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Perilous Question Page 39


  Temple Bar, London, 44

  Test and Corporation Acts, 65, 142

  Thackeray, William Makepeace, 90

  Thackwell, Colonel, 171

  Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, 112

  Timber Duties, 94

  Times, The

  on George IV, 4

  and Catholic Emancipation, 9

  makes donations to ‘necessitous Parisians’, 12

  on Wellington, 24

  on civil disturbance, 28, 37, 169

  complains about conditions for reporters in House of Commons, 32

  on resignation of Tory Cabinet, 48–9

  and Grey’s nepotism, 58

  Fonblanque on staff of, 67

  pays stamp tax, 75

  Barnes as editor of, 75–6, 99

  complains about inaudibility of Russell’s voice, 79

  on first Reform Bill, 82, 88

  on Universal Suffrage, 101

  on prospects for Reform, 115

  on Howe, 118

  on William’s coronation day, 132

  on Grey’s speech in Lords, 141

  on meeting on Newhall Hill in 1831, 143

  picks up on Whig uneasiness about the King’s stance on creation of peers, 144

  on Brougham’s speech, 148

  on the vote against Reform Bill in Lords, 154–5

  questions whether bishops should have seats in Lords, 156

  and William’s speech at Opening of Parliament, 177

  on passing of third Reform Bill in Commons, 183

  Fellows of Trinity College disgusted by, 195–6

  on creation of peers, 209

  comments on lack of new arguments from Tories, 212

  on meeting at Newhall Hill in 1832, 220, 222

  on crisis in May 1832, 227

  reports on a description of Adelaide, 228

  on Adelaide’s influence on William, 237

  response to return of Grey’s government, 247–8, 249

  on poor attendance at House of Lords, 252

  on Royal Assent, 255

  correspondent calls for subscription to erect triumphal arch, 258–9

  brief references, 179, 217, 245

  Tocqueville, Alexis de, 24, 39, 274

  Tories

  Government in power at William IV’s accession, 9

  divisive effect of campaign on Catholic Emancipation, 9–10

  party designation, 20

  perceived as party of government, 21

  differing views on Reform, 33, 47

  and Whig philosophy, 50–1

  Grey’s Cabinet includes, 58, 59–60, 99

  favoured by Queen Adelaide, 72–3

  meetings before announcement of terms of Reform Bill, 77

  official attack on the Bill by Peel, 85, 86–7

  during interval between readings of the Bill, 94

  brings about defeat on Timber Duties, 94

  determined to secure changes to the Bill, 98

  powerful opposition to the Bill, 102

  discussions about the Bill, 103–4

  manufacture a crisis to defeat the Government, 104

  cast doubts on the King’s right to dissolve Parliament, 106, 108

  evolve a plan concerning dissolution, 107

  inbuilt majority in Lords, 122

  continuing opposition to the Bill, 134–5

  and Church of England, 141

  convictions about Reform, 200–1

  the attempt to form a new administration, 229–32, 238–42

  outwardly quiescent, 251

  and voting on third reading of Reform Bill, 254

  and General Election in 1832, 268

  impact of Wellington’s attitude on, 271

  and 1834 fire, 276

  see also Canningites; Huskissonites; Ultra Tories; Waverers; names of individual politicians

  Trafalgar, Battle of (1805), 1

  Trevor, General, 14

  Trinity College, Cambridge, 195–6

  Turner, J.M.W.: The Fighting Temeraire, 1

  Tyburn, 174

  Tyne, the, 61

  Tyrconnel, 4th Earl of, 263

  Ultra Tories, 9, 10, 20, 33, 47, 151, 179, 271; see also names of individuals

  Universal Suffrage, 15n, 41, 87, 101, 157, 267, 269

  Union, Act of (1707), 16

  Union, Act of (1801), 15, 16, 30, 93, 189

  Utrecht, Treaty of, 185

  Vane-Tempest, Frances, 73

  Vassall, Elizabeth; see Holland, Lady

  Victoria, Princess then Queen, 1, 2, 6, 7, 129, 133, 154n, 273

  Villèle, Joseph de, 228

  Villiers, Viscount (later 6th Earl of Jersey), 110

  Vyvyan, Sir Richard, 95, 96

  Wakefield, E.G.: Swing Unmasked, 14–15

  Wall, Charles Baring, 82, 88, 179

  Waltham, 172

  War of the Spanish Succession, 185

  Waterloo, Battle of (1815), 1, 11

  Watkins, John, 163–4

  Waverers, the, 175, 178, 205, 210, 218, 219, 253; see also names of individuals

  Webster, Sir Godfrey, 53

  Wellington, Duke of

  on George IV, 4

  as leader of Tory Government, 9, 24–5, 41–2, 48

  and defeat of the French at Waterloo, 11

  on Grey, 23

  character, 24–5

  views on dealing with riots, 25

  on Peel, 34

  Place writes to Hunt about, 38–9

  speech against Reform, 41–2

  reactions to speech of, 43–5, 46–7

  fire at country residence of, 47

  and the vote against the Government, 48

  resignation, 48–9, 72

  and political unions, 60

  assassination threat to, 61–2

  and Tory discussions before the presentation of Reform Bill, 77

  hears first reports about contents of Reform Bill, 82

  in cartoons, 90, 155–6, 203, 256, 269

  and Wetherell, 90

  remains firmly opposed to Reform, 94, 122, 146, 183, 196–7, 211, 212–13, 218–19

  house attacked by rioters, 113

  and death of his wife, 113

  angry when Grey becomes Knight of the Garter, 117

  refuses to attend opening of new London Bridge, 128

  compared to Dame Partington, 155–6

  effigy burnt, 174

  and Adelaide’s letter to Howe, 204

  speeches in Lords during debates on third Reform Bill, 212–13, 218–19

  and the attempt to form a new administration, 226, 229–30, 231, 233, 234, 238, 239–40, 240–1, 251

  speech in Lords on 17 May 1832, 244, 251

  rumours of his withdrawal spread, 245

  does not attend House of Lords for vote on Reform Bill, 254

  absent from House of Lords for Royal Assent, 257

  expresses his views after the passing of Reform Bill, 263

  attacked by mob, 265

  impact on events, 271

  later becomes Prime Minister again, 275

  brief references,, 1, 2, 10, 21, 33, 35, 40–1, 68, 84, 106, 127, 140, 145, 153, 170, 171, 220, 246, 247, 253, 277

  Wellington, Kitty Pakenham, Duchess of, 113

  Wentworth Woodhouse, 54

  West Country, civil disturbances in, 160–2, 166, 167–70

  Westminster, 38, 181, 250, 269

  Westminster Abby, 132, 133–4

  Westminster Review, 101

  Wetherell, Sir Charles, 90–1, 105, 156, 167–8, 169, 179–80

  Weymouth, 139

  Wharncliffe, James, 1st Baron, 103–4, 107, 109, 145, 147–8, 164, 175, 178, 216, 218, 253

  Whigs

  earlier movement towards parliamentary Reform, 10–11

  pro-French sympathies, 11–12

  party designation, 20

  lack of experience in government, 20–1

  perceive possibility of fruitful overtures to Tories, 33–4

  and Brougham’s ide
as on Reform, 36–7

  traditional party of peace, 40

  feeling that time has come to move forward on Reform, 47

  motion concerning Reform causes Government defeat, 47

  characteristics of the party, 50–1

  family connections among, 52

  houses, 52–4

  and Club system, 54–5

  formation of Government, 55–60

  presentation of Reform Bill, 77–80

  optimism about the Bill, 84, 87

  relieved that Tories do not call for immediate vote, 86

  alleged bias in Reform Bill, 89

  and O’Connell, 93

  concerned about possible defeat of Bill, 94

  and the vote in the Commons on the Bill, 96

  agree to make changes to the Bill, 104

  attitudes to Universal Suffrage and Secret Ballot, 101–2

  make changes to Reform Bill, 104

  attitude to payments in electoral process, 120

  celebration dinners, 135–6

  uneasiness about the King’s views, 144

  resignation of Ministers, 224–5, 226

  meeting at Brooke’s Club, 232

  and renewed negotiations, 242

  celebratory banquet, 260–1

  depictions of, 261, 262

  confidence, 265

  win majority at General Election in 1832, 268

  spirit of compromise and conciliation, 270–1

  and Great Fire, 1834, 276

  see also Reform Bill; names of individual politicians

  White’s Club, 54–5, 187

  Wilberforce, William, 198

  Wilkes, John, 32

  Wilkie, Sir David, 3, 203, 268

  Wilkins, William, 272

  William III, King, 2

  William IV, King

  succeeds George IV, 4, 8

  naval career, 4–5

  character, 5–6

  domestic life, 6

  relationship with Mrs Jordan, 6

  marries Adelaide, 6–7

  appearance, 7, 8

  concerns about health of, 8, 129, 202

  reassures Wellington, 9

  sets out for Opening of Parliament, 29

  at Opening of Parliament in November 1830, 39–40

  fear of democracy, 41

  advised not to attend Lord Mayor’s Banquet, 43

  fears concerning public riots, 43–4

  remains supportive of Wellington, 47

  asks Grey to form a government, 48

  visits to Holland House, 52–3

  beginning of Grey’s correspondence with, 69–71

  shows wariness about Reform, 70–1

  approves Reform Bill, 71

  planning of coronation of, 71–2

  and crisis over Adelaide’s outfit allowance, 74

  The Times remains supportive of, 76

  referred to favourably in a play, 92

  against dissolution of Parliament, 94–5, 104

  rumours about, 104–5

  right to dissolve Parliament questioned by some Tories, 106

  agrees to dissolution, 107–9

  dissolves Parliament, 110–11

  decision adds to popularity of, 112

  in cartoons, 112, 116, 163, 268

  and his eldest son, 116–17

  appoints Grey as Knight of the Garter, 117, 118

  and Birmingham Political Union, 120

  and the creation of peers, 122–3, 144, 152–3, 163, 191, 192, 193

  visits Eton, 127

  declares new London Bridge open, 128

  gives assent to Queen’s dower-bill, 128–9

  coronation, 131, 132–4

  Parkes comments on prerogative of, 138

  expressions of loyalty to, 144

  and Howe’s departure from Royal Household, 153–4

  petition of Radicals presented to, 157–8

  correspondence with Grey in October 1831, 163–4

  prorogues Parliament, 165–6

  Cabinet minute about date of next Parliament is sent to, 175

  issues Royal Proclamation about political unions, 176

  at Opening of Parliament in December 1831, 177

  and situation in Ireland, 189

  meeting with Grey, 190–2

  states his position in writing, 192–3

  Cabinet minute about creation of peers is submitted to, 193

  responds to Cabinet minute, 193

  and Buckingham Palace, 194

  and the continuing difficulties about Reform Bill, 195

  Wellington’s comments on, 197

  and Adelaide’s influence, 204, 228, 243

  prevarication, 210–11

  and Bishop of Exeter’s speech, 213

  Attwood has confidence in, 223

  Cabinet minute about possible resignation is presented to, 224–5

  accepts resignation of Ministers, 226

  asks Wellington to form new administration, 226

  rumours about, 227

  antagonism towards, 228, 236, 250

  and Lord Chancellorship, 230

  The Times leader on, 237

  communications between Grey and, 242, 244, 245–6

  fears and obstinacy, 243

  agrees to creation of peers, 246

  The Times salutes imagined sentiments of, 247–8

  mocked in prints, 248

  and the avoidance of confrontation over the Bill, 252

  refuses to attend House of Lords for the Royal Assent, 255–6

  demands prosecution of the press, 256

  Althorp’s reply to, 256–7

  William IV, King

  and the suggestion of a triumphal arch, 258–9

  continuing fears after passing of the Bill, 264

  stone thrown at, 265

  role of, 272–3

  and 1834 Great Fire, 276

  brief references, 21, 57, 68, 102, 186, 201, 215, 218, 262

  Williams (attorney), 119–20

  Williams, Philip, 160

  Wilson, Harriette, 210

  Wimborne, 160

  Winchester, 62

  Winchilsea, 10th Earl of, 214, 251, 252–3

  Windsor, 5, 6, 8, 224, 225

  Wiseton, 63, 265–6

  Woburn, 54, 190

  Wolverhampton Union, 224

  Wood, Charles, 58, 96

  Wood, Thomas, 72

  Woodstock, 267

  Worcester, Bishop of, 155

  Worcester, Marquess of (later 7th Duke of Beaufort), 48

  Wordsworth, William, 264

  Worshipful Company of Stationers, Hall of the, 135

  Wortley, James Stuart; see Wharncliffe, 1st Baron

  Wyvill, Christopher, 10

  York, Archbishop of, 254

  York, HRH Prince Frederick, Duke of, 4, 8, 106

  Yorkshire Agricultural Society, 63

  Young, Thomas, 138

  Credit: Sue Greenhill

  ANTONIA FRASER has written several historical biographies which have been international bestsellers, since Mary, Queen of Scots published in 1969. These include Marie Antoinette, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, and Cromwell. Other historical works include The Weaker Vessel: Woman’s Lot in Seventeenth Century England, and Faith and Treason: the Gunpowder Plot. Antonia Fraser was president of English Pen, the world-wide writers’ organization for free speech, and is now a vice-president. She has received many prizes, including the Wolfson History Award, the Norton Medlicott Historical Association Medal, the Franco-British Literary Prize, and the St. Louis Literary Award. She was made a D.B.E (Dame) in 2011 for services to literature. She was married to the Nobel Laureate, Harold Pinter, who died in 2008.

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