Society; to Earl Nelson, who has permitted the publication of letters of Horatio, Lord Nelson; and to the Controller of his Majesty's Stationery Office, who has sanctioned the insertion of some correspondence between Windham and Lord Grenville from the Fortescue MSS. (Historical MSS. Commission's Reports). The Editor wishes further to thank Messrs. J. P. Collins, C. E. Lawrence, A. Francis Steuart, Thomas H. B. Vade-Walpole, and A. Winterbotham, who have kindly read the proofs of this work, and have made many valuable suggestions. The Rev. T. South Jagg, Rector of Felbrigge-cumMelton, has been so good as to supply information concerning Windham at Felbrigg.

Family history: Birth of William Windham : Windham at Eton :

Fond of books and sports: Nicknamed " Fighting Wind-

ham": His interest in the King: The death of his father :

His guardians: Withdrawn from Eton: The reason for this

step: At Glasgow University: His love of mathematics :

At University College, Oxford: His reputation there and

academic career : In early life uninterested in public affairs :

Sets out on a voyage of exploration in the Polar Seas: Pre-

vented by sea-sickness from proceeding: He is landed at

Bergen Extracts from his Diary concerning his sojourn in

Norway Scanty records of early life: His occupations :

First plunge into political life: A letter to Sheridan: His

maiden speech: He quells a Militia mutiny : A serious illness :

He goes abroad to recover strength: Invited to contest

Norwich as a supporter of the Rockingham party : Defeated

at the election of 1780: Invited to stand for Westminster :

The formation of the Rockingham Administration: Corre-

spondence: The death of Lord Rockingham : Lord Shelburne

becomes Prime Minister: An extract from Windham's Diary

:

PAGE

3

SECTION II

CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE LORD-LIEUTENANT OF

IRELAND. 1783

Lord Northington appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland in the

Portland Administration : Windham accepts office of Chief

Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant His misgivings as to

his qualifications: Dr. Johnson's encouragement Wind-

ham accorded a hearty welcome in Dublin: His reputation

in 1783 He retires in August: The reasons for his retire-

ment discussed His letter notifying Northington of his

resignation of the post : His correspondence with the Lord-

Lieutenant and the Hon. Thomas Pelham

31

SECTION III

FIRST YEARS IN PARLIAMENT. 1784-1793

CHAPTER I

The downfall of the Coalition Ministry: Pitt Prime Minister :

Windham elected M.P. for Norwich: A regular attendant at

the Literary Club : His friendship with Dr. Johnson: Some

correspondence between them: Windham's accounts of his

last interviews with Johnson Johnson's death: Windham

invites Fox to the funeral: The political pupil of Burke : Some

of Windham's friends: Mrs. Siddons: Windham's interest

in aeronautics: His ascent in a balloon with Sadler : Fitz-

patrick's ascent

PAGE

61

CHAPTER II

1784-1792

Windham's early speeches: His attack on Warren Hastings in

connection with the Rohilla war: Speaks in debate on the

impeachment of Hastings: Wraxall's appreciation of his

powers of oratory: Appointed a manager for the Commons

of Hastings' trial: The King's illness and the question of the -

Regency: The commencement of the French Revolution :

Windham opposes Parliamentary Reform: His views not

entirely in accord with those of his constituents: Doubtful of

the safety of his seat: Secures re-election 1790: Extract from

Windham's Diary: Publication of Burke's "Reflections on

the French Revolution": Rupture between Fox and Burke :

Windham angry with Burke: They soon become reconciled :

A letter to Mrs. Crewe : His attitude towards Parliamentary

Reform: The political breach between Fox and Windham :

A section of the Opposition supports the Government's repres-

sive measures

CHAPTER III

1793

A coalition suggested between Pitt and the Duke of Portland's

party: Mudge's chronometer: A Frenchman on the Revolu-

tion and of the state of affairs in the United States: Alexander

Hamilton: General Knox : Randolph : Jefferson: Windham's

increasing importance: Pitt confers with him : Windham on

the French Revolution: On the Proclamation for the sup-

pression of seditious meetings: On the divergence of views

between Fox and Portland: Windham for a while acts as head

84

CONTENTS

of the party: Fox and the "Friends of the People":

Windham comments upon his lack of ambition: He is present

at the siege of Valenciennes : The surrender of that town:

Ministerial negotiations: Windham anxious not to take office :

The siege of Dunkirk: Toulon : Pitt regrets that Windham

is disinclined to take office: The execution of Marie Antoinette:

The siege of Mauberge : Burke on the conduct of the war :

Windham supports the continuance of the war : La Vendée :

A conference between Pitt and Lord Spencer : Windham and

his architect, James Wyatt Burke and Spencer on the

situation: Spencer and Windham in favour of continuing the

war Lord Malmesbury's mission to the King of Prussia :

The French Princes: Toulon regained by the French

:

xxxi

PAGE

SECTION IV

SECRETARY-AT-WAR IN THE PITT ADMINISTRATION,

1794-1801

CHAPTER I

1794

The state of parties: Windham's position among the leaders of

the Opposition: His personal charm: His merits and defects

as a speaker: The Duke of Portland clearly defines his

position at the beginning of the year: His reluctance to

accept office under Pitt : The Norfolk Militia : The Emigrant

Bill Martinico: The acquittal of Warren Hastings: The

managers of the trial thanked by the House of Commons :

The retirement of Burke from the Parliament: He is granted

a pension: His wish for a peerage: The coalition of the Port-

land party with the Government: The Duke, Lord Spencer,

and Lord Fitzwilliam accept office : Windham becomes Secre-

tary-at-War with a seat in the Cabinet: Irish affairs: Lord

Spencer's mission to Vienna Sir Sidney Smith's plan of

attack on the French fleet: His dissatisfaction with the treat-

ment he has received at the hand of his country: The Prince

of Coburg resigns the command of the Austrian army: He is

succeeded by General Clerfayt: The loss of Valenciennes and

Condé : Windham goes abroad, and stays at the head-quarters

of the English army: The operations on the Scheldt: Wind-

ham, in a private letter to Pitt, recommends the removal of

the Duke of York from the command of the British army

abroad: The delicacy of the position: Pitt's embarrassment:

The controversy concerning the appointment of Lord Fitz-

william to the viceroyalty of Ireland: The Duke of Portland

and his friends threaten to resign: Pitt at last consents to

make the appointment

197