Copies of a statement and two letters : London to [Lord Wellesley], 1809 [Sept. 27].

Concerning the events leading to the duel between Lord Castlereagh and George Canning; being copies of two letters and a statement which were included in a letter dated 27 September, 1809 from George Canning to Lord Wellesley; the first letter is the challenge from Lord Castlereagh to George Canning dated 19 September 1809 and the second being Canning's reply accepting the challenge dated 20 September 1809; the 9 page statement is titled "The following is a Statement of the course of that Transaction, upon a misapprehension of the leading facts of which Lord Castlereagh's Letter appears to have been founded;" the statement outlines Canning's position, from Easter 1809, with regard to the Duke of Portland's ability to sustain his Government and the need for change in the War Department; explaining that "it is not true that he [Canning] was party or consenting to the Concealment of that intended Change from Lord Castlereagh" and that he believed that Lord Camden had communicated the discussion of the need for change in the War Department to Lord Castlereagh; adding that "The Copy of this Letter, and of the Duke of Portland's answer to it, are still in the possession of Lord Castlereagh's Friend. The Communication to Lord Camden to which this Letter refers was made on the 28th of April, with Mr. Cannings knowledge and at his particular desire. - Lord Camden being the near Connection and most confidential Friend of Lord Castlereagh, it never occurred to Mr. Canning nor was it credible to him till he received the most positive Asseverations of the fact, that Lord Camden had kept back such a Communication from Lord Castlereagh;" discussing at length and in detail the postponements to remove Castlereagh and his level of involvement in them, including the submission of his resignation to the Duke of Portland; concluding "What may have been the Reasons which prevented Lord Castlereagh's friends from fulfilling the assurances given to Mr. Canning, that Lord Castlereagh's mind should be prepared, by their Communications, for the arrangement intended to be carried into effect, and what the motives for the disclosure to Lord Castlereagh after that arrangement had ceased to be in Contemplation, it is not for Mr. Canning to explain."