The “Pope” of Holland House
John Whishaw to Thomas Smith, 14 October 1820
Oct. 14, 1820.
Warburton has just called to give me an
account of his visit,1 and to desire that I will write to
you respecting the proceedings against the Queen and their probable result. I wish it was possible for me to
gratify your curiosity; but the aspect of affairs changes so much from day to day
that it is impossible to say what will or will not happen. A week ago everything
was favourable to the Queen, but the evidence of the two lieutenants, or rather the
manner in which it was taken up by the Lords, produced a great reverse of fortune;
and it seemed as if the Bill was at last to be carried. Yesterday the affair of
Rastelli turned up very opportunely for
Her Majesty, and seems to have given a new turn to the proceedings. I have not
heard what has been done this morning, upon which a good deal may depend; but as
the Bill stands at present it is certainly a good deal damaged, and stands upon
very narrow ground. If Lord Liverpool chooses,
the Bill may be carried through the House of Lords; but the difficulty in the
Commons will be much greater, though probably not insuperable. After what has
passed, however, it will be impossible, I apprehend, to satisfy the great mass of
the country; and perhaps this circumstance and the continued ferment which the
measure is likely to occasion, may perhaps induce the Ministers to withdraw the
Bill.
Whatever may be the result of these proceedings, you must not
suppose that there is the smallest prospect of a change of Administration. The
Sovereign
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even if favourably disposed to Whig Ministers
(which is very questionable) is feeble and timid; and the present men have a strong
hold upon Parliament and the country, and could not effectually be displaced
without a great effort. For my part, I never expect to see again a Whig Ministry,
and I do not know, considering by how frail a tenure they must hold their offices,
whether such a thing is desirable.
I hope you will agree with me that the Whig Lords, Grey, Lansdowne,
and Holland, have distinguished themselves
honourably on the present occasion. Have you seen “Advice to Julia” a poem, and “Essays by a Gentleman who has left his
Lodgings”? The former is by Luttrell and the latter by Lord J.
Russell; and both of them are well worth looking at.
Queen Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1768-1821)
Married the Prince of Wales in 1795 and separated in 1796; her husband instituted
unsuccessful divorce proceedings in 1820 when she refused to surrender her rights as
queen.
Henry Richard Fox, third baron Holland (1773-1840)
Whig politician and literary patron; Holland House was for many years the meeting place
for reform-minded politicians and writers. He also published translations from the Spanish
and Italian;
Memoirs of the Whig Party was published in 1852.
Charles Grey, second earl Grey (1764-1845)
Whig statesman and lover of the Duchess of Devonshire; the second son of the first earl
(d. 1807), he was prime minister (1831-34).
Henry Luttrell (1768-1851)
English wit, dandy, and friend of Thomas Moore and Samuel Rogers; he was the author of
Advice to Julia, a Letter in Rhyme (1820).
Giuseppe Rastelli (1820 fl.)
An Italian groom brought to London to testify against Queen Caroline; he was accused by
the defense of bribing witnesses.
John Russell, first earl Russell (1792-1878)
English statesman, son of John Russell sixth duke of Bedford (1766-1839); he was author
of
Essay on the English Constitution (1821) and
Memoirs of the Affairs of Europe (1824) and was Prime Minister (1865-66).
Henry Warburton [Eliot Warburton] (1784-1858)
Educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, he was a Radical MP for Bridport in
Dorset (1826-41) who took an interest in bodysnatching.
