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APPENDIX II

There is a circumstance connected with the sketch of Mr. Canning which I am called upon to notice.

The original MS. – which has since then been but very slightly altered – was completed twenty-six years ago, and the greatest part in print not very long afterwards. Before, however, the whole had been sent to the press, I was called away on diplomatic duty, and left the proof-sheets in the hands of Mr. Colburn and the printer’s, Beaufort House; abandoning in my own mind the intention of ever publishing or completing the work. In fact, in the busy life of Spain it was forgotten. On my return to England, in 1848, I received a visit from Mr. Bell, then editor of the Atlas. He sat with me some time, but did not make to me any particular communication, and it was only some time afterwards that I conjectured the purport of his visit. I then by accident, it might have been in America, read his Life of Mr. Canning, and found it was undeniably based on my original sketch. Many anecdotes were in it that I had had from private sources of a particular description, some of which anecdotes I have now omitted. Whole passages were entirely the same in purport and almost in expression; in fact, there are parts, the one relating to the Treaty of Vienna and the partitions which then took place, for instance, which are almost verbally repeated. I did not think it worth while to take notice of this; I was rather glad than otherwise that the labour, which I had considered thrown away, as far as any object of my own was concerned, had been useful in the composition of an able work by another; and I only now mention the facts I have been relating, to clear myself from any charge of plagiarism which might otherwise be reasonably made against me. A copy of the old proofs I still retain.

H. L. B.

M. R

1. Separate, secret, and confidential. (In cypher.)

Foreign Office, January 31st, 1826.

Sir,

In matters of commerce the fault of the Dutch is offering too little and asking too much. The French are with equal advantage content, so we clap on Dutch bottoms just 20 per cent. Chorus of English Custom House officers and French douaniers: “We clap on Dutch bottoms just 20 per cent.; Vous frapperez Falk avec 20 pour cent.”

I have no other commands from his Majesty to convey to your Excellency to-day.

I am, with great truth and respect, Sir, Your Excellency’s

Most obedient humble servant,

(Signed)

George Canning.

H. E. The Right Hon. Sir Charles Bagot, G.C.B., The Hague.

2. Secret

The Hague, February 3rd, 1826.

Sir,

I sincerely hope that this circumstance will not be productive of any public inconvenience; but I am concerned to state that I do not possess any cypher by which I am enabled to decypher your despatch of the 31st of last month, which I received this morning; the only cypher belonging to this embassy is letter S.

I take the liberty of suggesting that it might be convenient at the present moment that I should be furnished with the cypher given to his Majesty’s ambassador at St. Petersburg, or at least with that of which his Majesty’s minister at Berlin may be in possession.

I have the honour to be, with the highest respect, Sir,

Your most obedient humble servant,

(Signed)

Charles Bagot.

The Right Hon. George Canning.

3. Secret and separate

Foreign Office, February 6th, 1826.

In consequence of your despatch marked “Secret,” of the 3rd instant, I send your Excellency the cyphers and the decyphers I and U, both of which are in the possession of his Majesty’s ambassador at St. Petersburg and his Majesty’s minister at Berlin.

I regret the circumstance of your Excellency’s not having been furnished with the proper cyphers, as I was anxious that your Excellency should receive with as little delay as possible the impression which has been made upon his Majesty’s Government by the very opposite feelings and conduct which have been demonstrated by the governments of the Netherlands and France, in the late commercial negotiations with Great Britain.

I am, &c.,

(Signed)

George Canning.

His Excellency The Right Hon. Sir C. Bagot.

4. Private

The Hague, February 13th, 1826.

My dear Canning,

You have fretted me to fiddlestrings, and I have a great mind not to give you the satisfaction of ever knowing how completely your mystification of me has succeeded. It was more than you had a right to expect when you drew from me that solemn and official lamentation which I sent you of my inability to decypher his Majesty’s commands; but, as the devil would have it, your success did not end here. The post which brought me the decyphers arrived at eleven o’clock at night, when I had only time before I sent off the other messenger to read your grave regret at what had occurred and to acknowledge the receipt of the mail.

The next morning Ferney and I were up by cock-crow to make out “la maudite dépêche;” and it was not till after an hour of most indescribable anxiety that we were put “out of our fear” by finding what it really was, and that “you Pyramus” were not Pyramus, but only “Bottom the weaver.”

I could have slain you, but I got some fun myself, for I afterwards put the fair decypher into Douglas’ hands, who read it twice without moving a muscle, or to this hour discovering that it was not prose; and returning it to me, declared that it was “oddly worded;” but he had always had a feeling that the despatch must relate to discriminating duties.

C. Bagot.