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Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering 809

Alfonso Bachiller Soler

Ramón Cano Gonzalez
Miguel Angel González Cagigal

Solved Problems
for Transient
Electrical Circuits
Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering

Volume 809

Series Editors

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Alfonso Bachiller Soler · Ramón Cano Gonzalez ·
Miguel Angel González Cagigal

Solved Problems
for Transient Electrical
Circuits
Alfonso Bachiller Soler Ramón Cano Gonzalez
Department of Electrical Engineering Department of Electrical Engineering
University of Seville University of Seville
Seville, Spain Seville, Spain

Miguel Angel González Cagigal

Department of Electrical Engineering
University of Seville
Seville, Spain

ISSN 1876-1100 ISSN 1876-1119 (electronic)

Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering
ISBN 978-3-030-88143-6 ISBN 978-3-030-88144-3 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-88144-3

1st edition: © EDICIONES DIAZ DE SANTOS 2020

© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022
This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether
the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of reprinting, reuse of illustrations,
recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or
information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar
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This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG
The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
To our parents
Foreword

The title of this book, Solved Problems for Transient Electrical Circuits, clearly
indicates that its contents deal with one of the fundamental themes of Electrical
Circuit Theory, as does that of “Three-Phase Circuits” and “Dependent Sources”, in
the context of Electrical Engineering. However, in my opinion, the importance of
transient circuit behaviour surpasses the limits of electrical engineering, since it also
constitutes a fundamental component of electronic engineering, mainly in its digital,
power, and telecommunications areas. The study of the circuits under a dynamic
regime enables the correct interpretation to be attained of certain types of electrical
behaviours that remain elusive, even to engineers, in a first reasoning. Examples
of such behaviours include the emergence of voltages far higher than those of the
generators themselves in circuits and in electrical networks, with destructive effects;
the untimely firing of differential switches in homes; and the sporadic performance
of protection during transformer commissioning.
Transients are also present in digital electronic circuits, since their binary nature
obliges transistors to work as ideal switches at high speeds, thereby generating a
transient period in each switching. The same is true of power electronics, where, for
performance reasons, semiconductors also work as switches by switching thousands
of amps into microsecond fractions. In these cases, the permanent regime of the
circuits becomes a continuous sequence of transient regimes.
Transient operation in electronic devices involves rapid variations in voltage and
current that can cause electromagnetic disturbances in the circuits. Electromagnetic
Compatibility regulatory requirements constitute one of the key points of elec-
tronic design and have emerged as a discipline in telecommunications and industrial
engineering studies.
The importance of the study of the dynamic regime of circuits, both electrical and
electronic, should be borne in mind for future professionals of these subjects.
The study of transients is addressed in this book by first stating the fundamental
theoretical concepts, which are subsequently consolidated with the help of solved
and annotated problems of increasing difficulty. Although, in professional practice,
complex circuits are often solved by simulation and not by mathematical tools such
as differential equations and the Laplace transform, the interpretation and valuation

vii
viii Foreword

of numerical results remains essential, and this is only possible if the necessary
theoretical knowledge is available.
The text is organised into three chapters: First-Order Transients, Second-Order
Transients, and the Laplace Transform. Each chapter begins with the corresponding
theory, supported by application examples, followed by a collection of resolved and
annotated problems. In all three parts, a suitable balance is struck between the theory
necessary to understand the concepts and their application through problem-solving.
The authors, as in all their publications, have managed to provide the reader with a
book containing figures and typography both in harmony and of the highest quality.
Finally, with the help of this book, the reader, as a student, is in possession of the
tools necessary to successfully master the subjects related to electrical circuits, and,
as a professional, can preserve this volume in order to extract the fundamentals of
its content.

Sevilla, Spain Vicente Simón Sempere

June 2021
Preface

The text is intended for the first course on electric circuits. The focus is on the
transient response of linear circuits. The analysis of this type of circuits is generally
carried out in the second year of electrical engineering studies and related fields.
The book has been divided into three large chapters that progressively address the
study of the transient response of first-order and second-order circuits and, finally,
circuits of any order through the use of the Laplace transform.
Each block begins with a detailed study of the theoretical knowledge and the reso-
lution techniques necessary to obtain the transient response of the different types of
circuits. This is followed by a significant number of solved problems. The resolution
of each exercise has been carried out in detail and with the support of more than 300
figures. For a better understanding of the transitory phenomenon, the evolution of the
voltages and currents of the elements during the transient period has been graphically
represented in the cases considered relevant. The exercises have been ordered from
the most elementary to the most complex, which allows progressive learning.
In this book, only circuits with linear elements are considered where the origin of
the transient is caused by the opening or closing of switches. This model responds
to maneuvering operations in high and low voltage electrical networks. It is also the
model that is analysed when considering the main defects in this type of installations,
such as short circuits and insulation defects. Finally, the same model is obtained
in power electronics topics, where electronic devices (BJT, MosFet,…) have the
behaviour of switches that switch several times per second.
Although several circuits have been included that contain controlled sources,
which may lead to instability, the parameters have been selected to obtained stable
circuits in all cases. The analysis of unstable circuits is carried out initially with the
same techniques, but it leads to non-real results if the non-linearity of the elements
is not considered.
In the problems, voltages and currents of the elements have been the variables
under study. Power and energy can be easily obtained from them. However, it has

ix
x Preface

been preferred not to include them in the calculations to obtain a more fluent reading
of the text.

Sevilla, Spain Alfonso Bachiller Soler

June 2021 Ramón Cano González
Miguel Angel González Cagigal
Contents

1 First Order Transients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

1.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 First Order Circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.2.1 RC Circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.2.2 RL Circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.2.3 Generic Differential Equation of a First Order Circuit . . . . . 6
1.3 Transient Response of First Order Circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.3.1 Natural Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.3.2 Forced or Steady State Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.3.3 Complete Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.3.4 Initial Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
1.4 Generalization of the Transient Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1.5 Procedure to Obtain the Response of a First Order Circuit . . . . . . . . 13
1.6 Impulse Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
1.6.1 Parallel Connection of Capacitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
1.6.2 Series Connection of Inductors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
1.7 Solved Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
2 Second Order Transients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
2.1 Second Order Circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
2.1.1 Series RLC Circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
2.1.2 Parallel RLC Circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
2.1.3 Generic Differential Equation of a Second Order
Circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
2.2 Transient Response of Second Order Circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
2.2.1 Natural Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
2.2.2 Forced or Steady State Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
2.2.3 Complete Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
2.2.4 Initial Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
2.3 Procedure to Obtain the Response of a Second Order Circuit . . . . . . 110
2.4 Solved Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

xi
xii Contents

3 Laplace Transform Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

3.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
3.2 Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
3.3 Main Properties and Theorems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
3.4 Laplace Transform Pairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
3.5 Application to the Analysis of Electrical Circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
3.5.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
3.5.2 Voltage-Current Relationship in the s-Domain . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
3.5.3 Impedance and Admittance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
3.5.4 Kirchhoff’s Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
3.5.5 Methodology of Resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
3.6 Inverse Laplace Transform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
3.6.1 Inverse Laplace Transform Calculation Methodology . . . . . . 184
3.6.2 Simple Real Poles, p1 = p2 = · · · = pm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
3.6.3 Multiple Real Pole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
3.6.4 Complex-Conjugated Pole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
3.7 Solved Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Chapter 1
First Order Transients

Abstract This chapter covers the first order circuits, beginning with a theoretical
introduction of the concepts required to correctly address each of the subsequent prob-
lems. A total of 31 fully solved problems with explanatory comments are included.

1.1 Introduction

In circuits with resistors as sole passive elements, voltages and currents respond
immediately to the changes in the sources of excitation. In such circuits, known as
static circuits, the voltage and current values of the involved elements are given by
a set of algebraic equations, meaning that each instant of time can be independently
analyzed. This is not the case in circuits containing energy storage elements, i.e.
inductors or capacitors, where the voltage is related to the current through a differ-
ential equation, resulting in a dynamic response of the circuit. In this type of circuits
(dynamic circuits), information on the past is necessary to determine the response at
any time.
In dynamic circuits excited with dc or ac sources, after a period of time has elapsed
(transient regime) the so-called steady-state regime is reached, where the response is
stabilized at a constant value (dc excitation) or a periodic wave (ac excitation). As an
illustrative example, the response of an RC circuit is represented in Figs. 1.1 and 1.2,
including respectively a dc voltage source and an ac voltage source. It can be seen
how, after the transient period, the steady-state regime is reached in both cases.
In general terms, the transition from a steady-state regime to a different one
involves a transient period. The origin of these transient processes can be related
to various actions, including opening and closing of switches, short circuits or any
other variation in the circuit topology or parameters.

© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022 1

A. Bachiller Soler et al., Solved Problems for Transient Electrical Circuits,
Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering 809,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-88144-3_1
2 1 First Order Transients

Fig. 1.1 Connection of an RC circuit to a dc source

Fig. 1.2 Connection of an RC circuit to an ac source

1.2 First Order Circuits

First order circuits are defined as those where any voltage or current can be obtained
using a first order differential equation. Some examples of first order circuits are:
• Circuits with a single electrical energy storage element: inductor or capacitor,
Fig. 1.3.

Fig. 1.3 First order circuits with one energy storage element

• Circuits including multiple energy storage elements of the same type, which can
be combined into a single equivalent element, Figs. 1.4 and 1.5.

1.2.1 RC Circuits

First order circuits will be considered with one or more capacitors that can be com-
bined into a single equivalent one. The rest of the circuit, composed by electrical
1.2 First Order Circuits 3

Fig. 1.4 Circuit with two capacitors connected in series and in parallel

Fig. 1.5 Circuit with two inductors connected in series and in parallel

sources and resistors, can be replaced by its Thévenin equivalent as shown in Fig. 1.6.
This way, the study of the RC series circuit excited by a voltage source encompasses
all the first order circuits whose storage element is a capacitor.

Fig. 1.6 RC circuit and its Thévenin equivalent

The differential equations that defines the behavior of the variables involved in
the circuit represented in Fig. 1.6 will be subsequently obtained.
Differential equation of capacitor voltage
Applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law:

u C (t) + u R (t) = u g (t) (1.1)

The resistor voltage can be substituted using Ohm’s law:

u C (t) + R · i(t) = u g (t) (1.2)

The capacitor defining equation is now considered

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the number is increased to 70,000 at present.
We drive and walk out in the morning, and our evenings are
usually employed in reading or hearing Mr. Dumont read French.
The Lively was wrecked on the rocks near Malta; the fault is ascribed
to the Lieut. of the watch and the Master. The former neglected his
official duty of apprising the captain when they made land. This
accident happened early in Sept.; it made my heart ache,
notwithstanding Charles is safely deposited in another ship. Capt.
Stewart, of the Seahorse, now stationed at Palermo, to whom
Charles was recommended by Gen. Fox and Ld. Keith (it being our
intention that he should join him in the Mediterranean), being
apprised of his sailing in the Lively, immediately upon hearing she
was wrecked sent express to Malta to order him a supply of money
and proper equipment, and also to secure a speedy passage from
thence to him. All this was done in a most obliging and gentlemanlike
manner, so as to leave a strong desire upon my mind of returning the
civility whenever any opportunity should occur.
He describes the situation of Sicily as insecure, and the prospect
of a speedy and inglorious termination to our career in it.[361] The
Queen is hostile to the English; which she manifests in every way by
opposing all propositions for the defence of the Island, by influencing
the inhabitants in ascribing to their profuseness and extravagance
the high prices of all the articles of life, and by maintaining a
correspondence with the enemy’s Courts in Italy. Murat, with his
40,000 men, was encamped within sight, and whenever the Toulon
fleet can assist him a descent may be expected upon the Island, and
already the blockading fleet has been driven twice from Toulon as far
down as Nice. I have also a letter from Lady Amherst[362] written in
great trepidation.
Miss Fox and Miss Vernon came to us; we lodged them in a
tolerable apartment in the High Street; they arrived on the 10th
October.
On Saturday, 13th, we set off to spend a few days at Mr.
Beauclerk’s. Slept one night in our way at Arundel Castle. The
alterations are not completed, the whole is done upon a grand scale,
but without much taste, and without any comfort. The party was very
numerous and far from select, a mêlée of neighbours and various
dependents. Sr. Arthur Pigott[363] was the only person I was
acquainted with. Met at Beau.’s, Major Capel. He was in the Galician
campaign, and considered the retreat as so disgraceful, that had the
Commander survived many general officers, for their own
justification, would have insisted upon inquiry.
News of the brilliant repulse of the French at Busaco brought by
the Apollo in 100 hours from the Tagus.[364]
Slept a night on our return at Worthing, to see Lord and Lady
Lansdowne. Returned to Portsmouth on Saturday, 20th October;
remained till 27th, and went to St. Anne’s, where we spent two
nights. Returned home on the 30th, and went to the play.
The King’s illness declared; it has long been suspected that the
physicians were detained as much on the account of the father as on
that of the daughter.[365]
In the Apollo, General Simon, who was made
prisoner at the affair of Busaco, came home. He BATTLE OF
tells a story of his having accompanied Masséna to BUSACO
reconnoitre the position of Busaco, and that upon
his observing que la position était forte, Masséna with some asperity
replied, ‘Yes, but I have seen many stronger forced.’ Simon
construed this retort into a reproof, and answered only by requesting
that if any attack was to be made, he might be entrusted to lead on
that occasion. Accordingly he commanded a division on that day; the
ascent was so steep that he was compelled to dismount, and was
soon surrounded, and made prisoner.[366]
The King being incapable of affixing the sign manual to the Act for
the further prorogation of Parliament, the two Houses met in
consequence of the prorogation expiring on Nov. 1st. It being an
unexpected meeting, very few persons, especially of Opposition,
were present. Ministers, however, had foreseen the event for a day
or two, and Treasury Notes were issued and messengers sent to
Cheveley and other Ministerial houses in the country. Ld. H.
supported the proposal of adjournment and deprecated all
discussion, adding that he could have wished the adjournment had
been from day to day only. Sheridan flourished, and affected to
speak the sentiments of the Prince. He had artfully fortified Tierney in
his unsettled feeling upon the occasion, and Tierney had
injudiciously, in consequence of some strange crotchet, abstained
from going down. The Prince resides at Windsor, and conducts
himself with very unusual discretion; he has not seen or sent to any
person whatever. Sheridan has attempted to see him, but hitherto
without success.
2nd Nov.—Pss. Amelia died. She was the youngest, the prettiest,
and the most beloved of all the Princesses; her life had been
artificially prolonged but to suffer, as her complaints were incurable
and of excruciating pain. Previous to her receiving the Sacrament, in
compliance with the earnest entreaty of the Prince, she consented to
see the Queen, with whom she had inflexibly refused to have an
interview, saying that she ascribed the misery she had undergone for
10 years, and perhaps her actual hopeless situation, to her hardness
of heart. After seeing her, she dictated a letter to the Prince telling
him that his eloquence had prevailed, and taught her to survive
resentment, the last feeling in the human breast.
The P. and D. of Cambridge are joint executors to her will, which
the Prince has determined shall not be proved. The P. behaved
throughout with the greatest tenderness, and previous to her death
facilitated their interviews. The P. is behaving with the utmost
circumspection and decorum, owing partly to the occupation of
fulfilling his sister’s wishes and ordering the ceremonial of the funeral
with which he is entrusted. He has not seen any of the Opposition.
Ld. Grenville, who came to town yesterday (9th
Nov.), has had two visits from Tommy Tyrwhitt.[367] THE KING’S
He represents the first as an inspection of his state ILLNESS
of mind and body (reports being current that he
was bad and dying). He smiled and said he had passed muster very
well. The 2nd visit was to state the condition of the King, but the
communication was verbal, and the channel not such as to lead to
anything very confidential. If the bulletins between this and Tuesday
should be favourable, the news from Portugal good, and their nerves
strong, it is supposed Ministers will hazard the attempt of an
adjournment; if not, a summons for the meeting of the Privy Council
will be issued, and an examination of the physicians take place on
Wednesday, and their report be brought before the House and taken
into consideration on the day following that which is fixed for the
meeting. Probably even amongst themselves they are as yet
undecided how to proceed. Ld. G. Leveson (who speaks the
language of Ld. Harrowby probably, but does not adopt his views or
sentiments) is of opinion that if the Regency should be proposed, it
will be clogged with limitations and every species of restriction, and
that any artifice will be resorted to likely to incense the Opposition
and impel them to utter some rash expressions which will ruin them
with the public.
14th Nov.—Our leading Lords are each to maintain their former
doctrines in ’88. Ld. Grenville grounds his line upon the course he
adopted when he was Speaker, and refers to his speech, or rather
book, published with his authority. He even goes the length of
consistency so far as to hint that he would advise the P. to suggest
himself the limiting his powers as Regent; par parenthèse, if he were
to drop such an opinion at C. house, his favour would vanish
instantly. On the other hand, Ld. Grey is equally firm in maintaining
his own opinion, which he urged so strongly formerly. If this
difference between them should transpire before to-morrow,
Ministers would avail themselves of it and get them debating
amongst themselves. Grey and Lauderdale came up last night; I
have been with them, and sitting for two hours by the bedside of the
latter, who is ill, and will hardly be able to attend to-morrow. It is one
of the few occasions when his absence will perhaps be an
advantage, as he would proclaim opinions I fear he has imbued his
companion with already too much, viz., that it would be manly and
due to the country to express the necessity of the King’s abdicating
even if he should recover from this temporary derangement, for the
loss of sight and increasing deafness are infirmities incompatible
with the performance of the kingly functions. This uttered in public
will completely ruin their cause; for, strange as it may appear, the
increasing maladies of the K. endear him to the country.
The jokers say that the K. reigns upon the sense
of taste and touch, having outlived the others. On THE KING’S
Saturday he had a lucid interval; he asked what ILLNESS
had been done, for ‘I know my situation!’ Poor,
wretched man, these returns of reason are most melancholy. Ld.
Moira was hurt and angry at not being sent for; he wrote up to C. H.
to know the reason. He was answered that the P. had neither written
nor sent to anybody. Such is Court favour! For who so favoured as
he was? Ld. Grenville says he knows that the K. was ill several days
before it was imparted to Perceval, but who knew it, or who caused it
to be kept secret, he does not know. The D. of York is behaving ill to
the P., taunting him with old allusions, and when there is a
favourable symptom exulting in a manner which denotes his joy that
they have a chance of escaping his dominion. The sending for
Reynolds and Willis was without the knowledge or consent of the R.
family. Ld. Grey shakes his hopes by his fears as to Portugal; he
considers the case as desperate, and Ld. Wellington’s army quite
ruined. This belief is grounded upon Ponsonby information, and
none of that family can be credited, especially Snouch[368] and Ld.
Ponsonby.
On the 15th Parlt. met in the Lords. The Chancellor and Ld.
Liverpool held out great hopes of a recovery. Ld. Grey worked
skilfully upon very tender ground, no other than in plain English
saying that if the King recovered it was only to a state of dotage, and
that the loss of sight and hearing disqualified a man, without even
the loss of reason, from fulfilling the functions of a sovereign.[369]
The Ministers were not in spirits, else they might have replied and
done him great mischief in the country. Ward, who is a friend,
sneeringly observed that the Whig earl would make few proselytes to
the doctrine deposing the Monarch. Ld. Grenville spoke, but, I was
sorry to hear, in a feeble, disorganised state. Ld. Moira took a line of
his own in favour of adjournt., affecting to speak the language of the
P. Indeed, with much affectation, he told Lds. Grey and Lansdowne
that his speech he was conscious was bad, but that was always the
case when a person spoke contrary to their own opinion; but he was
compelled by instructions from a quarter he was bound to obey,
designating as distinctly as possible the Prince. In the Commons
Burdett provoked a division, in which persons voted as they liked.
Grey, Lauderdale, Ld. Ponsonby, Jersey, and Tierney came here
after the debate and dined. The King is certainly worse, and the
Ministers are puzzled.
27th Nov.—Ld. Grenville quitted town the day after the adjournt.,
oppressed by the recollection of his former opinions delivered when
Speaker; but since, whether the continued illness of the King or other
equally cogent reasons have convinced him that he may relax, it
seems he has written to Ld. Grey, to inform him that upon reflection
he does not feel the necessity so imperious of urging these opinions,
for tho’ he maintains the same principles, yet expediency qualifies
them at present. It is expected that the summons for the convoking
the Privy Council will be issued this evening indiscriminately to all
Councillors.
Mr. Adair, alias the melancholy Jaques, arrived
here a few days ago, and still continues our inmate AFFAIRS AT
in his way from Constantinople. He stopped at CADIZ
Cadiz, and brings very interesting accounts of the
first meeting of the Cortes.[370] Arguelles, Capmany, Gallego,
Torneros are the leading speakers. I know very little upon these
matters, but it strikes me that they have been guilty of great impolicy
in excluding the Grandees from their body, as it must make them feel
irritated at the slight. Were I one of that class, shut up upon that
dreary causeway, my sole occupation would be to quit them and join
any party where my territorial influence would be considered; for
these Grandees, with scarce any exception, fled with the Patriots,
and sacrificed their all to what they considered was the common
cause, but which to their consternation and mortification they now
find was only the cause of a few; not to say that it would be some
satisfaction to assist in overthrowing the patriotic Junta, created
upon principles far different from the former practice when the Cortes
used in ancient times to be assembled. By this scheme of exclusion
they create in the heart of the little community a strong interest
against themselves. Formerly the bravo Militar, which was the
nobility, were an integral part of the Cortes; now they are not called.
Mr. Stuart, of Lisbon, and Ld. Wellington write home against them as
having a Jacobinical tendency, and being merely a réchauffé of the
French Revolution.
The latest Governt. accts. are to the 12th from the Tagus, Sr.
Robt. Wilson[371] en debite news of the 15th, with the story of Drouet
having joined with 15 bataillons, which makes about 9000 men. Sr.
Robt. is greatly and justly offended at having been dismissed
officially the Portuguese service; this naturally enough tinctures all
his opinions and disposes him to view au noir both Wellington’s and
Beresford’s campaign. The enemies of Wilson accuse him of having
taken great credit to himself for resistance in the Puerto de Baños
after the battle of Talavera, whereas Ld. W. has recently discovered
that he did nothing whatever there.[372] Also there is another charge,
which, if substantiated, is serious, but from his general reputation is
considered as highly improbable, viz., peculating in his transactions
about raising the Lusitanian Legion. He is a very active officer, and
whatever blemishes he may have in rhodomontading, I know from
experience, having been in the country at the time, that when every
other English officer took to his heels, he alone remained, and by
setting a good face upon matters kept in check at Salamanca a
French corps of 6000 men, when he was in Ciudad Rodrigo with only
a few half dismounted cannon and some of his miserable Legion.
Bulletins bad; Ministers defer till the latest hour issuing the
summons of the Privy Council. Great failures at Liverpool.
Huskisson’s pamphlet upon the report of the Finance Committee, a
very general topic of conversation.[373] L., a little jealous, accuses
him of stealing some of his own best observations and disfiguring
them for concealment.
28th.—Hurrah! Huzza! A long and delightful letter from Charles,
and a copious journal of all that has occurred since he sailed from
Cadiz Bay, 7th August! He writes from Gibraltar Bay, 5th November,
then in quarantine on acct. of symptoms of fever. Inquires if the ex-
pigs are likely to have a little suck. Seems not so keen for Navy as
before; thank Heaven, if he should at the end of a year sicken of it!
Oxala!
The Privy Council is called to-day for the examination of
physicians. Baillie remains at Windsor to attend the K. during the
absence of the others, but comes for examination to-morrow. Great
rumours of adjournt. being again intended.
29th, Thursday.—Evidence of the medical men favourable as to
amendment, but nothing said as to the time for recovery.
Dec. 6th.—There has been a communication
with the Prince; the complection of the business is THE PRINCE
not very favourable. It seems that in consequence OF WALES’
of a trivial expression dropped accidentally in a CONDUCT
conversation Ld. Grey held with Mr. Tucker, the
latter gentleman conceived it to be sufficiently important to induce
him to repeat it to Col. McMahon[374] to report to the Prince. The
expression was that affairs were in that state that, ‘if the Prince were
to hold up his finger he would have every thing his own way.’
The Prince, who sees Adam frequently, had talked to him frankly
enough in general. One day during their conversation the Lord
Chancellor solicited an audience: the P. desired he might be
admitted, and at the same time begged Adam to wait, as he should
soon close his conference with the C. It was, however, of some
duration, but when Adam returned, he assured him the visit was
merely one of form respecting some circumstances connected with
the Pss. Amelia’s will; that he had listened and made no reply
beyond a very formal bow. This might, or might not be true; Adam
had his doubts. The Prince then began saying (which astonished
Adam) that he had received a communication from Ld. Grey, who
implied that he had not taken part enough in the business of the K.’s
illness. That he might be right or wrong, but that he was resolved
upon remaining quiet; that he esteemed both Lords Grenville and
Grey, but could not see them; that if they wished to serve him they
ought to ask Ministers in Parlt. whether any official notification had
been made to the Prince of the condition in which H. Majesty was;
also that if he were compelled by circumstances to maintain them,
yet if they got into minorities by their mismanagement, he might then
be enabled to follow his inclination and call them,—Opposition, to his
Council. He desired Adam to communicate this to Lds. Grenville,
Grey, and Mr. Ponsonby; Tommy Tyrwhitt also told Ld. Grenville. It
was agreed that a respectful answer should be conveyed to the
Prince, couched in all the usual proper terms; the substance,
however, declining to adopt any line of conduct expressed through a
secret understanding, as it would be doing exactly what they had so
much deprecated during their own Administration—that of the King
ostensibly employing them, but, at the same time, consulting with his
secret advisers. Ld. Grenville said that the position of affairs might
be such that were the Prince to consult him, he did not know but that
he might recommend him to keep the present Ministers; but having
done that he must withdraw and act upon his own principles until he
was publicly called as an adviser. The expression which put Ld. G.
upon the alert was that of the possibility of minorities, which he
construed into a determined plan of Prince’s betraying those he
openly supported. Ld. Grey was compelled to leave town on acct. of
Ly. Grey’s lying-in.
Subsequent to this transaction, Adair, on the pretext of giving the
P. some curious anecdotes of his Embassy, solicited an audience,
and by dint of solicitation at length obtained one. In the course of the
interview, the P. launched out in his eloquent, rhodomontading
manner, abused the late Ministry (always excepting Ld. H., whom he
professes so much to love), whom he accused of treating him worse
than his avowed enemies. Added that he knew they now complained
of his not sending for them, but that he would be d—— if he did; they
accused him of being timid and nervous, but that by G—— they and
the world should see that he was un homme de nerf; that he would
not be dictated to by the haughty freaks and caprices of any man;
turned frequently to the portrait of Mr. Fox, whose death was to him
an irreparable loss, for he really loved him, and in any critical
juncture his advice was always that of a sincere friend who was
blessed with the soundest head man ever possessed; abused the
late Cabinet for their treatment of him in the affair of the Princess,
and, in short, spoke with all the vehemence and irritation of an
offended and wounded mind.
7th Dec., 1810.—The bulletin yesterday was less favourable, and
that of to-day is indifferent; admits that the disorder had returned, but
that some hours of sleep had refreshed him. By the private acct. it
seems that his bodily indisposition is rather alarming, a recurrence of
the stoppage in his bowels; his body is greatly emaciated. Phipps,
the expert oculist but very silly man, has been prevented by Willis’s
orders from seeing him, as he was detected in talking upon religious
matters, future state, dying, &c., &c. The report yesterday was that
Ministers, if by the King’s relapsing they should be compelled to
resort to some mode of Regency, intended to have that of the Lords
Justices. To-day Mr. Grenville told me that the scheme was to make
the Queen Regent. All these schemes will perplex and frighten the
Prince, and drive him to resort to his friends. Ld. H. saw McMahon,
who declares that Ld. Moira and Sheridan, who are affecting to
speak the language and sentiments of C. House, on the contrary,
have displeased the Prince, whom they do not see and whom they
have not had any authority whatever from to act as they do. Whilst
the P. is in town he sees no person whatever but Lady Hertford, with
whom he spends the whole morning and evening. Mr. Michael
Angelo Taylor he sees as a butt, but with him he holds no sort of
intercourse respecting his political opinions. They say Govt. has
money for 10 days longer.
15th Dec.—On Thursday the Houses met; the K.’s health not
being in a state for the physicians to report upon with any hope of
immediate recovery, Ministers did not suggest an adjournt., but
proposed a Committee for the purpose of examining the physicians.
The choice of persons in Commons was very fair, in the Lords less
so, as neither Lds. Lauderdale, Holland, or Stanhope are named,
which, considering the absence of Ld. Grey, is not so right.[375]
Except Ld. Erskine and the D. of Norfolk, there is not a man who will
ask a leading question, and these will be overruled. The Prince
broke down in Kensington on his way to Windsor. When Ld.
Grenville heard of it he affected to be facetious, and wondered the
Princess did not offer him a bed; true it was the Prince was
excessively afraid of her offering him a carriage, which she certainly
would have done had she known of it at the moment. The projects of
raising money by the Privy Seal, &c., are dropped.
18th Dec.—It appears from the examination of
the physicians that the King’s illness is such that a THE
Regency must be resorted to immediately; GOVERNMENT
consequently yesterday Mr. Perceval proposed 3 RESOLUTIONS
resolutions the same as those in 1788. 1st, that on
account of H. M. indisposition he was unable to discharge the duties
of the kingly office. 2ndly, that it was the duty of the House to see
that the kingly office be properly filled. 3rdly, that it was necessary to
provide for the proper discharge of the same by way of a Bill to pass
through both Houses of Parlt. Sheridan, Ponsonby, and Adam have
thrown down the gauntlet and taken the field; the Prince’s household
will vote. There is a Call of the House, and now the Prince takes a
part there will be a very good division. Some of the most sanguine
go the length of expecting a majority; there is no doubt but many
shabby ones will desert the Ministers. The usual supply of those
upon these occasions from the City will fail on acct. of the report of
the Bullion Committee, as they will prefer taking their chance of
keeping Perceval Chancellor of the Exchequer to making the Bank
pay in specie.[376]
It was not with any satisfaction I heard of a few additional votes by
the accession of Mr. Canning and his friends upon this question.
Majorities, even if helped by a faithless associate, are mere ropes of
sand. Faithless and unprincipled are the leading traits in that
gentleman’s character. It is said that he complains of having met with
so little warmth from the Opposition, with whom he would have acted
long ago had he been encouraged. The greediness for numbers
makes me dread his reception; all who dislike Whitbread, and that is
a huge majority, and all who feel the incapacity of Snouch, are
inclined to hearken to his overtures. Ld. Castlereagh, though
labouring under many heavy charges for his conduct towards the
Irish Catholics, has still maintained a sort of integrity of reputation for
private honour; he also has the advantage of being a person whom
the Prince would prefer if any junction were to be made with new
men, and his ambition is of a limited nature, as he would confine
himself to his department and only promote persons either from
goodwill towards them, or for the general advantage of the
Administration to which he belonged. He makes no high professions
of exalted principle, but as a gentleman and man of honour he might
be trusted. In the late curious quarrel between him and Mr. Canning,
his conduct was much admired, and his bitterest enemies said how
infamously must he have been treated by his colleague, when even
in Ireland he is considered as the injured party.
Several questions in the Committee were expunged. In that of the
Lords the word mind was employed, when Ld. Westmorland, with an
air of the greatest feeling and pathos, implored that it might be
erased, as it was too shocking to have on record: this great delicacy
from him, who is at this moment dictating evidence to enable him to
confine his own wife, in order to avoid the expense of a separate
maintenance. Sheridan laughed at the conduct in the examination of
the physicians, where he said they questioned the physicians about
the mental malady and the mad doctor upon the bodily disease. It
appeared that the Chancellor was introduced to the K. by way of a
medical expedient by Vaughan, who had observed that in his
presence the King had more self command. In consequence of this
transpiring, the Chancellor, in their Committee, conceived himself
bound to go the whole length of the business to acquit himself of
seeking the interview with the King.
MacMahon says the Regency is to be accepted on any conditions
by the Prince, who will return the same letter by way of answer, as
that he sent in ’88 (said letter, Mr. Adam says, was written by Lord
Minto, materials from Mr. Fox); that he may probably tell these
Ministers that it is his intention to keep them for decency sake, but
that he has no confidence whatever in them, and cannot feel that he
is fulfilling his duty. In short, if they do not, which he expects they will,
resign upon this intimation, he will keep them a month to give the
King a chance of recovery, and then dismiss them. The Queen will
have the custody and control of the King’s person and household,
and to set off with, she can appoint the Chamberlain, now vacant by
the death of Lord Dartmouth.[377]
The King of Sweden[378] lives chiefly with the
French Princes, and now occupies the apartment THE KING OF
vacant by the death of the Queen of France. He is SWEDEN
très in-amusable, very much absorbed in his own
thoughts, and indifferent to all that is going on around him. He has
very little money, but will not accept of any from the English; 500l.
and jewels estimated at 30,000l. on the Continent are all he is worth.
When lodged at the hotel, he asked for an inferior apartment to that
which was prepared for his reception, and accused the master of
imposing upon him by charging for a whole bottle of wine, when he
had only drunk about half of it and returned the remainder. He does
not speak of the Swedes with any irritation, allows they were in the
right for dismissing him as he did not suit them, resolves not to
attempt to be restored, and only hopes his moderation may induce
them hereafter to consider his son. This is not madness certainly, but
nevertheless he is reckoned to be in a state of melancholy madness.
Lucien Bonaparte is arrived,[379] but he is not to be allowed to come
to London; Ludlow is named as his place of residence.
24th Dec.—On Thursday, the day of the debate in the H. of
Commons upon the resolutions, the Prince received a letter from Mr.
Perceval informing him of the intentions of the Ministry. To this the
Princes wrote what they call a solemn protest of the male branches
of the Royal family, disapproving of the limitations and restrictions.
Prince also wrote a good reply, which was the composition of himself
and Sheridan. War between Perceval and the Prince being openly
declared, all the household, &c., of Carlton House voted. This,
however, produced no great accession of rats, only the Seymours
and Mr. Monkton. The Grenvilles being disunited upon the subject
may acct. for the badness of the division. Mr. Horner made an
admirable speech, full of sound argument upon constitutional
doctrines, and illustrated with most accurate learning. Tierney says
he gave the House for two hours two quarts of Allen’s milk without
their making a wry face; alluding to S. Smith’s joke that Mr. A. is
quite a milch cow to the politicians, whom he furnishes with matter
and argument, and has in this business done so abundantly to those
who are studying the subject. Mr. Canning made but a bad attempt
at pleasantry. Ld. Castlereagh, speaking of the conduct of
Addington’s Administration during the K.’s illness, said he believed
that Governt. did not practise any concealments towards him, or
something to that effect. The House immediately applied it as a slap
to Mr. Canning. Others say it was a mere slip of the tongue. Wm.
Lamb on the following day distinguished himself very greatly; he is
certainly one of the most rising men in public. The great feature of
that night’s proceeding was Perceval’s indiscreet avowal of his
principles of delay and Ministerial Regency (without limitations), from
which Tom Grenville remarks that as Perceval has now declared
himself King, Lords, and Commons upon his own responsibility, the
whole question is shortened and made much less complicated.
The D. of Queensberry died to-day without a
struggle at three o’clock; his will has not yet been DUKE OF
opened.[380] His heirs-at-law are the D. of QUEENSBERR
Y’S DEATH
Buccleugh, Sr. Chas. Douglas, Lord Wemyss.[381]
He expressed a wish of altering his will yesterday, but was too
rambling. He said he had been a fool in leaving legacies, for in fact
all belonged to Bonaparte, and any distribution was idle. He has
always said and believed in this.
On Sunday, 6th Jan., the Prince sent to see Ld. Grenville, who
accordingly waited upon him at Carlton House; the communication
was made through Mr. Adam. Prince, when he came, desired this
might be considered as a joint application to him, as well as to Ld.
Grey, who unfortunately was not arrived in town. The immediate
object of the interview was to have advice how to frame the answer
to the deputation which was coming from the two Houses, to offer
the Regency. He then told Ld. G. that he felt his situation very
embarrassing, that it would be difficult to act in any way to please
people, or make a strong Government. That he heard from those
who were in the H. of C. that the great difficulties rested there, that
he wished Ld. G. to understand that he was against exclusions, and
if it were judged expedient to resort to additional strength, meaning
Canning, he had, whatever his own opinions respecting him
individually were, no objections to the experiment. He said there was
also another topic which he had at heart, the restoring his brother to
be Commander-inChief.[382] Ld. G. replied that he should bear in
mind all H.R.H. had said, and consult with his friends upon the
subject, but that he thought it an act of duty without any hesitation to
state that the obstacles to the restoration of the D. of York were
insurmountable; that they existed amongst those most attached to
the Whig Party; that he himself deplored the injustice of persons
upon that subject, and, if he might venture to use such an
expression, to so exalted a character. He added that he felt the
greatest compassion for the Duke, who had been so cruelly
misrepresented and slandered. The Prince bid him communicate
with Ld. Moira and his other friends. Adam told this on the day of the
interview.
Ld. Grenville made a formal communication to politicians at his
own house on the following Tuesday. Ld. H. had a private
conversation with him in which he stated his own opinions upon the
necessity, if they formed a Governt., of considering maturely the
question of Spain and Portugal with regard to withdrawing the
troops, &c.; also of the state of the press, which was under Ld.
Ellenboro’ greatly harassed.
On Wednesday night Ld. Grey arrived in town;
he came here in evening, appointed on the QUESTION OF
ensuing day to go to Carlton House. Prince very REGENCY
gracious, cordial, and more communicative than
with Ld. Grenville. Upon mention of additional strength in House of
Commons, Grey remonstrated upon the fallacy of strength being
obtained by the accession alluded to (Canning), where sturdy old
friends would be lost entirely. Prince observed the clamour excited
by Grenville’s resistance as Auditor to the issuing money from the
Exchequer, conceived it fatal to his being attached to the Treasury;
folly of his letter to Perceval. They separated most amicably. Ld.
Grey went directly to frame a reply for P. to the deputation which was
next day to offer, from the two Houses, the Regency. Informed the
Prince, if their paper did not meet his wishes, that he dined at Ld.
Holland’s in Pall Mall, where he should remain to receive H.R.H.
commands. We had only Ld. Thanet and Tierney, Ld. H. confined by
the gout. At twelve at night, Adam, accompanied by Sheridan, came
from C. H., bearing a message from the P., which in plain language
was a total rejection of the paper drawn up by Lds. Grey and
Grenville, and sending them another, the joint composition of himself
and S. Ld. Grey with great moderation and temper declined giving
any opinion upon the subject, his own being rejected; said they could
not be responsible for sentiments they had not written. Sheridan,
who had thrust himself into the whole transaction, protested against
their responsibility, alleging that the Prince was not himself in a
condition to invest persons with responsibility, that he had drawn a
paper, and Ld. Moira had done the same. After Ld. Grey went away,
such a scene of duplicity and jealousy was exhibited by S. beyond all
belief or description; it required all Adam’s forbearance and good
temper to prevent great asperity in the discussion. Ld. H. contended
for the responsibility, considering the sending for these Lords as an
open act similar to that of a King upon his accession employing a
certain set of persons to answer the address from the Privy Council,
as his future Ministers.
They went off to C. H. at two o’clock. By Adam’s report, S.’s
description of what had passed here was a most gross
misrepresentation, and a malicious interpretation of every word
uttered. They all parted in wrath; the P. determining to keep what S.
made him believe was his own, whereas in fact it was S.’s. This is
one of his artifices by which he ensnares the P., first suggesting
ideas and words, which he dexterously contrives to make the P.
believe are his own. (He avowed this to us some months ago.[383])
Some of Sheridan’s phrases were very bad. The Prince was to say
in a taunting manner that he hoped the authority he was to be
invested with would be as brief as it was restricted, showing a silly
soreness towards the Parliament. On Friday the deputation came;
and the paper composed by S. and the Prince was delivered. Grey
and Grenville upon the rejection of their paper drew up a
remonstrance glancing at secret advisers, which they delivered to
Adam to give to the Prince. In the meantime the P. expressed a wish
to explain to Ld. H. the whole transaction, and fixed calling upon him
on Saturday. By a mistake of Ld. Moira’s, Ld. H. waited for him, as
he ought to have told him that the P. could not come till this day,
Sunday, 13th Jan., 1811, Pall Mall.
The interview was long; only Mr. Adam present. Authorised an
explanation to the two Lords, that he did not conceive his application
to them could as yet be considered as official. Consequently they
were not in any responsible situation; that they proceeded upon a
misconception.
Sunday, 20th.—A very stormy week, but down
to this evening the political horizon brightens. GRENVILLE’S
When the two Lords began to discuss AUDITORSHIP
arrangements the difficulties seemed
insurmountable. Ld. Grey reminded Lord Grenville of the
conversation they had formerly had together upon the subject of the
impossibility of his holding his place of Auditor of the Exchequer with
that of the First Ld. of the Treasury. Ld. Grenville alleged poverty,
proposed that Tom,[384] who par parenthèse, has been voluntarily
out of Parlt. these three years, should have the Admiralty and the
first peerage. Upon the obstacle of the Auditorship being strongly re-
argued, a singular paper was delivered in to Grey, in which
statements were made of the condition of the First Lords for the
preceding 40 years, all of whom had enjoyed large places with the
Treasury; stating his own difficulties of undertaking such an
expensive station with the mere addition of 1000l. pr. ann.; that he
should be overwhelmed with debt. That he could not consent to take
the Home Department without an express and distinct understanding
that all the Patronage of Church and State which had hitherto gone
through the First Ld. of Treasury, should be annexed to the Home
Department. That the Minutes of Cabinet should be drawn up by Ld.
G. and laid before the Regent or King; that he could not yield his pre-
eminence; and rather an arrogant and flourishing termination. The
whole composition evinced a sordid and low mind. Scarcely had it
been sent, before Ld. Auckland was dispatched to recover it. Ld.
Grey hesitated, because if a rupture became inevitable, it was such
a complete acquittal of himself.
By-the-bye, I forgot to mention that the first hitch arose from a
proposal on the part of Lord Grenville that, from the state of the H. of
Commons they ought to look about them for strength, that the lists
were not satisfactory, and that they could not be sure of majorities.
The plain English of this was that they wanted an organ of their own,
Canning for instance, as a barrier against the popular principles of
the Whigs and the unpopular and odious manners of Whitbread,
whom unfortunately all parties concur in hating, however they may
respect him as a public character. Ld. Grey replied that upon
consulting his own friends, he was satisfied that the numbers were
such as to enable a Govt, to go on well, that by taking Mr. C. weight
would be lost, not gained; for the gain would be 10 votes, and the
loss of three times that number of real, staunch friends. That upon
the mere report of such a junction already Mr. Coke declared his first
vote under the new Governt. should be against them, if Mr. C.
composed one of the Govt.; also that Messrs. Byng, Brand, &c.,
were of the same opinion, Ld. J. Cavendish, and most of the old
Foxites.
Ld. Grenville seemed thunderstruck at Grey’s
urging that if a motion was made by the enemy WHIG
against the union of the offices of Treasurer and DISUNION
Auditor, it would be impossible to prevent many of
their own friends from voting against them. In the evening Ld. G.
wrote to Grey to say that the point in discussion could not be
canvassed by them in conversation. Proposed by Grey that Ld.
Spencer should be First Lord of Treasury; Grenvilles all eager to
declare that he had entirely withdrawn from public life. Various other
modes suggested, such as Ld. Grenville’s placing the Auditorship in
trust and not receiving the salary whilst he enjoyed the Treasury. On
the 16th matters seemed in a state of complete disunion, and the
differences between the two Lords began to be talked of in public. In
stating the friends with whom Ld. Grenville said he should consult
before he came to a final determination, he mentioned Lords Stafford
and Carrington. He now talked of giving up all idea of forming an
Administration, and recommending the Prince to keep the present
Ministers; but Ld. Grey will not agree, as in his opinion it is a
scandalous desertion of the Prince. Tom Grenville has begged Grey
not to be offended at any dryness and formality in the style of Ld.
Grenville’s letters, as official habits early in life make all he writes
upon topics of business seem as dry as a chip. In conversation it had
been thrown out that the Treasury stripped and degraded would not
be fit for Ld. Grey to accept, but that George Ponsonby or Lord
Lansdowne might do the duties of it; but this was not listened to, it
being impossible, notwithstanding all Lord Grenville said of the
present salary, patronage, and influence of the Treasury being a
usurpation upon the patronage of the Home Department, to consent
to such a glaring alteration as to reduce that which had been hitherto
considered as the first office in the State to as low a condition even
as a mere Lord of the Treasury. From Lord Temple’s language, which
is violent and indiscreet, and from Tom’s, which tho’ milder and more
guarded betrays much soreness, it is clear that it is not the numbers
of the H. of Commons which induced them to urge a junction with Mr.
Canning, but that they felt they had no man of their own, and could
not submit to be represented by such persons as Whitbread, &c.
However, at present (21st) all stands well again. On 18th Ld.
Grenville with great good humour has given up his schemes of
advancement (?), and is content to take the Treasury, yielding all the
other offices to Ld. Grey’s nomination, excepting the Secretary at
War for Ld. Temple, and the Board of Control, with a seat in Cabinet!!
for Ld. Auckland; and with respect to the Auditorship, he offered to
put it into trust, but could not afford to give up the salary, and all he
required was that Whitbread should acquiesce in the arrangement
and defend it, were it to be attacked in Parlt. This proposal was
submitted to Whitbread, and strongly urged by Lds. Grey and
Holland, but he could not be brought to agree, tho’ he acknowledged
that in principle he had no objection to the Auditorship being vested
in trust whilst Ld. G. held the Treasury. He admitted that so far from
thinking that 4000l. a year was too great an addition to the present
salary of the Treasury, that he was ready to propose in the House of
Commons that the salary of that and of every high office should be