The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-11-30 00:00:00

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MR: c4NPING'S STATEME.KT74:*fI •

ECOITIMIARD TROIA OUR PtlElt 011 TZSTERDAT.

That satne evening, tho Duke of Portland in.
formed n►c that he had that day signified to your
Lordship the King's desire, that your Lordship
should an,ho►unieattt the intended arrangement to
Lord. Castlereugh'; and that the communication
%%whets In, made by your Lordship, as soon as the
Expedition had shiled, *hick, it was expected,
would be in less ti►an a fortnight from that time.
But before this fortnight eloped, viz. on Wed-
nesday the bth of July, the Duke of. Portland in-
foriuid me, that, in ounsideratiou •f the diificul-

ties-attendintt the minimised arrangement, he, and
those with whomite had consulted, were of opi-
nion, teat another shook, be substituted for it,
which he trusted would abe be more agreeable to
Inc., Ife.told tar that hopes were entertained that
your Lordship would determine to offer your re-
signatien, for the purpose "r facilitating a general

arrangement, in which a complete change in the
War Department, might be effected consistently
with Lord Cassleresgh's feelings. Ile said, how-
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ever, that your Lord-ship had not yet finally made
up your mind upon the b object: but that you
would probably come to a decision before the fol-
lowing Weiluesila c.
The Duke of Portland stated his intention, in
t;to event of your Lordship's resignation, to stub_
mit to his Majesty the nomination of Lord Wel-
lesley to the %Vac Department.
It was well known by the Duke of Portland,
that I had been always anxious for Lord Welles-

ley's accession to the Cabinet; but this was the
first mention to me in the course of this transac-
tion. of his introduction Into the War Depart-
ment. But fur a severe indisposition, Lord Wel-
ksley *wild) before this time, hive been on his
way to *z.min.
On Plibrsday, the 13th of July, tbs Duke of
Portland informed me, that your Lordship had,
the d'y before, tiettiatly tendered your resignation ;
but that your Lordship had annexed to it the con.
ditions, that no change !hotild take place till after
the termindtion of the Expedition to the Schefut ;
end that It should llts left to your Lordship to
choose the time of making any commuuication to
Lord Castlereagh..
I made the strongest remonstrances against this
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vow delay, and this indefinite renewal of the con-
cealment from Lord Castlereagh. I said, that
after the repeated postponcrients which ghad al-
ready ta k en place, modeler the reserve which had al-

toady been practised towards Lord Castlereagh, I
could net rely upon the execution of any arrange-
ment which should nut be now completely settled
in all its parts. And, if this wore not to be done,
I most earnestly entreated that his Majesty might
be adviued now to accept my resignation.
Thu Duke of Portland most anxiously depre-.
catcd my resignation, as leading, in his apprehen-
sion, to the dissolution of the Administration.
lle declared himself to be authorised w assure mo,
in the anost.solenin manner, that the arrangement
now in contemplation, should positively take place
at the termination of the Expediticm ; that the
seals of the War Department should then be offer-
ed to Lord Wellesley—an office (to he vacated by
moans of your Lordship's retirement) being at dig
same time to be offered to Lord Castlereagh ; and
that, in the interval, and without loss of time,
Lord Castlereagh's friends should take opportune-
tii s of prepaling him for the change and reconcii-
lag him to it, by representing to him the great ad-
vantages to be derived from it, in the acquisition of
additional strength to the Government.
Not only the Duke of Portland, but oiher mem-
bers of the Cabinet, Lord Castlereegh's friends,
some directly, and some through common friends,
urged me, in the most earnest manner, to acqui-
esce in the postponement front proposed. it eac
represmiteil to nie, that if, instead of pressing for
tJAo execution of the arrangement lieu, time were
allowed to Lord tabtlereagli's friends, to prepare
him for the change, and to reconcile h;:ti to it, the
arrangement might ultimately take place in an
amicable manner; that every public object might
thee be answered, without any unnecessary
nose to the feelings of individuals; and that, so
far from finding fresh impediments raised to the ex-
ecution of the arrangement, when the time arriv-
ed, I should find all those, to whose represent'.
tious I yielded, considering themselves pledged
squally, with the Duke of Portland, to see it car-
ried jaw effect.
It is due to your Lordship, to say, that your
Lordship's name was tint, so far as I recollect,
specifically mentioned to me on this occasion ;
bet it is equaliy due to myself, to declare, that I
never, for a moment imagined, nor could have
believed, that the general description of " Lord
Castlereagh's frien:l4" as stated to me without
exception or qualificatiun by the Duke of Port-
htwl, did not comprehend your Lordship, wh.se
proffered resignation was the basis of the whole

arraugenient, turd without whose giprms consent,
therefore, wher person could announce the ar.
rasp/emit to Lord C.istlcreagh.
Ily these representations and assurances, at
length, most reluctantly, and I confess against

ay better j,:ilgtecist, I was int need to acquiesce
in the proposed postponement of the change; and
consented to remain in office till the termination of
the Expedition. •
On Saturday, September the 2d, the result of
tht,l Expedition to the Scheldt being then known,
I %*ote to.the Duke of Portland, at Bulstrode,
reminding his Grace, that the period fixed for of-
fering the seals of the War .Department to Lord'
• Wellebley, was arrived.
Ou the following Wednesday, the 6th of Sep-
tember, the Duke of Portland informed me, that
pp steps whatever lied been taken by any of Lord'
Castlereagh's friends, to reconcile him to the
. change, or to prepare him for it ; that the execu-
tion of the arrangement would be attended with
other resignations, or at least with one other re-
signation (of which I had never before ri•ceived
the slightest intimation); and that he had himself
determined to retire.
Upon receiving this intelligence, I Immediately
disclaimed any wish that the arrangement, bow-
itver positively I understood it to have been settled,