because it is fit, when there is talk of public honours and of rewarding the services of Mr. Perceval by a monument, to make known the sentiments of his most able and distinguished coadjutor, on his talents and conduct in office."

This almost death-blow to the political consistency and consequence of the late Chancellor, was almost immediately followed by the publication of the whole correspondence between the Earl of Liverpool, the Marquis Wellesley, and Mr. Canning.

PAPERS

RELATIVE TO LORD LIVERPOOL'S PROPOSAL TO

LORD WELLESLEY.

May 17, 1812.

(COPY)-No. 1.

Note from Mr. Canning to Lord Wellesley, inclosing the Minute taken in Lord Liverpool's presence, May 17, 1812.

"Gloucester-Lodge, May 17, 1812.

66 MY DEAR WELLESLEY,

"I inclose the Minute which I have taken in` Lord Liverpool's presence of the proposal which he was charged to convey to me.

"Ever, my dear Wellesley,

Sincerely and affectionately your's,

(Signed)

"GEORGE CANNING.

"P. S. I shall return a written answer to Lord

Liverpool to-morrow."

(INCLOSURE)-No. 1.

Minute of Conversation between Mr. Canning and Lord Liverpool, dated 17th May, 1812.

"Gloucester-Lodge, Sunday, May 17, 1812. "Lord Liverpool stated to me, that he was commanded by His Royal Highness the Prince Regent to make me the following communication :

"That upon the melancholy event of Mr. Perceval's death, his Royal Highness being desirous of continuing his Administration upon its present basis, was desirous also of strengthening it as much as possible, by associating to it such persons in public life as agreed most nearly and generally in the principles upon which public affairs had been conducted.

"That with this view his Royal Highness naturally looked to Lord Wellesley and to me.

"That he (Lord Liverpool) was authorized to express the disposition of all his colleagues t act with Lord Wellesley and me, under an arrangement which might be at once consistent with their own honour and duty, and honourable and satisfactory to us.

"That with respect to Lord Castlereagh, it

was fair that it should be distinctly understood, that the situation in which he stands, both in this Government and in the House of Commons, was to be preserved to him.

"That with respect to official arrangements, he (Lord L.) would not have been the bearer of any proposition to me, but one which was understood as comprising my friends. In answer to a question put by me, Lord L. stated, that his colleagues were desirous, that he should be appointed to the office of First Lord of the Treasury; and that this desire was known to the Prince Regent, when his Royal Highness commanded Lord Liverpool to undertake this communication.

"Lord Liverpool added, that he was ready to answer any other enquiry that I might wish to make: or to clear up any thing that he might have imperfectly explained. I said, that I thought it better to receive his communication just as he gave it me; and to defer making any remark, or giving any answer whatever, until I should have communicated it to my friends, Lord Liverpool himself undertaking to see Lord Wellesley.

"I would only, therefore, ask-Whether I was to consider the opinion and policy of the Government as remaining altogether unchanged upon the question relating to the laws affecting the Roman Catholics?

"Lord Liverpool answered, that his own opinions upon this subject remained unchanged; and

ла

that he was not aware that those of his colleagues had undergone any change.

"I then wrote this minute in Lord Liverpool's presence; which he read over, and suggested such corrections as appeared to him necessary for making it perfectly accurate.

Minute of Conversation between Lord Wellesley and Lord Liverpool, 17th May, 1812.

Apsley-House, 17th May, 1812, 66 quarter past 5, p. m.

"Lord Liverpool came to me immediately after his visit to Mr. Canning, and remained with me for about half an hour. Soon after Lord Liverpool's departure, I received the annexed paper from Mr. Canning*.

"Lord Liverpool's conversation with me was substantially the same as that which is described to have passed with Mr. Canning. Any difference which appeared, arose necessarily from my questions and observations, which were made

Vide Mr. Canning's Minute, No. 1.