regard to a reconstruction of the cabinet in 1812 is impossible in a work of the present kind, but a brief outline of what occurred may be summed up as follows. Early that year Mr. Perceval's government was weakened by the resignation of Lord Wellesley, who thought the time had come for a settlement of Catholic claims, then hotly resisted by the ministers in power. An effort was now made to enlarge the administration, with a view to the consideration of these claims, and the Regent resenting the illiberality of the ministry and desiring to strengthen his hands by the assistance of 'some of those persons with whom the early habits of his public life were formed,' endeavoured to make it succeed; but it failed, and things went on as usual until May, when the Prime Minister was assassinated in the House of Commons. The leadership then devolved upon Lord Liverpool, who tried to obtain the support of Lord Wellesley and Mr. Canning to prop up his government, then considered in a tottering condition: this also failed. It soon became evident that the ministry could not command a majority in the House, and thereupon the Regent addressed himself to Lord Wellesley, who undertook to attempt to reconcile the chief members of both parties, on the basis of a conciliatory adjustment of Catholic claims and a vigorous prosecution of the Peninsular war. In a short time, however, he had to give up the task, and Lord Moira — who had helped him in his mission and who was to have had a seat in the proposed cabinet — was then sent for and empowered to conduct
