Markeaton <1>
20th October 1832
My Dear Mother
You wish me to write pour vous distraire <2> so I will ask you what you think of the aspect of the political horizon. I see the clouds of war gathering rapidly. In France the new government seems weak, and is violently assailed. The French papers say in their inimitable phraseology The 11th October will be the 8th August of the Royalty of July. This being interpreted means that Soult’s <3> ministry will be as fatal to Louis Philippe <4> as Polignac’s <5> was to Charles 10th. <6>
The Tory newspapers speak exultingly of the successful canvasses of their party, that Sir R. Vyvyan <7> will be returned for Bristol without a contest, Protheroe <8> having already resigned in despair, &c. They talk confidently of upsetting Ld Grey’s <9> ministry & beating him through his own bill Some of the ministers seem at a great loss how to get seats in the new parliament. Palmerston <10> is oscillating between Falmouth, Lambeth, and Hampshire, looking first at one & then at the other. Poulett Thompson <11> is trying Manchester, but is afraid to declare it openly because it would offend his constituents of Dover, where he still thinks he has some chance of reelection. He will fall to the ground between two stools. – In this house they are moderate Tories – I see no newspaper but the Standard but then it has the grace to quote the leading article of the Times & Chronicle. <12> – If it did not do this I should be quite in the dark. It is wonderful how arriéré a few days losing a newspaper makes one feel in politics, in these busy days. Give my affectionate love to Caroline <13> & believe me
Yours ever
Henry
Lady E. Feilding
31 Sackville St
London
Notes:
1. Markeaton Hall, Derbyshire, NW of Derby: home of the Mundy family.
2. To entertain you, divert you.
3. Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult (1769–1851), marshal of France, policitian, minister for war (1830–1844).
4. Louis Philippe (1773–1850), King of France (1830–1848).
5. Auguste-Jules-Armand-Marie, Prince de Polignac. An unpopular reactionary, he helped the King of France Charles X form an unsuccessful government culminated in the July Revolution of 1830.
6. Charles X (1757–1836), King of France from 1824 to 1830.
7. Misspelling of Sir Richard Hussey Vivian (1775–1842), politician.
8. Edward Davis Protheroe (1798–1852), politician.
9. Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey (1764–1845), statesman. He was subsequently the prime minister under whom the Parliamentary Reform Act of 1832 was passed.
10. Henry John Temple, third Viscount Palmerston (1784–1865), statesman. He was prime minister from 1855 to 1858 and from 1859 to 1865.
11. Charles Poulett Thomson, later Baron Sydenham (1799–1841), merchant, politician and Governor-General of Canada.
12. The Times (London), and Morning Chronicle.
13. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.