Copy of a letter : "Downing Street"[London], to George Canning, 1809 Aug. 30.

Reporting that he had informed Lord Liverpool what had been discussed between them and Liverpool gave him permission to tell him that "The King opened the subject to him after adverting to the Duke's health, by saying that it was impossible things could last long as they were; and that it was therefore necessary that we should be looking about us, to be prepared for what might occur to the Duke; That he mentioned nothing at all in particularly but merely in these or such general terms : that Lord Liverpool assented to the probability of the Duke's being unable to continue long; but that on neither part was there any the least specification of arrangement, or pointing at any Individual who might succeed him. I hardly know how to hope that this circumstances may appear to you in some degree to alter the state of the question so as to remove any of your difficulties : but I lose no time in communicating it that you may be aware that it is not only among ourselves that the subject is in contemplation."