unprovoked and uncalled for’ attack, especially when it came from ‘younger minds, fresh from the study of the classes and supposed to be animated by the recent impression of virtuous examples’, Parl. Reg., 2nd series vol. 38, 124–25Google Scholar

¹⁹¹ The second intervention by C. can be found in Parl. Reg., 2nd series, vol. 38, 125Google Scholar

¹⁹² Subsequently the 4th Duke of Portland. M.P. Buckinghamshire 1791–1809. He had followed his father in supporting the govt.'s war policy

¹⁹³ Sir John Scott, 1st Earl of Eldon

¹⁹⁴ Sir John Mitford, 1st Baron Redesdale

¹⁹⁵ Robert Dundas (1758–1819). M.P. Edinburghshire 1790–1801. Ld. advocate 1789–1801

¹⁹⁶ Subsequently 1st Baron Stowell. King's advocate 1788–98 197 Robert Dundas, 2nd Visct. Melville and probably William Dundas (1762–1845)

¹⁹⁸ John Crauford (?1742–1814). A former M.P. and a crony of C.J. Fox

¹⁹⁹ William Elliot (1766–1818). M.P. 1801–1818

²⁰⁰ John Smyth (1748–1811), see above p. 69, n. 164

²⁰¹ Matthew Montagu, 4th Baron Rokeby. Heir to the estates in Yorks, and Northumb. of his aunt, Mrs. Elizabeth Montagu (1720–1800), whose fame arose from her having made her house in Portman Sq. for more than thirty years ‘the central point of union, for all those persons who already were known, or who emulated to become known, by their talents and productions.’, SirWraxall, N.W., Historical Memoirs of My Own Time, (London, 1904), 84Google Scholar

²⁰² ‘This was… exceedingly animating’ (p. 84), printed in Marshall, 66–67Google Scholar

²⁰³ To enable subjects of France to enlist as soldiers in the British Army

²⁰⁴ Parl. Reg., 2nd series, vol. 38, 171Google Scholar. He defended the duration of the Bill, arguing that the Mutiny Bill was not annual for troops serving in India, nor for the Volunteer Corps embodied for internal defence

²⁰⁵ ‘Fox had given … their sentiments’ (p. 86), printed in Marshall, 67–70Google Scholar

²⁰⁶ John Barker Church (1748–1818). M.P. Wendover 1790–96

²⁰⁷ The bill was then read a third time and passed

²⁰⁸ Jane Nash Linley (d.1806), 4th da. of Thomas Linley, a noted singer, and sister in law of R.B. Sheridan. She was also a singer

²⁰⁹ Hon. Richard Fitzpatrick (1748–1813). M.P. Tavistock 1774–1807 and a Foxite whig

²¹⁰ Sir Uvedaie Price 1st Bt., (cr. 1828), who m. 28 Apr. 1774, Lady Caroline Carpenter, da. of 1st Earl of Tyrconnel. Price was a noted gardener, his Essay on the Picturesque being published in 1794

²¹¹ C. Informed John Sneyd on 31 Aug. 1794 that Fitzpatrick's and Mrs. Price's epigram went as follows:

‘Men's turning their coats such a practice is grown

That with satire 'tis vain to attack it

But sure till this time no example was shown

Of a Child ever turning his jacket'

see, Bagot, i, 48

²¹² Probably Robert Steele (1757–1817) of Westhampnett, nr. Chichester, Sussex. Recorder of Chichester 1787–d

²¹³ Lord Gower's villa in Wimbledon

²¹⁴ Charles-Alexandre de Galonne (1734–1802). Controller General of Finance in France 1783–87

²¹⁵ Dundas had a villa at Wimbledon at which he dispensed generous hospitality. Pitt had a room reserved for him there, see Matheson, C., Life of Henry Dundas, (London, 1933) 120–21Google Scholar

²¹⁶ Sir Henry George Grey (1766–1845), 2nd s. of Charles, 1st Earl Grey who was responsible, with Admiral Sir John Jervis, for the capture of Martinique

²¹⁷ ‘The dinner … witnesses of them’, printed in NER, 459Google Scholar

²¹⁸ Edward Vernon (subsequently Harcourt, 1757–1847). Bishop of Carlisle 1791–1807; archbishop of York 1807–d

²¹⁹ Dryden's Miscellany Poems was pub. 1692. His Fables Ancient and Modern was pub. 1700. The bookseller was probably James Edwards (1757–1816)

²²⁰ At Coombe Wood, nr. Kingston, Surrey

²²¹ He was M.P. Rye 1790–1803

²²² A subsidy of c. £1,350,000 was to be paid to the King of Prussia in return for an army of 62,400 men

²²³ John Christian Curwen (1756–1828). M.P. Carlisle 1791–1812

²²⁴ Michael Angelo Taylor (?1757–1834). M.P. Poole 1791–96

²²⁵ Fox's motion against the Treaty was defeated 134 v.33

²²⁶ Probably William Augustus Fawkener (d.1811), clerk of the Privy Council and one of the secs. of the Board of Trade. A s. of Sir Everard Fawkener.

²²⁷ On 29 April General Pichegru defeated the Austrian and Hanoverian forces of General Clairfait which were occupying the post of Moucron, near Courtrai

²²⁸ ‘I went with … in London’ (p. 95), printed in NER, 528Google Scholar

²²⁹ Probably Joseph Richardson (1755–1803), a staunch Foxite whig and R. B. Sheridan's closest friend after the death of Richard Tickell in 1793, see Thorne, v. 14–15Google Scholar

²³⁰ Heneage Legge (1747–1827), a cousin of the and Earl of Dartmouth, lived at 35 Grosvenor Sq. with his wife, Elizabeth. The other ‘H. Legge’ that C. mentions later in the text is Hon. Henry Legge (1765–44), 2nd s. of the and Earl of Dartmouth

²³¹ William Stone (1763–1818) had been arrested and charged with high treason on grounds of being an agent of the French Republic. R.B. Sheridan, Lord Lauderdale, Hon. T. Maitland q.v., Benjamin Vaughan (1751–1835), M.P. Calne 1792–96, and William Smith (1756–1835), M.P. Camelford 1791–96, were examined at the Sec. of State's Office on conversations they had had with Stone on the prospects of a French invasion. Stone was tried and acquitted in 1796, see Price, C. (ed.,) The Letters of Richard Brinsley Sheridan, (Oxford, 3 vols. 1966), ii, 5–8, 10Google Scholar

²³² Sheridan's motion was to repeal the qualifications under the Test Act which prevented Roman Catholics and dissenters from being appointed to posts in the Army and Navy; it was presented on 26 May 1794. A similar proposal made by Lord Grenville's government in March 1807 led to its downfall

²³³ ‘You may … exactly tallied’ (p. 100), printed in Marshall, 71–74Google Scholar

²³⁴ William Garthshore (1764–1806). Christ Church, Oxf. 1782–86. M.P. 1795–1806

²³⁵ Chiefly the Society for Constitutional Information and the London Corresponding Society

²³⁶ ‘I went… balloting’ printed in NER, 528Google Scholar

²³⁷ This was established to investigate seditious practices. Its report was first debated in the Commons on 16 May

²³⁸ Popplewell and Styan are recorded as tea-brokers of 5 Scot's Yard, Birch Lane, London

²³⁹ William Hunn who was one of his mother's children by Richard Hunn

²⁴⁰ ‘I dined — lived well’ (p. 102), printed in NER, 528–29Google Scholar

²⁴¹ Isaac Hawkins Browne (1745–1818). M.P. Bridgnorth 1784–1812

²⁴² William Jackson (1751–1815). Professor of Greek at Oxford, 1783 and subequently bishop of Oxford 1812–d.

²⁴³ Hon. Shute Barrington (1734–1826). Bishop of Durham 1791–d.

²⁴⁴ On the Habeas Corpus Suspension Bill which passed with substantial majorities

²⁴⁵ When … before experienced’ (p. 103), printed in NER, 529–30Google Scholar

²⁴⁶ These interventions and a subsequent speech in the debate are recorded in Parl. Hist., xxxi, cols. 526, 535–37. Virtually identical reports are to be found in Parl. Reg., Woodfall, and The Senator

²⁴⁷ Courtenay began by complimenting ‘Mr Canning on the brilliant display of abilities he had again exhibited, and congratulated the chancellor of the Exchequer on having procured such an able and honourable apologist.’, Parl. Hist., xxxi, col. 537

²⁴⁸ William Huskisson (1770–1830)

²⁴⁹ The Clives have not been identified. The most obvious candidate is the Hon. Robert Clive (1769–1833), 2nd surv. s. of the 1st Baron Clive and an exact contemporary of C.'s at Eton and Christ Church. However C. later refers to Mrs. Clive (p. 255) and the Hon. Robert did not marry

²⁵⁰ ‘I had … of porter’ (p. 106), printed in NER, 530Google Scholar

²⁵¹ A comedy by James Shirley acted in 1633 and printed in 1637

²⁵² One of the charges against Hastings was that he had awarded contracts for the management of the East India Company's opium monopoly without due regard to the Company's best interests, see Marshall, P.J., The Impeachment of Warren Hastings, (Oxford, 1965), 168–71Google Scholar

²⁵³ Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769–1830), kt., 1815. Apptd. principal portrait-painter in ordinary to George 111, 1792

²⁵⁴ Miss Anne Foldsone (c. 1770/75–1851). A pupil of Romney and patronised by the Prince of Wales, 1790–91

²⁵⁵ Henry Edridge (1769–1821)

²⁵⁶ Archibald Hamilton (1770–1827); styled Lord Archibald Hamilton from 1799 when his father succ. as 9th Duke of Hamilton

²⁵⁷ Lord Howe's sister Caroline (c. 1722–1814) who m. John Howe of Hanslop, Bucks. For the solution to the puzzle see p. 117

²⁵⁸ Sir Henry Charles Englefield 7th Bt. An antiquary and scientific writer. FRS 1778; FSA 1779

²⁵⁹ Charles Moss (1763–1811). Bishop of Oxford 1807–11

²⁶⁰ Karl Anton Hickel (1745–98)

²⁶¹ The famous picture is called ‘The House of Commons in 1793’

²⁶² It was approximately at this time that Windham and the Duke of Portland agreed that their two sets of supporters should coalesce with Pitt's government. See Thorne, v, 615Google Scholar

²⁶³ Rev. Dr. Thomas King (d. 1801). Prebendary of Canterbury; chancellor of Lincoln and rector of Bladon in Woodstock. A bro. of John King q.v.

²⁶⁴ Hon. Thomas Erskine q.v., see above p. 62, n. 143

²⁶⁵ North was an enthusiastic philhellene and was received into the Orthodox church in Corfu in 1791. His ambition was to be ambassador at Constantinople, see Thorne, iv, 676Google Scholar

²⁶⁶ ‘I dined … the fine’, printed in NER, 530Google Scholar

²⁶⁷ John Willoughby Cole, styled Viscount Cole 1768–1803, when he succ. as 2nd Earl of Enniskillen

²⁶⁸ ‘I dined … consideration, (p. 121), printed in NER, 530–31Google Scholar

²⁶⁹ The naval victory known as ‘the glorious first of June’ which took place near Ushant, an island off the coast of Finisterre

²⁷⁰ The Hon. Edward Bouverie (1738–1810), s. of 1st Vsct. Folkestone and M.P. Northampton 1790–1810, and the Bouverie brothers, Hon. Edward and Hon. William Henry, sons of the 1st Earl of Radnor, the last being M.P. for Salisbury 1776–1802, were all Foxite whigs and hostile to the war

²⁷¹ John Smith (1767–1827). A contemporary of C. at Eton and a joint-author of the Microcosm, He was known as ‘Easley’ because this is the way he pronounced ‘aisle’ on first encountering the word, see Thorne, v, 194Google Scholar. His mother was Mary, sis, of Sir Nash Grose (1740–1814), judge of King's Bench 1787–1813

²⁷² William Lindsay q.v.

²⁷³ Sir William Gordon cr. KB. 3 Feb. 1775 for diplomatic services. M.P. Portsmouth 1777–83

²⁷⁴ George Murray, styled Vsct. Fincastle 1762–1809 when he succ. as 5th Earl of Dunmore

²⁷⁵ M.P.s with interests in, or special connections with, British India of whom there were about 60 in any Parliament at this time, see Thorne, i, 325Google Scholar

²⁷⁶ The managers of the impeachment of Warren Hastings

²⁷⁷ The Vote of Thanks to Lord Hood was ‘much debated’ because Bastia but not Corsica had been captured. The Opposition alleged that ministers were attempting to obscure a failed expedition, see Parl. Hist., xxxi, cols. 954–7

²⁷⁸ John Smyth q.v.

²⁷⁹ John Gay (1685–1732). The first series of his ‘Fables’ was pub. in 1727; the second in 1738

²⁸⁰ Where the King was to reward the Admirals of Lord Howe's fleet with gold chains arid launch a 98-gun ship. He ordered for Sunday 29 June in the Chapel of Portsmouth Dock ‘that a proper Sermon may be preached on the late victory, wherein may with great propriety be made some remark on a nation attached to religion, good government and obedience to law, in opposition to those hurried on by anarchy, irreligion and every horrid excess.’, see Aspinall, A., The Later Correspondence of George III (Cambridge, 5 vols., 1962–1970), ii, 1089.Google Scholar

²⁸¹ Richard Burke (1758–94)

²⁸² Philip Metcalfe q.v.

²⁸³ Mrs. Radcliffe's novel had just been published

²⁸⁴ Phincas Pett (c. 1758–1830). Rector of Wentnor, Salop, 1794 and Chilbottom, Hants 1795–1830. Archdeacon of Oxford 1797–d.

²⁸⁵ William Carey (c. 1770–1846). B.A. Oxf. 1793; MA. 1796; B.D. 1804; bishop of Exeter 1820–30; of St. Asaph 1830–d.

²⁸⁶ William Henry Barnard. Matric. Pembroke, Camb. 22 June 1790 aged 23; BCL, 1797. He was the s. of the Rev. Dr Henry Barnard by Mary Canning, da. of Stratford and Letitia Canning. He was therefore C.'s cousin

²⁸⁷ Dr. Samuel Parr (1747–1825). Former Headmaster of Colchester and Norwich Grammar Schools and private tutor at his residence at Hatton in Warwickshire from 1785. Since 1787 he had become known as a political writer in the Foxite whig cause

²⁸⁸ John Bartlam (d. 1823). He won the Chancellor's Prize for an English Essay and became Fellow and Bursar of Merton. He subsequently became Parr's closest friend. See Derry, W., Dr. Parr, (Oxford, 1966), 63–4, 348Google Scholar

²⁸⁹ The pamphlet, History of Invasions, has not been traced

²⁹⁰ Charles Knight was a Windsor bookseller and the publisher of the Microcosm. He was the father of the more famous publisher (1791–1873) of the same name

²⁹¹ He had been treasurer of the Household 1784–93

²⁹² ‘I dined … hours after’, printed in NER, 531Google Scholar

²⁹³ George, the 5th Earl Waldegrave was drowned in the Thames shortly before his roth birthday

²⁹⁴ Hon. Charles William Stewart, the 3rd Mq. of Londonderry. His more famous brother, Viscount Castlereagh, had also made a brave attempt to save a boy from drowning in Strangford Lough in 1787— in his case successfully, see Hyde, M., The Rise of Castlereagh (London, 1933), 42Google Scholar

²⁹⁵ Mrs. Hannington who d. 27 Dec. 1807 aged 88

²⁹⁶ Probably the son of Joseph Pote (1703–87) who was a well known bookseller and publisher in Eton and kept a boarding house for collegers

²⁹⁷ ‘Pitt … been done’ (p. 138), printed in Marshall, 74–5Google Scholar

²⁹⁸ A reference to C.'s having declined to be returned to Parliament by the Duke, see above p. 51, n. 111

²⁹⁹ Probably Matthew Marsh (1770–1840). Matric. Christ Church, 28 Jan. 1788, aged 18; B.A. 1791; M.A. 1794; canon of Salisbury 1825–d.

³⁰⁰ George James Cholmondeley (1752–1830), a nephew of the 1st Mq. of Cholmondeley

³⁰¹ As Lord Privy Seal

³⁰² He was re-elected for Norwich 1236 v. 700 following his appt. to office as sec. at war. His main opponents were the Norwich radicals, see Thorne v, 615Google Scholar

³⁰³ The Duke of Portland's seat in Bucks.

³⁰⁴ Maestricht fell to the French forces under General Kleber on 4 November; a combined British, Dutch and Austrian force retreated from Nimeguen on 6–7 November

³⁰⁵ Elborough Woodcock, s. of Elborough Woodcock q.v., and sec. of Bankrupts and register of Affadavits in 1795

³⁰⁶ To the Rev. Henry Forster Mills

³⁰⁷ The Rev. John Parkinson (1754–1840). Fellow of Magdalen Coll. Oxf. 1775–98

³⁰⁸ Sir Charles Edmonstone 2nd Bt. (1764–1821)

³⁰⁹ Sir Giles Rooke (1743–1808). Judge in the Court of Common Pleas

³¹⁰ Clayton Cracherode (matric. Christ Church, 6 June 1746, aged 16) 311 Probably Charles Abbot, 1st Baron Colchester, who had just been apptd. clerk of the Rules in the King's Bench

³¹² Probably Hugh Leycester (1748–1836), counsel to Camb. Univ. until 1814; king's attorney, Chester circuit 1785–1801

³¹³ Henry Hinchcliffe (c. 1768–1848), e.s. of John Hinchcliffe, bishop of Peterborough and Master of Trinity Coll. Camb. by Elizabeth, da. of John Crewe of Crewe Hall. Fellow, Trinity Coll. Camb. 1789

³¹⁴ William Addington, JP in Bow St. Office

³¹⁵ John Horne Tooke (1736–1812), the radical politician who was tried for high treason but acquitted on 22 November 1794

³¹⁶ ‘Wednesday morning … own hearing’ (p. 148), printed in NER, 531Google Scholar

³¹⁷ Sir James Eyre, chief-justice of Common Pleas; eounsel for John Wilkes in Wilkes v. Wood in 1763

³¹⁸ ‘I did not … worth attending’ (p. 149), printed in NER, 531–2Google Scholar

³¹⁹ Sir Morton Eden, 1st Baron Henley; envoy extraordinary to Vienna 1794–9. His sister, Catherine, had m. the archbishop of Canterbury in 1770

³²⁰ John Jay (1745–1829). Chief Justice, U.S.A. 1787–95 and responsible for negotiating the commercial treaty with Britain, 1794, to which his name is attached

³²¹ Possibly Robert or Thomas Jameson (sic), merchants and Irish factors of 22 Ironmongers Lane, London

³²² Baron Henry Fagel (1765–1838), Dutch Minister in Britain

³²³ Chief Baron of the Exchequer, Archibald MacDonald q.v., Lady Stafford's son in law

³²⁴ William Hunn who d. Dec. 1794 see n. 239 and p. 000

³²⁵ In a letter to his mother, 28 Oct. 1795, C. said they were normally to be found at 8 Ossulston St., Canning MSS (2)

³²⁶ John Campbell, subsequently 1st Baron Cawdor, who had m. 1789 Lady Isabella Caroline Howard, da. of 5th Earl of Carlisle. M.P. Cardigan Borough 1780–96

³²⁷ Charles Francis Greville (1749–1809), 2nd s. of 1st Earl of Warwick

³²⁸ James Grant (1720–1806). M.P. Sutherland 1787–1802

³²⁹ The Chalk Farm meeting took place on 14 Apr. 1794

³³⁰ Thomas Hardy (1752–1832). Founder of the London Corresponding Society

³³¹ In April 1794 Sir Charles Grey and Sir John Jervis had captured Martinique, St Lucia, Guadaloupe, and other enemy islands in the West Indies

³³² Where his uncle, Stratford Canning, had lived

³³³ Stratford Canning had d. May 1787

³³⁴ He was already gov. of Stirling Castle, a less demanding one than the joke appointment suggested here

³³⁵ Possibly David Lewis who matric. Christ Church, 23 Oct. 1788, aged 19. He was subsequently rector of Mannington, Hereford

³³⁶ Master of the Horse Dec. 1790–Mar. 1795; commr. Board of Control May 1791–Oct. 1803

³³⁷ Charles Long, 1st Baron Farnborough. M.P. Rye 1789–96; sec. to Treasury 1791–1801

³³⁸ Richard Hopkins (c. 1728–99). M.P. Queenborough 1790–6; lord of the Treasury 1791–7

³³⁹ William Grant (1752–1832). M.P. New Windsor 1794–6; solicitor-general to the Queen 1794–8

³⁴⁰ William Morton Pitt (1754–1836). M.P. Dorset 1790–1826

³⁴¹ He was cr. KB 18 Feb. 1771

³⁴² Lady Frances Lambertina Christiana Charlotte Harriet Theresa Payne was the da. of Baron Heinrich Kolbel of Saxony

³⁴³ Payne had also invited William Windham, one of the leaders of the pro-war whigs, to dinner on 15 Aug. 1793 without telling him that Pitt was to be there, his object being to hasten the junction that eventually took place in July 1794, see Thorne, iv, 737Google Scholar

³⁴⁴ He was cr. Baron Lavington 1 Oct. 1795

³⁴⁵ Ralph Willett who left him only £1,500, see Thorne, iv, 738Google Scholar

³⁴⁶ The Hampshire seat of the 1st Earl of Malmesbury

³⁴⁷ John Willett Payne (1752–1803), half-bro. of Sir Ralph Payne and M.P. Huntingdon 1787–96. Apptd. Cpt. 1780, he became the private secretary of the Prince of Wales in 1785 and in Dec. 1794 was put in command of the squadron escorting the future Pcss. of Wales to England, see Thorne, iv, 736Google Scholar

³⁴⁸ ‘that my … be altered’ (p. 169), printed in Marshall, 90–1Google Scholar

³⁴⁹ If all the Patricks were present there would have been 4 Miss Bs or Elizabeths, namely, Hetty's sister and her own, Robert's and Paul's daughters. The identity of the other 3 has not been established

³⁵⁰ R.B. Sheridan m. Hester Jane Ogle, a da. of the Dean of Winchester on 27 April 1795

³⁵¹ ‘and talked … importance’, printed in Marshall, 76–7Google Scholar

³⁵² On the Address of Thanks for the King's Speech

³⁵³ ‘I called … innocence’ (p. 174), printed in Marshall, 77–8Google Scholar

³⁵⁴ The Cockpit was a room in the Treasury where supporters of the administration heard the King's Speech and the Address

³⁵⁵ ‘Tuesday morning. … Lords and Commons’, (p. 176) printed in Marshall, 78–80Google Scholar

³⁵⁶ Shcridan objected to the first reading of the Clandestine Outlawries Bill which customarily preceded the debate on the King's Speech and he, and subsequently Fox, introduced the topics of the suspension of Habeas Corpus, the treason trials and the junction between ministers and the Portland whigs, see Parl. Hist., xxxi, cols. 994–1005

³⁵⁷ The Address was devoid of any stirring reflections or prognostications and, against the background of the reverses in Flanders and the expected capitulation of the United Provinces, exhorted the country to continue the war and, by implication, not to consider a peace settlement, see Parl. Hist., xxxi, cols. 1006–8

³⁵⁸ C.'s speech was directed against those who felt that the downfall of the Jacobins in France (the Jacobin Club closed on 12 Nov. 1794), opened the way for peace negotiations. His main points were: (a) there was no guaranty that the Jacobins's successors could provide a more stable form of government; (b) there could therefore be no secure peace; and (c) that the French deserved a more stable form of government than either the Jacobins or their supposedly more moderate successors could provide, see Parl. Hist., xxxi, cols. 1009–16

³⁵⁹ C. had criticised Fox and the Opposition for predicting the defection of Britain's allies, Prussia and the United Provinces, see Parl. Hist., xxxi, col. 1010 and for Fox's response, col. 1055

³⁶⁰ The version of C. ‘speech in Debrett's Parl. Reg., 2nd series, vol. 40, pp. 20–7 differs from that in Parl. Hist., above, in the opening statements. In the former, while the underlying argument is the same, he is harder on the failures of the allies and the extremism of the Jacobins. It therefore seems likely that he did ‘doctor’ the opening passages for Debrett but left the rest substantially the same cither because he found it satisfactory or because he ran out of time. The versions in Woodfall, vol. 5, 78–82Google Scholar and The Senator, vol. 11, 61–5Google Scholar are digests of the longer versions in the above two sources

³⁶¹ Sir Charles Hamilton 2nd Bt. In 1794 he was a Cpt.

³⁶² Probably Sir Charles Morice Pole 1st Bt. In 1794 he was a Cpt., and groom of Bedchamber to the Duke of Clarence.

³⁶³ ‘I felt … had done (p. 178)’, printed in Marshall, 80–1Google Scholar

³⁶⁴ The White Rod was carried on ceremonial occasions by certain officials such as the Lord Steward of the Household and the Lord Chamberlain. The Gold Stick was reserved for the office of Captain of the Yeoman of the Guard which was occupied in 1795 by the Earl of Aylesford

³⁶⁵ Sir Watkin Williams Wynn 5th Bt. M.P. Beaumaris 20 Oct. 1794–96

³⁶⁶ James Adair (?1743–98). M.P. Higham Ferrers 1793–8 and sejt.-at-law 28 Apr. 1774. He spoke in defence of the suspension of Habeas Corpus

³⁶⁷ The second reading of the Bill to continue the suspension of Habeas Corpus was debated on 23 Jan. and passed by the substantial majority of 239 v. 53

³⁶⁸ John Cotes (?1750–1821) of Woodcote, Salop, M.P. Wigan 1782–1802, was the Lord Chancellor's brother in law. As he had been adm. Middle Temple in 1770 it is possible that it was he who went into partnership with the Woodcocks’ firm of solicitors. However, as he was a substantial country gentleman, C. may have been referring to a brother, Washington Cotes, recorded as a K.C. of 10 Lincoln's Inn, Old Sq., and who was the Lord Chancellor's principal sec. in 1795

³⁶⁹ Sir Lucas Pepys 1st Bt. Physician-in-ordinary to George III, 1792 and physiciangeneral of the army, 1794

³⁷⁰ Lord Granville Leveson Gower was returned for the family borough of Lichfield on 14 Jan. 1795

³⁷¹ Sir John Pitt, the 2nd Earl of Chatham, the prime minister's elder brother, was first Lord of the Admiralty 1788–94. The Opposition claimed in this debate that he had been ineffective in this role, particularly in respect of providing protection for merchant shipping, see Annual Register, 1795, 31–3Google Scholar

³⁷² John Thomas Ellis q.v., for whose m. see p. 38, n. 61

³⁷³ ‘In my … and cordiality’ (p. 188), printed in Marshall, 91–6Google Scholar

³⁷⁴ Jean Lambert Tallien (1767–1820). A member of the Committee of General Security, 1792, who subsequently figured prominently in the Thermidorian reaction and became a leading critic of the Jacobins

³⁷⁵ Lady Anne Lindsay, e. da. of the 5th Earl of Balcarres m. 31 Oct. 1793 Andrew Barnard. She was a close friend of Dundas who, in 1797, appointed her husband sec. to Lord Macartney, the first Governor of the Cape of Good Hope. The author of the ballad Auld Robin Gray’, she and her sister [see n. 376] made their house in Berkeley Square one of the social centres for the foremost political and literary figures of the day, see Wilkins, W.H. (ed.), South Africa A Century Ago: Letters … By The Lady Anne Barnard (London, 1901), 3–36Google Scholar

³⁷⁶ Lady Margaret Lindsay, 2nd da. of the 5th Earl of Balcarres m. 20 June 1770, Alexander Fordyce of Roehampton

³⁷⁷ He was returned for Fowey on 14 Feb. 1795 on the recommendation of the Treasury and granted a pension of £600 for his life plus £600 in survivorship for himself and his son on 21 Mar., see Thorne, iii, 611Google Scholar

³⁷⁸ Queen Charlotte's birthday was traditionally celebrated on 18 Jan.

³⁷⁹ As Dundas’ only brother, Lord Arniston had d.1787, C. must have been referring to one of his numerous kinsmen. The only one who seems to qualify is Maj. Gen. Thomas Dundas, b. 1750 and d. 3 June 1794 on active service in Guadaloupe. Dundas was possibly attending a memorial service

³⁸⁰ Either Edward Miller Mundy (d.1834), e. s. of Edward Miller Mundy q.v. or possibly their kinsman, Francis Mundy (1771–1837) of Markheaton Hall, Derbyshire which was near Marston in that county

³⁸¹ The motion - that the politics of the existing govt. of France should not preclude a peace negociation - was held over to 26 Jan.

³⁸² He was to vacate his seat for Saltash in Feb. 1795 following a vote against gvt. on the Address, 30 Dec. 1794, see Thorne, v, 272Google Scholar

³⁸³ A petition from the freemen of Carlisle against the war, 22 Jan. 1795 see The Commons’ Journal, vol. 50, 87Google Scholar

³⁸⁴ For continuing the suspension of Habeas Corpus

³⁸⁵ Sir John Anstruther 4th Bt. M.P. Cockermouth 1790–6; solicitor-gen, to the Prince of Wales 1793–5; counsel to Board of Control 1794–7

³⁸⁶ Probably Hon. Edward James Eliot q.v.

³⁸⁷ Henry Thornton (1760–1815). M.P. Southwark 1782–1815. Thornton was Wilberforce's cousin and acolyte.

³⁸⁸ Wilberforce's amendment took a middle line between Grey's and Pitt's and supported a peace negociation consistent with ‘the safety, honour, and interests of Great Britain’, Parl. Hist., xxxi, col. 1231

³⁸⁹ 269 to 86 according to Parl. Hist., xxxi, col. 1246

³⁹⁰ Thomas Orde, subsequently ist Baron Bolton. M.P. Harwich 1784–96; chief sec. [I] 1784–7; member of the Board of Trade 1786–1807

³⁹¹ Probably Hon. Caroline Fox, e. surv. da. of the 2nd Baron Holland

³⁹² Of 15 to 88

³⁹³ John Ley (not Lee), (d.1811), e. s. of John Ley of Trehill, Devon. Clerk Assistant of the Commons, c. 1764–1811

³⁹⁴ James Hare (1747–1804). M.P. Knaresborough 1781–1804. A staunch Foxite whig and a firm opponent of the war

³⁹⁵ Robert Grosvenor, styled Visct. Belgrave 1767–1802, and subsequently 2nd Earl Grosvenor and 1st Mq. of Westminster. M.P. Chester 1790–1802; commr. Board of Control 1793–1801

³⁹⁶ Hon. William Eliot, 2nd Earl of St. Germans. M.P. St. Germans 1791–1802. Eliot had served as sec. of embassy at the Hague 1793–94 and was sent to Yarmouth on 20 Jan. to receive the Princess and Hereditary Princess of Orange following their flight from invading French forces. The Prince Stadtholder made his way to Harwich, see Aspinall, A. (ed). The Later Correspondence of George III, (Cambridge, 5 vols. 1962–1970), ii, 294–95Google Scholar. [1194]

³⁹⁷ ‘Thursday morning … passed’, printed in NER, 532–33Google Scholar

³⁹⁸ The government proposed to guaranty a loan to the Habsburg Emperor raised on the London money market. A treaty was signed on 4 May by which Britain guaranteed an Austrian loan of £4,600,000 on condition that the Emperor maintained 170,000 troops in Germany

³⁹⁹ Thomas Grenville (1755–1846). M.P. Aldeburgh 1790–96. A brother of Lord Grenville, the Foreign Secretary, Grenville accompanied the Portland whigs in supporting ministers in 1794 and from July to October had been minister extraordinary to Vienna to assist in negociating a treaty with the Emperor. Although not mentioned by C. as having been at the previous meeting on 26 Jan. (p. 194), his presence was obviously required in view of his mission to Vienna

⁴⁰⁰ C. was referring to a letter from a Mr. Harrington pubished in The Telegraph, on 5/6 Feb., see Canning MSS, (13) Canning to Rev. William Leigh, 7 Feb. 1795. Unfortunately no copy for those dates has been found

⁴⁰¹ ‘… that the government now existing in France is competent to entertain and conclude a negotiation for peace with Great Britain.’

⁴⁰² ‘Dundas had … of it’, printed in Marshall, 82–83Google Scholar

⁴⁰³ Mr Crauford and his brother, Lt. Col. George Crauford, were probably descendants of James Crauford, 4th s. of Patrick Crauford of Auchenames, Ayrshire who m. Elizabeth Andrews of Rotterdam. They were kinsmen of John Crauford., q.v.

⁴⁰⁴ Thomas Gilbert (?1720–98). Gilbert had sat as M.P. for Lichfield 1768–Dec. 1794 on the interest of the 1st Mq. of Stafford, Lord Gower's father. Gilbert had m. Mary, a da. of Lt. Col. George Crauford who was a brother of James Crauford see n, 403

⁴⁰⁵ Elizabeth Maxwell of Preston, Kirkcudbright who must have m. (2) James Erskine (1722–96), a Lord of Session [S] which brought with it the title Lord Alva. Her da., Lady Sutherland's mother, d. 13 months after Lady Sutherland's birth

⁴⁰⁶ C.'s estate consisted of approximately 250 acres at Kilbraghan in the barony of Cranagh, co. Kilkenny, see Canning MSS (141) where two maps of it, one of 1785 and another of 1796, can be found. Mr. Bradish has not been identified

⁴⁰⁷ C.'s grandfather, Stratford Canning, (d. 1775)

⁴⁰⁸ John Campbell, 1st Baron Cawdor. M.P. Cardigan Boroughs 1780–1796

⁴⁰⁹ Probably Paul Patrick's nephew, s. of Robert who d. 1797. He was a Lt. in the Army

⁴¹⁰ The 2nd Vsct.

⁴¹¹ James Lackington (1746–1815) established a bookshop in Finsbury Square known as the ‘Temple of the Muses’, and as one of the sights of London. His cousin, George Lackington (1768–1844), entered the business in 1779 and became its head in 1798

⁴¹² C. feared being balloted on to the Commons’ committee established to investigate irregularities in elections for Seaford, one of the Cinque Ports

⁴¹³ ‘At the House … the jar’, printed in NER, 533Google Scholar

⁴¹⁴ Stratford Canning, 1st Vsct. Stratford de Redcliffe, 3rd s. of Stratford Canning, C.'s uncle

⁴¹⁵ Nathaniel Brassey Halhed (1751–1830). M.P. Lymington 1791–96. Orientalist and a friend of ‘R.B. Sheridan since their days at Harrow. In Jan. 1795 he read and was smitten by Richard Brothers's A Revealed Knowledge of the Prophecies and Times, wrote under the direction of the Lord God, (1794) in which the latter prophesied, inter alia, that the seventh chapter of the Book of Daniel was about to be fulfilled. In March 1795, Halhad moved in the Commons that his pamphlet on Brothers's prophecies together with the latters's own work be laid on the table. The motion was not seconded, see Thorne, iv, 122Google Scholar

⁴¹⁶ Richard Brothers (1757–1824), see n.415. In 1795 he was arrested on charge of treasonable practices and confined as a criminal lunatic

⁴¹⁷ John Cartwright (1740–1824). Major of milita 1775–90 and a leading radical politician

⁴¹⁸ Probably Charles George Beauclerk (1774–1845), later M.P. Richmond 1796–98. C.'s contemporary at Christ Church

⁴¹⁹ William Ralph Cartwright (1771–1847), later M.P. Northamptonshire 1797–1831. C.'s contemporary at Christ Church

⁴²⁰ Princess Catherine Dashkova, a sister of a mistress of Tsar Peter III whom she helped to overthrow in favour of Catherine II in 1762

⁴²¹ Spencer Madan (1729–1813). Bishop of Peterborough 1794–d.

⁴²² William Dundas (1762–1845). M.P. Anstruther Easter Burghs 1794–96

⁴²³ John Campbell q.v. (p. 204, n.408) had m. 28 July 1789, Lady Isabella Caroline Howard, da. of Frederick, 5th Earl of Carlisle

⁴²⁴ Sir Charles Edmonstone 2nd Bt. q.v.

⁴²⁵ 32 Geo. III, c. 55

⁴²⁶ ‘In the House … popular’ (p. 213), printed in NER, 533Google Scholar

⁴²⁷ The first Ember-day

⁴²⁸ ‘For my … the division’, printed in Marshall, 86–87Google Scholar

⁴²⁹ The 1st Earl Macartney was the first diplomatic representative sent to China, being ambassador extraordinary 1793–94. In 1795 he published under cover of the name A. Anderson A Narrative of the British Embassy to China in 1792 … 1794 and in 1797 Sir G.L. Staunton published in two volumes An Authentic Account of an embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China. Macartney was an old student friend of C.'s father (they had been at Trinity College, Dublin and at Middle Temple at the same time) and in 1787 he had tried unsuccessfully to persuade C. to become a Gentleman Commoner at Christ Church. William Leigh had also suggested Macartney would be a suitable guardian for C. See Canning MSS (12), C. to William Leigh, 5 Nov. 1787 and Marshall, 14Google Scholar

⁴³⁰ William Augustus Fawkener (d.1811) clerk of the Privy Council and one of the sees, of the Board of Trade. A s. of Sir Everard Fawkener

⁴³¹ The 3rd and last Duke, famous for his canals from Worsley to Manchester and from Manchester to Liverpool

⁴³² ‘long floating … clearly explained’ (p. 219), printed in Marshall, 97–98Google Scholar

⁴³³ The dispute had its origins in the junction between Pitt and the Portland whigs in July 1794. One of the results of the junction was that Earl Fitzwilliam, one of the Portland whigs, was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. In November 1794 he had discussions in London with Pitt and other senior members of the administration on his future policy but each party to them came away with different impressions of what had been decided. On reaching Dublin in December, Fitzwilliam proceeded to dismiss senior members of the Irish administration who were identified with Pitt and to replace them with those identified with the English whigs. In addition, he did not stand in the way of the decision of Henry Grattan, the chief Irish author of the constitutional adjustment which had taken place in 1782, to introduce a bill in the Irish Parliament enabling Catholics to take seats there. Pitt, believing that Fitzwilliam had exceeded the terms of the agreement reached in November and that the Catholic Relief Bill would alienate both a powerful section of the Irish Aristocracy and the King in almost equal measure, issued notice of his recall in a despatch of 23 February 1795. An excellent account of the ‘Fitzwilliam episode’ is to be found in Smith, E.A., Whig principles and party politics. Earl Fitzwilliam and the Whig party 1748–1833, (Manchester, 1975), 175–218Google Scholar

⁴³⁴ Sir Edward Littleton 4th Bt. M.P. Staffordshire 1784–1812

⁴³⁵ Hon. Edward Monckton (1744–1832). M.P. Stafford 1780–1812. He was known by R.B. Sheridan, his colleague for Stafford, as ‘Little Monckton’, see Thorne, iv, 612Google Scholar

⁴³⁶ William Lushington (1747–1823). M.P. London 12 Mar. 1795–1802. His majority was 2334 to 1560. He was associated with the banking house of Boldero, Adey, Lushington and Boldero of Cornhill and was a recent convert to the virtues of the war against France, see Thorne, iv, 475Google Scholar

⁴³⁷ Alderman Harvey Christian Combe (1752–1818), who was returned for London at the general election of 1796

⁴³⁸ George Henry Rose (1770–1855). M.P. Southampton 1794–1818

⁴³⁹ Unidentified

⁴⁴⁰ Charles Small Pybus (1766–1810). M.P. Dover 1790–1802; Id. of Admiralty 1791–97

⁴⁴¹ Spencer was appointed 1st Ld. of the Admiralty in 1794 as part of the junction between Pitt and the Portland whigs

⁴⁴² ‘Meetings in … must attach’, printed in Marshall, 98Google Scholar

⁴⁴³ Sir Samuel Bentharn (1757–1831). Sir Samuel was a distinguished naval architect and engineer and had studied and served in Russia 1780–91, receiving from Prince Potemkin the rank of Lt. Col. and the post of superintendant of the shipbuilding yard at Kritchev. In Nov. 1795 he was apptd. inspector-general of navy works, a position which he held with distinction until 1807. Abbot was his half-brother

⁴⁴⁴ Subsequently 1st Vsct. Keith

⁴⁴⁵ ‘I am … well so’ (p. 224), printed in Marshall, 98–99Google Scholar

⁴⁴⁶ Unidentified

⁴⁴⁷ Probably Charles Berners (c. 1768–1831) of Woolverstone Park, Suffolk. Matric. Christ Church 2 June 1785, aged 17

⁴⁴⁸ Charles Arbuthnot q.v. was précis writer in the Foreign Office Sept. 1703 - Mar. 1795 when he was apptd. sec. of legation, Stockholm. He entered Parliament for East Looe on 27 Mar. 1795 having given up his F.O. salary which had disqualified him, see Thorne, iii, 79Google Scholar

⁴⁴⁹ C. was unsuccessful on Frere's behalf in 1795 but did succeed in persuading Lord Grenville to appoint him to the post in Apr. 1799. Grenville was not pleased with the result and sent him as minister to Portugal in Oct. 1800 as a result of his inefficiency in the F.O., see Thorne, iii, 842Google Scholar

⁴⁵⁰ Sir George Pretyman Tomline 1st Bt., Pitt's former tutor and Bishop of Lincoln 1787–1820

⁴⁵¹ Fox's motion was for a Committee on the State of the Nation, the standard formula by which Opposition brought into question the general policy of the administration. In this case Fox concentrated on the administration's war policies and the Fitzwilliam episode in Ireland

⁴⁵² ‘Fox spoke … infallible adviser’ (p. 228), printed in Marshall, 83–84Google Scholar

⁴⁵³ Amongst other diatribes, he poured scorn on the strength of the army and the country's commercial resources, aguments not likely to appeal to loyalists in war time, see, Parl. Hist., xxxi, col. 1402

⁴⁵⁴ The speech does seem a little disjointed in composition but contains some interesting points as far as C. is concerned. He declared himself a ‘friend’ to the independence of the Irish Parliament and on that ground felt it was inappropriate for the British Parliament to state whether it was a good or a bad thing for the Irish to legislate further relief to Catholics; later, he attacked Sheridan's view that places and pensions should be taxed more heavily to support the war effort, arguing that ample rewards for present and past services was the only way to ensure that the state could avail itself of the talents of all its citizens rather than be forced to rely on those with ‘ancestral dignity and hereditary virtue’, see Parl. Hist., xxxi, cols. 1403–07. The versions in Parl. Reg., 2nd series, vol. 41, 134–37Google Scholar, Woodfall, vol. 6, 350–353Google Scholar, and The Senator., vol. 12, 782–83Google Scholar are substantially the same as that above. C.'s jibe against ‘ancestral dignity’ was a wellworn theme of his, see Dixon, 22Google Scholar

⁴⁵⁵ Robert Dundas (1758–1819) q.v.

⁴⁵⁶ Early in March Edward Byrne (d.1804), John Keogh (1740–1817) and John Hussey, styled Baron of Galtrim (d. 1803) arrived in London as deputies of the Catholics of Dublin to press the case for Grattan's Catholic Relief Bill, see above p. 218, n. 433

⁴⁵⁷ Jonah Bates (1741–99), musician and conductor; Sarah Bates (d.1811), a specialist in sacred music

⁴⁵⁸ William Henry Ireland (1777–1835) forged manuscripts of, or about, Shakespeare in 1794–95, using as guides the Elizabethan documents in the lawyer's chambers where he worked. One of his Shakespeare forgeries was the play Vortigern and Rowena, which was first produced (but unsuccessfully) by Sheridan at Drury Lane in 1796. Ireland subsequently admitted to fraud

⁴⁵⁹ ‘But the chief … a fellow’ (p. 231), printed in NER, 533–34Google Scholar

⁴⁶⁰ As Halhed's motion was not seconded, it was not put

⁴⁶¹ Unidentified

⁴⁶² Earl Fitzwilliam wrote two letters to Lord Carlisle, but intended for wider circulation, justifying his conduct as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. The first of 6 Mar. 1795 was pub. in Dublin on 1 Apr. and appeared in London on 10 Apr. with the title First Letter. A Letter from Earl Fitzwilliam … to the Earl of Carlisle. The second letter of 23 Mar. was pub. in Dublin on 30 Mar. with the title A Letter from a venerated Nobleman … to the Earl of Carlisle and in London on 4 Apr. with the title Second letter. A Letter from Earl Fitzwilliam … to the Earl of Carlisle, see McDowell, R.B. (ed.), The Correspondence of Edmund Burke, (Cambridge, vols, 1–, 1958–) vol. viii (1969), 172, n. 5Google Scholar; 209, n. 2

⁴⁶³ ‘A more idle … who please’ (p. 235), printed in Marshall, 99–100Google Scholar

⁴⁶⁴ Fitzwilliam's argument as expressed in his first letter to Lord Carlisle was that the cabinet had left a decision on the subject of Catholic relief ‘to my judgement and discretion’, see Smith, E.A., Whig principles and party politics: Earl Fitzwilliam and the Whig party 1748–1833, (Manchester, 1975), 202Google Scholar

⁴⁶⁵ Fitzwilliam's argument as expressed particularly strongly in his second letter to Lord Carlisle was that it was his dismissal of John Beresford, the 1st commr, of the Irish Revenue Board and an ardent supporter of Pitt's policies in Ireland, together with his associates which was the real reason for his recall, not his policy on Catholic relief, see Smith, E.A. loc. cit., 202–03Google Scholar

⁴⁶⁶ The Ponsonby family headed the Irish branch of the whig party. Fitzwilliam had proposed that his kinsman, George Ponsonby q.v., should be appointed Irish Attorney General

⁴⁶⁷ The marriage of the Prince of Wales and Princess Caroline had taken place in the Chapel Royal on 8 Apr., the Princess having arrived in England on the 5th. This is presumably a reference to the Princess's first visit to the weekly Thursday levee in the Queen's Drawing Room

⁴⁶⁸ Frances Canning's engagement to her sister-in-law Jane's brother, Brent, subsequently Sir Brent Spencer (c. 1760– 1828) who was promoted to brevet It.-col in 1794, see Thorne, v, 229Google Scholar. C. regarded Spencer as a blackguard as a result of the financial terms he insisted on as part of the match and his own claim to £4000 prize money for his efforts in the West Indies campaign, Canning MSS, (13), C. to Rev. William Leigh, 8, 22 June 1795

⁴⁶⁹ Alleyne Fitzherbert, 1st Baron St. Helen's had been a diplomat since 1777. His last mission was not in fact to Spain but to the United Provinces where he had been ambassador from Apr. 1794 to c. 15 Jan. 1795 when he left the Hague on the approach of the French army

⁴⁷⁰ William Markham (1760–1815), e. s. of William, archbishop of York q.v. and private sec. to Warren Hastings and, later, Resident of Benares

⁴⁷¹ Hon. George Damer, 2nd Earl of Dorchester, styled Visct. Milton 1792–98. M.P. Malton 1792–98; chief sec. to Ld. Lt. [I], 1794–95

⁴⁷² Henry Monck, an Irishman, had m. Lady Elizabeth Araminta Gore, 2nd da. of the 2nd Earl of Arran

⁴⁷³ George Capel Coningsby, 5th Earl of Essex, styled Visct. Maiden 1757–99. M.P. New Radnor Boroughs 1794–99

⁴⁷⁴ Robert Smith, 1st Baron Carrington. M.P. Nottingham 1779–97

⁴⁷⁵ There were at least two guides to Bath in circulation at this time: The Stranger's Assistant and Guide to Bath, (Bath, 1773 and reissued in 1793 and 1795); and a new edition of Christopher Anstey's The New Bath Guide, pub. in London in 1794

⁴⁷⁶ The Prince's income was £73,000 but his debts had grown since the last settlement by Parliament in 1787 to £630,000. The government proposed that the income should be raised to £138,000 but that £38,000 should be set aside annually to pay off the debt. The opposition in Parliament to such generous terms was so great that Pitt was forced to modify them in June by raising the proportion of income to pay off the debt to £78,000 p.a., see A. Aspinall, The Correspondence of George Prince of Wales, (London, 8 vols., 1963–71), iii, 4–5. C.'s subsequent circumspection on this issue may have been due to the fact that he had been favourably received by the Prince on their first meeting in Sept. 1790, see Marshall, 27Google Scholar

⁴⁷⁷ Sir Digby Mackworth 3rd Bt. who m. 1788, Jane, only da. and h. of Rev. Matthew Deere

⁴⁷⁸ It appears that the offer was accepted

⁴⁷⁹ William Robert Spencer (1769–1834) who m. 1791, Susan, wid. of Count Spreti and da. of Count Jenison Walworth. Lord Henry Spencer, s. of the 4th Duke of Marlborough was a Christ Church contemporary of C.'s and had been a member of the Debating Club

⁴⁸⁰ A select committee set up to enquire into abuses with regard to franking in public offices. There is no record of C.'s participation on 1 May

⁴⁸¹ George Bussy Villiers, 4th Earl of Jersey and 8th Viscount Grandison (I). He was approaching his 60th birthday

⁴⁸² Joseph Foster Barham (1759–1832). M.P. Stockbridge 1793–99

⁴⁸³ Unidentified

⁴⁸⁴ ‘… the most ungracious … at once’ (p. 248), printed in Marshall, 87–88Google Scholar

⁴⁸⁵ The and Earl, had succ. Earl Fitzwilliam as Ld. Lieut, of Ireland in Mar. 1795

⁴⁸⁶ The 10th Earl of Westmorland was Earl Fitzwilliam's predecessor as Ld. Lieut, of Ireland, 1790–94

⁴⁸⁷ Unidentified

⁴⁸⁸ The Rev. Dr. Joseph Warton (1722–1800), 2nd master at Winchester, 1755 and head-master 1766–93. A friend of Dr. Johnson, he is known principally for his Essays on Pope pub. in 1756 and 1782

⁴⁸⁹ He was rector of Wickham, 1783–1800

⁴⁹⁰ He published an edition in 1797

⁴⁹¹ Edmund Malone (1741–1812), critic and author, who published an edition of Dryden's works in 1800

⁴⁹² Hon. George Germaine (1770–1836)

⁴⁹³ George Child-Villiers, styled Viscount Villiers 1773–1805, when he succ. as 5th Earl of Jersey. His mother was believed to be one of the mistresses of the Prince of Wales

⁴⁹⁴ Charles William Henry Montagu Scott, styled Earl of Dalkeith 1772–1807, subsequently the 4th Duke of Buccleuch. M.P. Marlborough 1793–96

⁴⁹⁵ Elizabeth Carter (1717–1806), a distinguished linguist and writer. Her translation of Epictetus was published in 1758. The Miss Carter that C. met was presumably a sister

⁴⁹⁶ C. had forgotten that he spent half an hour at Lady Guildford's assembly on 23 April 1795, see p. 241

⁴⁹⁷ ‘Pitt has … my approbation’, printed in Marshall, 88Google Scholar

⁴⁹⁸ There were two Dr. Charles Burneys in 1795: one, the musician and author, (1726–1814); the other, his son, the classical scholar, (1757–1817)

⁴⁹⁹ Roger Wilbraham (1743–1829). M.P. Bodmin 1790–96

⁵⁰⁰ Richard Crewe, bro. of John, 1st Baron Crewe q.v.

⁵⁰¹ Davies Davenport (1757–1837) of Capesthorne Hall, Cheshire

⁵⁰² Norman MacLeod q.v.

⁵⁰³ Hon. Henry Wellesley, 1st Baron Cowley, who was appld. précis-writer in the F.O. in 1795

⁵⁰⁴ ‘Wednesday morning … near Mentz’, printed in NER, 534Google Scholar

⁵⁰⁵ For the details of the Anglo-Austrian subsidy treaty of 1794 see n. 398. For Mentz read Mayenee

⁵⁰⁶ ‘At 1 o'clock … the nation’ (p. 255), printed in NER, 534Google Scholar

⁵⁰⁷ Lady Margaret Perceval, 6th da. of the 2nd Earl of Egmont

⁵⁰⁸ Their daughter was soon to be married to the Hon. Dudley Ryder, 1st Earl of Harrowby

⁵⁰⁹ David Markham (1766–1795)

⁵¹⁰ Lady Susan Loveson Gower, 6th da. of the 1st Mq. of Stafford who. m. 30 July 1795, Hon. Dudley Ryder, 1st Earl of Harrowby

⁵¹¹ Probably Thomas Orde, 1st Baron Bolton q.v. who lived at Hackwood Park, nr. Basingstoke, Hants.

⁵¹² ‘Wilberforce made … the other’ (p. 259), printed in Marshall, 85–86Google Scholar

⁵¹³ Henry Duncombe (1728–1818). M.P. Yorkshire 1780–96

⁵¹⁴ Windham's decision to direct his attention to the Opposition in general and Fox in particular was no doubt in retaliation for their attacks on him during the debate on Grey's similar motion for a negotiated peace of 26 Jan. 1795

⁵¹⁵ It was Pitt who wound up the debate

⁵¹⁶ Christopher Parker (d.1804), e. s. of Sir Peter Parker 1st Bt, was apptd. viceadmiral of the blue, 1795. His sister, Antoinetta, was the w. of John Ellis q.v.

⁵¹⁷ ‘Among the … not unpleasing’, printed in NER, 534–35Google Scholar

⁵¹⁸ Hester Jane (c. 1771–1817), e. da. of Newton Ogle, Dean of Winchester

⁵¹⁹ ‘The Prince's … his debts etc.’ (p. 262), printed in NER, 535Google Scholar. For the case of the Prince of Wales’ debts see above p. 242, n. 476

⁵²⁰ 266 to 52 and 252 to 46 are the figures given in Parl. Hist., xxxii, col. 101. The former division figures are confirmed, and the latter modified to 253 to 46 by the The Commons’ Journal, vol. 50, 560, 566Google Scholar

⁵²¹ Sir John Anstruther q.v.

⁵²² C. conveyed his views most forcibly in this journal on 27, 28 Nov. 1794, sec above, pp. 156–7

⁵²³ Barham's motion was defeated 67 to 17

⁵²⁴ 60 to 35 are the numbers given in Parl. Hist., xxxii, col. 43

⁵²⁵ Thomas Tyrwhitt (1762–1833); priv. sec. to the Prince of Wales, Mar. 1795

⁵²⁶ Probably Joseph Richardson q.v.

⁵²⁷ Hon. Richard Ryder (1766–1832). M.P. Tiverton 26 Feb. 1795–1830. His elder brother was Hon. Dudley Ryder, the 1st Earl of Harrowby q.v.

⁵²⁸ Probably the Miss Hayman who was governess to Princess Charlotte from 1797 and subsequently keeper of the Princess of Wales’ Privy Purse until she resigned in disgust in 1814, see Stuart, D.M., Daughter of England, (London, 1951), 11Google Scholar

⁵²⁹ See above, p. 32 and n. 36, p. 117

⁵³⁰ ‘The Palmerstons … go there’, printed in NER, 535Google Scholar

⁵³¹ Probably Mary Whitworth, 3rd da. of Sir Charles Whitworth, and the sister of the 1st Earl Whitworth

⁵³² Selina, da. of William Fitzherbert of Tissington Hall, Derbys, who m. Henry Galley (afterwards Galley Knight) of Langold Park, Yorks.

⁵³³ On the Prince of Wales’ Annuity Bill

⁵³⁴ ‘The conversation … answered me’ (p. 276), printed in Marshall, 101–110Google Scholar

⁵³⁵ In the course of the fifth session of the 1790 Parliament the Commons had debated, inter alia, the continuation of the suspension of Habeas Corpus; the negotiating a peace with France; the Anglo-Austrian subsidy treaty; the recalling of Earl Fitzwilliam from Ireland; the conduct of Sir Charles Grey and Sir John Jervis in the West Indies; the Establishment of the Prince of Wales; the abolition of the slave trade; and the dispensing with the services of ministers. C. had spoken twice: on 30 Dec. 1794 in seconding the Address; and on 24 March 1795 in defence of the general conduct of ministers during Fox's censure motion

⁵³⁶ On 30 Dec. 1794 in the debate on the Address, see above, pp. 176–6

⁵³⁷ The official title of the post was Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant which carried a salary of £4,000 p.a. C.'s preference for this post is interesting because of his Irish lineage which was often thought of as a disqualification. It is also ironic that while he did not succeed in this ambition, the politician who did, in 1798, was his future rival, Lord Castlereagh

⁵³⁸ Hon. Thomas Pelham q.v., had been appointed in March 1795

⁵³⁹ The Home Office

⁵⁴⁰ Thomas Broderick (1756–95), the 2nd s. of the 3rd Visct. Midleton. Under-sec, in the Home Office, 1794–95

⁵⁴¹ In March 1793 the Duke of Portland had offered to bring him into Parliament. C. had declined because Portland's party contained members who supported radical parliamentary reform, see Thorne, iii, 380Google Scholar

⁵⁴² Pitt was unable to place C. in the Home Office but in January 1796 persuaded Lord Grenville to agree his appointment as under-sec, of state in the Foreign Office

⁵⁴³ Paul Patrick q.v. His wife has not been identified

⁵⁴⁴ Unidentified

⁵⁴⁵ The Duchess of Leinster, the w. of the 1st Duke had, following the latter's death, m. William Ogilvie. Their da., Cecilia Margaret Ogilvie, m. 12 July 1795 Charles Lock, 2nd s. of William Lock of Norbury Park, Surrey

⁵⁴⁶ ‘I went … last conference’, printed in NER, 536Google Scholar

⁵⁴⁷ Lord Chancellor from 1778, with a break in 1783, until sacked by Pitt in 1792 for intriguing against ministers

⁵⁴⁸ Presumably Wilberforce's bill debated on 26 Feb. 1795

⁵⁴⁹ The 1st Baron, and subsequently the 1st Visct. Bridport is sometimes confused with his brother, Lord Hood. An admiral of the blue in 1795, he achieved a victory over the French fleet off Port l'Orient on 23 June

⁵⁵⁰ Alexander Hamilton, styled Mq. of Douglas and Clydesdale 1767–1806 and succ. subsequently as the 7th Duke of Brandon

⁵⁵¹ Belmont, near Southampton in Hants., was the home at this time of Lord Malmesbury

⁵⁵² The London Corresponding Society convened a meeting at St. George's Fields, Middlesex on 29 June 1795

⁵⁵³ The ‘scarcity’ was of food due to poor harvests in 1792 and 1794 and to an exceptionally severe winter, 1794–95, which depleted stocks further

⁵⁵⁴ Lady Anne Jane Gore, e. da. of the 2nd Earl of Arran had m. 1783, Henry Hatton of Clonard, Co. Wexford

⁵⁵⁵ John Beresford q.v. demanded satisfaction of Fitzwilliam as a result of the latter's allegations of his being guilty of malversation. They met in a field near Paddington on Sunday 28 June but a duel was forestalled by a magistrate arresting Fitzwilliam just before he intended to turn and fire, see Smith, E.A., Whig principles and party politics: Earl Fitzwilliam and the Whig party 1748–1833, (Manchester, 1975), 210–12Google Scholar, Townshend and McManus appear to have been the constables who accompanied the magistrate

⁵⁵⁶ Lady Georgiana Augusta Leveson Gower, Lady Susan's sister

⁵⁵⁷ Charles Abbot, 1st Baron Colchester, was returned for Helston on 19 June 1795

⁵⁵⁸ It would appear that Newbolt was not made a commr. of Bankrupts as he is still recorded as sec. of the Comm. of Peace in The Royal Kalendar for 1795

⁵⁵⁹ Pierre-Gaëton Dupont (c. 1759–1817), a conseiller of the Parlement of Paris and the translator of Burke's Reflections into French

⁵⁶⁰ Jeanne-Marie-Ignac-Theresa Cabarrus (1773–1835), da. of a Spanish financier who m. (2) in 1794, Jean-Lambert Tallien q.v.

⁵⁶¹ Probably Adam Walker (? 1731–1821), an author and inventor who taught physics at Eton and Winchester, see Hinde, 27Google Scholar

⁵⁶² George Bowles (1732–1817) of Wanstead Grove, Essex

⁵⁶³ Rebecca Bowles (d.1818) whom. 8 June 1766, John Rushout, 1st Baron Northwick

⁵⁶⁴ See above pp. 278–9

⁵⁶⁵ Jonathan Davies (1736–1809). Provost of Eton 1791–d.

⁵⁶⁶ At Windsor

⁵⁶⁷ Dr. John Douglas (1721–1807). Bishop of Salisbury, 1791–d.

⁵⁶⁸ Rev. William Douglas (c. 1769–1819) who m. Anne, da. of Baron de Brackel of Yverdun, Switzerland. In 1795 he was vicar of Gillingham and Dorset

⁵⁶⁹ William Langford (c. 1744–1814). Lower Master at Eton 1775–1803

⁵⁷⁰ Thomas Briggs (1767–1831). Assistant master at Eton 1792–1802

⁵⁷¹ He d. at his post of envoy extraordinary to Prussia 3 July 1795

⁵⁷² The 4th Duke of Marlborough, by all accounts an overbearing recluse, quarrelled with his brother, Charles, in 1790 on the marriage of the latter's son to his own daughter; and in 1792 cut relations with his eldest son and heir on the grounds of the latter's extravagance and indolence

⁵⁷³ Sand well Park, Worcs., one of the seats of the Earl of Dartmouth

⁵⁷⁴ John Bartlam q.v.

⁵⁷⁵ Unidentified