Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/44

36 these delicate negotiations. Just at first it seemed as if he would succeed, for Lords Grey and Grenville, the principal persons concerned, agreed to his propositions; but a divergence of opinion soon became manifest on the question of the Household appointments, and as neither side would give way, the arrangements fell through. On the 8th of June Lord Liverpool announced that he had been appointed Prime Minister, and the crisis ended.

There were many who blamed Lords Moira, Grey, and Grenville for this collapse of Whig aspirations; the two latter, for allowing the regulation of the Household to stand in the way of all their political wishes; while of the former it was said, that to him alone was owing the continuance of a ministry whose removal he once said (not six months before) 'ought to be rapturously hailed by the whole country,' as by that event only could the Catholics get a prospect of obtaining a redress of their grievances.

But though the results of the negotiations just recorded caused disappointment to many who hoped to derive benefit therefrom, the confidence which the Prince Regent reposed in Lord Moira was not weakened, nor the friendship he entertained for him disturbed. He had conducted his difficult mission with zeal and ability coupled with singleness of purpose and firmness of will. Failure was not imputed to him, nor was he held accountable for the result of his