Arniston memoirs

332 ARNISTON MEMOIRS. [1827.
change, and certainly none, in my judgement, to excite any un-
easiness in your mind.
The case probably would have been between the Duke of
Wellington and Canning. They are both tacticians, and I think
we may leave it to them to settle the point of supremacy. My
conjecture is that Canning will content himself with less than all,
and we shall see what concessions may be made from the other
side.
A great difficulty remains behind, and I cannot solve it, namely,
how Lord Liverpool's place is to be supplied in the House of
Lords. 1 do not agree in opinion with your uncle (Lord Melville)
upon this point ; it is not likely that Canning will leave the House
of Commons.
If I hear anything worth communicating I will let you know.
We shall be most happy to see Mrs. D. and you at the time
you mention. I believe I must go to town to support my friend
Pinkie 1 on the 12 th . — Yours sincerely, Abercromby.
Robert Adam Dundas, M.P., to Robert Dundas.
London, May 31, 1S27.
My dear Robert, — Yesterday I received your letter, and al-
though I enter in some degree into your feelings with regard to
the present state of affairs, particularly with regard to Scotland
yet I cannot see any reason why you should be so dreadfully
apprehensive of utter ruin. I by no means consider Lord Melville's
interest and yours placed in so lamentable a situation. I by no
means consider your future prospects for ever checked by the late
changes in the administration ; and I am by no means convinced
that these changes have met the approbation of the King, or the
sense of the country. At the time M r Pitt went out of office, Scot-
land was placed in a far more awkward predicament. What was said
at Lord Melville's impeachment as to your prospects of success in
public life ? What was said at the death of Mr. Pitt and the changes
that then took place ? Every one of these changes was apparently
a death-blow to all the former interests established in Scotland.
At that time there were individuals in Scotland who endeavoured
to establish an ascendancy there, and whom we had every reason
to dread. At present the case is totally different. If Lord Lans-
down were Minister to-morrow, and all of us in rancorous opposition
with the Duke of Buccleuch, L ds Hopetoun and Lauderdale, who
1 Sir John Hope of Pinkie.