Letter – Charles Grey to John Lambton – 13 Mar 1824

                                                                 				March 13 1824

My Dear Lambton

      I cannot help in the first place expressing our continued & <….ing> regret at having lost you & dear Louisa & are anxious to hear that your journey has been prosperously accomplished.

      I have letters today from Ridley and Ellice. The former to explain that neither M nor those with whom he acted, intended that the filling up of Beaumont’s net should in any manner depend on the Duke; but that without previously having his disposition, they could not propose Howick without expecting both him & the <..oes> to the <… vacant> situation of bringing him forward, without being able to give him <unnattural> support.  He also communicates what had passed with Beaumont with whom it appears there has been a farther correspondence.  The best way of explaining my sentiments in all this, is to send you my answer to Ridley which I have therefore got Georgiana to copy & I enclose it in another cover.  Pray confirm all I say in it of my conviction of his friendly intentions, & of my gratitude for them; in this I am perfectly sincere tho’ I think his judgement has been very defective.  I hope also in your own communications with him may of our friend that you will not express too strongly your disaffectation of their conduct; nor my disapprobation  without a cordial acknowledgment of their good intentions.

      I leave it entirely to your determination and <Ellices> to send both for Henry & me whenevr you may think it necessary but not without a certainty of our not being placed in a situation to look like fools on our arrival.

      We have a letter today from <Charles> who arrived on the 20 ult at Cadiz, after a rough passage of 12 days, & was to sail the next day for Gibraltar, if the wind permitted.

      Our weather has continued blasting & disagreeable but not cold & we have continued our daily walks.  Lady G has not been well & is in sadly low spirits, which I attribute in a great degree to her parting with Louisa give our best love to her, & believe we are

      Most sincerely Yours

      Grey



If the present chance of bringing Howick in for Northumberland fails, & I <get neither> seat for him, I shall not feel myself pledged by what has now passed, to offer him as a candidate either at a general election or any other opportunity; & this I shall think it necessary to declare when the right time comes, but not at present.   To <seeing> that I have sent you a Copy of my letter to <the ….> & <….> it for me - the first time you go to the House of Commons, pray desire the H of Lords papers to be sent to me from the beginning of <the session & in future>  as they are printed.  You may also add any from the H of C that you think worth sending.