“23rd.—Went to Lauderdale’s at his request to look at some
motions he is going to make about India, and spent a most agreeable hour with
him. There is the devil to pay with the India Company, and the Government have
given up for the present bringing forward the renewal of their charter. I went
to Lord Hutchinson afterwards. He thinks
Wellington ought to be hanged. He says
that in his last dispatch but one he writes word that he has 25,000 British
troops—that he is expecting 5000 more—that he has 25,000 Portuguese
troops almost as good as British—that the French are in the greatest
difficulties in the Sierra Morena, and that Portugal is in perfect safety. In
his last dispatch he has written under the greatest
possible fright, and has pressed the Government for positive instructions
whether he
| 1810.] | DEFEAT OF THE GOVERNMENT. | 131 |
