“. . . What chiefly moves me to write is some conversation that Ossulston* and I have had concerning the state of the Party in one material point. The Jockey† is gone—you may lay that down. It is a question between days and weeks, and he cannot possibly see the meeting of Parlt. Baillie says if things go favorably he may last six weeks, but that he won’t insure him for ten days. In short, it is a done thing.
“Now upon your friend B[ernard] Howard’s succession to this most important publick trust (for so I consider it), it is plain beyond all doubt that old Mother Stafford‡ will be working by every means to touch him—at all events to neutralize him. She will make the young one§ turn Protestant—a most improper thing in his station; for surely his feeling should be—‘I will be in Parlt., but it shall be by force of the Catholic emancipation;’ and, viewing this as a personal matter to himself, he should shape his political conduct mainly with reference to it. But I fear that is past praying for, and all we can hope is that the excellent father should remain as steady in his politics as he is sure to be in his adherence to his sect. . . . Now what strikes both O. and myself is—that at such a critical moment your friendly advice might be of most material use towards keeping the newcomer on his guard against the innumerable traps and wiles by which he will assuredly be beset, and if you intend (which of course you do) to come over this session, perhaps it would be adviseable to come
* Afterwards 5th Earl of Tankerville. ‡ Wife of the 2nd Marquess of Stafford, who was created Duke of Sutherland in 1833, she having been Countess of Sutherland in her own right. § Eldest son of Bernard Howard; became Earl of Arundel on his father succeeding to the dukedom, and in 1842 became 13th Duke of Norfolk. |
| 246 | THE CREEVEY PAPERS | [Ch XI. |
