Letter – Charles Grey to John Lambton – 11 Sep 1823

?                                            						Hanover Sq Sept 11 1823 

Mr Dear Lambton

       I have obeyed your instruction most implicitly with respect to mentioning the name of Ellie; so much so that I obliterated it in your letter & even Lady Grey does not know who was quoted as his authority by Beaumont.  If it be true that Ellice told him this story, or any thing like it, I must think the latter quite unpardonable, in <long .eived> old & obsolete <gossip> for which there never was the slightest foundation; & as I understood you to say that Beaumont had quoted Ellice, as his authority in his communication with young Swinburne, this calumny appears to come from a person so nearly connected with me, is very awkward.  However, there is no remedy for this & I may not be supposed to be acquainted with this part of the story. That it has occurred to me that Beaumont, if not put under control, may not <improbably> apply to Ellice for a confirmation of what he says he heard from him, & as you will see E. at Cantley  I wish you to consider how far it might be advisable for you to prepare him for what may happen.  I have not said a word to Ellice, except what I write to you of the original version of the story, which I received from Sir John, & if you should say anything to him on the subject, don’t let him know that I had been informed of his having been quoted; as my ignorance of the fact can be the only excuse for my not speaking <…> to him strongly about it.

       I had this morning a letter from Sir John, telling me that as he heard that you had been at Bradley since Beaumont’s dismissal he wished you to be acquainted with what he had written to me & he added that you were one of the persons against whom Beaumont, in speaking of you, always directed the most violent abuse.  I suppose the foundation of this report must be William’s having been mistaken for you.

       I believe I before told you that I had communicated every thing to Sir W Gordon, as a friend both of Sir John’s & mine, that he might explain to Sir John, if it should become necessary, every thing that had passed between me & Beaumont.  I of course communicated to him also the result of William’s interview with B. at Ferrybridge & by his advice have now sent a copy of Beaumont’s letter & of my answer to Sir John.

       Here I hope I may consider this most extraordinary & very unpleasant business as being terminated at least as far as I am concerned in it, & for its termination without further annoyance to me & my family.  I shall always think myself under the greatest obligations to you & your Brother.    But I shall be anxious to have any further accounts you may receive of Beaumont or of his intended future plans.  His family ought to put him under control, & it appears to me that Mr Bird, his tutor, who it is clear must have been informed of all he had done, & all he intends doing, must be nearly as bad as himself not to have taken immediate measures for that purpose.

       I hear nothing of Spain but what will be in the papers or of any other news.   I got your list this morning & am glad to see that your luck continues. You have never told me whether you have anything for the St Leger.  Lady Fitzwilliam came yesterday : they leave town again on Saturday, you will probably see Ld F at Doncaster but not for the first day.  We shall set out for Torquay the beginning of the week.

       Your most affect. <….>

       Grey



[on verso:] J G Lambton Esq

M. A. Taylor’s Esq

Cantley /Doncaster