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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:54:03 -0700 |
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diff --git a/30590-h/30590-h.htm b/30590-h/30590-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b55878a --- /dev/null +++ b/30590-h/30590-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,20678 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Journal of the Reigns of Kings George IV and William IV (Vol. II), by Charles C. F. Greville + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 2em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + h3 { text-align: left; + font-size: 100%; font-style: italic; + font-weight: normal; + clear: both; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: .5em; + } + hr { width: 40%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + blockquote{margin-left: 7.5%; margin-right: 7.5%;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 15%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbrs */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + color: #5a5a5a; + position: absolute; + left: 85%; width: 13%; + text-indent: 0; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .pagehead { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page heads */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + color: #5a5a5a; + position: absolute; + padding-top: 2em; + left: 86%; width: 12%; + text-indent: 0; + font-size: x-small; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: right; + } /* page heads under page numbers */ + + .center {text-align: center; text-indent: 0} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em;} + +ins.correction {border-bottom: thin dotted red; text-decoration: none; } + + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 90%; text-align: justify} + .footnote .label {text-indent: 2em; text-decoration: none; + text-align: left; font-size: 90%; margin-right: 0em} + .fnanchor { font-size: 80%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: 0.25em; } + + ul { list-style-type:none; } + ul.IX {text-indent: -2em; margin-top: .75em; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .IX li { text-indent: -2em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em;} + + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: .75em 0em .75em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i6 {display: block; margin-left: 6em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i8 {display: block; margin-left: 8em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i10 {display: block; margin-left: 10em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i12 {display: block; margin-left: 12em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i14 {display: block; margin-left: 14em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i16 {display: block; margin-left: 16em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i18 {display: block; margin-left: 18em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i20 {display: block; margin-left: 20em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Greville Memoirs, by Charles C. F. Greville + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Greville Memoirs + A Journal of the Reigns of King George IV and King William IV, Vol. II + +Author: Charles C. F. Greville + +Editor: Henry Reeve + +Release Date: December 3, 2009 [EBook #30590] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREVILLE MEMOIRS *** + + + + +Produced by Stacy Brown, Eve Behr, Paul Murray and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class = "mynote"> +Transcriber’s Note:<br /><br /> + + In this work, all spellings and punctuation were + reproduced from the original work except in the very few + cases where an obvious typo occurred. These typos are + corrected without comment. <br /><br /> + + In the original volumes in this set, each even-numbered + page had a header consisting of the page number, the + volume title, and the chapter number. The odd-numbered + page header consisted of the year of the diary entry, a + subject phrase, and the page number. In this set of + e-books, the year is included as part of the date (which + in the original volume were in the form reproduced here, + minus the year). The subject phrase has been converted to + sidenotes located below the relevant page number. <br /><br /> + + In the original book set, consisting of three volumes, + the master index was in Volume 3. In this set of e-books, + the index has been duplicated into each of the other + volumes. Navigation links were created to the entries for the + current volume. +</div> + +<hr style="margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em;" /> + +<h1 class="smcap"> +The Greville Memoirs</h1> + +<hr style="margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em;" /> + +<h2> +A JOURNAL OF THE REIGNS <br /> +<br /> +OF</h2> +<h1>KING GEORGE IV.</h1> +<h2>AND</h2> +<h1>KING WILLIAM IV.</h1> + +<hr style="margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em;" /> + +<h4>BY THE LATE</h4> +<h1 class="smcap">Charles C. F. Greville, Esq.</h1> +<h4>CLERK OF THE COUNCIL TO THOSE SOVEREIGNS</h4> + +<hr style="margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em;" /> + +<h4>EDITED BY</h4> +<h1>HENRY REEVE</h1> +<h5>REGISTRAR OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL</h5> + +<hr style="margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em;" /> + +<h4>IN THREE VOLUMES <br /> VOL. II.</h4> + +<hr style="margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em;" /> + +<h4 style="font-style: italic; font-variant: small-caps;">Second Edition</h4> + +<hr style="margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em;" /> + +<h5>LONDON <br /> +LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. <br /> +1874</h5> + +<hr style="margin-top: 0em;" /> + +<p class="center"> +<a href="#INDEX"><b>INDEX.</b></a> +</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>Contents of the Second Volume</h2> + +<p style="text-indent: 0em"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><b>CHAPTER XI.</b></a></p> + +<blockquote><p style="text-indent: 0em"> +Accession of William IV. — The King’s Proceedings — His Popularity — +Funeral of George IV. — Dislike of the Duke of Cumberland — The King’s +Simplicity and Good-nature — Reviews the Guards — The First Court — +The King in St. James’s Street — Dissolution of Parliament — The King +dines at Apsley House — The Duke of Gloucester — The Quaker’s Address — +The Ordinances of July — The French Revolution — Brougham’s Election +for Yorkshire — Struggle in Paris — Elections adverse to Government — +The Duke of Wellington on the French Revolution — Duke of Cumberland +resigns the Gold Stick and the Blues — George IV.’s Wardrobe — +Fall of the Bourbons — Weakness of the Duke’s Ministry — The King +at Windsor — The Duke of Orleans accepts the Crown of France — +Chamber of Peers remodelled — Prince Polignac — The New Parliament +— Virginia Water — Details of George IV.’s Illness and Death — Symptoms +of Opposition — Brougham — Charles X. in England — Dinner in St. +George’s Hall — Lambeth — Marshal Marmont — His Conversation — +Campaign of 1814 — The Conflict in Paris — Dinner at Lord Dudley’s. +</p></blockquote> + +<p style="text-indent: 0em"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><b>CHAPTER XII.</b></a></p> + +<blockquote><p style="text-indent: 0em"> +The Belgian Revolution — The Duke of Wellington and Canning — The +King’s Plate — Gloomy Forebodings — Retreat of the Prince of Orange — +Prince Talleyrand — Position of the Government — Death of Huskisson — +His Character — The Duke of Wellington and Peel — Meeting of Parliament +— The Duke’s Declaration — The King’s Visit to the City abandoned +— Disturbances in London — Duchesse de Dino — The Cholera — +Southey, Henry Taylor, John Stuart Mill — Dinner at Talleyrand’s — The +Duke of Wellington resigns — Mr. Bathurst made Junior Clerk of the +Council — Lord Spencer and Lord Grey sent for — Formation of Lord +Grey’s Administration — Discontent of Brougham — Brougham takes the +Great Seal — Character of the New Ministers — Prospects of the Opposition +— Disturbances in Sussex and Hampshire — Lord Grey and Lord +Brougham — Lord Sefton’s Dinner — The New Ministers sworn at a +Council. +</p></blockquote> + +<p style="text-indent: 0em"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><b>CHAPTER XIII.</b></a></p> + +<blockquote><p style="text-indent: 0em"> +A Proclamation against Rioters — Appointments — Duke of Wellington in +Hampshire — General Excitement — The Tory Party — State of Ireland — +More Disturbances — Lord Grey’s Colleagues — Election at Liverpool — The +Black Book — The Duke of Wellington’s Position and Character — +A Council on a Capital Sentence — Brougham in the House of Lords — +The Clerks of the Council — Lord Grey and Lord Lyndhurst — The +Chancellor of Ireland — Lord Melbourne — Duke of Richmond — Sir James +Graham — Lyndhurst Lord Chief Baron — Judge Allan Park — Lord +Lyndhurst and the Whigs — Duke of Wellington and Polignac — The +King and his Sons — Polish Revolution — Mechanics’ Institute — Repeal +of the Union — King Louis Philippe — Lord Anglesey and O’Connell — +A Dinner at the Athenćum — Canning and George IV. — Formation of +Canning’s Government — Negotiation with Lord Melbourne — Count +Walewski — Croker’s Boswell — State of Ireland — Brougham and Sugden +— Arrest of O’Connell — Colonel Napier and the Trades Unions — The +Civil List — Hunt in the House of Commons — Southey’s Letter to +Brougham on Literary Honours — The Budget — O’Connell pleads guilty +— Achille Murat — Weakness of the Government — Lady Jersey and Lord +Durham — Lord Duncannon — Ireland — Wordsworth. +</p></blockquote> + +<p style="text-indent: 0em"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"><b>CHAPTER XIV.</b></a></p> + +<blockquote><p style="text-indent: 0em"> +Introduction of the Reform Bill — Attitude of the Opposition — Reform Debates +— Peel — Wilberforce and Canning — Old Sir Robert Peel — The City +Address — Agitation for Reform — Effects of the Reform Bill — Brougham +as Chancellor — Brougham at the Horse Guards — Miss Kemble — Vote on +the Timber Duties — Lord Lansdowne’s Opinion of the Bill — Reform +Bill carried by one Vote — The King in Mourning — The Prince of +Orange — Peel’s Reserve — Ministers beaten — Parliament dissolved by +the King in Person — Tumult in both Houses — Failure of the Whig +Ministry — The King in their Hands — The Elections — Illumination in +the City — The Queen alarmed — Lord Lyndhurst’s View of the Bill — +Lord Grey takes the Garter — The King at Ascot — Windsor under +William IV. — Brougham at Whitbread’s Brewery and at the British +Museum — Breakfast at Rogers’ — The Cholera — Quarantine — Meeting of +Peers — New Parliament meets — Opened by the King — ‘Hernani’ at +Bridgewater House — The Second Reform Bill — The King’s Coronation +— Cobbett’s Trial — Prince Leopold accepts the Crown of Belgium — +Peel and the Tories — A Rabble Opposition — A Council for the Coronation. +</p></blockquote> + +<p style="text-indent: 0em"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV"><b>CHAPTER XV.</b></a></p> + +<blockquote><p style="text-indent: 0em"> +Preparations for the Coronation — Long Wellesley committed by the +Chancellor for Contempt — Alderman Thompson and his Constituents — +Prince Leopold goes to Belgium — Royal Tombs and Remains — The Lieutenancy +of the Tower — The Cholera — The Belgian Fortresses — Secret +Negotiations of Canning with the Whigs — Transactions before the Close +of the Liverpool Administration — Duke of Wellington and Peel — The +Dutch invade Belgium — Defeat of the Belgian Army — The French enter +Belgium — Lord Grey’s Composure — Audience at Windsor — Danger of +Reform — Ellen Tree — The French in Belgium — Goodwood — The Duke +of Richmond — The Reform Bill in Difficulties — Duke of Wellington +calls on Lord Grey — The King declines to be kissed by the Bishops — +Talleyrand’s Conversation — State of Europe and France — Coronation +Squabbles — The King divides the old Great Seal between Brougham and +Lyndhurst — Relations of the Duchess of Kent to George IV. and William +IV. — The Coronation — Irritation of the King — The Cholera — A Dinner +at St. James’s — State of the Reform Bill — Sir Augustus d’Este — Madame +Junot — State of France — Poland. +</p></blockquote> + +<p style="text-indent: 0em"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"><b>CHAPTER XVI.</b></a></p> + +<blockquote><p style="text-indent: 0em"> +Whig and Tory Meetings on Reform — Resolution to carry the Bill — Holland +— Radical Jones — Reform Bill thrown out by the Lords — Dorsetshire +Election — Division among the Tories — Bishop Phillpotts — Prospects of +Reform — Its Dangers — Riots at Bristol — The Cholera at Sunderland — +An Attempt at a Compromise on Reform — Lord Wharncliffe negotiates +with the Ministers — Negotiation with Mr. Barnes — Proclamation against +the Unions — Barbarism of Sunderland — Disappointment of Lord Wharncliffe +— Bristol and Lyons — Commercial Negotiations with France — +Poulett Thomson — Lord Wharncliffe’s Proposal to Lord Grey — Disapproved +by the Duke of Wellington — Moderation of Lord John Russell +— The Appeal of Drax <i>v.</i> Grosvenor — The Second Reform Bill +— Violence of Lord Durham — More Body-snatchers — Duke of Richmond +and Sir Henry Parnell — Panshanger — Creation of Peers — Division of +Opinion — Negotiation to avoid the Creation of Peers — Lord Wharncliffe’s +Interview with the King — Opposition of the Duke of Wellington +— The Waverers resolve to separate from the Duke. +</p></blockquote> + +<p style="text-indent: 0em"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"><b>CHAPTER XVII.</b></a></p> + +<blockquote><p style="text-indent: 0em"> +Measures for carrying the Second Reading of the Reform Bill in the House +of Lords — The Party of the Waverers — The Russo-Dutch Loan — Resistance +of the Tory Peers — Lord Melbourne’s Views on the Government — +Macaulay at Holland House — Reluctance of the Government to create +Peers — Duke of Wellington intractable — Peel’s Despondency — Lord +Grey on the Measures of Conciliation — Lord Wharncliffe sees the King +— Prospects of the Waverers — Conversations with Lord Melbourne and +Lord Palmerston — Duke of Richmond on the Creation of Peers — Interview +of Lord Grey with the Waverers — Minute drawn up — Bethnal +Green — The Archbishop of Canterbury vacillates — Violence of Extreme +Parties — Princess Lieven’s Journal — Lord Holland for making Peers — +Irish National Education — Seizure of Ancona — Reform Bill passes the +House of Commons — Lord Dudley’s Madness — Debate in the Lords. +</p></blockquote> + +<p style="text-indent: 0em"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII"><b>CHAPTER XVIII.</b></a></p> + +<blockquote><p style="text-indent: 0em"> +Debate in the House of Lords — Lord Harrowby’s Position — Hopes of a +Compromise — Lord Melbourne’s View — Disturbances caused by the Cholera +— The Disfranchisement Clause — The Number ‘56’ — Peers contemplated +— The King’s Hesitation — ‘The Hunchback’ — Critical Position of +the Waverers — Bill carried by Nine in the Lords — The Cholera in Paris +— Moderate Speech of Lord Grey — End of the Secession — Conciliatory +Overtures — Negotiations carried on at Newmarket — Hostile Division in +the Lords — Lord Wharncliffe’s Account of his Failure — Lord Grey resigns +— The Duke of Wellington attempts to form a Ministry — Peel +declines — Hostility of the Court to the Whigs — A Change of Scene — The +Duke fails — History of the Crisis — Lord Grey returns to Office — The +King’s Excitement — The King writes to the Opposition Peers — Defeat +and Disgrace of the Tories — Conversation of the Duke of Wellington — +Louis XVIII. — Madame du Cayla — Weakness of the King — Mortality +among Great Men — Petition against Lord W. Bentinck’s Prohibition of +Suttee heard by the Privy Council — O’Connell and the Cholera — Irish +Tithe Bill — Irish Difficulties — Mr. Stanley — Concluding Debates of the +Parliament — Quarrel between Brougham and Sugden — Holland and +Belgium — Brougham’s Revenge and Apology — Dinner at Holland House +— Anecdotes of Johnson — Death of Mr. Greville’s Father — Madame de +Flahaut’s Account of the Princess Charlotte — Prince Augustus of +Prussia — Captain Hess — Hostilities in Holland and in Portugal — The +Duchesse de Berri — Conversation with Lord Melbourne on the State of +the Government. +</p></blockquote> + +<p style="text-indent: 0em"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX"><b>CHAPTER XIX.</b></a></p> + +<blockquote><p style="text-indent: 0em"> +Foreign Difficulties — Conduct of Peel on the Resignation of Lord Grey — +Manners Sutton proposed as Tory Premier — Coolness between Peel and +the Duke — Embargo on Dutch Ships — Death of Lord Tenterden — +Denman made Lord Chief Justice — Sketch of Holland House — The +Speakership — Horne and Campbell Attorney- and Solicitor-General — The +Court at Brighton — Lord Howe and the Queen — Elections under the +Reform Act — Mr. Gully — Petworth — Lord Egremont — Attempt to reinstate +Lord Howe — Namik Pacha — Lord Lyndhurst’s Version of what +occurred on the Resignation of Lord Grey — Lord Denbigh appointed +Chamberlain to the Queen — Brougham’s Privy Council Bill — Talleyrand’s +Relations with Fox and Pitt — Negro Emancipation Bill — State of +the West Indies — The Reformed Parliament meets — Russian Intrigues — +Four Days Debate on the Address — Peel’s Political Career. +</p></blockquote> + +<p style="text-indent: 0em"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX"><b>CHAPTER XX.</b></a></p> + +<blockquote><p style="text-indent: 0em"> +Appointment of Sir Stratford Canning to the Russian Embassy — Cause of +the Refusal — Slavery in the West Indies — The Reformed Parliament — +Duke of Wellington’s View of Affairs — The Coercion Bill — The Privy +Council Bill — Lord Durham made an Earl — Mr. Stanley Secretary for the +Colonies — The Russians go to the Assistance of the Porte — Lord Goderich +has the Privy Seal, an Earldom, and the Garter — Embarrassments of the +Government — The Appeal of Drax <i>v.</i> Grosvenor at the Privy Council +— Hobhouse defeated in Westminster — Bill for Negro Emancipation — +The Russians on the Bosphorus — Mr. Littleton Chief Secretary for +Ireland — Respect shown to the Duke of Wellington — Moral of a ‘Book +on the Derby’ — The Oaks — A Betting Incident — Ascot — Government +beaten in the Lords on Foreign Policy — Vote of Confidence in the +Commons — Drax <i>v.</i> Grosvenor decided — Lord Eldon’s Last Judgment — +His Character — Duke of Wellington as Leader of Opposition — West +India Affairs — Irish Church Bill — Appropriation Clause — A Fancy +Bazaar — The King writes to the Bishops — Local Court Bill — +Mirabeau. +</p></blockquote> + +<hr /> + +<h1>A JOURNAL <br /> +<small>OF THE</small> <br /> +REIGN OF KING WILLIAM THE FOURTH</h1> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<blockquote><p style="text-indent: 0"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span> +Accession of William IV. — The King’s Proceedings — His Popularity — +Funeral of George IV. — Dislike of the Duke of Cumberland — The King’s +Simplicity and Good-nature — Reviews the Guards — The First Court — +The King in St. James’s Street — Dissolution of Parliament — The King +dines at Apsley House — The Duke of Gloucester — The Quakers’ Address — +The Ordinances of July — The French Revolution — Brougham’s Election +for Yorkshire — Struggle in Paris — Elections Adverse to Government — +The Duke of Wellington on the French Revolution — Duke of Cumberland +resigns the Gold Stick and the Blues — George IV.’s Wardrobe — +Fall of the Bourbons — Weakness of the Duke’s Ministry — The King +at Windsor — The Duke of Orleans accepts the Crown of France — +Chamber of Peers remodelled — Prince Polignac — The New Parliament +— Virginia Water — Details of George IV.’s Illness and Death — Symptoms +of Opposition — Brougham — Charles X. in England — Dinner in St. +George’s Hall — Lambeth — Marshal Marmont — His Conversation — +Campaign of 1814 — The Conflict in Paris — Dinner at Lord Dudley’s. +</p></blockquote> + +<hr /> + +<h2>1830.</h2> + +<h3>London, July 16th, 1830</h3> + +<p>I returned here on the 6th of this +month, and have waited these ten days to look about me +and see and hear what is passing. The present King and +his proceedings occupy all attention, and nobody thinks +any more of the late King than if he had been dead fifty +years, unless it be to abuse him and to rake up all his vices +and misdeeds. Never was elevation like that of King +William IV. His life has been hitherto passed in obscurity +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +and neglect, in miserable poverty, surrounded by a numerous +progeny of bastards, without consideration or friends, and +he was ridiculous from his grotesque ways and little meddling +curiosity. Nobody ever invited him into their house, or +thought it necessary to honour him with any mark of attention +or respect; and so he went on for above forty years, till +Canning brought him into notice by making him Lord High +Admiral at the time of his grand Ministerial schism. In +that post he distinguished himself by making absurd speeches, +by a morbid official activity, and by a general wildness which +was thought to indicate incipient insanity, till shortly after +Canning’s death and the Duke’s accession, as is well known, +the latter dismissed him. He then dropped back into +obscurity, but had become by this time somewhat more of +a personage than he was before. His brief administration +of the navy, the death of the Duke of York, which made him +heir to the throne, his increased wealth and regular habits, +had procured him more consideration, though not a great +deal. Such was his position when George IV. broke all at +once, and after three months of expectation William finds +himself King.</p> + +<h3>July 18th, 1830</h3> + +<p>King George had not been dead three days +before everybody discovered that he was no loss, and King +William a great gain. Certainly nobody ever was less +regretted than the late King, and the breath was hardly out +of his body before the press burst forth in full cry against +him, and raked up all his vices, follies, and misdeeds, which +were numerous and glaring enough.</p> + +<p>The new King began very well. Everybody expected he +would keep the Ministers in office, but he threw himself +into the arms of the Duke of Wellington with the strongest +expressions of confidence and esteem. He proposed to all +the Household, as well as to the members of Government, to +keep their places, which they all did except Lord Conyngham +and the Duke of Montrose. He soon after, however, dismissed +most of the equerries, that he might fill their places +with the members of his own family. Of course such a King +wanted not due praise, and plenty of anecdotes were raked +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">KING WILLIAM’S ACCESSION.</span> +up of his former generosities and kindnesses. His first +speech to the Council was well enough given, but his burlesque +character began even then to show itself. Nobody expected +from him much real grief, and he does not seem to know +how to act it consistently; he spoke of his brother with all +the semblance of feeling, and in a tone of voice properly +softened and subdued, but just afterwards, when they gave +him the pen to sign the declaration, he said, in his usual tone, +‘This is a damned bad pen you have given me.’ My worthy +colleague Mr. James Buller began to swear Privy Councillors +in the name of ‘King George IV.—William, I mean,’ to the +great diversion of the Council.</p> + +<p>A few days after my return I was sworn in, all the Ministers +and some others being present. His Majesty presided +very decently, and looked like a respectable old admiral. The +Duke [of Wellington] told me he was delighted with him—‘If +I had been able to deal with my late master as I do with +my present, I should have got on much better’—that he +was so reasonable and tractable, and that he had done more +business with him in ten minutes than with the other in as +many days.</p> + +<p>I met George Fitzclarence, afterwards Earl of +Munster,<a name="FNA_11_01" id="FNA_11_01"></a><a href="#FN_11_01" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> +the same day, and repeated what the Duke said, and he told +me how delighted his father was with the Duke, his entire +confidence in him, and that the Duke might as entirely +depend upon the King; that he had told his Majesty, when +he was at Paris, that Polignac and the Duke of Orleans had +both asked him whether the Duke of Clarence, when he +became King, would keep the Duke of Wellington as his +Minister, and the King said, ‘What did you reply?’ ‘I +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +replied that you certainly would; did not I do right?’ +‘Certainly, you did quite right.’</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_11_01" id="FN_11_01"></a><a href="#FNA_11_01"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> +[Eldest son of King William IV. by Mrs. Jordan, who was shortly +after the accession created an earl by his father. The rank of ‘marquis’s +younger children’ was conferred upon the rest of the family. The King +had nine natural children by Mrs. Jordan: 1, George, a major-general in +the army, afterwards Earl of Munster; 2, Frederick, also in the army; 3, +Adolphus, a rear-admiral; 4, Augustus, in holy orders; 5. Sophia, married +to Lord de l’Isle; 6, Mary, married to Colonel Fox; 7, Elizabeth, married +to the Earl of Errol; 8, Augusta, married first to the Hon. John Kennedy +Erskine, and secondly to Lord John Frederick Gordon; 9, Amelia, married +to Viscount Falkland.]</p></div> + +<p>He began immediately to do good-natured things, to +provide for old friends and professional adherents, and he +bestowed a pension upon Tierney’s widow. The great offices +of Chamberlain and Steward he abandoned to the Duke of +Wellington. There never was anything like the enthusiasm +with which he was greeted by all ranks; though he has +trotted about both town and country for sixty-four years, +and nobody ever turned round to look at him, he cannot stir +now without a mob, patrician as well as plebeian, at his heels. +All the Park congregated round the gate to see him drive +into town the day before yesterday. But in the midst of all +this success and good conduct certain indications of strangeness +and oddness peep out which are not a little alarming, +and he promises to realise the fears of his Ministers that he +will do and say too much, though they flatter themselves +that they have muzzled him in his approaching progress by +reminding him that his words will be taken as his Ministers’, +and he must, therefore, be chary of them.</p> + +<p>At the late King’s funeral he behaved with great indecency. +That ceremony was very well managed, and a fine +sight, the military part particularly, and the Guards were +magnificent. The attendance was not very numerous, and +when they had all got together in St. George’s Hall a gayer +company I never beheld; with the exception of Mount Charles, +who was deeply affected, they were all as merry as grigs. +The King was chief mourner, and, to my astonishment, as he +entered the chapel directly behind the body, in a situation +in which he should have been apparently, if not really, +absorbed in the melancholy duty he was performing, he +darted up to Strathaven, who was ranged on one side below +the Dean’s stall, shook him heartily by the hand, and then +went on nodding to the right and left. He had previously +gone as chief mourner to sit for an hour at the head of the +body as it lay in state, and he walked in procession with his +household to the apartment. I saw him pass from behind +the screen. Lord Jersey had been in the morning to Bushy +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">DISLIKE OF THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND.</span> +to kiss hands on being made Chamberlain, when he had +received him very graciously, told him it was the Duke and +not himself who had made him, but that he was delighted +to have him. At Windsor, when he arrived, he gave +Jersey the white wand, or rather took one from him he had +provided for himself, and gave it him again with a little +speech. When he went to sit in state, Jersey preceded him, +and he said when all was ready, ‘Go on to the body, Jersey; +you will get your dress coat as soon as you can.’ The +morning after the funeral, having slept at Frogmore, he +went all over the Castle, into every room in the house, which +he had never seen before except when he came there as a +guest; after which he received an address from the ecclesiastical +bodies of Windsor and Eton, and returned an answer +quite unpremeditated which they told me was excellent.</p> + +<p>He is very well with all his family, particularly the Duke +of Sussex, but he dislikes and seems to know the Duke of +Cumberland, who is furious at his own discredit. The King +has taken from him the Gold Stick, by means of which he +had usurped the functions of all the other colonels of the +regiments of the Guards, and put himself always about the +late King. He says the Duke’s rank is too high to perform +those functions, and has put an end to his services. He has +only put the Gold Sticks on their former footing, and they are +all to take the duty in turn.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the Duke of Cumberland has shown his +teeth in another way. His horses have hitherto stood in the +stables which are appropriated to the Queen, and the other day +Lord Errol, her new Master of the Horse, went to her Majesty +and asked her where she chose her horses should be; she +said, of course, she knew nothing about it, but in the proper +place. Errol then said the Duke of Cumberland’s horses +were in her stables, and could not be got out without an +order from the King. The King was spoken to, and he +commanded the Duke of Leeds to order them out. The +Duke of Leeds took the order to the Duke of Cumberland, +who said ‘he would be damned if they should go,’ when the +Duke of Leeds said that he trusted he would have them +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +taken out the following day, as unless he did so he should +be under the necessity of ordering them to be removed by +the King’s grooms, when the Duke was obliged sulkily to +give way. When the King gave the order to the Duke of +Leeds, he sent for Taylor that he might be present, and said +at the same time that he had a very bad opinion of the Duke +of Cumberland, and he wished he would live out of the +country.</p> + +<p>The King’s good-nature, simplicity, and affability to all +about him are certainly very striking, and in his elevation +he does not forget any of his old friends and companions. +He was in no hurry to take upon himself the dignity of King, +nor to throw off the habits and manners of a country gentleman. +When Lord Chesterfield went to Bushy to kiss his hand, +and be presented to the Queen, he found Sir John and Lady +Gore there lunching, and when they went away the King called +for their carriage, handed Lady Gore into it, and stood at +the door to see them off. When Lord Howe came over from +Twickenham to see him, he said the Queen was going out +driving, and should ‘drop him’ at his own house. The +Queen, they say, is by no means delighted at her elevation. +She likes quiet and retirement and Bushy (of which the King +has made her Ranger), and does not want to be a Queen. +However, ‘L’appétit viendra en mangeant.’ He says he does +not want luxury and magnificence, has slept in a cot, and he +has dismissed the King’s cooks, ‘renversé la marmite.’ He +keeps the stud (which is to be diminished) because he thinks +he ought to support the turf. He has made Mount Charles +a Lord of the Bedchamber, and given the Robes to Sir C. +Pole, an admiral. Altogether he seems a kind-hearted, well-meaning, +not stupid, burlesque, bustling old fellow, and if +he doesn’t go mad may make a very decent King, but he +exhibits oddities. He would not have his servants in mourning—that +is, not those of his own family and household—but +he sent the Duke of Sussex to Mrs. Fitzherbert to desire +she would put hers in mourning, and consequently so they +are. The King and she have always been friends, as she +has, in fact, been with all the Royal Family, but it was very +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE KING’S ODDITIES.</span> +strange. Yesterday morning he sent for the officer on +guard, and ordered him to take all the muffles off the drums, +the scarfs off the regimentals, and so to appear on parade, +where he went himself. The colonel would have put the +officer under arrest for doing this without his orders, but the +King said he was commanding officer of his own guard, +and forbade him. All odd, and people are frightened, but +his wits will at least last till the new Parliament meets. +I sent him a very respectful request through Taylor that he +would pay 300ℓ., all that remained due of the Duke of York’s +debts at Newmarket, which he assented to directly, as soon +as the Privy Purse should be settled—very good-natured. In +the meantime it is said that the bastards are dissatisfied +that more is not done for them, but he cannot do much for +them at once, and he must have time. He has done all he +can; he has made Errol Master of the Horse, Sidney a +Guelph and Equerry, George Fitzclarence the same and Adjutant-General, +and doubtless they will all have their turn. Of +course the stories told about the rapacity of the Conynghams +have been innumerable. The King’s will excited much +astonishment, but as yet nothing is for certain known about +the money, or what became of it, or what he gave away, and +to whom, in his lifetime.</p> + +<h3>July 20th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Yesterday was a very busy day with his +Majesty, who is going much too fast, and begins to alarm +his Ministers and astonish the world. In the morning he +inspected the Coldstream Guards, dressed (for the first time +in his life) in a military uniform and with a great pair of +gold spurs half-way up his legs like a game cock, although +he was not to ride, for having chalk-stones in his hands he +can’t hold the reins. The Queen came to Lady Bathurst’s to +see the review and hold a sort of drawing-room, when the +Ministers’ wives were presented to her, and official men, to +which were added Lady Bathurst’s relations; everybody was +in undress except the officers. She is very ugly, with a +horrid complexion, but has good manners, and did all this +(which she hated) very well. She said the part as if she +was acting, and wished the green curtain to drop. After +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +the review the King, with the Dukes of Cumberland, Sussex, +and Gloucester, and Prince George and the Prince of Prussia, +and the Duchess of Cumberland’s son, came in through the +garden gate; the Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Augusta +were already there; they breakfasted and then went away, the +Duke of Gloucester bowing to the company while nobody was +taking any notice of him or thinking about him. Nature must +have been merry when she made this Prince, and in the sort +of mood that certain great artists used to exhibit in their +comical caricatures; I never saw a countenance which that +line in Dryden’s M‘Flecknoe would so well describe—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And lambent dulness plays around his face.</span> +</div></div> + +<p>At one there was to be a Council, to swear in Privy +Councillors and Lords-Lieutenant, and receive Oxford and +Cambridge addresses. The review made it an hour later, +and the Lieutenants, who had been summoned at one, and who +are great, selfish, pampered aristocrats, were furious at being +kept waiting, particularly Lord Grosvenor and the Duke +of Newcastle, the former very peevish, the latter bitter-humoured. +I was glad to see them put to inconvenience. +I never saw so full a Court, so much nobility with academical +tagrag and bobtail. After considerable delay the +King received the Oxford and Cambridge addresses on the +throne, which (having only one throne between them) he +then abdicated for the Queen to seat herself on and receive +them too. She sat it very well, surrounded by the Princesses +and her ladies and household. When this mob could be got +rid of the table was brought in and the Council held. The +Duke was twice sworn as Constable of the Tower and Lieutenant +of Hants; then Jersey and the new Privy Councillors; +and then the host of Lieutenants six or seven at a time, +or as many as could hold a bit of the Testament. I begged +the King would, to expedite the business, dispense with their +kneeling, which he did, and so we got on rapidly enough; +and I whispered to Jersey, who stood by me behind the King +with his white wand, ‘The farce is good, isn’t it?’ as they +each kissed his hand. I told him their name or county, or +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE KING IN ST. JAMES’S STREET.</span> +both, and he had a civil word to say to everybody, inviting +some to dinner, promising to visit others, reminding them of +former visits, or something good-humoured; he asked Lord +Egremont’s <i>permission</i> to go and live in his county, at +Brighton.</p> + +<p>All this was very well; no great harm in it; more +affable, less dignified than the late King; but when this +was over, and he might very well have sat himself quietly +down and rested, he must needs put on his plainer clothes +and start on a ramble about the streets, alone too. In +Pall Mall he met Watson Taylor, and took his arm and +went up St. James’s Street. There he was soon followed +by a mob making an uproar, and when he got near White’s +a woman came up and kissed him. Belfast (who had +been sworn in Privy Councillor in the morning), who saw +this from White’s, and Clinton thought it time to interfere, +and came out to attend upon him. The mob increased, and, +always holding W. Taylor’s arm, and flanked by Clinton +and Belfast, who got shoved and kicked about to their inexpressible +wrath, he got back to the Palace amid shouting +and bawling and applause. When he got home he asked +them to go in and take a quiet walk in the garden, and said, +‘Oh, never mind all this; when I have walked about a few +times they will get used to it, and will take no notice.’ +There are other stories, but I will put down nothing I do not +see or hear, or hear from the witnesses. Belfast told me this +in the Park, fresh from the scene and smarting from the +buffeting he had got. All the Park was ringing with it, and +I told Lady Bathurst, who thought it so serious she said she +would get Lord Bathurst to write to the Duke directly about +it. Lord Combermere wanted to be made a Privy Councillor +yesterday, but the Duke would not let it be done; he +is in a sort of half-disgrace, and is not to be made yet, but +will be by-and-by.</p> + +<h3>Grove Road, July 21st, 1830</h3> + +<p>I came and established myself +here last night after the Duchess of Bedford’s ball. Lady +Bathurst told me that the Queen spoke to her yesterday +morning about the King’s walk and being followed, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +said that for the future he must walk early in the morning, +or in some less public place, so there are hopes that his +activity may be tamed. He sent George Fitzclarence off +from dinner in his silk stockings and cocked hat to Boulogne +to invite the King of Würtemberg to come here; he was +back in fifty-six hours, and might have been in less. He +employs him in everything, and I heard Fitzclarence yesterday +ask the Duke of Leeds for two of his father’s horses to +ride about on his jobs and relieve his own, which the Duke +agreed to, but made a wry face. Mount Charles has refused +to be Lord of the Bedchamber; his wife can’t bear it, and he +doesn’t like to go to Windsor under such altered circumstances. +I hardly ever record the scandalous stories of the +day, unless they relate to characters or events, but what relates +to public men is different from the loves and friendships +of the idiots of society.</p> + +<h3>July 24th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Went to St. James’s the day before yesterday +for a Council for the dissolution, but there was none. Yesterday +morning there was an idea of having one, but it is +to-day instead, and early in the morning, that the Ministers +may be able to go to their fish dinner at Greenwich. I +called on the Duke yesterday evening to know about a Council, +but he could not tell me. Then came a Mr. Moss (or his +card) while I was there. ‘Who is he?’ I said. ‘Oh, a man +who wants to see me about a canal. I can’t see him. Everybody +will see me, and how the Devil they think I am to see +everybody, and be the whole morning with the King, and to +do the whole business of the country, I don’t know. I am +quite worn out with it.’ I longed to tell him that it is this +latter part they would willingly relieve him from.</p> + +<p>I met Vesey Fitzgerald, just come from Paris, and had +a long conversation with him about the state of the Government; +he seems aware of the difficulties and the necessity +of acquiring more strength, of the universal persuasion that +the Duke will be all in all, and says that in the Cabinet +nobody can be more reasonable and yielding and deferential +to the opinions of his colleagues. But Murray’s appointment, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE KING GOES DOWN TO PARLIAMENT.</span> +he says, was a +mistake,<a name="FNA_11_02" id="FNA_11_02"></a><a href="#FN_11_02" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> +and no personal consideration +should induce the Duke to sacrifice the interests of the +country by keeping him; it may be disagreeable to dismiss +him, but he must do it. Hay told me that for the many +years he had been in office he had never met with any public +officer so totally inefficient as he, not even Warrender at the +Admiralty Board.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_11_02" id="FN_11_02"></a><a href="#FNA_11_02"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> +[Sir George Murray was Secretary of State for the Colonial Department.]</p></div> + +<p>In the meantime the King has had his levee, which was +crowded beyond all precedent. He was very civil to the +people, particularly to Sefton, who had quarrelled with the +late King.</p> + +<p>Yesterday he went to the House of Lords, and was +admirably received. I can fancy nothing like his delight at +finding himself in the state coach surrounded by all his +pomp. He delivered the Speech very well, they say, for I +did not go to hear him. He did not wear the crown, +which was carried by Lord Hastings. Etiquette is a thing +he cannot comprehend. He wanted to take the King of +Würtemberg with him in his coach, till he was told it was +out of the question. In his private carriage he continues +to sit backwards, and when he goes with men makes one +sit by him and not opposite to him. Yesterday, after the +House of Lords, he drove all over the town in an open +calčche with the Queen, Princess Augusta, and the King of +Würtemberg, and coming home he set down the King +(<i>dropped him</i>, as he calls it) at Grillon’s Hotel. The King of +England dropping another king at a tavern! It is impossible +not to be struck with his extreme good-nature and +simplicity, which he cannot or will not exchange for the +dignity of his new situation and the trammels of etiquette; +but he ought to be made to understand that his simplicity +degenerates into vulgarity, and that without departing from +his natural urbanity he may conduct himself so as not to +lower the character with which he is invested, and which +belongs not to him, but to the country.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +At his dinner at St. James’s the other day more people +were invited than there was room for, and some half-dozen +were forced to sit at a side table. He said to Lord Brownlow, +‘Well, when you are flooded (he thinks Lincolnshire is +all fen) you will come to us at Windsor.’ To the Freemasons +he was rather good. The Duke of Sussex wanted +him to receive their address in a solemn audience, which he +refused, and when they did come he said, ‘Gentlemen, if my +love for you equalled my ignorance of everything concerning +you, it would be unbounded,’ and then he added something +good-humoured. The consequence of his trotting about, and +saying the odd things he does, is that there are all sorts of +stories about him which are not true, and he is always expected +everywhere. In the meantime I believe that politically +he relies implicitly on the Duke, who can make him +do anything. Agar Ellis (who is bustling and active, always +wishing to play a part, and gets mixed up with the politics +of this and that party through his various connections) +told me the other day that he knew the Duke was knocking +at every door, hitherto without success, and that he must +be contented to take a <i>party</i>, and not expect to strengthen +himself by picking out individuals. I think this too, but +why not open his doors to all comers? There are no questions +now to stand in his way; his Government must be remodelled, +and he may last for ever personally.</p> + +<h3>July 25th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Yesterday at Court at eleven; a Council for +the dissolution. This King and these Councils are very unlike +the last—few people present, frequent, punctual, less +ceremony observed. Though these Ministers have been in +office all their lives, nobody knew how many days must elapse +before Parliament was summoned; some said sixty, some +seventy days, but not one knew, nor had they settled the +matter previously; so Lord Rosslyn and I were obliged to +go to Bridgewater House, which was near, and consult the +journals. It has always been fifty-two days of late.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon another embarrassment. We sent the +proclamations to the Chancellor (one for England and one +for Ireland), to have the Great Seal affixed to them; he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE KING DINES AT APSLEY HOUSE.</span> +would only affix the Seal to the English, and sent back the +Irish unsealed. The Secretary of State would not send it to +Ireland without the Great Seal, and all the Ministers were +gone to the fish dinner at Greenwich, so that there was no +getting at anybody. At last we got it done at Lincoln’s Inn +and sent it off. The fact is, nobody knows his business, and +the Chancellor least of all. The King continues very active; +he went after the Council to Buckingham House, then to the +Thames Tunnel, has immense dinners every day, and the +same people two or three days running. He has dismissed +the late King’s band, and employs the bands of the Guards +every night, who are ready to die of it, for they get no pay +and are prevented earning money elsewhere. The other +night the King had a party, and at eleven o’clock he dismissed +them thus: ‘Now, ladies and gentlemen, I wish you a +good night. I will not detain you any longer from your +amusements, and shall go to my own, which is to go to bed; +so come along, my Queen.’ The other day he was very +angry because the guard did not know him in his plain +clothes and turn out for him—the first appearance of jealousy +of his greatness he has shown—and he ordered them to be +more on the alert for the future.</p> + +<h3>July 26th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Still the King; his adventures (for they are +nothing else) furnish matter of continual amusement and +astonishment to his liege subjects. Yesterday morning, or +the evening before, he announced to the Duke of Wellington +that he should dine with him yesterday; accordingly the +Duke was obliged, in the midst of preparations for his +breakfast, to get a dinner ready for him. In the morning +he took the King of Würtemberg to Windsor, and just at the +hour when the Duke expected him to dinner he was driving +through Hyde Park back from Windsor—three barouches-and-four, +the horses dead knocked up, in the front the two +Kings, Jersey, and somebody else, all covered with dust. The +whole mob of carriages and horsemen assembled near Apsley +House to see him pass and to wait till he returned. The +Duke, on hearing he was there, rushed down without his hat +and stood in his gate in the middle of servants, mob, &c., to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +see him pass. He drove to Grillon’s ‘to drop’ the King of +Würtemberg, and at a quarter past eight he arrived at +Apsley House. There were about forty-five men, no women, +half the Ministers, most of the foreign Ministers, and a +mixture rather indiscriminate. In the evening I was at +Lady Salisbury’s, when arrived the Duke of Sussex, who +gave a short account to Sefton of what had passed, and of +the King’s speech to the company. ‘You and I,’ he said, ‘are +old Whigs, my Lord, and I confess I was somewhat astonished +to hear his Majesty’s speech.’ I went afterwards +to Crockford’s, where I found Matuscewitz, who gave me a +whole account of the dinner. The two Kings went out to +dinner arm in arm, the Duke followed; the King sat between +the King of Würtemberg and the Duke. After dinner his +health was drunk, to which he returned thanks, sitting, but +briefly, and promised to say more by-and-by when he should +give a toast. In process of time he desired Douro to go and +tell the band to play the merriest waltz they could for the +toast he was about to give. He then gave ‘The Queen of +Würtemberg,’ with many eulogiums on her and on the +connubial felicity of her and the King; not a very agreeable +theme for his host, for conjugal fidelity is not his forte. At +length he desired Douro to go again to the band and order +them to play ‘See the conquering hero comes,’ and then he +rose. All the company rose with him, when he ordered +everybody to sit down. Still standing, he said that he had +been so short a time on the throne that he did not know +whether etiquette required that he should speak sitting or +standing, but, however this might be, he had been long +used to speak on his legs, and should do so now; he then +proposed the Duke’s health, but prefaced it with a long +speech—instituted a comparison between him and the Duke +of Marlborough; went back to the reign of Queen Anne, and +talked of the great support the Duke of Marlborough had +received from the Crown, and the little support the Duke of +Wellington had had in the outset of his career, though after +the battle of Vimeiro he had been backed by all the energies +of the country; that, notwithstanding his difficulties, his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE KING’S SPEECH AT APSLEY HOUSE.</span> +career had been one continued course of victory over the +armies of France; and then recollecting the presence of +Laval, the French Ambassador, he said, ‘Remember, Duc de +Laval, when I talk of victories over the French armies, they +were not the armies of my ally and friend the King of +France, but of him who had usurped his throne, and +against whom you yourself were combating;’ then going +back to the Duke’s career, and again referring to the comparison +between him and Marlborough, and finishing by +adverting to his political position, that he had on mounting +the throne found the Duke Minister, and that he had retained +him because he thought his Administration had been +and would be highly beneficial to the country; that he gave +to him his fullest and most cordial confidence, and that he +announced to all whom he saw around him, to all the Ambassadors +and Ministers of foreign Powers, and to all the +noblemen and gentlemen present, that as long as he should +sit upon the throne he should continue to give him the same +confidence. The Duke returned thanks in a short speech, +thanking the King for his confidence and support, and declaring +that all his endeavours would be used to keep this +country in relations of harmony with other nations. The +whole company stood aghast at the King’s extraordinary +speech and declaration. Matuscewitz told me he never was +so astonished, that for the world he would not have missed +it, and that he would never have believed in it if he had +not heard it.</p> + +<p>Falck<a name="FNA_11_03" id="FNA_11_03"></a><a href="#FN_11_03" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> +gave me a delightful account of the speech and +of Laval. He thought, not understanding one word, that +all the King was saying was complimentary to the King of +France and the French nation, and he kept darting from his +seat to make his acknowledgments, while Esterhazy held +him down by the tail of his coat, and the King stopped him +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +with his hand outstretched, all with great difficulty. He +said it was very comical.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_11_03" id="FN_11_03"></a><a href="#FNA_11_03"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> +[Baron Falck, Dutch Minister at the Court of St. James’s. M. de +Laval was the French Ambassador. This dinner took place on the day after +the publication of the ordinances of July. Three days later Charles X. had +ceased to reign. M. de Laval instantly left London on the receipt of the +intelligence, leaving M. de Vaudreuil as Chargé d’Affaires.]</p></div> + +<h3>July 27th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Review in the morning (yesterday), breakfast +at Apsley House, chapter of the Garter, dinner at St. +James’s, party in the evening, and ball at Apsley House. I +don’t hear of anything remarkable, and it was so hot I could +not go to anything, except the breakfast, which I just looked +in to for a minute, and found everybody sweating and stuffing +and the royalties just going away. The Duke of Gloucester +keeps up his quarrel with the Duke; the Duke of Cumberland +won’t go to Apsley House, but sent the Duchess and +his boy. The Queen said at dinner the other day to the +Duke of Cumberland, ‘I am very much pleased with you for +sending the Duchess to Apsley House,’ and then turned to +the Duke of Gloucester and said, ‘but I am not pleased with +you for not letting the Duchess go there.’ The fool answered +that the Duchess should never go there; he would not be +reconciled, forgetting that it matters not twopence to the +Duke of Wellington and a great deal to himself.</p> + +<p>I have been employed in settling half a dozen disputes of +different sorts, but generally without success, trifling matters, +foolish or violent people, not worth remembering any of +them. The Chancellor, who does not know his own business, +has made an attack on my office about the proclamations, +but I have vindicated it in a letter to Lord Bathurst.</p> + +<h3>July 28th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Yesterday Charles Wynn and I settled the +dispute between Clive and Charlton about the Ludlow +matters. Charlton agrees to retire from the contest both in +the Borough and Corporation, and Clive agrees to pay him. +1,125ℓ. towards his expenses, and not to oppose the reception +of any petition that may be presented to the House of Commons +for the purpose of re-opening the question of the right +of voting. Both parties are very well satisfied with this +termination of their disputes. Met the Chancellor at Lady +Ravensworth’s breakfast yesterday, who told me he had sent +a rejoinder to my letter to Lord Bathurst about the proclamations.</p> + +<h3>July 29th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Yesterday a standing Council at the levee +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">ORDINANCES OF CHARLES X.</span> +to swear in Lord Hereford and Vesey Fitzgerald, and to +declare Lord Bathurst President of the Council and the +Duke of Northumberland Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. Previously +the King received the address of the dissenting +ministers, and then that of the Quakers, presented by +William Allen; they were very prim and respectable persons; +their hats were taken off by each other in the room before +the Throne Room, and they did not bow, though they seemed +half inclined to do so; they made a very loyal address, but +without ‘Majesty,’ and said ‘O King.’ There was a question +after his answer what they should do. I thought it was +whether they should kiss hands, for the King said something +to Peel, who went and asked them, and I heard the King +say, ‘Oh, just as they like; they needn’t if they don’t like; +it’s all one.’</p> + +<p>But the great event of the day was the reception of the +King of France’s two decrees, and the address of his +Ministers, who produced them; nothing could surpass the +universal astonishment and consternation. Falck told me +he was reading the newspaper at his breakfast regularly +through, and when he came to this the teacup almost +dropped from his hands, and he rubbed his eyes to see +whether he read correctly. Such was the secresy with which +this measure was conceived and acted on, that Pozzo, who is +quicker and has better intelligence than anybody, had not a +notion of it, as Matuscewitz told me. Aberdeen learnt it +through the ‘Times,’ and had not a line from Stuart. That, +however, is nothing extraordinary. I suspect somebody had +it, for Raikes wrote me a note the day before, to ask me if +there was not <i>something bad</i> from France. Matuscewitz told +me that Russia would not afford Charles X. the smallest +support in his new crusade against the Constitution of +France, and this he pronounced openly <i>ŕ qui voulait l’entendre</i>. +I suspect the Duke will be desperately annoyed. +The only Minister I had a word with about it was Lord +Bathurst, whose Tory blood bubbled a little quicker at such +a despotic act, and while owning the folly of the deed he +could not help adding that ‘he should have repressed the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +press when he dissolved the Chambers, then he might have +done it.’</p> + +<h3>July 30th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Everybody anxious for news from France. +A few hope, and still fewer think, the King of France will +succeed, and that the French will submit, but the press +here joins in grand chorus against the suppression of the +liberty of that over the water. Matuscewitz told me he had +a conference with the Duke, who was excessively annoyed, +but what seems to have struck him more than anything is +the extraordinary secresy of the business, and neither Pozzo +nor Stuart having known one word of it. Up to the last +Polignac has deceived everybody, and put such words into +the King’s mouth that nobody could expect such a <i>coup</i>. +The King assured Pozzo di Borgo the day before that +nothing of the sort was in contemplation. This, like everything +else, will be judged by the event—desperate fatuity if +it fails, splendid energy and accurate calculation of opposite +moral forces if it succeeds. I judge that it will fail, +because I can see no marks of wisdom in the style of execution, +and the State paper is singularly puerile and weak in +argument. It is passionate and not dexterous, not even +plausible. All this is wonderfully interesting, and will give +us a lively autumn.</p> + +<p>The King has been to Woolwich, inspecting the artillery, +to whom he gave a dinner, with toasts and hip, hip, hurrahing +and three times three, himself giving the time. I tremble +for him; at present he is only a mountebank, but he bids fair +to be a maniac.</p> + +<p>Brougham will come in for Yorkshire without a contest; +his address was very eloquent. He is rather mad without a +doubt; his speeches this year have been sometimes more +brilliant than ever they were; but who with such stupendous +talents was ever so little considered? We admire him as +we do a fine actor, and nobody ever possessed such enormous +means, and displayed a mind so versatile, fertile, and comprehensive, +and yet had so little efficacy and influence. +He told me just before he left town that Yorkshire had been +proposed to him, but that he had written word he would not +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">REVOLUTION IN PARIS.</span> +stand, nor spend a guinea, nor go there, nor even take the +least trouble about the concerns of anyone of his constituents, +if they elected him; but he soon changed his note.</p> + +<h3>July 31st, 1830</h3> + +<p>Yesterday morning I met Matuscewitz in St. +James’s Street, who said, ‘You have heard the news?’ But +I had not, so I got into his cabriolet, and he told me that +Bülow had just been with him with an account of Rothschild’s +estafette, who had brought intelligence of a desperate +conflict at Paris between the people and the Royal Guard, in +which 1,000 men had been killed of the former, and of the +eventual revolt of two regiments, which decided the business; +that the Swiss had refused to fire on the people; the King is +gone to Rambouillet, the Ministers are missing, and the Deputies +who were at Paris had assembled in the Chambers, and +declared their sittings permanent. Nothing can exceed the +interest and excitement that all these proceedings create here, +and unless there is a reaction, which does not seem probable, +the game is up with the Bourbons. They richly deserve +their fate. It remains to be seen what part Bourmont and +the Algerian army will take; the latter will probably side with +the nation, and the former will be guided by his own interest, +and is not unlikely to endeavour to direct a spirit which he +could not expect to control. He may reconcile himself to the +country by a double treachery.</p> + +<p><i>At night.</i>—To-day at one o’clock Stuart’s messenger +arrived with a meagre account, having left Paris on the +night of the 29th. The tricoloured flag had been raised; the +National Guard was up, commanded by old Lafayette (their +chief forty years ago), who ruled in Paris with Gérard, +Odier, Casimir Périer, Lafitte, and one or two more. The +Tuileries and the Louvre had been pillaged; the King was at +Rambouillet, where Marshal Marmont had retired, and had +with him a large force. Nobody, however, believed they would +fight against the people. The Deputies and the Peers had met, +and the latter separated without doing anything; the former +had a stormy discussion, but came to no resolution. Some +were for a republic, some for the Duke of Orleans, some for +the Duke of Bordeaux with the Duke of Orleans as Regent. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +Rothschild had another courier with later intelligence. The +King had desired to treat, and that proposals might be made +to him; all the Ministers escaped from Paris by a subterranean +passage which led from the Tuileries to the river, +and even at St. Cloud the Duke told Matuscewitz that ‘Marmont +had taken up a good military position,’ as if it was a +military and not a moral question. Strange he should think +of such a thing, but they are all terrified to death at the +national flag and colours, because they see in its train +revolutions, invasions, and a thousand alarms. I own I +would rather have seen an easy transfer of the Crown to +some other head under the white flag. There was Lady +Tankerville going about to-day enquiring of everybody for +news, trembling for her brother ‘and his brigade.’ Late in +the day she got Lady Jersey to go with her to Rothschild, +whom she saw, and Madame Rothschild, who showed her all +their letters. Tankerville, who is a sour, malignant little Whig +(since become an ultra-Tory), loudly declares Polignac ought +to be hung. The elections here are going against Government, +and no candidate will avow that he stands on Government +interest, or with the intention of supporting the Duke’s +Ministry, which looks as if it had lost all its popularity.</p> + +<h3>August 2nd, 1830</h3> + +<p>Yesterday (Sunday) we had no news and no +reports, except one that Marmont was killed. I never believe +reports. The elections still go against Government. G. +Dawson returned from Dublin; all the Peels lose their seats. +Fordwich beat Baring at Canterbury by 370 votes. It is +said the King was in a state of great excitement at Woolwich +the other day, when it was very hot, and he drank a +good deal of wine.</p> + +<p><i>Evening</i>.—This morning, on going into town, I read in +the ‘Times’ the news of the day—the proclamation of the +Provisional Government, the invitation to the Duke of +Orleans, his proclamation, and the account of the conversation +between Lafitte and Marmont. It is in vain to look +for private or official information, for the ‘Times’ always +has the latest and the best; Stuart sends next to nothing. +Soon after I got to George Street the Duke of Wellington +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">WELLINGTON ON THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.</span> +came in, in excellent spirits, and talked over the whole +matter. He said he could not comprehend how the Royal +Guard had been defeated by the mob, and particularly how +they had been forced to evacuate the Tuileries; that he had +seen English and French troops hold houses whole days not +one-fourth so strong. I said that there could not be a +shadow of doubt that it was because they <i>would</i> not fight, +that if they <i>would</i> have fought they must have beat the +mob, and reminded him of the French at Madrid, and asked +him if he did not think his regiment would beat all the +populace of London, which he said it would. He described +the whole affair as it has taken place, and said that there +can be no doubt that the moneyed men of Paris (who are all +against the Government) and the Liberals had foreseen a +violent measure on the part of the King, and had organised +the resistance; that on the appearance of the edicts the +bankers simultaneously refused to discount any bills, on +which the great manufacturers and merchants dismissed +their workmen, to the number of many thousands, who inflamed +the public discontent, and united to oppose the +military and the execution of the decrees. He said positively +that we should not take any part, and that no other +Government ought or could. He does not like the Duke of +Orleans, and thinks his proclamation mean and shabby, but +owned that under all circumstances his election to the Crown +would probably be the best thing that could happen. The +Duke of Chartres he had known here, and thought he was +intelligent. The Duke considered the thing as settled, but +did not feel at all sure they would offer the Crown to the +Duke of Orleans. He said he could not guess or form an +opinion as to their ulterior proceedings.</p> + +<p>After discussing the whole business with his usual +simplicity, he began talking of the Duke of Cumberland and +his resignation of the command of the Blues. Formerly the +colonels of the two regiments of Life Guards held alternately +the Gold Stick, and these two regiments were under +the immediate orders of the King, and not of the Commander-in-Chief. +When the Duke of Wellington returned +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +from Spain and had the command of the Blues, the King +insisted upon his taking the duty also; so it was divided +into three, but the Blues still continued under the Commander-in-Chief. +But when the Duke of Cumberland +wanted to be continually about the King, he got him to give +him the command of the Household troops; this was at the +period of the death of the Duke of York and the Duke of +Wellington’s becoming Commander-in-Chief. The Duke of +Cumberland told the Duke of Wellington that he had received +the King’s verbal commands to that effect, and from +that time he alone kept the Gold Stick, and the Blues were +withdrawn from the authority of the Commander-in-Chief. +The Duke of Wellington made no opposition; but last year, +during the uproar on the Catholic question, he perceived the +inconvenience of the arrangement, and intended to speak +to the King about it, for the Duke of Cumberland was +concerned in organising mobs to go down to Windsor +to frighten Lady Conyngham and the King, and the Horse +Guards, who would naturally have been called out to suppress +any tumult, would not have been disposable without the +Duke of Cumberland’s concurrence, so much so that on one +particular occasion, when the Kentish men were to have +gone to Windsor 20,000 strong, the Duke of Wellington +detained a regiment of light cavalry who were marching +elsewhere, that he might not be destitute of military aid. +Before, however, he did anything about this with the King +(‘I always,’ he said, ‘do one thing at a time’) his Majesty +was taken ill and died.</p> + +<p>On the accession of the present King the Duke of +Cumberland wished to continue the same system, which his +Majesty was resolved he should not, and he ordered that the +colonels of the regiments should take the Stick in rotation. +He also ordered (through Sir R. Peel) that Lord Combermere +should command the troops at the funeral as Gold Stick. +This the Duke of Cumberland resisted, and sent down orders +to Lord Cathcart to assume the command. The Duke of +Wellington, however, represented to Lord Cathcart that he +had better do no such thing, as nobody could disobey the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">WARDROBE OF GEORGE IV.</span> +King’s orders gone through the Secretary of State, and accordingly +he did nothing. But the King was determined to +put an end to the pretensions of the Duke of Cumberland, +and spoke to the Duke on the subject, and said that he +would have all the regiments placed under the orders of the +Commander-in-Chief. The Duke recommended him to replace +the matter in the state in which it stood before the +Duke of Cumberland’s pretensions had altered it, but he +would not do this, and chose to abide by his original intention; +so the three regiments were placed under the orders of +the Horse Guards like the rest, and the Duke of Cumberland +in consequence resigned the command of the Blues.</p> + +<h3>August 3rd, 1830</h3> + +<p>Notwithstanding the above story, the King +dined with the Duke of Cumberland at Kew yesterday. I +went yesterday to the sale of the late King’s wardrobe, +which was numerous enough to fill Monmouth Street, and +sufficiently various and splendid for the wardrobe of Drury +Lane. He hardly ever gave away anything except his +linen, which was distributed every year. These clothes are +the perquisite of his pages, and will fetch a pretty sum. +There are all the coats he has ever had for fifty years, +300 whips, canes without number, every sort of uniform, the +costumes of all the orders in Europe, splendid furs, pelisses, +hunting-coats and breeches, and among other things a +dozen pair of corduroy breeches he had made to hunt in +when Don Miguel was here. His profusion in these articles +was unbounded, because he never paid for them, and his +memory was so accurate that one of his pages told me he +recollected every article of dress, no matter how old, and +that they were always liable to be called on to produce some +particular coat or other article of apparel of years gone by. +It is difficult to say whether in great or little things that +man was most odious and contemptible.</p> + +<p>Nothing from France yesterday but the most absurd +reports.</p> + +<h3>August 5th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Yesterday morning at a Council; all the +Ministers, and the Duke of Rutland, Lords Somers, Rosslyn, +and Gower to be sworn Lieutenants. Talked about France +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +with Sir G. Murray, who was silly enough to express his +disappointment that things promised to be soon and quietly +settled, and hoped the King would have assembled an army +and fought for it. Afterwards a levee. While the Queen +was in the closet they brought her word that Charles X. +was at Cherbourg, and had sent for leave to come here; but +nobody knew yesterday if this was true or not. In the +afternoon I met Vaudreuil, and had a long conversation with +him on the state of things. He said, ‘My family has been +twice ruined by these cursed Bourbons, and I will be damned +if they shall a third time;’ that he had long foreseen the inevitable +tendency of Polignac’s determination, ever since he +was here, when he had surrounded himself with low agents +and would admit no gentleman into his confidence; one of +his <i>affidés</i> was a man of the name of Carrier, a relation of the +famous Carrier de Nantes. Vaudreuil’s father-in-law had +consulted him many months ago what to do with 300,000ℓ. +which he had in the French funds, and he advised him to +sell it out and put it in his drawer, which he did, sacrificing +the interest for that time. He had hitherto done nothing, +been near none of the Ministers, feeling that he could say +nothing to them; no communication had been made to him, +but whenever any should be he intended to reply to it. +Laval ran away just in time, and Vaudreuil was so provoked +at his evasion that he sent after him to say that in such +important circumstances he could not take upon himself to +act without his Ambassador’s instructions. No answer of +course. He thinks that if this had not taken place a few +years must have terminated the reign of the Bourbons, and +that it is only the difference between sudden and lingering +death; that when he was at Paris he had seen the dissatisfaction +of the young officers in the Guards, who were all +Liberal; and with these sentiments, what a condition they +must have been in when called upon to charge and fire on +the people while secretly approving of their conduct, ‘entre +leurs devoirs de citoyens et de militaires!’</p> + +<p>I had a conversation with Fitzgerald (Vesey) the other +day about the Government and its prospects. They want +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE KING GOES TO WINDSOR</span> +him greatly to return to office, but he is going abroad again +for his health, and I suspect is not very anxious to come in +just now, when things look gloomy. He thinks they have +acted very injudiciously in sending down candidates to +turn out their opponents, attempts which generally failed, +and only served to exasperate the people interested more +and more against them. Such men as the Grants, as he +said, cannot be kept out of Parliament. But they manage +everything ill, and it is impossible to look at the present +Ministry and watch its acts, and not marvel that the Duke +should think of going on with it. If he does not take +care he will be dragged down by it, whereas if he would, +while it is yet time, remodel it altogether, and open his +doors to all who are capable of serving under him (for all +are ready to take him as chief), he might secure to himself a +long and honourable possession of power. Then it is said +he can’t whistle off these men merely because it is convenient, +but he had better do that than keep them on +bungling through all the business of the country. Besides, I +have some doubts of his tender-heartedness in this respect.</p> + +<h3>Goodwood, August 10th, 1830</h3> + +<p>On Saturday, the 7th, the King +and Queen breakfasted at Osterley, on their way to Windsor. +They had about sixty or seventy people to meet them, and it +all went off very well, without anything remarkable. I went +to Stoke afterwards, where there was the usual sort of party.</p> + +<p>The King entered Windsor so privately that few people +knew him, though he made the horses walk all the way from +Frogmore that he might be seen. On Saturday and Sunday the +Terrace was thrown open, and the latter day it was crowded +by multitudes and a very gay sight; there were sentinels on +each side of the east front to prevent people walking under +the windows of the living-rooms, but they might go where +else they liked. The King went to Bagshot and did not +appear. All the late King’s private drives through the Park +are also thrown open, but not to carriages. We went, however, +a long string of four carriages, to explore, and got +through the whole drive round by Virginia Water, the famous +fishing-pagoda, and saw all the penetralia of the late King, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +whose ghost must have been indignant at seeing us (Sefton +particularly) scampering all about his most secret recesses. +It is an exceedingly enjoyable spot, and pretty, but has not +so much beauty as I expected.</p> + +<p>Came here yesterday and found thirty-two people assembled. +I rode over the downs three or four miles (from +Petworth), and never saw so delightful a country to live in. +There is an elasticity in the air and turf which communicates +itself to the spirits.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the French Revolution has been proceeding +rapidly to its consummation, and the Duke of +Orleans is King. Montrond, who was at Stoke, thinks that +France will gravitate towards a republic, and principally for +this reason, that there is an unusual love of equality, and no +disposition to profit by the power of making <i>majorats</i>, therefore +that there never can be anything like an aristocracy. +We are so accustomed to see the regular working of our +constitutional system, with all its parts depending upon +each other, and so closely interwoven, that we have difficulty +in believing that any monarchical Government can exist +which is founded on a basis so different. This is the great +political problem which is now to be solved. I think, however, +that in the present settlement it is not difficult to see +the elements of future contention and the working of a +strong democratical spirit. The Crown has been conferred +on the Duke of Orleans by the Chamber of Deputies alone, +which, so far from inviting the Chamber of Peers to discuss +the question of succession, has at the same time decreed a +material alteration in that Chamber itself. It has at a blow +cut off all the Peers of Villčle’s great promotion, which is an +enormous act of authority, although the measure may be +advisable. There is also a question raised of the hereditary +quality of the peerage, and I dare say that for the future +at least peerages will not be hereditary, not that I think this +signifies as to the existence of an aristocracy, for the constant +subdivision of property must deprive the Chamber of +all the qualities belonging to an English House of Lords, +and it would perhaps be better to establish another principle, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">FRENCH DEMOCRACY.</span> +such as that of promoting to the Chamber of Peers +men (for life) of great wealth, influence, and ability, who +would constitute an aristocracy of a different kind indeed, +but more respectable and efficient, than a host of poor +hereditary senators. What great men are Lord Lonsdale, +the Duke of Rutland, and Lord Cleveland! but strip them, +of their wealth and power, what would they be? Among +the most insignificant of mankind; but they all acquire a +factitious consideration by the influence they possess to do +good and evil, the extension of it over multitudes of dependents. +The French can have no aristocracy but a personal +one, ours is in the institution; theirs must be individually +respectable, as ours is collectively looked up to. In the +meantime it will be deemed a great step gained to have a +monarchy established in France at all, even for the moment, +but some people are alarmed at the excessive admiration +which the French Revolution has excited in England, and +there is a very general conviction that Spain will speedily +follow the example of France, and probably Belgium also. +Italy I don’t believe will throw off the yoke; they have +neither spirit nor unanimity, and the Austrian military force +is too great to be resisted. But Austria will tremble and see +that the great victory which Liberalism has gained has +decided the question as to which principle, that of light or +darkness, shall prevail for the future in the world.</p> + +<h3>London, August 14th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Stayed at Goodwood till the 12th; +went to Brighton, riding over the downs from Goodwood to +Arundel, a delightful ride. How much I prefer England to +Italy! There we have mountains and sky; here, vegetation +and verdure, fine trees and soft turf; and in the long run +the latter are the most enjoyable. Yesterday came to +London from Brighton; found things much as they were, but +almost everybody gone out of town. The French are proceeding +steadily in the reconstruction of their Government, +but they have evinced a strong democratical spirit. The new +King, too, conducts himself in a way that gives me a bad +opinion of him; he is too complaisant to the rage for +equality, and stoops more than he need do; in fact, he overdoes +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +it. It is a piece of abominably bad taste (to say no +worse) to have conferred a pension on the author of the +Marseillaise hymn; for what can be worse than to rake up +the old ashes of Jacobinism, and what more necessary than +to distinguish as much as possible this Revolution from that +of 1789? Then he need not be more familiar as King than +he ever was as Duke of Orleans, and affect the manners of a +citizen and a plainness of dress and demeanour very suitable +to an American President, but unbecoming a descendant of +Louis XIV.</p> + +<p>The new Charter is certainly drawn up with great moderation, +the few alterations which have been made approximating +it to the spirit of the English Constitution, and in +the whole of the proceedings the analogies of our revolution +have been pretty closely followed. But there has been a +remarkable deviation, which I think ominous, and I can’t +imagine how it has escaped with so little animadversion +here. That is the cavalier manner in which the Chamber of +Peers has been treated, for the Deputies not only assumed +all the functions of Government and legislation, and disposed +by their authority of the Crown without inviting the concurrence +of the other Chamber, but at the same time they +exercised an enormous act of authority over the Chamber of +Peers itself in striking off the whole of that great promotion +of Charles X., which, however unwise and perhaps unconstitutional, +was perfectly legal, and those Peers had, in fact, +as good a right to their peerages as any of their colleagues. +They have reconstructed the Chamber of Peers, and conferred +upon it certain rights and privileges; but the power which +can create can also destroy, and it must be pretty obvious +after this that the Upper Chamber will be for the future +nothing better than a superior Court of Judicature, depending +for its existence upon the will of the popular branch. There +are some articles of the old Charter which I am astonished +at their keeping, but which they may possibly +alter<a name="FNA_11_04" id="FNA_11_04"></a><a href="#FN_11_04" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> +at the +revision which is to take place next year, those particularly +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">POLIGNAC.</span> +which limit the entrance to the Chamber of Deputies to men +of forty, and which give the initiation of laws to the King. +But on the whole it is a good sign that they should alter so +little, and looks like extreme caution and a dislike to rapid +and violent changes.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_11_04" id="FN_11_04"></a><a href="#FNA_11_04"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> +They are altered. The first translation of the Charter which I read +was incorrect.</p></div> + +<p>In the meantime we hear nothing of the old King, who +marches slowly on with his family. It has been reported in +London that Polignac is here, and also that he is taken. +Nobody knows the truth. I have heard of his behaviour, +however, which was worthy of his former imbecility. He +remained in the same presumptuous confidence up to the +last moment, telling those who implored him to retract while +it was still time that they did not know France, that he did, +that it was essentially Royalist, and all resistance would be +over in a day or two, till the whole ruin burst on him at +once, when he became like a man awakened from a dream, +utterly confounded with the magnitude of the calamity and +as pusillanimous and miserable as he had before been blind +and confident. It must be owned that their end has been +worthy of the rest, for not one of them has evinced good +feeling, or magnanimity, or courage in their fall, nor excited +the least sympathy or commiseration. The Duke of Fitzjames +made a good speech in the Chamber of Peers, and +Chateaubriand a very fine one a few days before, full of +eloquence in support of the claim of the Duke of Bordeaux +against that of Louis Philippe I.</p> + +<p>In the meantime our elections here are still going against +Government, and the signs of the times are all for reform +and retrenchment, and against slavery. It is astonishing +the interest the people generally take in the slavery question, +which is the work of the Methodists, and shows the +enormous influence they have in the country. The Duke (for +I have not seen him) is said to be very easy about the next +Parliament, whereas, as far as one can judge, it promises to +be quite as unmanageable as the last, and is besides very ill +composed—full of boys and all sorts of strange men.</p> + +<h3>August 20th, 1830</h3> + +<p>On Monday to Stoke; Alvanley, Fitzroy +Somerset, Matuscewitz, Stanislas Potocki, Glengall, and Mornay +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +were there. Lady Sefton (who had dined at the Castle a +few days before) asked the King to allow her to take Stanislas +Potocki to see Virginia Water in a carriage, which is not +allowed, but which his Majesty agreed to. Accordingly we +started, and going through the private drives, went up to the +door of the tent opposite the fishing-house. They thought it +was the Queen coming, or at any rate a party from the Castle, +for the man on board the little frigate hoisted all the colours, +and the boatmen on the other side got ready the royal barge +to take us across. We went all over the place on both sides, +and were delighted with the luxury and beauty of the whole +thing. On one side are a number of tents, communicating +together in separate apartments and forming a very good +house, a dining-room, drawing-room, and several other small +rooms, very well furnished; across the water is the fishing-cottage, +beautifully ornamented, with one large room and a +dressing-room on each side; the kitchen and offices are in a +garden full of flowers, shut out from everything. Opposite +the windows is moored a large boat, in which the band used +to play during dinner, and in summer the late King dined +every day either in the house or in the tents. We had +scarcely seen everything when Mr. Turner, the head keeper, +arrived in great haste, having spied us from the opposite side, +and very angry at our carriages having come there, which is +a thing forbidden; he did not know of our leave, nor could +we even satisfy him that we were not to blame.</p> + +<p>The next day I called on Batchelor (he was <i>valet de +chambre</i> to the Duke of York, afterwards to George IV.), +who has an excellent apartment in the Lodge, which, he +said, was once occupied by Nell Gwynne, though I did not +know the lodge was built at that time. I was there a +couple of hours, and heard all the details of the late King’s +illness and other things. For many months before his death +those who were about him were aware of his danger, but +nobody dared to say a word. The King liked to cheat +people with making them think he was well, and when he +had been at a Council he would return to his apartments +and tell his <i>valets de chambre</i> how he had deceived them. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">GEORGE IV.’S ILLNESS AND DEATH.</span> +During his illness he was generally cheerful, but occasionally +dejected, and constantly talked of his brother the Duke of +York, and of the similarity of their symptoms, and was +always comparing them. He had been latterly more civil +to Knighton than he used to be, and Knighton’s attentions +to him were incessant; whenever he thought himself worse +than usual, and in immediate danger, he always sent for +Sir William. Lady Conyngham and her family went into +his room once a day; till his illness he always used to +go and sit in hers. It is true that last year, when she was +so ill, she was very anxious to leave the Castle, and it was +Sir William Knighton who with great difficulty induced her +to stay there. At that time she was in wretched spirits, +and did nothing but pray from morning till night. However, +her conscience does not seem ever to have interfered with +her ruling passion, avarice, and she went on accumulating. +During the last illness waggons were loaded every night and +sent away from the Castle, but what their contents were was +not known, at least Batchelor did not say. All Windsor knew +this. Those servants of the King who were about his person +had opportunities of hearing a great deal, for he used to talk +of everybody before them, and without reserve or measure.</p> + +<p>This man Batchelor had become a great favourite with the +late King. The first of his pages, William Holmes, had for +some time been prevented by ill health from attending him. +Holmes had been with him from a boy, and was also a great +favourite; by appointments and perquisites he had as much +as 12,000ℓ. or 14,000ℓ. a year, but he had spent so much in +all sorts of debauchery and living like a gentleman that he +was nearly ruined. There seems to have been no end to the +<i>tracasseries</i> between these men; their anxiety to get what they +could out of the King’s wardrobe in the last weeks, and their +dishonesty in the matter, were excessive, all which he told +me in great detail. The King was more than anybody the +slave of habit and open to impressions, and even when he +did not like people he continued to keep them about him +rather than change.</p> + +<p>While I was at Stoke news came that Charles X. had +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +arrived off Portsmouth. He has asked for an asylum in +Austria, but when once he has landed here he will not move +again, I dare say. The enthusiasm which the French Revolution +produced is beginning to give way to some alarm, and +not a little disgust at the Duke of Orleans’ conduct, who +seems anxious to assume the character of a Jacobin King, +affecting extreme simplicity and laying aside all the pomp +of royalty. I don’t think it can do, and there is certainly +enough to cause serious disquietude for the future.</p> + +<p>Sefton in the meantime told me that Brougham and +Lord Grey were prepared for a violent opposition, and that +they had effected a formal junction with Huskisson, being +convinced that no Government could now be formed without +him. I asked him if Palmerston was a party to this junction, +and he said he was, but the first thing I heard when I got +to town was that a negotiation is going on between Palmerston +and the Duke, and that the former takes every +opportunity of declaring his goodwill to the latter, and how +unshackled he is. Both these things can’t be true, and time +will show which is. It seems odd that Palmerston should +abandon his party on the eve of a strong coalition, which is +not unlikely to turn out the present Administration, but it is +quite impossible to place any dependence upon public men +now-a-days. There is Lord Grey with his furious opposition, +having a little while ago supported the Duke in a sort of +way, having advised Rosslyn to take office, and now, because +his own vanity is hurt at not being invited to join the Government, +or more consulted at least, upon the slight pretext of the +Galway Bill in the last Parliament he rushes into rancorous +opposition, and is determined to give no quarter and listen to +no compromise. Brougham is to lead this Opposition in the +House of Commons, and Lord Grey in the Lords, and nothing +is to be done but as the result of general deliberation and +agreement. Brougham in the meantime has finished his +triumph at York in a miserable way, having insulted Martin +Stapylton on the hustings, who called him to account, and +then he forgot what he had said, and slunk away with a disclaimer +of unintentional offence, as usual beginning with intemperance +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">CHARLES X. IN ENGLAND.</span> +and ending with submission. His speeches were +never good, but at his own dinner he stated so many untruths +about the Duke of Wellington that his own partisans bawled +out ‘No, no,’ and it was a complete failure. His whole +spirit there was as bad as possible, paltry and commonplace. +That man, with all his talents, never can or will <i>do</i> in any +situation; he is base, cowardly, and unprincipled, and with +all the execrable judgment which, I believe, often flows from +the perversion of moral sentiment. Nobody can admire his +genius, eloquence, variety and extent of information, and the +charm of his society more than I do; but his faults are +glaring, and the effects of them manifest to anybody who +will compare his means and their results.</p> + +<h3>August 23rd, 1830</h3> + +<p>General Baudrand is come over with a +letter from King Louis Philippe to King William. He saw +the Duke and Aberdeen yesterday. Charles X. goes to Lulworth +Castle. What are called moderate people are greatly +alarmed at the aspect of affairs in France, but I think the law +(which will be carried) of abolishing capital punishment in +political cases is calculated to tranquillise men’s minds everywhere, +for it draws such a line between the old and the new +Revolution. The Ministers will be tried and banished, but no +blood spilt. Lord Anglesey went to see Charles X., and told +him openly his opinion of his conduct. The King laid it all +upon Polignac. The people of Paris wanted to send over a +deputation to thank the English for their sympathy and +assistance—a sort of fraternising affair—but the King would +not permit it, which was wisely done, and it is a good thing +to see that he can curb in some degree that spirit; this +Vaudreuil told me last night. It would have given great +offence and caused great alarm here.</p> + +<h3>August 24th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Alvanley had a letter from Montrond +yesterday from Paris. He was with M. Molé when a letter +was brought him from Polignac, beginning, ‘Mon cher +Collčgue,’ and saying that he wrote to him to ask his +advice what he had better do, that he should have liked to +retire to his own estate, but it was too near Paris, that he +should like to go into Alsace, and that he begged he would +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +arrange it for him, and in the meantime send him some +boots, and shirts, and breeches.</p> + +<p>The French King continues off Cowes, many people visiting +him. They came off without clothes or preparation of +any kind, so much so that Lady Grantham has been obliged +to furnish Mesdames de Berri and d’Angoulęme with everything; +it seems they have plenty of money. The King says +he and his son have retired from public life; and as to his +grandson, he must wait the progress of events; that his conscience +reproaches him with nothing.</p> + +<p>The dinner in St. George’s Hall on the King’s birthday +was the finest thing possible—all good and hot, and served +on the late King’s gold plate. There were one hundred +people at table. After dinner the King gave the Duke of +Wellington’s health, as it was the anniversary of Vimeiro; +the Dukes of Cumberland and Gloucester turned their +glasses down. I can’t agree with Charles X. that it would +be better to ‘<i>travailler pour son pain</i> than to be King of +England.’</p> + +<p>I went yesterday all over Lambeth Palace, which has +been nearly rebuilt by Blore, and admirably done; one of +the best houses I ever saw. Archbishop Juxon’s Hall has +been converted into the library of the Palace, and is also a +fine thing in its way. It is not to cost above 40,000ℓ. The +Lollards’ Tower, which is very curious with its iron rings, and +the names of the Lollards written on the walls, is not to be +touched.</p> + +<p><i>At night</i>.—Went to Lady Glengall’s to meet Marmont. +He likes talking of his adventures, but he had done his Paris +talk before I got there; however, he said a great deal about +old campaigning and Buonaparte, which, as well as I recollect, +I will put down.</p> + +<p>As to the battle of Salamanca, he remarked that, without +meaning to detract from the glory of the English arms, he +was inferior in force there; our army was provided with everything, +well paid, and the country favourable, his ‘dénuée de +tout,’ without pay, in a hostile country; that all his provisions +came from a great distance and under great escorts, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">CONVERSATION WITH MARSHAL MARMONT.</span> +and his communications were kept up in the same way. Of +Russia, he said that Buonaparte’s army was destroyed by the +time he got to Moscow, destroyed by famine; that there were +two ways of making war, by slow degrees with magazines, +or by rapid movements and reaching places where abundant +means of supply and reorganisation were to be found, as he +had done at Vienna and elsewhere, but in Russia supplies were +not to be had. Napoleon had, however, pushed on with the +same rapidity and destroyed his army. Marshal Davoust (I +think, but am not sure) had a <i>corps d’armée</i> of 80,000 men +and reached Moscow with 15,000; the cavalry were 50,000 +sabres, at Moscow they were 6,000. Somebody asked him +if Napoleon’s generals had not dissuaded him from going to +Russia. Marmont said no; they liked it; but Napoleon ought +to have stopped at Smolensk, made Poland independent, and +levied 50,000 Cossacks, the Polish Cossacks being better than +the Russian, who would have kept all his communications +clear, and allowed the French army to repose, and then he +would have done in two campaigns what he wished to accomplish +in one; instead of which he never would deal with +Poland liberally, but held back with ulterior views, and never +got the Poles cordially with him. Of the campaign of 1813 he +said that it was ill conducted by Napoleon and full of faults; +his creation of the army was wonderful, and the battle of +Dresden would have been a great movement if he had not +suddenly abandoned Vandamme after pushing him on to cut +off the retreat of the Allies. It was an immense fault to +leave all the garrisons in the Prussian and Saxon fortresses. +The campaign of 1814 was one of his most brilliant. He +(Marmont) commanded a <i>corps d’armée</i>, and fought in most +of the celebrated actions, but he never had 4,000 men; at +Paris, which he said was ‘the most honourable part of his +whole career,’ he had +7,500.<a name="FNA_11_05" id="FNA_11_05"></a><a href="#FN_11_05" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> +Napoleon committed a great +fault in throwing himself into the rear as he did; he should +have fallen back upon Paris, where his own presence would +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +have been of vast importance, and sent Marmont into the +rear with what troops he could collect. I repeated what the +Duke of Wellington had once told me, that if the Emperor +had continued the same plan, and fallen back on Paris, he +would have obliged the Allies to retreat, and asked him what +he thought. He rather agreed with this, but said the Emperor +had conceived one of the most splendid pieces of strategy +that ever had been devised, which failed by the disobedience +of Eugene. He sent orders to Eugene to assemble his army, in +which he had 35,000 French troops, to amuse the Austrians +by a negotiation for the evacuation of Italy; to throw the +Italian troops into Alessandria and Mantua; to destroy the +other fortresses, and going by forced marches with his French +troops, force the passage of Mont Cenis, collect the scattered +<i>corps d’armée</i> of Augereau (who was near Lyons) and another +French general, which would have made his force amount to +above 60,000 men, and burst upon the rear of the Allies so +as to cut off all their communications. These orders he sent +to Eugene, but Eugene ‘ręvait d’ętre roi d’Italie aprčs sa +chute,’ and he sent his aide-de-camp Tascher to excuse himself. +The movement was not made, and the game was up. +Lady Dudley Stewart was there, Lucien’s daughter and +Buonaparte’s niece. Marmont was presented to her, and she +heard him narrate all this; there is something very simple, +striking, and soldierlike in his manner and appearance. He +is going to Russia.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_11_05" id="FN_11_05"></a><a href="#FNA_11_05"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> +[This assertion of Marmont’s is the more curious as it was to his +alleged treachery that Napoleon when at Fontainebleau chose to ascribe his +defeat.]</p></div> + +<p>He was very communicative about events at Paris, +lamented his own ill-luck, involved in the business against +his wishes and feelings; he disapproved of Polignac and his +measures, and had no notion the <i>ordonnances</i> were thought of. +In the morning he was going to St. Germain for the day; +when his aide-de-camp brought him the newspaper with the +<i>ordonnances il tomba de son haut</i>. Soon after the Dauphin +sent to him to desire that, as there might be some +‘vitres cassées,’ he would take the command of the troops. +Directly after the thing began. He had 7,000 or 8,000 men; +not a preparation had been made of any sort; they had never +thought of resistance, had not consulted Marmont or any +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">CRADOCK’S MISSION TO CHARLES X.</span> +military man; he soon found how hopeless the case was, +and sent eight estafettes to the King one after another +during the action to tell him so and implore him to stop +while it was time. They never returned any answer. He +then rode out to St. Cloud, where he implored the King to +yield. It was not till after seven hours’ pressing that he +consented to name M. de Mortemart Minister, but would not +withdraw the edicts. He says that up to Wednesday night +they would have compromised and accepted M. de Mortemart +and the suppression of the edicts, but the King still demurred. +On Wednesday night he yielded, but then the communications +were interrupted. That night the meeting at +the Palais Royal took place, at which the King’s fate was +determined; and on Thursday morning when his offers +arrived, it was too late, and they would no longer treat. +Marmont said he had been treated with the greatest ingratitude +by the Court, and had taken leave of them for ever, +coldly of the King and Dauphin; the Duchess of Berri alone +shook hands with him and thanked him for his services and +fidelity. He says never man was so unlucky, that he was +<i>maréchal de quartier</i> and could not refuse to serve, but he +only acted on the defensive; 2,000 of the troops and 1,500 +of the populace were killed. The Swiss did not behave well, +but the Lanciers de la Garde beautifully, and all the troops +were acting against their feelings and opinions. Marmont +said that Stuart had sent Cradock to Charles X. to desire +he would go as slowly as he could, to give time for a reaction +which he expected would take place. Cradock did go to the +King, but I rather doubt this +story.<a name="FNA_11_06" id="FNA_11_06"></a><a href="#FN_11_06" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_11_06" id="FN_11_06"></a><a href="#FNA_11_06"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> +[Colonel Cradock (the late Lord Howden) was sent by the Ambassador +to the King, and had an audience at Rambouillet, but it was at +the request and instigation of the Duke of Orleans. The proposal entrusted +to Colonel Cradock was to the effect that the King and the Dauphin, having +abdicated, should quit France with the Princesses, but that Henry V. should +be proclaimed King under the regency of the Duke of Orleans. Louis +Philippe offered to support this arrangement, and to carry on the Government +as Regent, if Charles X. sanctioned it. The King received the communication +in bed. The Duchess of Angoulęme was consulted, and vehemently +opposed the scheme, because, said she, speaking of the Orleans family, ‘ils +sont toujours les męmes,’ and she referred to the preposterous stories current +at the time of the death of the Duc de Bourgogne, and the regency of 1715. +The offer was therefore rejected. These facts were not known to Mr. +Greville at the time, nor till long afterwards, but they confirm his information +that ‘Cradock <i>did</i> go to the King,’]</p></div> + +<h3>August 27th, 1830</h3> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +At Court the day before yesterday; Parliament +was prorogued and summoned. General Baudrand +came afterwards and delivered his letter, also a private letter +‘from the Duke of Orleans to the Duke of Clarence’—as the +French King called them, ‘anciens amis.’ He was well +received and well satisfied. I never knew such a burst of +indignation and contempt as Polignac’s letter has caused—a +letter to the President of the Chamber of Peers. As Dudley +says, it has saved history the trouble of crucifying that man, +and speaks volumes about the recent events. Such a man to +have been Prime Minister of France for a year!</p> + +<h3>August 29th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Dined with Dudley the day before yesterday +to meet Marmont, who is made very much of here by the +few people who are left. He had been to Woolwich in the +morning, where the Duke of Wellington had given orders +that everything should be shown to him, and the honours +handsomely done. He was very much gratified, and he +found the man who had pointed the gun which wounded +him at Salamanca, and who had since lost his own arm at +Waterloo. Marmont shook hands with him and said, ‘Ah, +mon ami, chacun a son tour.’ Lady Aldborough came in +in the evening, and flew up to him with ‘Ah, mon cher +Maréchal, embrassez-moi;’ and so after escaping the cannon’s +mouth at Paris, he was obliged to face Lady Aldborough’s +mouth here. This was my first dinner at Dudley’s, brought +about <i>malgré lui</i> by Lady Glengall. He has always disliked +and never invited me, but now (to all appearance) we are +friends. He said he had been to see an old man who lives +near the world’s end—Chelsea—who is 110 years old; he has +a good head of hair, with no grey hairs in it; his health, +faculties, and memory perfect; is Irish, and has not lived +with greater temperance than other people. I sat next to +Palmerston, and had a great deal of conversation with him, +and from the tenour of his language infer that he has no +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">DINNER AT LORD DUDLEY’S.</span> +idea of joining Government. Agar Ellis assured me the +other day that there was not a word of truth in the reported +junction between Lord Grey and Huskisson. The Duke has +got two months to make his arrangements, but I am afraid he +is not prepared for all the sacrifices his position requires. +It is now said that the exasperation against the late Ministers +(particularly Polignac) is so great in France that it is doubtful +whether they will be able to save their lives.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<blockquote><p style="text-indent: 0"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +The Belgian Revolution — The Duke of Wellington and Canning — The +King’s Plate — Gloomy Forebodings — Retreat of the Prince of Orange — +Prince Talleyrand — Position of the Government — Death of Huskisson — His +Character — The Duke of Wellington and Peel — Meeting of Parliament — The +Duke’s Declaration — The King’s Visit to the City abandoned — Disturbances +in London — Duchesse de Dino — The Cholera — Southey, +Henry Taylor, John Stuart Mill — Dinner at Talleyrand’s — The +Duke of Wellington resigns — Mr. Bathurst made Junior Clerk of the +Council — Lord Spencer and Lord Grey sent for — Formation of Lord +Grey’s Administration — Discontent of Brougham — Brougham takes the +Great Seal — Character of the New Ministers — Prospects of the Opposition — +Disturbances +in Sussex and Hampshire — Lord Grey and Lord +Brougham — Lord Sefton’s Dinner — The New Ministers sworn at a +Council.</p></blockquote> + +<hr /> + +<h3>Stoke, August 31st, 1830</h3> + +<p>On Sunday I met Prince +Esterhazy<a name="FNA_12_01" id="FNA_12_01"></a><a href="#FN_12_01" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> +in Oxford Street with a face a yard long. He turned back +with me, and told me that there had been disturbances at +Brussels, but that they had been put down by the gendarmerie. +He was mightily alarmed, but said that his +Government would recognise the French King directly, and +in return for such general and prompt recognition as he was +receiving he must restrain France from countenancing revolutions +in other countries, and that, indeed, he had lost +no time in declaring his intention to abstain from any +meddling. In the evening Vaudreuil told me the same +thing, and that he had received a despatch from M. Molé +desiring him to refuse passports to the Spaniards who +wanted, on the strength of the French Revolution, to go +and foment the discontents in Spain, and to all other +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">WELLINGTON’S FOREIGN POLICY.</span> +foreigners who, being dissatisfied with their own Governments, +could not obtain passports from their own Ministers. +Yesterday morning, however, it appeared that the affair at +Brussels was much more serious than Esterhazy had given +me to understand; and, as far as can be judged from the +unofficial statements which we have, it appears likely that +Belgium will separate from Holland altogether, it being very +doubtful whether the Belgian troops will support the King’s +Government.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_01" id="FN_12_01"></a><a href="#FNA_12_01"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> +[Prince Paul Esterhazy, Austrian Ambassador at the Court of St. +James for many years.]</p></div> + +<p>Madame de Falck is just come, but brings no news. +Falck<a name="FNA_12_02" id="FNA_12_02"></a><a href="#FN_12_02" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> +has heard nothing. He left Holland before the outbreak. +In the event of such a revolution, it remains to be +seen what part Prussia will take, and, if she marches an +army to reduce Belgium to obedience, whether the Belgians +will not make overtures to France, and in that case whether +King Louis Philippe will be able to restrain the French from +seizing such a golden opportunity of regaining their former +frontier; and if they accept the offer, whether a general war +in Europe will not ensue.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_02" id="FN_12_02"></a><a href="#FNA_12_02"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> +[Baron Falck, Dutch Minister at the Court of St. James.]</p></div> + +<p>In these difficult circumstances, and in the midst of possibilities +so tremendous, it is awful to reflect upon the very +moderate portion of wisdom and sagacity which is allotted +to those by whom our affairs are managed. I am by no +means easy as to the Duke of Wellington’s sufficiency to +meet such difficulties; the habits of his mind are not those +of patient investigation, profound knowledge of human +nature, and cool, discriminating sagacity. He is exceedingly +quick of apprehension, but deceived by his own quickness +into thinking he knows more than he does. He has amazing +confidence in himself, which is fostered by the deference +of those around him and the long experience of his military +successes. He is upon ordinary occasions right-headed and +sensible, but he is beset by weaknesses and passions which +must, and continually do, blind his judgment. Above all he +wants that suavity of manner, that watchfulness of observation, +that power of taking great and enlarged views of +events and characters, and of weighing opposite interests +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +and probabilities, which are essentially necessary in circumstances +so delicate, and in which one false step, any hasty +measure, or even incautious expression, may be attended with +consequences of immense importance. I feel justified in this +view of his political fitness by contemplating the whole +course of his career, and the signal failure which has marked +all his foreign policy. If Canning were now alive we might +hope to steer through these difficulties, but if he had lived +we should probably never have been in them. He was the +only statesman who had sagacity to enter into and comprehend +the spirit of the times, and to put himself at the +head of that movement which was no longer to be arrested. +The march of Liberalism (as it is called) would not be +stopped, and this he knew, and he resolved to govern and +lead instead of opposing it. The idiots who so rejoiced at +the removal of this master mind (which alone could have +saved them from the effects of their own folly) thought to +stem the torrent in its course, and it has overwhelmed them. +It is unquestionable that the Duke has too much participated +in their sentiments and passions, and, though he never mixed +himself with their proceedings, regarded them with a favourable +eye, nor does he ever seem to have been aware of the +immensity of the peril which they were incurring. The +urgency of the danger will unquestionably increase the impatience +of those who already think the present Government +incapable of carrying on the public business, and now that +we are placed in a situation the most intricate (since the +French Revolution) it is by no means agreeable to think that +such enormous interests are at the mercy of the Duke’s +awkward squad.</p> + +<p>Sefton gave me an account of the dinner in St. George’s +Hall on the King’s birthday, which was magnificent—excellent +and well served. +Bridge<a name="FNA_12_03" id="FNA_12_03"></a><a href="#FN_12_03" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> +came down with the plate, +and was hid during the dinner behind the great wine-cooler, +which weighs 7,000 ounces, and he told Sefton afterwards that +the plate in the room was worth 200,000ℓ. There is another +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">GLOOMY FOREBODINGS.</span> +service of gold plate, which was not used at all. The King +has made it all over to the Crown. All this plate was +ordered by the late King, and never used; his delight was +ordering what the public had to pay for.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_03" id="FN_12_03"></a><a href="#FNA_12_03"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> +[Of the house of Rundell and Bridge, the great silversmiths and +jewellers of the day.]</p></div> + +<h3>September 9th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Came from Stoke the day after the +Egham races, and went to Brocket Hall on Saturday last; +returned the day before yesterday. Nothing can exceed the +interest, the excitement, the consternation which prevail +here. On Saturday last the funds suddenly fell near three +per cent.; no cause apparent, a thousand reports, and a panic +on the Stock Exchange. At last on Monday it appeared +that the Emperor of Russia had, on the first intelligence of +the revolution in France, prohibited the tricoloured cockade +and ordered all Russian subjects to quit France. As we +went down on Saturday Henry told me that there had been +alarming accounts from the manufacturing districts of a +disposition to rise on the part of the workmen, which had +kept Lord Hill in town; and this I fancied was the cause of +the fall, but it was the Russian business. They have since, +however, rallied to nearly what they were before. At Brocket +I had a long conversation with my +brother-in-law,<a name="FNA_12_04" id="FNA_12_04"></a><a href="#FN_12_04" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> +who is +never very communicative or talkative, but he takes a +gloomy view of everything, not a little perhaps tinctured by +the impending ruin which he foresees to his own property +from the Liverpool Railroad, which is to be opened with great +ceremony on the 15th; moreover he thinks the Government +so weak that it cannot stand, and expects the Duke will be +compelled to resign. He has already offered him his place, +to dispose of in any way that may be useful to him. I said +that I thought one of the Duke’s greatest misfortunes was +his having no wise head to consult with in all emergencies; +this he said was very true, for there was nobody who +would even speak to him about anything; that Peel, who +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +was the man who might naturally be expected to put himself +forward, never would; and that repeatedly he had got +him (Francis) to go to or write to the Duke about some +matter or other on which it was necessary to refer to him. +In the business of Huskisson, Huskisson himself was most +anxious to have it made up, and wished Peel to speak to the +Duke; but Peel would not stir, nor would Dudley, and it +ended in Francis’ being charged with the negotiation, the +result of which everybody knows.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_04" id="FN_12_04"></a><a href="#FNA_12_04"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> +[Lord Francis Egerton, afterwards First Earl of Ellesmere, proprietor +of the Bridgewater Estates and Canal, which was threatened by the competition +of the newly-made Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Lord +Francis held the office of Secretary at War in 1830 for a very short time, +having previously been Irish Secretary when Lord Anglesey was Lord +Lieutenant.]</p></div> + +<p>In the meantime the affairs of Belgium are in a very +critical state; the Prince of Orange has entirely failed in +reducing the malcontents to submission, and after passing +two or three days at or near Brussels in fruitless negotiation +and the interchange of proud civilities, he was obliged to +retire and carry back to the King a proposal that Belgium +and Holland should be separated and a Federal Union +established between them. Last night, however, a proclamation +of the King appeared, well drawn up, and couched in +firm, temperate, and sensible language, in which he declares +that he will do all that the circumstances of the case may +render necessary, but that all shall be referred to the States-General, +and they shall decide upon the measures to be +adopted. This will probably excite great discontent, and it +is at least doubtful whether the Belgian Deputies will consent +to go to the Hague at all. My belief is that this proclamation +is the result of encouragement from Prussia.</p> + +<p>The night before last I had a letter from the Duc de +Dalberg with a very sensible view of the state of France and +of affairs generally in Europe, auguring well of the stability +of the present Government, provided the other Powers of +Europe do nothing to disturb the general tranquillity. I +never was so astonished as when I read in the newspaper of +the appointment of Talleyrand to be Ambassador here. He +must be nearer eighty than seventy, and though his faculties +are said to be as bright as ever (which I doubt), his infirmities +are so great that it is inconceivable he should think of +leaving his own home, and above all for another country, +where public representation is unavoidable. Dalberg told +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">BAD PROSPECTS OF THE SESSION.</span> +me that several of the Ministers are going out—Guizot, +Marshal Gérard, and Baron Louis, the two latter <i>accablés</i> +with the <i>travail</i>, and the first unused to and unfit for official +business;<a name="FNA_12_05" id="FNA_12_05"></a><a href="#FN_12_05" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> +Louis is seventy-three.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_05" id="FN_12_05"></a><a href="#FNA_12_05"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> +[A curious estimate, taken at the time, of the man who for the next +eighteen years had a larger share of official life and business than any other +Frenchman.]</p></div> + +<p>In the meantime the Duke does nothing here towards +strengthening his Government, and he will probably meet +Parliament as he is. There are some circumstances in his +favour, and I think it possible he may still extricate himself +from his difficulties. There is unquestionably a notion +amongst many persons (of the aristocracy) that he is the +only man to rely upon for governing this country in the +midst of difficulties. It is hard to say upon what this feeling +(for it is more of a feeling than an opinion) is founded; not +certainly upon any experience of his abilities for Government +either as to principles or the details of particular branches +of business, or his profound, dispassionate, and statesmanlike +sagacity, but upon certain vague predilections, and the confidence +which he has infused into others by his own firm, +manly, and even dictatorial character, and the recollection +of his military exploits and splendid career, which have not +yet lost their power over the minds of men, and to this +must be added his great influence over the late and present +sovereigns.</p> + +<p>The short session which will begin on the 28th of +October will be occupied with the Regency and Civil List, +and it is probable that both those matters will be produced +in a form to give general satisfaction; that will be strength +as far as it goes. The Tories are alarmed at the general +aspect of affairs, and I doubt whether they will not forget +their ancient grievances and antipathies, and, if they do not +support the Government, abstain at least from any violent +opposition, the result of which could only be to let in the +Whigs, of whose principles they have the greatest apprehensions. +I can perfectly understand that there may be many +men who, wishing sincerely to see a stronger Government +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +formed, may think that any change at this moment which +may present to Europe a spectacle of disunion and weakness +here would be a greater evil than the temporary toleration +of such Ministers as ours; and if the Duke does find such +a disposition, and profits by it dexterously and temperately, +he may float through the next session, and at the end of it +negotiate with other parties on more advantageous terms +than he possibly could do now, when all his concessions +would appear to be extorted by force or by the urgent difficulties +of his position.</p> + +<h3>September 10th, 1830</h3> + +<p>The Duke is very much disturbed about +the state of affairs, thinks ill of France and generally of the +state of Europe. I think the alarmists are increasing everywhere, +and the signs of the times are certainly portentous; +still I doubt there being any great desire of change among +the mass of the people of England, and prudent and dexterous +heads (if there be any such) may still steer on through the +storm. If Canning were alive I believe he would have been +fully equal to the emergency if he was not thwarted by the +passions, prejudices, and follies of others; but if he had lived +we should not have had the Catholic question settled, and +what a state we should be in now if that were added to the rest!</p> + +<h3>September 14th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Last Saturday to Panshanger; returned +yesterday with Melbourne, George Lamb, and the +Ashleys. George said there would be a violent Opposition +in the approaching session. +William<a name="FNA_12_06" id="FNA_12_06"></a><a href="#FN_12_06" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> +told me he thought +Huskisson was the greatest practical statesman he had +known, the one who united theory with practice the most, +but owned he was not popular and not thought honest; +that his remaining in with the Duke when Goderich’s +Ministry was dissolved was a fatal error, which he could +never repair.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_06" id="FN_12_06"></a><a href="#FNA_12_06"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> +[William Lamb, second Lord Melbourne, afterwards Prime Minister.]</p></div> + +<p>I found Sefton in town last night, and went to the play +with him. He has had a letter from Brougham, who told +him he should go to the Liverpool dinner and attack the +Duke of Wellington; that it was the only opportunity he +should ever have in his life of meeting him face to face, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">DEATH OF MR. HUSKISSON.</span> +he then proceeded to relate all that he should say. Sefton +wrote him word that if he said half what he intended the chairman +would order him to be turned out of the room. He won’t +go, I am persuaded.</p> + +<h3>Newark, September 18th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Went back to Panshanger last +Tuesday; found there Madame de Lieven, Melbourne, and +the Hollands and Allen. Lord Holland was very agreeable, as +he always is, and told many anecdotes of George Selwyn, +Lafayette, and others. I saw them arrive in a coach-and-four +and chaise-and-pair—two footmen, a page, and two maids. +He said (what is true) that there is hardly such a thing in the +world as a good house or a good epitaph, and yet mankind +have been employed in building the former and writing the +latter since the beginning almost. Came to town on Thursday, +and in the afternoon heard the news of Huskisson’s +horrible accident, and yesterday morning got a letter from +Henry with the details, which are pretty correctly given in +the ‘Times’ newspaper. It is a very odd thing, but I had +for days before a strong presentiment that some terrible +accident would occur at this ceremony, and I told Lady +Cowper so, and several other people. Nothing could exceed +the horror of the few people in London at this event, +or the despair of those who looked up to him politically. +It seems to have happened in this way:—While the Duke’s +car was stopping to take in water, the people alighted and +walked about the railroad; when suddenly another car, which +was running on the adjoining level, came up. Everybody +scrambled out of the way, and those who could got again +into the first car. This Huskisson attempted to do, but he +was slow and awkward; as he was getting in some part of +the machinery of the other car struck the door of his, by +which he was knocked down. He was taken up, and conveyed +by Wilton<a name="FNA_12_07" id="FNA_12_07"></a><a href="#FN_12_07" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> +and Mrs. Huskisson (who must have seen +the accident happen) to the house of Mr. Blackburne, eight +miles from Heaton. Wilton saved his life for a few hours by +knowing how to tie up the artery; amputation was not +possible, and he expired at ten o’clock that night. Wilton, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +Lord Granville, and Littleton were with him to the last. +Mrs. Huskisson behaved with great courage. The Duke of +Wellington was deeply affected, and it was with the greatest +difficulty he could be induced to proceed upon the progress to +Manchester, and at last he only yielded to the most pressing +solicitations of the directors and others, and to a strong remonstrance +that the mob might be dangerous if he did not +appear. It is impossible to figure to one’s self any event +which could produce a greater sensation or be more striking +to the imagination than this, happening at such a time and +under such circumstances: the eminence of the man, the +sudden conversion of a scene of gaiety and splendour into +one of horror and dismay; the countless multitudes present, +and the effect upon them—crushed to death in sight of his +wife and at the feet (as it was) of his great political rival—all +calculated to produce a deep and awful impression. The +death of Huskisson cannot fail to have an important effect +upon political events; it puts an end to his party as a party, +but it leaves the survivors at liberty to join either the Opposition +or the Government, while during his life there were +great difficulties to their doing either, in consequence of the +antipathy which many of the Whigs had to him on one side +and the Duke of Wellington on the other. There is no use, +however, in speculating on what will happen, which a very +short time will show.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_07" id="FN_12_07"></a><a href="#FNA_12_07"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> +[Thomas Grosvenor Egerton, second Earl of Wilton.]</p></div> + +<p>Agar Ellis told me yesterday morning that he had +received a letter from Brougham a day or two ago, in which +he said that he was going to Liverpool, and hoped there to +sign a treaty with Huskisson, so that it is probable they +would have joined to oppose the Government. As to the +Duke of Wellington, a fatality attends him, and it is perilous +to cross his path. There were perhaps 500,000 people +present on this occasion, and probably not a soul besides +hurt. One man only is killed, and that man is his most +dangerous political opponent, the one from whom he had +most to fear. It is the more remarkable because these great +people are generally taken such care of, and put out of the +chance of accidents. Canning had scarcely reached the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">CHARACTER OF HUSKISSON.</span> +zenith of his power when he was swept away, and the field +was left open to the Duke, and no sooner is he reduced +to a state of danger and difficulty than the ablest of his +adversaries is removed by a chance beyond all power of +calculation.</p> + +<p>Huskisson was about sixty years old, tall, slouching, and +ignoble-looking. In society he was extremely agreeable, +without much animation, generally cheerful, with a great +deal of humour, information, and anecdote, gentlemanlike, +unassuming, slow in speech, and with a downcast look, as if +he avoided meeting anybody’s gaze. I have said what Melbourne +thought of him, and that was the opinion of his +party. It is probably true that there is no man in Parliament, +or perhaps out of it, so well versed in finance, commerce, +trade, and colonial matters, and that he is therefore a +very great and irreparable loss. It is nevertheless remarkable +that it is only within the last five or six years that he acquired +the great reputation which he latterly enjoyed. I do not +think he was looked upon as more than a second-rate man +till his speeches on the silk trade and the shipping interest; +but when he became President of the Board of Trade he devoted +himself with indefatigable application to the maturing and +reducing to practice those commercial improvements with +which his name is associated, and to which he owes all his +glory and most of his unpopularity. It is equally true that +all the ablest men in the country coincide with him, and that +the mass of the community are persuaded that his plans are +mischievous to the last degree. The man whom he consulted +through the whole course of his labours and enquiries was +Hume,<a name="FNA_12_08" id="FNA_12_08"></a><a href="#FN_12_08" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> +who is now in the Board of Trade, and whose vast experience +and knowledge were of incalculable service to him. +Great as his abilities unquestionably were, it is impossible to +admire his judgment, which seems repeatedly to have failed +him, particularly in his joining the Duke’s Government on +Goderich’s resignation, which was a capital error, his speech +afterwards at Liverpool and his subsequent quarrel with the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +Duke. In all these cases he acted with the greatest imprudence, +and he certainly contrived, without exposing himself +to any specific charge, to be looked upon as a statesman of +questionable honour and integrity; and of this his friends as +well as his enemies were aware. As a speaker in the House of +Commons he was luminous upon his own subject, but he had +no pretensions to eloquence; his voice was feeble and his +manner ungraceful; however, he was (unfortunately) one of +the first men in the House, and was listened to with attention +upon any subject. He left no children. Mrs. Huskisson +has a pension of 1,200ℓ. a year. The accounts from Paris +improve, inasmuch as there seems a better prospect than +there has been lately of tranquillity in the country. Sneyd +writes word that there is little doubt but that the Duc de +Bourbon was +assassinated.<a name="FNA_12_09" id="FNA_12_09"></a><a href="#FN_12_09" class="fnanchor">[9]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_08" id="FN_12_08"></a><a href="#FNA_12_08"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> +[John Deacon Hume, the Assistant Joint Secretary of the Board of +Trade.]</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_09" id="FN_12_09"></a><a href="#FNA_12_09"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> +[The Duc de Bourbon-Condé was found hanging in his bedroom. +Suspicion pointed to Madame de Fenchčres, his mistress, as privy to the +cause of his death, which however, was never clearly ascertained. The +Duke had made an ample provision for Madame de Fenchčres in his will, +but the bulk of his vast property, including Chantilly, was bequeathed to +the Duc d’Aumale, fourth son of King Louis Philippe. The Duc de Bourbon +was the father of the unfortunate Duc d’Enghien.]</p></div> + +<p>Last night to Brockett Hall, where I slept and came on +here to-day. The King has paid me 300ℓ. for Goodison, the +late Duke’s jockey, which settles all he owed at Newmarket, +and was a very good-natured act.</p> + +<p>George Seymour is made Master of the Robes, and gives +up his +place<a name="FNA_12_10" id="FNA_12_10"></a><a href="#FN_12_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> +in the House of Lords, so +Jersey<a name="FNA_12_11" id="FNA_12_11"></a><a href="#FN_12_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> +within two +months has got an enormous place to give away.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_10" id="FN_12_10"></a><a href="#FNA_12_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> +He did not give it up; wanted Jersey to appoint his brother Frederick, +which he refused to do; so the other remained.—<i>November 15th</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_11" id="FN_12_11"></a><a href="#FNA_12_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> +[Lord Jersey was Lord Chamberlain of the Household at the time.]</p></div> + +<h3>Chatsworth, September 27th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Got to Sprotborough last +Sunday; Lord Talbot and Lady Cecil, William Lascelles, +Irby, Lady Charlotte Denison, Captain Grey. It rained +all the time of the races. They offered Priam to Chesterfield +for 3,000ℓ. before his match, and he refused; he offered it +after, and they refused. There were a number of beautiful +women there—my cousin Mrs. Foljambe, Misses Mary and +Fanny Brandling the best. Came here on Friday night, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">HUSKISSON’S LAST MOMENTS.</span> +found as usual a large party, but rather dull; Granvilles, +Newboroughs, Wharncliffes, G. Seymours, Sir J. and Lady +Fitzgerald (very pretty), Talbots, Madame Bathiany, Beaumonts, +G. Lamb. Yesterday Brougham came with his +brother, sister, and daughter-in-law, in the highest spirits and +state of excitement, going about Yorkshire, dining and +speechifying; he was at Doncaster too. Lord Granville was +just returned from Huskisson’s funeral at Liverpool. It was +attended by a great multitude, who showed every mark of +respect and feeling. He died the death of a great man, +suffering torments, but always resigned, calm, and collected; +took the Sacrament, and made a codicil to his will, said the +country had had the best of him, and that he could not have +been useful for many more years, hoped he had never committed +any political sins that might not be easily forgiven, +and declared that he died without a feeling of ill-will and +in charity with all men. As he lay there he heard the guns +announcing the Duke of Wellington’s arrival at Manchester, +and he said, ‘I hope to God the Duke may get safe through +the day.’ When he had done and said all he desired, he +begged they would open a vein and release him from his +pain. From the beginning he only wished to die quickly. +Mrs. Huskisson was violently opposed to his being buried at +Liverpool, and it was with great difficulty she was persuaded +to consent to the repeated applications that were made to her +for that purpose.</p> + +<h3>Buckenham, October 25th, 1830</h3> + +<p>A month nearly since I have +written a line; always racing and always idleness. Went +from Chatsworth to Heaton Park; an immense party, excellent +house and living, and very good sport for the sort of +thing in a park, with gentlemen riders.</p> + +<p>I have lost sight of politics, and know nothing of what is +going on, except that all things look gloomy, and people +generally are alarmed. Last week the Arbuthnots were at +Cheveley, and I had a curious conversation enough with him. +I told him that I was desirous of the success of the Duke of +Wellington’s Administration, but felt strongly the necessity +of his getting rid of many of his present Cabinet, who were +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +both inefficient and odious, that I thought one great misfortune +was that he had nobody to tell him the truth, and +very few men with whom he was on terms of confidential +cordiality. He owned it was so, but said that <i>he</i> never concealed +from him disagreeable truths—on the contrary, told +him everything—and assured me that at any time he would +tell the Duke anything that I thought he ought to know. I +told him to give him a notion how meanly Aberdeen was +thought of, that Alvanley had told Talleyrand not to notice +him, but to go at once to the Duke when he had any important +business to transact, and that he might tell the Duke +this if he pleased, but no one else. He said he would, and +then he began to talk of Peel, lamenting that there was +nothing like intimate confidence between the Duke and him, +and that the Duke was in fact ignorant of his real and secret +feelings and opinions; that to such a degree did Peel carry +his reserve, that when they were out of office, and it had +been a question of their returning to it, he had gone to meet +Peel at Lord Chandos’s for the express purpose of finding +out what his opinions were upon the then state of affairs, +and that after many conversations he had come away +knowing no more of his sentiments and disposition than +before they met. I said that with a Cabinet like this, and +the House of Commons in the hands of Peel, I could not +imagine anything more embarrassing; he owned it was, +and then complained of Peel’s indisposition to encourage +other men in the House of Commons, or to suffer the transaction +of business to pass through any hands but his own; +that the Duke had been accused of a grasping ambition and +a desire to do everything himself, whereas such an accusation +would be much more applicable to Peel. All this proves how +little real cordiality there is between these two men, and that, +though they are now necessary to each other, a little matter +would sever their political connection.</p> + +<p>Here we have an American of the name of Powell, who +was here nineteen years ago, when he was one of the handsomest +men that ever was seen, and lived in the society +of Devonshire House. Three years of such a life spoilt +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">WELLINGTON’S DECLARATION AGAINST REFORM.</span> +him, as he confesses, for the nineteen which followed in his +native country; and now he is come back with a wife +and five children to see the town he recollects become a +thousand times more beautiful, and the friends who have +forgotten him equally changed, but as much for the worse +as London is for the better; he seems a sensible, good sort +of fellow.</p> + +<p>Baring told me the other day that he remembered his +(B.’s) father with nearly nothing, and that out of the house +which he founded not less than six or seven millions must +have been taken. Several colossal fortunes have been made +out of it.</p> + +<h3>London, November 8th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Went from Buckenham to +Euston, and then back to Newmarket, where I never have +time or inclination to write or read. Parliament met, and a +great clamour was raised against the King’s Speech, without +much reason; but it was immediately evident that the +Government was in a very tottering condition, and the first +night of this session the Duke of Wellington made a violent +and uncalled-for declaration against Reform, which has without +doubt sealed his fate. Never was there an act of more +egregious folly, or one so universally condemned by friends +and foes. The Chancellor said to Lady Lyndhurst after the +first night’s debate in the House of Lords, ‘You have often +asked me why the Duke did not take in Lord Grey; read +these two speeches (Lord Grey’s and the Duke’s), and then +you will see why. Do you think he would like to have a +colleague under him, who should get up and make such a +speech after such another as his?’</p> + +<p>The effect produced by this declaration exceeds anything +I ever saw, and it has at once destroyed what little popularity +the Duke had left, and lowered him in public estimation +so much that when he does go out of office, as most +assuredly he must, he will leave it without any of the dignity +and credit which might have accompanied his retirement. +The sensation produced in the country has not yet been +ascertained, but it is sure to be immense. I came to town +last night, and found the town ringing with his imprudence +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +and everybody expecting that a few days would produce his +resignation.</p> + +<p>The King’s visit to the City was regarded with great +apprehension, as it was suspected that attempts would be +made to produce riot and confusion at night, and consequently +all the troops that could be mustered were prepared, +together with thousands of special constables, new +police, volunteers, sailors, and marines; but last night a +Cabinet Council was held, when it was definitively arranged +to put it off altogether, and this morning the announcement +has appeared in the newspapers. Every sort of ridicule +and abuse was heaped upon the Government, the Lord +Mayor, and all who had any share in putting off the +King’s visit to the City; very droll caricatures were circulated.</p> + +<p>I met Matuscewitz last night, who was full of the Duke +and his speech, and of regrets at his approaching fall, which +he considers as the signal for fresh encroachments in France +by the Liberal party, and a general impulse to the revolutionary +factions throughout Europe. I hear that nothing +can exceed the general excitement and terror that prevails, +everybody feeling they hardly know what.</p> + +<h3>November 9th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Yesterday morning I sallied forth and +called on Arbuthnot, whom I did not find at home, but Mrs. +Arbuthnot was. I had previously called on the Villiers, and +had a long conversation about the state of everything. They +did not apprise me of anything new, but +Hyde,<a name="FNA_12_12" id="FNA_12_12"></a><a href="#FN_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> +who ought +to be informed, gave me an account of the resolutions which +Brougham means to propose, very different from what I heard +elsewhere. He said that they were very strong, whereas all +other accounts agree that they are very moderate. I walked +with Mrs. Arbuthnot down to Downing Street, and, as she +utters the Duke’s sentiments, was anxious to hear what she +would say about their present condition. I said, ‘Well, you +are in a fine state; what do you mean to do?’ ‘Oh, are you +alarmed? Well, I am not; everybody says we are to go +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">DISTURBANCES IN LONDON.</span> +out, and I don’t believe a word of it. They will be beat on +the question of Reform; people will return to the Government, +and we shall go on very well. You will see this will be the +end of it.’ I told her I did not believe they could stay in, +and attacked the Duke’s speech, which at last she owned she +was sorry he had made. She complained that they had no +support, and that everybody they took in became useless as +soon as they were in office—Ellenborough, Rosslyn, Murray. +It was evident, however, that she did contemplate their loss +of office as a very probable event, though they do not mean +to resign, and think they may stave off the evil day. In +Downing Street we met George Dawson, who told us the +funds had fallen three per cent., and that the panic was +tremendous, so much so that they were not without alarm +lest there should be a run on the Bank for gold. Later in +the day, however, the funds improved. In the House of +Lords I heard the Duke’s explanation of putting off the +dinner in the City. On the whole they seem to have done +well to put it off, but the case did not sound a strong one; +it rested on a letter from the Lord Mayor telling the Duke +an attempt would be made on his life. Still it is a hundred +to one that there would have been a riot, and possibly all its +worst evils and crimes. The King is said to be very low, +hating Reform, desirous of supporting the Duke, but feeling +that he can do nothing. However, in the House of Lords +last night the speakers vied with each other in praising his +Majesty and extolling his popularity. Lady Jersey told me +that the Duke had said to her, ‘Lord, I shall not go out; you +will see we shall go on very well.’</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_12" id="FN_12_12"></a><a href="#FNA_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> +[Thomas Hyde Villiers, brother of George, afterwards fourth Earl of +Clarendon, died in 1832.]</p></div> + +<h3>November 10th, 1830</h3> + +<p>It was expected last night that there +would be a great riot, and preparations were made to meet +it. Troops were called up to London, and a large body of +civil power put in motion. People had come in from the +country in the morning, and everything indicated a disturbance. +After dinner I walked out to see how things were +going on. There was little mob in the west end of the town, +and in New Street, Spring Gardens, a large body of the new +police was drawn up in three divisions, ready to be employed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +if wanted. The Duke of Wellington expected Apsley +House to be attacked, and made preparations accordingly. +He desired my brother to go and dine there, to assist in +making any arrangements that might be necessary. In Pall +Mall I met Mr. Glyn, the banker, who had been up to Lombard +Street to see how matters looked about his house, and +he told us (Sir T. Farquhar and me) that everything was +quiet in the City. One of the policemen said that there +had been a smart brush near Temple Bar, where a body of +weavers with iron crows and a banner had been dispersed by +the police, and the banner taken. The police, who are a +magnificent set of fellows, behave very well, and it seems +pretty evident that these troubles are not very serious, and +will soon be put an end to. The attack in Downing Street +the night before last, of which they made a great affair, +turned out to be nothing at all. The mob came there from +Carlile’s lecture, but the sentry stopped them near the +Foreign Office; the police took them in flank, and they all +ran away.</p> + +<p>I went to Brooks’s, but there was hardly anybody +there, and nothing occurred in the House of Commons but +some interchange of Billingsgate between O’Connell and +George Dawson. The Duke talks with confidence, and has +no idea of resigning, but he does not inspire his friends with +the confidence he feels or affects himself, though they talk +of his resignation as an event which is to plunge all Europe +into war, and of the impossibility of forming another Administration, +all which is mere balderdash, for he proved +with many others how easy it is to form a Government that +can go on; and as to our Continental relations being altered, +I don’t believe a word of it. He may have influence abroad, +but he owes it not to his own individual character, but to his +possession of power in England. If the Ministry who succeed +him are firm and moderate, this country will lose nothing of +its influence abroad. I have heard these sort of things said +fifty times of Ministers and Kings. The death of the late +King was to be the greatest of calamities, and the breath +was hardly out of his body before everybody discovered that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE DUCHESSE DE DINO.</span> +it was the greatest of blessings, and, instead of its being impossible +to go on without him, that there would have been +no going on with him.</p> + +<p>The King gave a dinner to the Prince of Orange the +other day, and invited all his old military friends to meet +him. His Majesty was beyond everything civil to the Duke +of Wellington, and the Queen likewise. Lord Wellesley, +speaking of the letter to the Lord Mayor, and putting off +the dinner in the City, said ‘it was the boldest act of cowardice +he had ever heard of.’</p> + +<p>After some difficulty they have agreed to give Madame +de Dino<a name="FNA_12_13" id="FNA_12_13"></a><a href="#FN_12_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> +the honours of Ambassadress here, the Duke having +told the King that at Vienna she did the honours of Talleyrand’s +house, and was received on that footing by the Emperor +and Empress, so he said, ‘Oh, very well; I will tell the +Queen, and you had better tell her too.’</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_13" id="FN_12_13"></a><a href="#FNA_12_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> +[The Duchesse de Dino was the niece of Prince Talleyrand, then +French Ambassador at the Court of St. James. The precedent is a curious +one, for it is certainly not customary for the daughter or niece of an unmarried +Ambassador to enjoy the rank and honours of an Ambassadress.]</p></div> + +<p>They say the King is exceedingly bullied by the <i>bâtards</i>, +though Errol told me they were all afraid of him. Dolly +Fitzclarence lost 100ℓ., betting 100 to 10 that he would go +to Guildhall, and he told the King he had lost him 100ℓ., so +the King gave him the money. It seems that the Duke +certainly did make some overtures to Palmerston, though I +do not exactly know when, but I heard that they were very +fair ones.</p> + +<h3>November 11th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Yesterday the funds rose, and people’s +apprehensions began to subside. Everybody is occupied with +speculating about the numbers on Tuesday next, and what +majority the Ministers will get. Yesterday came a letter +from Lord Heytesbury from +St. Petersburg,<a name="FNA_12_14" id="FNA_12_14"></a><a href="#FN_12_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> +saying that there +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +was reason to believe that the disorder now raging in Russia +is a sort of plague, but that they will not admit it, and that +it is impossible to get at the truth. We ordered Russian +ships to be put under a precautionary quarantine, and made +a minute to record what we had done.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_14" id="FN_12_14"></a><a href="#FNA_12_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> +[This is the first mention of the cholera morbus, or Asiatic cholera, +then first appearing in Europe. The quarantine establishments are under +the control of the Privy Council, and Mr. Greville, as Clerk of the Council, +was actively employed in superintending them. A Board of Health was +afterwards established at the Council Office during the prevalence of the +cholera.]</p></div> + +<h3>November 12th, 1830</h3> + +<p>The funds have kept advancing, everything +is quiet, and Ministers begin to take courage. The +Duke means if he has a majority of twenty on Tuesday to +stay in. It seems his idea is that the resolutions of Brougham +will be framed in general terms on purpose to obtain +as many votes as possible; that they will be no test of the +real opinion of the House, because most of those who may +concur in a general resolution in favour of Reform would +disagree entirely as to specific measures, if any were introduced; +but it is evident that the support of the Duke’s +friends is growing feebler every day. Yesterday morning +I met Robert Clive, a thick and thin Government man, +and he began with the usual topic, for everybody asks +after the State, as one does about a sick friend; and +then he went on to say (concurring with my opinion that +everything went on ill), ‘Why won’t the Duke strengthen +himself?’ ‘He can’t; he has tried, and you see he can’t do +anything.’ ‘Ah! but he must make sacrifices; things cannot +go on as they do, and he must make sacrifices.’ Lord Bath, +too, came to town, intending to leave his proxy with the +Duke, and went away with it in his pocket, after hearing his +famous speech; though he has a close borough, which he by +no means wishes to lose, still he is for Reform. What they +all feel is that his obstinacy will endanger everything; that +by timely concession, and regulating the present spirit, real +improvements might be made and extreme measures avoided. +I met Rothschild coming out of Herries’ room, with his +nephew from Paris. He looked pretty lively for a man who +has lost some millions, but the funds were all up yesterday; +he asked me the news, and said Lafitte was the best Minister +France could have, and that everything was rapidly improving +there.</p> + +<h3>November 15th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Yesterday morning I breakfasted with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">ROBERT SOUTHEY.</span> +Taylor<a name="FNA_12_15" id="FNA_12_15"></a><a href="#FN_12_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> +to meet Southey: the party was Southey; Strutt, +member for Derby, a Radical; young Mill, a political economist; +Charles Villiers, young Elliot, and myself. Southey +is remarkably pleasing in his manner and appearance, unaffected, +unassuming, and agreeable; at least such was my +impression for the hour or two I saw him. Young Mill is +the son of Mill who wrote the ‘History of British India,’ and +said to be cleverer than his father. He has written many +excellent articles in reviews, pamphlets, &c., but though +powerful with a pen in his hand, in conversation he has +not the art of managing his ideas, and is consequently +hesitating and slow, and has the appearance of being always +working in his mind propositions or a syllogism.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_15" id="FN_12_15"></a><a href="#FNA_12_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> +[Henry Taylor, the author of ‘Philip van Artevelde.’ Edward Strutt +was afterwards created Lord Belper. ‘Young Mill’ was the eminent economist +and philosopher John Stuart Mill. ‘Young Elliot,’ Sir Thomas +Frederick Elliot, K.S.M.G., long one of the ablest members of the Colonial +Department, to which Henry Taylor, the poet, himself belonged.]</p></div> + +<p>Southey told an anecdote of Sir Massey Lopes, which is +a good story of a miser. A man came to him and told him +he was in great distress, and 200ℓ. would save him. He +gave him a draft for the money.’ ‘Now,’ says he, ‘what will +you do with this?’ ‘Go to the bankers and get it cashed.’ +‘Stop,’ said he; ‘I will cash it.’ So he gave him the money, +but first calculated and deducted the discount, thus at once +exercising his benevolence and his avarice.</p> + +<p>Another story Taylor told (we were talking of the negroes +and savages) of a girl (in North America) who had been +brought up for the purpose of being eaten on the day her +master’s son was married or attained a certain age. She +was proud of being the <i>plat</i> for the occasion, for when she +was accosted by a missionary, who wanted to convert her to +Christianity and withdraw her from her fate, she said she had +no objection to be a Christian, but she must stay to be eaten, +that she had been fattened for the purpose and must fulfil +her destiny.</p> + +<p>When I came home I found a note to say my unfortunate +colleague Buller<a name="FNA_12_16" id="FNA_12_16"></a><a href="#FN_12_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> +was dead. He had had an operation performed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +on his lip, after which he caught cold, got an inflammation +in the windpipe, and died in two or three days. He +was a very honourable, obliging, and stupid man, and a great +loss to me, for I shall hardly find a more accommodating +colleague.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_16" id="FN_12_16"></a><a href="#FNA_12_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> +[James Buller, Esq., senior Clerk of the Council.]</p></div> + +<p>In the evening I dined with Lord Sefton to meet Talleyrand +and Madame de Dino. There were Brougham and +Denman, the latter brought by the former to show Talleyrand +to him. After dinner Talleyrand held a circle and +discoursed, but I did not come in for his talk. They were +all delighted, but long experience has proved to me that +people are easily delighted with whatever is in vogue. +Brougham is very proud of his French, which is execrable, +and took the opportunity of holding forth in a most barbarous +jargon, which he fancied was the real accent and phraseology. +He told me he should have 250 votes on his motion. I said +to him, ‘They think they shall have a majority of 150.’ He +said, ‘Then there must be 650 to divide, for at the lowest +computation I shall have 250.’ But at night Henry told +me that the Duke, though he put a good face on it, was +in fact very low, and that, from what Gosh [Arbuthnot] +had said, he would certainly resign unless he carried the +question by a large majority. In the morning I called on +Lady Granville, who told me, as a great secret, that the Duke, +notwithstanding his speech, was prepared to offer a compromise, +and her story was this:—She had dined at Ludolf’s +a few days ago to meet the Duchesse de Berri. All the +great people dined there, among others the Chancellor and +Lady Lyndhurst, and after dinner Lady Lyndhurst came +up to her bursting with indignation, and confided to her +that the Duke had resolved to offer a resolution to the +effect that in any future case of borough delinquency the +representation should be transferred to a great town, and +that she thought after what had passed this would be so +disgraceful that it disgusted her beyond expression, and a +great deal more to this effect. I confess I don’t believe a +word of it. I met the Prince of Orange last night in excellent +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">DEFEAT OF THE WELLINGTON MINISTRY.</span> +spirits and humour, and quite convinced that he will +be recalled to Brussels.</p> + +<h3>November 16th, 1830</h3> + +<p>The Duke of Wellington’s Administration +is at an end. If he has not already resigned, he probably +will do so in the course of the day. Everybody was so +intent on the Reform question that the Civil List was not +thought of, and consequently the defeat of Government last +night was unexpected. Although numbers of members were +shut out there was a great attendance, and a majority of +twenty-nine. Of those who were shut out, almost all declare +that they meant to have voted in the +majority.<a name="FNA_12_17" id="FNA_12_17"></a><a href="#FN_12_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_17" id="FN_12_17"></a><a href="#FNA_12_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> +[The division was taken on Sir Henry Parnell’s motion to refer the +Civil List to a Select Committee, which was carried by 233 to 204.]</p></div> + +<p>I went to Mrs. Taylor’s at night and found Ferguson, +Denman, and Taylor, who had just brought the news. The +exultation of the Opposition was immense. Word was sent +down their line not to cheer, but they were not to be restrained, +and Sefton’s yell was heard triumphant in the din. +The Tories voted with them. There had been a meeting at +Knatchbull’s in the morning, when they decided to go +against Government. Worcester had dined at Apsley +House, and returned with the news, but merely said that they +had had a bad division—twenty-nine. Everybody thought +he meant a majority <i>for</i> Government, and the Duke, who +already knew what had happened, made a sign to him to say +nothing. Worcester knew nothing himself, having arrived +after the division; they told him the numbers, and he came +away fancying they were for Government. So off the company +went to Madame de Dino, where they heard the truth. +Great was the consternation and long were the faces, but the +outs affected to be merry and the ins were serious. Talleyrand +fired off a courier to Paris forthwith.</p> + +<p>Yesterday morning I went to Downing Street early, to +settle with Lord Bathurst about the new appointment to my +office. Till I told him he did not know the appointment was +in the Crown; so he hurried off to the King, and proposed his +son William. The King was very gracious, and said, ‘I can +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +never object to a father’s doing what he can for his own +children,’ which was an oblique word for the <i>bâtards</i>, about +whom, however, it may be said <i>en passant</i> he has been marvellously +forbearing.</p> + +<p>I had a long conversation with Lady Bathurst, who told +me that the Duke had resolved to stand or fall on the Reform +question, that he had asked Lord Bathurst’s opinion, who +had advised him by all means to do so; that Lord Bathurst +had likewise put his own place at the Duke’s disposal long +before, and was ready to resign at any moment. It is clear +that Lord Bathurst had some suspicion that the Duke had +an idea of not standing or falling by that question, for he +asked him whether anybody had given him different advice, +to which he replied, though it seems rather vaguely, ‘No, oh +no; I think you are quite right.’ I told her the substance of +what I had heard about his being disposed to a compromise. +She said it was quite impossible, that he would be disgraced +irredeemably, but owned it was odd that there should be +that notion and the suspicion which crossed Lord Bathurst’s +mind. I do think it is possible, but for his honour I hope +not. The Bathursts felt this appointment of William was a +sort of ‘Nunc dimittis,’ but there is yet something between +the cup and the lip, for Stanley got up in the House of Commons +and attacked the appointment, and it is just possible +it may yet be stopped.</p> + +<p>Went to Brookes’ in the evening, where there was nobody +left but Sefton baiting Ferguson for having been out of the +division. He told me that it was not impossible Lord +Spencer would be put at the head of Government. They +will manage to make a confounded mess of it, I dare say. +Billy Holmes came to the Duke last night with the news of +the division, and implored him to let nothing prevent his +resigning to-day.</p> + +<h3>November 17th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Went to Downing Street yesterday +morning between twelve and one, and found that the Duke +and all the Ministers were just gone to the King. He received +them with the greatest kindness, shed tears, but accepted +their resignation without remonstrance. He told +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE KING’S BEHAVIOUR AT THE CRISIS.</span> +Lord Bathurst he would do anything he could, and asked +him if there was nothing he could sign which would secure +his son’s appointment. Lord Bathurst thanked him, but +told him he could do nothing. The fact is the appointment +might be hurried through, but the salary depends upon an +annual vote of the House of Commons, and an exasperated +and triumphant Opposition would be sure to knock it off; so +he has done the only thing he can do, which is to leave it +to the King to secure the appointment for him if possible. +It will be a great piece of luck for somebody that Buller +should have died exactly when he did. William Bathurst +may perhaps lose the place from his not dying earlier, or the +new Government may lose the patronage because he did not +die later; but it is ill luck for me, who shall probably have +more trouble because he has died at all.</p> + +<p>The Duke and Peel announced their resignations in the two +Houses, and Brougham put off his motion, but with a speech +signifying that he should take no part in the new Government. +The last acts of the Duke were to secure pensions of +250ℓ. a year to each of his secretaries, and to fill up the ecclesiastical +preferments. The Garter remains for his successor. +The Duke of Bedford got it, and, what is singular, +the Duke of Wellington would probably have given it him +likewise. He was one of five whom he meant to choose from, +and it lay between him and Lord Cleveland.</p> + +<p>I met the Duke coming out of his room, but did not +like to speak to him; he got into his cabriolet, and nodded +as he passed, but he looked very grave. The King seems to +have behaved perfectly throughout the whole business, no +intriguing or underhand communication with anybody, with +great kindness to his Ministers, anxious to support them +while it was possible, and submitting at once to the necessity +of parting with them. The fact is he turns out an incomparable +King, and deserves all the encomiums that are +lavished on him. All the mountebankery which signalised +his conduct when he came to the throne has passed away +with the excitement which caused it, and he is as dignified +as the homeliness and simplicity of his character will allow +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +him to be. I understand he sent for Lord Spencer in the +course of the day, who probably said he could not undertake +anything, for he afterwards sent for Lord Grey (after the +House of Lords), and as he must have been very well prepared, +it is probable that a new Government will be speedily +formed.</p> + +<p>I went to Lady Jersey’s in the evening, when she was or +affected to be very gay and very glad that the Duke was out. +I found there the Prince of Orange, Esterhazy, Madame de +Dino, Wilton, Worcester, Duncannon, Lord Rosslyn, Matuscewitz, +&c. There has been a strong idea that the Chancellor +[Lyndhurst] would keep the seals. Both Holmes and +Planta have repeatedly told the Duke that he would be +beaten in the House of Commons, and they both knew the +House thoroughly. Still he never would do anything. He +made overtures to Palmerston just before Parliament met +through Lord Clive, and the result was an interview between +them at Apsley House, but it came to nothing. I dare say +he did not offer half enough. It is universally believed that +Peel pressed the Civil List question for the purpose of being +beaten upon it, and going out on that rather than on Reform, +for Planta told him how it would be, and he might very well +have given the Committee if he had liked it; but he said he +would abide by it, and he certainly was in excellent spirits +afterwards for a beaten Minister. Now that this Reform has +served their purpose so well, and turned out the Duke, the +Opposition would be well satisfied to put it aside again, and +take time to consider what they shall do, for it is a terrible +question for them. Pledged as they have been, it is sure to +be the rock on which the little popularity they have gained +will split, as it is a hundred to one that whatever they do +they will not go far enough to satisfy the country.</p> + +<h3>November 19th, 1830</h3> + +<p>The day before yesterday Lord Grey +went to the King, who received him with every possible +kindness, and gave him <i>carte blanche</i> to form a new Administration, +placing even the Household at his disposal—much +to the disgust of the members of it. Ever since the town +has been as usual teeming with reports, but with fewer lies +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">DISCONTENT OF BROUGHAM.</span> +than usual. The fact is Lord Grey has had no difficulties, +and has formed a Government at once; only Brougham put +them all in a dreadful fright. He all but declared a hostile +intention to the future Administration; he boasted that he +would take nothing, refuse even the Great Seal, and nourished +his Reform <i>in terrorem</i> over their heads; he was affronted and +furious because he fancied they neglected him, but it all +arose, as I am told, from Lord Grey’s letter to him not +reaching him directly, by some mistake, for that he was the +first person he wrote to. Still it is pretty clear that this +eccentric luminary will play the devil with their system.</p> + +<p>[The letter could not be the cause. The history of the +transaction is this:—When Lord Grey undertook to form a +Government he sent for Lord Lansdowne and Lord Holland, +and these three began to work, without consulting with +Brougham or any member of the House of Commons. +Brougham was displeased at not being consulted at first, +but was indignant when Lord Grey proposed to him to +be Attorney-General. Then he showed his teeth, and they +grew frightened, and soon after they sent Sefton to him, who +got him into good humour, and it was made up by the offer +of the Great Seal.—<i>November 23rd</i>.]</p> + +<h3>November 20th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Here I was interrupted, and broke off +yesterday morning. At twelve o’clock yesterday everything +was settled but the Great Seal, and in the afternoon the +great news transpired that Brougham had accepted it. +Great was the surprise, greater still the joy at a charm +having been found potent enough to lay the unquiet spirit, a +bait rich enough to tempt his restless ambition. I confess +I had no idea he would have accepted the Chancellorship +after his declarations in the House of Commons and the +whole tenor of his conduct. I was persuaded that he had +made to himself a political existence the like of which no man +had ever before possessed, and that to have refused the +Great Seal would have appeared more glorious than to take +it; intoxicated with his Yorkshire honours, swollen with his +own importance, and holding in his hands questions which +he could employ to thwart, embarrass, and ruin any Ministry, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +I thought that he meant to domineer in the House +of Commons and to gather popularity throughout the +country by enforcing popular measures of which he would +have all the credit, and thus establish a sort of individual +power and authority, which would ensure his being dreaded, +courted, and consulted by all parties. He could then have +gratified his vanity, ambition, and turbulence; the Bar would +have supplied fortune, and events would have supplied enjoyments +suited to his temperament; it would have been a +sort of madness, mischievous but splendid. As it is the +joy is great and universal; all men feel that he is emasculated +and drops on the Woolsack as on his political death-bed; +once in the House of Lords, there is an end of him, +and he may rant storm and thunder without hurting +anybody.<a name="FNA_12_18" id="FNA_12_18"></a><a href="#FN_12_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_18" id="FN_12_18"></a><a href="#FNA_12_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> +[Lord Grey’s Administration was thus composed:—</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left">First Lord of the Treasury</td><td align="left">Earl Grey.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Lord Chancellor</td><td align="left">Lord Brougham.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Lord President</td><td align="left">Marquis of Lansdowne.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Lord Privy Seal</td><td align="left">Lord Ripon (in 1833).</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Chancellor of the Exchequer </td><td align="left">Viscount Althorp.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Home Secretary</td><td align="left">Viscount Melbourne.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Foreign Secretary</td><td align="left">Viscount Palmerston.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Colonial Secretary</td><td align="left">Viscount Goderich, and afterwards Mr. Stanley.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Board of Control</td><td align="left">Mr. Charles Grant.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Board of Trade</td><td align="left">Lord Auckland.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Admiralty</td><td align="left">Sir James Graham.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Postmaster-General</td><td align="left">Duke of Richmond.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Paymaster-General</td><td align="left">Lord John Russell.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Irish Secretary</td><td align="left">Mr. Stanley.]</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>The other places present a plausible show, but are not +well distributed, some ill filled. Graham Admiralty, Melbourne +Home, Auckland Board of Trade—all bad. The +second is too idle, the first too inconsiderable, the third too +ignorant.<a name="FNA_12_19" id="FNA_12_19"></a><a href="#FN_12_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> +They have done it very quickly, however, and +without many difficulties. As to the Duke of Richmond, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">LORD GREY’S ADMINISTRATION.</span> +people are indignant at a half-pay lieutenant-colonel +commanding the Ordnance Department, and as an acquisition +he is of doubtful value, for it seems the Tories will not +go with him, at least will not consider themselves as his +followers; so said Lord Mansfield and Vyvyan.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_19" id="FN_12_19"></a><a href="#FNA_12_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> +[This is a remarkable instance of the manner in which the prognostications +of the most acute observers are falsified by events. The value of +Mr. Greville’s remarks on the men of his time consists not in their absolute +truth, but in their sincerity at the moment at which they were made. +They convey a correct impression of the notion prevailing at that time. +Thus Sir James Graham became unquestionably a very active First Lord of +the Admiralty, Lord Melbourne a ‘considerable’ Prime Minister of England, +and Lord Auckland a painstaking and well-informed Governor-General +of India.]</p></div> + +<h3>November 21st, 1830</h3> + +<p>The Duke of Richmond’s appointment +was found so unpalatable to the army that they have been +forced to change it, and he is to be Master of the Horse +instead, which I suspect will not be to his taste. [He afterwards +refused the Mastership of the Horse, and it ended in +his being Postmaster-General, but without taking the salary.]</p> + +<p>There have been some little changes, but no great difficulties. +It was at first said that there would be no Opposition, +and that Peel would not stir; but William Peel told +me last night that the old Ministerial party was by no +means so tranquilly inclined. Peel will not be violent or +factious, but he thinks an attentive Opposition desirable, and +he will not desert those who have looked up to and supported +him. Then there will be the Tories (who will to +a certainty end by joining him and his party) and the +Radicals—three distinct parties, and enough to keep the +Government on the <i>qui vive</i>. The expulsion of the late +Government from power will satisfy the vengeance of the +Tories, and I have no doubt they will now make it up. +Peel will be the leader of a party to which all the Conservative +interest of the country will repair; and it is my +firm belief that in a very short time (two or three years, or +less) he will be Prime Minister, and will hold power +long.<a name="FNA_12_20" id="FNA_12_20"></a><a href="#FN_12_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> +The Duke will probably never take office again, but will be +at the head of the army, and his own friends begin to admit +that this would be the most desirable post for him. Lord +Lyndhurst will be greatly disgusted at Brougham’s taking +the Great Seal. I met him the day before yesterday, when +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +he had no idea of it; he thought it would certainly be put +in Commission, and evidently looked forward to filling the +office again in a few months. He said that he had long +foreseen this catastrophe, and it was far better to be out +than to drag on as they did; that he had over and over +again said to the Duke, and remonstrated with him on the +impossibility of carrying on such a Government, but that he +would never listen to anything. Sir John Leach, too, was +exceedingly disappointed; he told me he had not heard a +word of what was going on, that he was contented where he +was, ‘though perhaps he might have been miserable <i>in +another situation</i>.’<a name="FNA_12_21" id="FNA_12_21"></a><a href="#FN_12_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_20" id="FN_12_20"></a><a href="#FNA_12_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> +[This prediction was not fulfilled until 1841 (for the short Administration +of Sir Robert in 1834 can hardly be reckoned), but it <i>was</i> fulfilled +at last.]</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_21" id="FN_12_21"></a><a href="#FNA_12_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> +[Lord Grey certainly contemplated at one moment the offer of the +Great Seal to Lord Lyndhurst, but the spectre of Brougham rendered that +impossible. Brougham himself would have preferred the advancement of +Sir John Leach to the Woolsack, which would have left the Rolls at his +own disposal, and enabled him to retain his seat in the House of Commons. +But this suggestion was by no means welcome to Lord Grey, and Lord +Althorp at once declared that he could not undertake the leadership of the +House of Commons if Brougham was to remain in it in any official position +to domineer over him.]</p></div> + +<p>In the meantime the new Government will find plenty +to occupy their most serious thoughts and employ their best +talents. The state of the country is dreadful; every post +brings fresh accounts of conflagrations, destruction of +machinery, association of labourers, and compulsory rise of +wages. Cobbett and Carlile write and harangue to inflame +the minds of the people, who are already set in motion +and excited by all the events which have happened abroad. +Distress is certainly not the cause of these commotions, +for the people have patiently supported far greater privations +than they had been exposed to before these riots, and the +country was generally in an improving state.</p> + +<p>The Duke of Richmond went down to Sussex and had +a battle with a mob of 200 labourers, whom he beat with +fifty of his own farmers and tenants, harangued them, and +sent them away in good humour. He is, however, very popular. +In Hants the disturbances have been dreadful. There +was an assemblage of 1,000 or 1,500 men, a part of whom +went towards Baring’s house (the Grange) after destroying +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">BROUGHAM LORD CHANCELLOR.</span> +threshing-machines and other agricultural implements; they +were met by Bingham Baring, who attempted to address +them, when a fellow (who had been employed at a guinea +a week by his father up to four days before) knocked him +down with an iron bar and nearly killed him. They have +no troops in that part of the country, and there is a depôt +of arms at Winchester.</p> + +<p>The Prince of Orange, who has been fancying without the +least reason that he should be recalled to Belgium, is now +in despair; and the Provisional Government, on hearing of +the change of Ministry here, have suspended their negotiations, +thinking they shall get from Lord Grey a more +extended frontier. Altogether the alarm which prevails is +very great, and those even are terrified who never were so +before.</p> + +<h3>November 22nd, 1830</h3> + +<p>Dined yesterday at Sefton’s; nobody +there but Lord Grey and his family, Brougham and Montrond, +the latter just come from Paris. It was excessively agreeable. +Lord Grey in excellent spirits, and Brougham, whom Sefton +bantered from the beginning to the end of +dinner.<a name="FNA_12_22" id="FNA_12_22"></a><a href="#FN_12_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> +Be Brougham’s political errors what they may, his gaiety, +temper, and admirable social qualities make him delightful, +to say nothing of his more solid merits, of liberality, +generosity, and charity; for charity it is to have taken the +whole family of one of his brothers who is dead—nine +children—and maintained and educated them. From this +digression to return to our dinner: it was uncommonly +gay. Lord Grey said he had taken a task on himself which +he was not equal to, prided himself on having made his +arrangements so rapidly, and on having named no person to +any office who was not efficient; he praised Lyndhurst +highly, said he liked him, that his last speech was luminous, +and that he should like very much to do anything he could +for him, but that it was such an object to have Brougham +on the Woolsack. So I suppose he would not dislike to take +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +in Lyndhurst by-and-by. He would not tell us whom he +has got for the Ordnance. John Russell was to have had +the War Office, but +Tavistock<a name="FNA_12_23" id="FNA_12_23"></a><a href="#FN_12_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> +entreated that the appointment +might be changed, as his brother’s health was unequal +to it; so he was made Paymaster. Lord Grey said he had +more trouble with those offices than with the Cabinet ones. +Sefton did nothing but quiz Brougham—‘My Lord’ every +minute, and ‘What does his Lordship say?’ ‘I’m sure it is +very condescending of his Lordship to speak to such <i>canaille</i> +as all of you,’ and a thousand jokes. After dinner he walked +out before him with the fire shovel for the mace, and left him +no repose all the evening. I wish Leach could have heard +Brougham. He threatened to sit often at the Cockpit, in +order to check +Leach,<a name="FNA_12_24" id="FNA_12_24"></a><a href="#FN_12_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> +who, though a good judge in his own +Court, was good for nothing in a Court of Appeal; he said +that Leach’s being Chancellor was impossible, as there were +forty-two appeals from him to the Chancellor, which he +would have had to decide himself; and that he (Brougham) +had wanted the Seal to be put in Commission with three +judges, which would have been the best reform of the Court, +expedited business, and satisfied suitors; but that Lord +Grey would not hear of it, and had forced him to take it, +which he was averse to do, being reluctant to leave the +House of Commons.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_22" id="FN_12_22"></a><a href="#FNA_12_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> +[Lord Brougham had taken his seat on the Woolsack as Lord High +Chancellor on the afternoon of this day, the 22nd of November. The patent +of his peerage bore the same date.]</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_23" id="FN_12_23"></a><a href="#FNA_12_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> +[The Marquis of Tavistock, Lord John Russell’s eldest brother, afterwards +Duke of Bedford. Lord John has since held almost every Cabinet +office: his brother’s notion that his health was unequal to the War Office +in 1830 is amusing.]</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_12_24" id="FN_12_24"></a><a href="#FNA_12_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> +[The Master of the Rolls was at that time the presiding Judge of +Appeal at the Privy Council, which was commonly spoken of as ‘the Cockpit,’ +because it sat on the site of the old Cockpit at Whitehall; but the business +was very ill done, which led Lord Brougham to bring in and carry his Act +for the creation of the Judicial Committee in 1832—one of his best and most +successful measures.]</p></div> + +<p>He said the Duke of Richmond had done admirably in +capturing the incendiary who has been taken, and who they +think will afford a clue whereby they will discover the secret +of all the burnings. This man called himself Evans. They +had information of his exciting the peasantry, and sent a +Bow Street officer after him. He found out where he lived +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">COUNCIL OF THE NEW MINISTERS.</span> +and captured him (having been informed that he was not +there by the inmates of the house), and took him to the Duke, +who had him searched. On his person were found stock +receipts for 800ℓ., of which 50ℓ. was left; and a chemical +receipt in a secret pocket for combustibles. He was taken +to prison, and will be brought up to town. Montrond was +very amusing—‘You, Lord Brougham, when you mount +your bag of wool?’</p> + +<h3>November 23rd, 1830</h3> + +<p>Yesterday at Court; a great day, and +very amusing. The old Ministers came to give up their seals, +and the new Ministers came to take them. All the first were +assembled at half-past one; saw the King in his closet severally, +and held their last Council to swear in George Dawson +a Privy Councillor. Each after his audience departed, most +of them never to return. As they went away they met the +others arriving. I was with the old set in the Throne Room +till they went away, and on opening the door and looking +into the other room I found it full of the others—Althorp, +Graham, Auckland, J. Russell, Durham, &c., faces that a +little while ago I should have had small expectation of finding +there. The effect was very droll, such a complete <i>changement +de décoration</i>. When the old Ministers were all off the business +of the day began. All the Cabinet was there—the new +Master of the Horse (Lord Albemarle), Lord Wellesley, his +little eyes twinkling with joy, and Brougham, in Chancellor’s +costume, but not yet a Peer. The King sent for me into the +closet to settle about their being sworn in, and to ask what +was to be done about Brougham, whose patent was not come, +and who wanted to go to the House of Lords. These things +settled, he held the Council, when twelve new Privy Councillors +were sworn in, three Secretaries of State, Privy Seal, and +the declarations made of President of Council and Lord-Lieutenant +of Ireland. The King could not let slip the opportunity +of making a speech, so when I put into his hands +the paper declaring Lord Anglesey Lord-Lieutenant he was not +content to read it, but spoke nearly as follows:—‘My Lords, +it is a part of the duty I have to perform to declare a Lord-Lieutenant +of Ireland, and although I certainly should have +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +acquiesced in any recommendation which might have been +made to me for this appointment by Earl Grey, I must say +that I have peculiar satisfaction in entrusting that most +important charge to the noble Lord, whom I therefore +declare with entire satisfaction Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. +And, my Lords, I must say that this day is since that of the +death of my poor brother (here his voice faltered and he +looked or tried to look affected) the most important which +has occurred since the beginning of my reign, for in the +course of my long life it has never happened to me to see so +many appointments to be filled up as on this day; and when +I consider that it is only last Tuesday night that the force of +circumstances compelled those who were the confidential +advisers of the Crown to relinquish the situations which they +held, and that in this short space of time a new Government +has been formed, I cannot help considering such despatch as +holding forth the best hopes for the future, and proving the +unanimity of my Government; and, my Lords, I will take this +opportunity of saying that the noble Earl (Grey) and the +other noble Lords and gentlemen may be assured that they +will receive from me the most cordial, unceasing, and devoted +support.’ The expressions of course are not exactly the +same, but his speech was to this purpose, only longer. +Brougham kissed hands in the closet, and afterwards in +Council as Chancellor and Privy Councillor, and then went +off to the House of Lords.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<blockquote><p style="text-indent: 0"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +A Proclamation against Rioters — Appointments — Duke of Wellington in +Hampshire — General Excitement — The Tory Party — State of Ireland — +More Disturbances — Lord Grey’s Colleagues — Election at Liverpool — +The Black Book — The Duke of Wellington’s Position and Character — +A Council on a Capital Sentence — Brougham in the House of Lords — +The Clerks of the Council — Lord Grey and Lord Lyndhurst — The +Chancellor of Ireland — Lord Melbourne — Duke of Richmond — Sir James +Graham — Lyndhurst Lord Chief Baron — Judge Allan Park — Lord +Lyndhurst and the Whigs — Duke of Wellington and Polignac — The +King and his Sons — Polish Revolution — Mechanics’ Institute — Repeal +of the Union — King Louis Philippe — Lord Anglesey and O’Connell — A +Dinner at the Athenćum — Canning and George IV. — Formation of +Canning’s Government — Negotiation with Lord Melbourne — Count +Walewski — Croker’s Boswell — State of Ireland — Brougham and Sugden +— Arrest of O’Connell — Colonel Napier and the Trades Unions — The +Civil List — Hunt in the House of Commons — Southey’s Letter to +Brougham on Literary Honours — The Budget — O’Connell pleads guilty +— Achille Murat — Weakness of the Government — Lady Jersey and Lord +Durham — Lord Duncannon — Ireland — Wordsworth.</p></blockquote> + +<hr /> + +<h3>November 25th, 1830</h3> + +<p>The accounts from the country on the +23rd were so bad that a Cabinet sat all the morning, and concerted +a proclamation offering large rewards for the discovery +of offenders, rioters, or burners. Half the Cabinet walked to +St. James’s, where I went with the draft proclamation +in my pocket, and we held a Council in the King’s room to +approve it. I remember the last Council of this sort we held +was on Queen Caroline’s business. She had demanded to be +heard by counsel in support of her asserted right to be +crowned, and the King ordered in Council that she should be +heard. We held the Council in his dressing-room at Carlton +House; he was in his bedgown, and we in our boots. This +proclamation did not receive the sign manual or the Great +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +Seal and was not engrossed till the next day, but was nevertheless +published in the ‘Gazette.’</p> + +<p>Yesterday the accounts were better. There was a levee +and Council, all the Ministers present but Palmerston and +Holland. The King made a discourse, and took occasion +(about some Admiralty order) to introduce the whole history +of his early naval life, his first going to sea and the instructions +which George III. gave Admiral Digby as to his treatment. +All the old Ministers came to the levee except the +Duke of Wellington, who was in Hampshire to try his influence +as Lord-Lieutenant in putting down the riots. Anson as +Master of the Buckhounds was made a Privy Councillor, not +usually a Privy Councillor’s place, but the King said he +rather liked increasing the number than not. Clanricarde +has a Gold Stick, so there is Canning’s son-in-law in office +under Lord Grey! There has been a difficulty about the +Master-General of the Ordnance, and a little difference +between Lord Grey and Lord Hill: when the Duke of Richmond +was withdrawn, Grey determined to appoint Sir W. +Gordon, but as Gordon would have to give up a permanent +for a temporary office, he bargained that he should have the +Grand Cross of the Bath. Lord Grey at the same time +promised his brother Sir Charles Grey a Grand Cross, +but Lord Hill (who as Commander-in-Chief has all the +Crosses at his disposal) was offended at what he considered a +slight to him and went to the King to complain. It is +probable that Lord Grey knew nothing of the matter, and +fancied they were all recommended by himself. As the +matter stands now, Gordon’s appointment is suspended. +The only other difficulty is to find a Secretary at War. +Sandon is to have it, if they can make no better arrangement. +I had a long conversation with the Duke of Richmond +yesterday about refusing the salary of his office, and +entreated him to take it, for most people think his declining +it great nonsense. He alleged a great many bad reasons for +declining, but promised to consider the matter.</p> + +<p>I am in a very disagreeable situation as regards my late +colleague’s place. Lord Bathurst wrote a letter to Lord +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">DISTURBED STATE OF THE COUNTRY.</span> +Lansdowne stating that the King had approved of his son’s +appointment, and that he had intended to reduce the salary +of the office. Lord Grey spoke to the King, and said that +after what had passed in both Houses he did not wish to do +anything, but to leave the office to be dealt with by a Committee +of the House of Commons, under whose consideration +it would come. Lord Lansdowne said he certainly should do +nothing either, so that it remains to be seen whether they +will give me a colleague, a deputy, or nothing at all.</p> + +<h3>November 28th, 1830</h3> + +<p>The Duke of Wellington, who as soon +as he was out of office repaired to Hants, and exerted himself +as Lord-Lieutenant to suppress the disorders, returned yesterday, +having done much good, and communicated largely +with the Secretary of State. The Government are full of +compliments and respects to him, and the Chancellor wrote +him a letter entreating he would name any gentleman to be +added to the Special Commission which was going down to +the county over which he ‘so happily presided.’ He named +three.</p> + +<p>There has been nothing new within these three days, but +the alarm is still very great, and the general agitation which +pervades men’s minds unlike what I have ever seen. Reform, +economy, echoed backwards and forwards, the doubts, the +hopes and the fears of those who have anything to lose, the +uncertainty of everybody’s future condition, the immense +interests at stake, the magnitude and imminence of the +danger, all contribute to produce a nervous excitement, which +extends to all classes—to almost every individual. Until the +Ministers are re-elected nobody can tell what will be done in +Parliament, and Lord Grey himself has no idea what sort of +strength the Government will have in either House; but there +is a prevailing opinion that they ought to be supported at +this moment, although the Duke of Wellington and Peel +mean to keep their party together. Lyndhurst’s resignation +with his colleagues (added to his not being invited to join +this Government) has restored him to the good graces of his +party, for Lord Bathurst told me had behaved very +honourably. He means now to set to work to gain character, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +and as he is about the ablest public man going, and nearly +the best speaker, he will yet bustle himself into consideration +and play a part once more. Peel, Lyndhurst, and Hardinge +are three capital men for the foundation of a party—as +men of business superior to any three in this Cabinet. But +I doubt if the Duke will ever be in a civil office again, nor do +I think the country would like to see him at the head of a +Government, unless it was one conducted in a very different +manner from the last. For the present deplorable state of +things, and for the effervescence of public opinion, which +threatens the overthrow of the constitution in trying to +amend it, Peel and the Duke are entirely responsible; and +the former is the less excusable because he might have +known better, and if he had gone long ago to the Duke, and +laid before him the state of public opinion, told him how irresistible +it was, and had refused to carry on the Government +in the House of Commons with such a crew as he had, +the Duke must have given way. Notwithstanding the great +measures which have distinguished his Government, such as +Catholic Emancipation, and the repeal of the Test Acts, a +continual series of systematic blunders, an utter ignorance of, +and indifference to, public opinion, have rendered the first +of these great measures almost useless. Ireland is on the +point of becoming in a worse state than before the Catholic +question was settled; and why? Because, first of all, the settlement +was put off too long, and the fever of agitation would +not subside, and because it was accompanied by an insult to +O’Connell, which he has been resolved to revenge, and which +he knows he can punish. Then instead of depriving him of +half his influence by paying the priests, and so getting them +under the influence of Government, they neglected this, and +followed up the omission by taxing Ireland, and thus uniting +the whole nation against us. What is this but egregious +presumption, blindness, ignorance, and want of all political +calculation and foresight? What remains now to be done? +Perhaps nothing, for the anti-Union question is spreading far +and wide with a velocity that is irresistible, and it is the +more dangerous because the desire for the repeal of the Union +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE RESULTS OF TORY GOVERNMENT.</span> +is rather the offspring of imagination than of reason, and +arises from vague, excited hopes, not, like the former agitation, +from real wrongs, long and deeply felt. But common shifts +and expedients, partial measures, will not do now, and in the +state of the game a deep stake must be played or all will +be lost. To buy O’Connell at any price, pay the Catholic +Church, establish poor laws, encourage emigration, and +repeal the obnoxious taxes and obnoxious laws, are the only +expedients which have a chance of restoring order. It is +easy to write these things, but perhaps difficult to carry them +into execution, but what we want is a head to conceive and a +heart to execute such measures as the enormous difficulties of +the times demand.</p> + +<h3>December 1st, 1830</h3> + +<p>The last two or three days have produced +no remarkable outrages, and though the state of the country +is still dreadful, it is rather better on the whole than it was; +but London is like the capital of a country desolated by cruel +war or foreign invasion, and we are always looking for +reports of battles, burnings, and other disorders. Wherever +there has been anything like fighting, the mob has always +been beaten, and has shown the greatest cowardice. They +do not, however, seem to have been actuated by a very ferocious +spirit; and considering the disorders of the times, it +is remarkable that they have not been more violent and +rapacious. Lord Craven, who is just of age, with three or four +more young Lords, his friends, defeated and dispersed them in +Hampshire. They broke into the Duke of Beaufort’s house +at Heythrop, but he and his sons got them out without +mischief, and afterwards took some of them. On Monday as +the field which had been out with the King’s hounds were +returning to town, they were summoned to assist in quelling +a riot at Woburn, which they did; the gentlemen +charged and broke the people, and took some of them, and +fortunately some troops came up to secure the prisoners. +The alarm, however, still continues, and a feverish anxiety +about the future universally prevails, for no man can foresee +what course events will take, nor how his own individual circumstances +may be affected by them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +The Government in the meantime promises fair, and they +begin by a display of activity, in early attendance at their +offices, and unusual recommendation of diligence and +economy. But Lord Grey’s Government is already carped +at, and not without apparent reason. The distribution of +offices is in many instances bad; many of the appointments +were bad, and the number of his own family provided for is +severely criticised. There are of Lord Grey’s family: Howick, +Under-Secretary; Ellice, Secretary of the Treasury; Barrington, +Lord of the Admiralty; Durham, Privy Seal; Wood, +Private Secretary (though he has no salary); and Lambton’s +brother in the Household. Melbourne at the Home Office is +considered an inefficient successor to Peel, Graham too young +and not enough distinguished for the Admiralty; Poulett +Thomson is said to entertain the most Radical opinions; +Althorp put him in. There never was a more sudden rise +than this; a young merchant, after two or three years of +Parliament and two or three speeches, is made Vice-President +of the Board of Trade, Treasurer of the Navy, and a Privy +Councillor. Then Althorp as Chancellor of the Exchequer +may be a good one, but nobody expects much from anything +that is already known about him. This constitution of the +Government has already done harm, and has stamped a +character of rapacity upon Lord Grey, which he will hear of +in proper time; but at this moment he has got all the press +on his side, and people are resolved to give him credit for +good intentions. Brougham has captivated the Archbishop +of Canterbury by offering to give livings to any deserving +clergyman he would recommend to him. I met him at +dinner yesterday in the greatest spirits, elated and not +altered by his new dignity. He is full of projects of reform +in the administration of justice, and talks of remodelling +the Privy Council as a Court of Appeal, which would be of +great use.</p> + +<h3>December 2nd, 1830</h3> + +<p>Yesterday a levee and Council and Recorder’s +report. Clanricarde and Robert +Grosvenor<a name="FNA_13_01" id="FNA_13_01"></a><a href="#FN_13_01" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> +sworn in.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_13_01" id="FN_13_01"></a><a href="#FNA_13_01"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> +[Afterwards Lord Ebury.]</p></div> + +<p>The Liverpool election, which is just over, was, considering +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +<span class="pagenum">LIVERPOOL ELECTION</span> +the present state of things, a remarkable contest. It +is said to have cost near 100,000ℓ. to the two parties, and to +have exhibited a scene of bribery and corruption perfectly +unparalleled; no concealment or even semblance of decency +was observed; the price of tallies and of votes rose, like +stock, as the demand increased, and single votes fetched from +15ℓ. to 100ℓ. apiece. They voted by tallies; as each tally +voted for one or the other candidate they were furnished +with a receipt for their votes, with which they went to the +committee, when through a hole in the wall the receipt was +handed in, and through another the stipulated sum handed +out; and this scene of iniquity has been exhibited at a period +when the cry for Reform is echoed from one end of the +country to the other, and in the case of a man (Denison) +who stood on the principle of Reform. Nobody yet knows +whence the money for Denison comes (the Ewarts are enormously +rich), but it will be still more remarkable if he should +pay it himself, when he is poor, careful of money, and was +going to India the other day in order to save 12,000ℓ. or +15,000ℓ. If anybody had gone down at the eleventh hour +and polled one good vote, he would have beaten both candidates +and disfranchised the borough. As it is, it is probable +the matter will be taken up and the borough disfranchised. +The right of voting is as bad as possible in the freemen, who +are the lowest rabble of the town and, as it appears, a parcel +of venal wretches. Here comes the difficulty of Reform, for +how is it possible to reform the electors?</p> + +<h3>December 5th, 1830</h3> + +<p>The country is getting quieter, but though +the immediate panic is passing away men’s minds are not +the less disquieted as to our future prospects. Not a soul +knows what plan of Reform the Ministers will propose, nor +how far they are disposed to go. The Duke of Devonshire +has begun in his own person by announcing to the Knaresborough +people that he will never again interfere with that +borough. Then the Black Book, as it is called, in which all +places and pensions are exhibited, has struck terror into all +who are named and virtuous indignation into all who are +not. Nothing can be more <i>mal ŕ propos</i> than the appearance +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +of this book at such a season, when there is such discontent +about our institutions and such unceasing endeavours +to bring them into contempt. The history of the book +is this:—Graham moved last year for a return of all Privy +Councillors who had more than 1,000ℓ. a year, and Goulburn +chose to give him a return of <i>all persons</i> who had more than +1,000ℓ. a year, because he thought the former return would +be invidious to Privy Councillors; so he caused that to be +published, which will remove no obloquy from those he meant +to save, but draw down a great deal on hundreds of others, +and on the Government under which such things exist. I +speak feelingly, for ‘quorum pars magna sum.’</p> + +<p>The Duke of Wellington gave a great dinner yesterday +to all the people who had gone out of office (about fifty), so +that it is clear they mean to keep together. Whether he +looks forward to be Prime Minister again it is impossible to +say, but his real friends would prefer his taking the command +of the army, whatever his fools and flatterers may do. Lord +Lyndhurst, who loses everything by the fall of the late +Government, cannot get over it, particularly as he feels that +the Duke’s obstinacy brought it about, and that by timely +concessions and good management he might have had Lord +Grey, Palmerston, and all that are worth having. Peel, on +the contrary, is delighted; he wants leisure, is glad to get +out of such a firm, and will have time to form his own plans +and avail himself of circumstances, which, according to every +probability, must turn out in his favour. His youth (for a +public man), experience, and real capacity for business will +inevitably make him Minister hereafter. The Duke of +Wellington’s +fall,<a name="FNA_13_02" id="FNA_13_02"></a><a href="#FN_13_02" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> +if the causes of it are dispassionately +traced and considered, affords a great political lesson. His +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">POLITICAL CHARACTER OF WELLINGTON.</span> +is one of those mixed characters which it is difficult to praise +or blame without the risk of doing them more or less than +justice. He has talents which the event has proved to be +sufficient to make him the second (and, now that Napoleon +is gone, the first general) of the age, but which could not +make him a tolerable Minister. Confident, presumptuous, +and dictatorial, but frank, open, and good-humoured, he +contrived to rule in the Cabinet without mortifying his +colleagues, and he has brought it to ruin without forfeiting +their regard. Choosing with a very slender stock of knowledge +to take upon himself the sole direction of every department +of Government, he completely sank under the burden. +Originally imbued with the principles of Lord Castlereagh +and the Holy Alliance, he brought all those predilections +with him into office. Incapable of foreseeing the mighty +events with which the future was big, and of comprehending +the prodigious alterations which the moral character of +Europe had undergone, he pitted himself against Canning in +the Cabinet, and stood up as the assertor of maxims both of +foreign and domestic policy which that great statesman saw +were no longer fitted for the times we live in. With a +flexibility which was more remarkably exhibited at subsequent +periods, when he found that the cause he advocated +was lost, the Duke turned suddenly round, and surrendered +his opinions at discretion; but in his heart he never forgave +Mr. Canning, and from that time jealousy of him had a +material influence on his political conduct, and was the +primary motive of many of his subsequent resolutions. This +flexibility has been the cause of great benefits to the country, +but ultimately of his own downfall, for it has always proceeded +from the pressure of circumstances and considerations +of convenience to himself, and not from a rational adaptation +of his opinions and conduct to the necessities and variations +of the times. He has not been thoroughly true to any principle +or any party; he contrived to disgust and alienate his +old friends and adherents without conciliating or attaching +those whose measures he at the eleventh hour undertook to +carry into execution. Through the whole course of his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +political conduct selfish considerations have never been out +of sight. His opposition to Canning’s Corn Bill was too +gross to admit of excuse. It was the old spite bursting forth, +sharpened by Canning’s behaviour to him in forming his +Administration, which, if it was not contumelious, certainly +was not courteous. When at his death the Duke assumed +the Government, his disclaiming speech was thrown in his +teeth, but without much justice, for such expressions are +never to be taken literally, and in the subsequent quarrel +with Huskisson, though it is probably true that he was +aiming at domination, he was persuaded that Huskisson and +his party were endeavouring to form a cabal in the Cabinet, +and his expulsion of them is not, therefore, altogether without +excuse. On the question of the Test Act it was evident he +was guided by no principle, probably by no opinion, and that +he only thought of turning it as best he might to his own +advantage. Throughout the Catholic question self was +always apparent, not that he was careless of the safety, or +indifferent to the prosperity of the country, but that he cared +as much for his own credit and power, and never considered +the first except in their connection with the second. The +business of Emancipation he certainly conducted with considerable +judgment, boldly trusting to the baseness of many +of his old friends, and showing that he had not mistaken +their characters; exercising that habitual influence he had acquired +over the mind of the King; preserving impenetrable +secresy; using without scruple every artifice that could +forward his object; and contriving to make tools or dupes of +all his colleagues and adherents, and getting the whole merit +to himself. From the passing of the Catholic question his +conduct has exhibited a series of blunders which have at +length terminated in his fall. The position in which he then +stood was this:—He had a Government composed of men +who were for the most part incompetent, but perfectly subservient +to him. He had a considerable body of adherents +in both Houses. The Whigs, whose support (enthusiastically +given) had carried him triumphantly through the great contest, +were willing to unite with him; the Tories, exasperated +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">POLITICAL CHARACTER OF WELLINGTON.</span> +and indignant, feeling insulted and betrayed, vowed nothing +but vengeance. Intoxicated with his victory, he was resolved +to neglect the Whigs, to whom he was so much indebted, +and to regain the affections of the Tories, whom he considered +as his natural supporters, and whom he thought +identity of opinion and interest would bring back to his +standard. By all sorts of slights and affronting insinuations +that they wanted place, but that he could do without them, +he offended the Whigs, but none of his cajoleries and advances +had the least effect on the sulky Tories. It was in +vain that he endeavoured to adapt his foreign policy to their +worst prejudices by opposing with undeviating hostility that +of Mr. Canning (the great object of their detestation), and +disseminating throughout all Europe the belief of his attachment +to ultra-monarchical principles. He opposed the spirit +of the age, he brought England into contempt, but he did +not conciliate the Tories. Having succeeded in uniting two +powerful parties (acting separately) in opposition to his +Government, and having nobody but Peel to defend his +measures in the House of Commons, and nobody in the +House of Lords, he manifested his sense of his own weakness +by overtures and negotiations, and evinced his obstinate +tenacity of power by never offering terms which could be +accepted, or extending his invitations to those whose authority +he thought might cope with his own. With his Government +falling every day in public opinion, and his enemies growing +more numerous and confident, with questions of vast importance +rising up with a vigour and celerity of growth which +astonished the world, he met a new Parliament (constituted +more unfavourably than the last, which he had found himself +unable to manage) without any support but in his own confidence +and the encouraging adulation of a little knot of +devotees. There still lingered round him some of that +popularity which had once been so great, and which the recollection +of his victories would not suffer to be altogether +extinguished. By a judicious accommodation of his conduct +to that public opinion which was running with an uncontrollable +tide, by a frank invitation to all who were well disposed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +to strengthen his Government, he might have raised +those embers of popularity into a flame once more, have saved +himself, and still done good service to the State; but it was +decreed that he should fall. He appeared bereft of all judgment +and discretion, and after a King’s Speech which gave +great, and I think unnecessary offence, he delivered the +famous philippic against Reform which sealed his fate. +From that moment it was not doubtful, and he was hurled +from the seat of power amidst universal acclamations.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_13_02" id="FN_13_02"></a><a href="#FNA_13_02"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> +[The following passage will no doubt be read with surprise, for in +later years Mr. Greville became and remained one of the Duke’s most +steady admirers, and as he has himself stated in the memorandum written +nineteen years afterwards, which is inserted at the end of it, the opinion +he entertained of him at this time was unjust. But he at the same time +decided ‘to leave it as it is, because it is of the essence of these Memoirs not +to soften or tone down judgments by the light of altered convictions, but +to leave them standing as contemporary evidence of what was thought at +the time they were written.’ These are his own words.]</p></div> + +<hr /> + +<p class="center"><i>[Memorandum added by Mr. Greville in April 1850.</i>]</p> + +<blockquote><p>N.B.—I leave this as it is, though it is unjust to the +Duke of Wellington; but such as my impressions were at +the time they shall remain, to be corrected afterwards when +necessary. It would be very wrong to impute <i>selfishness</i> to +him in the ordinary sense of the term. He coveted power, +but he was perfectly disinterested, a great patriot if ever +there was one, and he was always animated by a strong and +abiding sense of duty. I have done him justice in other +places, and there is after all a great deal of truth in what I +have said here.</p></blockquote> + +<hr /> + +<h3>December 12th, 1830</h3> + +<p>For the last few days the accounts from +the country have been better; there are disturbances in +different parts, and alarms given, but the mischief seems to +be subsiding. The burnings go on, and though they say +that one or two incendiaries have been taken up, nothing +has yet been discovered likely to lead to the detection of the +system. I was at Court on Wednesday, when Kemp and +Foley were sworn in, the first for the Ordnance, the other +Gold Stick (the pensioners). He refused it for a long time, +but at last submitted to what he thought <i>infra dig</i>., because +it was to be sugared with the Lieutenancy of Worcestershire. +There was an Admiralty +report,<a name="FNA_13_03" id="FNA_13_03"></a><a href="#FN_13_03" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> +at which the Chief Justice +was not present. The Chancellor and the Judge (Sir C. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">AN ESCAPE FROM THE GALLOWS.</span> +Robinson) were there for the first time, and not a soul knew +what was the form or what ought to be done; they did, +however, just as in the Recorder’s reports. Brougham leans +to mercy, I see. But what a curious sort of supplementary +trial this is; how many accidents may determine the life or +death of the culprit. In one case in this report which they +were discussing (before the Council) Brougham had <i>forgotten</i> +that the man was recommended to mercy, but he told +me that at the last Recorder’s report there was a great +difference of opinion on one (a forgery case), when Tenterden +was for hanging the man and he for saving him; that he +had it put to the vote, and the man was saved. Little did +the criminal know when there was a change of Ministry that +he owed his life to it, for if Lyndhurst had been Chancellor +he would most assuredly have been hanged; not that +Lyndhurst was particularly severe or cruel, but he would +have concurred with the Chief Justice and have regarded +the case solely in a judicial point of view, whereas the mind +of the other was probably biassed by some theory about the +crime of forgery or by some fancy of his strange brain.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_13_03" id="FN_13_03"></a><a href="#FNA_13_03"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> +[The High Court of Admiralty had still a criminal jurisdiction, and +the capital cases were submitted to the King in Council for approval.]</p></div> + +<p>This was a curious case, as I have since heard. The man +owes his life to the curiosity of a woman of fashion, and +then to another feeling. Lady Burghersh and Lady Glengall +wanted to hear St. John Long’s trial (the quack who +had <i>man</i>-slaughtered Miss Cashir), and they went to the +Old Bailey for that purpose. Castlereagh and somebody +else, who of course were not up in time, were to have attended +them. They wanted an escort, and the only man in +London sure to be out of bed so early was the Master of the +Rolls, so they went and carried him off. When they got to +the court there was no St. John Long, but they thought +they might as well stay and hear whatever was going on. +It chanced that a man was tried for an atrocious case of +forgery and breach of trust. He was found guilty and +sentence passed; but he was twenty-three and good-looking. +Lady Burghersh could not bear he should be hanged, and +she went to all the late Ministers and the Judges to beg +him off. Leach told her it was no use, that nothing could +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +save that man; and accordingly the old Government were +obdurate, when out they went. Off she went again and +attacked all the new ones, who in better humour, or of softer +natures, suffered themselves to be persuaded, and the wretch +was saved. She went herself to Newgate to see him, but +I never heard if she had a private interview, and if he +was afforded an opportunity of expressing his gratitude +with all the fervour that the service she had done him +demanded.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the Government is going on what is +called well—that is, there is a great disposition to give them +a fair trial. All they have done and promise to do about +economy gives satisfaction, and Reform (the awful question) +is still at a distance. There has been, however, some sharp +skirmishing in the course of the week, and there is no want +of bitterness and watchfulness on the part of the old Government. +In the Committee which has been named to enquire +into the salaries of the Parliamentary offices they mean to +leave the question in the hands of the country gentlemen; +but they do not think any great reductions will be practicable, +and as Baring is chairman it is not probable that much +will be done. They think Brougham speaks too often in the +House of Lords, but he has done very well there; and on +Friday he made a reply to Lord Stanhope, which was the +most beautiful piece of sarcasm and complete cutting-up +(though with very good humour) that ever was heard, and +an exhibition to the like of which the Lords have not been +accustomed. The Duke of Wellington made another imprudent +speech, in which (in answer to Lord Radnor, who +attributed the state of the country to the late Government) +he said that it was attributable to the events of July and +August in other countries, and spoke of them in a way +which showed clearly his real opinion and feelings on the +subject.</p> + +<p>After some delay Lord Lansdowne made up his mind to +fill up the vacancy in my office, and to give it to William +Bathurst; but he first spoke to the King, who said it was +very true he had told Lord Bathurst that his son should +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE CLERKS OF THE COUNCIL.</span> +have it, but that he now left the matter entirely to his +decision, showing no anxiety to have William Bathurst +appointed. However, he has it, but reduced to 1,200ℓ. a +year. I was agreeably surprised yesterday by a communication +from Lord Lansdowne that he thought no alteration +could be made in my emoluments, and that he was quite prepared +to defend them if anybody attacked them. Still, +though it is a very good thing to be so supported, I don’t +consider myself safe from Parliamentary assaults. In these +times it will not do to be idle, and I told Lord Lansdowne +that I was anxious to keep my emoluments, but ready to +work for them, and proposed that we Clerks of the Council +should be called upon to act really at the Board of Trade, as +we are, in fact, bound to do; by which means Lack’s place +when vacant need not be filled up, and a saving would be +made. My predecessors Cottrell and Fawkener always acted, +their successors Bailer and Chetwynd were incompetent, and +Lack, the Chancellor’s Clerk, was made Assistant-Secretary, +and did the work. Huskisson and Hume, his director, made +the business a science; new Presidents and Vice-Presidents +succeeded one another in different Ministerial revolutions; +they and Lack were incompetent, and Hume was made +Assistant-Secretary, and it is he who advises, directs, +legislates. I believe he is one of the ablest practical men +who have ever served, more like an American statesman than +an English official. I am anxious to begin my Trade +education under him.</p> + +<p>Parliament is going to adjourn directly for three or four +weeks, to give the Ministers time to make their arrangements +and get rid of the load of business which besets them; +although there is every disposition to give them credit for +good intentions, and to let them have a fair trial, there are +not wanting causes of discontent in many quarters.</p> + +<p>All the Russells are dissatisfied that Lord John has not a +seat in the Cabinet, and that Graham should be preferred to +him, and the more so because they know or believe that his +preference is owing to Lambton, who does what he likes with +Lord Grey. My mind has always misgiven me about Lord +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +Grey, and what I have lately heard of him satisfies me that +a more overrated man never lived, or one whose speaking +was so far above his general abilities, or who owed so much +to his oratorical plausibility. His tall, commanding, and +dignified appearance, his flow of language, graceful action, +well rounded periods, and an exhibition of classical taste +united with legal knowledge, render him the most finished +orator of his day; but his conduct has shown him to be +influenced by pride, still more by vanity, personal antipathies, +caprice, indecision, and a thousand weaknesses generated by +these passions and defects. Anybody who is constantly with +him and who can avail themselves of his vanity can govern +him. There was a time when Sir Robert Wilson was his +‘magnus Apollo’ (and Codrington), till they quarrelled. +Now Lambton is all in all with him. Lambton dislikes the +Russells, and hence Lord John’s exclusion and the preference +of Graham. Everybody remembers how Lord Grey refused +to lead the Whig party when Canning formed his junction +with the Whigs, and declared that he abdicated in favour +of Lord Lansdowne; and then how he came and made +that violent speech against Canning which half killed him +with vexation, and in consequence of which he meant to +have moved into the House of Lords for the express purpose +of attacking Lord Grey. Then when he had quarrelled +with his old Whig friends he began to approach the Tories, +the object of his constant aversion and contempt; and +we knew what civilities passed between the Bathursts and +him, and what political coquetries between him and the +Duke of Wellington, and how he believed that it was only +George IV. who prevented his being invited by the Duke to +join him. Then George IV. dies, King William succeeds; +no invitation to Lord Grey, and he plunges into furious +opposition to the Duke.</p> + +<p>About three years ago the Chancellor, Lyndhurst, was the +man in the world he abhorred the most; and it was about +this time that I well recollect one night at Madame de +Lieven’s I introduced Lord Grey to Lady Lyndhurst. We +had dined together somewhere, and he had been praising her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">LORD GREY AND LORD LYNDHURST.</span> +beauty; so when we all met there I presented him, and +very soon all his antipathies ceased and he and Lyndhurst +became great friends. This was the cause of Lady Lyndhurst’s +partiality for the Whigs, which enraged the Tory +ladies and some of their lords so much, but which served +her turn and enabled her to keep two hot irons in the fire. +When the Duke went out Lord Grey was very anxious to +keep Lyndhurst as his Chancellor, and would have done so +if it had not been for Brougham, who, whirling Reform <i>in +terrorem</i> over his head, announced to him that it must not +be. Reluctantly enough Grey was obliged to give way, for +he saw that with Brougham in the House of Commons, +against him he could not stand for five minutes, and that +the only alternative was to put Brougham on the Woolsack. +Hence his delay in sending for Brougham, the latter’s +speech and subsequent acceptance of the Great Seal. +Grey, however, was still anxious to serve Lyndhurst, and +to neutralise his opposition has now proposed to him to +be Chief Baron. This is tempting to a necessitous and +ambitious man. On the other hand he had a good game +before him, if he had played it well, and that was to regain +character, exhibit his great and general powers, and be +ready to avail himself of the course of events; but he has +made his bargain and pocketed his pride. He takes the +judicial office upon an understanding that he is to have no +political connection with the Government (though of course +he will not oppose them), and that he is to be Chief Justice +on Tenterden’s death or retirement. This is the secret +article of the treaty, and altogether he has not done amiss; +for there are so few Chancellors in the field that he will +probably (if he chooses) return to the Woolsack in the +event of a change of Government, and he is now in a +position in which he may join either party, and that without +any <i>additional</i> loss of character. The public will gain by +the transaction, because they will get a good judge.</p> + +<p>In Ireland the Government have made a change (the +motives of which are not apparent) which will be very unpopular, +and infallibly get them into trouble in various ways. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +They have removed Hart and made Plunket Chancellor. +Hart was very popular with the Bar; he was slow, but had +introduced order and regularity in the proceedings of the +Court. There were no arrears and no appeals. Plunket is +unpopular, and was a bad judge in the Common Pleas, and +will probably make a worse Chancellor; he is rash, hasty, +and imprudent, and it is the more extraordinary as Hart was +affronted by Goderich and went with Anglesey, so upon the +score of confidence (on which they put it) there is in fact not +a pretext for it.</p> + +<p>As yet not much can be known of the efficiency of the +rest of the Ministers. The only one who has had anything +to do is Melbourne, and he has surprised all those about him +by a sudden display of activity and vigour, rapid and diligent +transaction of business, for which nobody was prepared, and +which will prove a great mortification to Peel and his friends, +who were in hopes he would do nothing and let the country +be burnt and plundered without interruption. The Duke of +Richmond has plunged neck-deep in politics, and says he is +delighted with it all, and with Lord Grey’s candour and unassuming +bearing in the Cabinet. He is evidently piqued that +none of his party have followed him, and made a speech in +the House of Lords the other night expressing his readiness +to defend his having taken office, when nobody attacked him. +Knowing him as I do, and the exact extent of his capacity, +I fancy he must feel rather small by the side of Lord Grey +and Brougham. Graham’s elevation is the most monstrous +of all. He was once my friend, a college intimacy revived +in the world, and which lasted six months, when, thinking he +could do better, he cut me, as he had done others before. I +am not a fair judge of him, because the pique which his +conduct to me naturally gave me would induce me to underrate +him, but I take vanity and self-sufficiency to be the prominent +features of his character, though of the extent of his +capacity I will give no opinion. Let time show; I think he +will fail. [Time did show it to be very considerable, and the +<i>volvenda dies</i> brought back our former friendship, as will +hereafter appear; he certainly did <i>not fail</i>.]</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">SIR JAMES GRAHAM.</span> +He came into Parliament ten years ago, spoke and failed. +He had been a provincial hero, the Cicero and the Romeo of +Yorkshire and Cumberland, a present Lovelace and a future +Pitt. He was disappointed in love (the particulars are of +no consequence), married and retired to digest his mortifications +of various kinds, to become a country gentleman, +patriot, reformer, financier, and what not, always good-looking +(he had been very handsome), pleasing, intelligent, +cultivated, agreeable as a man can be who is not witty and +who is rather pompous and slow, after many years of retirement, +in the course of which he gave to the world his lucubrations +on corn and currency. Time and the hour made +him master of a large but encumbered estate and member +for his county. Armed with the importance of representing +a great constituency, he started again in the House of +Commons; took up Joseph Hume’s line, but ornamented it +with graces and flourishes which had not usually decorated +such dry topics. He succeeded, and in that line is now the +best speaker in the House. I have no doubt he has studied +his subjects and practised himself in public speaking. Years +and years ago I remember his delight on Hume’s comparison +between Demosthenes and Cicero, and how he knew the +passage by heart; but it is one thing to attack strong abuses +and fire off well-rounded set phrases, another to administer +the naval affairs of the country and be ready to tilt against +all comers, as he must do for the +future.<a name="FNA_13_04" id="FNA_13_04"></a><a href="#FN_13_04" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> +Palmerston is said +to have given the greatest satisfaction to the foreign +Ministers, and to have begun very well. So much for the +Ministers.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_13_04" id="FN_13_04"></a><a href="#FNA_13_04"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> +[This opinion of Sir James Graham is the more curious as he afterwards +became one of Mr. Greville’s confidential friends, and rose to the +first rank of oratory and authority in the House of Commons. As Secretary +of State for the Home Department in the great Administration of Sir +Robert Peel he showed administrative ability of the highest order, and he +was, perhaps, the most trusted colleague of that illustrious chief. The +principal failing of Sir James Graham was, in truth, that he was not so +brave and bold a man as he looked.]</p></div> + +<h3>December 14th, 1830</h3> + +<p>There is a delay in Lyndhurst’s appointment, +if it takes place at all. +Alexander<a name="FNA_13_05" id="FNA_13_05"></a><a href="#FN_13_05" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> +now will not resign, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +though he himself proposed to do so in the first instance. +His physician signed a certificate to say that if he went on +this Committee it would cost him his life; some difficulty +about the pension is the cause, or the peerage that he wants. +He is seventy-six and very rich, a wretched judge, and +never knew anything of Common Law. If it is not arranged, +it will be a bad business for Lyndhurst, for the Duke and his +friends are grievously annoyed at his taking the office, having +counted on him as their great champion in the House of +Lords. Mrs. Arbuthnot told me the other night that they +considered themselves released from all obligations to him +for the future. However, they have not at all quarrelled, +and they knew his deplorable state in point of money. +Dined yesterday at Agar Ellis’s with eighteen people. +Brougham in great force and very agreeable, and told some +stories of Judge Allan Park, who is a most ridiculous man, +and yet a good lawyer, a good judge, and was a most +eminent counsel.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_13_05" id="FN_13_05"></a><a href="#FNA_13_05"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> +[The Chief Baron.]</p></div> + +<p>Park is extraordinarily ridiculous. He is a physiognomist, +and is captivated by pleasant looks. In a certain cause, in +which a boy brought an action for defamation against his +schoolmaster, Campbell, his counsel, asked the solicitor if the +boy was good-looking. ‘Very.’ ‘Oh, then, have him in court; +we shall get a verdict.’ And so he did. His eyes are always +wandering about, watching and noticing everything and +everybody. One day there was a dog in court making a +disturbance, on which he said, ‘Take away that dog.’ The +officers went to remove another dog, when he interposed. +‘No, not that dog. I have had my eye on that dog the whole +day, and I will say that a better behaved little dog I never +saw in a court of justice.’</p> + +<p>One of Brougham’s best speeches was one of his last at +the Bar, made in moving for a new trial on the ground +of misdirection in a great cause (Tatham and Wright) +about a will. He said that on that occasion Park did what +he thought no man’s physical powers were equal to; he +spoke in summing up for eleven hours and a half, and +was as fresh at the end as at the beginning; the trial lasted +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">LORD LYNDHURST AND THE WHIGS.</span> +eight days. This same evening Lord Grosvenor, who is by +way of being a friend to Government, made an <i>amicable</i> +attack upon everything, and talked nonsense. Lord Grey +answered him, and defended his own family appointments in +a very good speech.</p> + +<h3>December 15th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Dined yesterday with Lord Dudley; sat +next to Lady Lyndhurst, and had a great deal of talk about +politics. She said that the Duke never consulted or communicated +with the Chancellor, who never heard of his overtures to +Palmerston till Madame de Lieven told him; that he had +repeatedly remonstrated with the Duke upon going on in +his weakness, and on one occasion had gone to Walmer on +purpose (leaving her behind that he might talk more freely) +to urge him to take in Lord Grey and some of that party, +but he would not; said he had tried to settle with them, and +it would not do; had tried individuals and had tried the +party. Up to a very late period it appears that Lord Grey +would have joined him, and Lambton came to her repeatedly +to try and arrange something; but this answer of the Duke’s +put it out of the question. Then after Lord Grey made his +hostile speech it seems as if the Duke wanted to get him, +for one day Jersey made an appointment with Lady Lyndhurst, +never having called upon her in his life before, came, +and entreated her to try and bring about an accommodation +with Lord Grey, not making use of the Duke’s name, but +saying he and Lady Jersey were so unhappy that the Duke +and Lord Grey should not be on good terms, and were so +anxious for the junction; but it was too late then, and the +Lyndhursts themselves had something else to look to. They +both knew very well that Brougham alone prevented his +remaining on the Woolsack, still they have very wisely not +quarrelled with him. After dinner I took Lyndhurst to +Lady Dudley Stuart’s, and had some more talk with him. He +thinks, as I do, that this Government does not promise to be +strong. What passed in the House of Commons the other +night exhibited deplorable weakness and the necessity of +depending upon the caprices of hundreds of loose votes, +without anything like a party with which they could venture +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +to oppose popular doctrines or measures. He thinks that +Peel must be Minister if there is not a revolution, and that +the Duke’s being Prime Minister again is out of the question; +says he <i>knows</i> Peel would never consent to act with him +again in the same capacity, that all the Duke’s little cabinet +(the women and the toad-eaters) hate Peel, and that there +never was any real cordiality between them. Everything +confirms my belief that Peel, if he did not bring about the +dissolution of the late Ministry by any overt act, saw to what +things were tending, and saw it with satisfaction.</p> + +<h3>December 16th, 1830</h3> + +<p>At Court yesterday; William Bathurst +sworn in. All the Ministers were there, and the Duke of Wellington +at the levee looking out of sorts. Dined at the +Lievens’; Lady Cowper told me that in the summer the Duke +had not made a <i>direct</i> offer to Melbourne, but what was tantamount +to it. He had desired somebody (she did not say +who) to speak to +Frederick,<a name="FNA_13_06" id="FNA_13_06"></a><a href="#FN_13_06" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> +and said he would call on him +himself the next day. Something, however, prevented him, +and she did not say whether he did call or not afterwards. +He denied ever having made any overture at all. To Palmerston +he proposed the choice of four places, and she thinks +he would have taken in Huskisson if the latter had lived. +He would have done nothing but on compulsion; that is +clear. It is very true (what they say Peel said of him) that +no <i>man</i> ever had any influence with him, only <i>women</i>, and +those always the silliest. But who are Peel’s confidants, +friends, and parasites? Bonham, a stock-jobbing ex-merchant; +Charles Ross, and the refuse of society of the House +of Commons.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_13_06" id="FN_13_06"></a><a href="#FNA_13_06"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> +[Sir Frederick Lamb.]</p></div> + +<p>Lamb told me afterwards, talking of the Duke and +Polignac, that Sébastiani had told him that Hyde de Neuville +(who was Minister at the time Polignac went over from +here on his first short visit, before he became Minister) said +that upon that occasion Polignac took over a letter from the +Duke to the King of France, in which he said that the Chambers +and the democratical spirit required to be curbed, that +he advised him to lose no time in restraining them, and that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE KING AND HIS SONS.</span> +he referred him to M. de Polignac for his opinion generally, +who was in possession of his entire confidence. I think this +<i>may</i> be true, never having doubted that these were his real +sentiments, whether he expressed them or not.</p> + +<p>There has been a desperate quarrel between the King and +his sons. George Fitzclarence wanted to be made a Peer +and have a pension; the King said he could not do it, so +they struck work in a body, and George resigned his office +of Deputy Adjutant-General and wrote the King a furious +letter. The King sent for Lord Hill, and told him to try +and bring him to his senses; but Lord Hill could do nothing, +and then he sent for Brougham to talk to him about it. It is +not yet made up, but one of them (Frederick, I believe) dined +at the dinner the King gave the day before yesterday. They +want to renew the days of Charles II., instead of waiting +patiently and letting the King do what he can for them, and +as he can.</p> + +<p>The affair at Warsaw seems to have begun with a conspiracy +against Constantine, and four of the generals who +were killed perished in his anteroom in defending him. +With the smallest beginnings, however, nothing is more +probable than a general rising in Poland; and what between +that, Belgians, and Piedmont, which is threatened with a +revolution, the Continent is in a promising state. I agree +with Lamb, who says that such an <i>imbroglio</i> as this cannot +be got right without a war; such a flame can only be quenched +by blood.</p> + +<h3>December 19th, 1830</h3> + +<p>The week has closed without much +gain to the new Government. On the debate in the House +of Commons about the Evesham election they did not dare +go to a division, as they would certainly have been beaten, +but Peel made a speech which was very good in itself, +and received in a way which proved that he has more consideration +out of office than any of the Ministers, and much +more than he ever had when he was in. Men are looking +more and more to him, and if there is not a revolution he +will assuredly be Prime Minister. The Government is fully +aware how little strength they have, so they have taken a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +new line, and affect to carry on the Government without +Parliamentary influence, and to throw themselves and their +measures upon the impartial judgment of the House. Sefton +informed me the other night that they had resolved not to +take upon themselves the responsibility of proposing any +renewal of the Civil List, but to refer the whole question to +Parliament. I told him that I thought such conduct equally +foolish and unjust, and that it amounted to an abdication of +their Ministerial functions, and a surrender of them into the +hands of the Legislative power; in itself amounting to a +revolution not of dynasty and institutions, but of system of +Government in this country. He is the <i>âme damnée</i> of Lord +Grey, and defends everything of course.</p> + +<p>O’Connell is gone rabid to Ireland, having refused a silk +gown and resolved to pull down Lord Anglesey’s popularity. +Shiel writes word that they have resolved <i>not</i> to give Lord +Anglesey a public reception, and to propose an ovation for +O’Connell. The law appointments there, made without any +adequate reason, have been ingeniously contrived so as to +disgust every party in Ireland, and to do, or promise to do, +in their ultimate results as much harm as possible. So much +for the only act that the Ministers have yet performed.</p> + +<p>I had some conversation with Lyndhurst yesterday, who +thinks the way is already preparing for Peel’s return to office, +and that he must be Prime Minister. I told him that I +thought Peel had a fine game to play, but that his own was +just as good, as Peel could do nothing without him in the +other House; to which he replied that they should have no +difficulty, and could make a Government if the Duke of +Wellington did not interpose his claims and aspire again to +be at the head; to which I said that they must not listen to +it, as the country would not bear it; he said he was afraid +the Duke’s own set and his women were encouraging him in +such views. Now that it is all over his own Cabinet admit as +freely as anybody his Ministerial despotism. Lyndhurst +partakes of the general alarm at the state of affairs, and of +the astonishment which I and others feel at the apathy of +those who are most interested in averting the impending +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">BISHOP OF EXETER AND LORD MELBOURNE.</span> +danger. Yesterday Mr. Stapleton (Canning’s late private +secretary) called on me to discuss this subject, and the propriety +and feasibility of setting up some dyke to arrest the +torrent of innovation and revolution that is bursting in on +every side. All the press almost is silenced, or united on +the other side. ‘John Bull’ alone fights the battle, but +‘John Bull’ defends so many indefensible things that its +advocacy is not worth much. An anti-Radical upon the +plan of the Anti-Jacobin might be of some use, provided it +was well sustained. I wrote a letter yesterday to +Barnes,<a name="FNA_13_07" id="FNA_13_07"></a><a href="#FN_13_07" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> +remonstrating upon the general tone of the ‘Times,’ and +inviting him to adopt some Conservative principles in the +midst of his zeal for Reform. Stanley told me that his +election (at Preston) was lost by the stupidity or ill-will of +the returning officer, who managed the booths in such a +way that Hunt’s voters were enabled to vote over and over +at different booths, and that he had no doubt of reducing +his majority on a scrutiny.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_13_07" id="FN_13_07"></a><a href="#FNA_13_07"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> +[Mr. Barnes was then editor of the ‘Times’ newspaper, and retained +that position till his death in 1841. Mr. Greville was well acquainted with +him, and had a high opinion of his talents, character, and influence.]</p></div> + +<h3>December 22nd, 1830</h3> + +<p>Dudley showed me Phillpotts’ (Bishop +of Exeter) correspondence with Melbourne and minutes of +conversation on the subject of the commendam of the living +of Stanhope; trimming letters. The Bishop made proposals +to the Government which they rejected, and at last, after +writing one of the ablest letters I ever read, in which he +exposed their former conduct and present motives, he said +that as the Ministers had thought fit to exert the power they +had over him, he should show them that he had some over +them, and appeal to public opinion to decide between them. +On this they gave way, and agreed to an arrangement which, +if not satisfactory to him, will leave him as to income not +much worse off than he was before.</p> + +<h3>December 23rd, 1830</h3> + +<p>Last night to Wilmot Horton’s second +lecture at the Mechanics’ Institute; I could not go to the +first. He deserves great credit for his exertions, the object +of which is to explain to the labouring classes some of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +truths of political economy, the folly of thinking that the +breaking of machinery will better their condition, and of +course the efficacy of his own plan of emigration. The company +was respectable enough, and they heard him with great +attention. He is full of zeal and animation, but so totally +without method and arrangement that he is hardly intelligible. +The conclusion, which was an attack on Cobbett, was +well done and even eloquent. There were a good many +women, and several wise men, such as Dr. Birkbeck, +M‘Culloch, and Owen of Lanark.</p> + +<p>O’Connell had a triumphant entry into Dublin, and +advised that no honours should be shown to Lord Anglesey. +They had an interview of two hours in London, when Lord +Anglesey asked him what he intended to do. He said, +‘Strive <i>totis viribus</i> to effect a repeal of the Union;’ when +Lord Anglesey told him that he feared he should then be +obliged to govern Ireland by force, so that they are at daggers +drawn. There is not a doubt that Repeal is making rapid +advances. +Moore<a name="FNA_13_08" id="FNA_13_08"></a><a href="#FN_13_08" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> +told me that he had seen extraordinary +signs of it, and that men of the middle classes, intelligent +and well educated, wished for it, though they knew the disadvantages +that would attend a severance of their connection +with England. He said that he could understand it, for as +an Irishman he felt it himself.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_13_08" id="FN_13_08"></a><a href="#FNA_13_08"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> +[Thomas Moore, the poet.]</p></div> + +<h3>Roehampton, December 26th, 1830</h3> + +<p>At Lord Clifden’s; Luttrell, +Byng, and Dudley; the latter very mad, did nothing but +soliloquise, walk about, munch, and rail at Reform of every +kind. Lord Anglesey has entered Dublin amidst silence and +indifference, all produced by O’Connell’s orders, whose entry +was greeted by the acclamations of thousands, and his +speeches then and since have been more violent than ever. +His authority and popularity are unabated, and he is employing +them to do all the mischief he can, his first object +being to make friends of the Orangemen, to whom he affects +to humble himself, and he has on all public occasions caused +the orange ribband to be joined with the green.</p> + +<p>We had a meeting at the Council Office on Friday to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">LORD ANGLESEY AND O’CONNELL.</span> +order a prayer ‘on account of the troubled state of certain +parts of the United Kingdom’—great nonsense.</p> + +<p>The King of the French has put an end to the disturbances +of Paris about the sentence on the ex-Ministers by a +gallant <i>coup d’état.</i> At night, when the streets were most +crowded and agitated, he sallied from the Palais Royal on +horseback, with his son, the Duc de Nemours, and his +personal <i>cortége</i>, and paraded through Paris for two hours. +This did the business; he was received with shouts of +applause, and at once reduced everything to tranquillity. +He deserves his throne for this, and will probably keep it.</p> + +<h3>December 30th, 1830</h3> + +<p>Notwithstanding the conduct of King +Louis Philippe, and the happy termination of the disorders +and tumults at Paris last week, the greatest alarm still prevails +about the excitement in that place. In consequence of +the Chamber of Deputies having passed some resolutions +altering the constitution of the National Guard, and voting +the post of Commandant-General unnecessary, Lafayette resigned +and has been replaced by Lobau. I never remember +times like these, nor read of such—the terror and lively +expectation which prevail, and the way in which people’s +minds are turned backwards and forwards from France to +Ireland, then range excursively to Poland or Piedmont, and +fix again on the burnings, riots, and executions here.</p> + +<p>Lord Anglesey’s entry into Dublin turned out not to have +been so mortifying to him as was at first reported. He was +attended by a great number of people, and by all the most +eminent and respectable in Dublin, so much so that he was +very well pleased, and found it better than he expected. +War broke out between him and O’Connell without loss of +time. O’Connell had intended to have a procession of the +trades, and a notice from him was to have been published +and stuck over the door of every chapel and public place in +Dublin. Anglesey issued his proclamation, and half an hour +before the time when O’Connell’s notice was to appear had it +pasted up, and one copy laid on O’Connell’s breakfast table, +at which anticipation he chuckled mightily. O’Connell +instantly issued a handbill desiring the people to obey, as if +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +the order of the Lord-Lieutenant was to derive its authority +from his permission, and he afterwards made an able speech. +Since the beginning of the world there never was so extraordinary +and so eccentric a position as his. It is a moral +power and influence as great in its way, and as strangely +acquired, as Bonaparte’s political power was. Utterly lost +to all sense of shame and decency, trampling truth and +honour under his feet, cast off by all respectable men, he +makes his faults and his vices subservient to the extension +of his influence, for he says and does whatever suits his +purpose for the moment, secure that no detection or subsequent +exposure will have the slightest effect with those over +whose minds and passions he rules with such despotic sway. +He cares not whom he insults, because, having covered his +cowardice with the cloak of religious scruples, he is invulnerable, +and will resent no retaliation that can be offered him. +He has chalked out to himself a course of ambition which, +though not of the highest kind—if the <i>consentiens laus +bonorum</i> is indispensable to the aspirations of noble minds—has +everything in it that can charm a somewhat vulgar but +highly active, restless, and imaginative being; and nobody +can deny to him the praise of inimitable dexterity, versatility, +and even prudence in the employment of the means which +he makes conducive to his ends. He is thoroughly acquainted +with the audiences which he addresses and the people upon +whom he practises, and he operates upon their passions with +the precision of a dexterous anatomist who knows the direction +of every muscle and fibre of the human frame. After +having been throughout the Catholic question the furious +enemy of the Orangemen, upon whom he lavished incessant +and unmeasured abuse, he has suddenly turned round, and +inviting them to join him on the Repeal question, has not +only offered them a fraternal embrace and has humbled himself +to the dust in apologies and demands for pardon, but he +has entirely and at once succeeded, and he is now as popular +or more so with the Protestants (or rather Orangemen) as he +was before with the Catholics, and Crampton writes word +that the lower order of Protestants are with him to a man.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2>1831.</h2> + +<h3>January 2nd, 1831</h3> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">A DINNER AT THE ATHENĆUM.</span> +Came up to town yesterday to dine with +the Villiers at a dinner of clever men, got up at the +Athenćum, and was extremely bored. The original party +was broken up by various excuses, and the vacancies supplied +by men none of whom I knew. There were Poulett +Thomson, three Villiers, Taylor, Young, whom I knew; the +rest I never saw before—Buller, Romilly, Senior, +Maule,<a name="FNA_13_09" id="FNA_13_09"></a><a href="#FN_13_09" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> +a man whose name I forget, and Walker, a police magistrate, +all men of more or less talent and information, and altogether +producing anything but an agreeable party. Maule was +senior wrangler and senior medallist at Cambridge, and is +a lawyer. He was nephew to the man with whom I was at +school thirty years ago, and I had never seen him since; he +was then a very clever boy, and assisted to teach the boys, +being admirably well taught himself by his uncle, who was +an excellent scholar and a great brute. I have young Maule +now in my mind’s eye suspended by the hair of his head +while being well caned, and recollect as if it was yesterday +his doggedly drumming a lesson of Terence into my dull and +reluctant brain as we walked up and down the garden walk +before the house. When I was introduced to him I had no +recollection of him, but when I found out who he was I went +up to him with the blandest manner as he sat reading a +newspaper, and said that ‘I believed we had once been well +acquainted, though we had not met for twenty-seven years.’ +He looked up and said, ‘Oh, it is too long ago to talk about,’ +and then turned back to his paper. So I set him down for a +brute like his uncle and troubled him no further. I am very +sure that dinners of all fools have as good a chance of being +agreeable as dinners of all clever people; at least the former +are often gay, and the latter are frequently heavy. Nonsense +and folly gilded over with good breeding and <i>les usages du +monde</i> produce often more agreeable results than a collection +of rude, awkward intellectual powers.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_13_09" id="FN_13_09"></a><a href="#FNA_13_09"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> +[Afterwards Mr. Justice Maule.]</p></div> + +<h3>Roehampton, January 4th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Called on Lady Canning this +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +morning, who wanted me to read some of her papers. Most +of them (which are very curious) I had seen before, but forgotten. +I read the long minute of Canning’s conversation +with the King ten days before his Majesty put the formation +of the Administration in his hands. They both appear to +have been explicit enough. The King went through his +whole life, and talked for two hours and a half, particularly +about the Catholic question, on which he said he had always +entertained the same opinions—the same as those of +George III. and the Duke of York—and that with the +speech of the latter he entirely concurred, except in the ‘so +help me God’ at the end, which he thought unnecessary. +He said <i>he</i> had wished the Coronation Oath to be altered, +and had proposed it to Lord Liverpool. His great anxiety +was not to be annoyed with the discussion of the question, to +keep Canning and Lord Liverpool’s colleagues, and to put at +the head of the Treasury some anti-Catholic Peer. This +Canning would not hear of; he said that having lost Lord +Liverpool he had lost his only support in the Cabinet, that +the King knew how he had been thwarted by others, and +how impossible it would have been for him to go on but for +Lord Liverpool, that he could not serve <i>under</i> anybody else, +or act with efficacy except as First Minister, that he would +not afford in his person an example of any such rule as that +support of the Catholic question was to be <i>ipso facto</i> an exclusion +from the chief office of the Government, that he advised +the King to try and make an anti-Catholic Ministry, +and thought that with his feelings and opinions on the +subject it was what he ought to do. This the King said was +out of the question. In the course of the discussion Canning +said that if he continued in his service he must continue +as free as he had been before; that desirous as he was to +contribute to the King’s ease and comfort, he could not in +any way pledge himself on the subject, because he should +be assuredly questioned in the House of Commons, and he +must have it in his power to reply that he was perfectly free +to act on that question as he had ever done, and that he +thought the King would better consult his own ease by +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE DUKE AND MR. CANNING.</span> +retaining him in office without any pledge, relying on his +desire above all things to consult his Majesty’s ease and +comfort. He said among other things that, though leader +of the House of Commons, he had never had any patronage +placed at his disposal, nor a single place to give away.</p> + +<p>About the time of this conversation Canning was out of +humour with the Duke of Wellington, for he had heard that +many of the adherents of Government who pretended to be +attached to the Duke had spoken of him (Canning) in the +most violent and abusive terms. In their opinions he conceived +the Duke to be to a certain degree implicated, and +this produced some coldness in his manner towards him. +Shortly after Arbuthnot came to him, complained first +and explained after, and said the Duke would call upon him. +The Duke did call, and in a conversation of two hours Canning +told him all that had passed between himself and the +King, thereby putting the Duke, as he supposed, in complete +possession of his sentiments as to the reconstruction of the +Government. A few days after Mr. Canning was charged by +the King to lay before him the plan of an Administration, +and upon this he wrote the letter to his former colleagues +which produced so much discussion. I read the letters to the +Duke, Bathurst, Melville, and Bexley, and I must say that +the one to the Duke was rather the stiffest of the +whole,<a name="FNA_13_10" id="FNA_13_10"></a><a href="#FN_13_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> +though it was not so cold as the Duke chose to consider it. +Then came his letter to the Duke on his speech, and the +Duke’s answer. When I read these last year I thought the +Duke had much the best of it; but I must alter this opinion +if it be true that he knew Mr. Canning’s opinions, as it is +stated that he did entirely, after their long interview, at +which the conversation with the King was communicated to +him. That materially alters the case. There was a letter +from Peel declining, entirely on the ground of objecting to a +pro-Catholic Premier, and on the impossibility of his administering +Ireland with the First Lord of the Treasury of a +different opinion on that subject from his own. There was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +likewise a curious correspondence relative to a paper written +by the Duke of York during his last illness, and not very long +before his death, to Lord Liverpool on the dangers of the +country from the progress of the Catholic question, the object +of which (though it was vaguely expressed) was to turn out +the Catholic members and form a Protestant Government for +the purpose of crushing the Catholic interest. This Lord +Liverpool communicated (privately) to Canning, and it was +afterwards communicated to the King, who appears (the +answer was not there) to have given the Duke of York a rap +on the knuckles, for there is a reply of the Duke’s to the +King, full of devotion, zeal, and affection to his person, and +disclaiming any intention of breaking up the Government, +an idea which could have arisen only from misconception of +the meaning of his letter by Lord Liverpool. It is very +clear, however, that he did mean that, for his letter could +have meant nothing else. The whole thing is curious, for he +was aware that he was dying, and he says so.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_13_10" id="FN_13_10"></a><a href="#FNA_13_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> +[This correspondence is now published in the third volume of the +Duke’s ‘Correspondence,’ New Series, p. 628.]</p></div> + +<h3>January 12th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Passed two days at Panshanger, but my +room was so cold that I could not sit in it to write. Nobody +there but F. Lamb and J. Russell. Lady Cowper told me +what had passed relative to the negotiation with Melbourne +last year, and which the Duke or his friends denied. The +person who was employed (and whom she did not name) told +F. Lamb that the Duke would take in Melbourne and two +others (I am not sure it was not three), but not Huskisson. +He said that it would be fairer at once to say that those +terms would not be accepted, and to save him therefore from +offering them, that Melbourne would not be satisfied with any +Government which did not include Huskisson and Lord Grey, +and that upon this answer the matter dropped. I don’t +think the Duke can be blamed for answering to anybody who +chose to ask him any questions on the subject that he had +<i>made no offer</i>; it was the truth, though not the whole truth, +and a Minister must have some shelter against impertinent +questioners, or he would be at their mercy. +An Envoy is come here from the +Poles,<a name="FNA_13_11" id="FNA_13_11"></a><a href="#FN_13_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> +who brought a letter from Prince +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">CROKER’S BOSWELL.</span> +Czartoryski to Lord Grey, who has not seen him, and whose +arrival has naturally given umbrage to the Lievens.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_13_11" id="FN_13_11"></a><a href="#FNA_13_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> +[This Envoy was Count Alexander Walewski, a natural son of the +Emperor Napoleon, who afterwards played a considerable part in the affairs +of France and of Europe, especially under the Second Empire. During his +residence in London in 1831 he married Lady Caroline Montagu, a daughter +of the Earl of Sandwich, but she did not live long. I remember calling +upon him in St. James’s Place, and seeing cards of invitation for Lady Grey’s +assemblies stuck in his glass. The fact is he was wonderfully handsome and +agreeable, and soon became popular in London society.]</p></div> + +<h3>January 19th, 1831</h3> + +<p>To Roehampton on Saturday till Monday, +having been at the Grove on Friday. George Villiers at the +Grove showed me a Dublin paper with an attack on Stanley’s +proclamation, and also a character of Plunket drawn with +great severity and by a masterly hand; it is supposed to +be by Baron Smith, a judge who is very able, but fanciful +and disaffected. He will never suffer any but policemen +or soldiers to be hanged of those whom he tries. George +Villiers came from Hatfield, where he had a conversation +with the Duke of Wellington, who told him that he had committed +a great error in his Administration in not paying +more attention to the press, and in not securing a portion of it +on his side and getting good writers into his employment, that +he had never thought it necessary to do so, and that he was +now convinced what a great mistake it was. At Roehampton +nothing new, except that the Reform plan is supposed to be +settled, or nearly so. Duncannon has been consulted, and he +and one or two more have had meetings with Durham, who +were to lay their joint plans before Lord Grey first, and he +afterwards brought them to the Cabinet.</p> + +<p>Ellis told me (a curious thing enough) that Croker (for +his ‘Boswell’s Life of Johnson’) had collected various anecdotes +from other books, but that the only new and original +ones were those he had got from Lord Stowell, who was a +friend of Johnson, and that he had written them under +Stowell’s dictation. Sir Walter Scott wanted to see them, +and Croker sent them to him in Scotland by the post. The +bag was lost; no tidings could be heard of it, Croker had +no copy, and Stowell is in his dotage and can’t be got to +dictate again. So much for the anecdote; then comes the +story. I said how surprising this was, for nothing was so +rare as a miscarriage by the post. He said, ‘Not at all, for I +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +myself lost <i>two reviews</i> in the same way. I sent them both +to <i>Brougham</i> to forward to Jeffrey (for the “Edinburgh”), +and <i>they were both lost in the same</i> way!’ That villain +Brougham!</p> + +<p>G. Lamb said that the King is supposed to be in a +bad state of health, and this was confirmed to me by Keate +the surgeon, who gave me to understand that he was going +the way of both his brothers. He will be a great loss in +these times; he knows his business, lets his Ministers do as +they please, but expects to be informed of everything. He +lives a strange life at Brighton, with tagrag and bobtail +about him, and always open house. The Queen is a prude, +and will not let the ladies come <i>décolletées</i> to her parties. +George IV., who liked ample expanses of that sort, would not +let them be covered. In the meantime matters don’t seem +more promising either here or abroad. In Ireland there is +open war between Anglesey and O’Connell, to whom it is +glory enough (of his sort) to be on a kind of par with the +Viceroy, and to have a power equal to that of the Government. +Anglesey issues proclamation after proclamation, the +other speeches and letters in retort. His breakfasts and +dinners are put down, but he finds other places to harangue +at, and letters he can always publish; but he does not appear +in quite so triumphant an attitude as he did. The O’Connell +tribute is said to have failed; no men of property or respectability +join him, and he is after all only the leader of a mob; +but it is a better sort of mob, and formidable from their +numbers, and the organisation which has latterly become an +integral part of mob tactics. Nothing can be more awful +than the state of that country, and everybody expects that +it will be found necessary to strengthen the hands of the +Government with extraordinary powers to put an end to the +prevailing anarchy. O’Connell is a coward, and that is the +best chance of his being beaten at last.</p> + +<p>Lord Lyndhurst took his seat as Chief Baron yesterday +morning, Alexander retiring without an equivalent, and +only having waited for quarter day. Brougham has had a +violent squabble in his Court with Sugden, who having +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">O’CONNELL ARRESTED.</span> +bullied the Vice-Chancellor and governed Lyndhurst, has a +mind to do the same by Brougham; besides, he hates him +for the repeated thrashings he got from him in the House of +Commons, and has been heard to say that he will take his +revenge in the Court of Chancery. The present affair was +merely that Brougham began writing, when Sugden stopped +and told him ‘it was no use his going on if his Lordship +would not attend to the argument,’ and so forth.</p> + +<p>I met Lyndhurst at dinner yesterday, who talks of himself +as standing on neutral ground, disconnected with +politics. It is certainly understood that he is not to fight +the battles of the present Government, but of course he is +not to be against them. His example is a lesson to statesmen +to be frugal, for if he had been rich he would have had +a better game before him. He told a curious anecdote about +a trial. There was a (civil) cause in which the jury would +not agree on their verdict. They retired on the evening of +one day, and remained till one o’clock the next afternoon, +when, being still disagreed, a juror was drawn. There was +only one juror who held out against the rest—Mr. Berkeley +(member for Bristol). The case was tried over again, and the +jury were unanimously of Mr. Berkeley’s opinion, which was +in fact right, a piece of conscientious obstinacy which prevented +the legal commission of wrong.</p> + +<h3>Roehampton, January 22nd, 1831</h3> + +<p>The event of the week is +O’Connell’s arrest on a charge of conspiracy to defeat the +Lord-Lieutenant’s proclamation. Lord Anglesey writes to +Lady Anglesey thus:—‘I am just come from a consultation +of six hours with the law officers, the result of which is a +determination to arrest O’Connell, for things are now come +to that pass that the question is whether he or I shall +govern Ireland.’ We await the result with great anxiety, +for the opinion of lawyers seems divided as to the legality of +the arrest, and laymen can form none.</p> + +<h3>January 23rd, 1831</h3> + +<p>No news; Master of the Rolls, George +Ponsonby, and George Villiers here. The latter told a +story of Plunket, of his wit. Lord Wellesley’s aide-de-camp +Keppel wrote a book of his travels, and called it his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +personal narrative. Lord Wellesley was quizzing it, and +said, ‘Personal narrative? what is a personal narrative? Lord +Plunket, what should you say a personal narrative meant?’ +Plunket answered, ‘My Lord, you know we lawyers always +understand <i>personal</i> as contradistinguished from <i>real</i>.’ And +one or two others of Parsons, the Irish barrister. Lord +Norbury on some circuit was on the bench speaking, and an +ass outside brayed so loud that nobody could hear. He exclaimed, +‘Do stop that noise!’ Parsons said, ‘My Lord, +there is a great echo here.’ Somebody said to him one day, +‘Mr. Parsons, have you heard of my son’s robbery?’ ‘No; +whom has he robbed?’</p> + +<p>Nothing but talk about O’Connell and his trial, and we +have more fears he will be acquitted than hopes that he will +be convicted. They still burn in the country, and I heard +the other day that the manufacturing districts, though quiet, +are in a high state of organisation.</p> + +<h3>January 25th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Met Colonel +Napier<a name="FNA_13_12" id="FNA_13_12"></a><a href="#FN_13_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> +last night, and talked +for an hour of the state of the country. He gave me a +curious account of the organisation of the manufacturers in +and about Manchester, who are divided into four different +classes, with different objects, partly political, generally to +better themselves, but with a regular Government, the seat +of which is in the Isle of Man. He says that the agriculturists +are likewise organised in Wiltshire, and that +there is a sort of free-masonry among them; he thinks a +revolution inevitable; and when I told him what Southey +had said—that if he had money enough he would transport +his family to America—he said he would not himself leave +England in times of danger, but that he should like to remove +his family if he could.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_13_12" id="FN_13_12"></a><a href="#FNA_13_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> +[Sir William Napier, author of the ‘History of the Peninsular War.’]</p></div> + +<p>The King is ill. I hope he won’t die; if he does, and +the little girl, we shall have Cumberland, and (though +Lyndhurst said he would make a very good King the other +night) that would be a good moment for dispensing with the +regal office. It is reported that they differ in the Cabinet +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">O’CONNELL’S CASE.</span> +about Reform; probably not true. What a state of terror +and confusion we are in, though it seems to make no +difference.</p> + +<h3>January 31st, 1831</h3> + +<p>At Roehampton on Saturday; Lord +Robert Spencer and Sir G. Robinson. Agar Ellis had just +resigned the Woods, after asking to be made a Peer, which +they refused. All last week nobody thought of anything but +O’Connell, and great was the joy at the charge of Judge Jebb, +the unanimous opinion of the King’s Bench, and the finding +of the Grand Jury. Whatever happens, Government are now +justified in the course they have taken; and now he has traversed, +which looks like weakness, and it is the general +opinion that he is beaten; but he is so astute, and so full of +resources, that I would never answer for his being beaten till +I see him in prison or find his popularity gone. The subscription +produced between 7,000ℓ. and 8,000ℓ. It is an +extraordinary thing, and the most wonderful effect I ever +heard of the power of moral causes over the human body, +that Lord Anglesey, who has scarcely been out of pain at all +for years during any considerable intervals, has been quite +free from his complaint (the tic douloureux) since he has +been in Ireland; the excitement of these events, and the +influence of that excitement on his nervous system, have +produced this effect. There is a puzzler for philosophy, +and such an amalgamation of moral and physical accidents +as is well worth unravelling for those who are wise enough.</p> + +<p>Yesterday there was a dinner at Lord Lansdowne’s to +name the Sheriffs, and there was I in attendance on my old +school-fellows and associates Richmond, Durham, Graham, +all great men now!</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">While some do laugh, and some do weep,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thus runs the world away.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Lord Grey was not there, for he was gone to Brighton +to lay the Reform Bill before the King. What a man +Brougham is; he wants to ride his Chancery steed to the +Devil, as if he had not enough to do. Nothing would satisfy +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +him but to come and hear causes in our +Court;<a name="FNA_13_13" id="FNA_13_13"></a><a href="#FN_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> +but as I knew +it was only to provoke Leach, I would not let him come, and +told the Lord President we had no causes for him to hear. +He insisted, so did I, and he did not come; but some day +I will invite him, and then he will have forgotten it or have +something else to do, and he won’t come. He is a Jupiter-Scapin +if ever there was one.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_13_13" id="FN_13_13"></a><a href="#FNA_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> +[At the Privy Council, where the Master of the Rolls was at that time +in the habit of sitting with two lay Privy Councillors to hear Plantation +Appeals.]</p></div> + +<h3>February 6th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Parliament met again on the 3rd, and +the House of Commons exhibited a great array on the +Opposition benches; nothing was done the first day but the +announcement of the Reform measure for the 2nd of March, +to be brought in by Lord John Russell in the House of Commons, +though not a Cabinet Minister. The fact is that if +a Cabinet Minister had introduced it, it must have been +Althorp, and he is wholly unequal to it; he cannot speak +at all, so that though the pretence is to pay a compliment to +John Russell because he had on former occasions brought +forward plans of Reform, it is really expedient to take the +burden off the leader of the Government. The next night +came on the Civil List, and as the last Government was turned +out on this question, there had existed a general but vague expectation +that some wonderful reductions were to be proposed +by the new Chancellor of the Exchequer. Great, then, was +the exultation of the Opposition when it was found that no +reductions would be made, and that the measure of this +Government only differed from that of the last in the +separation of the King’s personal expenses from the other +charges and a <i>prospective</i> reduction in the Pension List. +There was not much of a debate. Althorp did it ill by all +accounts; Graham spoke pretty well; and Calcraft, who +could do nothing while in office, found all his energies +when he got back to the Opposition benches, and made +(everybody says) a capital speech. There is certainly a +great disappointment that the Civil List does not produce +some economical novelty, and to a certain degree the popularity +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE CIVIL LIST.</span> +of the Government will be affected by it. But they +have taken the manliest course, and the truth is the Duke +of Wellington had already made all possible reductions, +unless the King and the Government were at once to hang out +the flag of poverty and change their whole system. +After what Sefton had told me of the intentions of Government +about the Pension List, and my reply to him, it was +a satisfaction to me to find they could not act on such +a principle; and accordingly Lord Althorp at once declared +the opinion and intentions of Government about +the Pensions, instead of abandoning them to the rage of +the House of Commons. There is not even a surmise as +to the intended measure of Reform, the secret of which is +well kept, but I suspect the confidence of the Reformers will +be shaken by their disappointment about the Civil List. +It is by no means clear, be it what it may, that the +Government will be able to carry it, for the Opposition +promises to be very formidable in point of numbers; and in +speaking the two parties are, as to the first class, pretty +evenly divided—Palmerston, the Grants, Graham, Stanley, +John Russell, on one side; Peel, Calcraft, Hardinge, Dawson, +on the other; fewer in numbers, but Peel immeasurably +the best on either side—but in the second line, and among +the younger ones, the Opposition are far inferior.</p> + +<h3>February 9th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Just got into my new home—Poulett +Thomson’s house, which I have taken for a year. The day +before yesterday came the news that the French had refused +the nomination of the Duc de Nemours to the throne of +Belgium, the news of his being chosen having come on +Sunday. The Ministers were <i>rayonnants</i>; Lord Lansdowne +came to his office and told it me with prodigious glee.</p> + +<p>Met with Sir J. Burke on Sunday at Brooks’s, who said +that O’Connell was completely beaten by the address of the +merchants and bankers, among whom were men—Mahon, for +instance (O’Gorman Mahon’s uncle)—who had always stood +by him. I do not believe he is completely beaten, and his +resources for mischief are so great that he will rally again +before long, I have little doubt. However, what has occurred +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +has been productive of great good; it has elicited a strong +Conservative demonstration, and proved that out of the rabbleocracy +(for everything is in <i>ocracy</i> now) his power is anything +but unlimited. There are 20,000 men in Ireland, so Lord +Hill told me last night. +Hunt<a name="FNA_13_14" id="FNA_13_14"></a><a href="#FN_13_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> +spoke for two hours last +night; his manner and appearance very good, like a country +gentleman of the old school, a sort of rural dignity about it, +very civil, good-humoured, and respectful to the House, but +dull; listened to, however, and very well received.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_13_14" id="FN_13_14"></a><a href="#FNA_13_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> +[Henry Hunt, a well-known Radical, had just been returned for +Preston, where he had beaten Mr. Stanley.]</p></div> + +<h3>February 12th, 1831</h3> + +<p>The debate three nights ago on Ireland, +brought on by O’Gorman Mahon, is said to have been the +best that has been heard in the House of Commons for many +years. Palmerston, Burdett, Althorp, Peel, Wyse, all made +good speeches; it was spirited, statesmanlike, and creditable +to the House, which wanted some such exhibition to raise its +credit. I saw the day before yesterday a curious letter from +Southey to Brougham, which some day or other will probably +appear. Taylor showed it me. Brougham had written to +him to ask him what his opinion was as to the encouragement +that could be given to literature, by rewarding or +honouring literary men, and suggested (I did not see his +letter) that the Guelphic Order should be bestowed upon +them. Southey’s reply was very courteous, but in a style of +suppressed irony and forced politeness, and exhibited the +marks of a chafed spirit, which was kept down by an effort. +‘You, my Lord, are <i>now</i> on the Conservative side,’ was one +of his phrases, which implied that the Chancellor had not +always been on that side. He suggested that it might be +useful to establish a sort of lay fellowships; 10,000ℓ. would +give 10 of 500ℓ. and 25 of 200ℓ.; but he proposed them not to +reward the meritorious, but as a means of silencing or hiring +the mischievous. It was evident, however, that he laid no +stress on this plan, or considered it practicable, and only proposed +it because he thought he must suggest something. +He said that honours might be desirable to scientific men, as +they were so considered on the Continent, and Newton and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE FIRST WHIG BUDGET.</span> +Davy had been titled, but for himself, if a <i>Guelphic</i> distinction +was adopted, ‘he should be a <i>Ghibelline</i>.’ He ended by +saying that all he asked for was a repeal of the Copyright +Act which took from the families of literary men the only +property they had to give them, and this ‘I ask for with the +earnestness of one who is conscious that he has laboured for +posterity.’ It is a remarkable letter.</p> + +<h3>February 13th, 1831</h3> + +<p>The Budget, which was brought forward +two nights ago, has given great dissatisfaction; Goulburn +attacked the taxation of the funds (half per cent. on transfer +of stock and land) in the best speech he ever made, +Peel in another good speech. The bankers assailed it one +after another, and not a man on the Government side +spoke decently. Great of course was the exultation of the +Opposition, and it is supposed that this will be withdrawn +and a Property Tax laid on instead. There is a meeting to-day +in Downing Street, at which I suspect it will be announced. +The Budget must appear hurried, and nothing +but the circumstances in which they are placed could have +justified their bringing it on so soon. In two months, +besides having foreign affairs of the greatest consequence on +their hands, they have concocted a Reform Bill and settled +the finances of the nation for the next year, which is quite +ludicrous; but they are obliged to have money voted immediately, +that in case they should be beaten on Reform or any +other vital question which may compel them to dissolve +Parliament, they may have passed their estimates and +be provided with funds. Their secrets are well kept—rather +too well, for nobody knew of this Budget, and not a +soul has a guess what their Reform is to be. At present +nothing can cut a poorer figure than the Government does in +the House of Commons, and they have shown how weak a +Government a strong Opposition may make.</p> + +<p>I have just been to hear Benson preach at the Temple, +but I was so distant that I heard ill. His manner is impressive, +and language good without being ambitious, but I +was rather disappointed. Brougham was there, with Lord +King of all people!</p> + +<h3>February 15th, 1831</h3> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +Yesterday morning news came that +O’Connell had withdrawn his plea of not guilty and (by his +counsel, Mr. Perrin) pleaded guilty, to the unutterable astonishment +of everybody, and not less delight. Sheil wrote +word that his heart sank at the terror of a gaol, and ‘how +would such a man face a battle, who could not encounter +Newgate?’ Everybody’s impression was that it was a +compromise with the law officers, and that he pleaded guilty +on condition that he should not be brought up for judgment, +but it was no such thing; he made in the preceding days several +indirect overtures to Lord Anglesey, who would listen to +nothing, and told him that after his conduct he could do +nothing for him, and that he must take his own course. +He comes to England directly, and will be brought up for +judgment (if at all, which I doubt) next term. He gives out +that he was forced to do this in order to hasten to England +and repair in the House of Commons the errors of O’Gorman +Mahon. There is no calculating what may be the extent of +the credulity of an Irish mob with regard to him, but after +all his bullies and bravadoes this will hardly go down even +with them. Sheil says ‘O’Connell is fallen indeed.’ I trust, +though hardly dare hope, that ‘he sinks like stars that fall +to rise no more.’ It is impossible to form an idea of the astonishment +of everybody at this termination of the law proceedings, +which have ended so triumphantly for Lord Anglesey +and Plunket. Lord Anglesey, however, wrote word +to Lady Anglesey that no one could form an idea of the state +of that country: that fresh plots were discovered every day, +that from circumstances he had been able to do more than +another man would, but that it was not, he firmly believed, +possible to save it.</p> + +<p>There was a meeting at Althorp’s on Sunday, when he +agreed to withdraw the Transfer Tax, and that there should +be no Property Tax. A more miserable figure was never cut +than his; but how should it be otherwise? A respectable +country gentleman, well versed in rural administration, in +farming and sporting, with all the integrity of 15,000ℓ. a +year in possession and 50,000ℓ. in reversion, is all of a sudden +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">LORD ALTHORP’S BUDGET.</span> +made leader in the House of Commons without being able +to speak, and Chancellor of the Exchequer without any knowledge, +theoretical or practical, of finance. By way of being +discreet, and that his plan may be a secret, he consults nobody; +and then he closets himself with his familiar Poulett +Thomson, who puts this notable scheme into his head, and out +he blurts it in the House of Commons, without an idea how +it will be received, without making either preparations for +defending it or for an alternative in case of its rejection. If +Althorp and Poulett Thomson are to govern England, these +things are likely to happen. The Opposition cannot contain +themselves; the women think they are to come in directly. +Goulburn said to Baring as they left the House on Friday, +‘Mr. Baring, you said last year you thought my Budget was +the most profligate that any Chancellor of the Exchequer had +ever brought forward; I think you will now no longer say it +was the <i>most</i> profligate.’ Last night +Praed<a name="FNA_13_15" id="FNA_13_15"></a><a href="#FN_13_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> +made his first +speech, which was very good.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_13_15" id="FN_13_15"></a><a href="#FNA_13_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> +[Winthrop Mackworth Praed, a young man of great promise, who had +just entered Parliament. He took his degree in 1825, and was regarded by +the Tories as the rival and competitor of Thomas Babington Macaulay. +But unhappily he died in 1839.]</p></div> + +<h3>February 17th, 1831</h3> + +<p>The day before yesterday Duncannon +called on me, and told me O’Connell had got up an opposition +to him in Kilkenny; that he was of opinion that the +recent events would diminish neither his power nor his popularity, +and that in fact he was infallible with the Irish mob. +As Richard says, ‘if this have no effect, he is immortal.’</p> + +<p>The Duke of Wellington called on my family yesterday; +he says the Reform question will not be carried, and he +thinks the Government cannot stand, that things are certainly +better (internally), and that the great fear is lest people +should be too much afraid.</p> + +<p>Went to Lady Dudley Stewart’s last night; a party; saw +a vulgar-looking, fat man with spectacles, and a mincing, +rather pretty pink and white woman, his wife. The man was +Napoleon’s nephew, the woman Washington’s granddaughter. +What a host of associations, all confused and degraded! He +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +is a son of Murat, the King of Naples, who was said to be +‘le dieu Mars jusqu’ŕ six heures du soir.’ He was heir to a +throne, and is now a lawyer in the United States, and his +wife, whose name I know not, Sandon told me, was Washington’s +granddaughter. (This must be a mistake, for I +think Washington never had any +children.)<a name="FNA_13_16" id="FNA_13_16"></a><a href="#FN_13_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_13_16" id="FN_13_16"></a><a href="#FNA_13_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> +[Achille Murat and his wife were living at this time in the Alpha +Road, Regent’s Park. It was said she was Washington’s grand-niece, but +I am not sure what the relationship was, if any. She was certainly not his +granddaughter.]</p></div> + +<h3>February 24th, 1831</h3> + +<p>At Newmarket for three days, from +Saturday till Tuesday; riding out at eight o’clock every +morning and inhaling salubrious air. Came back the night +before last and found matters in a strange state. The +Government, strong in the House of Lords (which is a +secondary consideration), is weak in the House of Commons +to a degree which is contemptible and ridiculous. +Even Sefton now confesses that Althorp is wretched. There +he is <i>leading</i> the House of Commons without the slightest +acquaintance with the various subjects that come under discussion, +and hardly able to speak at all; not one of the +Ministers exhibits anything like vigour, ability, or discretion. +As Althorp cannot speak, Graham is obliged to talk, or +thinks he is, and, as I predicted, he is +failing;<a name="FNA_13_17" id="FNA_13_17"></a><a href="#FN_13_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> +with some +cleverness and plenty of fluency, he is unequal to the situation +he is placed in, and his difference with Grant the other +night and his apology to O’Gorman Mahon have been prejudicial +to the Government and to his own character. The +exultation of the Opposition is unbounded, and Peel plays +with his power in the House, only not putting it forth because +it does not suit his convenience; but he does what he +likes, and it is evident that the very existence of the Government +depends upon his pleasure. His game, however, is to +display candour and moderation, and rather to protect them +than not, so he defends many of their measures and restrains +the fierce animosity of his friends, but with a sort of sarcastic +civility, which, while it is put forth in their defence, is +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">WEAKNESS OF THE GOVERNMENT.</span> +always done in such a manner as shall best exhibit his own +authority and his contempt for their persons individually. +While he upholds the Government he does all he can to +bring each member of it into contempt, and there they are, +helpless and confused, writhing under his lash and their own +impotence, and only intent upon staving off a division which +would show the world how feeble they are. Neither the +late nor any other Government ever cut so poor a figure as +this does. Palmerston does nothing, Grant does worse, +Graham does no good, Althorp a great deal of harm; Stanley +alone has distinguished himself, and what he has had to do +has done very well. It is not, however, only in the House +of Commons that the Government are in such discredit; the +Budget did their business in the City, and alienated the trading +interest. It is a curious circumstance that both Goulburn +and Herries have been beset by deputations and individual +applications for advice and assistance nearly as much +since they left office as when they were in it by merchants +and others, who complain to them that it was quite useless +to go to Lord Althorp, for they find that he has not +the slightest acquaintance with any of the subjects and +interests on which they addressed themselves to him, and +one man told Herries this, at the same time owning that he +was a Whig in principle, and had been an opponent of the +late and a supporter of the present Government. The press +generally are falling off from the Government, which is an +ominous sign. While the Government is thus weak and +powerless the elements of confusion and violence are gathering +fresh force, and without any fixed and loyal authority to +check them will pursue their eccentric course till some public +commotion arrives, or till the Conservative resources of the +country are called into action and the antagonistic principles +are fairly brought to trial.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_13_17" id="FN_13_17"></a><a href="#FNA_13_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> +It was on Lord Chandos’s motion to take into consideration the state +of the West Indies.</p></div> + +<p>The King went to the play the night before last; was well +received in the house, but hooted and pelted coming home, +and a stone shivered a window of his coach and fell into +Prince George of Cumberland’s lap. The King was excessively +annoyed, and sent for Baring, who was the officer +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +riding by his coach, and asked him if he knew who had +thrown the stone; he said that it terrified the Queen, and +‘was very disagreeable, as he should always be going somewhere.’</p> + +<p>In the House of Commons Committee on the Parliament +Offices they are making the whole thing ridiculous by the +sort of reductions they suggest. Hume proposed to cut +down the President of the Council to 1,000ℓ. a year, on +which Stormont moved he should have nothing, and this +(which was intended to ridicule Hume’s proposal) was carried, +but will probably be rescinded. There is no directing +power anywhere, and the sort of anarchy that is fast increasing +must beget confusion. Nobody has the least idea +how reform will go, or of the nature of what they mean to +propose, but the King said to Cecil Forrester yesterday, who +went to resign his office of Groom of the Bedchamber, ‘Why +do you resign?’ He said he could not support Government +or vote for Reform. ‘Well, but you don’t know what it is, +and you might have waited till it came on, for it probably will +not be carried;’ and this he repeated twice. Lord Durham +has volunteered to give up his salary as Privy Seal, which is +no great sacrifice, considering how long he is likely to enjoy +it, and everybody gives him credit for having suggested the +relief to coals for his own interest. Lady Holland, who has +got a West Indian estate, attacked him about the sugar +duties, and asked him if they would not reduce them. He +said ‘No.’ She retorted, ‘That is because you have no West +Indian estate; you have got your own job about coals done, +and you don’t care about us.’ In the House of Lords they +have it all their own way. The other night, on Lord Strangford’s +motion about the Methuen treaty, Brougham exhibited +his wonderful powers in his very best style. Without any +preparation for the question, and after it had been exhausted +in a very good speech of Goderich’s, he got up, and in answer +to Strangford and Ellenborough banged their heads together, +and displayed all his power of ridicule, sarcasm, and argument +in a manner which they could not themselves help +admiring. The next night he brought forward his Chancery +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">LADY JERSEY AND LORD DURHAM.</span> +Reform measure in a speech of three hours, which, however +luminous, was too long for their Lordships, and before the +end of it the House had melted away to nothing. But, notwithstanding +this success, he must inwardly chafe at being +removed from his natural element and proper sphere of +action, and he must burn with vexation at seeing Peel riot +and revel in his unopposed power, like Hector when Achilles +would not fight, though this Achilles can never fight again, +but he would give a great deal to go back to the field, and +would require much less persuasion than Achilles did.</p> + +<h3>February 25th, 1831</h3> + +<p>A drawing-room yesterday, at which the +Princess Victoria made her first appearance. I was not +there. Lady Jersey made a scene with Lord Durham. She +got up and crossed the room to him and said, ‘Lord Durham, +I hear that you have said things about me which are not +true, and I desire that you will call upon me to-morrow with +a witness to hear my positive denial, and I beg that you will +not repeat any such things about me,’ or, as the Irishman +said, ‘words to that effect.’ She was in a fury, and he, I +suppose, in a still greater. He muttered that he should +never set foot in her house again, which she did not hear, as +after delivering herself of her speech she flounced back again +to her seat, mighty proud of the exploit. It arose out of his +saying that he should make Lady Durham demand an +audience of the Queen to contradict the things Lady Jersey +had said of her and the other Whig ladies.</p> + +<p>I saw Lady Jersey last night and had a long conversation +with her about her squabbles. She declares +solemnly (and I believe it) that she never said a syllable to +the Queen against her quondam friends, owns she abused +Sefton to other people, cried, and talked, and the end was +that I am to try to put an end to these <i>tracasseries</i>. She +was mighty glorious about her <i>sortie</i> upon Lambton, whom +she dislikes, but she is vexed at the hornets’ nest she has +brought round her head. All this comes of talking. The +wisest man mentioned in history was the vagrant in the +Tuileries Gardens some years ago, who walked about with +a gag on, and when taken up by the police and questioned +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +why he went about in that guise, he said he was imprudent, +and that he might not say anything to get himself into +jeopardy he had adopted this precaution. I wonder what +Lambton would say now about appointing others instead +of Palmerston and Co. if they should go out, which he talked +of as such an easy and indifferent matter. What arrogance +and folly there is in the world! I don’t know how long this +will last, but it must end in Peel’s being Prime Minister. +What a foolish proverb that is that ‘honesty is the best +policy!’</p> + +<p>I am just come home from breakfasting with Henry Taylor +to meet Wordsworth; the same party as when he had Southey—Mill, +Elliot, Charles Villiers. Wordsworth may be bordering +on sixty; hard-featured, brown, wrinkled, with prominent +teeth and a few scattered grey hairs, but nevertheless +not a disagreeable countenance; and very cheerful, merry, +courteous, and talkative, much more so than I should have +expected from the grave and didactic character of his writings. +He held forth on poetry, painting, politics, and metaphysics, +and with a great deal of eloquence; he is more conversible +and with a greater flow of animal spirits than Southey. He +mentioned that he never wrote down as he composed, but +composed walking, riding, or in bed, and wrote down after; +that Southey always composes at his desk. He talked a +great deal of Brougham, whose talents and domestic virtues +he greatly admires; that he was very generous and affectionate +in his disposition, full of duty and attention to his +mother, and had adopted and provided for a whole family of +his brother’s children, and treats his wife’s children as if they +were his own. He insisted upon taking them both with him +to the drawing-room the other day when he went in state +as Chancellor. They remonstrated with him, but in vain.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<blockquote><p style="text-indent: 0"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +Introduction of the Reform Bill — Attitude of the Opposition — Reform +Debates — Peel — Wilberforce and Canning — Old Sir Robert Peel — The City +Address — Agitation for Reform — Effects of the Reform Bill — Brougham +as Chancellor — Brougham at the Horse Guards — Miss Kemble — Vote on +the Timber Duties — Lord Lansdowne’s Opinion of the Bill — Reform +Bill carried by one Vote — The King in Mourning — The Prince of +Orange — Peel’s Reserve — Ministers beaten — Parliament dissolved by +the King in Person — Tumult in both Houses — Failure of the Whig +Ministry — The King in their Hands — The Elections — Illumination in +the City — The Queen alarmed — Lord Lyndhurst’s View of the Bill — +Lord Grey takes the Garter — The King at Ascot — Windsor under +William IV. — Brougham at Whitbread’s Brewery and at the British +Museum — Breakfast at Rogers’ — The Cholera — Quarantine — Meeting of +Peers — New Parliament meets — Opened by the King — ‘Hernani’ at +Bridgewater House — The Second Reform Bill — The King’s Coronation +— Cobbett’s Trial — Prince Leopold accepts the Crown of Belgium — +Peel and the Tories — A Rabble Opposition — A Council for the Coronation. +</p></blockquote> + +<hr /> + +<h3>March 2nd, 1831</h3> + +<p>The great day at length arrived, and yesterday +Lord John Russell moved for leave to bring in his Reform +Bill. To describe the curiosity, the intensity of the expectation +and excitement, would be impossible, and the secret +had been so well kept that not a soul knew what the +measure was (though most people guessed pretty well) till +they heard it. He rose at six o’clock, and spoke for two +hours and a quarter—a sweeping measure indeed, much +more so than anyone had imagined, because the Ministers +had said it was one which would give <i>general</i> satisfaction, +whereas this must dissatisfy all the moderate and will +probably just stop short enough not to satisfy the Radicals. +They say it was ludicrous to see the faces of the members +for those places which are to be disfranchised as they were +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +severally announced, and Wetherell, who began to take +notes, as the plan was gradually developed, after sundry +contortions and grimaces and flinging about his arms and +legs, threw down his notes with a mixture of despair and +ridicule and horror. Not many people spoke last night: +Inglis followed John Russell, and Francis Leveson closed the +debate in the best speech he has ever made, though rather +too flowery. Everything is easy in these days, otherwise +how Palmerston, Goderich, and Grant can have joined in a +measure of this sweeping, violent, and speculative character +it is difficult to conceive, they who were the disciples of +Castlereagh and the adherents of Canning; but after the +Duke of Wellington and Peel carrying the Catholic question, +Canning’s friends advocating Radical Reform, and Eldon +living to see Brougham on the Woolsack, what may one not +expect?</p> + +<p>What everybody enquires is what line Peel will take, and +though each party is confident of success in this question, it +is thought to depend mainly upon the course he adopts and +the sentiments he expresses. Hitherto he has cautiously +abstained from committing himself in any way, and he is +free to act as he thinks best, but he certainly occupies a +grand position when he has <i>omnium oculos in se conversos</i>, +and the whole House of Commons looking with unalterable +anxiety to his opinions and conduct. Such has the course +of events and circumstances made this man, who is probably +yet destined to play a great part, and it may be a very +useful one. God knows how this plan may be received in +the country, and what may be its fate in Parliament. The +Duke of Wellington, however, is right enough when he says +that the great present danger is lest people should be too +much afraid, for anything like the panic that prevails I +never saw, the apprehension that enough will not be done +to satiate the demon of popular opinion, and the disposition +to submit implicitly to the universal bellow that pervades +this country for what they call Reform without knowing +what it is. As to this measure, the greatest evil of it is that +it is a pure speculation, and may be productive of the best +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE FIRST REFORM BILL.</span> +consequences, or the worst, or even of none at all, for all that +its authors and abettors can explain to us or to themselves.</p> + +<p>O’Connell made his explanation the other night, which +was wretched, and Stanley’s was very good, but it matters +not; he will tell the people in Ireland that he had a victory, +and they will believe him. Nevertheless his defeat in Kilkenny +is an excellent thing, and will contribute greatly to +destroy the prestige of his power.</p> + +<h3>March 3rd, 1831</h3> + +<p>Last night the debate went on, nobody +remarkably speaking but Macaulay and Wetherell; the +former very brilliant, the latter long, rambling, and amusing, +and he sat down with such loud and long cheering as everybody +agreed they had never heard before in the House of +Commons, and which was taken not so much as a test of the +merits of the speech as of an indication of the disposition +of the majority of the House. Wetherell was very good +fun in a conversation he imagined at Cockermouth between +Sir James Graham and one of his constituents. It is +thought very strange that none of the Ministers have spoken, +except Althorp the first night. The general opinion is +that the Bill will be lost in the House of Commons, and that +then Parliament will be dissolved, unless the King should +take fright and prefer to change his Ministers.</p> + +<h3>March 5th, 1831</h3> + +<p>On Thursday night the great speeches were +those of Hobhouse on one side and Peel on the other, which +last was received with the greatest enthusiasm, and some said +(as usual) that it was the finest oration they had ever heard +within the walls of Parliament; it seems by the report of it +to have been very able and very eloquent. The people come +into the ‘Travellers’ after the debate, and bring their different +accounts all tinctured by their particular opinions and prejudices, +so that the exact truth of the relative merits of +the speakers is only attainable by the newspaper reports, +imperfect as they are, the next day. The excitement is +beyond anything I ever saw. Last night Stanley answered +Peel in an excellent speech and one which is likely to raise +his reputation very high. He is evidently desirous of pitting +himself against Peel, whom he dislikes; and it is probable +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +that they are destined to be the rival leaders of two great +Parliamentary parties, if things settle down into the ancient +practices of Parliamentary warfare. The other events of +last night were the resignation of Charles Wynne and his +opposition to the Bill, and the unexpected defection from +Government of Lord Seymour, the Duke of Somerset’s son, +and Jeffrey’s speech, which was very able, but somewhat +tedious.</p> + +<h3>March 7th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Nothing talked of, thought of, dreamt of, +but Reform. Every creature one meets asks, What is said +now? How will it go? What is the last news? What do <i>you</i> +think? and so it is from morning till night, in the streets, in +the clubs, and in private houses. Yesterday morning met +Hobhouse; told him how well I heard he had spoken, and +asked him what he thought of Peel’s speech; he said it was +brilliant, imposing, but not much in it. Everybody cries up +(more than usual) the speeches on their own side, and despises +those on the other, which is peculiarly absurd, because the +speaking has been very good, and there is so much to be +said on both sides that the speech of an adversary may be +applauded without any admission of his being in the right. +Hobhouse told me he had at first been afraid that his constituents +would disapprove this measure, as so many of them +would be disfranchised, but that they had behaved nobly and +were quite content and ready to make any sacrifices for such +an object. I asked him if he thought it would be carried; +he said he did not like to think it would not, for he was +desirous of keeping what he had, and he was persuaded he +should lose it if the Bill were rejected. I said it was an +unlucky dilemma when one-half of the world thought like +him and the other half were equally convinced that if it be +carried they shall lose everything.</p> + +<p>Dined at Boodle’s with the Master of the Rolls and +Charles Grant, who talked about Peel and the reconstruction +of the Tory party; that Peel and Wetherell do not <i>yet</i> +speak, but that the parties have joined, and at the meeting +at Wetherell’s Herries went to represent Peel with sixteen +or eighteen of his friends. Ross, another of Peel’s <i>âmes</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE FIRST SIR ROBERT PEEL.</span> +<i>damnées</i>, told me the same thing and that they would soon +come together again. Grant said he knew that the Duke of +Wellington had expressed his readiness to take any part in +which it was thought he could render service, either a +prominent or a subordinate one or none at all. If so he +will be a greater man than he has ever been yet.</p> + +<p>Grant talked long and pathetically about the West Indies, +and told me a curious anecdote on the authority of Scarlett, +who was present. When Wilberforce went out of Parliament +he went to Canning and offered him the lead and +direction of his party (the Saints), urging him to accept it, +and assuring him that their support would give him a +strength which to an ambitious man like him was invaluable. +Canning took three days to consider it, but finally +declined, and then the party elected Brougham as their +chief; hence the representation of Yorkshire and many other +incidents in Brougham’s career.</p> + +<p>Grant gave me a curious account of old Sir Robert Peel. +He was the younger son of a merchant, his fortune (very +small) left to him in the house, and he was not to take it out. +He gave up the fortune and started in business without a +shilling, but as the active partner in a concern with two +other men—Yates (whose daughter he afterwards married) +and another—who between them made up 6,000ℓ.; from +this beginning he left 250,000ℓ. apiece to his five younger +sons, 60,000ℓ. to his three daughters each, and 22,000ℓ. a year +in land and 450,000ℓ. in the funds to Peel. In his lifetime he +gave Peel 12,000ℓ. a year, the others 3,000ℓ. and spent 3,000ℓ. +himself. He was always giving them money, and for objects +which it might have been thought he would have undervalued. +He paid for Peel’s house when he built it, and for the Chapeau +de Paille (2,700 guineas) when he bought it.</p> + +<h3>March 10th, 1831</h3> + +<p>The debate has gone on, and is to be over +to-night; everybody heartily sick of it, but the excitement as +great as ever. Last night O’Connell was very good, and +vehemently cheered by the Government, Stanley, Duncannon, +and all, all differences giving way to their zeal; Attwood, +the other way, good; Graham a total failure, got into +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +nautical terms and a simile about a ship, in which he +floundered and sank. Sir J. Yorke quizzed him with great +effect. To-day the City went up with their address, to which +the King gave a very general answer. There was great +curiosity to know what his answer would be. I rather think +this address was got up by Government. Brougham had +written to Liverpool <i>to encourage the Reformers there</i>, as he +owned to George Villiers last night; and Pearson was with +Ellice at the Treasury for an hour the day before this +address was moved in the City. They have gone so far +that they certainly wish for agitation here. The Duke of +Wellington is alarmed; nobody guesses how the question +will go. Went to Lady Jersey the day before yesterday to +read her correspondence with Brougham, who flummeried +her over with notes full of affection and praise, to which she +responded in the same strain, and so they are friends again. +While I was reading her reply the Duke of Wellington came +in, on which she huddled it up, and I conclude he has not +seen her effusion. News arrived that the Poles have been +beaten and have submitted. There is a great fall in the +French funds, as they are expected not to pay their dividends. +Europe is in a nice mess. The events of a quarter of a +century would hardly be food for a week now-a-days.</p> + +<h3>March 11th, 1831</h3> + +<p>It is curious to see the change of opinion +as to the passing of this Bill. The other day nobody would +hear of the possibility of it, now everybody is beginning to +think it will be carried. The tactics of the Opposition have +been very bad, for they ought to have come to a division +immediately, when I think Government would have been +beaten, but it was pretty certain that if they gave time to +the country to declare itself the meetings and addresses +would fix the wavering and decide the doubtful. There +certainly never was anything like the unanimity which pervades +the country on the subject, and though I do not think +they will break out into rebellion if it is lost, it is impossible +not to see that the feeling for it (kept alive as it will be by +every sort of excitement) must prevail and that if this +particular Bill is not carried some other must very like it, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">PROBABLE RESULTS OF THE REFORM BILL.</span> +and which, if it is much short of this, will only leave a peg to +hang fresh discussions upon. The Government is desperate +and sees no chance of safety but from their success in the +measure, but I have my doubts whether they will render +themselves immortal by it. It is quite impossible to guess +at its effects at present upon the House of Commons in +the first return which may be made under it, but if a vast +difference is not made, and if it shall still leave to property +and personal influence any great extent of power, the Tory +party, which is sure to be revived, will in all probability be +too strong for the Reforming Whigs. The Duke of Wellington +expected to gain strength by passing the Catholic +question, whereas he was ruined by it.</p> + +<h3>March 15th, 1831</h3> + +<p>It is universally believed that this Bill will +pass, except by some of the ultras against it, or by the fools. +But what next? That nobody can tell, though to see the +exultation of the Government one would imagine they saw +their way clearly to a result of wonderful good. I have little +doubt that it will be read a second time, and be a good deal +battled in Committee. Although they are determined to +carry it through the Committee with a high hand, and not to +suffer any alterations, probably some sort of compromise in +matters of inferior moment will be made. But when it +comes into operation how disappointed everybody will be, +and first of all the people! Their imaginations are raised to +the highest pitch, but they will open their eyes very wide +when they find no sort of advantage accruing to them, when +they are deprived of much of the expense and more of the +excitement of elections, and see a House of Commons constructed +after their own hearts, which will probably be an +assembly in all respects inferior to the present. Then they +will not be satisfied, and as it will be impossible to go back, +there will be plenty of agitators who will preach that we +have not gone far enough; and if a Reformed Parliament +does not do all that popular clamour shall demand, it will be +treated with very little ceremony. If, however, it be true +that the tendency of this Bill will be to throw power into the +hands of the landed interest, we shall have a great Tory +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +party, which will be selfish, bigoted, and ignorant, and a +Radical party, while the Whig party, who will have carried +the measure, will sink into insignificance. Such present +themselves to my mind as possible alternatives, as far as it is +practicable to take anything like a view of probabilities in +the chaos and confusion that mighty alterations like these +produce.</p> + +<p>I dined with Lord Grey on Sunday; they are all in high +spirits. Howick told his father that he had received a letter +from some merchant in the north praising the Bill, and +saying he approved of the whole Government except of +Poulett Thomson. In the evening Brougham, John Russell, +and others arrived. I hear of Brougham from Sefton, +with whom he passes most of his spare time, to relieve his +mind by small talk, <i>persiflage</i>, and the gossip of the day. +He tells Sefton ‘that he likes his office, but that it is a mere +plaything and there is nothing to do; his life is too idle, and +when he has cleared off the arrears, which he shall do forthwith, +that he really does not know how he shall get rid of +his time;’ that ‘he does not suffer the prolixity of counsel, +and when they wander from the point he brings them back +and says, “You need not say anything on that point; what +I want to be informed upon is so.” He is a wonderful +man, the most extraordinary I ever saw, but there is more +of the mountebank than of greatness in all this. It may +do well enough for Sefton, who is as ignorant as he is sharp +and shrewd, and captivated with his congenial offhandism, +but it requires something more than Brougham’s flippant +<i>ipse dixit</i> to convince me that the office of Chancellor +is such a sinecure and bagatelle. He had a levee the +other night, which was brilliantly attended—the Archbishops, +Duke of Wellington, Lord Grey, a host of people. +Sefton goes and sits in his private room and sees his receptions +of people, and gives very amusing accounts of his +extreme politeness to the Lord Mayor and his cool <i>insouciance</i> +with the Archbishop of Canterbury. The stories of +him as told by Sefton would be invaluable to his future +biographer, and never was a life more sure to be written +hereafter.</p> + +<h3>March 17th, 1831</h3> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">BROUGHAM AT THE HORSE GUARDS.</span> +The night before last Wynford attacked +Brougham’s Bill, and got lashed in return with prodigious +severity. He is resolved to press it, though George Villiers +told me he had promised Lyndhurst to wait for his +return to town. Notwithstanding his vapouring about the +Court of Chancery, and treating it as such child’s play, +Leach affirms (but he is disappointed and hates him) that he +is a very bad judge and knows nothing of his business. ‘He +was a very bad advocate; why should he make a good +judge?’</p> + +<p>The Reform Bill is just printed, and already are the +various objections raised against different parts of it, sufficient +to show that it will be pulled to pieces in Committee. +Both parties confident of success on the second +reading, but the country <i>will</i> have it; there is a determination +on the subject, and a unanimity perfectly marvellous, +and no demonstration of the unfitness of any of its parts will +be of any avail; some of its details may be corrected and +amended, but substantially it must pass pretty much as +it is.</p> + +<p>Brougham has been getting into a squabble with the +military. At the drawing-room on Thursday they refused to let +his carriage pass through the Horse Guards, when he ordered +his coachman to force his way through, which he did. He +was quite wrong, and it was very unbecoming and undignified. +Lord Londonderry called for an explanation in the House +of Lords, when Brougham made a speech, and a very lame +one. He said he ordered his coachman to go back, who did +not hear him and went on, and when he had got through he +thought it was not worth while to turn back. The Lords +laughed. A few days after he drove over the soldiers in +Downing Street, who were relieving guard; but this time he +did no great harm to the men, and it was not his fault, but +these things are talked of.</p> + +<p>Dined yesterday with General Macdonald to meet the +Kembles. Miss Fanny is near being very handsome from +the extraordinary expression of her countenance and fine +eyes, but her figure is not good. She is short, hands and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +feet large, arms handsome, skin dark and coarse, and her +manner wants ease and repose. Her mother is a very agreeable +woman. I did not sit next to Fanny, and had no talk +with her afterwards.</p> + +<h3>March 18th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Met Robert Clive yesterday morning; very +low about the Bill, which he thinks so sure to be carried +that he questions the expediency of dividing on the second +reading; complained bitterly of the bad tactics and want of +union of the party, and especially of Peel’s inactivity and +backwardness in not having rallied and taken the lead more +than he has; he is in fact so cold, phlegmatic, and calculating +that he disgusts those who can’t do without him as a +leader; he will always have political but never personal +influence.</p> + +<h3>March 20th, 1831</h3> + +<p>On Friday night, after not a long but an +angry and noisy debate, there was a division on the timber +duties, and Government was beaten by forty-three, all the +Saints, West Indians, and anti-Free-traders voting with the +great body of Opposition. Their satisfaction was tumultuous. +They have long been desirous of bringing Ministers to a trial +of strength, and they did not care much upon what; they +wanted to let the world see the weakness of Government, +and besides on this occasion they hoped that a defeat might +be prejudicial to the Reform Bill, so that this matter of commercial +and fiscal policy is not decided on its own merits, but +is influenced by passion, violence, party tactics, and its +remote bearing upon another question with which it has no +immediate relation. Althorp was obliged to abandon his +original proposition of taking off 5<i>s</i>. from the duty on Baltic +timber, which is 55<i>s</i>. (and 45<i>s</i>. on deals), and adding 10<i>s</i>. to +the Canadian, which is already 10<i>s</i>. He proposed instead to +take off 6<i>s</i>. from the former this year, 6<i>s</i>. next, and 3<i>s</i>. next, +so as to give plenty of time for the withdrawal of capital, +and to meet all contingencies. The proposal was not unfair, +and in other times would have been carried. Poulett Thomson +made a very good speech, clear and satisfactory. Peel +was what is called very factious—that is, in opposition—just +what the others were, violent and unreasonable as far as the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE REFORM BILL.</span> +question is concerned, but acting upon a system having for +its object to embarrass the Government.</p> + +<p>I still think the second reading of the Reform Bill will +pass, and, all things considered, that it would be the best +thing that could happen; it is better to capitulate than +to be taken by storm. The people are unanimous, good-humoured, +and determined; if the Bill is thrown out, their +good humour will disappear, the country will be a scene of +violence and uproar, and a most ferocious Parliament will +be returned, which will not only carry the question of +Reform, but possibly do so in a very different form. We +should see the <i>irć leonum vincla recusantűm</i>, and this proposition +is so evident, this state of things is so indisputable, +that it is marvellous to me how anybody can triumph and +exult in the anticipation of a victory the consequences of +which would be more unfortunate than a defeat. If indeed +a victory could set the matter at rest, confirm our present institutions, +and pacify the people, it would be very well; but +Reform the people will have, and no human power, moral or +physical, can now arrest its career. It would be better, then, +to concede with a good grace, and to modify the measure in +Committee, which may still be practicable, than to oppose +it point blank without a prospect of success.</p> + +<h3>March 22nd, 1831</h3> + +<p>The debate began again last night, and was +adjourned. It was dull, and the House impatient. To-night +they will divide, and after a thousand fluctuations of opinion +it is thought the Bill will be thrown out by a small majority. +Then will come the question of a dissolution, which one side +affirms will take place directly, and the other that the King +will not consent to it, knowing, as ‘the man in the street’ (as +we call him at Newmarket) always does, the greatest secrets +of kings, and being the confidant of their most hidden +thoughts. As for me, I see nothing but a choice of difficulties +either way, and victory or defeat would be equally bad. +It is odd enough, but I believe Lord Lansdowne thinks just +the same, for he asked me yesterday morning what I expected +would be the result, and I told him my opinion on the whole +question, and he replied, ‘I can add nothing to what you +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +have said; that is exactly my own opinion,’ and I have very +little doubt that more than half the Cabinet in their hearts +abhor the measure. Knatchbull was taken ill in the morning, +and could not go to the House at all.</p> + +<h3>March 23rd, 1831</h3> + +<p>The House divided at three o’clock this +morning, and the second reading was carried by a majority +of <i>one</i> in the fullest House that ever was known—303 to 302—both +parties confident up to the moment of division; but the +Opposition most so, and at last the Government expected to +be beaten. Denman told somebody as they were going to +divide that the question would be lost; Calcraft and the +Wynnes’ going over at the eleventh hour did the business. +I believe that this division is the best thing that could +happen, and so I told the Duke in the morning, and that I +had wished it to be carried by a small majority; I met him +walking with Arbuthnot in the Park. He said, ‘I could not +take such a course’ (that was in answer to my saying I +wished it to be read a second time, to be lost in the Committee). +I said, ‘But you would have nothing to do with it +personally.’ ‘No; but as belonging to the party I could not +recommend such a course,’ which seemed as if he did not +altogether disagree with my view of it. I stopped at the +‘Travellers’ till past three, when a man came in and told me +the news. I walked home, and found the streets swarming +with members of Parliament coming from the House. My +belief is (if they manage well and are active and determined) +that the Bill will be lost in Committee, and then this will be +the best thing that could have occurred.</p> + +<h3>March 24th, 1831</h3> + +<p>The agitation the other night on the division +was prodigious. The Government, who stayed in the +House, thought they had lost it by ten, and the Opposition, +who were crowded in the lobby, fancied from their numbers +that they were sure of winning. There was betting going on +all night long, and large sums have been won and lost. The +people in the lobby were miscounted, and they thought they +had 303. At the levee yesterday and Council; the Government +are by way of being satisfied, but hardly can be. I met +the Duke of Wellington afterwards, who owned to me that he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">REFORM BILL CARRIED BY ONE VOTE. </span> +thought this small majority for the Bill was on the whole the +best thing that could have occurred, and that seems to be the +opinion generally of its opponents.</p> + +<p>Nothing particularly at the levee; Brougham very good +fun. The King, who had put off going to the Opera on +account of the death of his son-in-law Kennedy, appeared in +mourning (crape, that is), which is reckoned bad taste; the +public allow natural feeling to supersede law and etiquette, +but it is too much to extend that courtesy to a ‘son-in-law,’ +and his daughter is not in England. Somebody said that +‘it was the first time a King of England had appeared in +mourning that his subjects did not wear.’ In the evening to +the Ancient Concert, where the Queen was, and by-the-bye +in mourning, and the Margravine and Duchess of Gloucester +too, but they (the two latter) could hardly be mourning for +Lord Cassilis’s son. Horace Seymour, Meynell, and Calvert +were all turned out of their places in the Lord Chamberlain’s +department on account of their votes the other night.</p> + +<p>The change of Ministers at Paris and Casimir Périer’s +speech have restored something like confidence about French +affairs. The Prince of Orange is gone back to Holland, to his +infinite disgust; he was escorted by Lady Dudley Stewart +and Mrs. Fox as far as Gravesend, I believe, where they were +found the next day in their white satin shoes and evening +dresses. He made a great fool of himself here, and destroyed +any sympathy there might have been for his political misfortunes; +supping, dancing, and acting, and little (rather +innocent) orgies at these ladies’ houses formed his habitual +occupation.</p> + +<p>A sort of repose from the cursed Bill for a moment, but +it is said that many who opposed it before are going to support +it in Committee; nobody knows. When the Speaker +put the question, each party roared ‘Aye’ and ‘No’ <i>totis +viribus</i>. He said he did not know, and put it again. After +that he said, ‘I am not sure, but I think the ayes have it.’ +Then the noes went out into the lobby, and the others thought +they never would have done filing out, and the House looked +so empty when they were gone that the Government was in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +despair. They say the excitement was beyond anything. I +continue to hear great complaints of Peel—of his coldness, +incommunicativeness, and deficiency in all the qualities +requisite for a leader, particularly at such a time. There is +nobody else, or he would be deserted for any man who had +talents enough to take a prominent part, so much does he +disgust his adherents. Nobody knows what are his +opinions, feelings, wishes, or intentions; he will not go <i>en +avant</i>, and nobody feels any dependence upon him. There is +no help for it and the man’s nature can’t be altered. I said +all this to Ross yesterday, his devoted adherent, and he was +obliged to own it, with all kinds of regrets and endeavours to +soften the picture.</p> + +<h3>April 14th, 1831</h3> + +<p>The Reform campaign has reopened with a +violent speech from Hunt denouncing the whole thing as a +delusion; that the people begin to find out how they are +humbugged, and that as it will make nothing cheaper they +don’t care about it. The man’s drift is not very clear +whether the Bill is really unpalatable at Preston or whether +he wants to go further directly. At the same time John +Russell announced some alterations in the Bill, not, as he +asserted, trenching upon its principle, but, as the Opposition +declares, altering it altogether. On the whole, these things +have inspirited its opponents, and, as they must produce +delay, are in so far bad for the Reform cause. Besides, +though the opinion of the country is universally in its favour, +people are beginning to think that it may be rejected without +any apprehension of such dreadful consequences ensuing as +have been predicted. Then the state of Ireland is such that +it is thought the Ministers cannot encounter a dissolution, +not that I feel any security on that head, for I believe the +Cabinet is ruled by two or three men reckless of everything +provided they can prolong their own power.</p> + +<h3>April 24th, 1831</h3> + +<p>At Newmarket all last week, and returned +to town last night to hear from those who saw them the extraordinary +scenes in both Houses of Parliament (the day before) +which closed the eventful week. The Reform battle began +again on Monday last. The night before I went out of town +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">DEFEAT AND DISSOLUTION.</span> +I met Duncannon, and walked with him up Regent Street, +when he told me that he did not believe the Ministers would +be beaten, but if they were they should certainly dissolve +instantly; that <i>he</i> should have liked to dissolve long ago, +but they owed it to their friends not to have recourse to a +dissolution if they could help it. On Monday General +Gascoyne moved that the Committee should be instructed +not to reduce the members of the House of Commons, and +this was carried after two nights’ debate by eight. The dissolution +was then decided upon. Meanwhile Lord Wharncliffe +gave notice of a motion to address the King not to +dissolve Parliament, and this was to have come on on Friday. +On Thursday the Ministers were again beaten in the House +of Commons on a question of adjournment, and on Friday +morning they got the King to go down and prorogue Parliament +in person the same day. This <i>coup d’état</i> was so +sudden that nobody was aware of it till within two or three +hours of the time, and many not at all. They told him that +the cream-coloured horses could not be got ready, when he +said, ‘Then I will go with anybody else’s horses.’ Somebody +went off in a carriage to the Tower, to fetch the Crown, and +they collected such attendants as they could find to go with +his Majesty. The Houses met at one or two o’clock. In the +House of Commons Sir R. Vyvyan made a furious speech, +attacking the Government on every point, and (excited as he +was) it was very well done. The Ministers made no reply, +but Sir Francis Burdett and Tennyson endeavoured to interrupt +with calls to order, and when the Speaker decided that +Vyvyan was not out of order Tennyson disputed his opinion, +which enraged the Speaker, and soon after called up Peel, +for whom he was resolved to procure a hearing. The scene +then resembled that which took place on Lord North’s +resignation in 1782, for Althorp (I think) moved that Burdett +should be heard, and the Speaker said that ‘Peel was in +possession of the House to speak on that motion.’ He made +a very violent speech, attacking the Government for their +incompetence, folly, and recklessness, and treated them with +the utmost asperity and contempt. In the midst of his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +speech the guns announced the arrival of the King, and at +each explosion the Government gave a loud cheer, and Peel +was still speaking in the midst of every sort of noise and +tumult when the Usher of the Black Rod knocked at the door +to summon the Commons to the House of Peers. There +the proceedings were if possible still more violent and outrageous; +those who were present tell me it resembled +nothing but what we read of the ‘Serment du Jeu de Paume,’ +and the whole scene was as much like the preparatory days +of a revolution as can well be imagined. Wharncliffe was +to have moved an address to the Crown against dissolving +Parliament, and this motion the Ministers were resolved +should not come on, but he contrived to bring it on so far as +to get it put upon the Journals. The Duke of Richmond +endeavoured to prevent any speaking by raising points of +order, and moving that the Lords should take their regular +places (in separate ranks), which, however, is impossible at +a royal sitting, because the cross benches are removed; this +put Lord Londonderry in such a fury that he rose, roared, +gesticulated, held up his whip, and four or five Lords held +him down by the tail of his coat to prevent his flying on +somebody. Lord Lyndhurst was equally furious, and some +sharp words passed which were not distinctly heard. In the +midst of all the din Lord Mansfield rose and obtained a +hearing. Wharncliffe said to him, ‘For God’s sake, Mansfield, +take care what you are about, and don’t disgrace us +more in the state we are in.’ ‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said; ‘I +will say nothing that will alarm you;’ and accordingly he +pronounced a trimming philippic on the Government, which, +delivered as it was in an imposing manner, attired in his +robes, and with the greatest energy and excitation, was prodigiously +effective. While he was still speaking, the King +arrived, but he did not desist even while his +Majesty<a name="FNA_14_01" id="FNA_14_01"></a><a href="#FN_14_01" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> +was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE KING DISSOLVES PARLIAMENT.</span> +entering the House of Lords, nor till he approached the +throne; and while the King was ascending the steps, the +hoarse voice of Lord Londonderry was heard crying ‘Hear, +hear, hear!’ The King from the robing-room heard the +noise, and asked what it all meant. The conduct of the +Chancellor was most extraordinary, skipping in and out of +the House and making most extraordinary speeches. In +the midst of the uproar he went out of the House, when +Lord Shaftesbury was moved into the chair. In the middle +of the debate Brougham again came in and said, ‘it was +most extraordinary that the King’s undoubted right to dissolve +Parliament should be questioned at a moment when +the House of Commons had taken the unprecedented course +of stopping the supplies,’ and having so said (which was a +lie) he flounced out of the House to receive the King on his arrival. +The King ought not properly to have worn the +Crown, never having been crowned; but when he was in the +robing-room he said to Lord Hastings, ‘Lord Hastings, I +wear the Crown; where is it?’ It was brought to him, and +when Lord Hastings was going to put it on his head he said, +‘Nobody shall put the Crown on my head but myself.’ He +put it on, and then turned to Lord Grey and said, ‘Now, my +Lord, the coronation is over.’ George Villiers said that in +his life he never saw such a scene, and as he looked at the +King upon the throne with the Crown loose upon his head, +and the tall, grim figure of Lord Grey close beside him with +the sword of state in his hand, it was as if the King had +got his executioner by his side, and the whole picture looked +strikingly typical of his and our future destinies.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_14_01" id="FN_14_01"></a><a href="#FNA_14_01"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> +When Lord Mansfield sat down he said, ‘I have spoken English to +them at least.’ Lord Lyndhurst told me that Lord Mansfield stopped +speaking as soon as the door opened to admit the King. He said he never +saw him so excited before, and in his robes he looked very grand. He also +told me that he was at Lady Holland’s giving an account of the scene +when Brougham came in. He said, ‘I was telling them what passed the +other day in our House,’ when Brougham explained his part by saying that +the Usher of the Black Rod (Tyrwhit) was at his elbow saying, ‘My Lord +Chancellor, you must come; the King is waiting for you: come along; you +must come,’ and that he was thus dragged out of the House in this hurry +and without having time to sit down or say any more.</p></div> + +<p>Such has been the termination of this Parliament and of +the first act of the new Ministerial drama; there never was +a Government ousted with more ignominy than the last, nor +a Ministry that came in with higher pretensions, greater +professions, and better prospects than the present, but +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +nothing ever corresponded less than their performances +with their pretensions. The composition of the Government +was radically defective, and with a good deal of loose talent +there was so much of passion, folly, violence, and knavery, +together with inexperience and ignorance mixed up with it, +that from the very beginning they cut the sorriest possible +figure. Such men as Richmond, Durham, Althorp, and +Graham, in their different ways, were enough to spoil any +Cabinet, and consequently their course has been marked by +a series of blunders and defeats. Up to the moment of the +dissolution few people expected it would happen, some +thinking the King would not consent, others that the +Government would never venture upon it, but the King is +weak and the Ministry reckless. That disposition, which at +first appeared so laudable, of putting himself implicitly into +the hands of his Ministers, and which seemed the more so +from the contrast it afforded to the conduct of the late King, +who was always thwarting his Ministers, throwing difficulties +in their way, and playing a double part, becomes +vicious when carried to the extent of paralysing all free +action and free opinion on his part, and of suffering himself +to be made the instrument of any measures, however violent. +It may be said, indeed, that he cordially agrees with these +men, and has opinions coincident with theirs, but this is not +probable; and when we remember his unlimited confidence in +the Duke up to the moment of his resignation, it is impossible +to believe that he can have so rapidly imbibed principles the +very reverse of those which the Duke +maintained.<a name="FNA_14_02" id="FNA_14_02"></a><a href="#FN_14_02" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> +It is more likely that he has no opinions, and is really a mere +puppet in the hands into which he may happen to fall. Lord +Mansfield had an audience, and gave him his sentiments +upon the state of affairs. He will not say what passed +between them, but it is clear that it was of no use.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_14_02" id="FN_14_02"></a><a href="#FNA_14_02"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> +The King was extremely opposed to the dissolution, and had remonstrated +against it ever since it was first proposed to him in March. See +Lord Grey’s letter in the ‘Times’ of March 26, 1866.</p></div> + +<p>The Queen and the Royal Family are extremely unhappy +at all these things, but the former has no influence whatever +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE GENERAL ELECTION.</span> +with the King. In the meantime there are very different +opinions as to the result of the elections, some thinking that +Government will not gain much by the dissolution, others +that they (or at least Reform) will win everything. It seems +to me quite impossible that they should not win everything, +but time is gained to the other side. The census of 1831 will +be out, and the chapter of accidents may and must make much +difference; still I see no possibility of arresting the progress +of Reform, and whether this Bill or another like it passes is +much the same thing. The Government have made it up +with O’Connell, which is one mouthful of the dirty pudding +they have had to swallow, as one of their own friends said of +them.</p> + +<h3>April 26th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Last night at the Queen’s ball; heaps of +people of all sorts; everybody talking of the elections. Both +parties pretend to be confident, but the Government with +the best reason. The county members, as Sefton says, are +tumbling about like nine-pins, and though it seems not +improbable that the Opposition will gain in the boroughs, +they must lose greatly in the counties; and we must not +only look to the relative numbers, but to the composition of +the respective parties. A large minority composed of borough +nominees, corporation members, and only a sprinkling of +what is called independence would not look well. Large +sums have been subscribed on both sides, but on that of the +Opposition there is a want of candidates more than of places +to send them to.</p> + +<p>I met Lyndhurst last night, and asked him what it was +he said in the House of Lords. He said it was nothing very +violent, but that it was not heard. The Duke of Richmond +had spoken to the point of order, and said in a very marked +way ‘he saw a noble Earl sitting by a <i>junior</i> Baron.’ This +was Lyndhurst, who was offended at the sneer upon his want +of <i>ancienneté</i>, and who retorted that before the noble Duke +made such speeches on points of order he would do well to +make himself acquainted with the orders of the House, of +which it was obvious he knew nothing. The Duke of Devonshire +told Lady Lyndhurst that her husband ought to resign +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +his judicial situation because he had displayed hostility to +Government the other night, but it would be a new maxim +to establish that the judges were to be amenable to the +Minister for their political opinions and Parliamentary conduct.</p> + +<h3>April 29th, 1831</h3> + +<p>The night before last there was an illumination, +got up by the foolish Lord Mayor, which of course +produced an uproar and a general breaking of obnoxious +windows. Lord Mansfield and the Duke of Buccleuch went +to Melbourne in the morning and remonstrated, asking what +protection he meant to afford to their properties. A gun +(with powder only) was fired over the heads of the mob from +Apsley House, and they did not go there again. The Government +might have discouraged this manifestation of triumph, +but they wished for it for the purpose of increasing the +popular excitement. They don’t care what they do, or what +others do, so long as they can keep the people in a ferment. +It is disgusting to the last degree to hear their joy and exultation +at the success of their measures and the good prospects +held out to them by the elections; all of which may +turn out very well, but if it does not ‘who shall set hoddy-doddy +up again?’ Lord Cleveland has subscribed 10,000ℓ. to +the election fund.</p> + +<p>Lord Yarborough, by a very questionable piece of political +morality, has given the Holmes boroughs in the Isle of Wight +to Government; they are the property of Sir L. Holmes’s +daughter, whose guardian he is as well as executor under +the will. In this capacity he has the disposal of the boroughs, +and he gives them to the Ministers to fill with men who are +to vote for their disfranchisement. A large price is paid for +them—4,000ℓ.—but it makes a difference of eight votes, and if +the Bill is carried they will be worth nothing. The elections +promise well for Government even in the boroughs, as I was +persuaded they would. O’Connell has put forth a proclamation +entreating, commanding peace, order, and support of the +Bill’s supporters. Tom Moore called on me yesterday morning. +He said that he was a Reformer and liked the Bill, but he +was fully aware of all that it might produce of evil to the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE QUEEN ALARMED IN THE CITY.</span> +present system. He owned frankly that he felt like an Irishman +and that the wrongs of Ireland and the obstinacy of +the faction who had oppressed her still rankled in his heart, +and that he should not be sorry at any vengeance which +might overtake them at last. I hear renewed complaints of +Peel, of his selfish, cold, calculating, cowardly policy; that +we are indebted to him principally for our present condition +I have no doubt—to his obstinacy and to his conduct in the +Catholic question first, to his opposition and then to his support +of it. Opposing all and every sort of Reform <i>totis viribus</i> +while he dared, now he makes a death-bed profession of +acquiescence in something which should be more moderate +than this. All these things disgust people inconceivably, and +it is not the less melancholy that he is our only resource, and +his capacity for business and power in the House of Commons +places him so far above all his competitors that if we +are to have a Conservative party we must look to him alone +to lead it.</p> + +<h3>May 7th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Nothing could go on worse than the elections—Reformers +returned everywhere, so much so that the +contest is over, and we have only to await the event and +see what the House of Lords will do. In the House of +Commons the Bill is already carried. It is supposed that the +Ministers themselves begin to be alarmed at the devil they +have let loose, and well they may; but he is out, and stop +him who can. The King has put off his visit to the City +because he is ill, as the Government would have it believed, +but really because he is furious with the Lord Mayor at all +the riots and uproar on the night of the illumination. That +night the Queen went to the Ancient Concert, and on her +return the mob surrounded the carriage; she had no guards, +and the footmen were obliged to beat the people off with +their canes to prevent their thrusting their heads into the +coach. She was frightened and the King very much annoyed. +He heard the noise and tumult, and paced backwards and +forwards in his room waiting for her return. When she +came back Lord Howe, her chamberlain, as usual preceded +her, when the King said, ‘How is the Queen?’ and went +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +down to meet her. Howe, who is an eager anti-Reformer, +said, ‘Very much frightened, sir,’ and made the worst of it. +She was in fact terrified, and as she detests the whole of +these proceedings, the more distressed and disgusted. The +King was very angry and immediately declared he would +not go to the City at all. It is supposed that Government +will make a large batch of Peers to secure the Bill in the +House of Lords, but the press have already begun to attack +that House, declaring that if they pass the Bill it will be +from compulsion, and if they do not that they are the enemies +of the people.</p> + +<h3>May 11th, 1831</h3> + +<p>The elections are going on universally in +favour of Reform; the great interests in the counties are +everywhere broken, and old connexions dissevered. In Worcestershire +Captain Spencer, who has nothing to do with the +county, and was brought there by his brother-in-law, Lord +Lyttelton, has beaten Lygon, backed by all the wealth of his +family; the Manners have withdrawn from Leicestershire and +Cambridgeshire, and Lord E. Somerset from Gloucestershire; +Lord Worcester too is beaten at Monmouth. Everywhere +the tide is irresistible; all considerations are sacrificed +to the success of the measure. At the last Essex election +Colonel Tyrrell saved Western, who would have been beaten +by Long Wellesley, and now Western has coalesced with Wellesley +against Tyrrell, and will throw him out. In Northamptonshire +Althorp had pledged himself to Cartwright not +to bring forward another candidate on his side, and Milton +joins him and stands. The state of excitement, doubt, and +apprehension which prevails will not quickly subside, for the +battle is only beginning; when the Bill is carried we must +prepare for the second act.</p> + +<h3>May 14th, 1831</h3> + +<p>The elections are still going for Reform. They +count upon a majority of 140 in the House of Commons, but +the Tories meditate resistance in the House of Lords, which +it is to be hoped will be fruitless, and it is probable the Peers +will trot round as they did about the Catholic question when +it comes to the point. There is a great hubbub at Northampton +about a pledge which Althorp is supposed to have +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">LORD MUNSTER’S PEERAGE.</span> +given not to bring forward another candidate against Cartwright +which the anti-Reformers say he has violated in +putting up Milton, and moreover that such conduct is very +dishonest; and as his honesty was his principal recommendation, +if he should have forfeited that what would remain to +him? On the contrary his friends say that he gave no such +pledge, that he expressed a hope there might be no contest, +but the people would have Milton, and though Althorp regretted +his standing, as he did stand they were obliged to +join for their common safety. So much for this electioneering +squabble, of which time will elicit the truth. Last night I +went to Prince Leopold’s, where was George Fitzclarence +receiving congratulations on his new dignity (Earl of +Munster). He told me everybody had been very kind about +it—the King, Lord Grey, his friends, and the public. He had +told Lord Grey he was anxious his brothers and sisters +should have the rank of marquis’s sons and daughters (to +give them titles). Grey had only objected that their titles +would then represent a higher rank than his +own,<a name="FNA_14_03" id="FNA_14_03"></a><a href="#FN_14_03" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> +but that +he laid no stress on that objection, and it would be done +directly. Melbourne has written a letter to the Lord Mayor +assuring him that ill health is the only obstacle to the King’s +visit to the City, and that there is no foundation for the +report of his displeasure, the Lord Mayor’s explanation +having proved quite satisfactory. This is not true, I believe, +but they make him say so.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_14_03" id="FN_14_03"></a><a href="#FNA_14_03"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> +[If Lord Grey said this it was a mistake. The younger sons and +daughters of marquises take rank after earls.]</p></div> + +<h3>May 22nd, 1831</h3> + +<p>At Epsom all last week for the races at a +house which Lord Chesterfield took; nobody there but the +three +sisters<a name="FNA_14_04" id="FNA_14_04"></a><a href="#FN_14_04" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> +and their two husbands. Rode out on the downs +every morning, and enjoyed the fine country, as beautiful as +any I have seen of the kind. After the races on Friday +I went to Richmond to dine with Lord and Lady Lyndhurst, +and was refreshed by his vigorous mind after the three or +four days I had passed. He thinks the state of things very +bad, has a great contempt for this Government, is very +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +doubtful what will happen, thinks Lord Grey will not stand, +and that Brougham will be Chancellor and Prime Minister, +like Clarendon; he talked of the late Government, the Duke +of Wellington and Peel; he said that the former meddled +with no department but that of Foreign Affairs, which he +conducted entirely; that he understood them better than +anything else, and if he came into office again would be +Foreign Secretary; that in the Cabinet he was always candid, +reasonable, and ready to discuss fairly every subject, but +not so Peel. He, if his opinion was not adopted, would take +up a newspaper and sulk. Lyndhurst agreed with me about +his manners, his coldness, and how he disgusted instead of +conciliating people; he said that when any of his friends in +Parliament proposed to speak in any debate, he never encouraged +or assisted them, but answered with a dry ‘Do you?’ +to their notification of a wish or intention. He said that this +Bill was drawn up by Lambton himself, but so ill done, so +ignorantly and inefficiently, that they were obliged to send +for Harrison, who, in conjunction with the Attorney-General, +drew it up afresh; that when John Russell brought it forward +the Bill was still +undrawn.<a name="FNA_14_05" id="FNA_14_05"></a><a href="#FN_14_05" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> +He says that there is not +the least doubt they never had an idea of bringing forward +any such measure as this till they found themselves so weak +in the House of Commons that nothing but a popular cry and +Radical support could possibly save them. It is very remarkable +when we look back to the moment of the dissolution of +the late Government, when Brougham was in the House of +Commons armed with his Bill, which, though unknown, was +so dreaded, and which turns out to have been mere milk and +water compared with this. He said Brougham was offered +the Attorney-Generalship by a note, which he tore in pieces +and stamped upon, and sent word that there was no answer; +that he has long aspired to be Chancellor, and wished to get +into the House of Lords. He ridicules his pretensions to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">LORD BROUGHAM AS A JUDGE.</span> +such wonderful doings in his Court and in the Bills he has announced; +says that he has decided no bankruptcy cases, and, +except some Scotch appeals in the House of Lords, has got +rid of hardly any arrears; and as to his Bills, the Bankruptcy +Bill was objectionable and the Chancery Bill he has +never brought on at all; that he knows he affects a short cut +to judicial eminence, but that without labour and reading +he cannot administer justice in that Court, although no +doubt his great acuteness and rapid perception may often +enable him at once to see the merits of a case and hit upon +the important points. This he said in reply to what I +told him of Brougham’s trumpeter Sefton, who echoes from +his own lips that ‘the Court of Chancery is such a sinecure +and mere child’s play.’</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_14_04" id="FN_14_04"></a><a href="#FNA_14_04"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> +[Lady Chesterfield, Mrs. Anson, and Miss Forester.]</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_14_05" id="FN_14_05"></a><a href="#FNA_14_05"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> +[Compare the details of the preparation of the Reform Bill published +by Lord Russell in the last edition of his ‘Essay on the British Constitution.’ +Much of this conversation of Lord Lyndhurst’s is extremely wide of the +truth, but it is retained to show what was said and believed by competent +persons at the time.]</p></div> + +<p>In the meantime the elections have been going languidly +on, and are now nearly over; contrary to the prognostications +of the Tories, they have gone off very quietly, even in Ireland +not many contests, the anti-Reformers being unable to +make any fight at all; except in Shropshire they are dead-beat +everywhere. Northamptonshire the sharpest contest, +and the one which has made the most ill blood; this particular +election has produced a good deal of violence; elsewhere +the Reformers have it hollow, no matter what the +characters of the candidates, if they are only for the Bill. +Calcraft and Wellesley, the former not respected, the latter +covered with disgrace, have beat Bankes and Tyrrell. Lowther +had not a chance in Cumberland, where Sir James +Graham got into another scrape, for in an impertinent speech +he made an attack upon Scarlett, which drew upon him a +message and from him an apology. Formerly, when a man +made use of offensive expressions and was called to account, +he thought it right to go out and stand a shot before he ate +his words, but now-a-days that piece of chivalry is dispensed +with, and politicians make nothing of being scurrilous one +day and humble the next. Hyde Villiers has been appointed +to succeed Sandon at the Board of Control as a Whig and a +Reformer. He was in a hundred minds what line he should +take, and had written a pamphlet to prove the necessity of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +giving Ministers seats in both Houses (as in France), which +he has probably put in the fire. I am very glad he has got +the place, and though his opinions were not very decided +before, he has always been anti-Tory, and has done nothing +discreditable to get it, and it was offered to him in a very +flattering manner.</p> + +<h3>May 28th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Yesterday Lord Grey was invested with the +blue ribband, though there is no vacancy; the only precedent +is that of Lords Liverpool and Castlereagh (which was +thought wrong), but it was on the occasion of the peace +after Bonaparte’s overthrow and when Castlereagh returned +with such <i>éclat</i> from Paris that the whole House of Commons +rose and cheered him as he entered it.</p> + +<p>I met Alexander Baring the other night, who said it was +certain that the King was full of regrets at the extent of the +measures into which he had been hurried, when I told him +of Lord Grey’s Garter, and asked him what he said to that, +and how that bore out the assertion of the King’s regrets. +The fact is that although on one side a most indecent though +effectual use of the King’s name has been made, on the other +there is nothing that is not asserted with equal confidence +about ‘his difficulties and his scruples.’ Sefton told me that +it was the sort of things that were said that made the King +write to Lord Grey (he saw the letter) and tell him that he +thought it of the greatest importance at the present moment +to confer upon him a signal mark of his regard and of his +satisfaction with the whole of his conduct. It is, I believe, +true that the King felt some alarm and some doubt about +the dissolution, but I do not believe that he has any doubts +or fears at present. Indeed, how should he not have suffered +himself to be led away by these people and to become identified +with their measure? They have given him an ample +share of the praise of it; they assure him it will be eminently +successful; he sees himself popular and applauded to the +skies, and as far as things have gone it has been successful, +for the elections have gone on and gone off very peaceably, +and the country in expectation of the passing of the Bill is +in a state of profound tranquillity.</p> + + +<h3>June 5th, 1831</h3> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE KING AT ASCOT.</span> +All last week at Fern Hill for the Ascot races; +the Chesterfields, Tavistocks, Belfasts, George Ansons, Montague, +Stradbroke, and Brooke Greville were there. The Royal +Family came to the course the first day with a great <i>cortége</i>—eight +coaches and four, two phaetons, pony sociables, and +led horses—Munster riding on horseback behind the King’s +carriage, Augustus (the parson) and Frederick driving phaetons. +The Duke of Richmond was in the King’s calčche +and Lord Grey in one of the coaches. The reception was +strikingly cold and indifferent, not half so good as that +which the late King used to receive. William was bored +to death with the races, and his own horse broke down. On +Wednesday he did not come; on Thursday they came again. +Beautiful weather and unprecedented multitudes. The King +was much more cheered than the first day, or the greater +number of people made a greater noise. A few cheers were +given to Lord Grey as he returned, which he just acknowledged +and no more. On Friday we dined at the Castle; +each day the King asked a crowd of people from the neighbourhood. +We arrived at a little before seven; the Queen +was only just come in from riding, so we had to wait till +near eight. Above forty people at dinner, for which the +room is not nearly large enough; the dinner was not bad, +but the room insufferably hot. The Queen was taken +out by the Duke of Richmond, and the King followed +with the Duchess of Saxe Weimar, the Queen’s sister. He +drinks wine with everybody, asking seven or eight at a time. +After dinner he drops asleep. We sat for a short time. +Directly after coffee the band began to play; a good band, +not numerous, and principally of violins and stringed instruments. +The Queen and the whole party sat there all the +evening, so that it was, in fact, a concert of instrumental +music. The King took Lady Tavistock to St. George’s Hall +and the ball room, where we walked about, with two or three +servants carrying lamps to show the proportions, for it was +not lit up. The whole thing is exceedingly magnificent, and +the manner of life does not appear to be very formal, and +need not be disagreeable but for the bore of never dining +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +without twenty strangers. The Castle holds very few people, +and with the King’s and Queen’s immediate suite and <i>toute la +bâtardise</i> it was quite full. The King’s four sons were +there, <i>signoreggianti tutti</i>, and the whole thing ‘donnait ŕ +penser’ to those who looked back a little and had seen other +days. We sat in that room in which Lyndhurst has often +talked to me of the famous five hours’ discussion with the +late King, when the Catholic Bill hung upon his caprice. +Palmerston told me he had never been in the Castle since +the eventful day of Herries’ appointment and non-appointment; +and how many things have happened since. What a +<i>changement de décoration</i>; no longer George IV., capricious, +luxurious, and misanthropic, liking nothing but the society +of listeners and flatterers, with the Conyngham tribe and +one or two Tory Ministers and foreign Ambassadors; but a +plain, vulgar, hospitable gentleman, opening his doors to all +the world, with a numerous family and suite, a Whig +Ministry, no foreigners, and no toad-eaters at all. Nothing +can be more different, and looking at him one sees +how soon this act will be finished, and the same be changed +for another probably not less dissimilar. Queen, bastards, +Whigs,<a name="FNA_14_06" id="FNA_14_06"></a><a href="#FN_14_06" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> +all will disappear, and God knows what replaces +them. Came to town yesterday, and found a quarrel between +Henry Bentinck and Sir Roger Gresley, which I had to +settle, and did settle amicably in the course of the evening.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_14_06" id="FN_14_06"></a><a href="#FNA_14_06"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> +Not Whigs—they are <i>les bienvenus</i>, which they were not before.—<i>July +1838</i>.</p></div> + +<h3>June 7th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Dined with Sefton yesterday, who gave me an +account of a dinner at Fowell Buxton’s on Saturday to see +the brewery, at which Brougham was the ‘magnus Apollo.’ +Sefton is excellent as a commentator on Brougham; he says +that he watches him incessantly, never listens to anybody +else when he is there, and <i>rows</i> him unmercifully afterwards +for all the humbug, nonsense, and palaver he hears him talk +to people. They were twenty-seven at dinner. Talleyrand +was to have gone, but was frightened by being told that he +would get nothing but beefsteaks and porter, so he stayed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">DINNER AT HANBURY’S BREWERY.</span> +away. They dined in the brewhouse and visited the whole +establishment. Lord Grey was there in star, garter, and ribband. +There were people ready to show and explain everything, +but not a bit—Brougham took the explanation of +everything into his own hands—the mode of brewing, the +machinery, down to the feeding of the cart horses. After +dinner the account books were brought, and the young Buxtons +were beckoned up to the top of the table by their father +to hear the words of wisdom that flowed from the lips of my +Lord Chancellor. He affected to study the ledger, and made +various pertinent remarks on the manner of book-keeping. +There was a man whom Brougham called ‘Cornelius’ (Sefton +did not know who he was) with whom he seemed very familiar. +While Brougham was talking he dropped his voice, on which +‘Cornelius’ said, ‘Earl Grey is listening,’ that he might +speak louder and so nothing be lost. He was talking of +Paley, and said that ‘although he did not always understand +his own meaning, he always contrived to make it intelligible +to others,’ on which ‘Cornelius’ said, ‘My good friend, if he +made it so clear to others he must have had some comprehension +of it himself;’ on which Sefton attacked him afterwards, +and swore that ‘he was a mere child in the hands of +“Cornelius,”’ that ‘he never saw anybody so put down.’ +These people are all subscribers to the London University, +and Sefton swears he overheard Brougham tell them +that ‘Sir Isaac Newton was nothing compared to some of +the present professors,’ or something to that effect. I put +down all this nonsense because it amused me in the recital, +and is excessively characteristic of the man, one of the most +remarkable who ever existed. Lady Sefton told me that he +went with them to the British Museum, where all the officers +of the Museum were in attendance to receive them. He +would not let anybody explain anything, but did all the +honours himself. At last they came to the collection of +minerals, when she thought he must be brought to a standstill. +Their conductor began to describe them, when Brougham +took the words out of his mouth, and dashed off with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +as much ease and familiarity as if he had been a Buckland +or a Cuvier. Such is the man, a grand mixture of moral, +political, and intellectual incongruities.</p> + +<h3>June 10th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Breakfasted the day before yesterday with +Rogers, Sydney Smith, Luttrell, John Russell, and Moore; +excessively agreeable. I never heard anything more entertaining +than Sydney Smith; such bursts of merriment and +so dramatic. Breakfasts are the meals for poets. I met +Wordsworth and Southey at breakfast. Rogers’ are always +agreeable.</p> + +<h3>June 15th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Five new peerages came out yesterday—Sefton, +Kinnaird, Fingall, Leitrim, and Agar Ellis; John +Russell and Stanley are to be in the Cabinet. At the ball +at St. James’s the other night George Dawson told me that +they had 270 people in the House of Commons on the side +of the Opposition, if they could command their attendance; +that he did not mean to say no Reform Bill would pass, but +that the details of this Bill had never yet been discussed, +and when they were it would be so clearly shown that it is +impracticable that this identical measure never could pass. +The Opposition are beginning to recover from their discouragement; +there is to be a meeting at Lord Mansfield’s +on Friday, and they do, I believe, mean to fight it out.</p> + +<h3>June 19th, 1831</h3> + +<p>The last few days I have been completely +taken up with quarantine, and taking means to prevent the +cholera coming here. That disease made great ravages in +Russia last year, and in the winter the attention of Government +was called to it, and the question was raised whether +we should have to purify goods coming here in case it broke +out again, and if so how it was to be done. Government +was thinking of Reform and other matters, and would not +bestow much attention upon this subject, and accordingly +neither regulations nor preparations were made. All that +was done was to commission a Dr. Walker, a physician +residing at St. Petersburg, to go to Moscow and elsewhere +and make enquiries into the nature and progress of the +disease, and report the result of his investigation to us. He +turned out, however, to be a very useless and inefficient +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE CHOLERA.</span> +agent. In the meantime as the warm weather returned the +cholera again appeared in Russia, but still we took no further +measures until intelligence arrived that it had reached +Riga, at which place 700 or 800 sail of English vessels, +loaded principally with hemp and flax, were waiting to come +to this country. This report soon diffused a general alarm, +and for many days past the newspapers have been full of +letters and full of lies, and every sort of representation is +made to Government or through the press, as fear or interest +happen to dictate. The Consuls and Ministers abroad had +been for some time supplying us with such information as +they could obtain, so that we were in possession of a great +deal of documentary evidence regarding the nature, character, +and progress of the disease. The first thing we did +was to issue two successive Orders in Council placing all +vessels coming from the Baltic in quarantine, and we sent +for Sir Henry Halford and placed all the papers we had in +his hands, desiring that he would associate with himself +some other practitioners, and report their opinion as speedily +as possible whether the disease was contagious and whether +it could be conveyed by goods. They reported the next day +<i>yes</i> to the first question, <i>no</i> to the second. In 1804, on the +occasion of the yellow fever at Gibraltar, Government formed +a Board of Health, and took the opinion of the College of +Physicians, and it was intended to pursue the same course +in this instance, but Lords Lansdowne and Auckland chose +to take Halford’s preliminary opinion, contrary to my advice, +for I foresaw that there would be a great embarrassment if +he and the College did not agree. Just so it turned out, for +when the case was submitted, with all the papers, to the +College, they would not adopt his opinion, much to his +annoyance, and, as I believe, because they did not like to be +merely called on to confirm what he had already said, and +that they thought their independence required a show of +dissent. The report they sent was very short and very +unsatisfactory, and entirely against all the evidence they +had before them; they advised precautionary measures. I +immediately wrote back an answer saying that their report +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +was not satisfactory, and desiring a more detailed opinion, +and the reasons which had dictated their conclusion; but in +the meantime we set to work in earnest to adopt measures +against any emergency. The only way of performing quarantine +(with goods), it was found, would be by the employment +of men-of-war, and we accordingly asked the Admiralty +to supply ships for the purpose. This Lord Grey, Sir James +Graham, and Sir Byam Martin objected to, but Sir Thomas +Hardy and Captain Elliot did not. We proved that the ships +would sustain no injury, so after a battle they agreed to give +them. We made a variety of regulations, and gave strict +orders for the due performance of quarantine, and to-morrow +a proclamation is to be issued for constituting a Board of +Health and enjoining obedience to the quarantine laws, so +that everything has been done that can be done, and if the +cholera comes here it is not our fault. Most of the authorities +think it will come, but I doubt it. If indeed it is +wafted through the air it may, but I don’t think it will if +it is only to be communicated by contact. All the evidence +proves that goods cannot convey it; nevertheless we have +placed merchandise under a discretionary quarantine, and +though we have not promulgated any general regulations, we +release no vessels that come from infected places, or that +have got enumerated goods on board. Poulett Thomson, +who is a trader as well as Privy Councillor, is very much +disgusted in his former capacity at the measures he is +obliged to concur in in his latter. This topic has now occupied +for some days a good deal of the attention even of +the fine fools of this town, and the Tories would even make +it a matter of party accusation against the Government, +only they don’t know exactly how. It is always safe to deal +in generalities, so they say that ‘Government ought to be +impeached if the disease comes here.’</p> + +<p>There was a meeting of Peers to the amount of nearly +seventy at Lord Mansfield’s the other day, which went off +greatly to their satisfaction. They unanimously agreed to +determine upon nothing in the way of amendment until they +had seen the King’s Speech, to which, however, they will consider +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">MEETING OF PEERS.</span> +themselves bound to move an amendment, provided it +contains anything laudatory of the Reform Bill. The Duke +of Wellington was not at the meeting, having been taken ill. +I met him the day before at dinner, and had a good deal of +conversation with him. He is in pretty good spirits, and +thinks they may make a good fight of it yet; told me that +Lyndhurst would certainly go thoroughly with them, praised +him largely, said he was the best colleague that any man +ever had, and that he should be very sorry ever to go into +any Cabinet of which he was not a member. The King +dined with the Duke yesterday, and was to give him a very +fine sword. Aubin, who was to have acted in ‘Hernani’ before +the Queen on Wednesday next, is suddenly gone off to Rome +as <i>attaché</i> to Brook Taylor, who is there negotiating. +Taylor happened to be in Italy, and they sent him there, +some doubts existing whether they could by law send a +diplomatic agent to negotiate with the Pope; but it was +referred to Denman, who said there was no danger. He is +not accredited, and bears no <i>official</i> character, but it is a +regular mission. Lord Lansdowne told me that Leopold is +inconceivably anxious to be King of Belgium, that short of +going in direct opposition to the wishes and advice of all the +Royal Family and of the Government he would do anything +to be beking’d, and, what is equally absurd, that the +others cannot bear that he should be thus elevated.</p> + +<h3>June 23rd, 1831</h3> + +<p>The King opened Parliament on Tuesday, +with a greater crowd assembled to see him pass than was +ever congregated before, and the House of Lords was so full +of ladies that the Peers could not find places. The Speech +was long, but good, and such as to preclude the possibility +of an amendment. There was, however, a long discussion +in each House, and the greatest bitterness and violence +evinced in both—every promise of a stormy session. Lord +Lansdowne said to the King, ‘I am afraid, sir, you won’t be +able to <i>see</i> the Commons.’ ‘Never mind,’ said he; ‘they shall +<i>hear</i> me, I promise you,’ and accordingly he thundered forth +the Speech so that not a word was lost.</p> + +<p>There has been a reconciliation between the Wellingtonians +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +and the old Tories, and they are now firmly knit in +opposition to the present Government. Winchilsea, who +was the last Tory who stuck to Lord Grey, renounced him +in a hot speech, which evidently annoyed Lord Grey very +much, for he made a long one in reply to him. Winchilsea +is a silly, blustering, but good-natured and well-meaning +man. Last night ‘Hernani’ was acted at Bridgewater House +before the Queen and all the Royal Family. Aubin, who had +acted Don Ruy, was sent to Rome, so Francis Leveson took +the part. I was disappointed, though all the company were +or pretended to be in ecstasies. The rhyme does not do, +the room is not good for hearing, and with the exception of +Miss Kemble (who was not so effective as I expected) and +Craven, the actors were execrable.</p> + +<p>News came the day before yesterday that Marshal Diebitsch +had died of the cholera. It was suspected that he +had made away with himself, for he has failed so signally +in his campaign against the Poles that his military reputation +is tarnished; and it is known that his recall had +been decreed, and that Count Paskiewitch was to succeed +him. The alarm about the cholera still continues, but the +Government are thrown into great perplexity by the danger +on one hand of the cholera and the loss to trade on the +other. A board of health has been formed, composed of +certain members of the College of Physicians, Sir William +Pym, Sir William Burnet, Sir Byam Martin, Sir James +M‘Grigor, and Mr. Stewart; and they in their first sitting +advised that all the precautions established by our Orders in +Council against the plague should be adopted against the +cholera. This opinion was given under the authority of +Dr. Warren, who, it appears, exercises the same ascendency +in this Board that he had previously done in the College of +Physicians on the same subject. The fact is that he takes +the safe side. They have nothing to do with trade and +commerce, which must shift for themselves, and probably the +other members will not take upon themselves the responsibility +of opposing measures which, if the disease ever +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">PREVENTION OF CHOLERA.</span> +appears here, and should they be relaxed, will expose the +physicians to the odium and reproach of having been instrumental +to its introduction. We, however (Auckland, +Poulett Thomson, and I), are resolved to make the Cabinet +take upon themselves the responsibility of framing the permanent +rules which are to guide us during the continuance +of the malady. It is remarkable that there never was more +sickness than there is at present, without its being epidemic, +but thousands of colds, sore throats, fevers, and such like; +and a man at Blackwall has died of the English cholera, and +another is ill of it, but their disorders seem to have nothing +to do with the Indian cholera, though some of the symptoms +are similar. These men cannot have got their cholera from +Russia, but their cases spread alarm.</p> + +<h3>June 25th, 1831</h3> + +<p>John Russell brought his Bill in last night, +in a good speech as his friends, and a dull one as his enemies, +say. In the Lords Aberdeen attacked Lord Grey’s foreign +policy in a poor speech, which just did to show his bitterness +and as a peg for Grey to hang a very good reply upon. The +Duke of Wellington spoke afterwards; not much of a speech, +but gentlemanlike and anti-factious, and <i>approving</i> of all Lord +Grey had done about Belgium. Lord Grey passed a very +fine eulogium upon Lord Ponsonby. However, this was +necessary, for he is going as Minister to Naples, not having +a guinea. The Emperor Don Pedro is coming here, and +Henry Webster is to be his conductor.</p> + +<h3>June 30th, 1831</h3> + +<p>At Court yesterday to swear in the Duke of +Leinster, Mr. Justice Vaughan, and Sir E. Hyde East. Lord +Ponsonby was there, just returned from Brussels. The first +time of Stanley’s and John Russell’s being at a Council +since they came into the Cabinet.</p> + +<h3>July 3rd, 1831</h3> + +<p>Went to Oatlands on Saturday, returned on +Monday; nobody there but Emily Eden. Many revolutions +that place has undergone in my time, from the days of the +Duke of York and its gaieties (well remembered and much +regretted) to its present quiet state. The Belgians have not +yet made up their mind about Leopold, who does not know +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +whether he is king or no king. The Reform Bill came on +again last night, but it no longer excites so much interest. +Nobody spoke well but Lord Porchester.</p> + +<h3>July 5th, 1831</h3> + +<p>The night before last Lord Harewood attacked +Brougham in the House of Lords about the appointment of +a magistrate without consulting him as Lord-Lieutenant. +As usual his own party say he made out a good case, and +the others that he made none. They say (and I believe with +truth) that Brougham does not dislike such scrapes, and is +so confident in his own ingenuity that he never doubts of +getting out of them. Lyndhurst attacked him sharply. +In the House of Commons last night the debate went on +languidly, except a splendid speech from Macaulay and an +answer (not bad, they say) from Murray. Lord Grey sent +for me yesterday morning to talk over the coronation, for in +consequence of what the Duke of Wellington said in the +House the night before he thinks there must be one. The +object is to make it shorter and cheaper than the last, +which occupied the whole day and cost 240,000ℓ.</p> + +<h3>July 8th, 1831</h3> + +<p>The second reading of the Reform Bill was +carried at five in the morning by 136 majority, somewhat +greater than the Opposition had reckoned on. Peel made a +powerful speech, but not so good as either of his others on +Reform. Goulburn told me that the speech in answer to +the Lord Advocate on the Irish Bill, when not 100 people +were in the House, was his best. The coronation fixed for +the 23rd. Breakfasted with Rogers; went afterwards to the +Duchess of Bedford’s, where I met Lady Lyndhurst. I desired +her to tell Lyndhurst all the Duke had said to me about him, +for in these times it is as well they should draw together. He +will be a match for Brougham in the House of Lords, for he +can be concise, which the other cannot, and the Lords in the +long run will prefer brevity to art, sarcasm, and anything +else.</p> + +<p>People are beginning to recover from their terror of the +cholera, seeing that it does not come, and we are now beset +with alarms of a different kind, which are those of the +Scotch merchants for their cargoes. We have a most +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">CONTEST IN POLAND.</span> +disagreeable business on our hands, very troublesome, odious, +and expensive. The public requires that we should take care +of its health, the mercantile world that we should not injure +their trade. All evidence proves that goods are not capable +of bringing in the disorder, but we have appointed a Board +of Health, which is contagionist, and we can’t get them to +subscribe to that opinion. We dare not act without its +sanction, and so we are obliged to air goods. This airing +requires more ships and lazarets than we have, and the result +is a perpetual squabbling, disputing, and complaining between +the Privy Council, the Admiralty, the Board of Health, and +the merchants. We have gone on pretty well hitherto, but +more ships arrive every day; the complaints will grow louder, +and the disease rather spreads than diminishes on the +Continent. This cholera has afforded strong proofs of the +partiality of the Prussians in the contest between the +Russians and the Poles. The quarantine restrictions are +always dispensed with for officers passing through the +Prussian territory to join the Russian army. Count Paskiewitch +was allowed to pass without performing any quarantine +at all, and stores and provisions are suffered to be +conveyed to the army, with every facility afforded by the +Prussian authorities and every relaxation of the sanitary +laws. The Duke of Wellington says that the contest will very +soon be over, that the Russian army could not act before +June, and that between February and June the country is +not practicable for military operations. They have now so +many months before them that the weight of their numerical +superiority will crush the Poles. Austria and Prussia, too, +do their utmost by affording every sort of indirect assistance +to the Russians and thwarting the Poles as much as they +can.</p> + +<h3>July 10th, 1831</h3> + +<p>The last two or three days I have been settling +everything for the +coronation,<a name="FNA_14_07" id="FNA_14_07"></a><a href="#FN_14_07" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> +which is to be confined to the +ceremony in the Abbey and cost as little money and as +little trouble as possible; and yesterday I was the medium +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +of great civilities from Lord Grey to the Duke. He desired +me to go to the Duke and show him the course of proceeding +we mean to adopt, and request him to make any +suggestion that occurred to him, and to enquire if he would +have any objection to attend the Council at which it is to be +formally settled on Wednesday, to which Peel and Rosslyn +are likewise invited. I spoke to the Duke and Peel, and +they will both come. All this is mighty polite.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_14_07" id="FN_14_07"></a><a href="#FNA_14_07"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> +[The arrangements for coronations are made by a Committee of the +Privy Council, which sits as a Court of Claims.]</p></div> + +<p>They have made a fine business of Cobbett’s trial; his +insolence and violence were past endurance, but he made an +able speech. The Chief Justice was very timid, and favoured +and complimented him throughout; very unlike what Ellenborough +would have done. The jury were shut up the whole +night, and in the morning the Chief Justice, without consulting +either party, discharged them, which was probably on the +whole the best that could be done. Denman told me that +he expected they would have acquitted him without leaving +the box, and this principally on account of Brougham’s +evidence, for Cobbett brought the Chancellor forward and +made him prove that <i>after</i> these very writings, and while +this prosecution was hanging over him, Brougham wrote to +his son ‘Dear Sir,’ and requesting he would ask his father +for some former publications of his, which he thought would be +of great use on the present occasion in quieting the labourers. +This made a great impression, and the Attorney-General +never knew one word of the letter till he heard it in evidence, +the Chancellor having flourished it off, as is his +custom, and then quite forgotten it. The Attorney told me +that Gurney overheard one juryman say to another, ‘Don’t +you think we had better stop the case? It is useless to go +on.’ The other, however, declared for hearing it out, so on +the whole it ended as well as it might, just better than an +acquittal, and that is all.</p> + +<h3>July 11th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Dined with Lord Grey yesterday. In the +middle of dinner Talleyrand got a letter announcing that +Leopold’s conditional acceptance of the Belgian throne had +been agreed to by a great majority of the Chamber; and a Mr. +Walker, who brought the news (and left Brussels at five +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">WELLINGTON AND THE GOVERNMENT.</span> +o’clock the day before), came to Lord Grey and told him with +what enthusiasm it had been received there. Lord Grey +wrote to the Chancellor, with whom Leopold was dining, to +tell him of the event.</p> + +<p>This morning I got a note from the Duke of Wellington +declining to attend the Council on Wednesday, and desiring +I would impart the same to Lord Grey and the King. He +says that it would give rise to misrepresentations, and so it +would. He is right to decline. It is, however, Peel who +has prevented him, I am certain. When I told Peel on +Saturday, he looked very grave, did not seem to like it, and +said he must confer with the Duke first, as he should be +sorry to do otherwise than he did. Yesterday I know the +Duke dined with Peel, who I have no doubt persuaded him +to send this excuse. The Government are in exceeding +delight at the Duke’s conduct ever since he has been in opposition, +which certainly has been very noble, straightforward, +gentlemanlike, and without an atom of faction or mischief +about it. He has done himself great honour; he threw over +Aberdeen completely on that business about foreign policy +which he introduced soon after the meeting of Parliament, +and now he is assisting the Government in their Lieutenancy +Bill, and is in constant communication with Melbourne on +the subject.</p> + +<h3>July 13th, 1831</h3> + +<p>I took the Duke’s note to Lord Grey, who +seemed annoyed, and repeated that he had only intended the +invitation as a mark of attention, and never thought of +shifting any responsibility from his own shoulders; that as +there was a deviation from the old ceremonial, he thought the +Duke’s sanction would have satisfied those who might otherwise +have disputed the propriety of such a change. ‘Does he +then,’ he asked, ‘mean to attend <i>the Committee</i>?’ I did not +then know; but yesterday in the House of Lords I asked the +Duke, and he said ‘No, for the same reasons,’ that upon consideration +he was sure he had better not go, that by so doing +he might give umbrage to his own party, and he could only +do good by exercising a powerful influence over them and restraining +them, and that his means of doing good would be +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +impaired by any appearance of approximating himself to +Government, that when the general plan of the arrangements +was settled, he should have no objection to lend a +helping hand, if wanted, to the details with which he was very +conversant. I wrote on a slip of paper that he would <i>not</i> +come, and gave it to Lord Grey, who said nothing. Peel +did not write to me, but he and Rosslyn do the same as +the Duke.</p> + +<p>The Belgian deputation came yesterday, and Lebeau and +his colleagues were in the House of Lords. We had been +promised a good day there between Londonderry and +Brougham and Plunket, but the former made a tiresome, +long speech; the latter spoke civilly and dully; and +Brougham not at all, so it ended in smoke. In the other +House on Monday the Ministers got a good majority (102) on +the wine duties, to their great delight, but the Opposition were +not only mortified at the defeat, but disgusted and enraged at +the conduct of Peel (their leader, as they considered him), +who came into the House, got up in the middle of Herries’ +speech, walked out and was heard of no more that night; +never voted, nor gave any notice of his intention not to vote. +The moral effect of this upon his party is immense, and has +served to destroy the very little confidence they had in him +before. It is impossible to conceive by what motives he is +actuated, because if they were purely selfish it would seem +that he defeats his own object; for what can he gain by disgusting +and alienating his party, when although they cannot +do without him, it is equally true that he cannot do without +them? I walked home with William Banks, who went +largely into the whole question of Peel’s extraordinary disposition +and conduct, and said how disheartening it was, and +what a blow to those who looked to him as a leader in these +troublous times. Henry Currey (no important person, but +whose opinion is that of fifty other like him) told me that his +conduct had been <i>atrocious</i>, and that he had himself voted in +the minority against his opinion because he thought it right +to sacrifice that opinion to the interests of his party. The +fact is, if Peel had imparted his sentiments to his party he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">RESERVE OF MR. PEEL.</span> +might have prevented their dividing on this question with +the greatest ease. There is nothing they are not ready to do +at his bidding, but his coldness and reserve are so impenetrable +that nobody can ascertain his sentiments or divine his +intentions, and thus he leaves his party in the lurch without +vouchsafing to give them any reason or explanation of his +conduct. In the meantime the other party (as if each was +destined to suffer more from the folly of its friends than the +hostility of its foes) has been thrown into great confusion by +Lord Milton’s notice to propose an alteration in the franchise, +and a meeting was called of all the friends of Government +at Althorp, when Milton made a speech just such as any +opponent of the Bill might make in the House of Commons, +going over the old ground of Fox, Pitt, Burke, and others +having sat for rotten boroughs. They were annoyed to the +last degree, and the more provoked when reflecting that it was +for him Althorp had been led to spend an immense sum of +money, and compromise his character besides in the Northamptonshire +election. His obstinacy and impracticability +are so extreme that nobody can move him, and Sefton told +me that nothing could be more unsatisfactory than the termination +of the meeting. I guess, however, that they will +find some means or other of quieting him.</p> + +<p>The Opposition divided last night 187 against 284 on the +question of hearing counsel for the condemned boroughs—not +so good a division for the minority as they expected, and +after a very powerful speech of Attwood’s, to which nobody +listened.</p> + +<p>There is a fresh access of alarm on account of the cholera, +which has broken out at St. Petersburg, and will probably +spread over Germany. The cordon of troops which kept it +off last year from St. Petersburg appears to have been withdrawn, +which is no doubt the cause of its appearance there. +We have constant reports of supposed cases of disease and +death, but up to this period it does not appear to have shown +itself here, though a case was transmitted to us from +Glasgow exceedingly like it. The sick man had not come from +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +any infected place. The Board of Health are, however, in +great alarm, and the authorities generally think we shall +have it. From all I can observe from the facts of the case +I am convinced that the liability to contagion is greatly +diminished by the influence of sea air, for which reason I +doubt that it will be brought here across the water. If it +does come it will pass through France first. The King of +Prussia has at last insisted upon a rigid execution of the +quarantine laws in his dominions. Marshal Paskiewitch was +detained on his road to take the command of the army, and +sent a courier to the King to request he might be released +forthwith, urging the importance of the Emperor to have his +report of the state of the army; but the King refused, and +sent word that the Emperor himself had submitted to quarantine, +and so his aide-de-camp might do the same.</p> + +<h3>July 14th, 1831</h3> + +<p>The effects of Peel’s leaving the party to shift +for itself were exhibited the night before last. He went away +(there was no reason why he should not, except that he +should have stayed to <i>manage</i> the debate and keep his people +in order), and the consequence was that they went on in a +vexatious squabble of repeated adjournments till eight o’clock +in the morning, when Government at last beat them. The +Opposition gradually dwindled down to twenty-five people, +headed by Stormont, Tullamore, and Brudenell, while the +Government kept 180 together to the last; between parties +so animated and so led there can be no doubt on which +side will be the success. The Government were in high +spirits at the result, and thought the fatigue well repaid +by the display of devotion on the part of their friends and +of factious obstinacy on that of their enemies. After these +two nights it is impossible not to consider the Tory party as +having ceased to exist for all the practical and legitimate +ends of political association—that is, as far as the House of +Commons is concerned, where after all the battle must be +fought. There is still a rabble of Opposition, tossed about by +every wind of folly and passion, and left to the vagaries and +eccentricities of Wetherell, or Attwood, or Sadler, or the intemperate +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">PREPARATIONS FOR THE CORONATION.</span> +zeal of such weak fanatics as the three Lords above +mentioned; but for a grave, deliberative, efficient Opposition +there seem to be no longer the elements, or they are so scattered +and disunited that they never can come together, and +the only man who might have collected, and formed, and +directed them begs leave to be excused. It is a wretched +state of things and can portend no good. If there had not +been prognostications of ruin and destruction to the State in +all times, proceeding from all parties, which the event has +universally falsified, I should believe that the consummation +of evil was really at hand; as it is I cannot feel that certainty +of destruction that many do, though I think we are +more seriously menaced than ever we were before, because +the danger is of a very different description. But there is +an elasticity in the institutions of this country, which may +rise up for the purpose of checking these proceedings, and in +the very uncertainty of what may be produced and engendered +by such measures there is hope of salvation.</p> + +<p>Yesterday a Council was held at St. James’s for the coronation; +the Princes, Ministers, Archbishop of Canterbury, and +Bishop of London were present. The King read an address +to the Lords desiring that his coronation might be short, and +that all the ceremonies might be dispensed with except those +in the church. Lord Grey had composed a paper in which he +had made the King say that these ceremonies were at variance +with the genius of the age we live in, and suited to another +period of society; but the Archbishop objected to these +expressions, and thought it better to give the injunction without +the comments; so Lord Grey wrote another and shorter +paper, but he showed the first to Lord Lansdowne and me, +and we both told him that we thought the Archbishop was +right and that the second paper was the best. The Duke of +Gloucester was very indignant at not having been summoned +in a more respectful way than by a common circular, and complained +to the Lord +President.<a name="FNA_14_08" id="FNA_14_08"></a><a href="#FN_14_08" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> +I told him to throw it all on +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +me. He had been grumbling to the Duke of Sussex before, +who did not care. Leopold was too much of a king to +attend, so he came to the levee (but <i>en prince</i> only) and not +to the Council. Lieven told me it was true that the Grand +Duke Constantine was dead, and that it was a very good +thing.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_14_08" id="FN_14_08"></a><a href="#FNA_14_08"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> +[It is customary to summon the Royal Dukes to a Council by a letter +This formality seems to have been overlooked in this instance.]</p></div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<blockquote><p style="text-indent: 0em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +Preparations for the Coronation — Long Wellesley committed by the +Chancellor for Contempt — Alderman Thompson and his Constituents — +Prince Leopold goes to Belgium — Royal Tombs and Remains — The Lieutenancy +of the Tower — The Cholera — The Belgian Fortresses — Secret +Negotiations of Canning with the Whigs — Transactions before the Close +of the Liverpool Administration — Duke of Wellington and Peel — The +Dutch invade Belgium — Defeat of the Belgian Army — The French enter +Belgium — Lord Grey’s Composure — Audience at Windsor — Danger of +Reform — Ellen Tree — The French in Belgium — Goodwood — The Duke +of Richmond — The Reform Bill in Difficulties — Duke of Wellington +calls on Lord Grey — The King declines to be kissed by the Bishops — +Talleyrand’s Conversation — State of Europe and France — Coronation +Squabbles — The King divides the old Great Seal between Brougham and +Lyndhurst — Relations of the Duchess of Kent to George IV. and William +IV. — The Coronation — Irritation of the King — The Cholera — A Dinner +at St. James’s — State of the Reform Bill — Sir Augustus d’Este — Madame +Junot — State of France — Poland.</p></blockquote> + +<hr /> + +<h3>July 15th, 1831</h3> + +<p>A Committee of Council sat yesterday at the +Office about the coronation; present, the Cabinet, Dukes of +Gloucester and Sussex, Archbishop and Bishop of London; +much discussion and nothing done. Brougham raised every +sort of objection about the services and the dispensing with +them, and would have it the King <i>could</i> not dispense with +them; finally, the Attorney-General and Solicitor-General +were sent for to the House of Lords and desired to reconsider +the Proclamation.</p> + +<h3>July 20th, 1831</h3> + +<p>I have been laid up with the gout these last +few days, unable to move, but without violent pain. The +Committee of Council met again on Friday last, when the +Proclamation was settled. A Court of Claims is to sit, but to +be prohibited from receiving any claims except those relating +to the ceremonies in the Abbey. The Lords went to St. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +James’s and held the Council, at which the King made a +little speech, to the effect that he would be crowned to satisfy +the tender consciences of those who thought it necessary, +but that he thought that it was his duty (as this country, +in common with every other, was labouring under distress) +to make it as economical as possible. A difficulty arose +about the publication of the Proclamation, usually done by +heralds with certain ceremonies. The first proclamation is +not the one to be acted on; the second does not announce +the coronation, but refers to the first. I asked Brougham +what was to be done. He said both must be read. Lord +Grey suggested neither, which was done.</p> + +<p>The other day Long Wellesley carried off his daughter, +a ward in Chancery, from her guardians, and secreted her. +The matter was brought before the Chancellor, who sent for +Wellesley. He came, and refused to give her up; so Brougham +committed him to the Fleet Prison. The matter was +brought the next day before the House of Commons, and referred +to their Committee of Privileges; and in the meantime +Brougham has been making a great splutter about his +authority and his Court both on the judicial bench and +from the Woolsack. The lawyers in the House of Commons +were divided as to Wellesley’s right of privilege in such a +case.<a name="FNA_15_01" id="FNA_15_01"></a><a href="#FN_15_01" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_15_01" id="FN_15_01"></a><a href="#FNA_15_01"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> +[Both the Chancellor and Mr. Wellesley wrote to the Speaker, and +their letters were read to the House before the Committee of Privileges was +appointed. Meanwhile Mr. Wellesley remained at his house in Dover +Street in charge of two officers of the Court of Chancery. There is, I +believe, no doubt that the committal was good, and that Mr. Wellesley’s +privilege as a member of Parliament did not protect him, a contempt of the +Court having been committed. A similar point has recently been raised in +the Court of Queen’s Bench upon the committal of Mr. Whalley.]</p></div> + +<p>There has been exhibited in the course of the last few +days one of the most disgraceful scenes (produced by the +Reform Bill) ever witnessed. On the question of the disfranchisement +of Appleby a certain Alderman Thompson, +member for the City, who stood deeply pledged to Reform, +voted for hearing counsel in defence of the borough, on which +there was a meeting of his ward, or of certain of his constituents, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">ALDERMAN THOMPSON AND HIS CONSTITUENTS.</span> +to consider his conduct. He was obliged to appear +before them, and, after receiving a severe lecture, to confess +that he had been guilty of inadvertence, to make many submissive +apologies, and promise to vote no more but in obedience +to the Minister. It is always an agreeable pastime to +indulge one’s virtuous indignation, and wish to have been in +the place of such an one for the sake of doing what he ought to +have done but did not do, by which, without any of the risk +of a very difficult and unpleasant situation, one has all the +imaginary triumph of eloquence, independence, and all kinds +of virtue; and so in this instance I feel that I should have +liked to pour upon these wretches the phials of my wrath +and contempt. If the alderman had had one spark of spirit +he would have spurned the terrors of this plebeian inquisition, +and told them that they had elected him, and that it was +his intention, as long as he continued their representative, +to vote as he thought proper, always redeeming the pledges +he had given at his election; that he would not submit to +be questioned for this or any other vote, and if they were +not satisfied with his conduct when the Parliament should +be over they might choose whom they would in his place. +What makes the case the more absurd is, that this question +of Appleby is monstrous, and it never ought (by their own +principle) to have been put in Schedule A at all. There was +a debate and a division on it last night, and a majority for +the Ministers of seventy-five in a very full House; the worst +division they have yet had. Every small victory in the +House of Commons is probably equivalent to a great defeat +in the House of Lords, unless they do what is now talked of—make +as many Peers as may be necessary to carry the Bill, +which I doubt their daring to do or the King consenting to +do. The lapse of time and such difficulties and absurdities +will probably obstruct the Bill, so as to prevent its passing. +God knows what we shall have instead.</p> + +<p>Prince Leopold started on Saturday, having put his pension +into trustees’ hands (by the advice of Lambton), to keep +up Claremont and pay his debts and pensions, and then hand +over the residue to the Exchequer, the odds being that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +none of it ever gets there, and that he is back here before +the debts are paid. It seems that, desirous as he had been +to go, when the time drew near he got alarmed, and wanted +to back out, but they brought him (though with difficulty) to +the point. He has proposed to the Princess Louise, King +Louis Philippe’s daughter.</p> + +<p>Halford has been with me this morning gossiping (which +he likes); he gave me an account of his discovery of the head +of Charles I. in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, to which he +was directed by Wood’s account in the ‘Athenć Oxonienses.’ +He says that they also found the coffin of Henry VIII., but +that the air had penetrated and the body had been reduced +to a skeleton. By his side was Jane Seymour’s coffin +untouched, and he has no doubt her body is perfect. The +late King intended to have it opened, and he says he will +propose it to this King. By degrees we may visit the +remains of the whole line of Tudor and Plantagenet too, +and see if those famous old creatures were like their effigies. +He says Charles’s head was exactly as Vandyke had painted +him.</p> + +<h3>July 26th, 1831</h3> + +<p>At Oatlands on Saturday, and came back on +Sunday night. Nobody there but my father, mother, Walpole, +Sneyd, and Alava; very different from what I once +remember it. There has been a great deal of talk about the +Duke of Wellington giving Lord Munster the Lieutenancy +of the Tower, the truth of which is as follows:—It is in the +King’s gift, and he sent to the Duke and desired him to name +somebody. The Duke would have liked to name one of three—Fitzroy +Somerset, Colin Campbell, or Hardinge. The latter +would not have been agreeable to Government, and therefore +it would have occasioned the King an embarrassment; +the second was provided for, and Lord Hill advised the first +to remain as he is (though I don’t see why he could not have +had both); so the Duke thought it would gratify the King if +he was to name Munster. Munster wrote a very civil letter +to the Duke, full of thanks and saying that he begged he would +not think of him if he had anybody else to give it to, and +that he would take upon himself to explain to the King his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE CHOLERA.</span> +not accepting it. The Duke persisted, and so he had it. I +must say he might have found some one out of the number +of his old officers to give it to rather than Munster.</p> + +<p>The King of France’s Speech arrived yesterday, but +nothing was said in the House of Lords, because Lord Grey +was at Windsor. It will make a stir—the general tone of it, +and the demolition of the fortresses which cost us seven +millions. Not one of the papers made a remark upon it; +nothing will do for them but Reform.</p> + +<p>Fresh claims have been raised about cholera morbus. +A man at Port Glasgow insists upon it, without much apparent +reason, that it prevails there; so we have sent a medical +man down, in order to quiet people’s minds and to set the +question at rest. Lord Grey, who is credulous, believes the +Glasgow man’s story, and spread the news in his own family, +who immediately dispersed it over the rest of the town, and +yesterday nobody could talk of anything else; not believing +it very much, and not understanding it at all, for if they did +they would not be so flippant. Lady Holland wrote to Lord +Lansdowne to desire he would recommend her the best +<i>cholera</i> doctor that he had heard of. I have just received a +letter from Moore, saying he has ordered his publisher to +send me a copy of ‘Lord Edward Fitzgerald,’ and that he +only sends copies to the Duke of Leinster and me, but begs I +will send him no opinion, for ‘opinions fidget him’—‘genus +irritabile vatum.’</p> + +<h3>July 27th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Yesterday Aberdeen asked Lord Grey some +questions in a very few words, accompanied as usual with +a sneer, which is very unbecoming, and of course gave +Lord Grey the advantage of repelling it with scorn. The +Duke spoke, and pretty well, but laid some stress more on +Portugal than upon Belgium, which is what I cannot understand, +but Alava told me that when he came to town yesterday +he had said to him that, as an Englishman, he had never +felt so deeply affected for the honour of his country as in +this transaction. I met him after the debate, and he said +he thought he had done some good by what he said. The +question of the Belgian fortresses is not without great difficulty, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +and the strong part of it for Government is that their +demolition was agreed to by all the Powers interested (except +Holland), and without the presence of the French Plenipotentiary +at the meeting when it was decided. I am inclined +to think that the manner in which it was blurted out in the +King of France’s Speech, as a clap-trap for him, will have +made the principal difficulty, though the policy may be very +questionable.</p> + +<h3>July 28th, 1831</h3> + +<p>On Tuesday night they got through Schedule +A, but in a very bungling manner, and the events of the +night, its enemies say, damaged the Bill, not, however, +that anything can hurt it in the House of Commons, though +such things may tell in the House of Lords; but on the +question of Saltash, which the Opposition did not consider +as a very strong case, so little that they had not intended to +divide on it, John Russell and the rest suddenly gave way, +and without informing their friends moved that it ought to +be in Schedule B. On a division all the Ministers voted with, +the Opposition, so the borough was transferred to B. Their +friends were furious, and not without reason, that they had +not determined where it ought to be placed, and have transferred +it themselves instead of leaving them in the dilemma +they were in when the division arrived. A court and levee +yesterday.</p> + +<h3>Oatlands, July 31st, 1831</h3> + +<p>The Arbuthnots and Mr. Loch here. +I rode down after the Opera last night; walked for an hour +and a half with Arbuthnot under the shade of one of the great +trees, talking of various old matters and some new, principally +about Canning and his disputes and differences with +the Duke of Wellington. He says that the Duke’s principal +objection to Canning was the knowledge of his having +negotiated with the Whigs previously to Lord Liverpool’s +illness, which was communicated to the Duke; he would not +say by whom. The person who went between them was Sir +Robert Wilson, deputed by Brougham, and those who afterwards +joined Canning. Sir Robert spoke to Huskisson, and +he to Canning. What they said was this: that finding his +view so liberal, they were ready to support and join him, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">CANNING’S NEGOTIATION WITH THE WHIGS.</span> +in the event of his becoming Minister (on Lord Liverpool’s +death or resignation) that they would serve under him. Arbuthnot +does not know what answer Canning sent to this, nor +whether he <i>did</i> anything on it, but when on Lord Liverpool’s +illness Canning went to the King at Windsor, he told him that +if the Tories would not consent to his being named Minister +‘he was sure of the Whigs,’ but this he entreated the King +not to mention. Immediately after Canning the Duke went +to the King, and to him the King directly repeated what +Canning had said. The Duke told the King that he was +already aware of Canning’s intercourse with the Whigs, and +with that knowledge that he could not consent to his being +Prime Minister, as he could have no confidence in him. +Shortly after this, and before the resignation of the Ministers, +but after the difficulties had begun, Knighton came to +Arbuthnot, and said he was afraid his Royal Master had done +a great deal of mischief by repeating to the Duke what +Canning had said, that he was very anxious to bring the +Duke and Canning together again, and asked him (Arbuthnot) +to go with him to Canning and see what could be done. +Arbuthnot declined, but said if Canning <i>wished</i> to see him he +would go. Canning sent for him, and they had a long conversation, +in which he expressed his desire to go on with the +Duke, and it was agreed the Duke should call on him and +have a conversation and see what could be arranged. The +Duke called on him, and they talked of a variety of matters, +but not a word passed about the formation of a new Ministry. +Arbuthnot went to the House, and told Canning how +much he was surprised and disappointed that nothing had +come of this conversation, to which he made no reply, but +Arbuthnot found afterwards that between his leaving Canning +and the Duke’s going to him Peel had been to him +and proposed that the Duke should be Prime Minister. This +so offended Canning, believing that it was a measure of the +party and done with the Duke’s consent, that he resolved +not to utter a word to the Duke on the subject, and so ended +the hopes of their agreement.</p> + +<p>It does not appear, however, as if anything could have +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +been done, for Canning was bent upon being Prime Minister; +and I asked Arbuthnot to what the Duke would have +consented, and he said, ‘Not to that,’ that after the transaction +with the Whigs he could not have felt sufficient confidence +in Canning to agree to his being Prime Minister. +(If he distrusted Canning he ought to have refused to act +with him at all, not merely objected to his being Prime +Minister, but the ground of his objection was shifted.) +Originally the King could not bear Canning, and he was +only persuaded by the Duke to take him into the Cabinet. +Afterwards he was so offended at the influence he +acquired there, and particularly with that which he had got +over the mind of Lord Liverpool, that he one day sent for +Arbuthnot and desired him to tell Lord Liverpool that he +could not endure to see Canning make a puppet of him, and +he would rather he was Prime Minister at once than have +all the power without the name by governing him (Lord +Liverpool) as he pleased, and that unless he could shake off +this influence he was determined not to let him continue at +the head of the Government, and, moreover, he must find +some means of getting rid of Canning altogether. This +Arbuthnot wrote to Lord Liverpool, who wrote an answer +couched in terms of indignation, saying he by no means +coveted his situation, that he was sure his colleagues would +resent any indignity offered to him, and that the King had +better take care what he was about, and not, by producing +disunion in the Government, incur the risk of making the +end of his reign as disastrous as the beginning of it had been +prosperous.</p> + +<p>Not very long after Canning got into favour, and in +this way:—Harriet Wilson at the time of her connexion +with Lord Ponsonby got hold of some of Lady Conyingham’s +letters to him, and she wrote to Ponsonby, threatening, +unless he gave her a large sum, to come to England +and publish everything she could. This produced dismay +among all the parties, and they wanted to get Ponsonby +away and to silence the woman. In this dilemma Knighton +advised the King to have recourse to Canning, who saw +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">CANNING AND THE LIVERPOOL ADMINISTRATION.</span> +the opening to favour, jumped at it, and instantly offered +to provide for Ponsonby and do anything which could +relieve the King from trouble. Ponsonby was sent to Buenos +Ayres forthwith, and the letters were bought up. From +this time Canning grew in favour, which he took every +means to improve, and shortly gained complete ascendancy +over the King.</p> + +<p>Arbuthnot said that Canning and Castlereagh had always +gone on well together after their reconciliation, but that +Lord Liverpool’s subjection to him arose more from fear than +affection. Liverpool told Arbuthnot that he earnestly desired +to resign his office, that his health was broken, and he +was only retained by the consideration that his retirement +might be the means of breaking up a Government which he +had (through the kindness of his colleagues to him) been +enabled to hold together; that Canning worked with a +twenty-horse power; that his sensitiveness was such that he +[Canning] felt every paragraph in a newspaper that reflected +on him, and that the most trifling causes produced an irritation +on his mind, which was always vented upon him (Lord +Liverpool), and that every time the door was opened he +dreaded the arrival of a packet from Canning. Arbuthnot +had been in great favour with the King, who talked to him +and consulted him, but he nearly cut him after the disunion +consequent on Canning’s appointment. Knighton came to +Arbuthnot and desired him to try and prevail on the Duke to +consent to Canning’s being Prime Minister, which he told +him was useless, and from that time the King was just civil +to the Duke and that was all. The Duke had always suspected +that Canning wanted all along to be Prime Minister, +and that when he sent him to Russia to congratulate Nicholas +it was to get him out of the way, and he was the more +convinced because Canning proposed to him to go on to +Moscow for the coronation, which he positively refused, +having promised his friends to be back in April, which he accordingly +was. Canning never had a great opinion of Huskisson, +nor really liked him, though he thought him very useful +from being conversant with the subjects on which he was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +himself most ignorant—trade and finance; but he did not +contemplate his being in the Cabinet, and had no confidence +in his judgment or his discretion; and this tallies with what +Lady Canning told me, though certainly he did not do Huskisson +justice in any way, which Arbuthnot admitted. Knighton +behaved exceedingly well during the King’s illness, and by +the vigilant watch he kept over the property of various kinds +prevented the pillage which Lady Conyngham would otherwise +have made. She knew everything, but did not much +trouble herself about affairs, being chiefly intent upon amassing +money and collecting jewels.</p> + +<p>He talked a great deal of Peel, of the difficulty of going on +with him, of his coldness, incommunicativeness; that at the +time of the opening the Liverpool Railroad he had invited the +Duke, Aberdeen, and some more to meet at Drayton to consider +of strengthening themselves; that they had left the place just +as they had gone to it, nothing settled and nothing elicited +from Peel; that on the late occasion of the wine duties they +had gone to Peel and asked him whether they should fight +out and divide on it; that he had referred them to Goulburn, +who had decided in the affirmative, on which he had +agreed to their friends being mustered, but that he took +offence at something that was said in debate, and marched +off <i>sans mot dire</i>; that somebody was sent after him to represent +the bad effect of his departure, and entreat him to +return, but he was gone to bed. This is by no means the +first time Arbuthnot has spoken to me about Peel in this +strain and with such feelings. How are the Duke and he +to make a Government again, especially after what Lyndhurst +said of the Duke? Necessity may bring them together, +but though common interest and common danger may unite +them, there the seeds of disunion always must be. I have +scribbled down all I can recollect of a very loose conversation, +and perhaps something else may occur to me by-and-by.</p> + +<p>In the meantime to return to the events of the present +day. Althorp raised a terrible storm on Friday by proposing +that the House should sit on Saturday. They spent six +hours debating the question, which might have been occupied +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">LONG WELLESLEY AND BROUGHAM.</span> +in the business; so that, though they did not sit yesterday, +they gained nothing and made bad blood. Yesterday +morning Murray made a conciliatory speech, which Burdett +complimented, and all went on harmoniously. John Russell +is ill, nearly done up with fatigue and exertion and the bad +atmosphere he breathes for several hours every night.</p> + +<p>Long Wellesley has given up his daughter and has been +discharged from arrest. I met the Solicitor-General yesterday, +who told me this, and said that Brougham had been in the +midst of his blustering terribly nervous about it. This was +clear, for both he and Wellesley were waiting for the report +of the Committee of the House of Commons, though Brougham +affected to hold it cheap, and talked very big of what he +should do and should have done had it been unfavourable +to his authority. The fact is that Long Wellesley was +contumacious, but after a short confinement he knocked under +and yielded to the Chancellor on all points, and was released +from durance.</p> + +<p>We had a meeting on the Coronation business yesterday +morning, and took into consideration the estimates. That +from the Chamberlain’s Office was 70,000ℓ. and upwards, +which was referred to a sub-committee to dissect and report +upon.</p> + +<h3>August 5th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Yesterday morning arrived the news of +Casimir Périer’s resignation in consequence of the division +in the Chamber of Deputies on the election of President. +He had very unnecessarily committed himself by declaring he +would resign if Lafitte was elected, and though the other +candidate (M. Girod de l’Ain) was chosen, as it was, only by +a majority of five, he considered this tantamount to a defeat, +and accordingly went out of +office.<a name="FNA_15_02" id="FNA_15_02"></a><a href="#FN_15_02" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> +It was supposed, but not +quite certain, that Molé would be First Minister, but without +much chance of being able to keep that post.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_15_02" id="FN_15_02"></a><a href="#FNA_15_02"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> +[M. Casimir Périer did not retire from office on this occasion, though +he had momentarily resigned it. He remained in power till his death +which took place from cholera in the following year.]</p></div> + +<p>At the same time comes intelligence that the King of +Holland has marched into Belgium at three points with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +three corps under the Prince of Orange, Prince Frederick, +and the Prince of Nassau. This, however, was premature, +for it turns out that the Prince of Orange in a proclamation +to his army declares that the armistice was to end last night +at half-past nine, and that he marches ‘to secure equitable +terms of separation,’ not therefore for the purpose of reconquest. +I saw Lord Grey in the morning in a state of great +consternation, the more particularly as he told me a Dutch +Plenipotentiary had arrived the day before with full powers +to treat, and that he had not in his intercourse with him +and with Palmerston uttered one word of the King of Holland’s +intentions. In the evening I had a long conversation +with Matuscewitz. He says that it is impossible to +foresee the end of all this, but that the most probable event +is a general war. Coming at the moment of a change in the +French Ministry, nobody can guess what the French may do, +and the Conferences are useless, because any resolution they +may make may probably be totally inapplicable to the state +of things produced by events hastening on elsewhere. The +King of Holland has all along very justly complained of the +proceedings of the Allies towards him, which they justify by +necessity (‘the tyrant’s plea’) and to which he has been +obliged sulkily to submit, though always protesting and +never acquiescing, except in an armistice to which he agreed. +Meantime the Allies went on negotiating, but without +making much progress, and the Dutchman borrowed money +and put his army on a respectable footing. It is remarkable +that as long as he held out that he sought the reunion he +could get no money at all, but no sooner did he renounce the +idea of reunion, and propose to make war for objects more +immediately national to the Dutch, than he got a loan filled +(in two days) to the amount of about a million sterling. +When the proposition was made to Leopold, though no +arrangement was actually agreed upon, there was a general +understanding that the King of Holland would consent to the +separation of the two States, and that the Belgians should +resign their claims to Limbourg and Luxembourg, and after +Lord Ponsonby’s letter which made so much noise, Falck’s +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">HOLLAND AND BELGIUM.</span> +protestation, and Ponsonby’s recall this seemed to be clearly +established. When Leopold received the offer of the Crown, +he only consented to take it upon an understanding that the +Belgians would agree to the terms prescribed by the Allies; +but before the whole thing was settled he took fright and +began to repent, and it was with some difficulty he was at last +persuaded to go by the Belgian deputies with assurances that +these terms would be complied with. Go, however, he did, +and that unaccompanied by any person of weight or consequence +from this country. Matuscewitz told me that he +went on his knees to Palmerston to send somebody with +him who would prevent his getting into scrapes, and that +Talleyrand and Falck, by far the best heads among them, +had both predicted that Leopold would speedily commit +some folly the consequences of which might be +irreparable.<a name="FNA_15_03" id="FNA_15_03"></a><a href="#FN_15_03" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> +Our Government, however, paid no attention to these remonstrances, +and he was suffered to go alone. Accordingly +he had no sooner arrived than, intoxicated with the applause +he received, he forgot all that had occurred here and all +the resolutions of the Allies, and flourished off speeches in +direct contradiction to them, and announced his determination +to comprehend the disputed provinces in his new +kingdom. It is no wonder that this excited the indignation +of the King of Holland, but it is unfortunate that he could +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +not be patient a little longer. Notwithstanding his march, +however, his Plenipotentiary here has full power to treat of +all the disputed points, and is authorised to put a stop to +hostilities at any moment when he can see the prospect of +satisfaction; it is, however, believed here (though at present +not on any sufficient grounds) that Prussia secretly supports +the King of Holland. The danger is that France may +without any further communication with her Allies consider +the aggression of the Dutch as a justification of a corresponding +movement on her part, and should this happen the +Prussians would no longer deem themselves bound by the +common obligations which united all the conferring and +mediating Powers, and a general war would infallibly ensue. +Nor is it unlikely that the French Ministry, beset as they are +with difficulties, and holding their offices <i>de die in diem</i>, may +think a war the best expedient for occupying the nation and +bringing all the restless spirits and unquiet humours into one +focus. I have long been of opinion that such mighty armaments +and such a nervous state of things cannot end without +a good deal of blood-letting. [The Prussians did not support +the Dutch, the French did march, and war did not ensue.—<i>August 28th</i>.]</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_15_03" id="FN_15_03"></a><a href="#FNA_15_03"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> +[This account of Leopold’s arrival in Belgium is hardly fair, and forms +an amusing contrast to Baron Stockmar’s narrative of the same occurrence in +his ‘Memoirs,’ p. 180. Unquestionably Leopold showed far more foresight, +judgment, and resolution than Mr. Greville gave him credit for. He was +not accompanied by ‘any person of weight or consequence’ from this +country, because that would have given him the air of a puppet and a +British nominee. But Stockmar was with him. The King entered +Brussels on the 21st of July, and was well received. On the 4th of August +the Dutch broke the truce and invaded Belgium. It was impossible to +provide against so sudden a movement, and the Army of the Scheldt was +beaten at Louvain on the 12th of August. The King then claimed the +intervention of France and England in defence of the neutrality and independence +of Belgium, which had been guaranteed to him by the treaty of +the eighteen articles under which he had accepted the Crown. But the +passage in the text is curious, because it shows how little confidence was +felt at that time in a prince who turned out to be one of the ablest rulers +and politicians of his time.]</p></div> + +<p><i>At night</i>.—Lord Grey was attacked by Aberdeen to-night +on his foreign policy, and particularly about Portugal, and +he is said to have made a splendid speech. Sir Henry +Seton arrived from Liverpool to announce what is going on, +and he is bent on fighting at present. Abercromby, who is +come likewise, reports that he has 50,000 or 60,000 men.</p> + +<h3>August 9th, 1831</h3> + +<p>On Saturday morning we were saluted +with intelligence that on the French King’s hearing of the +Dutch invasion he ordered Marshal Gérard, with 50,000 +men, to march into Belgium; and great was the alarm +here: the funds fell and everybody was prepared for immediate +war. In the afternoon I called upon Lord Grey +at East Sheen (in my way to Monk’s Grove, where I was +going) to say something to him about the coronation, and +found him with a more cheerful countenance than I expected. +He did not appear alarmed at what the French had done, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE QUEEN’S CROWN.</span> +and very well satisfied with the manner of their doing it, +marching only in virtue of their guarantee and proclaiming +their own neutrality and the Belgian independence, and the +King had previously received the Belgian Minister. I told +him I thought Leopold’s folly had been the cause of it, and +that his speeches about Luxembourg had given the Dutch +King a pretext. He said, not at all, and that the King of +Holland would have done this under any circumstances, +which I took leave to doubt, though I did not think it +necessary to say +so.<a name="FNA_15_04" id="FNA_15_04"></a><a href="#FN_15_04" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_15_04" id="FN_15_04"></a><a href="#FNA_15_04"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> +[Lord Grey’s composure was mainly due to the entire confidence he +felt in the honour of the Duc de Broglie, then French Minister of Foreign +Affairs, who had given positive assurances to the British Cabinet that the +intervention of France would be confined to the immediate object in view. +This confidence was equally honourable to both statesmen, and these assurances +were faithfully fulfilled.]</p></div> + +<p>On Sunday, overtaken by the most dreadful storm I ever +saw—flashes of lightning, crashes of thunder, and the rain +descending like a waterspout—I rode to Windsor, to settle +with the Queen what sort of crown she would have to be +crowned in. I was ushered into the King’s presence, who +was sitting at a red table in the sitting-room of George IV., +looking over the flower garden. A picture of Adolphus Fitzclarence +was behind him (a full-length), and one of the +parson, Rev. Augustus Fitzclarence, in a Greek dress, +opposite. He sent for the Queen, who came with the +Landgravine and one of the King’s daughters, Lady Augusta +Erskine, the widow of Lord Cassilis’s son. She looked at +the drawings, meant apparently to be civil to me in her ungracious +way, and said she would have none of our crowns, +that she did not like to wear a hired crown, and asked me if +I thought it was right that she should. I said, ‘Madam, +I can only say that the late King wore one at his coronation.’ +However she said, ‘I do not like it, and I have +got jewels enough, so I will have them made up myself.’ The +King said to me, ‘Very well; then <i>you</i> will have to pay for +the setting.’ ‘Oh, no,’ she said; ‘I shall pay for it all +myself.’ The King looked well, but seemed infirm. I talked +to Taylor afterwards, who said he had very little doubt this +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +storm in Belgium would blow over, and agreed that Leopold’s +folly had been in great measure the cause of it. There have +been discussions in both Houses, which have in some measure +quieted people’s apprehensions. To-day that ass Lord +Londonderry (who has never yet had his windows mended +from the time they were broken by the mob at the Reform +illumination) brings on a motion about Belgium.</p> + +<h3>August 11th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Nothing new these last two days. Londonderry’s +motion produced an angry debate, but no division. +Brougham is said to have been very good. The Government +wanted to divide, but the Opposition know that it is not +their interest to provoke a trial of strength. The Ministers, +if beaten, would not go out, and they are anxious to see what +their opponents’ strength is. At Court yesterday, when +Van de Weyer, the new Belgian Minister, made his appearance. +I said to Esterhazy, ‘You will blow this business over, +sha’n’t you?’ He said, ‘Yes, I think we shall <i>this time</i>.’</p> + +<p>Nothing remarkable in the House of Commons but Lord +John Russell’s declaration that ‘this Bill would not be final +if it was not found to work as well as the people desired,’ +which is sufficiently impudent considering that hitherto they +have always pretended that it was to be final, and that it +was made so comprehensive only that it might be so; this +has been one of their grand arguments, and now we are +never to sit down and rest, but go on changing till we get a +good fit, and that for a country which will have been made +so fidgety that it won’t stand still to be measured. Hardinge, +whom I found at dinner at the Athenćum yesterday, +told me he was convinced that a revolution in this country +was inevitable; and such is the opinion of others who +support this Bill, not because they think concession will +avert it, but will let it come more gradually and with less +violence. I have always been convinced that the country +was in no danger of revolutiorobberies n, and still believe that if one +does come it will be from the passing of this Bill, which will +introduce the principle of change and whet the appetites of +those who never will be satisfied with any existing order of +things; or if it follows on the rejection of this Bill, which +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">ELLEN TREE.</span> +I doubt, it will be owing to the concentration of all the +forces that are opposed to our present institutions, and the +divisions, jealousies, rivalships, and consequent weakness of +all those who ought to defend them. God only knows how +it will all end. There has been but one man for many years +past able to arrest this torrent, and that was Canning; and +him the Tories—idiots that they were, and never discovering +that he was their best friend—hunted to death with their +besotted and ignorant hostility.</p> + +<p>I went to the play last night at a very shabby little house +called the City Theatre—a long way beyond the Post Office—to +see Ellen Tree act in a translation of ‘Une Faute,’ +one of the best pieces of acting I ever saw. This girl +will turn out very good if she remains on the stage. She +has never been brought forward at Covent Garden, and I +heard last night the reason why. Charles Kemble took a +great fancy for her (she is excessively pretty), and made her +splendid offers of putting her into the best parts, and advancing +her in all ways, if she would be propitious to his +flame, but which she indignantly refused; so he revenged +himself (to his own detriment) by keeping her back and +promoting inferior actresses instead. If ever she acquires +fame, which is very probable, for she has as much nature, and +feeling, and passion as I ever saw, this will be a curious +anecdote. [She married Charles Kean, lost her good looks, +and became a tiresome, second-rate actress.]</p> + +<h3>August 12th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Yesterday a Committee of Council met to +settle the order of the coronation and submit the estimates, +which we have brought under 30,000ℓ. instead of 240,000ℓ., +which they were last time.</p> + +<p>The question now is whether our Ministry shall go along +with France, or whether France shall be pulled up; and it +is brought to this point by Leopold’s having sent to the +French to thank them for their aid, but to say that he can +do without them, and to beg they will retire, which they +have refused to do. It was known yesterday that they are +at Mons, and strongly suspected they will not so easily be +got out of it; but the French Government will not venture +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +to quarrel with us if we take a peremptory tone. It is not, +however, clear that the French Government can control the +French army; and I have heard it said that if they had not +ordered the troops to march, the troops would have marched +without orders. L. is all for curbing France; so a very +short time must bring matters to a crisis, and it will be seen +if the Government has authority to check the war party +there. In the meantime the French have taken the Portuguese +ships without any intention of giving them back; and +this our Ministers know, and do not remonstrate. J. asked +L. if it was true, and he said, ‘Oh, yes,’ for that having been +compelled to force the Tagus, they were placed in a state of +war, and the ships became lawful prizes. If it was not for +Reform I doubt that this Government could stand a moment, +but that will bring them up. In the country it is too clear +that there are no symptoms of a reaction, and if a state of +indifference can be produced it is all that can be hoped and +more than should be expected. I do not think the Government +by any means responsible for the embroiled state of +Europe, but they certainly appear to have no fixed plan or +enlightened view of foreign policy, and if they have not +been to blame hitherto (which in acting with all the Allies, +and endeavouring to keep things quiet, they have not been), +they are evidently in great danger of floundering now.</p> + +<h3>Goodwood, August 20th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Here I have been a week to-day +for the races, and here I should not be now—for everybody +else is gone—if it were not for the gout, which has laid +me fast by the foot, owing to a blow. While on these racing +expeditions I never know anything of politics, and, though I +just read the newspapers, have no anecdotes to record of +Reform or foreign affairs. I never come here without fresh +admiration of the beauty and delightfulness of the place, +combining everything that is enjoyable in life—large and +comfortable house, spacious and beautiful park, extensive +views, dry soil, sea air, woods, and rides over downs, and all +the facilities of occupation and amusement. The Duke, who +has so strangely become a Cabinet Minister in a Whig +Government, and who is a very good sort of man and my +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">REFORM BILL IN DIFFICULTIES.</span> +excellent friend, appears here to advantage, exercising a +magnificent hospitality, and as a sportsman, a farmer, a +magistrate, and good, simple, unaffected country gentleman, +with great personal influence. This is what he is fit for, to +be,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">With safer pride content,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The wisest justice on the banks of Trent,</span> +</div></div> + +<p style="text-indent: 0em"> +and not to assist in settling Europe and making new constitutions.</p> + +<p>I find on arriving in town that there is nothing new, but +the Bill, which drags its slow length along, is in a bad way; +not that it will not pass the Commons, but now everybody +attacks it, and the press is all against what remains of +it. Lord Chandos’s motion and the defeat of Government +by so large a majority have given them a great blow. Still +they go doggedly on, and are determined to cram it down +anyhow, quite indifferent how it is to work and quite ignorant. +As to foreign affairs, the Ministers trust to blunder +through them, hoping, like Sir Abel Handy in the play, that +the fire ‘will go out of itself.’ Sefton has just been here, who +talks blusteringly of the Peers that are to be made, no matter +at what cost of character to the House of Lords, anything +rather than be beaten; but I am not sure that he <i>knows</i> anything. +In such matters as these he is (however sharp) no better +than a fool—no knowledge, no information, no reflection or +combination; prejudices, partialities, and sneers are what his +political wisdom consists of; but he is Lord Grey’s <i>âme damnée</i>.</p> + +<h3>Stoke, August 28th, 1831</h3> + +<p>My gout is still hanging on me. +Very strange disorder, affecting different people so differently; +with me very little pain, much swelling, heat, and inconvenience, +more like bruised muscles and tendons and inflamed +joints; it disables me, but never prevents my sleeping at night. +Henry de Ros called on me yesterday; nothing new, and he +knows everything from L., who sits there picking up politics +and gossip, to make money by the one and derive amusement +from the other. L. is odd enough, and very <i>malin</i> with what +he knows. He is against <i>Reform</i>, but not against the <i>Government</i>; +<i>for</i> the Duke of Wellington and not <i>for</i> the Opposition—in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +short, just as interest, fancy, caprice, and particular partialities +sway him. It was he who told me the fact of the French +having carried away the Portuguese ships, and he said that I +might tell the Duke that he might make what use he pleased +of it; but soon after, wishing if it did come out that it should +fall harmless, he bethought him of the following expedient:—Seeing +that Valletort (who is a good-natured blockhead) is +always spluttering in the House of Commons, he thought in +his hands it would do no harm, so he told him the fact with +some flattering observations about his activity and energy +in the House, which Valley swallowed and with many thanks +proceeded to put questions to Palmerston, which sure +enough were so confused and unintelligible that nobody +understood him, and the matter fell very flat. I don’t see +that Government is saved by this ruse, if the case against +them is a good one; but it is curious as indicative of the +artifice of the person, and of his odd sort of political disposition. +As I don’t write history I omit to note such facts as +are recorded in the newspapers, and merely mention the odd +things I pick up, which are not generally known, and which +may hereafter throw some light on those which are.</p> + +<p>The Belgian business is subsiding into quiet again. The +Dutch have gained some credit, and the Prince of Orange +has (what was of importance to him) removed the load of +odium under which he had been labouring in Holland, and +acquired great popularity. Leopold has cut a ridiculous +figure enough; not exhibiting any want of personal courage, +but after all the flourishes at the time of his accession +finding himself at the head of a nation of blustering cowards +who would do nothing but run away. The arrival of the +French army soon put an end to hostilities, and now the +greater part of it has been recalled; but Leopold has desired +that 10,000 men may be left for his protection, whether +against the Dutch or against the Belgians does not appear. +This excites considerable jealousies here, for as yet it is not +known <i>why</i> he asked for such aid, nor on what terms it is to +be granted.</p> + +<p>L. told me an odd thing connected with these troops. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">TALLEYRAND’S CONVERSATION.</span> +Easthope received a commission from a secretary of Soult to +sell largely in our funds, coupled with an assurance that the +troops would <i>not</i> retire. I don’t know the fate of the commission.</p> + +<p>There are various reports of dissensions in the Cabinet, +which are not true. The Duke of Wellington was sent for by +Lord Grey the other day, to give his opinion about the demolition +of the Belgian fortresses; so the ex-Prime Minister +went to visit his successor in the apartment which was so +lately his own. No man would mind such a thing less than +the Duke; he is sensitive, but has no nonsense about him. +He is very well and, however disgusted with the state of +everything at home and abroad (which after all is greatly +imputable to himself), in high spirits.</p> + +<p>The King did a droll thing the other day. The ceremonial +of the coronation was taken down to him for approval. +The homage is first done by the spiritual Peers, with +the Archbishop at their head. The first of each class (the +Archbishop for the spiritual) says the words, and then they +all kiss his cheek in succession. He said he would not be +kissed by the bishops, and ordered that part to be struck +out. As I expected, the prelates would not stand it; the +Archbishop remonstrated, the King knocked under, and so +he must undergo the salute of the spiritual as well as of the +temporal Lords.</p> + +<h3>August 30th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Left Stoke yesterday morning; a large +party—Talleyrand, De Ros, Fitzroy Somersets, Motteux, John +Russell, Alava, Byng. In the evening Talleyrand discoursed, +but I did not hear much of him. I was gouty and could not +stand, and all the places near him were taken. I have +never heard him narrate comfortably, and he is difficult to +understand. He talked of Franklin. I asked him if he was +remarkable in conversation; he said he was from his great +simplicity and the evident strength of his mind. He spoke of +the coronation of the Emperor Alexander. Somebody wrote +him a letter at the time from Moscow with this expression: +‘L’Empereur marchait, précédé des assassins de son grand-pčre, +entouré de ceux de son pčre, et suivi par les siens.’ +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +He said of the Count de Saint-Germain (whom he never saw) +that there is an account of him in Craufurd’s book; nobody +knew whence he came nor whither he went; he appeared +at Paris suddenly, and disappeared in the same way, lived in +an <i>hôtel garni</i>, had always plenty of money, and paid for everything +regularly; he talked of events and persons connected +with history, both ancient and modern, with entire familiarity +and a correctness which never was at fault, and always of the +people as if he had lived with them and known them; as +Talleyrand exemplified it, he would say, ‘Un jour que je dînais +chez César.’<a name="FNA_15_05" id="FNA_15_05"></a><a href="#FN_15_05" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> +He was supposed to be the Wandering Jew, a +story which has always appeared to me a very sublime fiction, +telling of</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">That settled ceaseless gloom<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The fabled Hebrew wanderer bore,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which will not look beyond the tomb,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Which cannot hope for rest before.</span> +</div></div> + +<p style="text-indent: 0em"> +Then he related Mallet’s conspiracy and the strange way in +which he heard it. Early in the morning his tailor came to +his house and insisted on seeing him. He was in bed, but on his +<i>valet de chambre’s</i> telling him how pressing the tailor was he +ordered him to be let in. The man said, ‘Have you not heard +the news? There is a revolution in Paris.’ It had come to +the tailor’s knowledge by Mallet’s going to him the very first +thing to order a new uniform! Talleyrand said the conspirators +ought to have put to death Cambacérčs and the King of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">STATE OF EUROPE AND FRANCE.</span> +Rome. I asked him if they had done so whether he thought +it possible the thing might have succeeded. He said, ‘C’est +possible.’ To my question whether the Emperor would not +have blown away the whole conspiracy in a moment he replied, +‘Ce n’est pas sűr, c’est possible que cela aurait réussi.’</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_15_05" id="FN_15_05"></a><a href="#FNA_15_05"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> +[This mysterious adventurer died in the arms of Prince Charles of +Hesse, in 1784; and some account of him is to be found in the ‘Memoirs’ of +that personage, quoted in the ‘Edinburgh Review,’ vol. cxxiii. p. 521. The +Count de Saint-Germain was a man of science, especially versed in chemistry +botany, and metallurgy. He is supposed to have derived his money from +an invention in the art of dyeing. According to his own account of himself +he was a son of Prince Ragozky of Transylvania and his first wife, a +Tekely, and he was Protestant and educated by the last of the Medicis. +He was supposed to be ninety-two or ninety-three when he died. His +knowledge of the arcana of science and his mysterious manner of life had +given him something of the reputation of a wizard and a conjuror, but he +was an honourable and benevolent man, not to be confounded with such +charlatans as Mesmer and Cagliostro.]</p></div> + +<p>He afterwards talked of Madame de Staël and Monti. +They met at Madame de Marescalchi’s villa near Bologna, and +were profuse of compliments and admiration for each other. +Each brought a copy of their respective works beautifully +bound to present to the other. After a day passed in an interchange +of literary flatteries, and the most ardent expressions +of delight, they separated, but each forgot to carry away the +present of the other, and the books remain in Madame de +Marescalchi’s library to this day.</p> + +<h3>August 31st, 1831</h3> + +<p>Dined at Osterley yesterday; Lady Sandwich, +Esterhazy and the Bathursts, Brooke Greville and +George Villiers. Esterhazy told me he had no doubt that there +would be a war, that General Baudron was arrived from +Brussels, and Leopold had sent word by him that the French +troops were absolutely necessary to his safety, to protect +him from the turbulence of his own subjects. He considered +that the Polish business was over, at which he greatly rejoiced. +He said that nobody was prepared for war, and the +great object was to gain time, but a few weeks must now +bring matters to a crisis; the only difficulty appears to be what +to go to war about, and who the belligerents should be, for at +the eleventh hour, and with the probability of a general war, +it is a toss-up whether we and the French are to be the closest +allies or the deadliest enemies. He told me that Casimir +Périer would probably be unable to keep his ground, that the +modified law about the House of Peers did not give satisfaction. +If he is beaten on this he goes out, and if he does, +with him will probably vanish all hopes of peace. It is pretty +evident that France is rapidly advancing to a republic. Her +institutions have long been republican, and, though very +compatible with a despotic empire, incompatible with a constitutional +and limited monarchy. This Buonaparte knew.</p> + +<p>Another Coronation Committee yesterday, and, I am happy +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +to say, the last, for this business is the greatest of all bores. +There is a furious squabble between the Grand Chamberlain +and the Earl Marshal (who is absent and has squabbled by +deputy) about the box of the former in Westminster Abbey. +At the last coronation King George IV. gave Lord Gwydir +<i>his</i> box in addition to his own, and now Lord Cholmondeley +claims a similar +box.<a name="FNA_15_06" id="FNA_15_06"></a><a href="#FN_15_06" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> +This is resisted. The present King +disposes of his own box (and will probably fill it with every +sort of <i>canaille</i>); the Lords won’t interfere, and the Grand +Chamberlain protests, and says he has been shamefully used, +and there the matter stands. The Grand Chamberlain is in +the wrong.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_15_06" id="FN_15_06"></a><a href="#FNA_15_06"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> +[Lord Gwydir and Lord Cholmondeley filled the office of Lord High +Chamberlain for alternative lives as the representatives of the joint claimants +of the office.]</p></div> + +<h3>September 3rd, 1831</h3> + +<p>On Wednesday a Council was held. Very +few of the Ministers stay for the Councils; small blame to +them, as the Irish say, for we are kept about three times as +long by this regular, punctual King as by the capricious, irregular +Monarch who last ruled over us. This King is a queer +fellow. Our Council was principally for a new Great Seal and +to deface the old Seal. The Chancellor claims the old one as +his perquisite. I had forgotten the hammer, so the King said, +‘My Lord, the best thing I can do is to give you the Seal, and +tell you to take it and do what you please with it.’ The +Chancellor said, ‘Sir, I believe there is some doubt whether +Lord Lyndhurst ought not to have half of it, as he was Chancellor +at the time of your Majesty’s accession.’ ‘Well,’ said +the King, ‘then I will judge between you like Solomon; here +(turning the Seal round and round), now do you cry heads or +tails?’ We all laughed, and the Chancellor said, ‘Sir, I take +the bottom part.’ The King opened the two compartments of +the Seal and said, ‘Now, then, I employ you as ministers of +taste. You will send for Bridge, my silversmith, and desire +him to convert the two halves each into a salver, with my arms +on one side and yours on the other, and Lord Lyndhurst’s the +same, and you will take one and give him the other, and +both keep them as presents from me.’ The Duchess of Kent +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">ANECDOTES OF GEORGE IV.</span> +will not attend the coronation, and there is a report that the +King is unwilling to make all the Peers that are required; +this is the current talk of the day.</p> + +<h3>September 5th, 1831</h3> + +<p>At Gorhambury since Saturday; the +Harrowbys, Bathursts, Frankland Lewes’s, Lady Jersey, +Mahon, Lushington, Wortleys; rather agreeable and lively; +all anti-Reformers, so no quarrelling about that, though +Lord Harrowby is ready to squabble with anybody either +way, but furiously against the Bill.</p> + +<h3>September 8th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Dined with the Duke of Wellington +yesterday; thirty-one people, very handsome, and the Styrian +Minstrels playing and singing all dinner time, a thing I +never saw before. I sat next to Esterhazy and talked to him +(a very little) about Belgian affairs. He said Talleyrand +had given positive assurances that the French troops should +be withdrawn whenever the Dutch retired, that the other +Powers were aware of Périer’s difficulties, and were ready to +concede much to keep him in power, but that if he had not +sufficient influence to repress the violent war faction there +was no use in endeavouring to support him. Our Government +had behaved very well and had been very strong in +their remonstrances.</p> + +<p>After dinner I had much talk with the Duke, who told me +a good deal about the late King and the Duchess of Kent; +talked of his extravagance and love of spending, provided +that it was not his own money that he spent; he told an old +story he had heard of Mrs. Fitzherbert’s being obliged to +borrow money for his post-horses to take him to Newmarket, +that not a guinea was forthcoming to make stakes for some +match, and when on George +Leigh’s<a name="FNA_15_07" id="FNA_15_07"></a><a href="#FN_15_07" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> +entreaty he allowed +some box to be searched that 3,000ℓ. was found in it. He +always had money. When he died they found 10,000ℓ. in +his boxes, and money scattered about everywhere, a great deal +of gold. There were about 500 pocket-books, of different +dates, and in every one money—guineas, one pound notes, one, +two, or three in each. There never was anything like the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +quantity of trinkets and trash that they found. He had +never given away or parted with anything. There was a +prodigious quantity of hair—women’s hair—of all colours and +lengths, some locks with the powder and pomatum still +sticking to them, heaps of women’s gloves, <i>gages d’amour</i> +which he had got at balls, and with the perspiration still +marked on the fingers, notes and letters in abundance, but +not much that was of any political consequence, and the +whole was destroyed. Of his will he said that it was made in +1823 by Lord Eldon, very well drawn, that he desired his executors +might take all he had to pay his debts and such legacies +as he might bequeath in any codicils he should make. He +made no codicils and left no debts, so the King got all as +heir-at-law. Knighton had managed his affairs very well, +and got him out of debt. A good deal of money was +disbursed in charity, a good deal through the medium of two +or three old women. The Duke, talking of his love of ordering +and expense, said that when he was to ride at the last coronation +the King said, ‘You must have a very fine saddle.’ +‘What sort of saddle does your Majesty wish me to have?’ +‘Send Cuffe to me.’ Accordingly Cuffe went to him, and the +Duke had to pay some hundreds for his saddle. (While I +am writing the King and Queen with their <i>cortége</i> are passing +down to Westminster Abbey to the coronation, a grand +procession, a fine day, an immense crowd, and great acclamations.)</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_15_07" id="FN_15_07"></a><a href="#FNA_15_07"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> +[Colonel George Leigh, who managed his race-horses; he was married +to Lord Byron’s half-sister.]</p></div> + +<p>We then talked of the Duchess of Kent, and I asked +him why she set herself in such opposition to the Court. He +said that Sir John Conroy was her adviser, that he was sure +of it. What he then told me throws some light upon her +ill-humour and displays her wrong-headedness. In the first +place the late King disliked her; the Duke of Cumberland +too was her enemy, and George IV., who was as great a +despot as ever lived, was always talking of taking her child +from her, which he inevitably would have done but for the +Duke, who, wishing to prevent quarrels, did all in his power +to deter the King, not by opposing him when he talked of +it, which he often did, but by putting the thing off as well +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE DUCHESS OF KENT.</span> +as he could. However, when the Duchess of Cumberland +came over, and there was a question how the Royal +Family would receive her, he thought he might reconcile +the Cumberlands to the Duchess of Kent by engaging her +to be civil to the Duchess of Cumberland, so he desired +Leopold to advise his sister (who was in the country) from +him very strongly to write to the Duchess of Cumberland +and express her regret at being absent on her arrival, and so +prevented from calling on her. The Duchess sent Leopold +back to the Duke to ask why he gave her this advice? +The Duke replied that he should not say why, that he +knew more of what was going on than she possibly could, +that he gave her this advice for her own benefit, and again +repeated that she had better act on it. The Duchess said +she was ready to give him credit for the goodness of his +counsel, though he would not say what his reasons were, and +she did as he suggested. This succeeded, and the Duke of +Cumberland ceased to blow the coals. Matters went on +quietly till the King died. As soon as he was dead the +Duchess of Kent wrote to the Duke, and desired that she +might be treated as a Dowager Princess of Wales, with a +suitable income for herself and her daughter, who she also +desired might be treated as Heiress Apparent, and that she +should have the sole control over the allowance to be made +for both. The Duke replied that her proposition was altogether +inadmissible, and that he could not possibly think of +proposing anything for her till the matters regarding the +King’s Civil List were settled, but that she might rely +upon it that no measure which affected her in any way +should be considered without being imparted to her and the +fullest information given her. At this it appears she took +great offence, for she did not speak to him for a long time after.</p> + +<p>When the Regency Bill was framed the Duke desired the +King’s leave to wait upon the Duchess of Kent and show it to +her, to which his Majesty assented, and accordingly he wrote +to her to say he would call upon her the next day with the +draft of the Bill. She was at Claremont, and sent word that +she was out of town, but desired he would send it to her in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +the country. He said she ought to have sent Sir John Conroy +to him, or have desired him to go to her at Claremont, +which he would have done, but he wrote her word that he +could not explain by letter so fully what he had to say as he +could have done in a personal interview, but he would do so +as well as he could. In the meantime, Lord Lyndhurst +brought on the measure in the House of Lords, and she sent +Conroy up to hear him. He returned to Claremont just +after the Duchess had received the Duke’s letter. Since that +he has dined with her.</p> + +<p>[I must say the King is punctual; the cannon are now +firing to announce his arrival at the Abbey, and my clock is +at the same moment striking eleven; at eleven it was announced +that he would be there.]</p> + +<p>His Majesty, I hear, was in great ill-humour at the levee +yesterday; contrary to his usual custom he sent for nobody, +and gave no audiences, but at ten minutes after one flounced +into the levee room; not one Minister was come but the Duke +of Richmond. Talleyrand and Esterhazy alone of the <i>Corps +Diplomatique</i> were in the next room. He attacked the officer +of the Guards for not having his cap on his head, and sent +for the officer on guard, who was not arrived, at which +he expressed great ire. It is supposed that the peerages +have put him out of temper. His Majesty did a very strange +thing about them. Though their patents are not made out, +and the new Peers are no more Peers than I am, he desired +them to appear as such in Westminster Abbey and do +homage. Colonel Berkeley asked me what he should do, and +said what the King had desired of him. I told him he should +do no such thing, and he said he would go to the Chancellor +and ask him. I don’t know how it ended. Howe told me +yesterday morning in Westminster Abbey that Lord Cleveland +is to be a duke, though it is not yet acknowledged if it +be so. There has been a battle about that; they say that he +got his boroughs to be made a marquis, and got rid of them +to be made a +duke.<a name="FNA_15_08" id="FNA_15_08"></a><a href="#FN_15_08" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_15_08" id="FN_15_08"></a><a href="#FNA_15_08"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> +[The Earl of Darlington had been made Marquis of Cleveland in 1827, +and was raised to the dukedom in January 1833.]</p></div> + +<h3>September 17th, 1831</h3> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">A DINNER AT ST. JAMES’S.</span> +The coronation went off well, and +whereas nobody was satisfied before it everybody was after it. +No events of consequence. The cholera has got to Berlin, and +Warsaw is taken by the Russians, who appear to have behaved +with moderation. Since the deposition of Skrznecki, and the +reign of clubs and mobs and the perpetration of massacres at +Warsaw, the public sympathy for the Poles has a good deal +fallen off. The cholera, which is travelling south, is less violent +than it was in the north. It is remarkable that the common +people at Berlin are impressed with the same strange belief that +possessed those of St. Petersburg that they have been poisoned, +and Chad writes to-day that they believe there is no such +disease, and that the deaths ascribed to that malady are produced +by poison administered by the doctors, who are bribed +for that purpose; that the rich finding the poor becoming too +numerous to be conveniently governed have adopted this +mode of thinning the population, which was employed with +success by the English in India; that the foreign doctors are +the delegates of a central committee, which is formed in +London and directs the proceedings, and similar nonsense.</p> + +<p>The talk of the town has been about the King and a +toast he gave at a great dinner at St. James’s the other day. +He had ninety guests—all his Ministers, all the great people, +and all the foreign Ambassadors. After dinner he made a +long, rambling speech in French, and ended by giving as ‘a +sentiment,’ as he called it, ‘The land we live in.’ This was +before the ladies left the room. After they were gone he +made another speech in French, in the course of which he +travelled over every variety of topic that suggested itself to +his excursive mind, and ended with a very coarse toast and +the words ‘Honi soit qui mal y pense.’ Sefton, who told it me +said he never felt so ashamed; Lord Grey was ready to sink +into the earth; everybody laughed of course, and Sefton, who +sat next to Talleyrand, said to him, ‘Eh bien, que pensez-vous +de cela?’ With his unmoved, immovable face he answered +only, ‘C’est bien remarquable.’</p> + +<p>In the meantime Reform, which has subsided into a calm +for some time past, is approaching its termination in the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +House of Commons, and as it gets near the period of a fresh +campaign, and a more arduous though a shorter one, agitation +is a little reviving. The ‘Times’ and other violent newspapers +are moving heaven and earth to stir up the country +and intimidate the Peers, many of whom are frightened +enough already. The general opinion at present is that the +Peers created at the coronation will not be enough to carry the +Bill (they are a set of horrid rubbish most of them), but that +no more will be made at present; that the Opposition, if +united, will be strong enough to throw out the Bill, but that +they are so divided in opinion whether to oppose the Bill on +the second reading or in Committee that this dissension will +very likely enable it to pass. Up to this time there has been +no meeting, and nothing has been agreed upon, but there +would have been one convened by the Duke of Wellington +but for Lady Mornington’s death, and this week they will +arrange their plan of operations. From what Sefton says +(who knows and thinks only as Brougham and Grey direct +him) I conclude that the Government are resolved the Bill +shall pass, that if it is thrown out they will do what the +Tories recommended, and make as many Peers as may be +sufficient, for he said the other day he would rather it was +thrown out on the second reading than pass by a small +majority. With this resolution (which after having gone +so far is not unwise) and the feeling out of doors, pass it +must, and so sure are Government of it that they have begun +to divide the counties, and have set up an office with clerks, +maps, &c., in the Council Office, and there the Committee sit +every day.</p> + +<h3>Stoke, September 18th, 1831</h3> + +<p>I came here yesterday with the +Chancellor, Creevey, Luttrell, my father and mother, Esterhazy, +Neumann. Brougham was tired, never spoke, and went +to bed early. This morning I got a letter from the Lord President +enclosing an order from the King for a copy of the +proceedings in Council on the marriage of the Duke of +Sussex and Lady Augusta Murray. The Chancellor told me +that the young man Sir Augustus d’Este had behaved very +ill, having filed a bill in Chancery, into which he had put all +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">STATE OF FRANCE.</span> +his father’s love letters, written thirty years ago, to perpetuate +evidence; that it was all done without the Duke of Sussex’s +consent, but that D’Este had got Lushington’s opinion that +the marriage was valid on the ground that the Marriage +Act only applied to marriages contracted here, whereas +this was contracted at Rome. He said Lushington was a +great authority, but that he had no doubt he was wrong. +The King is exceedingly annoyed at it.</p> + +<h3>September 19th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Came to town. Talleyrand, Madame de +Dino, and Alava came to Stoke yesterday. Talleyrand had a +circle, but the Chancellor talked too much, and they rather +spoilt one another. He said one neat thing. They were +talking of Madame d’Abrantčs’s ‘Memoirs,’ and of her mother, +Madame Pernon. My father said, ‘M. de Marbœuf était +<i>un peu</i> l’amant de Madame Pernon, n’est-ce pas?’ He +said, ‘Oui, mais je ne <i>sais pas dans quelles proportions</i>.’</p> + +<h3>September 20th, 1831</h3> + +<p>News arrived of great riots at Paris, on +account of the Polish business and the fall of Warsaw. +Madame de Dino (who, by-the-bye, Talleyrand says is the +cleverest <i>man</i> or <i>woman</i> he ever knew) said last night that +she despaired of the state of things in France, that this was +no mere popular tumult, but part of an organised system of +disaffection, and that the Carlists had joined the ultra-Republicans, +that the National Guard was not to be depended +upon, that ‘leur esprit était fatigué.’ Talleyrand himself +was very low, and has got no intelligence from his Government. +This morning I met Lord Grey, and walked with +him. I told him what Madame de Dino had said. He said +he knew it all, and how bad things were, and that they would +be much worse if the Reform Bill was thrown out here. I +asked him how they would be affected by that. He said that +a change of Ministry here would have a very bad effect +there, from which it may be inferred that if beaten they +mean to resign. He said the French Ministry had been +very imprudent about Poland. I said, ‘How? for what could +they have done? They could only get at Poland through +Prussia.’ He said they might have sent a fleet to the +Baltic with our concurrence, though we could not urge +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +them to do so. I asked him what he thought would be the +result of the dissolution of Périer’s Government; I said that +there appeared to me two alternatives, a general <i>bouleversement</i> +or the war faction in power under the existing system. He +replied he did not think there would now be a <i>bouleversement</i>, +but a Ministry of Lafayette, Lamarque, and all that party +who were impatient to plunge France into war. I said I did +not think France could look to a successful war, for the old +alliance would be re-formed against her. He rejoined that +Russia was powerless, crippled by this contest, and under the +necessity of maintaining a great army in Poland; Austria +and Prussia were both combustible, half the provinces of the +former nearly in a state of insurrection; that the latter had +enough to do to preserve quiet, and the French would rouse all +the disaffected spirit which existed in both. I said ‘then we +were on the eve of that state of things which was predicted +by Canning in his famous speech.’ Here we met Ellis, and I +left them.</p> + +<p>I afterwards saw George Villiers, who told me that he +knew from a member of the Cabinet that there had been a +division in it on the question of going out if the Reform +Bill should be rejected, and that it had been carried by +a majority that they should. He told me also a curious +thing about Stanley’s Arms Bill: that it had never been imparted +to Lord Anglesey, nor to the Cabinet here, and that +Lord Grey had been obliged to write an apology to Lord +Anglesey, and to tell him he (Lord Grey) had himself seen the +Bill for the first time in the newspapers. This he had from +Lord C., who is a great friend of Lord Anglesey’s, and who +had seen Lord Grey’s letter before he left Ireland; but the +story appears to me quite incredible, and is probably untrue.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<blockquote><p style="text-indent: 0em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +Whig and Tory Meetings on Reform — Resolution to carry the Bill — Holland +— Radical Jones — Reform Bill thrown out by the Lords — Dorsetshire +Election — Division among the Tories — Bishop Phillpotts — Prospects of +Reform — Its Dangers — Riots at Bristol — The Cholera at Sunderland — +An Attempt at a Compromise on Reform — Lord Wharncliffe negotiates +with the Ministers — Negotiation with Mr. Barnes — Proclamation against +the Unions — Barbarism of Sunderland — Disappointment of Lord Wharncliffe +— Bristol and Lyons — Commercial Negotiations with France — +Poulett Thomson — Lord Wharncliffe’s Proposal to Lord Grey — Disapproved +by the Duke of Wellington — Moderation of Lord John Russell +— The Appeal of Drax <i>v.</i> Grosvenor — The Second Reform Bill — +Violence of Lord Durham — More Body-snatchers — Duke of Richmond +and Sir Henry Parnell — Panshanger — Creation of Peers — Division of +Opinion — Negotiation to avoid the Creation of Peers — Lord Wharncliffe’s +Interview with the King — Opposition of the Duke of Wellington +— The Waverers resolve to separate from the Duke. +</p></blockquote> + +<hr /> + +<h3>September 22nd, 1831</h3> + +<p>The night before last Croker and Macaulay +made two fine speeches on Reform; the former spoke +for two hours and a half, and in a way he had never done +before. Macaulay was very brilliant. There was a meeting +at Lord Ebrington’s yesterday, called by him, Lyttelton +Lawley, and of members of the House of Commons only, and +they (without coming to any resolution) were all agreed to +prevail on the Government not to resign in the event of +the Reform Bill being rejected in the House of Lords. I +have no doubt, therefore, in spite of what Lord Grey said, +and the other circumstances I have mentioned above, that +they will not resign, and I doubt whether there will be any +occasion for it.</p> + +<p>There was a dinner at Apsley House yesterday; the +Cabinet of Opposition, to discuss matters before having +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +a general meeting. At this dinner there were sixteen +or seventeen present, all the leading anti-Reformers of the +Peers. They agreed to oppose the second reading. Dudley, +who was there, told me it was tragedy first and farce +afterwards; for Eldon and Kenyon, who had dined with +the Duke of Cumberland, came in after dinner. Chairs +were placed for them on each side of the Duke, and after +he had explained to them what they had been discussing, and +what had been agreed upon, Kenyon made a long speech on +the first reading of the Bill, in which it was soon apparent +that he was very drunk, for he talked exceeding nonsense, +wandered from one topic to another, and repeated the same +things over and over again. When he had done Eldon +made a speech on the second reading, and appeared to be +equally drunk, only, Lord Bathurst told me, Kenyon in his +drunkenness talked nonsense, but Eldon sense. Dudley said +it was not that they were as drunk as lords and gentlemen +sometimes are, but they were drunk like porters. Lyndhurst +was not there, though invited. He dined at Holland House. +It is pretty clear, however, that he will vote for the second +reading, for his wife is determined he shall. I saw her +yesterday, and she is full of pique and resentment against +the Opposition and the Duke, half real and half pretended, +and chatters away about Lyndhurst’s not being their cat’s +paw, and that if they choose to abandon him, they must not +expect him to sacrifice himself for them. The pretexts +she takes are, that they would not go to the House of Lords +on Tuesday and support him against Brougham on the +Bankruptcy Bill, and that the Duke of Wellington wrote to +her and <i>desired</i> her to influence her husband in the matter +of Reform. The first is a joke, the second there might be +a little in, for vanity is always uppermost, but they have +both some motive of interest, which they will pursue in whatever +way they best can. The excuse they make is that they +want to conceal their strength from the Government, and +accordingly the Duke of Wellington has not yet entered any +of his proxies. The truth is that I am by no means sure +<i>now</i> that it is safe or prudent to oppose the second reading; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">PROSPECTS OF THE REFORM BILL.</span> +and though I think it very doubtful if any practicable alteration +will be made in Committee, it will be better to take +that chance, and the chance of an accommodation and compromise +between the two parties and the two Houses, than +to attack it in front. It is clear that Government are resolved +to carry the Bill, and equally clear that no means they +can adopt would be unpopular. They are averse to making +more Peers if they can help it, and would rather go quietly +on, without any fresh changes, and I believe they are conscientiously +persuaded that this Bill is the least democratical +Bill it is possible to get the country to accept, and that if +offered in time this one will be accepted. I had heard +before that the country is not enamoured of this Bill, but I +fear that it is true that they are only indifferent to the +Conservative clauses of it (if I may so term them), and for +that reason it may be doubtful whether there would not be +such a clamour raised in the event of the rejection of this +Bill as would compel the Ministers to make a new one, more +objectionable than the old. If its passing clearly appears to be +inevitable, why, the sooner it is done the better, for at least +one immense object will be gained in putting an end to +agitation, and restoring the country to good-humour, and +it is desirable that the House of Lords should stand as well +with the people as it can. It is better, as Burke says, ‘to do +early, and from foresight, that which we may be obliged to +do from necessity at last.’ I am not more delighted with +Reform than I have ever been, but it is the part of prudence +to take into consideration the present and the future, and +not to harp upon the past. It matters not how the country +has been worked up to its present state, if a calm observation +convinces us that the spirit that has been raised cannot be +allayed, and that is very clear to me.</p> + +<h3>September 24th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Peel closed the debate on Thursday +night with a very fine speech, the best (one of his opponents +told me, and it is no use asking the opinions of friends if a +candid opponent is to be found) he had ever made, not only +on that subject, but on any other; he cut Macaulay to +ribands. Macaulay is very brilliant, but his speeches are +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +harangues and never replies; whereas Peel’s long experience +and real talent for debate give him a great advantage in the +power of reply, which he very eminently possesses. Macaulay, +however, will probably be a very distinguished man. These +debates have elicited a vast deal of talent, and have served +as touchstones to try real merit and power. As a proof of +what practice and a pretty good understanding can do, there +is Althorp, who now appears to be an excellent leader, and +contrives to speak decently upon all subjects, quite as much +as a leader need do; for I have always thought that it should +not be his business to furnish rhetoric and flowers of eloquence, +but good-humour, judgment, firmness, discretion, +business-like talents, and gentlemanlike virtues.</p> + +<p>Dined at Richmond on Friday with the Lyndhursts; the +<i>mari</i> talks against the Bill, the women for it. They are like +the old divisions of families in the Civil Wars.</p> + +<p>My brother-in-law and sister are just returned from a tour +of three weeks in Holland; curious spectacle, considering the +state of the rest of Europe, nothing but loyalty and enthusiasm, +adoration of the Orange family; 2,000,000 of people, +and an army of 110,000 men; everybody satisfied with the +Government, and no desire for Reform.</p> + +<p>Paris, on the point of exploding, is again tranquil, but +nobody can tell for how long. They bet two to one here +that the Reform Bill is thrown out on the second reading; +and what then? The meeting at Ebrington’s was flat, nothing +agreed on. Hume wanted to pass some violent resolution, +but was overruled. Milton made a foolish speech, with +prospective menaces and present nothingness in it, and +they separated without having done good or harm.</p> + +<h3>Newmarket, October 1st, 1831</h3> + +<p>Came here last night, to my great +joy, to get holidays, and leave Reform and cholera and politics +for racing and its amusements. Just before I came away I met +Lord Wharncliffe, and asked him about his interview with +Radical Jones. This blackguard considers himself a sort of +chief of a faction, and one of the heads of the <i>sans-culottins</i> +of the present day. He wrote to Lord Wharncliffe and said +he wished to confer with him, that if he would grant him an +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">PROSPECTS OF THE REFORM BILL.</span> +interview he might bring any person he pleased to witness +what passed between them. Lord Wharncliffe replied that +he would call on him, and should be satisfied to have no +witness. Accordingly he did so, when the other in very civil +terms told him that he wished to try and impress upon his +mind (as he was one of the heads of anti-Reform in the +House of Lords) how dangerous it would be to reject this +Bill, that all sorts of excesses would follow its rejection, that +their persons and properties would be perilled, and resistance +would be unavailing, for that they (the Reformers) were resolved +to carry their point. Lord Wharncliffe asked whether +if this was conceded they would be satisfied. Jones replied, +‘Certainly not;’ that they must go a great deal further, +that an hereditary peerage was not to be defended on any +reasonable theory. Still, he was not for doing away with it, +that he wished the changes that were inevitable to take +place quietly, and without violence or confusion. After +some more discourse in this strain they separated, but very +civilly, and without any intemperance of expression on the +part of the Reformer.</p> + +<p>On Monday the battle begins in the House of Lords, and +up to this time nobody knows how it will go, each party being +confident, but opinion generally in favour of the Bill being +thrown out. There is nothing more curious in this question +than the fact that it is almost impossible to find anybody who +is satisfied with the part he himself takes upon it, and that it +is generally looked upon as a choice of evils, in which the +only thing to do is to choose the least. The Reformers say, +You had better pass the Bill or you will have a worse. The +moderate anti-Reformers would be glad to suffer the second +reading to pass and alter it in Committee, but they do not +dare do so, because the sulky, stupid, obstinate High Tories +declare that they will throw the whole thing up, and not +attempt to alter the Bill if it passes the second reading. +Every man seems tossed about by opposite considerations +and the necessity of accommodating his own conduct to the +caprices, passions, and follies of others.</p> + +<h3>Riddlesworth, October 10th, 1831</h3> + +<p>At Newmarket all last week; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +all the Peers absent; here since Friday. Yesterday morning +the newspapers (all in +black<a name="FNA_16_01" id="FNA_16_01"></a><a href="#FN_16_01" class="fnanchor">[1]</a>) +announced the defeat of the +Reform Bill by a majority of forty-one, at seven o’clock on +Saturday morning, after five nights’ debating. By all +accounts the debate was a magnificent display, and incomparably +superior to that in the House of Commons, but +the reports convey no idea of it. The great speakers on +either side were:—Lords Grey, Lansdowne, Goderich, +Plunket, and the Chancellor, for the Bill; against it, +Lords Wharncliffe (who moved the amendment), Harrowby, +Carnarvon, Dudley, Wynford, and Lyndhurst. The Duke of +Wellington’s speech was exceedingly bad; he is in fact, and +has proved it in repeated instances, unequal to argue a great +constitutional question. He has neither the command of +language, the power of reasoning, nor the knowledge requisite +for such an effort. Lord Harrowby’s speech was +amazingly fine, and delivered with great effect; and the last +night the Chancellor is said to have surpassed all his former +exploits, Lyndhurst to have been nearly as good, and Lord +Grey very great in reply. There was no excitement in +London the following day, and nothing particular happened +but the Chancellor being drawn from Downing Street to +Berkeley Square in his carriage by a very poor mob. The +majority was much greater than anybody expected, and it +is to be hoped may be productive of good by showing the +necessity of a compromise; for no Minister can make sixty +Peers, which Lord Grey must do to carry this Bill; it +would be to create another House of Lords. Nobody knows +what the Ministers would do, but it was thought they would +not resign. A meeting of members of the House of Commons +was held under the auspices of Ebrington to agree +upon a resolution of confidence in the Government this day. +The majority and the magnificent display of eloquence and +ability in the House of Lords must exalt the character and +dignity of that House, and I hope increase its efficacy for +good purposes and for resistance to this Bill. It may be +hoped, too, that the apathy of the capital may have some +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">DORSETSHIRE ELECTION.</span> +effect in the country, though the unions, which are so well +disciplined and under the control of their orators, will make +a stir. On the whole I rejoice at this result, though I had +taken fright before, and thought it better the Bill should be +read a second time than be thrown out by a very small +majority.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_16_01" id="FN_16_01"></a><a href="#FNA_16_01"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> +[Not all of them; neither the ‘Times’ nor the ‘Morning Herald.’]</p></div> + +<p>While the debates have been going on there have been +two elections, one of the Lord Mayor in the City, which the +Reformers have carried after a sharp contest, and the contest +for Dorsetshire between Ponsonby and Ashley, which is not +yet over. Ponsonby had a week’s start of his opponent, +notwithstanding which it is so severe that they have been for +some days within ten or fifteen of each other, and (what is +remarkable) the anti-Reformer is the popular candidate, and +has got all the mob with him. This certainly is indicative +of some <i>change</i>, though not of a <i>reaction</i>, in public opinion. +There is no longer the same vehemence of desire for this Bill, +and I doubt whether all the efforts of the press will be able +to stimulate the people again to the same pitch of excitement.</p> + +<h3>Buckenham, October 11th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Came here yesterday; nobody +of note, not lively, letters every day with an account of what +is passing. The Radical press is moving heaven and earth to +produce excitement, but without much effect. There was +something of a mob which marched about the parks, but no +mischief done. Londonderry and some others were hooted +near the House of Lords. Never was a party so crestfallen +as I hear they are; they had not a notion of such a division. +There seems to be a very general desire to bring about a +fair compromise, and to have a Bill introduced next session +which may be so framed as to secure the concurrence of +the majority of both Houses. The finest speeches by all +accounts were Harrowby’s, Lyndhurst’s, and Grey’s reply; +but Henry de Ros, who is a very good judge, writes me +word that Lyndhurst’s was the most to his taste.</p> + +<h3>October 12th, 1831</h3> + +<p>The Reformers appear to have rallied their +spirits. Lord Grey went to Windsor, was graciously received +by the King, and obtained the dismissal of Lord Howe, which +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +will serve to show the King’s entire good-will to his present +Ministers. Ebrington’s resolution of confidence was carried +by a great majority in the House of Commons after some +violent speeches from Macaulay, Sheil, and O’Connell, and very +moderate ones and in a low tone on the other side. Macaulay’s +speech was as usual very eloquent, but as inflammatory +as possible. Such men as these three can care nothing into +what state of confusion the country is thrown, for all they +want is a market to which they may bring their +talents;<a name="FNA_16_02" id="FNA_16_02"></a><a href="#FN_16_02" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> +but how the Miltons, Tavistocks, Althorps, and all who +have a great stake in the country can run the same course +is more than I can conceive or comprehend. Party is indeed, +as Swift says, ‘the madness of many,’ when carried to its +present pitch. In the meantime the Conservative party are +as usual committing blunders, which will be fatal to them. +Lord Harrowby was to have moved yesterday or the day +before, in the House of Lords, a resolution pledging the +House to take into consideration early in the next session +the acknowledged defects in the representation, with a view +to make such ameliorations in it as might be consistent with +the Constitution, or something to this effect. This has not +been done because the Duke of Wellington objects. He will +not concur because he thinks the proposition should come +from Government; as if this was a time to stand upon such +punctilios, and that it was not of paramount importance to +show the country that the Peers are not obstinately bent +upon opposing all Reform. I had hoped that he had profited +by experience, and that at least his past errors in politics +might have taught him a little modesty, and that he would +not have thwarted measures which were proposed by the +wisest and most disinterested of his own party. I can conceive +no greater misfortune at this moment than such a disunion +of that party, and to have its deliberations ruled by +the obstinacy and prejudices of the Duke. He is a great +man in little things, but a little man in great matters—I +mean in civil affairs; in those mighty questions which +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">LORD GREY AND BISHOP PHILLPOTTS.</span> +embrace enormous and various interests and considerations, +and to comprehend which great knowledge of human nature, +great sagacity, coolness, and impartiality are required, he is +not fit to govern and direct. His mind has not been sufficiently +disciplined, nor saturated with knowledge and matured +by reflection and communication with other minds, to +enable him to be a safe and efficient leader in such times as +these.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_16_02" id="FN_16_02"></a><a href="#FNA_16_02"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> +This was very unjust to Macaulay, and not true as to Sheil; to O’Connell +alone applicable.</p></div> + +<p>[In reading over these remarks upon the Duke of Wellington, +and comparing them with the opinions I now entertain +of his present conduct, and of the nature and quality of +his mind, I am compelled to ask myself whether I did not +then do him injustice. On the whole I think not. He is +not, nor ever was, a little man in anything, great or small; +but I am satisfied that he has made great political blunders, +though with the best and most patriotic intentions, and that +his conduct throughout the Reform contest was one of the +greatest and most unfortunate of them.—<i>July 1838.</i>]</p> + +<h3>October 14th, 1831</h3> + +<p>The town continues quite quiet; the +country nearly so. The press strain every nerve to produce +excitement, and the ‘Times’ has begun an assault on the +bishops, whom it has marked out for vengeance and defamation +for having voted against the Bill. Althorp and Lord John +Russell have written grateful letters to Attwood as Chairman +of the Birmingham Union, thus indirectly acknowledging +that puissant body. There was a desperate strife in the +House of Lords between Phillpotts and Lord Grey, in which +the former got a most tremendous dressing. Times must +be mightily changed when my sympathies go with this +bishop, and even now, though full of disgust with the other +faction, I have a pleasure in seeing him trounced. The +shade of Canning may rejoice at the sight of Grey smiting +Phillpotts. Even on such a question Phillpotts was essentially +in the right; but he lost his temper, floundered, and got +punished. It was most indecent and disgusting to hear +Brougham from the Woolsack, in a strain of the bitterest +irony and sarcasm, but so broad as to be without the semblance +of disguise, attack the bench of bishops. I am of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +opinion that it would have been far better never to have let +them back into the House of Lords, but now that they are +there I would not thrust them out, especially at this moment. +Lord Grey in this debate gave no handle certainly, for he +interposed in their favour, and rebuked Lord Suffield, who +attacked them first, and told him he was out of order, and +then Phillpotts very foolishly attacked him.</p> + +<h3>October 15th, 1831</h3> + +<p>A furious attack in the House of Commons +upon Althorp’s and John Russell’s letters to Attwood by +Hardinge and Vyvyan. Peel not there, having hopped off to +Staffordshire, to the great disgust of his party, whom he +never scruples to leave in the lurch. They made wretched +excuses for these letters, and could only have recourse to the +pretence of indignation at being thought capable of fomenting +disorders, which is all very well; but they do foment +discord and discontent by every means in their power. With +a yelling majority in the House, and a desperate press out +of it, they go on in their reckless course without fear or +shame. Lord Harrowby made a speech in the House of +Lords, and declared his conviction that the time was come +for effecting a Reform, and that he would support one to a +certain extent, which he specified. In the House he was +coolly received, and the ‘Times’ hardly deigned to notice +what he said. Parliament is to be up on Thursday next, +and will probably not meet till January, when of course +the first thing done will be to bring in the Bill again. What, +then, is gained? For as Ministers take every opportunity of +declaring that they will accept nothing less efficient (as +they call it) than the present Bill, no compromise can be +looked for. Lord Harrowby is the only man who has said +what he will do, and probably he goes further than the bulk +of his party would approve of; and yet he is far behind the +Ministerial plan. So that there seems little prospect of +getting off for less than the old Bill, for the Opposition will +hardly venture to stop the next <i>in limine</i> as they did this. +I do not see why they should hope to amend the next Bill in +Committee any more than the last, and the division which +they dreaded the other day is not less likely, and would not +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">DANGERS OF REFORM.</span> +be less fatal upon another occasion. If, then, it is to pass at +last, it comes back to what I thought before, that it might as +well have passed at first as at last, and the excitement consequent +on its rejection have been spared, as well as the +odium which has accrued to the Peers, which will not be +forgotten or laid aside.</p> + +<p>The Dorsetshire election promises to end in favour of +Ashley, and there will be a contest for Cambridgeshire, which +may also end in favour of the anti-Reform candidate. These +victories I really believe to be unfortunate, for they are +taken (I am arguing as if they were won, though, with regard +to the first, it is the same thing by contrast with the last +election) by the Tories and anti-Reform champions as +undoubted proofs of the reaction of public opinion, and they +are thereby encouraged to persevere in opposition under the +false notion that this supposed reaction will every day gain +ground. I wish it were so with all my soul, but believe it +is no such thing, and that although there may be fewer +friends to <i>the Bill</i> than there were, particularly among the +agriculturists, Reform is not a whit less popular with the mass +of the people in the manufacturing districts, throughout the +unions, and generally amongst all classes and in all parts of +the country. When I see men, and those in very great +numbers, of the highest birth, of immense fortunes, of +undoubted integrity and acknowledged talents, zealously and +conscientiously supporting this measure, I own I am lost in +astonishment, and even doubt; for I can’t help asking +myself whether it is possible that such men would be the +advocates of measures fraught with all the peril we ascribe to +these, whether we are not in reality mistaken, and labouring +under groundless alarm generated by habitual prejudices +and erroneous calculations. But often as this doubt comes +across my mind, it is always dispelled by a reference to and +comparison of the arguments on both sides, and by the +lessons which all that I have ever read and all the conclusions +I have been able to draw from the study of history +have impressed on my mind. I believe these measures full +of danger, but that the manner in which they have been introduced, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +discussed, defended, and supported is more dangerous +still. The total unsettlement of men’s minds, the bringing +into contempt all the institutions which have been hitherto +venerated, the aggrandisement of the power of the people, +the embodying and recognition of popular authority, the use +and abuse of the King’s name, the truckling to the press, are +things so subversive of government, so prejudicial to order +and tranquillity, so encouraging to sedition and disaffection, +that I do not see the possibility of the country settling down +into that calm and undisturbed state in which it was before +this question was mooted, and without which there can be no +happiness or security to the community. A thousand mushroom +orators and politicians have sprung up all over the +country, each big with his own ephemeral importance, and +every one of whom fancies himself fit to govern the nation. +Amongst them are some men of active and powerful minds, +and nothing is less probable than that these spirits of mischief +and misrule will be content to subside into their original +nothingness, and retire after the victory has been gained +into the obscurity from which they emerged.</p> + +<h3>Newmarket, October 23rd, 1831</h3> + +<p>Nothing but racing all this +week; Parliament has been prorogued and all is quiet. The +world seems tired, and requires rest. How soon it will +all begin again God knows, but it will not be suffered to sleep +long.</p> + +<h3>London, November 11th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Nothing written for a long +time; I went after the second October meeting to Euston, +and from thence to Horsham, returned to Newmarket, was +going to Felbrigg, but came to town on Tuesday last (the +8th) on account of the cholera, which has broken out at Sunderland. +The country was beginning to slumber after the +fatigues of Reform, when it was rattled up by the business of +Bristol,<a name="FNA_16_03" id="FNA_16_03"></a><a href="#FN_16_03" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> +which for brutal ferocity and wanton, unprovoked +violence may vie with some of the worst scenes of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">RIOTS AT BRISTOL.</span> +French Revolution, and may act as a damper to our national +pride. The spirit which produced these atrocities was generated +by Reform, but no pretext was afforded for their actual +commission; it was a premature outbreaking of the thirst for +plunder, and longing after havoc and destruction, which is +the essence of Reform in the mind of the mob. The details +are ample, and to be met with everywhere; nothing could +exceed the ferocity of the populace, the imbecility of the +magistracy, or the good conduct of the troops. More punishment +was inflicted by them than has been generally known, +and some hundreds were killed or severely wounded by the +sabre. One body of dragoons pursued a rabble of colliers +into the country, and covered the fields and roads with the +bodies of wounded wretches, making a severe example of +them. In London there would probably have been a great +uproar and riot, but fortunately Melbourne, who was frightened +to death at the Bristol affair, gave Lord Hill and +Fitzroy Somerset <i>carte blanche</i>, and they made such a provision +of military force in addition to the civil power that the +malcontents were paralysed. The Bristol business has done +some good, inasmuch as it has opened people’s eyes (at least +so it is said), but if we are to go on as we do with a mob-ridden +Government and a foolish King, who renders himself +subservient to all the wickedness and folly of his Ministers, +where is the advantage of having people’s eyes open, when +seeing they will not perceive, and hearing they will not +understand? Nothing was wanting to complete our situation +but the addition of physical evil to our moral plague, and +that is come in the shape of the cholera, which broke out at +Sunderland a few days ago. To meet the exigency Government +has formed another Board of Health, but without dissolving +the first, though the second is intended to swallow up +the first and leave it a mere nullity. Lord Lansdowne, who +is President of the Council, an office which for once promises +not to be a sinecure, has taken the opportunity to go to +Bowood, and having come up (sent for express) on account of +the cholera the day it was officially declared really to be that +disease, he has trotted back to his house in the country.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_16_03" id="FN_16_03"></a><a href="#FNA_16_03"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> +[Riots broke out with great violence at Bristol on the 29th of October, +the pretext being the entry of Sir Charles Wetherell into that city (of which +he was Recorder), who was notorious for his violent opposition to the +Reform Bill. Much property was destroyed, and many lives lost.]</p></div> + +<h3>November 14th, 1831</h3> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +For the last two or three days the reports +from Sunderland about the cholera have been of a doubtful +character. The disease makes so little progress that the +doctors begin again to doubt whether it is the Indian +cholera, and the merchants, shipowners, and inhabitants, +who suffer from the restraints imposed upon an infected +place, are loudly complaining of the measures which have +been adopted, and strenuously insisting that their town is in +a more healthy state than usual, and that the disease is no +more than what it always is visited with every year at this +season. In the meantime all preparations are going on in +London, just as if the disorder was actually on its way to the +metropolis. We have a Board at the Council Office, between +which and the Board at the College some civilities have +passed, and the latter is now ready to yield up its functions +to the former, which, however, will not be regularly constituted +without much difficulty and many jealousies, all owing +to official carelessness and mismanagement. The Board has +been diligently employed in drawing up suggestions and instructions +to local boards and parochial authorities, and great +activity has prevailed here in establishing committees for the +purpose of visiting the different districts of the metropolis, and +making such arrangements as may be necessary in the event +of sickness breaking out. There is no lack of money or +labour for this end, and one great good will be accomplished +let what will happen, for much of the filth and misery of the +town will be brought to light, and the condition of the poorer +and more wretched of the inhabitants can hardly fail to be +ameliorated. The reports from Sunderland exhibit a state +of human misery, and necessarily of moral degradation, such +as I hardly ever heard of, and it is no wonder, when a great +part of the community is plunged into such a condition +(and we may fairly suppose that there is a gradually +mounting scale, with every degree of wretchedness up to the +wealth and splendour which glitter on the surface of society), +that there should be so many who are ripe for any desperate +scheme of revolution. At Sunderland they say there are +houses with 150 inmates, who are huddled five and six in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">OVERTURES FOR A COMPROMISE.</span> +a bed. They are in the lowest state of poverty. The sick in +these receptacles are attended by an apothecary’s boy, who +brings them (or I suppose tosses them) medicines without +distinction or enquiry.</p> + +<p>I saw Lord Wharncliffe last night, just returned from +Yorkshire; he gives a bad account of the state of the public +mind; he thinks that there is a strong revolutionary spirit +abroad; told me that the Duke of Wellington had written to +the King a memorial upon the danger of the associations +that were on foot.</p> + +<h3>Roehampton, November 19th, 1831</h3> + +<p>On Tuesday last I went +with the Duke of Richmond to pass a day at Shirley Lodge, +a house that has been lent him by Mr. Maberly, and there +we had a great deal of conversation about Reform and +general politics, in the course of which I was struck by +his apparent candour and moderation, and when I told him +that nothing would do but a compromise between the parties +he acceded to that opinion, and said that he should like +to go to Lord Wharncliffe, and talk the matter over with +him. This was on Wednesday. Yesterday morning I +called on Lord Wharncliffe, and told him what Richmond +had said. He was sitting before a heap of papers, and when +I told him this he laughed and said that Richmond was +behindhand, that matters had gone a great deal further than +this, and then proceeded to give me the following account of +what had passed. A short time ago Palmerston spoke to his +son, John Wortley, and expressed a desire that some compromise +could be effected between the Government and the +Opposition leaders, which John imparted to Lord Harrowby +and his father. The overture was so well received by them +that Stanley went to Sandon, Lord Harrowby’s place in +Staffordshire, in his way to Ireland, with Lord Grey’s +consent, to talk it over with Lord Sandon. After this Lord +Wharncliffe went to Sandon, and the two fathers and +two sons discussed the matter, and came to a sort of +general resolution as to the basis on which they would treat, +which they drew up, and which Wharncliffe read to me. It +was moderate, temperate, embraced ample concessions, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +asserted the necessity of each party refraining from demanding +of the other what either was so pledged to as to be +unable to concede without dishonour. On Wharncliffe’s +return to town he again saw Palmerston, and communicated +to him Harrowby’s concurrence in an equitable adjustment +of the Reform question, and then suggested that if Government +really desired this, it would be better that he (Wharncliffe) +should see Lord Grey himself on the subject. Palmerston +told Lord Grey, who assented, and gave Wharncliffe a +rendezvous at East Sheen on Wednesday last. There they +had a long conversation, which by his account was conducted +in a very fair and amicable spirit on both sides, and they +seem to have come to a good understanding as to the +principle on which they should treat. On parting, Grey +shook hands with him twice, and told him he had not felt so +much relieved for a long time. The next day Lord Grey +made a minute of their conversation, which he submitted to +the Cabinet; they approved of it, and he sent it to Wharncliffe +to peruse, who returned it to Lord Grey. In this +state the matter stood yesterday morning, apparently with +every prospect of being arranged. Wharncliffe had already +spoken to Dudley, Lyndhurst, and De Ros, the only Peers of +his party he had seen, and to the Archbishop of Canterbury, +who were all delighted at what had passed. He had written +to the Duke of Wellington and Peel, and he is busying +himself in consulting and communicating with all the Peers +and influential Commoners of the party whom he can find in +town. The terms are not settled, but the general basis +agreed upon seems to be this: the concession of Schedule A, +of representatives to the great towns, and a great extension +of the county representation on one side; the abandonment, +or nearly so, of Schedule B, such an arrangement with +regard to the 10ℓ. qualification as shall have the practical +effect of a higher rate, and an understanding that the +manufacturing interest is not to have a preponderating +influence in the county representation; a great deal to be +left open to discussion, especially on all the subordinate +points.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">NEGOTIATION WITH THE WAVERERS.</span> +Such is the history of this curious transaction, which +affords a triumphant justification of the course which +the Opposition adopted; indeed, Palmerston admitted to +Wharncliffe that their tactics had been entirely judicious. +It is likewise a great homage rendered to character, for +Wharncliffe has neither wealth, influence, nor superior +abilities, nor even popularity with his own party. He is a +spirited, sensible, zealous, honourable, consistent country +gentleman; their knowledge of his moderation and integrity +induced Ministers to commit themselves to him, and he will +thus be in all probability enabled to render an essential +service to his country, and be a principal instrument in the +settlement of a question the continued agitation of which +would have been perilous in the extreme. Besides the prospect +of a less objectionable Bill, an immense object is gained +in the complete separation of the Ministry from the subversive +party, for their old allies the Radicals will never forgive +them for this compromise with the anti-Reformers, and they +have now no alternative but to unite with those who call +themselves the Conservative party against the rebels, republicans, +associators, and all the disaffected in the country. +After all their declarations and their unbending insolence, to +have brought down their pride to these terms, and to the +humiliation of making overtures to a party whose voice was +only the other day designated by John Russell as ‘the +whisper of a faction,’ shows plainly how deeply alarmed they +are at the general state of the country, and how the conflagration +of Bristol has suddenly illuminated their minds. That +incident, the language of the associations, the domiciliary +visits to Lord Grey at midnight of Place and his rabble, and +the licentiousness of the press, have opened their eyes, and +convinced them that if existing institutions are to be preserved +at all there is no time to be lost in making such an arrangement +as may enable all who have anything to lose to +coalesce for their mutual safety and protection. Whatever +may be the amount of their concessions, the Radicals will +never pardon Lord Grey for negotiating with the Tories at +all, and nothing will prevent his being henceforward the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +object of their suspicion and aversion, and marked out for +their vengeance. By what process Althorp and John Russell +were induced to concur, and how they are to set about swallowing +their own words, I do not guess.</p> + +<p>As a proof of the disposition which exists, and the good +understanding between Wharncliffe and the Government, he +told me that some time ago Ward and Palmer went to him, +and said that in the City the majority of men of weight and +property were favourable to Reform, but not to the late Bill, +and that they were desirous of having a declaration drawn +up for signature, expressive of their adherence to Reform, but +of their hope that the next measure might be such as would +give satisfaction to all parties. Wharncliffe drew this up +(there was likewise an acknowledgment of the right of the +House of Lords to exercise their privileges as they had done) +and gave it to them. It is gone to be signed, having been +previously submitted to Grey and Althorp, who approved +of it.</p> + +<h3>November 21st, 1831</h3> + +<p>Came to town from Roehampton yesterday +morning, saw Henry de Ros, who had seen +Barnes<a name="FNA_16_04" id="FNA_16_04"></a><a href="#FN_16_04" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> +the evening before, and opened to him the pending negotiation. +His rage and fury exceeded all bounds. He swore Brougham +and Grey (particularly the former) were the greatest of +villains. After a long discussion he agreed to try and persuade +his colleagues to adopt a moderate tone, and not to +begin at once to <i>jeter feu et flamme</i>. Henry’s object was to +persuade him, if possible, that the interest of the paper will +be in the long run better consulted by leaning towards the +side of order and quiet than by continuing to exasperate +and inflame. He seemed to a certain degree moved by this +argument, though he is evidently a desperate Radical. Henry +went to Melbourne afterwards, who is most anxious for the +happy consummation of this affair, but expressed some alarm +lest they should be unable to agree upon the details. There +is an article in the ‘Times’ this morning of half-menacing +import, sulkily and gloomily written, but not ferocious, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">PROCLAMATION AGAINST THE UNIONS.</span> +leaving it open to them to take what line they think fit. In +the afternoon I met Melbourne, who told me they were going +to put forth a proclamation against ‘Attwood and the Birmingham +fellows,’ which was grateful to my ears.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_16_04" id="FN_16_04"></a><a href="#FNA_16_04"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> +[Then editor of the ‘Times’ newspaper.]</p></div> + +<h3>November 22nd, 1831</h3> + +<p>The King came to town yesterday for a +Council, at which the meeting of Parliament on the 6th of +December was settled. The proclamation against the unions +(which was not ready, and the King signed a blank) and some +orders about cholera were despatched. Lord Grey told me +that the union had already determined to dissolve itself.</p> + +<p>My satisfaction was yesterday considerably damped by +what I heard of the pending negotiation concerning Reform. +Agar Ellis at Roehampton talked with great doubt of its +being successful, which I attributed to his ignorance of what +had passed, but I fear it is from his knowledge that the +Government mean, in fact, to give up nothing of importance. +George Bentinck came to me in the morning, and told me he +had discovered from the Duke of Richmond that the concessions +were not only to be all one way, but that the altered +Bill would be, in fact, more objectionable than the last, inasmuch +as it is more democratic in its tendency, so much so +that Richmond is exceedingly dissatisfied himself, for he has +always been the advocate of the aristocratic interest in the +Cabinet, and has battled to make the Bill less adverse to it. +Now he says he can contend no longer, for he is met by the +unanswerable argument that their opponents are ready to +concede more. I own I was alarmed, and my mind misgave +me when I heard of the extreme satisfaction of Althorp +and Co.; and I always dreaded that Wharncliffe, however +honest and well-meaning, had not calibre enough to conduct +such a negotiation, and might be misled by his vanity. He +bustles about the town, chatting away to all the people he meets, +and I fear is both ignorant himself of what he is about and +involuntarily deceiving others too; he is in a fool’s paradise. +I spoke to Henry de Ros about this last night, who seemed +by no means aware of it, and it is difficult to believe that +Lyndhurst and Harrowby should not be perfectly alive to all +the consequences of Wharncliffe’s proceedings, or that they +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +would sanction them if they had really the tendency that +George Bentinck gives me to understand.</p> + +<p>The cholera, which is going on (but without greatly +extending itself) at Sunderland, has excited an unusual alarm, +but it is now beginning to subside. People seeing that it +does not appear elsewhere take courage, but the preparations +are not relaxed, and they are constantly enforced by the +Central Board of Health (as it is called), which is established +at the Council Office, and labours very assiduously in the +cause. Undoubtedly a great deal of good will be done in +the way of purification. As to the disorder, if it had not +the name of cholera nobody would be alarmed, for many an +epidemic has prevailed at different times far more fatal than +this. On Friday last we despatched Dr. Barry down to +Sunderland with very ample powers, and to procure information, +which it is very difficult to get. Nothing can be more +disgraceful than the state of that town, exhibiting a lamentable +proof of the practical inutility of that diffusion of knowledge +and education which we boast of, and which we fancy +renders us so morally and intellectually superior to the rest +of the world. When Dr. Russell was in Russia, he was disgusted +with the violence and prejudices he found there on +the part of both medical men and the people, and he says he +finds just as much here. The conduct of the people of +Sunderland on this occasion is more suitable to the barbarism +of the interior of Africa than to a town in a civilised country. +The medical men and the higher classes are split into parties, +quarrelling about the nature of the disease, and perverting +and concealing facts which militate against their respective +theories. The people are taught to believe that there is +really no cholera at all, and that those who say so intend +to plunder and murder them. The consequence is prodigious +irritation and excitement, an invincible repugnance +on the part of the lower orders to avail themselves of any of +the preparations which are made for curing them, and a +proneness to believe any reports, however monstrous and +exaggerated. In a very curious letter which was received +yesterday from Dr. Daur, he says (after complaining of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">DISAPPOINTMENT.</span> +medical men, who would send him no returns of the cases of +sickness) it was believed that bodies had been dissected +before the life was out of them, and one woman, was said to +have been cut up while she was begging to be spared. The +consequence of this is that we have put forward a strong +order to compel medical men to give information, and another +for the compulsory removal of nuisances. It is, however, +rather amusing that everybody who has got in their vicinity +anything disagreeable, or that they would like to be rid of, +thinks that now is their time, and the table of the Board of +Health is covered with applications of this nature, from every +variety of person and of place.</p> + +<h3>November 23rd, 1831</h3> + +<p>Dr. Barry’s first letter from Sunderland +came yesterday, in which he declares the identity of the +disease with the cholera he had seen in Russia. He describes +some cases he had visited, exhibiting scenes of misery and +poverty far exceeding what one could have believed it possible +to find in this country; but we who float on the surface of +society know but little of the privations and sufferings which +pervade the mass. I wrote to the Bishop of Durham, to the +chief magistrates, and sent down 200ℓ. to Colonel Creagh +(which Althorp immediately advanced) to relieve the immediate +and pressing cases of distress.</p> + +<p>Saw George Bentinck in the afternoon, who confirmed +my apprehension that Wharncliffe had been cajoled into a +negotiation which Government intended should end by +getting all they want. Richmond, Grey, and Palmerston +were in a minority of three in the Cabinet for putting off +the meeting of Parliament. One of the most Radical of the +Cabinet is Goderich. Such a thing it is to be of feeble +intellect and character, and yet he is a smart speaker, and +an agreeable man. The moderate party are Richmond, who +cannot have much weight, Stanley, who is in Ireland, Lansdowne, +who is always ‘gone to Bowood,’ Palmerston, and +Melbourne. Yet I am led to think that if Wharncliffe had +insisted on better conditions, and held out, he would have +got them, and that the Cabinet were really disposed to +make all the concessions they could without compromising +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +themselves. The meeting in the City yesterday was a total +failure. Henry Drummond, who is mad, but very clever, and +a Reformer, though for saving the rotten boroughs, spoke +against the declaration, some others followed him, and after +a couple of hours wasted in vain endeavours to procure +unanimity the meeting broke up, and nothing was done. I +saw Wharncliffe last night, who was exceedingly disappointed.</p> + +<h3>November 28th, 1831</h3> + +<p>The negotiation with Wharncliffe goes +on languidly; he wrote to Lord Grey the other day, and +suggested some heads as the basis of an accommodation, +consisting of some extension of Schedule B, excluding town +voters from county voting, and one or two other points; +to which Lord Grey replied that some of the things he +mentioned might be feasible, but that there would be great +difficulty about others, that he feared nothing might come of +their communications, as he would not hear of any other +Peers who were disposed to go along with him. It is not a +bad thing that they should each be impressed with a salutary +apprehension, the one that he will have the same difficulties +to encounter in the House of Lords, the other that nobody +will follow him, for it will render an arrangement more probable +than if they both thought they had only to agree +together, and that the rest must follow as a matter of course. +The Duke of Wellington has written again to Wharncliffe, +declining altogether to be a party to any negotiation. De +Ros told me that he never saw such a letter as Peel’s—so +stiff, dry, and reserved, just like the man in whom great +talents are so counteracted, and almost made mischievous, by +the effects of his cold, selfish, calculating character. In the +meantime the state of the country is certainly better, the +proclamation putting down the unions has been generally +obeyed, the press has suspended its fury, and the approach +of the meeting of Parliament seems to have calmed the +country to a great degree. The event most to be desired +is that the Government may carry their Bill quietly through +the House of Commons, amendments be carried in the Committee +of the House of Lords, and upon these there may be +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">POULETT THOMSON.</span> +a compromise, though after all it is impossible not to have +a secret misgiving that the alterations which appear desirable +may prove to be mischievous, for it is the great evil +of the measure that being certainly new no human being +can guess how it will work, or how its different parts will +act upon one another, and what result they will produce.</p> + +<p>There seems to be a constant sort of electrical reciprocity +of effort between us and France just now. The three days +produced much of our political excitement, and our Bristol +business has been acted with great similarity of circumstance +at Lyons, and is still going on. Talleyrand produced the +‘Moniteur’ last night with the account, lamented that the +Duc d’Orléans had been sent with Marshal Soult to Lyons, +which he said was unnecessary and absurd, that Soult was +the best man for the purpose of putting it down. It was +begun by the workpeople, who were very numerous, not +political in its objects, but the cries denoted a mixture of +everything, as they shouted ‘Henri V., Napoléon II, La +République, and Bristol.’ He was at Lady Holland’s, looking +very cadaverous, and not very talkative, talked of Madame +du Barri, that she had been very handsome, and had some +remains of beauty up to the period of her death; of Luckner, +who was guillotined, and as the car passed on the people +cried (as they used), ‘Ŕ la guillotine! ŕ la guillotine!’ +Luckner turned round and said, ‘<i>On</i> y va, canaille.’</p> + +<p>We have just sent a commission to Paris to treat with +the French Government about a commercial treaty on +the principles of free trade. Poulett Thomson, who has +been at Paris some time, has originated it, and Althorp +selected George Villiers for the purpose, but has added to him +as a colleague Dr. Bowring, who has in fact been selected by +Thomson, a theorist, and a jobber, deeply implicated in the +‘Greek Fire,’ and a Benthamite. He was the subject of a +cutting satire of Moore’s, beginning,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The ghost of Miltiades came by night,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And stood by the bed of the Benthamite;</span> +</div></div> + +<p style="text-indent: 0em"> +but he has been at Paris some time, understanding the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +subject, and has wound himself into some intimacy with +the French King and his Ministers. It is, however, Poulett +Thomson who has persuaded Althorp to appoint him, in +order to have a creature of his own there.</p> + +<p>I have never been able to understand the enormous +unpopularity of this man, who appears civil, well-bred, intelligent, +and agreeable (only rather a coxcomb), and has +made a certain figure in the House of Commons, but it has +been explained to me by a person who knows him well. +He was originally a merchant, and had a quantity of +counting-house knowledge. He became member of a club +of political economists, and a scholar of M‘Culloch’s. In +this club there were some obscure but very able men, and by +them he got crammed with the principles of commerce and +political economy, and from his mercantile connections he +got facts. He possessed great industry and sufficient ability +to work up the materials he thus acquired into a very +plausible exhibition of knowledge upon these subjects, and +having opportunities of preparing himself for every particular +question, and the advantage of addressing an audience the +greater part of which is profoundly ignorant, he passed for +a young gentleman of extraordinary ability and profound +knowledge, and amongst the greatest of his admirers was +Althorp, who, when the Whigs came in, promoted him to his +present situation. Since he has been there he has not had +the same opportunities of learning his lesson from others +behind the curtain, and the envy which always attends success +has delighted to pull down his reputation, so that he now +appears something like the jackdaw stripped of the peacock’s +feathers.</p> + +<h3>November 30th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Went to breakfast at the Tower, which +I had never seen. Dined with Lady Holland, first time for +seven years, finished the quarrel, and the last of that batch; +they should not last for ever. In the morning Wharncliffe +came to me from Lord Grey’s, with whom he had had a final +interview. He showed me the paper he gave Grey containing +his proposals, which were nearly to this effect: conceding +what the Government required, with these exceptions and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">WHARNCLIFFE’S PROPOSAL.</span> +counter-concessions, an alteration in Schedule B with a +view to preserve in many cases the two members; that +voters for the great manufacturing towns should have votes +for the counties; that London districts should not have so +many representatives; that when the franchise was given +to great manufacturing towns, <i>their</i> county should not have +more representatives; that corporate rights should be saved, +though with an infusion of 10ℓ. voters where required; that +Cheltenham and Brighton (particularly) should have no +members. These were the principal heads, proposed in a +paper of moderate length and civil expression. Grey said +the terms were inadmissible, that some parts of his proposal +might be feasible, but the points on which Wharncliffe most +insisted (London, and town and county voting) he could +not agree to. So with many expressions of civility and +mutual esteem they parted. He is disappointed, but not dejected, +and I tried to persuade him that an arrangement on +this basis is not less probable than it was.</p> + +<p>The fact is it would have been nearly impossible for +Government to introduce a Bill so different from the first as +these changes would have made it, as the result of a negotiation. +They would have been exposed to great obloquy, and +have had innumerable difficulties to encounter, but if the Bill +goes into a Committee of the Lords, and the other clauses +pass without opposition, the Government may not think +themselves obliged to contest these alterations. I think the +Government would accept them, and probably they feel that +in no other way could they do so. It seems to me that the +success of these amendments depends now very much upon +the Opposition themselves, upon their firmness, their union, +and above all their reasonableness. Saw Talleyrand last +night, who said they had better news from Lyons, that there +was nothing political in it. News came yesterday morning +that the cholera had broken out at Marseilles.</p> + +<h3>December 3rd, 1831</h3> + +<p>Wharncliffe showed me his correspondence +with the Duke of Wellington on this negotiation. +They differed greatly, but amicably enough, though I take +it he was not very well pleased with Wharncliffe’s last letter, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +in which he distinctly told the Duke that his speech on the +Address, and declaration against any Reform, was what overthrew +his Government. This he never will admit, and, passing +over the proximate cause, always refers his fall to (what +was certainly the remote cause) the Catholic question—that +is, to the breaking up of the Tory party which followed it, +and the union of the old Tories with the Whigs and Radicals +on purpose to turn him out. In this correspondence +Wharncliffe has much the best of it, and I was surprised to +find with what tenacity the Duke clings to his cherished +prejudices, and how he shuts his eyes to the signs of the +times and the real state of the country. With the point at +issue he never would grapple. Wharncliffe argued for concession, +<i>because</i> they have not the means of resistance, and +that they are in fact at the mercy of their opponents. The +Duke admitted the force against them, but thought it would +be possible to govern the country without Reform ‘if the +King was not against them’—an important increment of +his conditions; there is no doubt that ‘the King’s name is +a tower of strength, which they upon the adverse faction +want’—and he continued through all his letters arguing the +question on its abstract merits, and repeating the topic that +had been over and over again urged, but without reference to +the actual state of things and the means of resistance. It +seems, however, pretty clear that he will oppose this Bill just +as he did the last, and he will probably have a great many +followers; but the party is broken up, for Wharncliffe and +Harrowby will vote for the second reading; the bishops will +generally go with them, and probably a sufficient number of +Peers. If Lord Grey can see a reasonable chance of carrying +the Bill without making Peers, there can be very little doubt +he will put off that resource till the last moment.</p> + +<h3>December 4th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Dined with Talleyrand yesterday. He +complained to me of Durham’s return, and of ‘sa funeste influence +sur Lord Grey:’ that because he had been at +Brussels and at Paris, he fancied nobody but himself knew +anything of foreign affairs; he praised Palmerston highly. +In the evening to Lady Harrowby, who told me John +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">AN APPEAL FROM LORD CHANCELLOR BROUGHAM.</span> +Russell had been with her, all moderation and candour, and +evidently for the purpose of keeping alive the amicable relations +which had been begun by Wharncliffe’s negotiation. +When Lady Harrowby said it was over, he replied, ‘For the +present,’ said how glad he should be of a compromise, hinted +that Sandon might be instrumental, that he might move an +amendment in the House of Commons; abused Macaulay’s +violent speech—in short, was all mild and <i>doucereux</i>—all +which proves that they <i>do</i> wish to compromise if they could +manage it conveniently. Lord John Russell told her that there +was no going on with Durham, that he never left Lord Grey, +tormented his heart out, and made him so ill and irritable +that he could not sleep. Durham wanted to be Minister for +Foreign Affairs.</p> + +<h3>December 7th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Parliament opened yesterday; not a bad +speech, though wordy and ill-written. There was an oversight +in the Address, which was corrected in both Houses by +Peel and Lord Harrowby, but not taken <i>as an amendment</i>. +Lord Grey begged it might be inserted in Lord Camperdown’s +address, which was done. It was about the King of +Holland and the treaty. The Address says that they rejoice +<i>at the treaty</i>, whereas there is none at present. Lord +Lyttelton made a very foolish speech, and was very well cut +up by Lord Harrowby, and Peel spoke well in the other +House.</p> + +<h3>December 8th, 1831</h3> + +<p>At Court yesterday to swear in +Erskine,<a name="FNA_16_05" id="FNA_16_05"></a><a href="#FN_16_05" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> +Brougham’s new Chief Judge in Bankruptcy and Privy +Councillor. The Chancellor is in a great rage with me. There +is an appeal to the Privy Council from a judgment of his +(in which he was wrong), the first appeal of the kind for above +a hundred +years;<a name="FNA_16_06" id="FNA_16_06"></a><a href="#FN_16_06" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> +I told him it was ready to be heard, and +begged to know if he had any wish as to who should be +summoned to hear it. He said very tartly, ‘Of course I shall +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +have somebody to hear it <i>with me</i>.’ I said, ‘Do you mean to +hear it yourself, then?’ ‘And pray why not? don’t I hear +appeals from myself every day in the House of Lords? didn’t +you see that I could not hear a case the other day because +Lord Lyndhurst was not there? I have <i>a right</i> to hear it. +I sit there as a Privy Councillor.’ ‘Oh,’ I said, ‘you have +certainly <i>a right</i> if you choose it.’ ‘You may rely upon it I +shall do nothing unusual in the Privy Council,’ and then he +flounced off in high dudgeon. I told Lord Lansdowne afterwards, +who said he should not allow it to be heard by <i>him</i>, +and should make a point of summoning all the great law +authorities of the Privy Council. This was the case of +Drax <i>v.</i> Grosvenor, which excited great interest, in which +Brougham tried to play all sorts of tricks to prevent his +judgment being reversed, which tricks I managed to defeat, +and the judgment was reversed, as is described farther +on. I never had the advantage of seeing the Chancellor +before in his sulks, though he is by no means unfrequently +in them, very particularly so this time last year, when he +was revolving in his mind whether he should take the Great +Seal, and when he thought he was ill-used, so Auckland told +me.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_16_05" id="FN_16_05"></a><a href="#FNA_16_05"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> +[Right Hon. Thomas Erskine, a son of Lord Chancellor Erskine, Chief +Judge in Bankruptcy, and afterwards a Justice of the Court of Common +Pleas.]</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_16_06" id="FN_16_06"></a><a href="#FNA_16_06"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> +[It was an Appeal in Lunacy. No other appeals save in Lunacy lie +from the Court of Chancery to the King in Council, and these are very rare. +Drax <i>v.</i> Grosvenor is reported in Knapp’s ‘Privy Council Reports.’]</p></div> + +<p>The cholera is on the decline at Sunderland, but in the +meantime our trade will have been put under such restrictions +that the greatest embarrassments are inevitable. Intelligence +is already come that the Manchester people have +curtailed their orders, and many workmen will be out of +work. Yesterday a deputation from Coventry came to +Auckland, and desired a categorical answer as to whether +Government meant to resume the prohibitory system, because +if they would not the glove trade at Coventry would discharge +their workmen.</p> + +<h3>December 11th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Yesterday Harrowby had an interview +with Lord Grey, the result of which I do not know; walked +with Stuart (de Rothesay) in the morning, who had seen the +Duke of Wellington the day before. I said I was afraid he +was very obstinate. He said ‘No, he thought not, but that +the Duke fancied Wharncliffe had gone too far.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE SECOND REFORM BILL.</span> +To-morrow the Reform Bill comes on. Some say that it +will be as hotly disputed as ever, and that Peel’s speeches indicate +a bitterness undiminished, but this will not happen. It +is clear that the general tone and temper of parties is softened, +and though a great deal of management and discretion is +necessary to accomplish anything like a decent compromise, +the majority of both parties are earnestly desirous of bringing +the business to an end by any means. What has +already taken place between the Government and Wharncliffe +and Harrowby has certainly smoothed the way, and +removed much of that feeling of asperity which before existed. +The press, too, is less violent, the ‘Morning Herald’ +openly preaching a compromise, and the ‘Times’ taking that +sort of sweep which, if it does not indicate a change, shows +a disposition to take such a position as may enable it to adopt +any course.</p> + +<p><i>In the evening</i>.—Called on Lord Bathurst in the morning; +met him going out, and stopped to talk to him. He +knew of the meeting in Downing Street; that Lords Harrowby, +Wharncliffe, and Chandos were to meet the Chancellor +and Lords Althorp and Grey; that Chandos had gone to +Brighton, ostensibly to talk to the King about the West +Indies, but had taken the opportunity to throw in something +on the topic of Reform; that the King desired him to speak +to Palmerston, and allowed him to say that he did so by his +orders. (The King, it seems, knows nothing of what is going +on, for he reads no newspapers and the Household tell him +nothing.) Accordingly Chandos did speak to Palmerston, +and the result was a note to him, begging these three would +meet the three Ministers above mentioned. Lady Harrowby +told me that they went. Brougham did not arrive till the +conference was nearly over. There was an abundant interchange +of civilities, but nothing concluded, the Ministers +declining every proposition that Lord Harrowby made to +them, though Lord Grey owned that they did not ask for +anything which involved an abandonment of the principle of +the Bill. They are, then, not a bit nearer an accommodation +than they were before.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +George Bentinck told me this evening of a scene which had +been related to him by the Duke of Richmond, that lately took +place at a Cabinet dinner; it was very soon after Durham’s +return from abroad. He was furious at the negotiations and +question of compromise. Lord Grey is always the object of +his rage and impertinence, because he is the only person +whom he dares attack. After dinner he made a violent <i>sortie</i> +on Lord Grey (it was at Althorp’s), said he would be eternally +disgraced if he suffered any alterations to be made in this +Bill, that he was a betrayer of the cause, and, amongst +other things, reproached him with having kept him in town +on account of this Bill in the summer, ‘and thereby having +been the cause of the death of his son.’ Richmond said in +his life he never witnessed so painful a scene, or one which +excited such disgust and indignation in every member of the +Cabinet. Lord Grey was ready to burst into tears, said he +would much rather work in the coal-mines than be subject +to such attacks, on which the other muttered, ‘and you +might do worse,’ or some such words. After this Durham +got up and left the room. Lord Grey very soon retired too, +when the other Ministers discussed this extraordinary scene, +and considered what steps they ought to take. They thought +at first that they should require Durham to make a public +apology (i.e. before all of them) to Lord Grey for his impertinence, +which they deemed due to <i>them</i> as he was <i>their</i> head, +and to <i>Althorp</i> as having occurred in his house, but as +they thought it was quite certain that Durham would resign +the next morning, and that Lord Grey might be pained at +another scene, they forbore to exact this. However, Durham +did not resign; he absented himself for some days from the +Cabinet, at last returned as if nothing had happened, and +there he goes on as usual. But they are so thoroughly disgusted, +and resolved to oppose him, that his influence is +greatly impaired. Still, his power of mischief and annoyance +is considerable. Lord Grey succumbs to him, and they +say in spite of his behaviour is very much attached to him, +though so incessantly worried that his health visibly suffers +by his presence. There is nothing in which he does not +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">CONFESSION OF A BODY-SNATCHER.</span> +meddle. The Reform Bill he had a principal hand in concocting, +and he fancies himself the only man competent to +manage our foreign relations. Melbourne, who was present +at this scene, said, ‘If I had been Lord Grey, I would have +knocked him down.’</p> + +<h3>December 13th, 1831</h3> + +<p>Lord John Russell brought on his Bill last +night in a very feeble speech. A great change is apparent +since the last Bill; the House was less full, and a softened +and subdued state of temper and feeling was evinced. Peel +made an able and a bitter speech, though perhaps not a very +judicious one. There are various alterations in the Bill; +enough to prove that it was at least wise to throw out the +last. Althorp, who answered Peel, acknowledged that if the +old Bill had been opposed in its earliest stage it never could +have been brought forward again, or made an avowal to that +effect. In fact, Peel is now aware (as everybody else is) +of the enormous fault that was committed in not throwing it +out at once, before the press had time to operate, and rouse +the country to the pitch of madness it did. On what trifles +turn the destinies of nations! William Bankes told me last +night that Peel owned this to him; said that he had earnestly +desired to do so, but had been turned from his purpose by +Granville Somerset! And why? Because he (in the expectation +of a dissolution) must have voted against him, he said, +in order to save his popularity in his own county.</p> + +<p>Met Melbourne at Lord Holland’s; they were talking of +a reported confession to a great extent of murders, which is +said to have been begun and not finished, by the Burkers, or +by one of them. Melbourne said it was true, that he began the +confession about the murder of a black man to a Dissenting +clergyman, but was interrupted by the ordinary. Two of a +trade could not agree, and the man of the Established +Church preferred that the criminal should die unconfessed, +and the public uninformed, rather than the Dissenter should +extract the truth. Since writing this I see Hunt put a +question to George Lamb on this point, and he replied that +he knew nothing of any other confession, which is not true. +I have heard, but on no authority, that some surgeons are +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +so disagreeably implicated that they choose to conceal these +horrors.</p> + +<h3>December 14th, 1831</h3> + +<p>People generally are mightily satisfied +at the tone of the discussion the other night, and, what is of +vast importance, the press has adopted a moderate and conciliatory +tone, even the ‘Times,’ which, is now all for compromise. +It is clear as daylight that the Government will +consent to anything which leaves untouched the great +principles of the Bill, and the country desires to see the +question settled, and, if possible, rest from this eternal +excitement.</p> + +<h3>December 20th, 1831</h3> + +<p>The second reading of the Reform Bill +was carried at one o’clock on Saturday night by a majority +of two to one, and ended very triumphantly for Ministers, +who are proportionately elated, and their opponents equally +depressed. Croker had made a very clever speech on Friday, +with quotations from Hume, and much reasoning upon them. +Hobhouse detected several inaccuracies, and gave his discovery +to Stanley, who worked it up in a crushing attack +upon Croker. It is by far the best speech Stanley ever +made, and so good as to raise him immeasurably in the +House. Lord Grey said it placed him at the very top of +the House of Commons, without a rival, which perhaps is +jumping to rather too hasty a conclusion. He shone the more +from Peel’s making a very poor exhibition. He had been so +nettled by Macaulay’s sarcasms the night before on his tergiversation, +that he went into the whole history of the Catholic +question and his conduct on that occasion, which, besides +savouring of that egotism with which he is so much and +justly reproached, was uncalled for and out of place. The +rest of his speech was not so good as usual, and he did not +attempt to answer Stanley.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2>1832</h2> + +<h3>Panshanger, January 1st, 1832</h3> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">PANSHANGER.</span> +Distress seems to increase +hereabouts, and crime with it. Methodism and saintship +increase too. The people of this house are examples of the +religion of the fashionable world, and the charity of natural +benevolence, which the world has not spoiled. Lady Cowper +and her family go to church, but scandalise the congregation +by always arriving half an hour too late. The hour matters +not; if it began at nine, or ten, or twelve, or one o’clock, it +would be the same thing; they are never ready, and always +late, but they go. Lord Cowper never goes at all; but he employs +multitudes of labourers, is ready to sanction any and +every measure which can contribute to the comfort and happiness +of the peasantry. Lady Cowper and her daughters inspect +personally the cottages and condition of the poor. They +visit, enquire, and give; they distribute flannel, medicines, +money, and they talk to and are kind to them, so that the +result is a perpetual stream flowing from a real fountain of +benevolence, which waters all the country round and gladdens +the hearts of the peasantry, and attaches them to those from +whom it emanates.</p> + +<h3>Panshanger, January 6th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Talleyrand, Dino, Palmerston, +Esterhazy, came yesterday and went away to-day—that +is, the two first and the Seftons did. There has been +another contest in the Cabinet about the Peers, which has +ended in a sort of compromise, and five are to be made +directly, two new ones and three eldest sons called up. Old +Talleyrand came half-dead from the conferences, which +have been incessant these few days, owing to the Emperor of +Russia’s refusal to ratify the treaty and the differences about +the Belgian fortresses. One conference lasted eleven hours +and a quarter, and finished at four o’clock in the morning.</p> + +<h3>Gorhambury, January 7th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Came here to-day. Berkeley +Paget and Lushington; nobody else. Had a conversation +with Lady C. before I came away; between Palmerston, +Frederick Lamb, and Melbourne she knows everything, and +is a furious anti-Reformer. The upshot of the matter is this: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +the question about the Peers is still under discussion; +Lord Grey and the ultra party want to make a dozen, <i>now</i>, +the others want only to yield five or six. Lord Grey wrote +to Palmerston saying the King had received his proposition +(about the Peers) very well, but desired to have his reasons +in writing, and to-day at twelve there was to be another +Cabinet on the subject, in order probably that the ‘reasons’ +might go down by the post. The moderate party in the +Cabinet consists of Lansdowne, Richmond, Palmerston, +Melbourne, and Stanley. Palmerston and Melbourne, particularly +the latter, are now heartily ashamed of the part +they have taken about Reform. They detest and abhor the +whole thing, and they find themselves unable to cope with +the violent party, and consequently implicated in a continued +series of measures which they disapprove; and they do not +know what to do, whether to stay in and fight this unequal +battle or resign. I told her that nothing could justify their +conduct, and their excuses were good for nothing; but that +there was no use in resigning now. They might still do +some good in the Cabinet; they could do none out of it. In +fact, Durham and the most violent members of the Cabinet +would gladly drive Palmerston and Melbourne to resign if +they could keep Stanley, who is alone of importance of that +squad; but he is of such weight, from his position in the House +of Commons, that if he can be prevailed upon to be staunch, +and to hold out with the moderates against the ultras, the +former will probably prevail. Durham wants to be Minister +for Foreign Affairs, and would plague Lord Grey till he gave +him the seals, unless his other colleagues put a veto upon the +appointment. But the anxiety of the Reformers to make Peers +has not reference to the Reform Bill alone; they undoubtedly +look further, and knowing their own weakness in the House +of Lords, they want to secure a permanent force, which may +make them stronger than their antagonists in that House. +Otherwise they would not be so averse to all questions of +conciliation, express their disbelief in conversions, and +trumpet forth their conviction that any individual of the +late majority will vote just the same way again. The earnest +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">EFFORTS OF THE MODERATE PARTY.</span> +desire of the moderate party in the Cabinet is that those +who will vote for the second reading shall make haste to +declare their intention, and I have written to Lady Harrowby +to endeavour to get Lord Harrowby to take some such step. +I had already written to De Ros, urging him to speak to +Wharncliffe, and get him to take an opportunity of giving +the King to understand that the necessity for a creation of +Peers is by no means so urgent as his Ministers would have +him believe.</p> + +<h3>Panshanger, January 13th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Returned here yesterday; +found Melbourne, Lamb, the Lievens, the Haddingtons, Luttrell, +the Ashleys, John Ashley, and Irby. While I was at +Gorhambury I determined to write to Wharncliffe and urge +him to speak to the King, and accordingly I did so. I received +a letter from him saying that De Ros had already +spoken to him, that he had had a conversation with Sir Herbert +Taylor, which he had desired him to repeat to the King +and to Lord Grey, that he had intended to leave the matter +there, but in consequence of my letter he should ask for an +audience. This morning I have heard again from him. He +saw the King, and was with him an hour; put his Majesty in +possession of his sentiments, and told him there would be no +necessity for creating Peers if the Government would be +conciliatory and moderate in the Committee of the House +of Commons; he promised to tell me the particulars of this +interview when we meet.</p> + +<p>Last night Frederick Lamb told me that Lord Grey had +sent word to Melbourne of what Wharncliffe had said to Sir +Herbert Taylor, and Lord Grey assumed the tenour of Wharncliffe’s +language to have been merely an advice to the King not +to make Peers, whereas all I suggested to him was to explain +to the King that the creation was not necessary for the reasons +which have been assigned to his Majesty by his Ministers, +viz., the intention of all who voted against the second reading +last year to vote against it this. In the meantime the dispute +has been going on in the Cabinet, time has been gained, and +several incidents have made a sort of cumulative impression. +There is a petition to the King, got up by Lord Verulam and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +Lord Salisbury, which is in fact a moderate Reform manifesto. +It has been numerously signed, and Verulam is going to +Brighton to present it. I have been labouring to persuade him +to make up his mind to vote for the second reading, and to tell +the King that such is his intention, which he has promised +me he will. When I had obtained this promise from him I +wrote word to Lady Cowper, telling her at the same time that +Lord Harris (I had heard) would vote for the second reading, +and this letter she imparted to Melbourne, who stated the +fact in the Cabinet, where it made a considerable impression. +All such circumstances serve to supply arms to the moderate +party.</p> + +<p>This morning Melbourne went up to another Cabinet, +armed with another fact with which I supplied him. Lord +Craven declared at his own table that if the Government +made Peers <i>he would not vote with them</i>, and if he was sent +for he should reply that as they could create Peers so easily +they might do without him. All such circumstances as these, +I find, are considered of great importance, and are made +available for the purpose of fighting the battle in the Cabinet. +As to Lord Grey, it is exceedingly difficult to understand his +real sentiments, and to reconcile his present conduct with +the general tenour of his former professions; that he <i>was</i> +averse to the adoption of so violent a measure I have no +doubt—his pride and aristocratic principles would naturally +make him so—but he is easily governed, constantly yielding +to violence and intimidation, and it is not unlikely that the +pertinacity of those about him, the interests of his party, and +the prolongation of his power may induce him to sacrifice +his natural feelings and opinions. It is very probable that, +although he may have allowed himself to be at the head of +those who are for the creation, he may have such misgivings +and scruples as may prevent his carrying that point with +the high hand and in the summary way which he might do.</p> + +<h3>January 15th, 1832</h3> + +<p>This morning Frederick Lamb showed me +a letter he had got from Melbourne to this effect: ‘that they +had resolved to make no Peers at all at present; that to +make a few would be regarded as a menace, and be as bad as +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">WHARNCLIFFE’S INTERVIEW WITH THE KING.</span> +if they made a great many; but that as many as would be +necessary to carry the Bill would be made, if it was eventually +found that it must be so;’ he added ‘it only remained +for people to come forward and declare their intention of +supporting the second reading.’ This is certainly a great +victory, and I do believe mainly attributable to our exertions, +to the spirit we have infused into Melbourne himself, and +the use we have made of Wharncliffe and Verulam, and +the different little circumstances we have brought to bear +upon the discussion. What now remains is the most +difficult, but I shall do all I can to engage Peers to take a +moderate determination and to declare it. Lamb told me +that the King has an aversion to making <i>a few</i> Peers, +that he has said he would rather make twenty-five than +five, that whatever he must make he should like to make +at once, and not to have to return to it. Anyhow, time is +gained, and a victory for the moment.</p> + +<h3>London, January 20th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Came up on Monday last. I +have been changing my house, and so occupied that I have +not had time to write. Wharncliffe came to town on Wednesday, +and came straight to my office to give me an account +of his interview with the King, in which it appears as if he +had said much about what he ought, and no more. He told his +Majesty that the reports which had been circulated as to the +disposition and intentions of himself and his friends, and the +argument for the necessity of making Peers, which he understood +to have been founded on these reports, had compelled +him to ask for this audience, that he wished to explain +to his Majesty that he (Lord Wharncliffe) had no intention +of opposing the second reading of the Reform Bill as he +had done before, that he had reason to believe that many +others would adopt the same course, and if Ministers showed +a moderate and conciliating disposition in the House of +Commons, he was persuaded they would have no difficulty +in carrying the second reading in the House of Lords. He +then implored the King well to consider the consequences of +such a <i>coup d’état</i> as this creation of Peers would be; to look +at what had happened in France, and to bear in mind that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +if this was done for one purpose, and by one Government, +the necessity would infallibly arise of repeating it again +by others, or for other objects. He was with the King an +hour dilating upon this theme. The King was extremely +kind, heard him with great patience, and paid him many +compliments, and when he took leave told him that he was +extremely glad to have had this conversation with him. Sir +Herbert Taylor gave Lord Wharncliffe to understand that he +had made an impression, only impressions on the mind of +the King are impressions on sand. However, from Taylor’s +cautious hints to him to persevere, it is likely that he did do +good. He is himself persuaded that his audience principally +produced the delay in the creation of Peers.</p> + +<p>In the meantime he was not idle at Brighton. Lord Ailesbury, +who saw the King, consulted Wharncliffe, and agreed +at last to tell the King that his sentiments were the same as +those which Lord Wharncliffe had expressed to him, and +Lord Kinnoull and Lord Gage have promised him their +proxies.</p> + +<p>Yesterday morning he came to me again, very desponding. +He had found Harrowby in a state of despair, +uncertain what he should do, and looking upon the game as +lost, and he had been with the Duke of Wellington, who was +impracticably obstinate, declaring that nothing should prevent +his opposing a Bill which he believed in his conscience +to be pregnant with certain ruin to the country; that he did +not care to be a great man (he meant by this expression a +man of great wealth and station), and that he could contentedly +sink into any station that circumstances might let +him down to, but he never would consent to be a party +directly or indirectly to such a measure as this, and, feeling +as he did, he was resolved to do his utmost to throw it out, +without regard to consequences. Wharncliffe said he was +quite in despair, for that he knew the Duke’s great influence, +and that if he and Harrowby endeavoured to form a party +against his views, they had no chance of making one sufficiently +strong to cope with him. He spoke with great and +rather unusual modesty of himself, and of his inadequacy for +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE WAVERERS AND WELLINGTON.</span> +this purpose; that Harrowby might do more, and would have +greater influence, but that he was so undecided and so without +heart and spirit that he would not bestir himself. +However, he acknowledged that nothing else was left to be +done.</p> + +<p>In the evening went to Lady Harrowby’s, where I found +him and Lord Haddington. We stayed there till near two, +after which Wharncliffe and I walked up and down Berkeley +Square. He was in much better spirits, having had a long +conversation with these two Lords, both of whom he said +were now resolved to sail along with him, and he contemplates +a regular and declared separation from the Duke <i>upon +this question</i>. In the morning he had seen Lyndhurst, who +appeared very undecided, and (Wharncliffe was apprehensive) +rather leaning towards the Duke, but I endeavoured to persuade +him that Lyndhurst was quite sure to adopt upon consideration +the line which appeared most conducive to his +own interest and importance, that he had always a hankering +after being well with Lord Grey and the Whigs, and I well +remembered when the late Government was broken up he +had expressed himself in very unmeasured terms about the +Duke’s blunders, and the impossibility of his ever again being +Prime Minister; that with him consistency, character, and +high feelings of honour and patriotism were secondary considerations; +that he relied upon his great talents and his +capacity to render himself necessary to an Administration; +that it was not probable he would like to throw himself (even +to please the Duke) into an opposition to the earnest desire +which the great mass of the community felt to have the +question settled; and that both for him and themselves much +of the difficulty of separating themselves from the Duke +might be avoided by the manner in which it was done. I +entreated him to use towards the Duke every sort of frankness +and candour, and to express regret at the necessity of taking +a different line, together with an acknowledgment of the +purity of the Duke’s motives; and if this is done, and if other +people are made to understand that they can separate from +the Duke <i>on this occasion</i> without offending or quarrelling +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +with him, or throwing off the allegiance to him as their +political leader, many will be inclined to do so; besides, it is +of vital importance, if they do get the Bill into Committee, +to secure the concurrence of the Duke and his adherents in +dealing with the details of it, which can only be effected by +keeping him in good humour. On the whole the thing looks +as well as such a thing can look.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<blockquote><p style="text-indent: 0em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +Measures for carrying the Second Reading of the Reform Bill in the House +of Lords — The Party of the Waverers — The Russo-Dutch Loan — Resistance +of the Tory Peers — Lord Melbourne’s Views on the Government — +Macaulay at Holland House — Reluctance of the Government to create +Peers — Duke of Wellington intractable — Peel’s Despondency — Lord +Grey on the Measures of Conciliation — Lord Wharncliffe sees the King +— Prospects of the Waverers — Conversations with Lord Melbourne and +Lord Palmerston — Duke of Richmond on the Creation of Peers — Interview +of Lord Grey with the Waverers — Minute drawn up — Bethnal +Green — The Archbishop of Canterbury vacillates — Violence of Extreme +Parties — Princess Lieven’s Journal — Lord Holland for making Peers — +Irish National Education — Seizure of Ancona — Reform Bill passes the +House of Commons — Lord Dudley’s Madness — Debate in the Lords. +</p></blockquote> + +<hr /> + +<h3>January 24th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Yesterday morning Frederick Lamb came +to me and told me that the question of the Peers was again in +agitation, that the King had agreed to make as many as they +pleased, and had understood Wharncliffe’s conversation with +his Majesty not to have contained any distinct assurance that +he would vote for the second reading of the Bill. Our party +in the Cabinet still fight the battle, however, and Stanley (on +whom all depends) is said to be firm, but circumstances may +compel them to give way, and Lord Grey (who is suspected +to have in his heart many misgivings as to this measure), +when left to Durham and Co., yields everything. Under +these circumstances I went to Wharncliffe last night, to persuade +him to declare his intentions without loss of time. He +owned that he had not <i>pledged</i> himself to the King, and he +was frightened to death at the idea of taking this step, lest +it should give umbrage to the Tories, and he should find himself +without any support at all. We went, however, together +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +to Grosvenor Square, and had a long conference with +Harrowby, whom I found equally undecided.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the Tories are full of activity and expectation, +and Lord Aberdeen is going to bring on a motion +about Belgium on Thursday, on which they expect to beat the +Government, not comprehending that a greater evil could not +occur, or a better excuse be afforded them for an immediate +creation; still they have got it into their heads that if they +can beat the Government <i>before</i> the Reform Bill comes on they +will force them to resign. I found Harrowby and Wharncliffe +equally undecided as to the course they should adopt, the +former clinging to the hope that the Peerage question was at +last suspended, that Lord Grey was compunctious, the King +reluctant, and so forth—Wharncliffe afraid of being abandoned +by those who are now disposed to consult and act with +him, and indisposed to commit himself irretrievably in the +House of Lords. After a long discussion I succeeded in persuading +them that the danger is imminent, that there is no +other chance of avoiding it, and they agreed to hoist their +standard, get what followers they can, and declare in the House +for the second reading without loss of time. Harrowby said +of himself that he was the worst person in the world to conciliate +and be civil, which is true enough, but he has a high +reputation, and his opinion is of immense value. Until they +declare themselves not a step will be made, and if they +cannot gain adherents, why the matter is at an end; +while if their example be followed, there is still a chance of +averting the climax of all evils, the swamping the House +of Lords and the permanent establishment of the power +of the present Government. Wharncliffe is to go to the +Duke of Wellington to-day, to entreat him not to let his +party divide on Aberdeen’s motion on Thursday, and Harrowby +will go to the Archbishop to invite his adhesion to +their party. I am very doubtful what success to augur from +this, but it is the only chance, and though the bulk of the +Tory Peers are prejudiced, obstinate, and stupid to the last +degree, there are scattered amongst them men of more +rational views and more moderate dispositions. Sandon +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">PLANS OF CONCILIATION.</span> +came in while we were there, and expressed precisely the +same opinion that I had been endeavouring to enforce upon +them. He said that in the House of Commons, whence he +was just come, the Government had refused to give way upon +a very reasonable objection, without assigning any reason +(the numbers in Schedule B), that this evinced an unconciliatory +spirit, which was very distressing to those who +wished for a compromise, that Hobhouse came to him after +the debate, and said how anxious he was they should come +to some understanding, and act in a greater spirit of conciliation, +and talked of a meeting of the moderate on either +side, that his constituents were eager for a settlement, and by +no means averse to concession, but that while Peel, Croker, +and others persisted in the tone they had adopted, and +in the sort of opposition they were pursuing, it was quite +impossible for the Government to give way upon anything, +or evince any disposition to make concessions. Sandon said +he had no doubt whatever that if Peel had assumed a different +tone at the beginning of the session the Government would +have been more moderate, and mutual concessions might +have been feasible even in the House of Commons. Hobhouse, +however, said that the alterations, whatever they +might be (and he owned that he should like some), would +come with a better grace in the House of Lords, and this is +what I have all along thought. O’Connell arrived yesterday, +took his seat, and announced his intention of supporting +Government at any rate. All the Irish members do the +same, and this great body, that everyone expected would +display hostility to the Bill, have formed themselves into a +phalanx, and will carry it through any difficulties by their +compactness and the regularity of their attendance.</p> + +<h3>January 25th, 1832</h3> + +<p>We met at Lord Harrowby’s last night—Wharncliffe, +Harrowby, Haddington, and Sandon—and I +found their minds were quite made up. Wharncliffe is to +present a petition from Hull, and to take that opportunity +of making his declaration, and the other two are to support +him. Wharncliffe saw the Bishop of London in the morning, +who is decided the same way, and he asked Lord Devon, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +who knows the House of Lords very well, if he thought, in +the event of their raising the standard of moderate Reform, +that they would have adherents, to which he replied he was +convinced they would. Lord Harrowby saw the Archbishop, +who would not pledge himself, but appeared well disposed; +and altogether they think they can count upon nine bishops. +Wharncliffe spoke to the Duke of Wellington about Lord +Aberdeen’s motion, and represented all the impolicy of it at +this moment, and the connection it might have with the Peerage +question; to which he only replied by enlarging on ‘the +importance of the Belgic question,’ either unable or unwilling +to embrace this measure in its complex relations, and never +perceiving that the country cares not a straw about Belgium +or anything but Reform, though they may begin to care +about such things when this question is settled. Haddington +also went to Aberdeen, who would hear nothing; but he +and the Duke severally promised to speak to one another. +The question last night was whether Wharncliffe should say +his say directly, or wait (as he wishes to do) for a few days. +The decision of this he referred to me, and I have referred +it to Melbourne, to whom I have communicated what has +passed.</p> + +<p>News came yesterday that the cholera had got within +three miles of Edinburgh, and to show the fallacy of any +theory about it, and the inutility of the prescribed precautions, +at one place (Newport, I think) one person in five of +the whole population was attacked, though there was no +lack of diet, warmth, and clothing for the poor. This +disease escapes from all speculation, so partial and eccentric +is its character.</p> + +<h3>January 29th, 1832</h3> + +<p>There were two divisions on Thursday +night last—in the House of Lords on the Belgian question, +and in the House of Commons on the Russian Loan. Harrowby, +Wharncliffe, and Haddington stayed away; Lyndhurst +voted. Only two bishops, Durham and Killaloe. +Ministers had a majority of thirty-seven, for Aberdeen and +the Duke persisted in bringing on the question and dividing +upon it. The former spoke nearly three hours, and far +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">DISCREDIT OF MINISTERS.</span> +better than ever he had done before; the Duke was prosy. +In the other House the Government had not a shadow of a +case; their law officers, Home and Denman, displayed an +ignorance and stupidity which were quite ludicrous, and +nothing saved them from defeat but a good speech at the +end from Palmerston, and their remonstrances to their friends +that unless they carried it they must resign. Not a soul +defends them, and they are particularly blamed for their +folly in not coming to Parliament at once, by which they +might have avoided the +scrape.<a name="FNA_17_01" id="FNA_17_01"></a><a href="#FN_17_01" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> +They had only a majority +of twenty-four. They were equally disgusted with both +these divisions, both plainly showing that they have little +power (independently of the Reform question) in either +House. To be sure the case in the House of Commons was +a wretched one, but in the House of Lords there was nothing +to justify a vote of censure on Government, to which Aberdeen’s +motion was tantamount. But while they had a +majority which was respectable enough to make it impossible +to propose making Peers on <i>that account</i>, it was so small +that they see clearly what they have to expect hereafter +from such a House of Lords, and accordingly their adherents +have thrown off the mask. Sefton called on me the day +after, and said it was ridiculous to go on in this way, that +the Tories had had possession of the Government so many +years, and the power of making so many Peers, that no +Whig or other Ministry could stand without a fresh creation +to redress the balance.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_17_01" id="FN_17_01"></a><a href="#FNA_17_01"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> +[For a more particular account of the question of the Russo-Dutch +Loan, see <i>infra</i> [February 4, 1832], p. 244. It has since been universally admitted that the +conduct of the Government was wise and honourable, and that the separation +of Holland and Belgium did not exonerate Great Britain from a financial +engagement to foreign Powers.]</p></div> + +<p>After having, as I supposed, settled everything with +Wharncliffe about his declaration, I got a letter from him +yesterday (from Brighton), saying he thought it would be +premature, and wished to put it off till the first reading +of the Bill in the House of Lords. I took his letter to +Melbourne, and told him I was all against the delay. He +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +said it was no doubt desirable they should get as many +adherents as they can, and if the delay would enable them +to do so it might be better, but they must not imagine +Government was satisfied with the division in the House of +Lords. However, the question of Peers seems not to be under +discussion at this moment, though it is perpetually revived. +In the evening I went to Harrowby’s and showed him +Wharncliffe’s letter. He concurred in the expediency of +delay, but without convincing me. He showed me a letter, +and a very good one, he has written to Lord Talbot, explaining +his views, and inviting his concurrence, and of this +he has sent copies to other Peers, whom he thinks it possible +he may influence. The question of time and manner is to +be reserved for future discussion.</p> + +<h3>February 2nd, 1832</h3> + +<p>Met Frederick Lamb at dinner to talk +over the state of affairs before he goes to Vienna. What he +wishes for is the expulsion of this Government, and the formation +of a moderate one taken from all parties. Received +another letter from Wharncliffe yesterday, in which he stated +that he had communicated to the Duke of Wellington his +intention of supporting the second reading, and asked if the +Duke would support his amendments in Committee. In the +meantime I wrote to Harrowby, begging he would communicate +with Lord Carnarvon and the Duke of Buckingham. +They keep doubting and fearing about who will or will not join +them, but do not stir a step. George Bentinck told me that +Lord Holland said to the Duke of Richmond the other day +‘that he had heard a declaration was in agitation; that +nothing could be more unfortunate at this moment, as it +would make it very difficult to create fifty Peers.’ In the +meantime a difficulty is likely to arise from another source, +and the Government to derive strength from their very weakness. +Robert Clive (who is a moderate Tory) called on me +the other day, and when (after expressing his anxiety that +the question should be settled) I asked him whether such a +declaration would meet with much success, said he thought +that it would have done so a fortnight ago, but that the extreme +discredit into which Ministers were fallen would now +operate as a reason against supporting them in any stage of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">SIR HENRY PARNELL.</span> +the business, and offered so good a chance of expelling them +altogether that people would be anxious to try it. Still it +must be so obvious that it would be next to impossible to +make a Government now, that it is to be hoped all but the +most violent will feel it. Herries indeed told somebody that +he had no doubt the Tories could make a Government, and +that on a dissolution they would get a Parliament that would +support them. +Parnell<a name="FNA_17_02" id="FNA_17_02"></a><a href="#FN_17_02" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> +has been turned out for not voting on +the Russian Loan affair, and Hobhouse appointed in his place. +Tennyson resigned from ill health. Parnell was properly +enough turned out, and he is a good riddance, but it is not +the same thing as turning people out on Reform. He wrote an +excellent book on finance, but he was a very bad Secretary +at War, a rash economical innovator, and a bad man of business +in its details. After waiting till the last moment for +the arrival of the Russian ratification, the French and +English signed the Belgian treaty alone, and the others are +to sign after as their powers arrive.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_17_02" id="FN_17_02"></a><a href="#FNA_17_02"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> +[Sir Henry Parnell had been appointed Secretary at War on the formation +of Lord Grey’s Ministry. He had exasperated his colleagues by +entering upon an unauthorised negotiation with the French Post Office, without +the knowledge of the Duke of Richmond, then Postmaster-General, +and by encouraging Joseph Hume to bring on a motion against the Post +Office. Hume brought this letter to the Duke of Richmond, who was indignant +and laid the whole matter before Lord Grey, who behaved very well +about it. Parnell narrowly escaped dismissal at that time, and on his next +sign of disaffection to the Government he was turned out of office.]</p></div> + +<h3>February 4th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Called on Lord Harrowby in the morning; +found him in very bad spirits, as well he might, for to all +the invitations he had written to Peers he had received +either refusals or no reply, so that he augurs ill of their +attempt. Carnarvon and Talbot refused; these besotted, +predestinated Tories <i>will</i> follow the Duke; the Duke <i>will</i> +oppose all Reform because he said he would. Those who are +inclined will not avow their conversion to moderate principles, +and so they will go on, waiting and staring at one another, +till one fine day the Peers will come out in the ‘Gazette.’ +The thing looks ill. Dined with Lord Holland. Melbourne, +who was there, asked me if I had heard from Wharncliffe, +but I did not tell him of Lord Harrowby’s refusals.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +Falck dined there, and in conversation about the Russian +Loan he told us the original history of it. The Emperor of +Russia had borrowed ninety millions of florins, and when his +concurrence and support were desired to the new kingdom of +the Netherlands he proposed in return that the King of Holland +should take this debt off his hands. The King said he +would gladly meet his wishes, but could not begin by making +himself unpopular with his new subjects and saddling them +with this debt. Whereupon England interposed, and an arrangement +was made [in 1815] by which Russia, England, +and the King of the Netherlands divided the debt into three +equal shares, each taking one. With reference to the argument +that the countries being divided we ought no longer to +pay our share, Falck said the King of the Netherlands had not +refused to pay on those grounds, that he had only (with reference +to his heavy expenses) expressed his present inability +and asked for time, which the Emperor of Russia had agreed +to. What he meant was that the kingdoms were not as yet +<i>de jure</i> separated, and that the <i>casus</i> had not yet arrived. +This, however, is nothing to the purpose, for the King and the +Emperor understand one another very well, and it is not likely +that the King should do anything to supply us with a motive +or a pretext for refusing our <i>quota</i> to his imperial ally. +Brougham’s speech on the Russian Loan everybody agrees to +have been super-excellent—‘a continued syllogism from the +beginning to the end.’ Lord Holland said, and the Duke of +Wellington (I am told) declared, it was the best speech he +had ever heard.</p> + +<h3>February 5th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Met Melbourne yesterday evening, and +turned back and walked with him; talked over the state of +affairs. He said Government were very much annoyed at +their division in the House of Commons, though Brougham +had in some measure repaired that disaster in the House of +Lords; that it became more difficult to resist making Peers +as Government exhibited greater weakness. I told him the +Tories were so unmanageable because they wished to drive +out the Government, and thought they could. Dined at the +Sheriff’s dinner—not unpleasant—and went in the evening +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">MACAULAY AT HOLLAND HOUSE.</span> +to Lady Harrowby; Lord Harrowby gone to his brothers’. +Melbourne had told me that he had spoken to Haddington, +and I found Haddington had given a report of what he said +such as I am sure Melbourne did not mean to convey; the +upshot of which was that there was only one man in the +Cabinet who wished to make Peers, that there was no immediate +danger, and that it would do more harm than +good if they declared themselves without a good number of +adherents. Called this morning on Lady C., who said that +Melbourne was in fact very much annoyed at his position, +wanted <i>caractčre</i>, was wretched at having been led so far, +and tossed backwards and forwards between opposite sentiments +and feelings; that he thought the Government very +weak, and that they would not stand, and in fact that he did +not desire they should remain in, but the contrary. And +this is Frederick’s opinion too, who has great influence over +him, while at the same time he is rather jealous of Frederick.</p> + +<h3>February 6th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Dined yesterday with Lord Holland; came +very late, and found a vacant place between Sir George +Robinson and a common-looking man in black. As soon as +I had time to look at my neighbour, I began to speculate (as +one usually does) as to who he might be, and as he did not +for some time open his lips except to eat, I settled that he +was some obscure man of letters or of medicine, perhaps a +cholera doctor. In a short time the conversation turned +upon early and late education, and Lord Holland said he +had always remarked that self-educated men were peculiarly +conceited and arrogant, and apt to look down upon the +generality of mankind, from their being ignorant of how much +other people knew; not having been at public schools, they are +uninformed of the course of general education. My neighbour +observed that he thought the most remarkable example of +self-education was that of Alfieri, who had reached the age +of thirty without having acquired any accomplishment save +that of driving, and who was so ignorant of his own language +that he had to learn it like a child, beginning with elementary +books. Lord Holland quoted Julius Cćsar and Scaliger +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +as examples of late education, said that the latter had been +wounded, and that he had been married and commenced +learning Greek the same day, when my neighbour remarked +‘that he supposed his learning Greek was not an instantaneous +act like his marriage.’ This remark, and the manner of it, +gave me the notion that he was a dull fellow, for it came +out in a way which bordered on the ridiculous, so as to excite +something like a sneer. I was a little surprised to hear him +continue the thread of conversation (from Scaliger’s wound) +and talk of Loyola having been wounded at Pampeluna. I +wondered how he happened to know anything about Loyola’s +wound. Having thus settled my opinion, I went on eating +my dinner, when Auckland, who was sitting opposite to me, +addressed my neighbour, ‘Mr. Macaulay, will you drink a +glass of wine?’ I thought I should have dropped off my chair. +It was <span class="smcap">Macaulay</span>, the man I had been so long most curious +to see and to hear, whose genius, eloquence, astonishing knowledge, +and diversified talents have excited my wonder and +admiration for such a length of time, and here I had been +sitting next to him, hearing him talk, and setting him down +for a dull fellow. I felt as if he could have read my thoughts, +and the perspiration burst from every pore of my face, and +yet it was impossible not to be amused at the idea. It was +not till Macaulay stood up that I was aware of all the +vulgarity and ungainliness of his appearance; not a ray of +intellect beams from his countenance; a lump of more ordinary +clay never enclosed a powerful mind and lively imagination. +He had a cold and sore throat, the latter of which +occasioned a constant contraction of the muscles of the +thorax, making him appear as if in momentary danger of a +fit. His manner struck me as not pleasing, but it was not +assuming, unembarrassed, yet not easy, unpolished, yet not +coarse; there was no kind of usurpation of the conversation, +no tenacity as to opinion or facts, no assumption of superiority, +but the variety and extent of his information were soon +apparent, for whatever subject was touched upon he evinced +the utmost familiarity with it; quotation, illustration, anecdote, +seemed ready in his hands for every topic. Primogeniture +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">RELUCTANCE TO MAKE PEERS.</span> +in this country, in others, and particularly in ancient +Rome, was the principal topic, I think, but Macaulay was +not certain what was the law of Rome, except that when a +man died intestate his estate was divided between his children. +After dinner Talleyrand, and Madame de Dino came +in. He was introduced to Talleyrand, who told him that he +meant to go to the House of Commons on Tuesday, and that +he hoped he would speak, ‘qu’il avait entendu tous les +grands orateurs, et il désirait ŕ présent entendre Monsieur +Macaulay.’</p> + +<h3>February 7th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Called on Melbourne. He said he had +not meant Haddington to understand that it was desirable +the declaration should be delayed; on the contrary, that it +was desirable Ministers should be informed as speedily as possible +of the intentions of our friends and of the force they +can command, but that if only a few declared themselves, +they would certainly be liable to the suspicion that they +could not get adherents; he added that every man in the +Government (except one) was aware of the desperate nature +of the step they were about to take (that man of course +being Durham.) I told him that his communication to +Haddington had to a certain degree had the effect of +paralysing my exertions, and he owned it was imprudent. +I was, however, extremely surprised to hear what he said +about the Cabinet, and I asked him if it really was so, and +that all the members of it were <i>bonâ fide</i> alarmed at, and +averse to, the measure; that I had always believed that, with +the exception of those who were intimate with him, they all +wanted the pretext in order to establish their power. He +said no, they really all were conscious of the violence of the +measure, and desirous of avoiding it; that Lord Grey had +been so from the beginning, but that Durham was always at +him, and made him fall into his violent designs; that it was +‘a reign of terror,’ but that Durham could do with him what +he pleased. What a picture of secret degradation and imbecility +in the towering and apparently haughty Lord Grey! I +told Melbourne that it was important to gain time, that there +was an appearance of a thaw among the 199, but that most +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +of them were in the country; communications by letter +were difficult and unsatisfactory; that many were averse to +breaking up the party or leaving the Duke—in short, from +one cause or another doubtful and wavering; that it was not +to be expected they should at a moment’s warning take this +new line, in opposition to the opinions and conduct of their +old leaders, and that when Lord Harrowby was exerting +himself indefatigably to bring them to reason, and to render +a measure unnecessary which in the opinion of the Cabinet +itself was fraught with evil, it was fair and just to give him +time to operate. He said this was very true, but that time +was likewise required to execute the measure of a creation of +Peers, that people must be invited, the patents made out, &c. +We then parted. Downstairs was Rothschild the Jew +waiting for him, and the <i>valet de chambre</i> sweeping away a +<i>bonnet</i> and a <i>shawl</i>.</p> + +<p>On my way from Melbourne called on Lord Harrowby, +and read a variety of letters—answers from different Peers to +his letters, Wharncliffe’s correspondence with the Duke of +Wellington, and Peel’s answer to Lord Harrowby. Wharncliffe +wrote a long and very conciliatory letter to the Duke, +nearly to the effect of Lord Harrowby’s circular, and containing +the same arguments, to which the Duke replied by a long +letter, written evidently in a very ill humour, and such a +galimatias as I never read, angry, ill expressed, and confused, +and from which it was difficult to extract anything intelligible +but this, ‘that he was aware of the consequences of the +course he should adopt himself,’ and wished the House of +Lords to adopt, viz., the same as last year, but that be those +consequences what they might, the responsibility would not +lie on his shoulders, but on those of the Government; he +acknowledged that a creation of Peers would swamp the +House of Lords, and, by so doing, destroy the Constitution, +but the Government would be responsible, not he, for the ruin +that would ensue; that he was aware some Reform was +necessary (in so far departing from his former declaration of +the 30th of November), but he would neither propose anything +himself, nor take this measure, nor try and amend it.’ In +short, he will do nothing but talk nonsense, despair, and be +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">PEEL’S DESPONDENCY.</span> +obstinate, and then he is hampered by declarations (from +which he now sees himself that he must dissent), and obliged +from causes connected with the Catholic question and the Test +and Corporation Acts to attend more to the consistency of +his own character than to the exigencies of the country, but +with much more personal authority than anybody, and still +blindly obeyed and followed by men many of whom take +very rational and dispassionate views of the subject, but who +still are resolved to sacrifice their own sense to his folly. He +really has accomplished being a prophet in his own country, +not from the sagacity of his predictions, but from the blind +worship of his devotees.</p> + +<p>Peel’s letter, though arriving at the same conclusion, was +in a very different style. It certainly was an able production, +well expressed and plausibly argued, with temper and +moderation. He owned that much was to be said on the +side of the question which he does not espouse, but the +reasons by which he says he is mainly governed are these: +that it is of vital importance to preserve the consistency of +the party to which we are to look for future safety, and that +when this excitement has passed away the conduct of the +anti-Reformers will have justice done to it. But there is a +contradiction which pervades his argument, for he treats the +subject as if all hope had vanished of saving the country, +‘desperat de republicâ,’ and he does not promise himself present +advantage from the firmness and consistency of the +Tories, but taking it in connection with the folly and wickedness +of the other party (who he is persuaded bitterly regret +their own precipitate violence and folly), he expects it to +prove serviceable as an example and beacon to future generations. +All the evils that have been predicted may flow +from this measure when carried into complete operation, but +it is neither statesmanlike nor manly to throw up the game +in despair, and surrender every point, and waive every compensation, +in order to preserve the consistency of himself and +his own party, not that their consistency is to produce any +advantage, but that hereafter it</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">May point a moral or adorn a tale.</span> +</div></div> + +<p style="text-indent: 0em;"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +So senseless is this, that it is clear to me that it is not his +real feeling, and that he promises himself some personal advantage +from the adoption of such a course. Peel ‘loves’ +himself, ‘not wisely but too well.’</p> + +<h3>February 9th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Yesterday I met Lord Grey and rode with +him. I told him that the Tories were pleased at his speech +about the Irish Tithes. He said ‘he did not know why, for +he had not said what he did with a view to please them.’ I +said because they looked upon it as an intimation that the old +Protestant ascendency was to be restored. He rejected very +indignantly that idea, and said he had never contemplated +any ascendency but that of the law and the Government. I +said I knew that, but that they had been so long used to +consider themselves as the sole representatives of the law +and the Government, that they took the assertion he had +made as a notification that their authority was again to be +exercised as in bygone times. He then asked me if I knew +what Lord Harrowby had done, said he had spoken to him, +that he was placed in a difficult position and did not know +what to do. I said that Harrowby was exerting himself, that +time was required to bring people round, that I had reason +to believe Harrowby had made a great impression, but that +most of the Peers of that party were out of town, and it was +impossible to expect them on the receipt of a letter of invitation +and advice to reply by return of post that they would +abandon their leaders and their party, and change their +whole opinions and course of action, that I expected the +Archbishop and Bishop of London would go with him, +and that they would carry the bench. He said the +Bishop of London he had already talked to, that the +Archbishop was such a poor, miserable creature that +there was no dependence to be placed on him, that he would +be frightened and vote any way his fear directed. Then he +asked, how many had they <i>sure</i>? I said, ‘At this moment not +above eight Lords and eight bishops.’ He said that was not +enough. I said I knew that, but he must have patience, and +should remember that when the Duke of Wellington brought +the Catholic Bill into the House of Commons he had a majority +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">CONVERSATION WITH LORD GREY.</span> +on paper against him in the House of Lords of twenty-five, +and he carried the Bill by a hundred. He said he should like +to talk to Harrowby again, which I pressed him to do, and +he said he would. I find Lord John Russell sent for Sandon, +and told him that he and the others were really anxious to +avoid making Peers, and entreated him to get something done +by his father and his associates as soon as possible, that +there was no time to be lost, that he should not deny that he +wished Peers to be made, not now, but after the Reform Bill +had passed. I called on Lord Harrowby in the afternoon, +and found him half dead with a headache and dreadfully +irritable. Letters had come (which he had not seen) from +Lord Bagot refusing, Lord Carteret ditto, and very impertinently, +and Lord Calthorpe adhering. I told him what had +passed between Lord Grey and me. He said their insolence +had been hitherto so great in refusing to listen to any terms +(at the meeting of the six), and in refusing every concession +in the House of Commons and not tolerating the slightest +alteration, that he despaired of doing anything with them, +that Lord Grey had told him he could not agree to make a +sham resistance in Committee, but that he on the other hand +would not agree to go into Committee, except on an express +understanding that they should not avail themselves of the +probable disunion of the Tories to carry all the details of +their Bill. The difficulties are immense, but if Grey and +Harrowby get together, it is possible something may be done, +provided they will approach each other in a <i>spirit</i> of compromise. +It is certainly easier now, and very different from +the House of Commons, where I have always thought they +<i>could</i> make no concession. In the House of Lords they may +without difficulty. I dread the obstinate of both parties.</p> + +<h3>February 11th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Wharncliffe came to town on Thursday +and called on me. At Brighton he had seen Sir Andrew +Barnard, and showed him the correspondence with the +Duke of Wellington, telling him at the same time he might +mention it to Taylor if he liked, and if Taylor had any +wish to see it he should. Accordingly Taylor sent him +word he should be glad to have an interview with him. They +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> +met at Lord Wharncliffe’s house and had a long conversation, +in the course of which Taylor gave him to understand that +it was quite true that the King had consented to everything +about the creation of Peers, but <i>multa gemens</i>, and that he +was much alarmed, and could not endure the thought of this +measure. The end was that a memorandum was drawn up +of the conversation, and of Wharncliffe’s sentiments and +intentions, which were much the same as those he had put +forth at the time of the old negotiations. This was taken +away by Taylor and shown to the King, and copies of it +were forwarded to Grey, Brougham, and Melbourne. The +next day Wharncliffe dined with the King, and after dinner +his Majesty took him aside and said, ‘I have seen your +paper, and I agree with every word you say; we are indeed +in a scrape, and we must get out of it as we can. I only +wish everybody was as reasonable and as moderate as you, +and then we might do so perhaps without difficulty.’ That +the King is alarmed is pretty clear, but it is more probable +that his alarm may influence his Ministers than himself, and +it looks very much as if it had done so. Sir H. Taylor likewise +told Wharncliffe that the Duke of Wellington had written +a letter which had been laid before the King, and had given +him great offence, and that it certainly was such a letter as +was unbecoming in any subject to write. This letter is +supposed to have been addressed to Strangford; it got into +Londonderry’s hands, and he laid it before the King (upon +the occasion of his going with some address to Brighton), +who desired it might be left with him till the next day. The +reason why they think it was Strangford is that the word +‘Viscount’ was apparent at the bottom, but the name was +erased. In the meantime Harrowby has had some conversation +with Lord Lansdowne, who pressed the necessity of +making a demonstration of their strength, and added that +if the Archbishop could be induced to declare himself that +would be sufficient. Lord Harrowby is accordingly working +incessantly upon the Archbishop on the one hand, while he +exhorts to patience and reliance on the other. Yesterday +he took a high tone with Lord Lansdowne, told him that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">WELLINGTON AND WHARNCLIFFE.</span> +he had, as he firmly believed, as many as twenty-five Lords, +lay and spiritual, with him, which would make a difference +of fifty, but that as to a public irrevocable pledge, it was not +to be had, and that Lord Grey must place confidence in his +belief and reliance upon his exertions, or, if not, he must +take his own course. Upon Lord Grey’s meeting with him, +and the Archbishop’s being brought to the post, the matter +now hinges.</p> + +<p>In the meantime I have discovered the cause of the +Duke of Wellington’s peevish reply to Wharncliffe, and +the reason why Lord Harrowby’s letter to Lord Bagot was +unanswered for ten days, and then couched in terms so different +from what might have been expected. Lord Howe +was at Bliffield at the time, and they, between them, sent +Harrowby’s letter up to the Duke of Wellington, who of +course wrote his sentiments in reply. For this they waited, +and on this Lord Bagot acted. My brother told me yesterday +that the Duke had seen the letter, and that <i>Lord Howe</i> +had been the person who sent it him. This explains it all. +Wharncliffe’s letter was but another version of Lord +Harrowby’s, and he had therefore in fact seen it before, +but seen it addressed to those whom he considered bound +to him and his views, and I have no doubt he was both +angry and jealous at Lord Harrowby’s interference. Nothing +could be more uncandid and unjustifiable than Lord Bagot’s +conduct, for he never asked Lord Harrowby’s leave to communicate +the letter, nor told him that he had done so; on +the contrary, he gave him to understand that the delay (for +which he made many apologies) was owing to his reflection +and his consulting his brother the bishop. The Duke, no +doubt, gave him his own sentiments; yet, in his letter to +Wharncliffe, he says ‘he has not endeavoured to influence +anybody, nor shall he;’ and at the same time eludes the +essential question ‘whether he will support in Committee.’ +So much for Tory candour. As to the Duke, he is evidently +piqued and provoked to the quick; his love of power and +authority are as great as ever, and he can’t endure to see +anybody withdrawn from his influence; provoked with himself +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> +and with everybody else, his mind is clouded by passion and +prejudice, and the consequences are the ill-humour he displays +and the abominable nonsense he writes, and yet the +great mass of these Tories follow the Duke, go where he will, +let the consequences be what they may, and without requiring +even a reason; <i>sic vult sic jubet</i> is enough for them. One +thing that gives me hopes is the change in the language of +the friends of Government out of doors—Dover, for instance, +who has been one of the noisiest of the bawlers for Peers. +I walked with him from the House of Lords the night before +last, and he talked only of the break-up of the 199, and of +the activity of Harrowby and Wharncliffe and its probable +effects.</p> + +<h3>February 14th, 1832</h3> + +<p>On Saturday evening I found Melbourne +at the Home Office in his lazy, listening, silent humour, disposed +to hear everything and to say very little; told me that +Dover and Sefton were continually <i>at</i> the Chancellor to make +Peers, and that they both, particularly the latter, had great +influence with him. Brougham led by Dover and Sefton!! +I tried to impress upon him the necessity of giving Harrowby +credit, and not exacting what was not to be had, viz., the +<i>pledges</i> of the anti-Reformers to vote for the second reading. +He owned that in their case he would not pledge himself +either. I put before him as strongly as I could all the various +arguments for resisting this desperate measure of making +Peers (to which he was well inclined to assent), and pressed +upon him the importance of not exasperating the Tories and +the Conservative party to the last degree, and placing such +an impassable barrier between public men on both sides as +should make it impossible for them to reunite for their common +interest and security hereafter.</p> + +<p>In the evening I got a message from Palmerston to beg +I would call on him, which I did at the Foreign Office yesterday. +He is infinitely more alert than Melbourne, and +more satisfactory to talk to, because he enters with more +warmth and more detail into the subject. He began by +referring to the list of Peers likely to vote for the second +reading, which I showed to him. At the same time I told +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">CONVERSATION WITH LORD PALMERSTON.</span> +him that though he might make use of the information +generally as far as expressing his own belief that Lord +Harrowby would have a sufficient following, he must not +produce the list or quote the names, for, in fact, not one of +them had given any authority to be so counted; that he must +be aware there were persons who would be glad to mar our +projects, and they could not more effectually do so than by +conveying to these Peers the use that had been made of their +names. To all this he agreed entirely. He then talked of +the expediency of a declaration from Lord Harrowby, and +how desirable it was that it should be made soon, and be supported +by as many as could be induced to come forward; that +Lord Grey had said to him very lately that he really believed +he should be obliged to create Peers. I said that my persuasion +was that it would be quite unnecessary to do so <i>to +carry the second reading</i>; that nothing was required but +confidence in Lord Harrowby, and that his character and +his conduct on this occasion entitled him to expect it from +them; that if they were sincere in their desire to avoid this +measure they would trust to his exertions; that I knew very +well the efforts that were made to force this measure on +Lord Grey; that it was in furtherance of this that +Duncombe’s<a name="FNA_17_03" id="FNA_17_03"></a><a href="#FN_17_03" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> +ridiculous affair in the House of Commons had +been got up, which had been such a complete failure; but +that I could not believe Lord Grey would suffer himself to +be bullied into it by such despicable means, and by the +clamour of such men as Duncombe and O’Connell, urged on +by friends of his own. He said this was very true, but the +fact was they could not risk the rejection of the Bill again; +that he knew from a variety of communications that an explosion +would inevitably follow its being thrown out on the +second reading; that he had had letters from Scotland and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> +other places, and had no doubt that such would be the case. I +said that he would find it very difficult to persuade our friends +of this, and it appeared to me as clear as possible that the +feeling for the Bill and the excitement had subsided; that +they might be to a certain degree renewed by its rejection, +but no man could doubt that modifications in it, which would +have been impossible a few months ago, would now be +easy; that if it was not for that unfortunate declaration +of Lord Grey, by which he might consider himself bound, he +might safely consent to such changes as would make the +adjustment of the question no difficult matter; that with +regard to the rejection of the Bill, whatever excitement it +might produce, it was evident the Government had an +immediate remedy; they had only to prorogue Parliament +for a week and make their Peers, and they would <i>then</i> have +an excellent pretext—indeed, so good a one that it was inconceivable +to me that they should hesitate for a moment in +adopting that course. This he did not deny. I then told +him of the several conversations between Lord Harrowby +and Lords Grey and Lansdowne, and mine with Lord +Grey; that Lord Harrowby protested against Lord Grey’s +availing himself of any disunion among the Opposition (produced +by his support of the second reading) to carry those +points, to resist which would be the sole object of Lord +Harrowby in seceding from his party; and that Lord Grey +had said he could not make a sham resistance. Palmerston +said, ‘We have brought in a Bill which we have made as +good as we can; it is for you to propose any alterations you +wish to make in it, and if you can beat us, well and good. +There are indeed certain things which, if carried against us, +would be so fatal to the principle of the Bill that Lord +Grey would not consider it worth carrying if so amended; +but on other details he is ready to submit, if they should be +carried against him.’ I said that would not do, that I must +refer him to the early negotiations and the disposition which +was then expressed to act upon a principle of mutual concession; +that when Lord Harrowby and his friends were prepared +to concede to its fullest extent the principle of disfranchisement +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">CONVERSATION WITH LORD PALMERSTON.</span> +(though they might propose alterations in a +few particulars), they had a right to expect that the Government +should surrender without fighting some of those +equivalents or compensations which they should look for in +the alterations or additions they might propose. He said +that ‘while Lord Harrowby was afraid that Ministers might +avail themselves of his weakness to carry their details, <i>they</i> +were afraid lest Lord Harrowby and his friends should unite +with the ultra-Tories to beat them in Committee on some of +the essential clauses of the Bill.’ I replied, then it was fear +for fear, and under the circumstances the best thing was an +understanding that each party should act towards the other +in a spirit of good faith, and without taking any accidental +advantage that might accrue either way. We then discussed +the possibility of an agreement upon the details, and he +enquired what they would require. I told him that they +would require an alteration of Schedule B to exclude the +town voters from county representation, perhaps to vary the +franchise, and some other things, with regard to which I +could not speak positively at the moment. He said he thought +some alteration might be made in Schedule B, particularly +in giving all the towns double members, by cutting off the +lower ones that had one; that it was intended no man should +have a vote for town and county on the <i>same</i> qualification, +and he believed there were very few who would possess the +double right. That I said would make it more easy to give +up, and it was a thing the others laid great stress upon. He +seemed to think it might be done. As to the 10ℓ., he said he +had at first been disposed to consider it too low, but he had +changed his mind, and now doubted if it would not turn out to +be too high. We then talked of the metropolitan members, +to which I said undoubtedly they wished to strike them off, +but they knew very well the Government desired it equally. +We agreed that I should get from Lord Harrowby specifically +what he would require, and he would give me in return what +concessions the Government would probably be disposed to +make; that these should be communicated merely as the +private opinions of individuals, and not as formal proposals; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> +and we should try and blend them together into some feasible +compromise.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_17_03" id="FN_17_03"></a><a href="#FNA_17_03"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> +Duncombe brought forward a petition from six men at Barnet complaining +that they had been entrapped into signing Lord Verulam’s and Lord +Salisbury’s address to the King. The object was to produce a discussion +about the Peers. It totally failed, but it was got up with an openness that +was indecent by Durham and that crew, who were all (Durham, Sefton, Mulgrave, +Dover) under the gallery to hear it. The thing was ridiculed by Peel, +fell flat upon the House, and excited disgust and contempt out of it.</p></div> + +<p>I afterwards saw the Duke of Richmond, who said that +Dover and Sefton had both attacked him for being against +making Peers, and he should like to know how they knew +it. I told him, from the Chancellor, to be sure, and added +how they were always working at him and the influence +they had with him. He said the Chancellor’s being for +making Peers was not enough to carry the question; that if +it was done it must be by a minute of the Cabinet, with the +names of the dissentients appended to it; and then the King +must determine; that if the dissentients seceded upon it it +would be impossible. He recollected, when there was a +question of making Peers on the Catholic question by the +Duke of Wellington, that he and some others had resolved, +should it have been done, to avail themselves of the power of +the House to come down day after day and move adjournments +before any of the new Peers could take their seats; +that the same course might be adopted now, though it would +produce a revolution. I told him that I had little doubt +there were men who would not scruple to adopt any course, +however violent, that the power of Parliament would admit +of; that there were several who were of opinion that the +creation of Peers would at once lay the Constitution prostrate +and bring about a revolution; that they considered it would +be not a remote and uncertain, but a sure and proximate +event, and if by accelerating it they could crush their opponents +they would do so without hesitation.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the cholera has made its appearance in +London, at Rotherhithe, Limehouse, and in a ship off Greenwich—in +all seven cases. These are amongst the lowest and +most wretched classes, chiefly Irish, and a more lamentable +exhibition of human misery than that given by the medical +men who called at the Council Office yesterday I never heard. +They are in the most abject state of poverty, without beds to +lie upon. The men live by casual labour, are employed by +the hour, and often get no more than four or five hours’ +employment in the course of the week. They are huddled +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">INTERVIEW OF LORD HARROWBY AND LORD GREY.</span> +and crowded together by families in the same room, not as +permanent lodgers, but procuring a temporary shelter; in +short, in the most abject state of physical privation and +moral degradation that can be imagined. On Saturday we +had an account of one or more cases. We sent instantly +down to inspect the district and organise a Board of Health. +A meeting was convened, and promises given that all things +needful should be done, but as they met at a public-house they +all got drunk and did nothing. We have sent down members +of the Board of Health, to make preparations and organise +boards; but, if the disease really spreads, no human power +can arrest its progress through such an Augean stable.</p> + +<h3>February 14th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Dined with Lord Harrowby, and communicated +conversation with Palmerston and Melbourne. +He has not been able to decide the Archbishop, who is on and +off, and can’t make up his mind. Lord Harrowby is going +to Lord Grey to talk with him. The Tories obstinate as +mules. The Duke of Buccleuch, who had got Harrowby’s +letter, and copied it himself that he might know it by heart, +has made up his mind to vote the other way, as he did before; +Lord Wallace (after a long correspondence) the same. There +can be little doubt that they animate one another, and their +cry is ‘to stick to the Duke of Wellington.’ The cholera is +established, and yesterday formal communications were made +to the Lord Mayor and to the Secretary of State for Foreign +Affairs that London was no longer healthy.</p> + +<h3>February 17th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Wharncliffe came to town the night +before last, it having been settled that Harrowby was to go to +Lord Grey yesterday morning. After consultation we agreed +he had better go alone, that it would be less formal, and that +Lord Grey would be more disposed to open himself. The same +evening, at Madame de Lieven’s ball, Melbourne and Palmerston +both told me that Grey was in an excellent disposition. +However, yesterday morning Harrowby had such a +headache that he was not fit to go alone, so the two went. +Nothing could be more polite than Grey, and on the whole +the interview was satisfactory. Nothing was agreed upon, +all left <i>dans le vague</i>; but a disposition to mutual confidence +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +was evinced, and I should think it pretty safe that no Peers +will be made. Lord Grey told them that if they could +relieve him from the necessity of creating Peers he should +be sincerely obliged to them, showed them a letter from the +King containing the most unlimited power for the purpose, +and said that, armed with that authority, if the Bill could be +passed in no other way, it must be so. A minute was drawn +up to this effect, of which Wharncliffe showed me a copy +last night.</p> + +<p>‘Lords Harrowby and Wharncliffe cannot give any +names, or pledge themselves to any particular persons or +numbers who will support their views, but they have no +doubt in their own minds that there will be, <i>in the event of +no creation of Peers</i>, a sufficient number to carry the second +reading of the Bill. In voting themselves for the second +reading, their intention is to propose such alterations in Committee +as, in their opinion, can alone render it a measure +fit to be passed into law, and in the event of their being +unable to effect the changes they deem indispensable, they +reserve to themselves the power of opposing the Bill in its +subsequent stages. Lord Grey considers the great principles +of the Bill of such vital importance that he could not agree +to any alteration in them, but admits that a modification of +its details need not be fatal to it, reserving to himself, if any +of its vital principles should be touched, the power of taking +such ulterior measures as he may find necessary to ensure +its success. Lords Harrowby and Wharncliffe are prepared +to make a declaration of their sentiments and intentions in +the House of Lords at a proper time, that time to be a subject +of consideration; and in the event of their having reason to +believe that their present expectations are not likely to be +fulfilled, they will feel bound to give Lord Grey information +thereof, in order that he may take such measures as he may +think right.’<a name="FNA_17_04" id="FNA_17_04"></a><a href="#FN_17_04" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_17_04" id="FN_17_04"></a><a href="#FNA_17_04"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> +This is the substance, not a textual copy.</p></div> + +<p>At present the principal difficulty promises to be the 10ℓ. +clause. Lord Grey seemed to think this could not be altered. +Wharncliffe asked if it might not be modified, and so settled +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">DISTRESS IN BETHNAL GREEN.</span> +as to secure its being a <i>bonâ fide</i> 10ℓ. clause, from which Lord +Grey did not dissent, but answered rather vaguely.</p> + +<p>In the meantime I think some progress is made in the +work of conversion. Harris has gone back, and Wilton, +whom I always doubted. I doubt anybody within the immediate +sphere of the Duke, but Wynford is well disposed, +and the Archbishop has nearly given in. His surrender would +clinch the matter. I am inclined to think we shall get through +the second reading. Lord Grey was attacked by Madame de +Lieven the other day, who told him he was naturally all +that is right-minded and good, but was supposed to be influenced +against his own better judgment by those about him. +She also said something to the Duke of Wellington about +Lord Harrowby, to which he replied that Lord Harrowby +‘était une mauvaise tęte!’ Very amusing from him, but he +is provoked to death that anybody should venture to desert +from him.</p> + +<p>The cholera has produced more alertness than alarm here; +in fact, at present it is a mere trifle—in three days twenty-eight +persons. Nothing like the disorders which rage +unheeded every year and every day among the lower orders. +It is its name, its suddenness, and its frightful symptoms +that terrify. The investigations, however, into the condition +of the different parishes have brought to light dreadful cases +of poverty and misery. A man came yesterday from Bethnal +Green with an account of that district. They are all +weavers, forming a sort of separate community; there they +are born, there they live and labour, and there they die. +They neither migrate nor change their occupation; they +can do nothing else. They have increased in a ratio at +variance with any principles of population, having nearly +tripled in twenty years, from 22,000 to 62,000. They are +for the most part out of employment, and can get none; 1,100 +are crammed into the poor-house, five or six in a bed; +6,000 receive parochial relief. The parish is in debt; every +day adds to the number of paupers and diminishes that of +ratepayers. These are principally small shopkeepers, who +are beggared by the rates. The district is in a complete +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> +state of insolvency and hopeless poverty, yet they multiply, +and while the people look squalid and dejected, as if borne +down by their wretchedness and destitution, the children +thrive and are healthy. Government is ready to interpose +with assistance, but what can Government do? We asked +the man who came what could be done for them. He said +‘employment,’ and employment is impossible.</p> + +<h3>February 20th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Lord Grey was very much pleased with +the result of his interview, and expresses unbounded reliance +on Lord Harrowby’s honour. The ultras, of course, +will give him no credit, and don’t believe he can command +votes enough; ‘l’affaire marche, mais lentement,’ and the +seceders (or those we hope will be so) will not declare themselves +positively. There is no prevailing upon them. The +Archbishop is with us one day, and then doubts, though I +think we shall have him at last. A good deal of conversation +passed between Grey and Harrowby, which the latter +considers confidential and won’t repeat. It was about the +details; the substance of the minute he feels at liberty to +communicate. By way of an episode, news came last night +of an insurrection of the slaves in Jamaica, in which fifty-two +plantations had been destroyed. It was speedily suppressed +by Willoughby Cotton, and the ringleaders were +executed by martial law.</p> + +<h3>February 23rd, 1832</h3> + +<p>At Court yesterday; long conversation +with Melbourne, and in the evening with Charles Wood and +Richmond, who is more alarmed about the Peers. Melbourne +had got an idea that Lord Harrowby’s letter, which +had been reported if not shown to the Government, had +done a great deal of harm, inasmuch as it set forth so +strongly the same arguments to the Tories to show them +the danger of letting Peers be made that Durham and Co. +make use of as an argument for the same. I promised to +show it him, and replied that they could not expect Lord +Harrowby to do anything but employ the arguments that +are most likely to take effect with these people, but they are +not put in an offensive manner. Melbourne said that the +King is more reconciled to the measure, i.e. that they have +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">LORD HARROWBY’S LETTER.</span> +got the foolish, old man in town and can talk him over more +readily. A discussion last night about the propriety of +making a declaration to-day in the House of Lords, when +the Duke of Rutland presents a petition against Reform. +The Archbishop will not decide; there is no moving him. +Curious that a Dr. Howley, the other day Canon of Christ +Church, a very ordinary man, should have in his hands the +virtual decision of one of the most momentous matters that +ever occupied public attention. There is no doubt that his +decision would decide the business so far. Up to this time +certainly Harrowby and Wharncliffe have no certainty of a +sufficient number for the second reading; but I think they +will have enough at last.</p> + +<h3>February 24th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Harrowby and Wharncliffe agreed, if the +Duke of Rutland on presenting his petition gave them a +good opportunity, they would speak. It was a very good +one, for the petition turned out to be one for a moderate +Reform, more in their sense than in the Duke’s own; +but the moment it was read Kenyon jumped up. Harrowby +thought he was going to speak upon it, whereas he presented +another; and I believe he was put up by the Duke +to stop any discussion.</p> + +<p>In the evening went to Lord Holland’s, when he and she +asked me about the letter. Somebody had given abstracts +of it, with the object of proving to Lord Grey that Harrowby +had been uncandid, or something like it, and had held out +to the Tories that if they would adopt his line they would +turn out the Government. Holland and the rest fancied the +letter had been written <i>since the interview</i>, but I told them it +was <i>three weeks before</i>, and I endeavoured to explain that the +abstracts must be taken in connection not only with the rest +of the text, but with the argument. Holland said Lord Grey +meant to ask Harrowby for the letter. From thence I went +to Harrowby, and told him this. He said he would not show +it, that Grey had no right to ask for a private letter written +by him weeks before to one of his friends, and it was beneath +him to answer for and explain anything he had thought fit +to say. But he has done what will probably answer as well, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +for he has given Ebrington a copy of it for the express purpose +of going to Lord Grey and explaining anything that appears +ambiguous to him. As the business develops itself, and +the time approaches, communication becomes more open +and frequent; the Tories talk with great confidence of their +majority, and the ultra-Whigs are quite ready to believe +them; the two extreme ends are furious. Our list up to this +day presents a result of forty-three votes to thirty-seven +doubtful, out of which it is hard if a majority cannot be got. +I have no doubt now that they will take a very early opportunity +of making a declaration. Peel, in the other House, +is doing what he can to inflame and divide, and repress any +spirit of conciliation. Nothing is sure in his policy but that +it revolves round himself as the centre, and is influenced by +some view which he takes of his own future advantage, probably +the rallying of the Conservative party (as they call +themselves, though they are throwing away everything into +confusion and sinking everything by their obstinacy) and his +being at the head of it. He made a most furious and mischievous +speech.</p> + +<h3>February 29th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Ebrington took Harrowby’s letter to +Lord Grey, who was satisfied but not pleased; the date and +the circumstances (which were explained) removed all bad +impressions from his mind. Since this a garbled version (or +rather extracts) has appeared in the ‘Times,’ which endeavours +to make a great stir about it. Harrowby was very +much annoyed, and thought of sending the letter itself to +the ‘Times’ to be published at once; but Haddington and +I both urged him not, and last night he put a contradiction +in the ‘Globe.’ I have little doubt that this as well as the +former extracts came from the shop of Durham and Co., and +so Melbourne told me he thought likewise. There was a great +breeze at the last Cabinet dinner between Durham and Richmond +again on the old subject—the Peers. I believe they will +now take their chance. Our list presents forty-seven sure +votes besides the doubtful, but not many pledges. As to me, +I am really puzzled what to wish for—that is, for the success +of which party, being equally disgusted with the folly of both. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">VIOLENCE OF EXTREME PARTIES.</span> +My old aversion for the High Tories returns when I see their +conduct on this occasion. The obstinacy of the Duke, the +selfishness of Peel, the pert vulgarity of Croker, and the incapacity +of the rest are set in constant juxtaposition with +the goodness of the cause they are now defending, but which +they will mar by their way of defending it. A man is +wanting, a fresh man, with vigour enough to govern, and +who will rally round him the temperate and the moderate of +different parties—men unfettered by prejudices, connections, +and above all by pledges, expressed or implied, and who can +and will address themselves to the present state and real +wants of the country, neither terrified into concession by the +bullying of the press and the rant of public meetings and +associations, nor fondly lingering over bygone systems of +government and law. That the scattered materials exist is +probable, but the heated passion of the times has produced +so much repulsion among these various atoms that it is +difficult to foresee when a cooler temperature may permit +their cohesion into any efficient mass.</p> + +<h3>March 6th, 1842</h3> + +<p>The ultra-Whigs and ultra-Tories are both +outrageous. Day after day the ‘Times’ puts forth paragraphs, +evidently manufactured in the Durham shop, about +Harrowby’s letter, and yesterday there was one which exhibited +their mortification and rage so clearly as to be quite +amusing, praising the Duke and the Tories, and abusing +Harrowby and Wharncliffe and the moderates. In the +meantime, while Lord Grey is negotiating with Harrowby for +the express purpose of avoiding the necessity of making Peers, +Durham, his colleague and son-in-law, in conjunction with +Dover, is (or has been) going about with a paper for signature +by Peers, being a requisition to Lord Grey to make new +Peers, inviting everybody he could find to sign this by way +of assisting that course of bullying and violence he has long +pursued, but happily in vain. Lord Grey is, I believe, really +disgusted with all these proceedings; he submits and does +nothing. Richmond quarrels with Durham, Melbourne +damns him, and the rest hate him. But there he is, +frowning, sulking, bullying, and meddling, and doing all the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> +harm he can. Never certainly was there such a Government +as this, so constituted, so headed—a chief with an imposing +exterior, a commanding eloquence, and a +character<a name="FNA_17_05" id="FNA_17_05"></a><a href="#FN_17_05" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> +below +contempt, seduced and governed by anybody who will +minister to his vanity and presume upon his facility.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_17_05" id="FN_17_05"></a><a href="#FNA_17_05"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> +By character I mean what the French call <i>caractčre</i>, not that he is +wanting in honour and honesty, nor in ability, but in resolution and strength +of mind.</p></div> + +<p>There has been nothing remarkable in either House of +Parliament but an attack made by Londonderry on Plunket, +who gave him so terrific a dressing that it required to be as +<i>pachydermatous</i> as he is to stand it. He is, however, a glutton, +for he took it all, and seemed to like it. I dined with +Madame de Lieven a day or two ago, and was talking to her +about politics and political events, and particularly about the +memoirs, or journal, or whatever it be, that she has written. +She said she had done so very irregularly, but that what she +regretted was not having kept more exact records of the +events and transactions of the Belgian question (which is +not yet settled), that it was in its circumstances the most +curious that could be, and exhibited more remarkable manifestations +of character and ‘du cœur humain,’ as well as of +politics generally, than any course of events she knew. I +asked her why she did not give them now. She said it was +impossible, that the ‘nuances’ were so delicate and so numerous, +the details so nice and so varying, that unless caught +at the moment they escaped, and it was impossible to collect +them again.</p> + +<h3>March 9th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Went to Lord Holland’s the other night, and +had a violent battle with him on politics. Nobody so violent +as he, and curious as exhibiting the opinions of the ultras of +the party. About making Peers—wanted to know what +Harrowby’s real object was. I told him none but to prevent +what he thought an enormous evil. What did it signify (he +said) whether Peers were made now or later? that the present +House of Lords never could go on with a Reformed Parliament, +it being opposed to all the wants and wishes of the +people, hating the abolition of tithes, the press, and the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">IRISH NATIONAL EDUCATION.</span> +French Revolution, and that in order to make it harmonise +with the Reformed Parliament it must be amended by an +infusion of a more Liberal cast. This was the spirit of his +harangue, which might have been easily answered, for it all +goes upon the presumption that his party is that which harmonises +with the popular feeling, and what he means by +improving the character of the House is to add some fifty or +sixty men who may be willing to accept peerages upon the +condition of becoming a body-guard to this Government.</p> + +<p>The ‘Times’ yesterday and the day before attacked Lord +Grey with a virulence and indecency about the Peers that is +too much even for those who take the same line, and he now +sees where his subserviency to the press has conducted him. +In the House of Commons the night before last, Ministers +would have been beaten on the sugar duties if Baring Wall, +who had got ten people to dinner, had chosen to go down in +time.</p> + +<p>The principal subject of discussion this last week has +been the Education Board in Ireland, the object of which is +to combine the education of Catholics and Protestants by an +arrangement with regard to the religious part of their +instruction that may be compatible with the doctrines and +practice of both. This arrangement consists in there +being only certain selections from the Bible, which are +admitted generally, while particular days and hours are set +apart for the separate religious exercises of each class. +This will not do for the zealous Protestants, who bellow for +the whole Bible as Reformers do for the whole Bill. +While the whole system is crumbling to dust under their +feet, while the Church is prostrate, property of all kind +threatened, and robbery, murder, starvation, and agitation +rioting over the land, these wise legislators are debating +whether the brats at school shall read the whole Bible or +only parts of it. They do nothing but rave of the barbarism +and ignorance of the Catholics; they know that education +alone can better their moral condition, and that their religious +tenets prohibit the admission of any system of education (in +which Protestants and Catholics can be joined) except such +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> +an one as this, and yet they would rather knock the system +on the head, and prevent all the good that may flow from it, +than consent to a departure from the good old rules of Orange +ascendency and Popish subserviency and degradation, knowing +too, above all, that those who are to read and be taught +are equally indifferent to the whole Bible or to parts of it, +that they comprehend it not, have no clear and definite ideas +on the subject but as matter of debate, vehicle of dispute and +dissension, and almost of religious hatred and disunion, and +that when once they have escaped from the trammels of their +school, not one in a hundred will trouble his head about +the Bible at all, and not one in a thousand attend to its +moral precepts.</p> + +<h3>March 10th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Yesterday morning Wharncliffe came to me +to give me an account of the conversation the other day between +him and Harrowby on one side and Lords Grey and +Lansdowne on the other. Harrowby was headachy and out +of sorts. However, it went off very satisfactorily; the list +was laid before Grey, who was satisfied, and no Peers are to +be made before the second reading; but he said that if the +Bill should be carried by so small a majority as to prove that +the details could not be carried in Committee, he must reserve +the power of making Peers <i>then</i>. At this Harrowby +winced, but Wharncliffe said he thought it fair; and in fact +it is only in conformity with the protocol that was drawn up +at the last conversation. They entered into the details, and +Lord Grey said the stir that had been made about the metropolitan +members might raise difficulties, and then asked would +they agree to this, to give members to Marylebone and +throw over the rest? To this Harrowby would not agree, +greatly to Wharncliffe’s annoyance, who would have agreed, +and I think he would have been in the right. It would have +been as well to have nailed Grey to this, and if Harrowby +had not had a headache I think he would have done so. With +regard to the 10ℓ. clause, Wharncliffe <i>thinks</i> they will not +object to a modification. Grey spoke of the press, and with +just wrath and indignation of the attacks on himself. On +the whole this was good. The capture of Vandamme was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">IRISH TITHES.</span> +the consequence of a bellyache, and the metropolitan representation +depended on a headache. If the truth could be +ascertained, perhaps many of the greatest events in history +turned upon aches of one sort or another. Montaigne might +have written an essay on it.</p> + +<h3>March 12th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Durham made another exhibition of temper +at the Cabinet dinner last Wednesday. While Lord Grey +was saying something he rudely interrupted him, as his custom +is. Lord Grey said, ‘But, my dear Lambton, only hear +what I was going to say,’ when the other jumped up and +said, ‘Oh, if I am not to be allowed to speak I may as well +go away,’ rang the bell, ordered his carriage, and marched +off. Wharncliffe came to me yesterday morning to propose +writing a pamphlet in answer to the ‘Quarterly Review,’ which +has got an article against his party. I suggested instead +that an attempt should be made by Sandon (who has been +in some communication with the editor about this matter) +to induce the ‘Morning Herald’ to support us, and make +that paper the vehicle of our articles. This he agreed to, +and was to propose it to Sandon last night. We have no +advocate in the press; the Whig and Tory papers are equally +violent against us. Yesterday I saw a letter which has +been circulated among the Tories, written by young Lord +Redesdale to Lord Bathurst, a sort of counter-argument to +Lord Harrowby’s letter, although not an answer, as it was +written before he had seen that document; there is very +little in it.</p> + +<h3>March 16th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Lord Grey made an excellent speech in the +House of Lords in reply to Aberdeen’s questions about +Ancona, and Peel made another in the House of Commons +on Irish Tithes, smashing Sheil, taking high ground and +a strong position, but doing nothing towards settling the +question. He forgets that the system is bad, resting on +a false foundation, and that it has worked ill and been +bolstered up by him and his party till now it can no longer +be supported, and it threatens to carry away with it that +which is good in itself. We owe these things to those who +wilfully introduced a moral confusion of ideas into their +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> +political machinery, and, by destroying the essential distinction +between right and wrong, have deprived the things +which are right of the best part of their security. I have +never been able to understand why our system should be +made to rest on artificial props when it did not require them, +nor the meaning of that strange paradox which a certain +school of statesmen have always inculcated, that institutions +of admitted excellence required to be conjoined with others +which were founded in crime and error, and which could only +be supported by power. This has brought about Reform; it +would be easy to prove it. The Ancona affair will blow over. +George Villiers writes me word that it was a little escapade +of Périer’s, done in a hurry, a mistake, and yet he is a very +able man. Talleyrand told me ‘c’est une bętise.’ Nothing +goes on well; the world is out of joint.</p> + +<p>Fanny Kemble’s new tragedy came out last night with +complete success, written when she was seventeen, an odd +play for a girl to write. The heroine is tempted like +Isabella in ‘Measure for Measure,’ but with a different result, +which result is supposed to take place between the acts.</p> + +<h3>March 26th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Ten days since I have written anything here, +but <i>en revanche</i> I have written a pamphlet. An article appeared +in the ‘Quarterly,’ attacking Harrowby and his friends. +Wharncliffe was so desirous it should be answered that I +undertook the job, and it comes out to-day in a ‘Letter to +Lockhart, in reply,’ &c. I don’t believe anybody read the +last I wrote, but as I have published this at Ridgway’s, perhaps +it may have a more extensive sale. The events have +been the final passing of the Bill, after three nights’ debate, +by a majority of 116, ended by a very fine speech from Peel, +who has eminently distinguished himself through this fight. +Stanley closed the debate at five o’clock in the morning, with +what they say was a good and dexterous speech, but which +contained a very unnecessary dissertation about the Peers. +This, together with some words from Richmond and the +cheerfulness of Holland, makes my mind misgive me that we +shall still have them created for the Committee. The conduct +of the ultra-Tories has been so bad and so silly that I cannot +wish to bring them in, though I have a great desire to turn +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">REFORM BILL IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.</span> +the others out. As to a moderate party, it is a mere dream, +for where is the moderation? This day Lord John Russell +brings the Bill up to the House of Lords, and much indeed +depends upon what passes there. Harrowby and Wharncliffe +will make their speeches, and we shall, I conclude, have the +Duke and Lord Grey. I expect, and I beg his pardon if I am +wrong, that the Duke will make as mischievous a speech as +he can, and try to provoke declarations and pledges against +the Bill. The Ministers are exceedingly anxious that Harrowby +should confine himself to generalities, which I hope +too, for I am certain no good can, and much harm may, be +done by going into details. Grey, Holland, and Richmond all +three spoke to me about it last night, and I am going to see +what can be done with them. I should not fear Harrowby +but that he is petulant and sour; Wharncliffe is vain, and +has been excited in all this business, though with very good +and very disinterested motives, but he cannot bear patiently +the abuse and the ridicule with which both the extreme ends +endeavour to cover him, and he is uneasy under it, and what +I dread is that in making attempts to set himself right, and to +clear his character with a party who will never forgive him for +what he has done, and to whom whatever he says will be words +cast to the winds, he will flounder, and say something which +will elicit from Lord Grey some declaration that may make +matters worse than ever. What I hope and trust is that the +Government and our people will confine themselves to civil +generalities, and pledge themselves <i>de part et d’autre</i> to nothing, +and that they will not be provoked by taunts from any +quarter to depart from that prudent course.</p> + +<p>There was another breeze in the House of Lords about +Irish Education, the whole bench of bishops in a flame, +and except Maltby, who spoke <i>for</i>, all declared against the +plan—Phillpotts in a furious speech. What celestial influences +have been at work I know not, but certain it is that the +world seems going mad, individually and collectively. The +town has been more occupied this week with Dudley’s extravagancies +than the affairs of Europe. He, in fact, is mad, +but is to be cupped and starved and disciplined sound again. +It has been fine talk for the town. The public curiosity and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> +love of news is as voracious and universal as the appetite of a +shark, and, like it, loves best what is grossest and most disgusting; +anything relating to personal distress, to crime, to +passion, is greedily devoured by this monster, as Cowley calls it.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10">I see<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The monster London laugh at me;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I would at thee, too, foolish City,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But thy estate I pity.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Should all the wicked men from out thee go,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And all the fools that crowd thee so,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou, who dost thy thousands boast,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Would be a wilderness almost.—<i>Ode to Solitude</i>.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p style="text-indent: 0em"> +But of all the examples of cant, hypocrisy, party violence, I +have never seen any to be compared to the Irish Education +business; and there was Rosslyn, an old Whig, voting against; +Carnarvon stayed away, every Tory without exception going +against the measure. As to madness, Dudley has gone mad +in his own house, Perceval in the House of Commons, and +John Montague in the Park, the two latter preaching, both +Irvingites and believers in ‘the tongues.’ Dudley’s madness +took an odd turn; he would make up all his quarrels with +Lady Holland, to whom he has not spoken for sixteen years, +and he called on her, and there were tears and embraces, and +God knows what. Sydney Smith told her that she was bound +in honour to set the quarrel up again when he comes to his +senses, and put things into the <i>status quo ante pacem</i>. It +would be hard upon him to find, on getting out of a strait +waistcoat, that he had been robbed of all his hatreds and hostilities, +and seduced into the house of his oldest foe.</p> + +<h3>March 27th, 1832</h3> + +<p>I did the Duke of Wellington an injustice. +He spoke, but without any violence, in a fair and gentlemanlike +manner, a speech creditable to himself, useful and becoming. +If there was any disposition on the part of his followers to +light a flame, he at once repressed it. The whole thing went +off well; House very full; Harrowby began, and made an excellent +speech, with the exception of one mistake. He dwelt +too much on the difference between this Bill and the last, +as if the difference of his own conduct resulted from that +cause, and this I could see they were taking up in their +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.</span> +minds, and though he corrected the impression afterwards, +it will be constantly brought up against him, I have no +doubt. After him Carnarvon, who alone was violent, but short; +then Wharncliffe (I am not sure which was first of these two), +very short and rather embarrassed, expressing his concurrence +with Lord Harrowby; then the Bishop of London, +short also, but strong in his language, much more than Lord +Harrowby; then Lord Grey, temperate and very general, +harping a little too much on that confounded word <i>efficiency</i>, +denying that what he said last year bore the interpretation +that had been put upon it, and announcing that he would +give his best consideration to any amendments, a very good +speech; then the Duke, in a very handsome speech, +acknowledging that he was not against all Reform, though +he was against this Bill, because he did not think if it passed +it would be possible to carry on the government of the +country, but promising that if the Bill went into Committee +he would give his constant attendance, and do all in his +power to make it as safe a measure as possible. So finished +this important evening, much to the satisfaction of the moderate, +and to the disgust of the violent party. I asked Lord +Holland if he was satisfied (in the House after the debate), +and he said, ‘Yes, yes, very well, but the Bishop’s the man;’ +and in the evening at Lord Grey’s I found they were all full +of the Bishop. Lord Grey said to me, ‘Well, you will allow +that I behaved very well?’ I said, ‘Yes, very, but the whole +thing was satisfactory, I think.’ ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘on the whole, +but they were a little too strong, too violent against the +Bill,’ because Harrowby had declared that he felt the same +objection to the measure he had felt before. Sefton was +outrageous, talked a vast deal of amusing nonsense, ‘that he +had never heard such twaddle,’ ‘but that the success was complete, +and he looked on Harrowby and Wharncliffe as the two +most enviable men in the kingdom.’ I have no doubt that +all the ultras will be deeply mortified at the moderation of +Lord Grey and of the Duke of Wellington, and at the success +<i>so far</i> of ‘the Waverers.’</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<blockquote><p style="text-indent: 0em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> +Debate in the House of Lords — Lord Harrowby’s Position — Hopes of a Compromise +— Lord Melbourne’s View — Disturbances caused by the Cholera +— The Disfranchisement Clause — The Number ‘56’ — Peers contemplated +— The King’s Hesitation — ‘The Hunchback’ — Critical Position of +the Waverers — Bill carried by Nine in the Lords — The Cholera in Paris +— Moderate Speech of Lord Grey — End of the Secession — Conciliatory +Overtures — Negotiations carried on at Newmarket — Hostile Division in +the Lords — Lord Wharncliffe’s Account of his Failure — Lord Grey resigns +— The Duke of Wellington attempts to form a Ministry — Peel +declines — Hostility of the Court to the Whigs — A Change of Scene — The +Duke fails — History of the Crisis — Lord Grey returns to Office — The +King’s Excitement — The King writes to the Opposition Peers — Defeat +and Disgrace of the Tories — Conversation of the Duke of Wellington — +Louis XVIII. — Madame du Cayla — Weakness of the King — Mortality +among Great Men — Petition against Lord W. Bentinck’s Prohibition of +Suttee heard by the Privy Council — O’Connell and the Cholera — Irish +Tithe Bill — Irish Difficulties — Mr. Stanley — Concluding Debates of the +Parliament — Quarrel between Brougham and Sugden — Holland and +Belgium — Brougham’s Revenge and Apology — Dinner at Holland House +— Anecdotes of Johnson — Death of Mr. Greville’s Father — Madame de +Flahaut’s Account of the Princess Charlotte — Prince Augustus of +Prussia — Captain Hess — Hostilities in Holland and in Portugal — The +Duchesse de Berri — Conversation with Lord Melbourne on the State of +the Government.</p></blockquote> + +<hr /> + +<h3>March 28th, 1832</h3> + +<p>There appear to have been as many differences +of opinion as of people on the discussion in the House of +Lords when the Bill was brought up, and it seems paradoxical, +but is true, that though it was on the whole satisfactory, nobody +was satisfied. Lord Grey complained to me that Lord +Harrowby was too stiff; Lord Harrowby complained that +Lord Grey was always beating about the bush of compromise, +but never would commit himself fairly to concession. Melbourne +complained last night that what was done was done in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">LORD HARROWBY’S PATRIOTIC CONDUCT.</span> +such an ungracious manner, so niggardly, that he hated the +man (Harrowby) who did it. The ultra-Tories are outrageous +‘that he gave up everything without reason or cause;’ +the ultra-Whigs equally furious ‘that he had shown how +little way he was disposed to go in Committee; his object was +to turn out the Government;’ and what is comical, neither +party will believe that Harrowby really is so obnoxious to +the other as he is said to be. Each is convinced that he is +acting in the interests of the other. What a position, what +injustice, blindness, folly, obstinacy, brought together and +exhibited! If ever there was a man whose conduct was +exempt from the ordinary motives of ambition, and who +made personal sacrifices in what he is doing, it is Lord +Harrowby, and yet there is no reproach that is not cast upon +him, no term of abuse that is not applied to him, no motive +that is not ascribed to him. No wonder a man who has seen +much of them is sick of politics and public life. Nothing +now is thought of but the <i>lists</i>, and of course everybody has +got one. The Tories still pretend to a majority of seven; +the Government and Harrowby think they have one of from +ten to twenty, and I suspect fifteen will be found about the +mark. The unfortunate thing is that neither of our cocks is +good for fighting, not from want of courage, but Harrowby +is peevish, ungracious and unpopular, and Wharncliffe +carries no great weight. To be sure neither of them pretends +to make a party, but then their opponents insist upon +it that they do, and men shrink from enlisting (or being +supposed to enlist) under Wharncliffe’s banner. However, +notwithstanding the violence of the noisy fools of the party, +and of the women, there is a more rational disposition on +the part of practical men, for Wharncliffe spoke to Ellenborough +yesterday, and told him that though he knew he +and Harrowby were regarded as traitors by all of them, he +did hope that when the Bill came into Committee they would +agree to consult together, and try and come to some understanding +as to the best mode of dealing with the question, +that it was absurd to be standing aloof at such a moment; +to which Ellenborough replied that he perfectly agreed with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> +him, was anxious to do so, and intended to advise his friends +to take that course.</p> + +<h3>April 1st, 1832</h3> + +<p>Wharncliffe got Lord Grey to put off the +second reading for a few days on account of the Quarter +Sessions, which drew down a precious attack from Londonderry, +and was in fact very foolish and unnecessary, as it +looks like a concert between them, of which it is very desirable +to avoid any appearance, as in fact none exists. The +violence of the Tories continues unabated, and there is no +effort they do not make to secure a majority, and they expect +either to succeed or to bring it to a near thing. In the +meantime the tone of the other party is changed. Dover, +who makes lists, manages proxies, and does all the little +jobbing, whipping-in, busy work of the party, makes out a +clear majority, and told me he now thought the Bill would +get through without Peers. The Government, however, are +all agreed to make the Peers if it turns out to be necessary, +and especially if the Bill should be thrown out, it seems clear +that they would by no means go out, but make the Peers +and bring it in again; so I gather from Richmond, and he +who was the most violently opposed of the whole Cabinet to +Peer-making, is now ready to make any number if necessary. +There is, however, I hope, a disposition to concession, which, +if matters are tolerably well managed, may lead to an +arrangement. Still Wharncliffe, who must have a great deal +to do in Committee, is neither prudent nor popular. The +Tories are obstinate, sulky, and indisposed to agree to anything +reasonable. It is the unity of object and the compactness +of the party which give the Government strength. +Charles Wood told me the other day that they were well +disposed to a compromise on two special points, one the exclusion +of town voters from the right of voting for counties, +the other the metropolitan members. On the first he proposed +that no man voting for a town in right of a 10ℓ. house +should have a vote for the county in right of any freehold in +that town. That would be half-way between Wharncliffe’s +plan and the present. The second, that Marylebone should +return two members, and Middlesex two more—very like +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">CONVERSATION WITH LORD MELBOURNE.</span> +Grey’s proposition which Harrowby rejected—but I suggested +keeping the whole and varying the qualification, to which he +thought no objection would lie.</p> + +<p>At the Duchesse de Dino’s ball the night before last I had +a very anxious conversation with Melbourne about it all. +He said that ‘he really believed there was no strong feeling +in the country for the measure.’ We talked of the violence +of the Tories, and their notion that they could get rid of the +whole thing. I said the notion was absurd <i>now</i>, but that I +fully agreed with him about the general feeling. ‘Why, then,’ +said he, ‘might it not be thrown out?’—a consummation I +really believe he would rejoice at, if it could be done. I said +because there was a great party which would not let it, which +would agitate again, and that the country wished ardently to +have it settled; that if it could be disposed of for good and +all, it would be a good thing indeed, but that this was now +become impossible. I asked him if his colleagues were impressed +as he was with this truth, and he said, ‘No.’ I told +him he ought to do everything possible to enforce it, and +to make them moderate, and induce them to concede, to +which he replied, ‘What difficulty can they have in swallowing +the rest after they have given up the rotten boroughs? +That is, in fact, the essential part of the Bill, and the truth is +<i>I do not see how the Government is to be carried on without +them</i>. Some means may be found; a remedy may possibly +present itself, and it may work in practice better than we +now know of, but I am not aware of any, and I do not see +how any Government can be carried on when these are swept +away.’ This was, if not his exact words, the exact sense, +and a pretty avowal for a man to make at the eleventh hour +who has been a party concerned in this Bill during the other +ten. I told him I agreed in every respect, but that it was +too late to discuss this now, and that the rotten boroughs +were past saving, that as to the minor points, the Waverers +thought them of importance, looked upon them as securities, +compensations, and moreover as what would save their own +honour, and that the less their real importance was the more +easily might they be conceded. We had a great deal more +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span> +talk, but then it is all talk, and <i>ŕ quoi bon</i> with a man who +holds these opinions and acts as he does? Let it end as it +may, the history of the Bill, and the means by which it has +been conceived, brought forward, supported, and opposed, will +be most curious and instructive. The division in the Lords +must be very close indeed.</p> + +<p>Orloff, who was looked for like the Messiah, at last made +his appearance a few days ago, a great burly Russian, but no +ratification yet.<a name="FNA_18_01" id="FNA_18_01"></a><a href="#FN_18_01" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_18_01" id="FN_18_01"></a><a href="#FNA_18_01"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> +[Of the Belgian Treaty.]</p></div> + +<p>I have refrained for a long time from writing down anything +about the cholera, because the subject is intolerably +disgusting to me, and I have been bored past endurance by +the perpetual questions of every fool about it. It is not, +however, devoid of interest. In the first place, what has +happened here proves that ‘the people’ of this enlightened, +reading, thinking, reforming nation are not a whit less barbarous +than the serfs in Russia, for precisely the same prejudices +have been shown here that were found at St. Petersburg +and at Berlin. The disease has undoubtedly appeared +(hitherto) in this country in a milder shape than elsewhere, +but the alarm at its name was so great that the Government +could do no otherwise than take such precautions and means +of safety as appeared best to avert the danger or mitigate its +consequences. Here it came, and the immediate effect was +a great inconvenience to trade and commerce, owing to +restrictions, both those imposed by foreigners generally on +this country and those we imposed ourselves between the +healthy and unhealthy places. This begot complaints and +disputes, and professional prejudices and jealousies urged a +host of combatants into the field, to fight about the existence +or non-existence of cholera, its contagiousness, and any collateral +question. The disposition of the public was (and is) +to believe that the whole thing was a humbug, and accordingly +plenty of people were found to write in that sense, and +the press lent itself to propagate the same idea. The disease, +however, kept creeping on, the Boards of Health which were +everywhere established immediately became odious, and the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE CHOLERA IN ENGLAND.</span> +vestries and parishes stoutly resisted all pecuniary demands +for the purpose of carrying into effect the recommendations +of the Central Board or the orders of the Privy Council. In +this town the mob has taken the part of the anti-cholerites, +and the most disgraceful scenes have occurred. The other +day a Mr. Pope, head of the hospital in Marylebone (Cholera +Hospital) came to the Council Office to complain that a +patient who was being removed with his own consent had +been taken out of his chair by the mob and carried back, +the chair broken, and the bearers and surgeon hardly +escaping with their lives. Furious contests have taken place +about the burials, it having been recommended that bodies +should be burned directly after death, and the most violent +prejudice opposing itself to this recommendation; in short, +there is no end to the scenes of uproar, violence, and brutal +ignorance that have gone on, and this on the part of the +lower orders, for whose especial benefit all the precautions +are taken, and for whose relief large sums have been raised +and all the resources of charity called into activity in every +part of the town. The awful thing is the vast extent of +misery and distress which prevails, and the evidence of the +rotten foundation on which the whole fabric of this gorgeous +society rests, for I call that rotten which exhibits thousands +upon thousands of human beings reduced to the lowest stage +of moral and physical degradation, with no more of the necessaries +of life than serve to keep body and soul together, +whole classes of artisans without the means of subsistence. +However complicated and remote the causes of this state of +things, the manifestations present themselves in a frightful +presence and reality, and those whose ingenuity, and experience, +and philosophical views may enable them accurately to +point out the causes and the gradual increase of this distress +are totally unable to suggest a remedy or to foresee an end +to it. Can such a state of things permanently go on? can +any reform ameliorate it? Is it possible for any country to +be considered in a healthy condition when there is no such +thing as a <i>general</i> diffusion of the comforts of life (varying of +course with every variety of circumstance which can affect +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span> +the prosperity of individuals or of classes), but when the extremes +prevail of the most unbounded luxury and enjoyment +and the most dreadful privation and suffering? To imagine +a state of society in which everybody should be well off, or +even tolerably well off, would be a mere vision, as long as +there is a preponderance of vice and folly in the world. +There will always be effects commensurate with their causes, +but it has not always been, and it certainly need not be, that +the majority of the population should be in great difficulty, +struggling to keep themselves afloat, and, what is worse, in +uncertainty and in doubt whether they can earn subsistence +for themselves and their families. Such is the case at present, +and I believe a general uncertainty pervades every class +of society, from the highest to the lowest; nobody looks upon +any institution as secure, or any interest as safe, and it is only +because those universal feelings of alarm which are equally +diffused throughout the mass but slightly affect each individual +atom of it that we see the world go on as usual, eating, +drinking, laughing, and dancing, and not insensible to the +danger, though, apparently indifferent about it.</p> + +<h3>April 4th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Charles Wood<a name="FNA_18_02" id="FNA_18_02"></a><a href="#FN_18_02" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> +came to me yesterday, and +brought a paper showing the various effects of a different +qualification from 10ℓ. to 40ℓ. for the metropolitan districts, +to talk over the list, but principally to get me to speak to +Harrowby about a foreseen difficulty. The first clause in +the Bill enacts <i>that fifty-six boroughs be disfranchised</i>. This +gave great offence in the House of Commons, was feebly +defended, but carried by the majority, which was always +ready and required no reason; it was an egregious piece +of folly and arrogance there, here it presents a real embarrassment. +I told him I knew Harrowby had an invincible +repugnance to it, and that the effect would be very bad if +they split upon the first point. He said he should not defend +it, that all reason was against it, but that there it was, +and how was it to be got rid of? I suggested that it should +be passed over, and that they should go at once to the boroughs +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">A DIFFICULTY AT SCHEDULE A.</span> +<i>seriatim</i>. He said if that clause was omitted a suspicion +would immediately arise that there was an intention of +altering Schedule A, and nothing would avert that but +getting through a great part of it before Easter, and that this +might be difficult, as the longest time they could expect to sit +would be three days in Passion Week. He talked a great +deal about the country expecting this, and that they would +not be satisfied if it was not done, and all the usual jargon +of the Reformers, which it was not worth while to dispute, +and it ended by my promising to talk to Lord Harrowby +about it. This I did last night, and he instantly flew into +a rage. He said ‘he would not be dragged through the +mire by those scoundrels. It was an insolence that was +not to be borne; let them make their Peers if they would, not +Hell itself should make him vote for <i>fifty-six</i>; he would vote +for sixty-six or any number but that, that he would not split +with the Tories on the first vote; if indeed <i>they</i> would consent +to fifty-six he would, or to anything else they would agree +to, but if the Government brought this forward no consideration +on earth should prevent his opposing it.’ We then +discussed the whole matter, with the proposed amendments +which Wood and I had talked over with reference to the +metropolitan members and town and county voting, and I am +to go to-day and propose that after the second reading is +carried they should adjourn till after Easter, and give a little +time for the excitement (which there must be) to subside, and +to see how matters stand, and what probability there is of +getting the thing through quietly.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_18_02" id="FN_18_02"></a><a href="#FNA_18_02"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> +[Mr. Charles Wood, afterwards Viscount Halifax, but at this time +private Secretary to Earl Grey, whose daughter he married.]</p></div> + +<h3>April 6th, 1832</h3> + +<p>I called on the Duke of Richmond on Wednesday +morning, and told him what had passed between Wood +and me, and Lord Harrowby and me afterwards. He was +aware of the difficulty, and regretted it the more because he +might have to defend it in the House of Lords. He wished +me very much to go to Downing Street and see Lord Grey +himself if possible before the levee, and he suggested that the +words fifty-six might be left in blank by Lord Grey’s own +motion, that this would be in conformity with the forms of the +House. I set off, but calling at home on my way found Lord +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> +Harrowby at my door. He came in, and was anxious to know +if I had said anything; he was more quiet than the night before, +but still resolved not to agree to fifty-six, though anxious +to have the matter compromised in some way. Lord Harrowby +wanted to adjourn after the second reading, but owned that +the best effect would be to get through Schedule A before +Easter. Yesterday I saw Wood; he harped upon the difficulty +and the old strain of the country. I suggested the point of +form which Richmond had mentioned, but he said that could +not be <i>now</i> in the Bill, as it was sent up from the Commons, +that if they were beaten on fifty-six the country would consider +it tantamount to throwing out Schedule A, and would highly +approve of a creation of Peers, and that, in fact (if they +wished it), it would be the best opportunity they could have. +I told him that it would heap ridicule upon all the antecedent +proceedings, and the pretext must be manifest, as it would +appear in the course of the discussions what the real reason +was. In the middle of our conversation Ellice came in, and +directly asked if my friends would swallow fifty-six, to which +I said, ‘No.’ We had then a vehement dispute, but at last +Wood turned him out, and he and I resumed. We finally +agreed that I should ask Lord Harrowby whether, if Lord +Grey of his own accord proposed to leave out the words fifty-six, +but with an expression of his opinion that this must be +the number, he (Lord Harrowby) would meet him with a +corresponding declaration that he objected to the specification +of the number in the clause, without objecting to the +extent of the disfranchisement, it being always understood +that what passes between us is unauthorised talk, and to +commit nobody—‘without prejudice,’ as the lawyers say.</p> + +<p>I heard yesterday, however, from Keate, who is attending +me (and who is the King’s surgeon, and sees him when +he is in town), that he saw his Majesty after the levee on +Wednesday, and that he was ill, out of sorts, and in considerable +agitation; that he enquired of him about his health, +when the King said he had much to annoy him, and that +‘many things passed there (pointing to the Cabinet, out of +which he had just come) which were by no means agreeable, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE KING’S RELUCTANCE TO MAKE PEERS.</span> +and that he had had more than usual to occupy him that +morning.’ Keate said he was very sure from his manner +that something unpleasant had occurred. This was, I have +since discovered, the question of a creation of Peers again +brought forward, and to which the King’s aversion has returned +so much so that it is doubtful if he will after all +consent to a large one. It seems that unless the Peers are +made (in the event of the necessity arising) Brougham and +Althorp will resign; at least so they threaten. I have seen +enough of threats, and doubts, and scruples, to be satisfied +that there is no certainty that any of them will produce +the anticipated effects, but I am resolved I will try, out of +these various elements, if I cannot work out something which +may be serviceable to the cause itself, though the materials +I have to work with are scanty. The Ministers were all day +yesterday settling who the new Peers shall be, so seriously +are they preparing for the <i>coup</i>. They had already fixed +upon Lords Molyneux, Blandford, Kennedy, Ebrington, +Cavendish, Brabazon, and Charles Fox, Littleton, Portman, +Frederick Lawley, Western, and many others, and this would +be what Lord Holland calls assimilating the House of Lords +to the spirit of the other House, and making it harmonise +with the prevailing sense of the people.</p> + +<h3>April 8th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Lord Harrowby was out of town when I called +there on Friday, so I wrote to him the substance of my conversation +with Wood. Yesterday he returned. In the evening +I met Wood at dinner at Lord Holland’s, when he told me +that he found on the part of his friends more reluctance than +he had expected to give up the fifty-six, that he had done +all he could to persuade them, but they made great objections. +Moreover he had had a conversation with Sandon which he did +not quite like, as he talked so much of holding the party together. +All this was to make me think they are stouter than +they really are, for I am better informed than he thinks for.</p> + +<p>Yesterday morning I got more correct information about +what had passed with the King. Lord Grey went to him +with a minute of Cabinet requiring that he should make +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span> +Peers in case the second reading was thrown +out.<a name="FNA_18_03" id="FNA_18_03"></a><a href="#FN_18_03" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> +To this +he demurred, raised difficulties and doubts, which naturally +enough alarm the Government very much. However, when +he got back to Windsor he wrote two letters, explaining his +sentiments, from which it appears that he has great reluctance, +that he will do it, but will not give any pledge beforehand, +that he objects to increasing the Peerage, and wants to call +up eldest sons and make Irish and Scotch Peers, that he did +not say positively he would make the Peers, but that he +would be in the way, and come up when it was necessary. +They think that he has some idea that his pledging himself +beforehand (though in fact he did so two months ago) might +be drawn into an improper precedent. However this may +be, his reluctance is so strong that a great deal may be +made of it, as it is probable (if he continues in the same +mind, and is not turned by some violence of the Opposition) +that he will resist still more making Peers when the Bill is +in Committee to carry the details, some of which he himself +wishes to see altered, but the difficulty is very great. It is +impossible to communicate with the Tory leaders; they will +not believe what you tell them, and if they learnt the King’s +scruples they would immediately imagine that they might +presume upon them to any extent, and stand out more +obstinately than ever. I went to Harrowby last night, and +imparted to him the state of things, which I shall do to +nobody else. To Wharncliffe I dare not. He is not indisposed +to Wood’s compromise, and I trust this will be settled, +but he still leans to putting off the second reading till after +Easter, and if the Tories also resolve upon that (which they +are mightily disposed to do) he will not separate from them +on that point, and they are sure to carry it. Unless this +was accompanied with some declaration from them that +they would be disposed to concede the great principles of +the Bill, I think the Government would consider it such an +indication of hostility as to call for an immediate creation +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">‘THE HUNCHBACK.’</span> +of Peers, and I doubt whether the King could or would +resist. There are many reasons why it would be desirable +to make the second reading a resting-place, and adjourn then +till after Easter, provided all parties consented, but it would +be very unwise to make it the subject of a contest, and nobody +would ever believe that the real reason was not to get +rid of Schedule A by hook or by crook, or of a good deal of +it. Harrowby will, I am sure, not divide against them on +this, and they will not give it up; that there are means of +resistance, if they were judiciously applied, I am sure, and +if there were temper, discretion, and cordiality, the Bill +might be licked into a very decent shape.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_18_03" id="FN_18_03"></a><a href="#FNA_18_03"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> +[This Cabinet minute of the 3rd of April, 1832, and the King’s remarks +upon it, have been printed in the ‘Correspondence of William IV. and Earl +Grey,’ vol. ii. p. 307.]</p></div> + +<p>I went to see Sheridan Knowles’ new play the other +night, ‘The Hunchback.’ Very good, and a great success. +Miss Fanny Kemble acted really well—for the first time, in +my opinion, great acting. I have not seen anything since +Mrs. Siddons (and perhaps Miss O’Neill) so good.</p> + +<p>The Duke of Wellington made a very good speech on +Irish affairs on Friday, one of his best, and he speaks +admirably <i>to points</i> sometimes and on subjects he understands. +I wish he had let alone that Irish Education—disgraceful +humbug and cant. I don’t know that there is anything +else particularly new. Orloff is made a great rout with, but +he don’t ratify. The real truth is that the King of Holland +holds out, and the other Powers delay till they see the result +of our Reform Bill, thinking that the Duke of Wellington +may return to power, and then they may make better terms +for Holland and dictate to Belgium and to France. If the +Reform Bill is carried, and Government stays in, they will +ratify, and not till then. The cholera is disappearing here +and in the country.</p> + +<h3>April 9th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Saw Lord Harrowby yesterday morning. He +can’t make up his mind what is best to be done, whether to go +into Committee or not. He rather wishes to get through +Schedule A, but he won’t vote against the Tories if they +divide on adjourning. Then went to Wood and told him +there would be no difficulty about <i>fifty-six</i>. Lord Grey +came in, and talked the whole thing over. He said he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span> +was ill—knocked up—that in his speech to-day he should +be as moderate and tame as anybody could wish. From +what Wood said, and he himself afterwards, I should +think they wish to adjourn after the second reading, but to +make a merit of it if they do. Duncannon, whom I saw +afterwards, seemed to be of the same opinion, that it would +be best not to sit in Passion Week. At night Wharncliffe +came back from Yorkshire. He is all for getting into +Schedule A, and making no difficulties about fifty-six or +anything else, and Harrowby, now that he fancies the Government +want to adjourn, rather wants not, suspecting some +trick. Upon going all over the list, we make out the worst +to give a majority of six, and the best of eighteen, but the +Tories still count upon getting back some of our people. We +had a grand hunt after Lord Gambier’s proxy; he sent it to +Lord de Saumarez, who is laid up with the gout in Guernsey, +and the difficulty was to get at Lord Gambier and procure +another. At last I made Harrowby, who does not know +him, write to him, and Wood sent a messenger after him, +so we hope it will arrive in time.</p> + +<h3>April 11th, 1832</h3> + +<p>The day before yesterday Lord Grey introduced +the Reform Bill in a speech of extreme moderation; as +he promised, it was very ‘tame.’ The night’s debate was dull; +yesterday was better. Lord Mansfield made a fine speech +against the Bill; Harrowby spoke well, Wharncliffe ill. +Nothing can equal the hot water we have been in—defections +threatened on every side, expectations thwarted and doubts +arising, betting nearly even. Even de Ros came to me in +the morning and told me he doubted how he should vote; that +neither Harrowby nor Wharncliffe had put the question on +the proper ground, and his reason for seceding from the +Opposition was the menaced creation of Peers. I wrote to +Harrowby and begged him to say something to satisfy tender +consciences, and moved heaven and earth to keep De Ros +and Coventry (who was slippery) right, and I succeeded—at +least I believe so, for it is not yet over. Nothing can equal +the anxiety out of doors and the intensity of the interest in +the town, but the debate is far less animated than that of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">REFORM BILL CARRIED IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.</span> +last year. As to our business, it is ‘la mer ŕ boire,’ with +nobody to canvass or whip in, and not being a party. We +shall, however, I believe, manage it, and but just.</p> + +<p>I saw Keate this morning, who had been with the King. +His Majesty talked in high terms of Ellenborough and of +Mansfield. It is difficult to count upon such a man, but if the +second reading is passed I do not believe he will make Peers +to carry any points in Committee, unless it be the very vital +ones, but it is very questionable if the Opposition will fight +the battle then at all, or, if they do, fight in a way to secure +a fair, practical result.</p> + +<h3>April 14th, 1832</h3> + +<p>The Reform Bill (second reading) was +carried this morning at seven o’clock in the House of Lords +by a majority of nine. The House did not sit yesterday. +The night before Phillpotts, the Bishop of Exeter, made a +grand speech against the Bill, full of fire and venom, very +able. It would be an injury to compare this man with Laud; +he more resembles Gardiner; had he lived in those days he +would have been just such another, boiling with ambition, +an ardent temperament, and great talents. He has a desperate +and a dreadful countenance, and looks like the man he +is. The two last days gave plenty of reports of changes +either way, but the majority has always looked like from +seven to ten. The House will adjourn on Wednesday, and +go into Committee after Easter; and in the meantime what +negotiations and what difficulties to get over! The Duke of +Wellington and Lord Harrowby have had some good-humoured +talk, and the former seems well disposed to join +in amending the Bill, but the difficulty will be to bring these +extreme and irritated parties to any agreement as to terms. +The debate in the Lords, though not so good as last year, +has been, as usual, much better than that in the Commons.</p> + +<p>The accounts from Paris of the cholera are awful, very +different from the disease here. Is it not owing to our +superior cleanliness, draining, and precautions? There have +been 1,300 sick in a day there, and for some days an average +of 1,000; here we have never averaged above fifty, I think, +and, except the squabbling in the newspapers, we have seen +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span> +nothing of it whatever; there many of the upper classes have +died of it. Casimir Périer and the Duke of Orleans went to +the Hotel Dieu, and the former was seized afterwards, and has +been very ill, though they doubt if it really was cholera, as he +is subject to attacks with the same symptoms.</p> + +<h3>April 15th, 1832</h3> + +<p>The debate in the House of Lords was closed +by a remarkable reply from Lord Grey, full of moderation, +and such as to hold out the best hopes of an adjustment of +the question—not that it pacified the ultra-Tories, who were +furious. The speech was so ill reported at that late hour +that it is not generally known what he did say, and many of +those who heard it almost doubt their own accuracy, or +suspect that he went further than he intended, so unlike was +it to his former violent and unyielding language. He said, +with regard to a creation of Peers, that nothing would justify +him in recommending the exercise of that prerogative but a +collision between the two Houses of Parliament, and that in +such a case (he is reported to have said) he should deem it +his duty first to recommend a dissolution, and to ascertain +whether the feeling of the country was with the other House +(these were not the words, but to this effect). If this be at +all correct, it is clear that he cannot make Peers to carry +the clauses, for, in fact, the collision between the two Houses +will not have arrived unless the Commons should reject any +amendments which may be made by the Lords. The tone, +however, of the violent supporters of Government is totally +changed; at Lord Holland’s last night they were singing in +a very different note, and, now, if the councils of the Lords +are guided by moderation and firmness, they may deal with +the Bill <i>almost</i> as they please; but they must swallow +Schedule A. The difficulties, however, are great; the High +Tories are exasperated and vindictive, and will fiercely fight +against any union with the seceders. The Duke is moderate +in his tone, ready to act cordially with all parties, but he +owes the seceders a grudge, is anxious to preserve his influence +with the Tories, and will probably insist upon +mutilating the Bill more than will be prudent and feasible. +The Harrowby and Wharncliffe party, now that the second +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">LORD WHARNCLIFFE AND LORD HARROWBY.</span> +reading <ins class="correction" title = "text reads ‘it’">is</ins> over, +ceases to be a party. It was a patched-up, +miscellaneous concern at best, of men who were half +reasoned, half frightened over, who could not bear separating +from the Duke, long to return to him, and, besides, are +ashamed of Wharncliffe as a chief. There never was such a +‘chef de circonstance.’ He is a very honest man, with a +right view of things and a fair and unprejudiced understanding, +vain and imprudent, without authority, commanding +no respect, and in a false position as the ephemeral leader +he is, marching in that capacity <i>pari passu</i> with Harrowby, +who is infinitely more looked up to, but whose bilious complexion +prevents his mixing with society and engaging and +persuading others to follow his opinions; nor has he (Lord +Harrowby) any plan or design beyond the object of the moment. +He has no thought of mixing again in public life, he +does not propose to communicate with anybody on anything +further than the middle course to be adopted now, and few +people are disposed to sever the ties on which their future +political existence depends for the sake of cultivating this +short-lived connection. If the Government, therefore, looks +to the seceders who have carried the question for them to +carry other points, they will find it won’t do, for their +followers will melt into the mass of the anti-Reformers, who, +though they will still frown upon the chiefs, will gladly take +back the rank and file. A fortnight will elapse, in the course +of which opportunities will be found of ascertaining the disposition +of the great party and the probability of an arrangement.</p> + +<p>The debate was good on Friday, but very inferior to the +last. Phillpotts got a terrific dressing from Lord Grey, and +was handled not very delicately by Goderich and Durham, +though the latter was too coarse. He had laid himself very +open, and, able as he is, he has adopted a tone and style +inconsistent with his lawn sleeves, and unusual on the +Episcopal Bench. He is carried away by his ambition and +his alarm, and horrifies his brethren, who feel all the danger +(in these times) of such a colleague. The episode of which +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span> +he was the object was, of course, the most amusing part of +the whole.</p> + +<h3>Newmarket, April 22nd, 1832</h3> + +<p>Ill and laid up with the gout +for this week past. Came here on Friday, the 20th. The +carrying of the second reading of the Bill seems to have +produced no effect. Everybody is gone out of town, the +Tories in high dudgeon. The Duke of Wellington has +entered a protest with all the usual objections, which has +been signed by a whole rabble of Peers, but not by Lyndhurst, +Ellenborough, or Carnarvon, who monopolise the brains of the +party; they declined. In the meantime things look better. +Wharncliffe, Harrowby, and Haddington have had two interviews +with Lyndhurst and Ellenborough, and though they +did not go into particulars the result was satisfactory, and +a strong disposition evinced to co-operation and moderation. +It was agreed they should meet again next week, and see +what could be arranged. On Friday Palmerston sent to +Wharncliffe and desired to see him. They met, and Palmerston +told him that he came from Lord Grey, who was +desirous of having an interview with him, adding that Lord +Grey had now become convinced that he might make much +more extensive concessions than he had ever yet contemplated. +He added that Lord Grey would rather see Wharncliffe +alone, without Harrowby, whose manner was so snappish +and unpleasant that he could not talk so much at his ease +as he would to Wharncliffe alone. Wharncliffe replied that +he could have no objection to see Lord Grey, but that he +must fairly tell him his situation was no longer the same, +having put himself in amicable communication with Lyndhurst +and Ellenborough; that the concurrence of the Tories +was indispensable to him and his friends to effect the alterations +they contemplated, and he could not do anything which +might have to them the appearance of underhand dealing; +that he could tell Lyndhurst and Ellenborough, and if they +made no objection he would see Lord Grey. Ellenborough +was gone out of town, but he went to Lyndhurst, who immediately +advised him to see Lord Grey, and said it was +most desirable they should be made acquainted with the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">MEETING OF LORD GREY AND LORD WHARNCLIFFE.</span> +views and disposition of Government, and he undertook to +write word to the Duke of Wellington of all that had passed. +Lord Grey was unable to leave Sheen yesterday, so it was +arranged that the meeting should be delayed till Wharncliffe’s +return to London. The Duke of Richmond has, however, got +a letter of four sides from Grey, empowering him to treat here +with Wharncliffe, and Stanley and Graham being expected, it +is very likely some progress may be made. Nothing can +promise better, and if the chiefs of the Tories can be brought +to moderation the stupid obstinacy of the mass will not +matter, and I do not think they will dare hold out, for when +a negotiation on such a conciliatory basis is proposed, a +terrible case would be made hereafter against those who should +refuse to listen to it. The advantages are so clear that +nothing would make them persist in the line of uncompromising +opposition but an unconquerable repugnance to afford +a triumph to the Waverers, which a successful termination +would do; not that they would profit by it, for they are so +few, and those who will have been wrong so many, that +clamour will silence justice, and a thousand excuses and +pretences will be found to deprive them of their rightful +credit. It is a long time—not probably since the days of +Charles II.—that this place (Newmarket) has been the +theatre of a political negotiation, and, conceding the importance +of the subject, the actors are amusing—Richmond, +Graham, Wharncliffe, and myself. By-the-bye it is perfectly +true that (if I have not mentioned it before) the Royal +carriages were all ready the morning of the decision of the +second reading to take the King to the House of Lords to +prorogue Parliament, and on Tuesday the Peers would have +appeared in the ‘Gazette.’</p> + +<h3>London, May 12th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Nothing written for a long time, +nor had I anything to write till a few days ago. From the +time of Wharncliffe’s departure I heard nothing, and I bitterly +regret now not having been in town last +week.<a name="FNA_18_04" id="FNA_18_04"></a><a href="#FN_18_04" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> +The Committee +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span> +stood for Monday; on Friday se’nnight last I was +at Buckenham, when the Duke of Rutland told me he was +going to London, that they meant to divide on Monday on +a proposal to postpone Schedules A and B till after C and +D, and expected to beat the Government; I wrote by that +post to Lady Harrowby, saying I hoped this was not true, +and that if it was it appeared to me most injudicious. On +Tuesday I received by the post a letter from Wharncliffe, +saying that they had been in frequent communication with +Ellenborough and Lyndhurst, that the Opposition were prepared +to make great and satisfactory concessions, and he +thought all would go off well. The only difficulty he apprehended +was from the postponement of the disfranchising +clause, which the Tories insisted on, and to which he and +Harrowby had thought it right to agree. The next day I +received a second letter, with an account of the debate and +its consequences, to which I wrote him a trimming reply, +and another to Lady Harrowby, expressing my sentiments +on their conduct on the occasion. Before all this happened +Wharncliffe had had to encounter abuse of every kind, and +he has certainly continued to play his cards in such a way, +from first to last, as to quarrel with Whigs and Tories in succession. +With very good intentions, and very honest, he has +exposed himself to every reproach of insincerity, intrigue, +and double-dealing.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_18_04" id="FN_18_04"></a><a href="#FNA_18_04"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> +[It was on the 7th of May that the Lords went into Committee on the +Bill, and Lord Lyndhurst’s motion to postpone the <i>dis</i>franchising clauses +until after the <i>en</i>franchising clauses had been agreed to was carried by a +majority of thirty-five against the Government. The seventeen Peers who +had assisted to carry the second reading on the 11th of April relapsed into +the Conservative ranks, and the result was, for the moment, such as to stop +the progress of the Bill and turn out the Government.]</p></div> + +<p>On arriving in town I found a note from him, desiring +I would see him and hear his defence of himself before I +expressed elsewhere the opinion I had given to him. Accordingly +I went to Boodle’s, where I found him, and he +immediately began his case. He said that on his return to +town he saw Lord Grey, who said that he wished to know +what were the intentions of his party, and how far they +were disposed to go, and what concessions they looked for. +He replied that Lord Grey must understand that he now +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">DEFEAT OF GOVERNMENT IN COMMITTEE.</span> +stood in a very different position, and that, reunited as he +was with the Tories, he must act with them—much, in +short, what he had before said to Palmerston. They then +discussed the question, and he said that there was one point +for which Lord Grey ought to be prepared, and that he knew +the Tories were much bent upon proposing the postponement +of Schedules A and B. Lord Grey said this would be productive +of the greatest embarrassment, that it would be a +thing they could not agree to, and he hoped he would do all +in his power to prevent it. Wharncliffe said that he would +endeavour, but he believed they were very eager about it, +and he added that Lord Grey might be sure <i>he</i> would support +nothing calculated to interfere with the essential provisions +of the Bill. After this his and Harrowby’s communications +with Ellenborough and his friends continued, and on +the Saturday (I think) Lyndhurst told him that the Tories +were so irrevocably bent upon this, and that they were so +difficult to manage and so disposed to fly off, that it was +absolutely necessary to give way to them, and it must be +proposed, though he would gladly have waived it, but that +was impossible; upon which Harrowby and Wharncliffe +gave in and agreed to support it. One of them (Haddington, +I think) suggested that Wharncliffe ought to communicate +this intention to Lord Grey, to which, however, Lyndhurst +objected, said that the Tories were suspicious, had already +taken umbrage at the communications between Wharncliffe +and Grey, and that it must not be. To this prohibition +Wharncliffe fatally submitted, and accordingly not a word +was said by anybody till the afternoon of the debate, when +just before it began Wharncliffe told the Duke of Richmond, +who of course told Lord Grey. Wharncliffe at the same time +had some conversation with John Russell and Stanley, who +strongly deprecated this intention, but it was too late to +arrange or compromise anything then. The debate came on; +the proposition was made in a very aggravating speech by +Lyndhurst, and on its being carried Lord Grey threw up the +Bill and the Government in a passion. It is the more remarkable +that they should have taken this course at once, because +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span> +they certainly had very strong reason to doubt whether the +King would consent to a creation of Peers, though they probably +thought he might be bullied upon an occasion which +they fancied they could turn to great account; but he was +stout and would not hear of it.</p> + +<p>The day after the debate Grey and Brougham went down +to Windsor and proposed to the King to make fifty Peers. +They took with them a minute of Cabinet signed by all the +members except the Duke of Richmond. Palmerston proposed +it in Cabinet, and Melbourne made no objection. His +Majesty took till the next day to consider, when he accepted +their resignations, which was the alternative they gave him. +At the levee the same day nothing occurred; the King +hardly spoke to the Duke, but he afterwards saw Lyndhurst +(having sent for him). I do not know what passed between +them, but the Duke of Wellington was soon sent for. The +Duke and Lyndhurst endeavoured to prevail on Peel to take +the Government upon himself, and the former offered to act +in any capacity in which he could be useful, but Peel would +not. Some communication also took place between Lyndhurst +and Harrowby, but the latter declared at once he would +support the new Government, but not take office. When Peel +finally declined, the Duke accepted, and yesterday at three +o’clock he went to St. James’s. The King saw Peel and the +Speaker. Nothing is known of the formation of the Cabinet, +but the reports were first that Alexander Baring was to be +Chancellor of the Exchequer, and since that he has refused +on account of his health, and that Lyndhurst is to go to the +King’s Bench, Tenterden to retire, and the Great Seal to be +put in commission.</p> + +<p>The first act of the Duke was to advise the King to reject +the address of the Birmingham Union, which he did, and +said he knew of no such body. All very proper. In the +morning I called upon Wood at the Treasury, to explain to +him that I had never been cognisant of the late proceedings +in the House of Lords, and that I was far from approving the +conduct of my old associates. He said he had never believed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">POSITION OF PARTIES.</span> +that I was any party to it, and regretted that I had not been +in town, when it was just possible I might have persuaded +them of the unworthiness of the course they were taking. +He said that I did not know how bad it was, for that +Wharncliffe had distinctly said that if such a thing was proposed +he should oppose it, and that Palmerston was present +when he said so. This Wharncliffe positively denies, and +yesterday he went to Palmerston to endeavour to explain, +taking with him a minute which he said he had drawn up at the +time of all that passed, but which he had never before shown +or submitted for correction, and which Palmerston told him +was incorrect, inasmuch, as it omitted that engagement. +They are at issue as to the fact. The position of the respective +parties is curious. The Waverers undertook a task +of great difficulty with slender means, and they accomplished +it with complete success. All turned out as they expected +and desired, but, after having been in confidential communication +with both parties, they have contrived mortally to +offend both, and to expose themselves to odium from every +quarter, and to an universal imputation of insincerity and +double-dealing, and this without any other fault than mismanagement +and the false position in which they found +themselves, without influence or power, between two mighty +parties. The Tories, who have exhibited nothing but obstinacy +and unreasonableness, and who thwarted the Waverers +by every means they could devise, have reaped all the benefit +of their efforts, and that without admitting that they +were right or thanking them for bringing matters to this +pass. They are triumphant, in spite of all they did to prevent +their own triumph, and have had all the spiteful +pleasure of abuse and obloquy, all the glory of consistency, +and the satisfaction of pertinacity, with all the advantages +that an opposite line of conduct promised to give them. +[Their triumph was of short duration, and nothing so complete +as their final discomfiture.]</p> + +<p>The King took leave of his Ministers with a great effusion +of tenderness, particularly to Richmond, whom he entreated +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span> +to remain in office; but I take it that he easily consoles himself, +and does not care much more for one Minister than +another.</p> + +<p>The debate in the House of Commons was not so violent +as might have been expected, and the Tories were greatly +elated with the divisions on Ebrington’s motion, because there +was a majority less by fifty-six than on a similar motion +when the Bill was rejected in October. The circumstances +were, however, different, and some would not vote because +they disapprove of creating Peers, which this vote would +have committed them to approve of. There is so much of +wonder, and curiosity, and expectation abroad that there is +less of abuse and exasperation than might have been expected, +but it will all burst forth. The town is fearfully quiet. +What is odd enough is that the King was hissed as he left +London the other day, and the Duke cheered as he came out of +the Palace. There have been some meetings, with resolutions +to support the Bill, to express approbation of the Ministers, +and to protest against the payment of taxes, and there will +probably be a good deal of bustle and bluster here and elsewhere; +but I do not believe in real tumults, particularly when +the rabble and the unions know that there is a Government +which will not stand such things, and that they will not be able +to bandy compliments with the Duke as they did with Althorp +and John Russell, not but what much dissatisfaction and much +disquietude must prevail. The funds have not fallen, which +is a sign that there is no alarm in the City. At this early +period of the business it is difficult to form any opinion of +what will happen; the present Government in opposition +will again be formidable, but I am disposed to think things +will go on and right themselves; we shall avoid a creation of +Peers, but we must have a Reform Bill of some sort, and perhaps +a harmless one after all, and if the elements of disorder +can be resolved into tranquillity and order again, we must +not quarrel with the means that have been employed, nor +the quantum of moral injustice that has been perpetrated.</p> + +<p>The Tories are very indignant with Peel for not taking +office, and if, as it is supposed, he is to support Government +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">PEEL REFUSES TO TAKE OFFICE.</span> +and the Bill out of office, and when all is over come in, it is +hardly worth while for such a farce to deprive the King and +the country of his services in the way that they could be +most useful, but he is still smarting under Catholic question +reminiscences, while the Duke is more thick-skinned. After +he had carried the Catholic question the world was prepared +for a good deal of versatility on his part, but it was in mere +derision that (after his speech on Reform in 1830) it used to +be said that he would very likely be found proposing a Bill of +Reform, and here he is coming into office for the express +purpose of carrying on this very Bill against which the other +day he entered a protest which must stare him in the face +through the whole progress of it, or, if not, to bring in +another of the same character, and probably nearly of the +same dimensions. Pretexts are, however, not wanting, and +the necessity of supporting the King is made paramount to +every other consideration. The Duke’s worshippers (a numerous +class) call this the finest action of his life, though it is +difficult to perceive in what the grandeur of it consists, or +the magnitude of the sacrifice. However, it is fair to wait +a little, and hear from his own lips his exposition of the mode +in which he intends to deal with this measure, and how he +will reconcile what he has hitherto said with what he is now +about to do. Talleyrand is of course in a state of great +consternation, which will be communicated like an electrical +shock to the Powers specially favoured and protected by the +late Government—Leopold and Don Pedro, for instance. It +will be a difficult thing for the Duke to deal with some of +the questions on which he has committed himself pretty considerably +while in opposition, both with respect to foreign +politics and especially Irish Education.</p> + +<h3>Monday, May 14th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Nothing more was known yesterday, +but everybody was congregated at the clubs, asking, discussing, +and wondering. There was a great meeting at Apsley +House, when it was supposed everything was settled. The +Household went yesterday to St. James’s to resign their sticks +and badges; amongst the rest Lord Foley. The King was +very civil to him; made him sit down and said, ‘Lord Foley, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span> +you are a young man.’ ‘Sir, I am afraid I cannot flatter +myself that I have any right to that appellation.’ ‘Oh, yes; +you are a young man—at all events in comparison with me—and +you will probably come into office again; but I am an old +man, and I am afraid I shall not have the pleasure of seeing +you there.’ It is supposed that this <i>coup</i> has been preparing +for some time. All the Royal Family, bastards and all, have +been incessantly <i>at</i> the King, and he has probably had more +difficulty in the long run in resisting the constant importunity +of his <i>entourage</i>, and of his womankind particularly, than +the dictates of his Ministers; and between this gradual but +powerful impression, and his real opinion and fears, he was +not sorry to seize the first good opportunity of shaking off +the Whigs. When Lord Anglesey went to take leave of him +at Windsor he was struck with the change in his sentiments, +and told Lady Anglesey so, who repeated it to my brother.</p> + +<p>It is gratifying to find that those with whom I used to +dispute, and who would hear of nothing but rejecting the +second reading, now admit that my view was the correct one, +and Vesey Fitzgerald, with whom I had more than one discussion, +complimented me very handsomely upon the justification +of my view of the question which the event had +afforded. The High Tories, of course, will never admit that +they could have been wrong, and have no other resource but +to insist boldly that the King never would have made Peers +at all.<a name="FNA_18_05" id="FNA_18_05"></a><a href="#FN_18_05" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_18_05" id="FN_18_05"></a><a href="#FNA_18_05"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> +[Everyone knows how short-lived were the expectations caused by the +temporary resignation of Lord Grey’s Government. It will be seen in the +following pages how soon the vision passed away; but the foregoing passages +are retained precisely because they contain a vivid and faithful picture +of the state of opinion at the moment.]</p></div> + +<h3>London, May 17th, 1832</h3> + +<p>The events of the last few days have +passed with a rapidity which hardly left time to think upon +them—such sudden changes and transitions from rage to +triumph on one side, and from foolish exultation to mortification +and despair on the other. The first impression was that +the Duke of Wellington would succeed in forming a Government, +with or without Peel. The first thing he did was to try +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">WELLINGTON’S EFFORTS TO FORM A MINISTRY.</span> +and prevail upon Peel to be Prime Minister, but he was inexorable. +He then turned to +Baring,<a name="FNA_18_06" id="FNA_18_06"></a><a href="#FN_18_06" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> +who, after much hesitation, +agreed to be Chancellor of the Exchequer. The work went +on, but with difficulty, for neither Peel, Goulburn, nor Croker +would take office. They then tried the Speaker, who was +mightily tempted to become Secretary of State, but still +doubting and fearing, and requiring time to make up his +mind. At an interview with the Duke and Lyndhurst at +Apsley House he declared his sentiments on the existing +state of affairs in a speech of three hours, to the unutterable +disgust of Lyndhurst, who returned home, flung himself into +a chair, and said that ‘he could not endure to have anything +to do with such a <i>damned tiresome old bitch</i>.’ After these +three hours of oratory Manners Sutton desired to have till +the next morning (Monday) to make up his mind, which he +again begged might be extended till the evening. On that +evening (Monday) ensued the memorable night in the House +of Commons, which everybody agrees was such a scene of +violence and excitement as never had been exhibited within +those walls. Tavistock told me he had never heard anything at +all like it, and to his dying day should not forget it. The House +was crammed to suffocation; every violent sentiment and vituperative +expression was received with shouts of approbation, +yet the violent speakers were listened to with the greatest +attention.<a name="FNA_18_07" id="FNA_18_07"></a><a href="#FN_18_07" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> +Tom Duncombe made one of his blustering Radical +harangues, full of every sort of impertinence, which was received +with immense applause, but which contrasted with an +admirable speech, full of dignity, but also of sarcasm and +severity, from John Russell—the best he ever made. The conduct +of the Duke of Wellington in taking office <i>to carry the Bill</i>, +which was not denied, but which his friends feebly attempted +to justify, was assailed with the most merciless severity, and +(what made the greatest impression) was condemned (though +in more measured terms) by moderate men and Tories, such +as Inglis and Davies Gilbert. Baring, who spoke four times, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span> +at last proposed that there should be a compromise, and that +the ex-Ministers should resume their seats and carry the +Bill. This extraordinary proposition was drawn from him +by the state of the House, and the impossibility he at once +saw of forming a new Government, and without any previous +concert with the Duke, who, however, entirely approved of +what he said. After the debate Baring and Sutton went to +Apsley House, and related to the Duke what had taken +place, the former saying he would face a thousand devils +rather than such a House of Commons. From that moment +the whole thing was at an end, and the next morning (Tuesday) +the Duke repaired to the King, and told him that he +could not form an Administration. This communication, for +which the debate of the previous night had prepared everybody, +was speedily known, and the joy and triumph of the +Whigs were complete.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_18_06" id="FN_18_06"></a><a href="#FNA_18_06"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> +[Alexander Baring, afterwards Lord Ashburton.]</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_18_07" id="FN_18_07"></a><a href="#FNA_18_07"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> +[The debate arose on a petition of the City of London, praying that the +House would refuse supplies until the Reform Bill had become law.]</p></div> + +<p>The King desired the Duke and Lyndhurst (for they went +together) to advise him what he should do. They advised +him to write to Lord Grey (which he did), informing him that +the Duke had given up the commission to form a Government, +that he had heard of what had fallen from Mr. Baring +in the House of Commons the night before on the subject of +a compromise, and that he wished Lord Grey to return and +resume the Government upon that principle. Lord Grey +sent an answer full of the usual expressions of zeal and respect, +but saying that he could give no answer until he had +consulted his colleagues. He assembled his Cabinet, and at +five o’clock the answer was +sent.<a name="FNA_18_08" id="FNA_18_08"></a><a href="#FN_18_08" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_18_08" id="FN_18_08"></a><a href="#FNA_18_08"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> +[These communications have been published in the ‘Correspondence of +Earl Grey with William IV.,’ vol. ii. pp. 406-411.]</p></div> + +<p>Yesterday morning Lord Grey saw the King; but up to +last night nothing was finally settled, everything turning +upon the terms to be exacted, some of the violent of the +party desiring they should avail themselves of this opportunity +to make Peers, both to show their power and increase +their strength; the more moderate, including Lord Grey +himself and many of the old Peer-makers, were for sparing +the King’s feelings and using their victory with moderation, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">TRIUMPH OF THE WHIGS.</span> +all, however, agreeing that the only condition on which they +could return was the certainty of carrying the Reform +Bill unaltered, either by a creation of Peers or by the +secession of its opponents. Up to the present moment +the matter stands thus: the King at the mercy of the Whigs, +just as averse as ever to make Peers, the violent wishing to +press him, the moderate wishing to spare him, all parties +railing at each other, the Tories broken and discomfited, and +meditating no further resistance to the Reform Bill. The +Duke is to make his <i>exposé</i> to-night.</p> + +<p>Peel, who has kept himself out of the scrape, is strongly +suspected of being anything but sorry for the dilemma into +which the Duke has got himself, and they think that he +secretly encouraged him to persevere, with promises of present +support and future co-operation, with a shrewd anticipation +of the fate that awaited him. I am by no means indisposed +to give credit to this, for I well remember the wrath of +Peel when the Duke’s Government was broken up in 1830, and +the various instances of secret dislike and want of real cordiality +which have peeped from under a decent appearance of +union and friendship. Nothing can be more certain than that +he is in high spirits in the midst of it all, and talks with great +complacency of its being very well as it is, and that the salvation +of character is everything; and this from him, who +fancies he has saved his own, and addressed to those who +have forfeited theirs, is amusing.</p> + +<p>The joy of the King at what he thought was to be his +deliverance from the Whigs was unbounded. He lost no +time in putting the Duke of Wellington in possession of +everything that had taken place between him and them upon +the subject of Reform, and with regard to the creation of +Peers, admitting that he had consented, but saying he had +been subjected to every species of persecution. His ignorance, +weakness, and levity put him in a miserable light, and prove +him to be one of the silliest old gentlemen in his dominions; +but I believe he is mad, for yesterday he gave a great dinner +to the Jockey Club, at which (notwithstanding his cares) he +seemed in excellent spirits; and after dinner he made a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span> +number of speeches, so ridiculous and nonsensical, beyond +all belief but to those who heard them, rambling from one +subject to another, repeating the same thing over and over +again, and altogether such a mass of confusion, trash, and +imbecility as made one laugh and blush at the same time.</p> + +<p>As soon as the Duke had agreed to try and form a +Government he applied to the Tories, who nearly all agreed +to support him, and were prepared to go to all lengths, even +to that of swallowing the whole Bill if necessary; the Duke +of Newcastle particularly would do anything. These were +the men who were so squeamish that they could not be +brought to support amendments even, unless they were permitted +to turn the schedules upside-down, straining at gnats +out of office and swallowing camels in. It is remarkable +that after the sacrifice Wharncliffe made to re-ingratiate +himself with the Tories, incurring the detestation and abuse +of the Whigs, and their reproach of bad faith, the former +have utterly neglected him, taking no notice of him whatever +during the whole of their proceedings from the moment of +the division, leaving him in ignorance of their plans and +intentions, never inviting him to any of their meetings, and +although a communication was made by Lyndhurst to +Harrowby (they wanted Harrowby to be Prime Minister), +the latter was not at liberty to impart it to Wharncliffe. It +is not possible to be more deeply mortified than he is at the +treatment he has experienced from these allies after having +so committed himself. From the account of the King’s +levity throughout these proceedings, I strongly suspect that +(if he lives) he will go mad. While the Duke and Lyndhurst +were with him, at one of the most critical moments (I forget +now at which) he said, ‘I have been thinking that something +is wanting with regard to Hanover. Duke, you are now my +Minister, and I beg you will think of this; I should like to +have a slice of Belgium, which would be a convenient addition +to Hanover. Pray remember this,’ and then resumed the +subject they were upon.</p> + +<h3>May 19th, 1832</h3> + +<p>The night before last the Duke made his +statement. It was extremely clear, but very bald, and left +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE KING’S LETTER TO THE PEERS.</span> +his case just where it was, as he did not say anything that +everybody did not know before. His friends, however, +extolled it as a masterpiece of eloquence and a complete +vindication of himself. The Tory Lords who spoke after him +bedaubed him with praise, and vied with each other in +expressions of admiration. These were Carnarvon, Winchelsea, +and Haddington. There was not one word from +the Duke (nor from the others) indicative of an intention to +secede, which was what the Government expected. His +speech contained a sort of covert attack upon Peel; in fact, +he could not defend himself without attacking Peel, for if the +one was in the right in taking office the other must have been +in the wrong in refusing to join him. There was nothing, +however, which was meant as a reproach, though out of the +House the Duke’s friends do not conceal their anger that +Peel would not embark with him in his desperate enterprise.</p> + +<p>Lyndhurst was exceedingly able, highly excited, very +eloquent, and contrived to make his case a good one. It was +a fine display and very short. Carnarvon and Mansfield +were outrageously violent, but both in their way clever, and +parts of the speech of the latter were eloquent. Lord Grey was +excellent, short, very temperate and judicious, exactly what +was requisite and nothing more. Nobody else spoke on his +side, except Mulgrave at the end.</p> + +<p>The debate, however interesting, left the whole matter in +uncertainty; and the next day the old question began again. +What was to be done—Peers or no Peers? A Cabinet sat +nearly all day, and Lord Grey went once or twice to the +King. He, poor man, was at his wits’ end, and tried an +experiment (not a very constitutional one) of his own by +writing to a number of Peers, entreating them to withdraw +their opposition to the Bill. These letters were written (I +think) before the debate. On Thursday nothing was settled, +and at another meeting of the Cabinet a minute was drawn up +agreeing to offer again the same advice to the King. Before +this was acted upon Richmond, who had been absent, arrived, +and he prevailed upon his colleagues to cancel it. In the +meantime the Duke of Wellington, Lyndhurst, and other +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span> +Peers had given the desired assurances to the King, which +he communicated to Lord Grey. These were accepted as +sufficient securities, and declarations made accordingly in +both Houses of Parliament. If the Ministers had again gone +to the King with this advice, it is impossible to say how it +would have ended, for he had already been obstinate, and +might have continued so on this point, and he told Lord +Verulam that he thought it would be contrary to his coronation +oath to make Peers. Our princes have strange notions +of the obligations imposed by their coronation oath.</p> + +<p>On Thursday in the House of Commons Peel made his +statement, in which, with great civility and many expressions +of esteem and admiration of the Duke, he pronounced as +bitter a censure of his conduct, while apparently confining +himself to the defence of his own, as it was possible to do, +and as such it was taken. I have not the least doubt that he +did it <i>con amore</i>, and that he is doubly rejoiced to be out of +the scrape himself and to leave others in it.</p> + +<h3>May 31st, 1832</h3> + +<p>Since I came back from Newmarket there has +not been much to write about. A calm has succeeded the +storm. Last night Schedules A and B were galloped +through the Committee, and they finished the business. On +Thursday next the Bill will probably be read a third time. +In the House of Lords some dozen Tories and Waverers have +continued to keep up a little skirmish, and a good deal of +violent language has been bandied about, in which the Whigs, +being the winners, have shown the best temper. In society +the excitement has ceased, but the bitterness remains. The +Tories are, however, so utterly defeated, and the victory of +their opponents is so complete, that the latter can afford to +be moderate and decorous in their tone and manner; and the +former are exceedingly sulky, cockering up each other with +much self-gratulation and praise, but aware that in the +opinion of the mass of mankind they are covered with odium, +ridicule, and disgrace. Peel and the Duke are ostensibly +great friends, and the ridiculous farce is still kept up of +each admiring what he would not do himself, but what the +other did.</p> + +<h3>June 1st, 1832</h3> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">FAVOURITES OF LOUIS XVIII.</span> +Met the Duke of Wellington at dinner yesterday, +and afterwards had a long talk with him, not on +politics. I never see and converse with him without reproaching +myself for the sort of hostility I feel and express +towards his political conduct, for there are a simplicity, a +gaiety, and natural urbanity and good-humour in him, which +are remarkably captivating in so great a man. We talked +of Dumont’s book and Louis XVIII.’s ‘Memoirs.’ I said I +thought the ‘Memoirs’ were not genuine. He said he was +sure they were, that they bore the strongest internal evidence +of being so, particularly in their accuracy as to dates, that he +was the best chronologist in the world, and that he knew the +day of the week of every event of importance. He once +asked the Duke when he was born, and when he told him the +day of the month and year, he at once said it was on a Tuesday; +that he (the Duke) had remembered that throughout the book +the day of the week was always mentioned, and many of the +anecdotes he had himself heard the King tell. He then +talked of him, and I was surprised to hear him say that +Charles X. was a cleverer man, as far as knowledge of the +world went, though Louis XVIII. was much better informed—a +most curious remark, considering the history and end of +each. [Nothing could be more mistaken and untrue than +this opinion.] That Louis XVIII. was always governed, +and a favourite indispensable to him. At the Congress of +Vienna the Duke was deputed to speak to M. de Blacas, his +then favourite, and tell him that his unpopularity was so +great in France that it was desirable he should not return +there. Blacas replied, ‘You don’t know the King; he must +have a favourite, and he had better have me than another. +I shall go; he will have another, and you should take pains +to put a <i>gentleman</i> in that situation, for he is capable of +taking the first person that finds access to him and the +opportunity of pleasing him.’ He added that he should not +wonder if he took Fouché. He did not take Fouché, who was +not aware of the part he might have played, but he took De +Cazes, who governed him entirely. This continued till the +Royal Family determined to get rid of him, and by threatening +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span> +to make an <i>esclandre</i> and leave the château they at last +succeeded, and De Cazes was sent as Ambassador to London. +Then the King wrote to him constantly, sending him verses +and literary scraps. The place remained vacant till accident +threw Madame du Cayla in his +way.<a name="FNA_18_09" id="FNA_18_09"></a><a href="#FN_18_09" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> +She was the daughter +of Talon, who had been concerned in the affair of the Marquis +de Favras, and she sent to the King to say she had some papers +of her father’s relating to that affair, which she should like +to give into his own hands. He saw her and was pleased +with her. The Royal Family encouraged this new taste, in +order to get rid entirely of De Cazes, and even the Duchesse +d’Angoulęme promoted her success. It was the same thing +to him to have a woman as a man, and there was no sexual +question in the matter, as what he wanted was merely some +one to whom he could tell everything, consult with on all +occasions, and with whom he could bandy literary trifles. +Madame du Cayla, who was clever, was speedily installed, and +he directly gave up De Cazes. He told the Duke that he +was <i>brouillé</i> with De Cazes, who had behaved very ill to him, +but he had nothing specific to allege against him, except +that his manner to him was not what it ought to have been. +The Ministers paid assiduous court to Madame du Cayla, +imparted everything to her, and got her to say what they +wanted said to the King; she acted all the part of a mistress, +except the essential, of which there never was any question. +She got great sums of money from him and very valuable +presents.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_18_09" id="FN_18_09"></a><a href="#FNA_18_09"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> +[This lady has already been noticed in a previous portion of these +Memoirs, when she visited England. See vol. i. p. 215 [July 10th, 1829].]</p></div> + +<h3>June 18th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Breakfasted on Thursday with Rogers, and +yesterday at the Athenćum with Henry Taylor, and met Mr. +Charles Austin, a lawyer, clever man, and Radical. The Bills +are jogging on and there is a comparative calm. The Whigs +swear that the Reformed Parliament will be the most aristocratic +we have ever seen, and Ellice told me that they cannot +hear of a single improper person likely to be elected for any +of the new places. [Their choice did not correspond with +this statement of their disposition.] The metropolitan districts +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">CHARACTER OF WILLIAM IV.</span> +want rank and talent. The Government and their +people have now found out what a fool the King is, and it is +very amusing to hear them on the subject. Formerly, when +they thought they had him fast, he was very honest and +rather wise; now they find him rather shuffling and exceedingly +silly. When Normanby went to take leave of him on +going to Jamaica, he pronounced a harangue in favour of +the slave trade, of which he has always been a great admirer, +and expressed sentiments for which his subjects would +tear him to pieces if they heard them. It is one of the great +evils of the recent convulsion that the King’s imbecility has +been exposed to the world, and in his person the regal +authority has fallen into contempt; his own personal unpopularity +is not of much consequence as long as it does not +degrade his office; that of George IV. never did, so little so +that he could always as King cancel the bad impressions +which he made in his individual capacity, and he frequently +did so. Walter Scott is arrived here, dying. A great +mortality among great men; Goethe, Périer, Champollion, +Cuvier, Scott, Grant, Mackintosh, all died within a few weeks +of each other.</p> + +<h3>June 25th, 1832</h3> + +<p>At Fern Hill all last week; a great party, +nothing but racing and gambling; then to Shepperton, and +to town on Saturday. The event of the races was the King’s +having his head knocked with a stone. It made very little +sensation on the spot, for he was not hurt, and the fellow +was a miserable-looking ragamuffin. It, however, produced +a great burst of loyalty in both Houses, and their Majesties +were loudly cheered at Ascot. The Duke of Wellington, who +had been the day before mobbed in London, also reaped a +little harvest of returning popularity from the assault, and +so far the outrages have done rather good than harm.</p> + +<h3>July 12th, 1832</h3> + +<p>The suttee case was decided at the Privy +Council on Saturday last, and was not uninteresting. The +Chancellor, Lord President, Graham, John Russell and Grant, +Sir Edward East, the Master of Rolls, Vice-Chancellor, Lord +Amherst, and Lord Wellesley were present (the latter not the +last day). Lushington was for the appeal, and Home and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span> +Starkie against. The former made two very able and ingenious +speeches; when the counsel withdrew the Lords gave their +opinions <i>seriatim</i>. Leach made a very short and very neat +speech, condemning the +order<a name="FNA_18_10" id="FNA_18_10"></a><a href="#FN_18_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> +of the Governor-General, but +admitting the danger of rescinding it, and recommending, +therefore, that the execution of it should be suspended. Sir +Edward East, in a long, diffusive harangue, likewise condemned +the order, but was against suspension; Sir James +Graham was against the order, but against suspension; Lord +Amherst the same. The rest approved of the order altogether. +John Russell gave his opinion very well. The Chancellor was +prolix and confused; he hit upon a bit of metaphysics in one +of the cases on which he took pleasure in dilating. The result +was that the petition was dismissed.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_18_10" id="FN_18_10"></a><a href="#FNA_18_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> +The order was a decree of the Governor-General of India abolishing +the practice of suttee, against which certain Hindoos appealed to the +King in Council. Another party, however, were in favour of the order, +and the Rajah Rammohun Roy is acting in this country as their agent.</p></div> + +<p>I know nothing of politics for some time past. The +Reform fever having subsided, people are principally occupied +with speculations on the next elections. At present there +is every appearance of the return of a House of Commons +very favourable to the present Government, but the Tory +party keeps together in the House of Lords, and they are +animated with vague hopes of being able to turn out the +Ministry, more from a spirit of hatred and revenge than +from any clear view of the practicability of their carrying +on the Government. I conceive, however, that as soon as +Parliament is up there will be a creation of Peers. In the +House of Commons the Irish Tithe question has been the +great subject of interest and discussion. O’Connell and the +Irish members debate and adjourn just as they please, and +Althorp is obliged to give way to them. When Stanley +moved for leave to bring in his Bill, he detailed his plan in +a speech of two hours. They thought fit to oppose this, +which is quite unusual, and O’Connell did not arrive till +after Stanley had sat down. Not having heard his speech +he could not answer him, and he therefore moved the adjournment. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">O’CONNELL’S DREAD OF CHOLERA.</span> +Upon a former occasion, during the Reform +Bill, when the Tories moved an adjournment after many +hours’ debate, the Government opposed it, and voted on +through the night till seven o’clock in the morning; now +the Tories were ready to support Government against the +Irish members, but they would not treat the Radicals as +they did the Tories, and then on a subsequent occasion they +submitted to have the debate adjourned.</p> + +<p>O’Connell is supposed to be horridly afraid of the cholera. +He has dodged about between London and Dublin, as the +disease appeared first at one and then the other place, and +now that it is everywhere he shirks the House of Commons +from fear of the heat and the atmosphere. The cholera is +here, and diffuses a certain degree of alarm. Some servants +of people well known have died, and that frightens all other +servants out of their wits, and they frighten their masters; +the death of any one person they are acquainted with terrifies +people much more than that of twenty of whom they knew +nothing. As long as they read daily returns of a parcel of +deaths here and there of A, B, and C they do not mind, +but when they hear that Lady such a one’s nurse or Sir +somebody’s footman is dead, they fancy they see the disease +actually at their own door.</p> + +<h3>July 15th, 1832</h3> + +<p>I had a good deal of conversation yesterday +with Lord Duncannon and Lord John Russell about Ireland. +The debate the night before lasted till four o’clock. O’Connell +made a furious speech, and Dawson the other evening another, +talking of resistance and of his readiness to join in it. This +drew up Peel, who had spoken before, and who, when attacked +with cries of ‘Spoke!’ said, ‘Yes, I have spoken, but I will +say that no party considerations shall prevent my supporting +Government in this measure, and giving them my cordial +support.’ He was furious with Dawson, and got up in +order to throw him over, though he did not address himself +to him, or to anything he had said expressly. John Russell +spoke out what ought to have been said long ago, that the +Church could not stand, but that the present clergyman +must be paid. Both he and Duncannon are aware of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span> +false position in which the Government is placed, pretending +to legislate with a knowledge that their laws cannot be +enforced, and the latter said that, whatever might be done, +the Irish would take nothing at the hands of Stanley. It +is unfortunate that his attachment to the Church makes +him the unfittest man in the country to manage Irish affairs, +and he has contrived to make himself so personally unpopular +that with the best intentions he could not give satisfaction. +Under these circumstances his remaining there is impossible, +but what is to be done with him? He is of such importance +in the House of Commons that they cannot part with him. +I asked John Russell why they did not send Hobhouse to +Ireland and make Stanley Secretary of War. He said would +he consent to exchange? that he was tired of office, and +would be glad to be out. I said I could not suppose in such +an emergency that he would allow any personal considerations +to influence him, and that he would consent to whatever +arrangement would be most beneficial to the Government +and conducive to the settlement of Irish affairs. The truth +is (as I told him) that they are, with respect to Ireland, in +the situation of a man who has got an old house in which +he can no longer live, not tenable; various architects propose +this and that alteration, to build a room here and pull down +one there, but at last they find that all these alterations will +only serve to make the house habitable a little while longer, +that the dry rot is in it, and that they had better begin, as +they will be obliged to end, by pulling it down and building +up a new one. He owned this was true, but said that here +another difficulty presented itself with regard to Stanley—whether +he would, as a leading member of the Cabinet, consent +to any measures which might go so much further than +he would be disposed to do. I said that I could not imagine +(whatever might be his predilections) that his mind was not +awakened to the necessity of giving way to the state of things, +and that he might consent to measures which he felt he was +not a fit person to introduce and recommend. He assented +to this. He then talked of the views of the Protestants, of +the Lefroys, &c., that they began to admit the necessity of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">IRISH TITHES.</span> +a change, but by no means would consent to the alienation +of Church property from Protestant uses, that they were +willing where there was a large parish consisting entirely +of Catholics that the tithes should be taken from the rector +of such parish and given to one who had a large Protestant +flock—an arrangement which would disgust the Catholics as +much as or more than any other, and be considered a perfect +mockery. The fact is we may shift and change and wriggle +about as much as we will, we may examine and report and +make laws, but tithe, the tithe system is at an end. The +people will not pay them, and there are no means of compelling +them. The march of events is just as certain as that +of the seasons. The question which is said to be beset with +difficulties is in fact very easy—that is, its difficulties arise +from conflicting interests and passions, and not from the +uncertainty of its operation and end. Those conflicting +passions are certainly very great and very embarrassing, +and it is no easy matter to deal with them, but it seems to +me that the wisest policy is to keep our eyes steadfastly fixed +on the end, and, admitting the inevitable conclusion, labour +to bring it about with the smallest amount of individual loss, +the greatest general benefit, and the best chance of permanence +and stability. By casting lingering looks at the old +system, and endeavouring to save something here and there, +by allowing the Church to remain in the rags and tatters +of its old supremacy, we shall foster those hostile feelings +which it is essential to put down for ever, and leave the +seeds of grievance and hatred to spring up in a future harvest +of agitation and confusion.</p> + +<h3>July 25th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Nothing of moment has occurred lately; the +dread of cholera absorbs everybody. Mrs. Smith, young and +beautiful, was dressed to go to church on Sunday morning, +when she was seized with the disorder, never had a chance of +rallying, and died at eleven at night. This event, shocking +enough in itself from its suddenness and the youth and beauty +of the person, has created a terrible alarm; many people have +taken flight, and others are suspended between their hopes of +safety in country air and their dread of being removed from +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span> +metropolitan aid. The disease spreads gradually in all directions +in town and country, but without appearing like an +epidemic; it is scattered and uncertain; it brings to light +horrible distress. We, who live on the smooth and plausible +surface, know little of the frightful appearance of the bowels +of society.</p> + +<p>Don Pedro has never been heard of since he landed, and +nobody seems much to care whether he or Miguel succeed. +The Tories are for the latter and the Whigs for the former. +In a fourth debate on the Russian Dutch Loan Ministers +got a good finale, a large division, and a brilliant speech +from Stanley, totally unprepared and prodigiously successful. +Nothing could be worse in point of tactics than renewing this +contest, neither party having, in fact, a good case. Parliament +is going to separate soon, and the cholera will accelerate +the prorogation; not a step has been made towards an approximation +between the rival parties, who appear to be +animated against each other with unabated virulence. The +moderate Tories talk of their desire to see the Government +discard their Radical friends, but the great body give them no +encouragement to do so by evincing any diminished hostility +to them as a party. Opinions are so different as to the +probable composition of the next Parliament, that it is +difficult to arrive at any satisfactory conclusion about it. The +Tories evidently expect that they shall reappear in very +formidable strength, though in particular places the Tory +party is entirely crushed; the sooner it is so altogether the +better, for no good can be expected from it, and it would be +far better to erect a Conservative party upon a new and +broader basis than to try and bolster up this worn-out, +prejudiced, obstinate faction. But the times are difficult +and men are wanting; the middle classes are pressing on, +and there are men enough there of fortune, energy, activity, +zeal, and ambition—no Cannings perhaps or Broughams, but +a host of fellows of the calibre of the actors in the old French +Constituent Assembly.</p> + +<h3>July 29th, 1832</h3> + +<p>There has been a great breeze between the +Chancellor and Sugden, abusing and retorting upon each +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">QUARREL BETWEEN BROUGHAM AND SUGDEN.</span> +other from their respective Houses of Parliament. As all +personal matters excite greater interest than any others, so +has this. Scott, Lord Eldon’s son, died, and his places became +vacant. Brougham had recommended their abolition +long ago in his evidence before the House of Commons, and +both publicly and privately. Some days ago Sugden gave +notice to Horne (Solicitor-General) that he meant to put a +question to him in the House of Commons as to whether +these appointments were to be filled up or not, but before he +did so (at four o’clock in the morning) the writ was moved +for James Brougham, who had been put by the Chancellor in +Scott’s place. Accordingly the next day Sugden attacked +the appointment in the House of Commons, and though he +was by way of only asking a question, he in fact made a long +vituperative speech. Nobody was there to reply. Althorp +said he knew nothing of the matter, and various speeches +were made, all expressive of a desire that the appointment +should only be temporary. Horne (it seems) had never told +the Chancellor what Sugden said, and Denman, who had no +authority from him, did not dare get up and say that it was +not to be permanent. Later in the day, having received instructions +from the Chancellor, he did get up and say so. +The next day Brougham introduced the subject in the +House of Lords, and attacked Sugden with all the sarcasm +and contumely which he could heap upon him, comparing +him to ‘a crawling reptile,’ &c. Not one of his Tory friends +said a word, and, what is curious, the Duke of Wellington +praised Brougham for his disinterestedness, and old Eldon +defended the place. The following day (Friday) Sugden +again brought the matter before the House of Commons, +complained bitterly of the Chancellor’s speech, was called to +order by Stanley, when the Speaker interfered, and, dexterously +turning Sugden’s attack upon the newspaper report, +enabled him to go on. A violent discussion followed, rather +awkward for the Chancellor, whose friends endeavoured to +soften the thing down by denying the accuracy of the report. +After much acrimonious debate the matter ended. Yesterday +the ‘Times,’ throwing over Brougham and Sugden, asserted +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span> +the accuracy of its own reporter, and declared that whether +the Chancellor was right or wrong to have uttered them, the +words were spoken by him exactly as they had been reported. +Both parties are furious, but on the whole the Chancellor +seems at present to have the worst of it, for it is worse for a +man in his station to be in the wrong, and more indecent to +be scurrilous, than for an individual who is nothing. Sugden +now declares he will bring on a motion he has long meditated +on the subject of the Court of Chancery, in which he will +exhibit to the world the whole conduct of Brougham since he +has held the Great Seal, his early haste and precipitation, his +recent carelessness and delay, his ignorance, inattention, and +incompetence for the office he holds. In this he expects to +be supported by Wetherell, Knight, and Pemberton, three of +the most eminent Chancery lawyers, while Brougham has +nobody but Horne (of the profession) to defend him. If this +should occur he may thank himself, for he would put Horne +there.</p> + +<p>Sir Charles Bagot called on me yesterday; told me that +he thought the Belgian question was at last on the point of +being settled, that the King of Holland had made ‘the great +concession,’ and that the rest must soon follow, that he had +never passed two such years amidst such difficulties, the King +so obstinate. His view was that by holding out and maintaining +a large army events would produce war, and that he +would be able to sell himself to some one of the contending +parties, getting back Belgium as the price of his aid, that +he now only gave in because not a hope was left, that the +difficulties were so great that it was not the fault of this +Government that matters were not settled before. I asked +him how the Dutch had contrived to make such an exertion. +He said it was very creditable to them, but that they were +very rich and very frugal, and had lugged out their hoards. +They had saddled themselves with a debt the interest of which +amounts to about 700,000ℓ. a year—a good deal for two +millions of people.</p> + +<h3>August 1st, 1832</h3> + +<p>Here is an anecdote exhibiting the character +of Brougham, hot, passionate, and precipitate. He is preparing +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">BROUGHAM’S RESENTMENT.</span> +his Bill for the amendment of the Court of Chancery, +by which the patronage is to be done away with. Compensation +was to be given to the present interests, but upon this +recent affair between Sugden and him, to revenge himself +upon men who are all or mostly of Sugden’s party, he +ordered the compensation clauses to be struck out. Sefton +(who is a sort of Sancho to him) came up to dinner quite +elated at having heard the order given. ‘I wish,’ said he, +‘you had heard a man treated as I did in the Chancellor’s +room. He came in to ask him about the Bill he was drawing +up. “I suppose the compensation clauses are to be put in?” +“Compensation?” said Brougham. “No, by God; no compensation. +Leave them out, if you please. They chose to +attack me, and they shall have enough of it.”’ And what will +be the end of all this—that the Chancellor shows his spite +and commits himself, shows that he is influenced in legislation +by personal feelings, and incurs the suspicion that because +he cannot get a compensation for his brother he is resolved +nobody else shall have any? Althorp’s speech about the +pensions on Monday set at rest the question of compensation, +and if these offices are abolished the Chancellor cannot prevent +their getting it. In the House of Lords the eternal +Russian Dutch Loan came on again. The Duke made a +speech and Wynford made a speech, and they were opposed +to each other; the Duke hit the right nail on the head, and +took that course which he frequently does, and which is such +a redeeming quality in his political character—addressed +himself to the <i>question itself</i>, to the real merits of it, without +making it a mere vehicle for annoying the Government. +Aberdeen sneered, but when the Duke throws over his people +they can do nothing.</p> + +<h3>August 8th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Pedro’s expedition, which always has +hobbled along, and never exhibited any of that dash which +is essential to the success of such efforts, may be considered +hopeless; Palmella arrived here a day or two ago, very low, +and the Regency scrip has fallen four per cent. Nobody +joins them, and it seems pretty clear that, one <i>coquin</i> for +another, the Portuguese think they may as well have Miguel. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span> +The Dutch affair is not yet settled, but on the point of it; +for the fiftieth time a ‘little hitch’ has again arisen. Last +night, in the House of Lords, the Chancellor, in one of his +most bungling ways, made what he meant to be a sort of +<i>amende</i> to Sugden, making the matter rather worse than it +was before, at least for his own credit, for he said that ‘he +had never intended to give pain, which he of all things +abhorred,’ and that he had not been at all in a passion—both +false, and the latter being in fact his only excuse. I sat next +to Melbourne at dinner, who concurred in the judgment of +the world on the whole transaction, and said, ‘The real truth +is, he was in a great rage, for he had forgotten all his own +evidence and his own speeches, and he meant to have kept +the place.’ This evidence from his own colleague and friend +is conclusive, and will be a nice morsel for the future biographer +of Brougham.</p> + +<p>I dined at Holland House yesterday; a good many people, +and the Chancellor came in after dinner, looking like an old +clothes man and dirty as the ground. We had a true Holland +House dinner, two more people arriving (Melbourne and Tom +Duncombe) than there was room for, so that Lady Holland +had the pleasure of a couple of general squeezes, and of +seeing our arms prettily pinioned. Lord Holland sits at +table, but does not dine. He proposed to retire (not from the +room), but was not allowed, for that would have given us all +space and ease. Lord Holland told some stories of Johnson +and Garrick which he had heard from Kemble. Johnson +loved to bully Garrick, from a recollection of Garrick’s former +impertinence. When Garrick was in the zenith of his popularity, +and grown rich, and lived with the great, and while +Johnson was yet obscure, the Doctor used to drink tea with +him, and he would say, ‘Davy, I do not envy you your +money nor your fine acquaintance, but I envy you your +power of drinking such tea as this.’ ‘Yes,’ said Garrick, ‘it +is very good tea, but it is not my best, nor that which I give +to my Lord this and Sir somebody t’other.’</p> + +<p>Johnson liked Fox because he defended his pension, and +said it was only to blame in not being large enough. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">CHARACTER OF MACAULAY.</span> +‘Fox,’ he said, ‘is a liberal man; he would always be “aut +Cćsar aut nullus;” whenever I have seen him he has been +<i>nullus</i>.’ Lord Holland said Fox made it a rule never to talk +in Johnson’s presence, because he knew all his conversations +were recorded for publication, and he did not choose to figure +in them.</p> + +<h3>August 12th, 1832</h3> + +<p>The House of Commons has finished (or +nearly) its business. Althorp ended with a blunder. He +brought in a Bill to extend the time for payment of rates +and for voters under the new Bill, and because it was opposed +he abandoned it suddenly; his friends are disgusted. Robarts +told me that the Bank Committee had executed their laborious +duties in a spirit of great cordiality, and with a general +disposition to lay aside all political differences and concur in +accomplishing the best results; a good thing, for it is in such +transactions as these, which afford an opportunity for laying +aside the bitterness of party and the rancorous feelings +which animate men against each other, that the only chance +can be found of a future amalgamation of public men. He +told me that the evidence all went to prove that little +improvement could be made in the management of the +Bank.</p> + +<p>Dined yesterday at Holland House; the Chancellor, Lord +Grey, Luttrell, Palmerston, and Macaulay. The Chancellor +was sleepy and would not talk; he uttered nothing but +yawns and grunts. Macaulay and Allen disputed history, +particularly the character of the Emperor Frederick II., and +Allen declared himself a Guelph and Macaulay a Ghibelline. +Macaulay is a most extraordinary man, and his astonishing +knowledge is every moment exhibited, but (as far as I have yet +seen of him, which is not sufficient to judge) he is not <i>agreeable</i>. +His propositions and his allusions are rather too abrupt; +he starts topics not altogether naturally; then he has none +of the graces of conversation, none of that exquisite tact and +refinement which are the result of a felicitous intuition or a +long acquaintance with good society, or more probably a +mixture of both. The mighty mass of his knowledge is not +animated by that subtle spirit of taste and discretion which +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span> +alone can give it the qualities of lightness and elasticity, and +without which, though he may have the power of instructing +and astonishing, he never will attain that of delighting +and captivating his hearers. The dinner was agreeable, and +enlivened by a squabble between Lady Holland and Allen, +at which we were all ready to die of laughing. He jeered +at something she said as brutal, and chuckled at his own +wit.</p> + +<h3>Shepperton, August 31st, 1832</h3> + +<p>I came here last Sunday to +see my father, who (my mother wrote me word) had been +unwell for a day or two. I got here at four o’clock (having +called on Madame de Lieven at Richmond on the way), +and when I arrived I found my father at the point of +death. He was attacked as he had often been before; medicines +afforded him no relief, and nothing would stay on his +stomach. On Saturday violent spasms came on, which +occasioned him dreadful pain; they continued intermittingly +till Sunday afternoon, when as they took him out of bed to +put him in a warm bath, he fainted. From this state of insensibility +he never recovered, and at half-past twelve o’clock +he expired. My brothers were both here. I sent an express +for my sister, who was at Malvern, and she arrived on Tuesday +morning. Dr. Dowdeswell was in the house, and he +stayed on with us and did all that was required. This +morning he was buried in the church of this village, close to +the house, in the simplest manner, and was followed to the +grave by my brothers and brother-in-law, Dowdeswell, Ives, +the doctor who attended him, and the servants. He had long +been ailing, and at his age (nearly 70 years) this event was +not extraordinary, but it was shocking, because so sudden +and unexpected, and no idea of danger was entertained by +himself or those about him. My father had some faults and +many foibles, but he was exposed to great disadvantages in +early youth; his education was neglected and his disposition +was spoilt. His father was useless, and worse than useless, +as a parent, and his mother (a woman of extraordinary +capacity and merit) died while he was a young man, having +been previously separated from her husband, and having +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">ANECDOTES OF PRINCESS CHARLOTTE.</span> +retired from the +world.<a name="FNA_18_11" id="FNA_18_11"></a><a href="#FN_18_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> +The circumstances of his marriage, +and the incidents of his life, would be interesting to none +but his own family, and need not be recorded by me. He +was a man of a kind, amiable, and liberal disposition, and +what is remarkable, as he advanced in years his temper +grew less irritable and more indulgent; he was cheerful, +hospitable, and unselfish. He had at all times been a lively +companion, and without much instruction, extensive information, +or a vigorous understanding, his knowledge of the +world in the midst of which he had passed his life, his taste +and turn for humour, and his good-nature made him a very +agreeable man. He had a few intimate friends to whom he +was warmly attached, a host of acquaintance, and I do not +know that he had a single enemy. He was an affectionate +father, and ready to make any sacrifices for the happiness +and welfare of his children—in short, he was amiable and +blameless in the various relations of life, and he deserved +that his memory should be cherished as it is by us with sincere +and affectionate regret.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_18_11" id="FN_18_11"></a><a href="#FNA_18_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> +[Mr. Charles Greville, senior, was the fifth son of Fulk Greville of +Wilbury, by Frances Macartney, a lady of some literary reputation as the +authoress of an ‘Ode to Indifference.’ She was the daughter of General +Macartney. Horace Walpole speaks of her as one of the beauties of his +time. She died in 1789. Mr. Greville may have inherited from her his +strong literary tastes.]</p></div> + +<h3>September 18th, 1832</h3> + +<p>I have been in London, at Shepperton, +and twice at Brighton to see Henry de Ros; came back yesterday. +The world is half asleep. Lord Howe returns to the Queen +as her Chamberlain, and that makes a sensation. I met at +Brighton Lady Keith [Madame de Flahaut], who told us a +great deal about French politics, which, as she is a partisan, +was not worth much, but she also gave us rather an amusing +account of the early days of the Princess Charlotte, at the time +of her escape from Warwick House in a hackney coach and +taking refuge with her mother, and of the earlier affair of +Captain Hess. The former escapade arose from her determination +to break off her marriage with the Prince of Orange, +and that from her falling suddenly in love with Prince +Augustus of Prussia, and her resolving to marry him and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span> +nobody else, not knowing that he was already married <i>de la +main gauche</i> in Prussia. It seems that she speedily made +known her sentiments to the Prince, and he (notwithstanding +his marriage) followed the thing up, and had two interviews +with her at her own house, which were contrived by Miss +Knight, her governess. During one of these Miss Mercer +arrived, and Miss Knight told her that Prince Augustus was +with the Princess in her room, and what a fright she (Miss +Knight) was in. Miss Mercer, who evidently had no mind +anybody should conduct such an affair for the Princess but +herself, pressed Miss Knight to go and interrupt them, which +on her declining she did herself. The King (Regent as he +was then) somehow heard of these meetings, and measures +of coercion were threatened, and it was just when an approaching +visit from him had been announced to the Princess +that she went off. Miss Mercer was in the house at the time, +and the Regent, when he came, found her there. He accused +her of being a party to the Princess’s flight, but afterwards +either did or pretended to believe her denial, and sent her +to fetch the Princess back, which after many <i>pourparlers</i> +and the intervention of the Dukes of York and Sussex, +Brougham, and the Bishop of Salisbury, her preceptor, was +accomplished at two in the morning.</p> + +<p>Hess’s affair was an atrocity of the Princess of Wales. +She employed him to convey letters to her daughter while +she used to ride in Windsor Park, which he contrived to +deliver, and occasionally to converse with her; and on one +occasion, at Kensington, the Princess of Wales brought them +together in her own room. The Princess afterwards wrote +him some letters, not containing much harm, but idle and +improper. When the Duke of York’s affair with Mrs. Clark +came out, and all the correspondence, she became very much +alarmed, told Miss Mercer the whole story, and employed her +to get back her letters to Hess. She accordingly wrote to +Hess (who was then in Spain), but he evinced a disinclination +to give them up. On his return to England she saw +him, and on his still demurring she threatened to put the +affair into the Duke of York’s hands, which frightened him, +and then he surrendered them, and signed a paper declaring +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">BELGIUM, SPAIN, FRANCE.</span> +he had given up everything. The King afterwards heard of +this affair, and questioning the Princess, she told him everything. +He sent for Miss Mercer, and desired to see the +letters, and then to keep them. This she refused. This +Captain Hess was a short, plump, vulgar-looking man, +afterwards lover to the Queen of Naples, mother of the +present King, an amour that was carried on under the +auspices of the Margravine at her villa in the Strada Nova +at Naples. It was, however, detected, and Hess was sent +away from Naples, and never allowed to return. I remember +finding him at Turin (married), when he was lamenting his +hard fate in being excluded from that <i>Paradiso</i> Naples.</p> + +<h3>September 28th, 1832</h3> + +<p>At Stoke from the 22nd to the 26th, +then to the Grove, and returned yesterday; at the former +place Madame de Lieven, Alvanley, Melbourne; tolerably +pleasant; question of war again. The Dutch King makes +a stir, and threatens to bombard the town of Antwerp; the +French offered to march, and put their troops in motion, but +Leopold begged they would not, and chose rather to await +the effect of more conferences, which began with great vigour +a few days ago. What they find to say to each other for eight +or ten hours a day for several consecutive days it is hard to +guess, as the question is of the simplest kind. The King +of Holland will not give up the citadel of Antwerp, nor +consent to the free navigation of the Scheldt; the Belgians +insist on these concessions; the Conference says they shall +be granted, but Russia, Prussia, and Austria will not coerce +the Dutchman; England and France will, if the others don’t +object. A French army is in motion, and a French fleet is off +Spithead; so probably something will come of it. Nothing +has damaged this Government more than these protracted +and abortive conferences.</p> + +<p>Four days ago there was a report that the King of Spain +was dead, accompanied with a good many particulars, and +all the world began speculating as to the succession, but +yesterday came news that he was not dead, but better. Pedro +and Miguel are fighting at Oporto with some appearance of +spirit; Miguel is the favourite. The French Government is +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span> +represented to be in a wretched state, squabbling and feeble, +and nobody is inclined to be Minister. Dupin was very near +it, but refused because Louis Philippe would not make him +President of the Council. The King is determined to be his +own Minister, and can get nobody to take office on these +terms. They think it will end in Dupin. The present +Government declares it cannot meet the Chambers until +Antwerp is evacuated by the Dutch and the Duchesse de +Berri departed out of France or taken. This heroine, much +to the annoyance of her family, is dodging about in La Vendée +and doing rather harm than good to her cause. The Dauphiness +passed through London, when our Queen very politely +went to visit her. She has not a shadow of doubt of the +restoration of her nephew, and thinks nothing questionable +but the time. She told Madame de Lieven this. I talked to +Madame de Lieven about war, and added that if any did +break out it would be the war of opinion which Canning had +predicted. She said yes, and that the monarchical principle +(as she calls the absolute principle) would then crush the +other.</p> + +<p>I came up with Melbourne to London. He is uneasy +about the state of the country—about the desire for change +and the general restlessness that prevails. We discussed the +different members of the Government, and he agreed that +John Russell had acted unwarrantably in making the speech +he did the other day at Torquay about the Ballot, which, +though hypothetical, was nothing but an invitation to +the advocates of Ballot to agitate for it; this, too, from a +Cabinet Minister! Then comes an awkward sort of explanation, +that what he said was in his <i>individual</i> capacity, as if +he had any right so to speak. Melbourne spoke of Brougham, +who he said was tossed about in perpetual caprices, that he +was fanciful and sensitive, and actuated by all sorts of littlenesses, +even with regard to people so insignificant that it is +difficult to conceive how he can ever think about them; that +he is conservative, but under the influence of his old connexions, +particularly of the Saints. His friends are so often +changed that it is not easy to follow him in this respect. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">CONVERSATION WITH LORD MELBOURNE.</span> +Durham used to be one; now he hates him; he has a high +opinion of Sefton! of his judgment!! What is talent, what +are great abilities, when one sees the gigantic intellect of +Brougham so at fault? Not only does the world manage to go +on when little wisdom guides it, but how ill it may go on with a +great deal of <i>talent</i>, which, however, is different from <i>wisdom</i>. +He asked me what I thought of Richmond, and I told him that +he was ignorant and narrow-minded, but a good sort of +fellow, only appearing to me, who had known him all my life, +in an odd place as a Cabinet Minister. He said he was sharp, +quick, the King liked him, and he stood up to Durham more +than any other man in the Cabinet, and that altogether he was +not unimportant; so that the ingredients of this Cabinet seem +to be put there to neutralise one another, and to be good for +nothing else; because Durham has an overbearing temper, +and his father-in-law is weak, there must be a man without +any other merit than spirit to curb that temper. He talked of +Ireland, and the difficulty of settling the question there, that +the Archbishop of Canterbury was willing to reform the +Church, but not to alienate any of its revenues. ‘Not,’ I +asked, ‘for the payment of a Catholic clergy?’ ‘No, not +from Protestant uses.’ I told him there was nothing to be +done but to pull down the edifice and rebuild it. He said you +would have all the Protestants against you, but he did not +appear to differ. To this things must come at last. Melbourne +is exceedingly anxious to keep Lord Hill and Fitzroy +Somerset at the head of the army, from which the violent of +his party would gladly oust them, but he evidently contemplates +the possibility of having occasion for the army, and does +not wish to tamper with the service or play any tricks with +it. It is curious to see the working and counterworking of +his real opinions and principles with his false position, and +the mixture of bluntness, facility and shrewdness, discretion, +levity and seriousness, which, colouring his mind and character +by turns, make up the strange compound of his +thoughts and his actions.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<blockquote><p style="text-indent: 0"> +Foreign Difficulties — Conduct of Peel on the Resignation of Lord Grey — +Manners Sutton proposed as Tory Premier — Coolness between Peel and +the Duke — Embargo on Dutch Ships — Death of Lord Tenterden — +Denman made Lord Chief Justice — <i>Tableau</i> of Holland House — The +Speakership — Horne and Campbell Attorney- and Solicitor-General — The +Court at Brighton — Lord Howe and the Queen — Elections under the +Reform Act — Mr. Gully — Petworth — Lord Egremont — Attempt to reinstate +Lord Howe — Namik Pacha — Lord Lyndhurst’s Version of what +occurred on the Resignation of Lord Grey — Lord Denbigh appointed +Chamberlain to the Queen — Brougham’s Privy Council Bill — Talleyrand’s +Relations with Fox and Pitt — Negro Emancipation Bill — State of +the West Indies — The Reformed Parliament meets — Russian Intrigues — +Four Days’ Debate on the Address — Peel’s Political Career. +</p></blockquote> + +<hr /> + +<h3>London, October 7th, 1832</h3> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span> +I went to Newmarket on the 30th +of September, to Panshanger on the 5th, and came to town +on the 6th. Great fears entertained of war; the obstinacy +of the Dutch King, the appointment of Soult to be Prime +Minister of France, and the ambiguous conduct of the Allied +Courts look like war. Miguel has attacked Oporto without +success; but, as he nearly destroyed the English and French +battalions, he will probably soon get possession of the city. +It is clear that all Portugal is for him, which we may be sorry +for, but so it is. The iniquity of his cause does not appear +to affect it.</p> + +<h3>October 12th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Lady Cowper told me at Panshanger that +Palmerston said all the difficulties of the Belgian question +came from Matuscewitz, who was insolent and obstinate, and +astute in making objections; that it was the more provoking +as he had been recalled some time ago (the Greek business +being settled, for which he came), and Palmerston and some +of the others had asked the Emperor to allow him to stay here, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">TORY ATTEMPTS TO FORM A MINISTRY.</span> +on account of his usefulness in drawing up the minutes of the +proceedings of the Conference; that Lieven had by no means +wished him to stay, but could not object when the others +desired it. Accordingly he remained, and now he annoys +Palmerston to death. All this she wrote to Madame de +Lieven, who replied that it was not the fault of Matuscewitz, +and that he and Lieven agreed perfectly. She talked, +however, rather more pacific language. This clever, intriguing, +agreeable diplomatess has renewed her friendship +with the Duke of Wellington, to which he does not object, +though she will hardly ever efface the impression her former +conduct made upon him. My journal is getting intolerably +stupid, and entirely barren of events. I would take to miscellaneous +and private matters if any fell in my way, but +what can I make out of such animals as I herd with and +such occupations as I am engaged in?</p> + +<h3>Euston, October 26th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Went to Downham on Sunday +last; the Duke of Rutland, the Walewskis, Lord Burghersh, +and Hope. Came here on Wednesday morning; the +usual party. At Downham I picked up a good deal from +Arbuthnot (who was very garrulous) of a miscellaneous description, +of which the most curious and important was the +entire confirmation of (what I before suspected) the ill blood +that exists between the Duke of Wellington and Peel; +though the interests of party keep them on decent terms, +they dislike one another, and the Duke’s friends detest Peel +still more than the Duke does himself. He told me all that +had passed at the time of the blow-up of the present Government, +which I have partly recorded from a former conversation +with him, and his story certainly proves that the +Duke (though I think he committed an enormous error in judgment) +was not influenced by any motives of personal ambition.</p> + +<p>As soon as the King sent for Lyndhurst the latter went +to the Duke, who (as is known) agreed to form a Government, +never doubting that he was to be himself Prime +Minister. Lyndhurst went to Peel, who declined to take +office, and he then went to Baring. Lyndhurst and Arbuthnot +sent for Baring out of the House of Commons, and took +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span> +him to old Bankes’ house in Palace Yard, where they had +their conversation with him. He begged for time to consider +of it, and to be allowed to consult Peel, to which they assented. +He afterwards agreed, but on condition that Manners +Sutton should also be in the Cabinet. Lyndhurst had +about the same time made overtures to Manners Sutton, +and though nothing was finally settled it was understood he +would accept them. So matters stood, when one day (it +must have been the Wednesday or Thursday) Vesey Fitzgerald +called on the Arbuthnots, and in a conversation +about the different arrangements he intimated that Manners +Sutton expected to be Prime Minister, and on asking him +more particularly they found that this was also his own +impression. The next morning Arbuthnot went off to Lyndhurst’s +house, where he arrived before Lyndhurst was +dressed, and told him what had fallen from Fitzgerald, and +asked what it could mean. Lyndhurst answered very +evasively, but promised to have the matter cleared up. +Arbuthnot, not satisfied, went to the Duke and told him +what had passed, and added his conviction that there was +some such project on foot (to make Sutton Premier) of which +he was not aware. The Duke said he did not care a farthing +who was Premier, and that if it was thought desirable that +Sutton should be he had not the smallest objection, and was +by no means anxious to fill the post himself. I asked +whether the Duke would have taken office if Sutton had +been Minister, and was told that nothing was settled, but +probably not.</p> + +<p>The same day there was a meeting at Apsley House, at +which the Duke, Lyndhurst, Baring, Ellenborough, and (I +think) Rosslyn or Aberdeen, or both, were present, and to +which Sutton came, and held forth for nearly four hours +upon the position of their affairs and his coming into office. +He talked such incredible nonsense (as I have before +related) that when he was gone they all lifted up their +hands and with one voice pronounced the impossibility of +forming any Government under such a head. Baring was +then asked why he had made Sutton’s coming into office +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">MANNERS SUTTON PROPOSED AS PREMIER.</span> +the condition of his own acceptance, and why he had +wished him to be Prime Minister. He said that he had +never desired any such thing himself, and had hardly any +acquaintance with Sutton, except that as speaker he was +civil to him, and he dined with him once a year, but that +when he had gone to consult Peel, Peel had advised him +to insist upon having Sutton, and to put him at the head of +the Government. This avowal led to further examination +into what had passed, and it came out that when Lyndhurst +went to Peel, Peel pressed Manners Sutton upon him, +refusing to take office himself, but promising to support the +new Government, and urging Lyndhurst to offer the Premiership +to Sutton. At the same time he put Sutton up to +this, and desired him to refuse every office except that of +Premier. Accordingly, when Lyndhurst went to Sutton, the +latter said he would be Prime Minister or nothing, and +Lyndhurst had the folly to promise it to him. Thus matters +stood when Lady Cowley, who was living at Apsley House, +and got hold of what was passing, went and told it to her +brother, Lord Salisbury, who lost no time in imparting it to +some of the other High Tory Lords, who all agreed that it +would not do to have Sutton at the head of the Government, +and that the Duke was the only man for them. On Saturday +the great dinner at the Conservative Club took place, at +which a number of Tories, principally Peers, with the Duke +and Peel, were present. A great many speeches were made, +all full of enthusiasm for the Duke, and expressing a determination +to support <i>his</i> Government. Peel was in very ill +humour and said little; the Duke spoke much in honour of +Peel, applauding his conduct and saying that the difference +of their positions justified each in his different line. The +next day some of the Duke’s friends met, and agreed that +the unanimous desire for the Duke’s being at the head of +the Government which had been expressed at that dinner, +together with the unfitness of Sutton, proved the absolute +necessity of the Duke’s being Premier, and it was resolved +that a communication to this effect should be made to Peel. +Aberdeen charged himself with it and went to Peel’s house, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span> +where Sutton was at the time. Peel came to Aberdeen in +a very bad humour, said he saw from what had passed at +the dinner that nobody was thought of but the Duke, and +he should wash his hands of the whole business; that he had +already declined having anything to do with the Government, +and to that determination he should adhere. The +following Monday the whole thing was at an end.</p> + +<p>I am not sure that I have stated these occurrences +exactly as they were told me. There may be errors in the +order of the interviews and <i>pourparlers</i>, and in the verbal +details, but the substance is correct, and may be summed up +to this effect: that Peel, full of ambition, but of caution, +animated by deep dislike and jealousy of the Duke (which +policy induced him to conceal, but which temper betrayed), +thought to make Manners Sutton play the part of Addington, +while he was to be another Pitt; he fancied that he +could gain in political character, by an opposite line of conduct, +all that the Duke would lose; and he resolved that a +Government should be formed the existence of which should +depend upon himself. Manners Sutton was to be his +creature; he would have dictated every measure of Government; +he would have been their protector in the House of +Commons; and, as soon as the fitting moment arrived, he +would have dissolved this miserable Ministry and placed +himself at the head of affairs. All these deep-laid schemes, +and constant regard of self, form a strong contrast to the +simplicity and heartiness of the Duke’s conduct, and make +the two men appear in a very different light from that in +which they did at first. Peel acted right from bad motives, +the Duke wrong from good ones. The Duke put himself +forward, and encountered all the obloquy and reproach to +which he knew he exposed himself, and having done so, +cheerfully offered to resign the power to another. Peel endeavoured +to seize the power, but to shield himself from +responsibility and danger. It is a melancholy proof of the +dearth of talent and the great capacity of the man that, +notwithstanding the detection of his practices and his +motives, the Tories are compelled still to keep well with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">EMBARGO ON DUTCH SHIPS.</span> +him and to accept him for their leader. No cordiality, +however, can exist again between him and the Duke and +his friends, and, should the Whig Government be expelled, +the animosity and disunion engendered by these circumstances +will make it extremely difficult to form a Tory +Administration. [In a short time it was all made up—forgiven, +if not forgotten.]</p> + +<h3>November 7th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Came to town on Sunday. The answer +of the Dutch King to the demand of England and France +that he should give up Antwerp was anxiously expected. +It arrived on Monday afternoon, and was a refusal. Accordingly +a Council met yesterday, at which an order was +made for laying an embargo on Dutch merchant ships, which +are to be sequestrated, but not confiscated. The French +army marches forthwith, and Palmerston told me they expected +two or three days of bombardment would suffice for +the capture of the citadel, after which the French would +retire within their own frontier. The combined fleets will +remain at the Downs, for they can do nothing on the coast +of Holland at this season of the year. There is a good deal +of jealousy and no friendly spirit between the English and +French sailors; and the Duke of Richmond told me yesterday +that the Deal pilots desired nothing so much as to get the +French ships into a scrape. Great excitement prevails about +this Dutch question, which is so complicated that at this +moment I do not understand its merits. Matuscewitz, however, +who is opposed <i>totis viribus</i> to the policy of England +and France, told me that nobody could have behaved worse +than the King of Holland has done, shuffling and tricking +throughout; but they say he is so situated at home that he +could not give way if he would. A few days must now decide +the question of war or peace. All the Ministers, except +Brougham, Lord Holland, Grant, and Carlisle, were at the +Council yesterday—the Archbishop of Canterbury for a prayer +(for we omit no opportunity of offering supplications or returning +thanks to Heaven), and the new Lord Chief Justice +to be sworn a Privy Councillor.</p> + +<p>Lord Tenterden died on Sunday night, and no time was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span> +lost in appointing Denman as his successor. Coming as he +does after four of the greatest lawyers who ever sat upon the +Bench, this choice will not escape severe censure; for the +reputation of Denman as a lawyer is not high, and he has +been one of the most inefficient Attorneys-General who ever +filled the office. It has been a constant matter of complaint +on the part of the Government and their friends that the +law officers of the Crown gave them no assistance, but, on +the contrary, got them into scrapes. Denman is an honourable +man, and has been a consistent politician; latterly, of +course, a Radical of considerable vehemence, if not of violence. +The other men who were mentioned as successors to +Tenterden were Lyndhurst, Scarlett, and James Parke. The +latter is the best of the puisne judges, and might have been +selected if all political considerations and political connexions +had been disregarded. Lyndhurst will be overwhelmed with +anguish and disappointment at finding himself for ever excluded +from the great object of his ambition, and in which +his professional claims are so immeasurably superior to those +of his successful competitor; nor has he lost it by any sacrifice +of interest to honour, but merely from the unfortunate +issue of his political speculations. When he was made Chief +Baron a regular compact was made, a secret article, that he +should succeed on Tenterden’s death to the Chief Justiceship; +which bargain was of course cancelled by his declaration +of war on the Reform question and his consequent +breach with Lord Grey; though by far the fittest man, he +was now out of the question. It will be the more grating +as he has just evinced his high capabilities by pronouncing +in the Court of Exchequer one of the ablest judgments (in +Small <i>v.</i> Attwood) that were ever delivered. [It was afterwards +reversed by the House of Lords.] Scarlett, who had +been a Whig for forty years, and who has long occupied the +first place in the Court of King’s Bench, would have been +the man if his political dissociation from his old connexions, +and his recent hostility to them, had not also cancelled his +claims; so that every rival being set aside from one cause +or another, Denman, by one of the most extraordinary pieces +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[331]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">DENMAN LORD CHIEF JUSTICE.</span> +of good fortune that ever happened to man, finds himself +elevated to this great office, the highest object of a lawyer’s +ambition, and, in my opinion, one of the most enviable +stations an Englishman can attain. It is said that as a Common +Serjeant he displayed the qualities of a good judge, +and his friends confidently assert that he will make a very +good Chief Justice; but his legal qualifications are admitted +to be very inferior to those of his predecessors. [He made +a very bad one, but was personally popular and generally +respected for his high, and honourable moral character.]</p> + +<p>Tenterden was a remarkable man, and his elevation did +great credit to the judgment which selected him, and which +probably was Eldon’s. He had never led a cause, but he +was a profound lawyer, and appears to have had a mind +fraught with the spirit and genius of the law, and not narrowed +and trammelled by its subtleties and technicalities. +In spite of his low birth, want of oratorical power, and of +personal dignity, he was greatly revered and dreaded on the +Bench. He was an austere, but not an ill-humoured judge; +his manners were remarkably plain and unpolished, though +not vulgar. He was an elegant scholar, and cultivated classical +literature to the last. Brougham, whose congenial +tastes delighted in his classical attainments, used to bandy +Latin and Greek with him from the Bar to the Bench; and +he has more than once told me of his sending Tenterden +Greek verses of John Williams’, of which the next day +Tenterden gave him a translation in Latin verse. He is +supposed to have died very rich. Denman was taken into +the King’s closet before the Council, when he was sworn in; +the King took no particular notice of him, and the appointment +is not, probably, very palatable to his Majesty.</p> + +<h3>November 15th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Sheriff business at the Exchequer Court +on Monday; saw Lyndhurst and Denman meet and shake +hands with much politeness and grimace.</p> + +<h3>November 20th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Dined at Holland House the day before +yesterday; Lady Holland is unwell, fancies she must dine at +five o’clock, and exerts her power over society by making everybody +go out there at that hour, though nothing can be more +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[332]</a></span> +inconvenient than thus shortening the day, and nothing more +tiresome than such lengthening of the evening. Rogers and +Luttrell were staying there. The <i>tableau</i> of the house is +this:—Before dinner, Lady Holland affecting illness and +almost dissolution, but with a very respectable appetite, and +after dinner in high force and vigour; Lord Holland, with +his chalkstones and unable to walk, lying on his couch in +very good spirits and talking away; Luttrell and Rogers +walking about, ever and anon looking despairingly at the +clock and making short excursions from the drawing-room; +Allen surly and disputatious, poring over the newspapers, +and replying in monosyllables (generally negative) to whatever +is said to him. The grand topic of interest, far exceeding +the Belgian or Portuguese questions, was the illness of +Lady Holland’s page, who has got a tumour in his thigh. +This ‘little creature,’ as Lady Holland calls a great hulking +fellow of about twenty, is called ‘Edgar,’ his real name being +Tom or Jack, which he changed on being elevated to his +present dignity, as the Popes do when they are elected to +the tiara. More rout is made about him than other people +are permitted to make about their children, and the inmates +of Holland House are invited and compelled to go and sit +with and amuse him. Such is the social despotism of this +strange house, which presents an odd mixture of luxury and +constraint, of enjoyment physical and intellectual, with an +alloy of small <i>désagréments</i>. Talleyrand generally comes at +ten or eleven o’clock, and stays as long as they will let him. +Though everybody who goes there finds something to abuse +or to ridicule in the mistress of the house, or its ways, all +continue to go; all like it more or less; and whenever, by +the death of either, it shall come to an end, a vacuum will +be made in society which nothing will supply. It is the +house of all Europe; the world will suffer by the loss; and +it may with truth be said that it will ‘eclipse the gaiety of +nations.’</p> + +<h3>November 27th, 1832</h3> + +<p>At Roehampton from Saturday till +Monday. The Chancellor had been there a few days before, +from whom Lord Dover had picked up the gossip of the Government. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[333]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE SPEAKERSHIP.</span> +There had been a fresh breeze with Durham, who it +seems has returned from Russia more odious than ever. His +violence and insolence, as usual, were vented on Lord Grey, +and the rest of the Cabinet, as heretofore, are obliged to +submit. I have since heard from the Duke of Richmond that +the cause of this last storm was something relating to Church +Reform, and that he had been forced to knock under. I fancy +he wanted to go much further than the others, probably to +unfrock the Bishop of Durham and Bishop Phillpotts, the +former because he is a greater man in the county than himself, +and the latter from old and inextinguishable hatred and +animosity.</p> + +<p>There has been another dispute about the Speakership. +All the Cabinet except Althorp want to put Abercromby in +the chair, and Althorp insists on having Littleton. The +former is in all respects the best choice, and the man whom +they ought, from his long connexion with the Whigs and +his consistency and respectability, to propose, but Althorp +thought fit to commit himself in some way to Littleton, who +has no claims to be compared with those of Abercromby +(having been half his life in opposition to the present Government), +and he obstinately insists upon the expectations held +out to him being realised. Lord Grey, though very anxious +for Abercromby, thinks it necessary to defer to the leader of +the House of Commons, and the consequence is a very disagreeable +dispute on the subject. Abercromby is greatly +mortified at being postponed to Littleton, and not the less +as Althorp has always been his friend. The language of +Dover, who is a sort of jackal to Brougham, clearly indicates +the desire of that worthy to get rid of Lord Grey and put +himself in his place. All these little squabbles elicit some +disparaging remarks on Lord Grey’s weakness, folly, or +cupidity. <i>Hćret lateri</i>—the offer of the Attorney-Generalship, +and the day of vengeance is intended to +come.<a name="FNA_19_01" id="FNA_19_01"></a><a href="#FN_19_01" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_19_01" id="FN_19_01"></a><a href="#FNA_19_01"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> +[This refers to Lord Grey’s having offered the Attorney-Generalship +to Brougham when Government was formed.]</p></div> + +<p>After considerable delay Horne and Campbell were +appointed Attorney- and Solicitor-General; the delay was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[334]</a></span> +occasioned by ineffectual attempts to dispose of Horne elsewhere. +They wanted to get some puisne judge to resign, +and to put Horne on the Bench, but they could not make +any such arrangement, so Horne is Attorney. Pepys was to +have been Solicitor if the thing could have been managed. +I don’t think I picked up anything else, except that the King +was very averse to the French attack upon Antwerp, and +consented to the hand-in-hand arrangement between France +and England with considerable reluctance. The fact is +he hates this Government so much that he dislikes all +they do.</p> + +<p>Lord Lansdowne is just come from Paris, and gives a +flourishing account of the prospects of King Louis Philippe +and his Government, but as he is the Duc de Broglie’s intimate +friend his opinion may be prejudiced. The King appears +certainly to have rather gained than not by the attack which +was made on him, from the coolness and courage he evinced, +and it is a great point to have proved that he is not a coward.</p> + +<h3>Brighton, December 14th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Came here last Wednesday +week; Council on the Monday for the dissolution; place very +full, bustling, gay, and amusing. I am staying in De Ros’s +house with Alvanley; Chesterfields, Howes, Lievens, Cowpers, +all at Brighton, and plenty of occupation in visiting, +gossiping, dawdling, riding, and driving; a very idle life, and +impossible to do anything. The Court very active, vulgar, +and hospitable; King, Queen, Princes, Princesses, bastards, +and attendants constantly trotting about in every direction: +the election noisy and dull—the Court candidate beaten and +two Radicals elected. Everybody talking of the siege of +Antwerp and the elections. So, with plenty of animation, and +discussion, and curiosity, I like it very well. Lord Howe +is devoted to the Queen, and never away from her. She +receives his attentions, but demonstrates nothing in return; +he is like a boy in love with this frightful spotted Majesty, +while his delightful wife is laid up (with a sprained ancle +and dislocated joint) on her couch.</p> + +<h3>Brighton, December 17th, 1832</h3> + +<p>On Sunday I heard Anderson +preach. He does not write his sermons, but preaches from +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[335]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">MR. GULLY.</span> +notes; very eloquent, voice and manner perfect, one of the +best I ever heard, both preacher and reader.</p> + +<p>The borough elections are nearly over, and have satisfied +the Government. They do not seem to be bad on the whole; +the metropolitans have sent good men enough, and there was +no tumult in the town. At Hertford Duncombe was routed +by Salisbury’s long purse. He hired such a numerous mob +besides that he carried all before him. Some very bad characters +have been returned; among the worst, Faithful here; +Gronow at Stafford; Gully, Pontefract; Cobbett, Oldham; +though I am glad that Cobbett is in Parliament. Gully’s +history is extraordinary. He was taken out of prison +twenty-five or thirty years ago by Mellish to fight Pierce, +surnamed the ‘Game Chicken,’ being then a butcher’s apprentice; +he fought him and was beaten. He afterwards fought +Belcher (I believe), and Gresson twice, and left the prize-ring +with the reputation of being the best man in it. He +then took to the turf, was successful, established himself at +Newmarket, where he kept a hell, and began a system of +corruption of trainers, jockeys, and boys, which put the +secrets of all Newmarket at his disposal, and in a few years +made him rich. At the same time he connected himself +with Mr. Watt in the north, by betting for him, and this +being at the time when Watt’s stable was very successful, +he won large sums of money by his horses. Having become +rich he embarked in a great coal speculation, which answered +beyond his hopes, and his shares soon yielded immense +profits. His wife, who was a coarse, vulgar woman, in the +meantime died, and he afterwards married the daughter of +an innkeeper, who proved as gentlewomanlike as the other +had been the reverse, and who is very pretty besides. He +now gradually withdrew from the betting ring as a regular +blackleg, still keeping horses, and betting occasionally in +large sums, and about a year or two ago, having previously +sold the Hare Park to Sir Mark Wood, where he lived for +two or three years, he bought a property near Pontefract, +and settled down (at Ackworth Park) as John Gully, Esq., a +gentleman of fortune. At the Reform dissolution he was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[336]</a></span> +pressed to come forward as candidate for Pontefract, but +after some hesitation he declined. Latterly he has taken great +interest in politics, and has been an ardent Reformer and a +liberal subscriber for the advancement of the cause. When +Parliament was about to be dissolved, he was again invited +to stand for Pontefract by a numerous deputation; he again +hesitated, but finally accepted; Lord Mexborough withdrew, +and he was elected without opposition. In person he is tall +and finely formed, full of strength and grace, with delicate +hands and feet, his face coarse and with a bad expression, +his head set well on his shoulders, and remarkably graceful +and even dignified in his actions and manners; totally without +education, he has strong sense, discretion, reserve, and a +species of good taste which has prevented, in the height of +his fortunes, his behaviour from ever transgressing the +bounds of modesty and respect, and he has gradually separated +himself from the rabble of bettors and blackguards of +whom he was once the most conspicuous, and tacitly asserted +his own independence and acquired gentility without ever +presuming towards those whom he has been accustomed to +regard with deference. His position is now more anomalous +than ever, for a member of Parliament is a great man, +though there appear no reasons why the suffrages of the +blackguards of Pontefract should place him in different +social relations towards us than those in which we mutually +stood before.</p> + +<h3>Petworth, December 20th, 1832</h3> + +<p>Came here yesterday. It is a +very grand place; house magnificent and full of fine objects, +both ancient and modern; the Sir Joshuas and Vandykes +particularly interesting, and a great deal of all sorts that is +worth seeing. Lord Egremont was eighty-one the day before +yesterday, and is still healthy, with faculties and memory +apparently unimpaired. He has reigned here for sixty years +with great authority and influence. He is shrewd, eccentric, +and benevolent, and has always been munificent and charitable +in his own way; he patronises the arts and fosters +rising genius. Painters and sculptors find employment and +welcome in his house; he has built a gallery which is full of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[337]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">EARL OF EGREMONT.</span> +pictures and statues, some of which are very fine, and the +pictures scattered through the house are interesting and +curious. Lord Egremont hates ceremony, and can’t bear to be +personally meddled with; he likes people to come and go as +it suits them, and say nothing about it, never to take leave of +him. The party here consists of the Cowpers, his own family, +a Lady E. Romney, two nieces, Mrs. Tredcroft a neighbour, +Ridsdale a parson, Wynne, Turner, the great landscape +painter, and a young artist of the name of Lucas, whom Lord +Egremont is bringing into notice, and who will owe his fortune +(if he makes it) to him. Lord Egremont is enormously +rich, and lives with an abundant though not very refined +hospitality. The house wants modern comforts, and the +servants are rustic and uncouth; but everything is good, and +it all bears an air of solid and aristocratic grandeur. The +stud groom told me there are 300 horses of different sorts +here. His course, however, is nearly run, and he has the +mortification of feeling that, though surrounded with children +and grandchildren, he is almost the last of his race, and that +his family is about to be extinct. Two old brothers and one +childless nephew are all that are left of the Wyndhams, and +the latter has been many years married. All his own children +are illegitimate, but he has everything in his power, +though nobody has any notion of the manner in which he +will dispose of his property. It is impossible not to reflect +upon the prodigious wealth of the Earls of Northumberland, +and of the proud Duke of Somerset who married the last +heiress of that house, the betrothed of three husbands. All +that Lord Egremont has, all the Duke of Northumberland’s +property, and the Duke of Rutland’s Cambridgeshire estate +belonged to them, which together is probably equivalent to +between 200,000ℓ. and 300,000ℓ. a year. Banks told me that +the Northumberland property, when settled on Sir H. Smithson, +was not above 12,000ℓ. a +year.<a name="FNA_19_02" id="FNA_19_02"></a><a href="#FN_19_02" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_19_02" id="FN_19_02"></a><a href="#FNA_19_02"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> +[The eleventh Earl of Northumberland, Joscelyn Percy, died in 1670, +leaving an only daughter, who married Charles Seymour, ninth Duke of +Somerset. This lady is described as ‘the betrothed of three husbands,’ +because she was married at fourteen to Henry Cavendish, son of the Duke +of Newcastle, who died in the following year. She was then affianced to +Thomas Thynne of Longleat, who was assassinated in 1682; and at last +married to the Duke of Somerset. The eldest son of this marriage, Algernon +Seymour, who succeeded to the Dukedom of Somerset in 1748, was created +Earl of Northumberland on the 2nd of October, 1749, and Earl of Egremont +on the following day, with remainder (as regards the latter title) to his +nephew Sir Charles Wyndham, who succeeded him in February 1750. The +Earldom of Northumberland passed at the same time to Sir Hugh Smithson, +son-in-law of Duke Algernon, who was created Duke of Northumberland +in 1766. The titles and the vast property of the Duke of Somerset, Earl of +Northumberland, thus came to be divided.</p> + +<p>George O’Brien Wyndham, third Earl of Egremont, to whom Mr. Greville +paid this visit, was born on the 18th of December, 1751. He was +therefore eighty-two years old at this time; but he lived five years longer, +and died in 1837, famous and beloved for his splendid hospitality and for +his liberal and judicious patronage of the arts, and likewise of the turf.]</p></div> + +<h3>Brighton, December 31st, 1832</h3> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[338]</a></span> +Lady Howe gave me an account +of the offer of the Chamberlainship to her husband again. +They added the condition that he should not oppose Government, +but was not to be obliged to support them. This he +refused, and he regarded the proposal as an insult; so the +Queen was not conciliated the more. She likewise told me +that the cause of her former wrath when he was dismissed +was that neither the King nor Lord Grey told her of it, and +that if they had she would have consented to the sacrifice at +once with a good grace; but in the way it was done she +thought herself grossly ill-used. It is impossible to ascertain +the exact nature of this connexion. Howe conducts himself +towards her like a young ardent lover; he never is out of +the Pavilion, dines there almost every day, or goes every +evening, rides with her, never quitting her side, and never +takes his eyes off her. She does nothing, but she admits his +attentions and acquiesces in his devotion; at the same time +there is not the smallest evidence that she treats him as a +lover. If she did it would be soon known, for she is surrounded +by enemies. All the Fitzclarences dislike her, and +treat her more or less disrespectfully. She is aware of it, +but takes no notice. She is very civil and good-humoured +to them all; and as long as they keep within the bounds of +decency, and do not break out into actual impertinence, she +probably will continue so.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[339]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">NAMIK PACHA.</span> +Two nights ago there was a great assembly after a dinner +for the reception of the Turkish Ambassador, Namik Pacha. +He was brought down by Palmerston and introduced before +dinner to the King and Queen. He is twenty-eight years +old, speaks French well, and has good manners; his dress +very simple—a red cap, black vest, trousers and boots, a gold +chain and medal round his neck. He did not take out any +lady to dinner, but was placed next the Queen. After dinner +the King made him a ridiculous speech, with abundant +flourishes about the Sultan and his friendship for him, which +is the more droll from his having been High Admiral at the +time of the battle of Navarino, to which the Pacha replied +in a sonorous voice. He admired everything, and conversed +with great ease. All the stupid, vulgar Englishwomen followed +him about as a lion with offensive curiosity.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2>1833.</h2> + +<h3>January 3rd, 1833</h3> + +<p>Lady Howe begged her husband to show +me the correspondence between him and Sir Herbert Taylor +about the Chamberlainship. It is long and confused; Taylor’s +first letter, in my opinion, very impertinent, for it reads him +a pretty severe lecture about his behaviour when he held the +office before. Howe is a foolish man, but in this business he +acted well enough, better than might have been expected. +Taylor, by the King’s desire, proposed to him to resume the +office; and after some cavilling he agreed to do so with +liberty to vote as he pleased, but promising not to be violent. +So stood the matter on the 9th of September. He heard +nothing more of it till the 5th of November, when young +Hudson<a name="FNA_19_03" id="FNA_19_03"></a><a href="#FN_19_03" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> +wrote by the King’s orders to know definitely if +he meant to take it, but that if he did he must be ‘neutral.’ +Howe wrote back word that on such terms he declined it. I +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[340]</a></span> +told him my opinion of the whole business, and added my +strenuous advice that he should immediately prevail on the +Queen to appoint somebody else. I could not tell him all +that people said, but I urged it as strongly as I could, hinting +that there were very urgent reasons for so doing. He +did not relish this advice at all, owned that he clung tenaciously +to the office, liked everything about it, and longed to +avail himself of some change of circumstances to return; and +that though he was no longer her officer, he had ever since +done all the business, and in fact was, without the name, as +much her Chamberlain as ever. Lady Howe, who is vexed to +death at the whole thing, was enchanted at my advice, and +vehemently urged him to adopt it. After he went away she +told me how glad she was at what I had said, and asked me +if people did not say and believe everything of Howe’s connexion +with the Queen, which I told her they did. I must +say that what passed is enough to satisfy me that there is +what is called ‘nothing in it’ but the folly and vanity of +being the confidential officer and councillor of this hideous +Queen, for whom he has worked himself up into a sort of +chivalrous devotion. Yesterday Howe spoke to the Queen +about it, and proposed to speak to the King; the Queen (he +says) would not hear of it, and forbad his speaking to the +King. To-day he is gone away, and I don’t know what he +settled, probably nothing.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_19_03" id="FN_19_03"></a><a href="#FNA_19_03"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> +[‘Young Hudson’ was the page of honour who was sent to Rome in +the following year to fetch Sir Robert Peel, when, as Mr. Disraeli expressed +it, ‘the hurried Hudson rushed into the chambers of his Vatican.’ He grew +up to be a very able and distinguished diplomatist, Sir James Hudson, G.C.B., +who rendered great services to the cause of Italian independence.]</p></div> + +<p>Lyndhurst dined here the day before yesterday. Finding +I knew all that had passed about the negotiations for a Tory +Government in the middle of the Reform question, he told +me his story, which differs very little from that which +Arbuthnot had told me at Downham, and fully corroborates +his account of the duplicity of Peel and the extraordinary +conduct of Lyndhurst himself. He said that as soon as he +had left the King he went to the Duke, who said he must go +directly to Peel. Peel refused to join. The Duke desired +him to go back to Peel, and propose to him to be Prime +Minister and manage everything himself. Peel still declined, +on which he went to Baring. Baring begged he might consult +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[341]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">LYNDHURST AND MANNERS SUTTON.</span> +Peel, which was granted. He came back, said he would +take office, but that they must invite Manners Sutton also. +They did so, and Sutton refused. Vesey Fitzgerald, however, +suggested to Lyndhurst that if they proposed to Sutton +to be Prime Minister perhaps he would accept. Another +conversation ensued with Sutton, and a meeting was fixed at +Apsley House on the Sunday. In the meantime Lyndhurst +went down to the King and told him what had taken place, +adding that Sutton would not do, and that the Duke alone +could form a Government. At Apsley House Sutton talked +for three hours, and such infernal nonsense that Lyndhurst +was ready to go mad; nor would he decide. They pressed +him to say if he would take office or not. He said he must +wait till the next morning. They said, ‘It must be very early, +then.’ In the morning he put off deciding (on some frivolous +pretext) till the afternoon. He went to the House of Commons +without having given any answer. The famous debate +ensued, and the whole game was up.</p> + +<p>All this tallies with the other account, only he did not +say that Peel had desired Baring to insist on Sutton, and +had advised Sutton to take no place but the highest, nor +that he had without the Duke’s knowledge offered Sutton +that post, and concealed from Sutton his subsequent opinion +of his incapacity and determination that he should not +have it. I asked Lyndhurst how he managed with Sutton, +and whether he had not come to Apsley House with the +impression on his mind that he was to be Premier. He +said that ‘he had evaded that question with Sutton’—that +is, all parties were deceived, while the Duke, who meant to +act nobly, suffered all the blame. He showed great disregard +of personal interests and selfish views, but I shall always +think his error was enormous. It is remarkable that this +story is so little known.</p> + +<p>They had a dinner and dancing the night before last at +the Pavilion for New Year’s Day; and the King danced a +country dance with Lord Amelius Beauclerc, an old Admiral.</p> + +<h3>London, January 11th, 1833</h3> + +<p>Came to town with Alvanley the +day before yesterday. Howe plucked up courage, spoke to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[342]</a></span> +the King and Queen, and settled Denbigh’s +appointment,<a name="FNA_19_04" id="FNA_19_04"></a><a href="#FN_19_04" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> +though not without resistance on the part of their Majesties. +Lord Grey came down, and was very well received by both. +At the commerce table the King sat by him, and was full of +jokes; called him continually ‘Lord Howe,’ to the great +amusement of the bystanders and of Lord Grey himself. +Munster came down and was reconciled, condescending +<i>moyennant</i> a douceur of 2,500ℓ. to accept the Constableship +of the Round Tower. The stories of the King are uncommonly +ridiculous. He told Madame de Ludolf, who had been +Ambassadress at Constantinople, that he desired she would +recommend Lady Ponsonby to all her friends there, and she +might tell them she was the daughter of one of his late +brother’s sultanas (Lady Jersey). His Majesty insisted on +Lord Stafford’s taking the title of Sutherland, and ordered +Gower to send him an express to say so. One day at dinner +he asked the Duke of Devonshire ‘<i>where he meant to be +buried!</i>’</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_19_04" id="FN_19_04"></a><a href="#FNA_19_04"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> +[William Basil Percy, seventh Earl of Denbigh, was appointed Chamberlain +to Queen Adelaide at this time, and remained in the service of her +Majesty—a most excellent and devoted servant—to the close of her life.]</p></div> + +<p>I received a few days ago at Brighton the draft of a Bill +of Brougham’s for transferring the jurisdiction of the +Delegates to the Privy Council, or rather for creating a new +Court and sinking the Privy Council in it. Lord Lansdowne +sent it to me, and desired me to send him my opinion upon +it. I showed it to Stephen, and returned it to Lord +Lansdowne with some criticisms in which Stephen and I +had agreed. It is a very bungling piece of work, and one +which Lord Lansdowne ought not to consent to, the object +evidently being to make a Court of which Brougham shall +be at the head, and to transfer to it much of the authority +of the Crown, Parliament, and Privy Council; all from his +ambitious and insatiable desire of personal aggrandisement. +I have no doubt he is playing a deep game, and paving the +way for his own accession to power, striving to obtain popularity +and influence with the King; that he will succeed to a +great degree, and for a certain time, is probable. Manners +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[343]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">STATE OF THE TORY PARTY.</span> +Sutton is to be again Speaker. Althorp wrote him a very +flummery letter, and he accepted. The Government wants +to be out of the scrape they are in between Abercromby and +Littleton, and Sutton wants his peerage. Everything seems +prosperous here; the Government is strong, the House of +Commons is thought respectable on the whole and safe, trade +is brisk, funds rising, money plentiful, confidence reviving, +Tories sulky.</p> + +<h3>January 17th, 1833</h3> + +<p>The Government don’t know what to do +about the embargo on the Dutch ships. Soon after they +had laid it on they made a second order allowing ships with +perishable goods to go free; and thinking the whole thing +would be soon over, they desired this might be construed +indulgently, and accordingly many ships were suffered to +pass (with goods more or less perishing) under that order. +Now that the King of Holland continues obstinate they +want to squeeze him, and to construe the order strictly. +There have been many consultations what to do, whether +they should make another order rescinding the last or +execute the former more strictly. Both are liable to objections. +The first will appear like a cruel proceeding and evidence +of uncertainty of purpose; the last will show a +capricious variation in the practice of the Privy Council, with +which the matter rests. Their wise heads were to be put +together last night to settle this knotty point.</p> + +<p>Wharncliffe showed me a paper he has written, in which, +after briefly recapitulating the present state of the Tory +party and the condition of the new Parliament (particularly +as to the mode in which it was elected, or rather under what +influence), he proceeds to point out what ought to be the +course for the Tories to adopt. It is moderate and becoming +enough, and he has imparted it to the Duke of Wellington, +who concurs in his view. I wonder, however, that he is not +sick of writing papers and imparting views, after all that +passed last year, after his fruitless attempts, his false moves, +and the treatment he received at the hands of the Tories; +but he seems to have forgotten or forgiven everything, and +is disposed to wriggle himself back amongst the party upon +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[344]</a></span> +any terms. He acknowledges one thing fully, and that is +the desperate and woebegone condition of the party itself, +and the impossibility of their doing anything <i>now</i> as a +party.</p> + +<p>Lord Lansdowne received very complacently my criticisms +on Brougham’s Bill, and has acknowledged since he +came to town that it would not do at all as it now stands. +The King has been delighting the Whigs, and making himself +more ridiculous and contemptible by the most extravagant +civilities to the new Peers—that is, <i>to</i> Western and +about Lord Stafford. He now appears to be very fond of his +Ministers.</p> + +<h3>January 19th, 1833</h3> + +<p>I have at last succeeded in stimulating +Lord Lansdowne to something like resistance (or rather the +promise of it) to Brougham’s Bill. I have proved to him +that his dignity and his interest will both be compromised +by this Bill, which intends to make the Chancellor President +of the Court, and <i>ergo</i> of the Council, and to give him all the +patronage there will be. Against these proposals he kicks; +at least he is restive, and shows symptoms of kicking, though +he will very likely be still again. I sent the Bill to Stephen, +who instantly and <i>currente calamo</i> drew up a series of objections +to it, as comprehensive and acute as all his productions +are, and last night I sent it to Leach (who hates the Chancellor), +and he has returned it to me with a strong condemnatory +reply. Stephen having told me that Howick would +be too happy to oppose this Bill, on account of the influence +it would have on Colonial matters, particularly about Canada, +I took it to him, but he declined interfering, though he concurred +in Stephen’s remarks.</p> + +<h3>January 22nd, 1833</h3> + +<p>Dined with Talleyrand the day before +yesterday. Nobody there but his <i>attachés</i>. After dinner he +told me about his first residence in England, and his acquaintance +with Fox and Pitt. He always talks in a kind +of affectionate tone about the former, and is now meditating +a visit to Mrs. Fox at St. Anne’s Hill, where he may see her +surrounded with the busts, pictures, and recollections of her +husband. He delights to dwell on the simplicity, gaiety, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[345]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">VISIT TO HARTWELL.</span> +childishness, and profoundness of Fox. I asked him if he +had ever known Pitt. He said that Pitt came to Rheims to +learn French, and he was there at the same time on a visit +to the Archbishop, his uncle (whom I remember at +Hartwell,<a name="FNA_19_05" id="FNA_19_05"></a><a href="#FN_19_05" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[346]</a></span> +a very old prelate with the tic-douloureux), and that he and +Pitt lived together for nearly six weeks, reciprocally teaching +each other French and English. After Chauvelin had superseded +him, and that he and Chauvelin had disagreed, he +went to live near Epsom (at Juniper Hall) with Madame de +Staël; afterwards they came to London, and in the meantime +Pitt had got into the hands of the <i>émigrés</i>, who persuaded +him to send Talleyrand away, and accordingly he +received orders to quit England in twenty-four hours. He +embarked on board a vessel for America, but was detained in +the river off Greenwich. Dundas sent to him, and asked +him to come and stay with him while the ship was detained, +but he said he would not set his foot on English ground +again, and remained three weeks on board the ship in the +river. It is strange to hear M. de Talleyrand talk at +seventy-eight. He opens the stores of his memory and pours +forth a stream on any subject connected with his past life. +Nothing seems to have escaped from that great treasury of +bygone events.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_19_05" id="FN_19_05"></a><a href="#FNA_19_05"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> +[Mr. Greville had paid a visit with his father to the little Court of +Louis XVIII. at Hartwell about two years before the Restoration, when he +was eighteen years of age. His narrative of this visit has been printed in +the fifth volume of the ‘Miscellany of the Philobiblon Society,’ but it may +not be inappropriately inserted here.]</p> + +<p class="center">A VISIT TO HARTWELL.</p> + +<p style="text-align: right"><i>April 14th, 1814.</i></p> + +<p>I have often determined to commit to paper as much as I can remember of my +visit to Hartwell; and, as the King is about to ascend the throne of his ancestors, +it is not uninteresting to recall to mind the particulars of a visit paid to him while +in exile and in poverty.</p> + +<p>About two years ago my father and I went to Hartwell by invitation of the +King. We dressed at Aylesbury, and proceeded to Hartwell in the afternoon. +We had previously taken a walk in the environs of the town, and had met the +Duchesse d’Angoulęme on horseback, accompanied by a Madame Choisi. At five +o’clock we set out to Hartwell. The house is large, but in a dreary, disagreeable +situation. The King had completely altered the interior, having subdivided almost +all the apartments in order to lodge a greater number of people. There were +numerous outhouses, in some of which small shops had been established by the +servants, interspersed with gardens, so that the place resembled a little town.</p> + +<p>Upon entering the house we were conducted by the Duc de Grammont into the +King’s private apartment. He received us most graciously and shook hands with +both of us. This apartment was exceedingly small, hardly larger than a closet, +and I remarked pictures of the late King and Queen, Madame Elizabeth, and the +Dauphin, Louis XVII., hanging on the walls. The King had a manner of swinging +his body backwards and forwards, which caused the most unpleasant sensations +in that small room, and made my father feel something like being sea-sick. The +room was just like a cabin, and the motions of his Majesty exactly resembled the +heaving of a ship. After our audience with the King we were taken to the <i>salon</i> +a large room with a billiard table at one end. Here the party assembled before +dinner, to all of whom we were presented—the Duchesse d’Angoulęme, Monsieur +the Duc d’Angoulęme, the Duc de Berri, the Prince and Princess de Condé +(<i>ci-devant</i> Madame de Monaco), and a vast number of ducs, &c.; Madame la +Duchesse de Serron (a little old <i>dame d’honneur</i> to Madame d’Angoulęme), the Duc +de Lorges, the Duc d’Auray, the Archevęque de Rheims (an infirm old prelate, +tortured with the tic-douloureux), and many others whose names I cannot remember. +At a little after six dinner was announced, when we went into the next +room, the King walking out first. The dinner was extremely plain, consisting of +very few dishes, and no wines except port and sherry. His Majesty did the +honours himself, and was very civil and agreeable. We were a very short time at +table, and the ladies and gentlemen all got up together. Each of the ladies folded +up her napkin, tied it round with a bit of ribbon, and carried it away. After +dinner we returned to the drawing-room and drank coffee. The whole party +remained in conversation about a quarter of an hour, when the King retired to +his closet, upon which all repaired to their separate apartments. Whenever the +King came in or went out of the room, Madame d’Angoulęme made him a low +curtsy, which he returned by bowing and kissing his hand. This little ceremony +never failed to take place. After the party had separated we were taken to the +Duc de Grammont’s apartments, where we drank tea. After remaining there +about three quarters of an hour we went to the apartment of Madame d’Angoulęme, +where a great part of the company were assembled, and where we stayed +about a quarter of an hour. After this we descended again to the drawing-room, +where several card tables were laid out. The King played at whist with the +Prince and Princess de Condé and my father. His Majesty settled the points of +the game at ‘le quart d’un sheling.’ The rest of the party played at billiards or +ombre. The King was so civil as to invite us to sleep there, instead of returning +to the inn at Aylesbury. When he invited us he said, ‘Je crains que vous serez +trčs-mal logés, mais on donne ce qu’on peut.’ Soon after eleven the King retired, +when we separated for the night. We were certainly ‘trčs-mal logés.’ In the +morning when I got out of bed, I was alarmed by the appearance of an old woman +on the leads before my window, who was hanging linen to dry. I was forced to +retreat hastily to bed, not to shock the old lady’s modesty. At ten the next +morning we breakfasted, and at eleven we took leave of the King (who always +went to Mass at that hour) and returned to London. We saw the whole place +before we came away; and they certainly had shown great ingenuity in contriving +to lodge such a number of people in and about the house—it was exactly like a +small rising colony. We were very much pleased with our expedition; and were +invited to return whenever we could make it convenient.</p></div> + +<h3>January 24th, 1833</h3> + +<p>I have at last made Lord Lansdowne +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[347]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.</span> +fire a shot at the Chancellor about this Bill. He has +written him a letter, in which he has embodied Stephen’s +objections and some of his own (as he says, for I did not see +the letter). The Chancellor will be very angry, for he can’t +endure contradiction, and he has a prodigious contempt +for the Lord President, whom he calls ‘Mother Elizabeth.’ +He probably arrives at the sobriquet through Petty, Betty, +and so on.</p> + +<p>Dined with Talleyrand yesterday; Pozzo, who said little +and seemed low; Talleyrand <i>talked</i> after dinner, said that +Cardinal Fleury was one of the greatest Ministers who ever +governed France, and that justice had never been done him; +he had maintained peace for twenty years, and acquired +Lorraine for France. He said this <i>ŕ propos</i> of the library he +formed or left, or whatever he did in that line, at Paris. He +told me he goes very often to the British Museum, and has +lately made them a present of a book.</p> + +<h3>January 26th, 1833</h3> + +<p>It seems that the Government project (or +perhaps only the fact that they have one) about West Indian +emancipation has got wind, and the West Indians are of +course in a state of great alarm. They believe that it will +be announced, whatever it is to be, in the King’s Speech, +though I doubt there being anything but a vague intention +expressed in it. Of all political feelings and passions—and +such this rage for emancipation is, rather than a consideration +of interest—it has always struck me as the most extraordinary +and remarkable. There can be no doubt that a +great many of the Abolitionists are actuated by very pure +motives; they have been shocked at the cruelties which have +been and still are very often practised towards slaves, their +minds are imbued with the horrors they have read and +heard of, and they have an invincible conviction that the +state of slavery under any form is repugnant to the spirit of +the English Constitution and the Christian religion, and +that it is a stain upon the national character which ought +to be wiped away. These people, generally speaking, are +very ignorant concerning all the various difficulties which +beset the question; their notions are superficial; they pity +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[348]</a></span> +the slaves, whom they regard as injured innocents, and they +hate their masters, whom they treat as criminal barbarians. +Others are animated in this cause purely by ambition, and +by finding that it is a capital subject to talk upon, and a +cheap and easy species of benevolence; others have satisfied +themselves that slavery is a mistaken system, that the +cruelty of it is altogether gratuitous, and that free labour +will answer the purpose as well or better, and get rid of the +odium; and thousands more have mixed feelings and +opinions, compounded of some or all of the above in various +degrees and proportions, according to the bent of individual +character; but there are some persons among the most +zealous and able of the Abolitionists who avail themselves +of the passions and the ignorance of the people to carry this +point, while they carefully conceal their own sentiments as +to the result of the experiment. I say some because, though +I only know (of my own knowledge) of one, from the sagacity +of the man and the conformity of his opinions with those of +others on this and other topics, I have no doubt that there +are many who view the matter in the same light. I allude to +Henry +Taylor,<a name="FNA_19_06" id="FNA_19_06"></a><a href="#FN_19_06" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> +who rules half the West Indies in the Colonial +Office, though with an invisible sceptre. Talking over the +matter the other day, he said that he was well aware of the +consequences of emancipation both to the negroes and the +planters. The estates of the latter would not be cultivated; +it would be impossible, for want of labour; the negroes +would not work—no inducement would be sufficient to make +them; they wanted to be free merely that they might be +idle. They would, on being emancipated, possess themselves +of ground, the fertility of which in those regions is so great +that very trifling labour will be sufficient to provide them +with the means of existence, and they will thus relapse +rapidly into a state of barbarism; they will resume the +habits of their African brethren, but, he thinks, without the +ferocity and savageness which distinguish the latter. Of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[349]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">HENRY TAYLOR ON ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.</span> +course the germs of civilisation and religion which have +been sown among them in their servile state will be speedily +obliterated; if not, as man must either rise or fall in the +moral scale, they will acquire strength, with it power, and +as certainly the desire of using that power for the amelioration +of their condition. The island (for Jamaica may be +taken for example, as it was in our conversation) would not +long be tenable for whites; indeed, it is difficult to conceive +how any planters could remain there when their property +was no longer cultivable, even though the emancipated +negroes should become as harmless and gentle as the ancient +Mexicans. Notwithstanding this view of the matter, in +which my friend has the sagacity to perceive some of the +probable consequences of the measure, though (he admits) +with much uncertainty as to its operation, influenced as it +must be by circumstances and accidents, he is for emancipating +at once. ‘Fiat justitia ruat cœlum’—that is, I do +not know that he is for immediate, unconditional emancipation; +I believe not, but he is for doing the deed; whether +he goes before or lags after the Government I do not at +this moment know. He is, too, a high-principled man, full +of moral sensibility and of a grave, reflecting, philosophical +character, and neither a visionary in religion nor in politics, +only of a somewhat austere and uncompromising turn of +mind, and with some of the positiveness of a theorist who +has a lofty opinion of his own capacity, and has never +undergone that discipline of the world, that tumbling and +tossing and jostling, which beget modesty and diffidence and +prudence, from the necessity which they inculcate of constant +compromises with antagonist interests and hostile +passions. But what is the upshot of all this? Why, +that in the midst of the uproar and confusion, the smoke +and the dust of the controversy, one may believe that +one sees a glimmering of the real futurity in the case—and +that is a long series of troubles and a wide scene of +ruin.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_19_06" id="FN_19_06"></a><a href="#FNA_19_06"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> +[Afterwards Sir Henry Taylor, K.M.G., author of ‘Philip van Artevelde.’ +Nearly forty years later Sir H. Taylor continued to fill the same +position described by Mr. Greville in 1833. He resigned in 1872.]</p></div> + +<h3>January 30th, 1833</h3> + +<p>The intentions of Government with regard +to the West Indies (or rather that they have intentions +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[350]</a></span> +of a nature very fatal to that interest) having got +wind, the consternation of the West India body is great. A +deputation, headed by Sir Alexander Grant, waited upon +Lords Grey and Goderich the other day, and put certain +questions to them, stating that the prevalence of reports, +some of which had appeared in the newspapers, had greatly +alarmed them, and they wished to ascertain if any of them +had been authorised by Government. Lord Grey said +‘certainly not; the Government had authorised +nothing<ins class="correction" title = "text reads ‘,’">.</ins>’ +They asked if he would reappoint the Committees. He +would give no pledge as to this, but they discussed the +propriety of so doing, he seeming indisposed. To all their +questions he gave vague answers, refusing to communicate +anything except this, that nothing was decided, but a +plan was under the consideration of the Cabinet in which +the interests of all parties were consulted. He added that +he could not pledge himself to give any previous intimation +of the intentions of Government to the West India body, +nor to disclose the measure at all until it was proposed +to Parliament. There are in the meantime no end of reports +of the nature and extent of the proposed measure, +and no end to the projects and opinions of those who are +interested.</p> + +<p>I dined at Lord Bathurst’s yesterday, and sat next to Lord +Ellenborough, who said that he was convinced the best thing +the proprietors could do would be to agree instantly to stop +their orders, which he believes would compel Government to +arrest their course. I am not enough acquainted with the +subject to judge how far they might operate, but I doubt it, +or that in the temper of the people of this country, or rather +of those zealots who represent it, and with the disposition +of this Government to yield to every popular cry, the fear of +any consequences would prevent their going on. It would, +I believe, only give them and the House of Commons a pretext +for refusing them pecuniary compensation. I was much +amused with a piece of vanity of Ellenborough’s. We were +talking of the war between the Turks and the Egyptians, +and the resources of Egypt, &c., when he said, ‘If I had +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[351]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">RUSSIA AND TURKEY.</span> +continued at the Board of Control I would have had Egypt, +got at it from the Red Sea; I had already ordered the formation +of <i>a corps</i> of <i>Arab guides</i>!’</p> + +<h3>February 1st, 1833</h3> + +<p>The Reformed Parliament opened heavily +(on Tuesday), as Government think satisfactorily. Cobbett +took his seat on the Treasury Bench, and spoke three times, +though the last time nobody would stay to hear him. He +was very twaddling, and said but one good thing, when he +called O’Connell the member for <i>Ireland</i>.</p> + +<p>Saw Madame de Lieven the day before yesterday, who fired +a tirade against Government; she vowed that nobody ever had +been treated with such personal incivility as Lieven, ‘des +injures, des reproches,’ that Cobbett, Hunt, and all the +blackguards in England could not use more offensive language; +whatever event was coming was imputed to Russia—Belgium, +Portugal, Turkey, ‘tout était la Russie et les +intrigues de la Russie;’ that she foresaw they should be +driven away from England. With reference to the war +in Asia Minor, she said the Sultan had applied to the +Emperor for assistance, ‘et qu’il l’aurait, et que le Sultan +n’avait pas un meilleur ami que lui,’ that the Egyptians +would advance no farther, and a great deal more of complaint +at the injustice evinced towards them and on their +political innocence. In the evening I told all this to Mellish +of the Foreign Office, who knows everything about foreign +affairs, and he said it was all a lie, that Russia had offered +her assistance, which the Sultan had refused, and she was, in +fact, intriguing and making mischief in every Court in +Europe. George Villiers writes me word that she has been +for months past endeavouring to get up a war anywhere, and +that this Turkish business is more likely than anything to +bring one about.<a name="FNA_19_07" id="FNA_19_07"></a><a href="#FN_19_07" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_19_07" id="FN_19_07"></a><a href="#FNA_19_07"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> +[The state of the Ottoman Empire was most critical. In the latter +months of 1832 the victorious troops of Mehomet Ali had forced their way +across the Taunus; the peace of Koniah was concluded early in 1833 with +the Egyptians; and the Treaty of Unkiar Skelessi with the Russians in +July 1833.]</p></div> + +<h3>February 2nd, 1833</h3> + +<p>Dinner at Lord Lansdowne’s for the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[352]</a></span> +Sheriffs; soon over and not particularly disagreeable, though +I hate dining with the Ministers; had some conversation with +Goderich about Jamaica; he says Mulgrave has done very well +there, perhaps rather too vigorously, that the dissolution of +the Assembly under all circumstances is questionable, but he +must be supported; he hopes nothing from another assembly, +nor does Mulgrave, who says that they are incorrigible. The +fact is their conduct paralyses the exertions of their friends +here, if, indeed, they have any friends who would make any +exertions.</p> + +<h3>February 4th, 1833</h3> + +<p>At Court for the King’s Speech and the +appointment of Sheriffs. Lord Munster and Lord Denbigh +were sworn Privy Councillors. The West Indians have taken +such an attitude of desperation that the Government is somewhat +alarmed, and seems disposed to pause at the adoption +of its abolitionary measures. George Hibbert told me last +night that if they were driven to extremities there was +nothing they were not ready to do, and that there would be +another panic if Government did not take care, and so +Rothschild had told them.</p> + +<p>I dined with Madame de Lieven yesterday, who is in the +agonies of doubt about her remaining here. It turns upon +this: Stratford Canning has been appointed Ambassador at St. +Petersburg, and the Emperor will not receive him. Palmerston +is indignant, and will not send anybody else. If the +Emperor persists, we shall only have a Chargé d’Affaires at +his Court, and in that case he will not leave an Ambassador +at ours. There seems to be at present no way out of the +quarrel. Stratford Canning’s mission to Madrid cannot last +for ever, and when it is over the point must be decided.</p> + +<p>The people of Jamaica have presented a petition to the +King (I don’t know exactly in what shape, or how got up), +praying to be released from their allegiance. Goderich told +me that it was very insolent. Mulgrave’s recent <i>coup de +théâtre</i> is severely condemned. Nothing can save these +unhappy colonies, for all parties vie with each other in +violence and folly—the people here and the people there, +the Government here and the Government there.</p> + +<h3>February 10th, 1833</h3> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[353]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">DEBATE ON THE ADDRESS.</span> +After four days’ debate in the House of +Commons (quite unprecedented, I believe) the Address was +carried by a large +majority.<a name="FNA_19_08" id="FNA_19_08"></a><a href="#FN_19_08" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> +Opinions are of course very +various upon the state of the House and the character of +the discussion. The anti-Reformers, with a sort of melancholy +triumph, boast that their worst expectations have been +fulfilled. The Government were during the first day or two +very serious, and though on the whole they think they have +reason to be satisfied, they cannot help seeing that they +have in fact very little power of managing the House. +Everybody agrees that the aspect of the House of Commons +was very different—the number of strange faces; the swagger +of O’Connell, walking about incessantly, and making signs +to, or talking with, his followers in various parts; the Tories +few and scattered; Peel no longer surrounded with a stout +band of supporters, but pushed from his usual seat, which is +occupied by Cobbett, O’Connell, and the Radicals; he is gone +up nearer to the Speaker.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_19_08" id="FN_19_08"></a><a href="#FNA_19_08"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> +[The first Reformed Parliament met and was formally opened on the +29th of January, 1833. After the election of the Speaker (Manners Sutton) +the King delivered his Speech from the Throne on the 5th of February.]</p></div> + +<p>The whole debate turned upon Ireland. O’Connell pronounced +a violent but powerful philippic, which Stanley +answered very well. Macaulay made one of his brilliant +speeches the second night, and Peel spoke the third. It was +not possible to make a more dexterous and judicious speech +than he did; for finding himself in a very uncomfortable +position, he at once placed himself in a good one, and +acknowledging that his situation was altogether different +from what it had been, he contrived to transfer to himself +personally much of the weight and authority which he +previously held as the organ and head of a great and powerful +party. He pronounced an eulogium of Stanley, declared +that his confidence in Government was not augmented, but +that he would support them if they would support law and +order. The Government were extremely pleased at his +speech, though I think not without a secret misgiving that +they are likely to be more in his power than is pleasant. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[354]</a></span> +But the benefit resulting from the whole is that the Radicals +all opposed the Government, while Peel supported them; so +that we may hope that a complete line of separation is +drawn between the two former, and that the Government +will really and boldly take the Conservative side. On the +whole, perhaps, this bout may be deemed satisfactory.</p> + +<h3>February 14th, 1833</h3> + +<p>The night before last Althorp brought +forward his plan of Irish Church Reform, with complete success. +He did it well, and Stanley made a very brilliant +speech. The House received it with almost unanimous applause, +nobody opposing but Inglis and Goulburn, and Peel, +in a very feeble speech, which scarcely deserves the name of +opposition; it will be of great service to the Government. +O’Connell lauded the measure up to the skies; but Sheil said +he would bite his tongue off with vexation the next morning +for having done so, after he had slept upon it. It was clear +that Peel, who is courting the House, and exerting all his +dexterity to bring men’s minds round to him, saw the stream +was too strong for him to go against it, so he made a sort of +temporising, moderate, unmeaning speech, which will give +him time to determine on his best course, and did not commit +him. Poulett Thomson said to me yesterday that Peel’s +prodigious superiority over everybody in the House was so +evident, his talent for debate and thorough knowledge of +Parliamentary tactics, gained by twenty years of experience, +so commanding, that he must draw men’s minds to him, and +that he was evidently playing that game, throwing over the +ultra-Tories and ingratiating himself with the House and +the country. He, in fact, means to open a house to all comers, +and make himself necessary and indispensable. Under that +placid exterior he conceals, I believe, a boundless ambition, +and hatred and jealousy lurk under his professions of esteem +and political attachment. His is one of those contradictory +characters, containing in it so much of mixed good and evil, +that it is difficult to strike an accurate balance between the +two, and the acts of his political life are of a corresponding +description, of questionable utility and merit, though always +marked by great ability. It is very sure that he has been +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[355]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">CHARACTER OF PEEL.</span> +the instrument of great good, or of enormous evil, and apparently +more of the latter. He came into life the child +and champion of a political system which has been for a +long time crumbling to pieces; and if the perils which are +produced by its fall are great, they are mainly attributable +to the manner in which it was upheld by Peel, and to his +want of sagacity, in a wrong estimate of his means of defence +and of the force of the antagonist power with which +he had to contend. The leading principles of his political +conduct have been constantly erroneous, and his dexterity +and ability in supporting them have only made the consequences +of his errors more extensively pernicious. If we +look back through the long course of Peel’s life, and enquire +what have been the great political measures with which his +name is particularly connected, we shall find, first, the return +to cash payments, which almost everybody now agrees was +a fatal mistake, though it would not be fair to visit him with +extraordinary censure for a measure which was sanctioned +by almost all the great financial authorities; secondly, opposition +to Reform in Parliament and to religious emancipation +of every kind, the maintenance of the exclusive system, +and support, untouched and unconnected, of the Church, both +English and Irish. His resistance to alterations on these +heads was conducted with great ability, and for a long time +with success; but he was endeavouring to uphold a system +which was no longer supportable, and having imbibed in his +career much of the liberal spirit of the age, he found himself +in a state of no small perplexity between his old connections +and his more enlarged propensities. Still he was chained +down by the former, and consequently being beaten from all +his positions, he was continually obliged to give way, but +never did so till rather too late for his own credit and much +too late for the interest at stake. Notwithstanding, therefore, +the reputation he has acquired, the hold he has had of +office, and is probably destined to have again, his political +life has been a considerable failure, though not such an one +as to render it more probable than not that his future life +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[356]</a></span> +will be a failure too. He has hitherto been encumbered with +embarrassing questions and an unmanageable party. Time +has disposed of the first, and he is divorced from the last; +if his great experience and talents have a fair field to act +upon, he may yet, in spite of his selfish and unamiable character, +be a distinguished and successful Minister.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<blockquote><p style="text-indent: 0"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[357]</a></span> +Appointment of Sir Stratford Canning to the Russian Embassy — Cause of +the Refusal — Slavery in the West Indies — The Reformed Parliament — +Duke of Wellington’s View of Affairs — The Coercion Bill — The Privy +Council Bill — Lord Durham made an Earl — Mr. Stanley Secretary for the +Colonies — The Russians go to the Assistance of the Porte — Lord Goderich +has the Privy Seal, an Earldom, and the Garter — Embarrassments of the +Government — The Appeal of Drax <i>v.</i> Grosvenor at the Privy Council +— Hobhouse defeated in Westminster — Bill for Negro Emancipation — +The Russians on the Bosphorus — Mr. Littleton Chief Secretary for +Ireland — Respect shown to the Duke of Wellington — Moral of a ‘Book +on the Derby’ — The Oaks — A Betting Incident — Ascot — Government +beaten in the Lords on Foreign Policy — Vote of Confidence in the +Commons — Drax <i>v.</i> Grosvenor decided — Lord Eldon’s Last Judgment — +His Character — Duke of Wellington as Leader of Opposition — West +India Affairs — Irish Church Bill — Appropriation Clause — A Fancy +Bazaar — The King writes to the Bishops — Local Court Bill — Mirabeau. +</p></blockquote> + +<hr /> + +<h3>February 16th, 1833</h3> + +<p>Madame de Lieven gave me an account +(the day before yesterday) of the quarrel between the two +Courts about Stratford Canning. When the present Ministry +came in, Nesselrode wrote to Madame de Lieven and desired +her to beg that Lord Heytesbury might be left there—‘Conservez-nous +Heytesbury.’ She asked Palmerston and Lord +Grey, and they both promised her he should stay. Some +time after he asked to be recalled. She wrote word to +Nesselrode, and told him that either Adair or Canning would +succeed him. He replied, ‘Don’t let it be Canning; he is +a most impracticable man, <i>soupçonneux, pointilleux, défiant</i>;’ +that he had been personally uncivil to the Emperor when he +was Grand Duke; in short the plain truth was they would +not receive him, and it was therefore desirable somebody, +anybody, else should be sent. She told this to Palmerston, +and he engaged that Stratford Canning should not be named. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[358]</a></span> +Nothing more was done till some time ago, when to her astonishment +Palmerston told her that he was going to send +Canning to St. Petersburg. She remonstrated, urged all the +objections of her Court, his own engagement, but in vain; the +discussions between them grew bitter; Palmerston would not +give way, and Canning was one day to her horror gazetted. +As might have been expected, Nesselrode positively refused +to receive him. Durham, who in the meantime had been to +Russia and <i>bien comblé</i> with civilities, promised that Canning +should not go there, trusting he had sufficient influence to +prevent it; and since he has been at home it is one of the +things he has been most violent and bitter about, because +Palmerston will not retract this nomination, and he has the +mortification of finding in this instance his own want of power. +However, as there have been no discussions on it lately, the +Princess still hopes it may blow over, and that some other +mission may be found for Canning. At all events it appears +a most curious piece of diplomacy to insist upon thrusting +upon a Court a man personally obnoxious to the Sovereign +and his Minister, and not the best way of preserving harmonious +relations or obtaining political advantages. She +says, however (and with all her anger she is no bad judge), +that Palmerston ‘est un trčs-petit esprit—lourd, obstiné,’ +&c., and she is astonished how Lady C. with her <i>finesse</i> can +be so taken with him.</p> + +<p>Lady Cowper has since told me that Madame de Lieven +has been to blame in all this business, that Palmerston was +provoked with her interference, that her temper had got the +better of her, and she had thought to carry it with a high +hand, having been used to have her own way, and that he +had thought both <i>she</i> and her <i>Court</i> wanted to be taken down +a peg; that she had told Nesselrode she could prevent this +appointment, and, what had done more harm than anything, +she had appealed to Grey against Palmerston, and employed +Durham to make a great clamour about it. All this made +Palmerston angry, and determined him to punish her, who +he thought had meddled more than she ought, and had made +the matter personally embarrassing and disagreeable to him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[359]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">LORD GREY’S COERCION BILL.</span> +Last night Lord Grey introduced his coercive measures +in an excellent speech, though there are some people who +doubt his being able to carry them through the House of +Commons. If he can’t, he goes of course; and what next? +The measures are sufficiently strong, it must be owned—a +<i>consommé</i> of insurrection-gagging Acts, suspension of Habeas +Corpus, martial law, and one or two other little hards and +sharps.<a name="FNA_20_01" id="FNA_20_01"></a><a href="#FN_20_01" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_20_01" id="FN_20_01"></a><a href="#FNA_20_01"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> +[In the debate on the Address O’Connell had denounced the coercive +measures announced in the Speech from the Throne as ‘brutal, bloody, and +unconstitutional.’ But the state of Ireland was so dreadful that it demanded +and justified the severest remedies. Lord Grey stated in the House +of Lords that between January 1st and December 31st 9,000 crimes had +been committed—homicides 242, robberies 1,179, burglaries 401, burnings +568, and so on. The Bill gave the Lord-Lieutenant power to proclaim +disturbed districts, to substitute courts-martial for the ordinary courts of +justice, to prohibit meetings, and to punish the distributors of seditious +papers. Such were the powers which Lord Wellesley described as more +formidable to himself than to the people of Ireland, for the greater part of +them were never exercised. The Act produced the desired effect. In a +year Ireland was pacified; and the abandonment of several of the most +important clauses in the Act (contrary to Lord Grey’s wishes) was the +cause which led to the dissolution of the Ministry in the month of June +1834.]</p></div> + +<h3>London, February 22nd, 1833</h3> + +<p>Dined yesterday with Fortunatus +Dwarris, who was counsel to the Board of Health; one of +those dinners that people in that class of society put themselves +in an agony to give, and generally their guests in +as great an agony to partake of. There were Goulburn, +Serjeant ditto and his wife, Stephen, &c. Goulburn mentioned +a curious thing <i>ŕ propos</i> of slavery. A slave ran away +from his estate in Jamaica many years ago, and got to +England. He (the man) called at his house when he was not +at home, and Goulburn never could afterwards find out where +he was. He remained in England, however, gaining his livelihood +by some means, till after some years he returned to +Jamaica and to the estate, and desired to be employed as a +slave again.</p> + +<p>Stephen, who is one of the great apostles of emancipation, +and who resigned a profession worth 3,000ℓ. a year at the +Bar for a place of 1,500ℓ. in the Colonial Office, principally in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[360]</a></span> +order to advance that object, owned that he had never known +so great a problem nor so difficult a question to settle. His +notion is that compulsory labour may be substituted for +slavery, and in some colonies (the new ones, as they are +called—Demerara, &c.) he thinks it will not be difficult; in +Jamaica he is doubtful, and admits that if this does not +answer the slaves will relapse into barbarism, nor is he at +all clear that <i>any</i> disorders and evils may not be produced +by the effect of desperation on one side and disappointment +on the other; still he does not hesitate to go on, but fully +admitting the right of the proprietors to ample compensation, +and the duty incumbent on the country to give it. If the +sentiments of justice and benevolence with which he is +actuated were common to all who profess the same opinions, +or if the same sagacity and resource which he possesses were +likely to be applied to the practical operation of the scheme, +the evils which are dreaded and foreseen might be mitigated +and avoided; but this is very far from the case, and the +evils will, in all probability, more than overbalance the good +which humanity aims at effecting; nor is it possible to view +the settlement (as it is called, for all changes are settlements +now-a-days) of this question without a misgiving that it will +only produce some other great topic for public agitation, +some great interest to be overturned or mighty change to +be accomplished. The public appetite for discussion and +legislation has been whetted and is insatiable; the millions +of orators and legislators who have sprung up like mushrooms +all over the kingdom, the bellowers, the chatterers, the +knaves, and the dupes, who make such an universal hubbub, +must be fed with fresh victims and sacrifices. The Catholic +question was speedily followed by Reform in Parliament, and +this has opened a door to anything.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the Reformed Parliament has been +sitting for a fortnight or so, and begins to manifest its +character and pretensions. The first thing that strikes one +is its inferiority in point of composition to preceding +Houses of Commons, and the presumption, impertinence, +and self-sufficiency of the new members. Formerly new +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[361]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">ASPECT OF THE NEW HOUSE OF COMMONS.</span> +members appeared with some modesty and diffidence, and +with some appearance of respect for the assembly into which +they were admitted; these fellows behave themselves as if +they had taken it by storm, and might riot in all the insolence +of victory. There exists no <i>party</i> but that of the +Government; the Irish act in a body under O’Connell to the +number of about forty; the Radicals are scattered up and +down without a leader, numerous, restless, turbulent, and +bold—Hume, Cobbett, and a multitude such as Roebuck, +Faithfull, Buckingham, Major Beauclerck, &c. (most of +whom have totally failed in point of speaking)—bent upon +doing all the mischief they can and incessantly active; the +Tories without a head, frightened, angry, and sulky; Peel +without a party, prudent, cautious, and dexterous, playing a +deep waiting game of scrutiny and observation. The feelings +of these various elements of party, rather than parties, +may be thus summed up:—The Radicals are confident and +sanguine; the Whigs uneasy; the Tories desponding; moderate +men, who belong to no party, but support Government, +serious, and not without alarm. There is, in fact, enough +to justify alarm, for the Government has evidently no power +over the House of Commons, and though it is probable that +they will scramble through the session without sustaining +any serious defeat, or being reduced to the necessity of any +great sacrifice or compromise, they are conscious of their +own want of authority and of that sort of command without +which no Government has been hitherto deemed secure. +The evil of this is that we are now reduced to the alternative +of Lord Grey’s Government or none at all; and should +he be defeated on any great measure, he must either abandon +the country to its fate, or consent to carry on the +Government upon the condition of a virtual transfer of the +executive power to the House of Commons. If this comes +to pass the game is up, for this House, like animals who +have once tasted blood, if it ever exercises such a power as +this, and finds a Minister consenting to hold office on such +terms, will never rest till it has acquired all the authority of +the Long Parliament and reduced that of the Crown to a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[362]</a></span> +mere cypher. It is curious, by-the-bye, that the example of +the Long Parliament in a trivial matter has just been adopted, +in the sittings of the House at twelve o’clock for the hearing +of petitions.</p> + +<h3>February 27th, 1833</h3> + +<p>Laid up ever since that dinner at +Dwarris’s with the gout. Frederick Fitzclarence has been +compelled to resign the situation at the Tower which the +King gave him; they found it very probable that the House +of Commons would refuse to vote the pay of it—a trifle in +itself, but indicative of the spirit of the times and the total +want of consideration for the King. O’Connell made a +speech of such violence at the Trades Union the other day—calling +the House of Commons six hundred scoundrels—that +there was a great deal of talk about taking it up in Parliament +and proposing his expulsion, which, however, they +have not had the folly to do. The Irish Bill was to come on +last night. The sense of insecurity and uneasiness evidently +increases; the Government assumes a high tone, but is not +at all certain of its ability to pass the Coercive Bills unaltered, +and yesterday there appeared an article in the ‘Times’ in a +style of lofty reproof and severe admonition, which was no +doubt as appalling as it was meant to be. This article +made what is called a great sensation; always struggling, +as this paper does, to take the lead of public opinion and +watching all its turns and shifts with perpetual anxiety, it is +at once regarded as undoubted evidence of its direction and +dreaded for the influence which its powerful writing and +extensive sale have placed in its hands. It is no small +homage to the power of the press to see that an article like +this makes as much noise as the declaration of a powerful +Minister or a leader of Opposition could do in either House +of Parliament.</p> + +<p>Yesterday morning the Duke of Wellington came here +upon some private business, after discussing which he entered +upon the state of the country. I told him my view of the +condition of the Government and of the House of Commons, +and he said, ‘You have hit the two points that I have +myself always felt so strongly about. I told Lord Grey so +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[363]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">DUKE OF WELLINGTON’S VIEW OF AFFAIRS.</span> +long ago, and asked him at the time how he expected to be +able to carry on the Government of the country, to which he +never could give any answer, except that it would all do very +well. However, things are not a bit worse than I always +thought they would be. As they are, I mean to support the +Government—support them in every way. The first thing I +have to look to is to keep my house over my head, and the +alternative is between this Government and none at all. I +am therefore for supporting the Government, but then there +is so much passion, and prejudice, and folly, and vindictive +feeling, that it is very difficult to get others to do the same. +I hear Peel had only fifty people with him the other night +on some question, though they say that there are 150 of +that party in the House of Commons. He thinks as ill of +the whole thing as possible. [While I am writing Poodle +Byng is come in, who tells me what happened last night. +Althorp made a very bad speech and a wretched statement; +other people spoke, pert and disagreeable, and the debate +looked ill till Stanley rose and made one of the finest +speeches that were ever heard, pounding O’Connell to dust +and attacking him for his ‘six hundred scoundrels,’ from +which he endeavoured to escape by a miserable and abortive +explanation. Stanley seems to have set the whole thing to +rights, like a great man.]</p> + +<p>I told the Duke what Macaulay had said to Denison: ‘that +if he had had to legislate, he would, instead of this Bill, have +suspended the laws for five years in Ireland, given the Lord-Lieutenant’s +proclamation the force of law, and got the +Duke of Wellington to go there.’ He seemed very well +pleased at this, and said, ‘Well, that is the way I governed +the provinces on the Garonne in the south of France. I +desired the mayors to go on administering the law of the +land, and when they asked me in whose name criminal suits +should be carried on (which were ordinarily in the name of +the Emperor), and if they should be in the name of the +King, I said no, that we were treating with the Emperor at +Chatillon, and if they put forth the King they would be in +a scrape; neither should it be in the Emperor’s name, because +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[364]</a></span> +we did not acknowledge him, but in that of the +Allied Powers.’ In this I think he was wrong (<i>par parenthčse</i>), +for Napoleon was acknowledged by all the Powers +but us, and we were treating with him, and if he permitted +the civil authorities to administer the law as usual, he should +have allowed them to administer it in the usual legal form. +Their civil administration could not affect any political +questions in the slightest degree.</p> + +<h3>March 4th, 1833</h3> + +<p>Sir Thomas Hardy told my brother he +thought the King would certainly go mad; he was so excitable, +<i>loathing</i> his Ministers, particularly Graham, and dying +to go to war. He has some of the cunning of madmen, who +fawn upon their keepers when looked at by them, and grin +at them and shake their fists when their backs are turned; +so he is extravagantly civil when his Ministers are with him, +and exhibits every mark of aversion when they are away. +Peel made an admirable speech on Friday night; they +expect a great majority.</p> + +<h3>March 13th, 1833</h3> + +<p>The second reading of the Coercive Bill has +passed by a great majority after a dull debate, and the other +night Althorp deeply offended Peel and the Tories by hurrying +on the Church Reform Bill. It was to be printed one day, +and the second reading taken two days after. They asked +a delay of four or five days, and Althorp refused. He did +very wrong; he is either bullied or cajoled into almost anything +the Radicals want of this sort, but he is stout against +the Tories. The delay is required by decency, but it ought +to have been enough that Peel and the others asked it for +him to concede it. He ought to soften the asperities which +must long survive the battles of last year as much as he can, +and avoid shocking what he may consider the prejudices of +the vanquished party. It was worse than impolitic; it was +stupid and uncourteous, and missing an opportunity of being +gracious which he ought to have seized.</p> + +<p>I have been again worried with a new edition of +Brougham’s Privy Council +Bill,<a name="FNA_20_02" id="FNA_20_02"></a><a href="#FN_20_02" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> +and the difficulty of getting +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[365]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">LORD BROUGHAM’S PRIVY COUNCIL BILL.</span> +Lord Lansdowne to <i>do</i> anything. This is the way Brougham +goes to work:—He resolves to alter; he does not condescend +to communicate with the Privy Council, or to consult those +who are conversant with its practice, or who have been in +the habit of administering justice there; he has not time to +think of it himself; he tosses to one of his numerous <i>employés</i> +(for he has people without end working for him) his rough +notion, and tells him to put it into shape; the satellite goes +to work, always keeping in view the increase of the dignity, +authority, and patronage of the Chancellor, and careless of +the Council, the King, and the usages of the Constitution. +What is called <i>the Bill</i> is then, for form’s sake, handed over +to the Lord President (Lord Lansdowne), with injunctions to +let nobody see it, as if he was conspiring against the Council, +secure that if he meets with no resistance but what is +engendered by Lord Lansdowne’s opposition he may enact +anything he pleases. Lord Lansdowne sends it to me (a +long Act of Parliament), with a request that I will return it +‘<i>by the bearer</i>,’ with any remarks I may have to make on it. +The end is that I am left, <i>quantum impar</i>, to fight this with +the Chancellor.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_20_02" id="FN_20_02"></a><a href="#FNA_20_02"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> +[This was the Bill for the establishment of a Judicial Committee of the +Privy Council, which eventually became the Act 3 & 4 Will. IV., cap. 41, and +definitively created that tribunal. Mr. Greville objected to several of the +provisions of the measure, because he regarded them as an unnecessary +interference of Parliament with the authority of the Sovereign in his +Council. The Sovereign might undoubtedly have created a Committee of +the judicial members of the Privy Council: but the Bill went further, and +by extending and defining the power of the Judicial Committee as a Court +of Appeal it undoubtedly proved a very useful and important measure.]</p></div> + +<h3>March 15th, 1833</h3> + +<p>Ministerial changes are going on; Durham +is out, and to be made an earl. Yesterday his elevation was +known, and it is amusing enough that the same day an +incident should have occurred in the House of Lords exhibiting +in a good light the worthiness of the subject, and how +much he merits it at the hands of Lord Grey.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h3>March 29th, 1833</h3> + +<p>Lord Goderich is Privy +Seal,<a name="FNA_20_03" id="FNA_20_03"></a><a href="#FN_20_03" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> +and Stanley +Secretary for the Colonies, after much trouble. Last year a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[366]</a></span> +positive pledge was given to Stanley that he should not +meet Parliament again but as Secretary of State. It was +not, however, specified who was to make room for him. +The Cabinet settled that it should be Goderich, when +Durham went out, and Palmerston was charged with the +office of breaking it to Goderich with the offer of an earldom +by way of gilding the pill, but Goderich would not hear of +it, said it would look like running away from the Slave +question, and, in short, flatly refused. Stanley threatened to +resign if he was not promoted, and in this dilemma the Duke +of Richmond (who was going to Windsor) persuaded Lord +Grey to let him lay the case before the King, and inform him +that if this arrangement was not made the Government must +be broken up. He did so, and the King acquiesced, and at +the same time a similar representation was made to Goderich, +who after a desperate resistance knocked under, and said +that if it must be so he would yield, but <i>only</i> to the King’s +express commands.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_20_03" id="FN_20_03"></a><a href="#FNA_20_03"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> +[Down to this time Lord Goderich had been Secretary for the Colonial +Department in Lord Grey’s Government.]</p></div> + +<h3>March 30th, 1833</h3> + +<p>Saw Madame de Lieven yesterday, who +told me the story of the late business at St. Petersburg. The +Sultan after the battle of Koniah applied to the Emperor of +Russia for succour, who ordered twelve sail of the line and +30,000 men to go to the protection of Constantinople. At +the same time General Mouravieff was sent to Constantinople, +with orders to proceed to Alexandria and inform the Pacha +that the Emperor could only look upon him as a rebel, that +he would not suffer the Ottoman Empire to be overturned, +and that if Ibrahim advanced ‘il aurait affaire ŕ l’Empereur +de Russie.’ Orders were accordingly sent to Ibrahim to +suspend his operations, and Mouravieff returned to Constantinople. +Upon the demand for succour by the Sultan, and +the Emperor’s compliance with it, notification was made +to all the Courts, and instructions were given to the +Russian commanders to retire as soon as the Sultan should +have no further occasion for their aid. So satisfactory was +this that Lord Grey expressed the greatest anxiety that the +Russian armament should arrive in time to arrest the progress +of the Egyptians. They did arrive—at least the fleet +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[367]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">PRECARIOUS STATE OF THE GOVERNMENT.</span> +did—and dropped anchor under the Seraglio. At this juncture +arrived Admiral Roussin in a ship of war, and as +Ambassador of France. He immediately informed the +Sultan that the interposition of Russia was superfluous, that +he would undertake to conclude a treaty, and to answer for +the acquiescence of the Pacha, and he sent a project one +article of which was that the Russian fleet should instantly +withdraw. To this proposition the Sultan acceded, and +without waiting for the Pacha’s confirmation he notified to +the Russian Ambassador that he had no longer any wish +for the presence of the Russian fleet, and they accordingly +weighed anchor and sailed away. This is all that is known +of the transaction, but Madame de Lieven was loud and vehement +about the insolence of Roussin; she said the Emperor +would demand ‘une satisfaction éclatante’—‘le rappel et le +désaveu de l’amiral Roussin,’ and that if this should be refused +the Russian Ambassador would be ordered to quit Paris. +She waits with great anxiety to see the end of the business, +for on it appears to depend the question of peace or war +with France. She said that the day before Namik went away +intelligence of this event arrived, which Palmerston communicated +to him. The Turk heard it very quietly, and then +only said, ‘Et oů était l’Angleterre dans tout ceci?’</p> + +<p>I have heard to-night the Goderich version of his late +translation. He had agreed to remain in the Cabinet without +an office, but Lord Grey insisted on his taking the Privy +Seal, and threatened to resign if he did not; he was at +last <i>bullied</i> into acquiescence, and when he had his audience +of the King his Majesty offered him anything he had to +give. He said he had made the sacrifice to please and serve +him, and would take nothing. An earldom—he refused; +the Bath—ditto; <i>the Garter</i>—that he said he would take. +It was then discovered that he was not of rank sufficient, +when he said he would take the earldom in order to qualify +himself for the Garter, and so it stands. There is no Garter +vacant, and one supernumerary already, and Castlereagh +and Lord North, viscounts, and Sir Robert Walpole (all +Commoners) had blue ribands!</p> + +<h3>London, April 28th, 1833</h3> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[368]</a></span> +Came to town last night from Newmarket, +and the intervening week at Buckenham. Nothing +but racing and hawking; a wretched life—that is, a life of +amusement, but very unprofitable and discreditable to anybody +who can do better things. Of politics I know nothing +during this interval, but on coming to town find all in confusion, +and everybody gaping for ‘what next.’ Government +was beaten on the Malt Tax, and Lord Grey proposed to resign; +the Tories are glad that the Government is embarrassed, +no matter how, the supporters sorry and repentant, so that +it is very clear the matter will be patched up; they won’t +budge, and will probably get more regular support for the +future. Perhaps Althorp will go, but where to find a +Chancellor of the Exchequer will be the difficulty. Poulett +Thomson wants it, but they will not dare commit the +finances of the country to him, so we go scrambling on ‘du +jour la journée.’ Nobody knows what is to happen next—no +confidence, no security, great talk of a property tax, to +which, I suppose, after wriggling about, we shall at last come.</p> + +<h3>May 2nd, 1833</h3> + +<p>The Government affair is patched up, and +nobody goes but +Hobhouse,<a name="FNA_20_04" id="FNA_20_04"></a><a href="#FN_20_04" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> +who thought fit to resign both +his seat in Parliament and his office, thereby creating another +great embarrassment, which can only be removed by his +re-election and re-appointment, and then, what a farce!</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_20_04" id="FN_20_04"></a><a href="#FNA_20_04"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> +[Sir John Hobhouse, who had consented to take the Irish Secretaryship +a month before, resigned now because he felt unable to oppose a +resolution for the abolition of the window duties; and resigning office he +resigned his seat for Westminster also, and was not re-elected. See in the +‘Edinburgh Review,’ April 1871 (No. 272), an account of this transaction.]</p></div> + +<p>There were two great majorities in the House of Commons +the night before last. The King was all graciousness and +favour to Lord Grey, and so they are set up again, and fancy +themselves stronger than before. But although everybody +(except the fools) wished them to be re-established, it was +evident that this was only because, at this moment, the time +is not ripe for a change, for they inspired no interest either +individually or collectively. It was easy to see that the +Government has no consideration, and that people are +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[369]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">EMBARRASSMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT.</span> +getting tired of their blunders and embarrassments, and +begin to turn their eyes to those who are more capable, and +know something of the business of Government—to Peel and +to Stanley, for the former, in spite of his cold, calculating +selfishness and duplicity, is the ablest man there is, and we +must take what we can get, and accept services without +troubling ourselves about the motives of those who supply +them. It must come to this conclusion unless the reign of +Radicalism and the authority of the Humes ‘et hoc genus +omne’ is to be substituted. That the present Government +loses ground every day is perfectly clear, and at the same +time that the fruits of the Reform Bill become more lamentably +apparent. The scrape Government lately got into was +owing partly to the votes that people were obliged to give to +curry favour with their constituents, and partly to negligence +and carelessness in whipping in. Hobhouse’s resignation is +on account of his pledges, and because he is forced to pledge +himself on the hustings he finds himself placed in a situation +which compels him to save his honour and consistency by +embarrassing the public service to the greatest degree at a +very critical time. Men go on asking one another how is it +possible the country can be governed in this manner, and +nobody can reply.</p> + +<p>Since I have been out of town the appeal against the +Chancellor’s judgment in the Drax (lunacy) case has been +heard at the Privy Council, and will be finally determined on +Saturday.<a name="FNA_20_05" id="FNA_20_05"></a><a href="#FN_20_05" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> +Two years have nearly elapsed since that case +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[370]</a></span> +was lodged, and the Chancellor has always found pretexts +for getting the hearing postponed; at length the parties +became so clamorous that it was necessary to fix a day. He +then endeavoured to pack a committee, and spoke to Lord +Lansdowne about summoning Lord Plunket, Lord Lyndhurst, +and the Vice-Chancellor, but Leach, who hates Brougham, +and is particularly nettled at his having reversed some of his +judgments, bestirred himself, and represented to Lord Lansdowne +the absolute necessity (in a case of such consequence) +of having all the ex-Chancellors to hear it. Plunket was +gone to Ireland, so the Committee consisted of the Lord +President, the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Master of the +Rolls, Lords Eldon, Lyndhurst, and Manners. They say the +argument was very able—Sugden in support of the Chancellor’s +judgment, and Pemberton against it; they expect it +will be reversed. Leach, foolishly enough, by question and +observation, exhibited a strong bias against the Chancellor, +who never said a word, and appeared very calm and easy, +but with rage in his heart, for he was indignant at these +Lords having been summoned (as his secretary told +Lennard<a name="FNA_20_06" id="FNA_20_06"></a><a href="#FN_20_06" class="fnanchor">[6]</a>), +and said ‘he was sure it was all Leach’s doing.’ What a +man! how wonderful! how despicable! carrying into the +administration of justice the petty vanity, personal jealousy +and pique, and shuffling arts that would reflect ridicule and +odium on a silly woman of fashion. He has smuggled his +Privy Council Bill through the House of Lords without the +slightest notice or remark.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_20_05" id="FN_20_05"></a><a href="#FNA_20_05"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> +[An appeal lies to the King in Council from orders of the Lord +Chancellor in lunacy, but there are very few examples of the prosecution +of appeals of this nature. This case of Drax <i>v.</i> Grosvenor, which is reported +in ‘Knapp’s Privy Council Cases,’ was therefore one of great +peculiarity. The Bill constituting the Judicial Committee had not at this +time become law; this appeal was therefore heard by a Committee of the +Lords of the Council, to which any member of the Privy Council might be +summoned. Care was taken that the highest legal authorities should be +present. It was the last time Lord Eldon sat in a court of law. Lord +Brougham, the Chancellor, sat on the Committee, although the appeal was +brought from an order made by himself: this practice had not been uncommon +in the House of Lords, but it had not been the practice of the +Privy Council, where indeed the case could seldom arise.]</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_20_06" id="FN_20_06"></a><a href="#FNA_20_06"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> +[John Barrett Lennard, Esq., was Chief Clerk of the Council Office.]</p></div> + +<h3>May 16th, 1833</h3> + +<p>On coming to town found the Westminster +election just over, and Evans returned. They would not +hear Hobhouse, and pelted him and his friends. No +Secretary for Ireland is to be found, for the man must be +competent, and sure of re-election. Few are the first and +none the last. Hobhouse is generally censured for having +put Government in this great difficulty, but the Tories see it +all with a sort of grim satisfaction, and point at it as a happy +illustration of the benefits of the Reform Bill. I point too, +but I don’t rejoice.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[371]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">SLAVE EMANCIPATION.</span> +At the same time with Hobhouse’s defeat came forth +Stanley’s plan for slave emancipation, which produced rage +and fury among both West Indians and Saints, being too +much for the former and not enough for the latter, and both +announced their opposition to it. Practical men declare +that it is impossible to carry it into effect, and that the +details are unmanageable. Even the Government adherents +do not pretend that it is a good and safe measure, but the +best that could be hit off under the circumstances; these +circumstances being the old motive, ‘the people will have it.’ +The night before last Stanley developed his plan in the +House of Commons in a speech of three hours, which was +very eloquent, but rather disappointing. He handled the +preliminary topics of horrors of slavery and colonial obstinacy +and misconduct with all the vigour and success that might +have been expected, but when he came to his measure he +failed to show how it was to be put in operation and to work. +The peroration and eulogy on Wilberforce were very brilliant. +Howick had previously announced his intention of opposing +Stanley, and accordingly he did so in a speech of considerable +vehemence which lasted two hours. He was not, however, +well received; his father and mother had in vain +endeavoured to divert him from his resolution; but though +they say his speech was clever, he has damaged himself by +it. His plan is immediate +emancipation.<a name="FNA_20_07" id="FNA_20_07"></a><a href="#FN_20_07" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_20_07" id="FN_20_07"></a><a href="#FNA_20_07"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> +[The result proved that Lord Howick was right. The apprenticeship +system proposed by Lord Stanley was carried, but failed in execution, and +was eventually abandoned.]</p></div> + +<p>While such is the state of things here—enormous interests +under discussion, great disquietude and alarm, no feeling of +security, no confidence in the Government, and a Parliament +that inspires fear rather than hope—matters abroad seem to +be no better managed than they are at home. It is remarkable +that the business in the East has escaped with so little +animadversion, for there never was a fairer object of attack. +While France has been vapouring, and we have been doing +nothing at all, Russia has established her own influence in +Turkey, and made herself virtually mistress of the Ottoman +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[372]</a></span> +Empire. At a time when our interests required that we +should be well represented, and powerfully supported, we +had neither an Ambassador nor a fleet in the Mediterranean; +and because Lord Ponsonby is Lord Grey’s brother-in-law +he has been able with impunity to dawdle on months after +months at Naples for his pleasure, and leave affairs at +Constantinople to be managed or mismanaged by a Chargé +d’Affaires who is altogether incompetent.</p> + +<h3>May 19th, 1833</h3> + +<p>They have found a Secretary for Ireland in +the person of +Littleton,<a name="FNA_20_08" id="FNA_20_08"></a><a href="#FN_20_08" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> +which shows to what shifts they +are put. He is rich, which is his only qualification, being +neither very able nor very popular. The West India question +is postponed. The Duke of Wellington told me that he +thought it would pass away for this time, and that all parties +would be convinced of the impracticability of any of the plans +now mooted. I said that nothing could do away the mischief +that had been done by broaching it. He thought ‘the +mischief might be avoided;’ but then these people do nothing +to avoid any mischief. I was marvellously struck (we rode +together through St. James’s Park) with the profound respect +with which the Duke was treated, everybody we met +taking off their hats to him, everybody in the park rising as +he went by, and every appearance of his inspiring great +reverence. I like this symptom, and it is the more remarkable +because it is not <i>popularity</i>, but a much higher feeling +towards him. He has forfeited his popularity more than +once; he has taken a line in politics directly counter to the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[373]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">RESPECT SHOWN TO WELLINGTON.</span> +popular bias; but though in moments of excitement he is +attacked and vilified (and his broken windows, which I wish +he would mend, still preserve a record of the violence of the +mob), when the excitement subsides there is always a returning +sentiment of admiration and respect for him, kept +alive by the recollection of his splendid actions, such as no +one else ever inspired. Much, too, as I have regretted and +censured the enormous errors of his political career (at +times), I believe that this sentiment is in a great degree produced +by the justice which is done to his political character, +sometimes mistaken, but always high-minded and patriotic, +and never mean, false, or selfish. If he has aimed at power, +and overrated his own capacity for wielding it, it has been +with the purest intentions and the most conscientious views. +I believe firmly that no man had ever at heart to a greater +degree the honour and glory of his country; and hereafter, +when justice will be done to his memory, and his character +and conduct be scanned with impartial eyes, if his capacity +for government appears unequal to the exigencies of the +times in which he was placed at the head of affairs, the +purity of his motives and the noble character of his ambition +will be amply acknowledged.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_20_08" id="FN_20_08"></a><a href="#FNA_20_08"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> +[The Rt. Hon. E. J. Littleton, M.P. for Staffordshire, and afterwards +first Lord Hatherton.</p> + +<p>It was Lord John Russell who advised Lord Grey to make Littleton +Irish Secretary. He told me so in May 1871, but added, ‘I think I made +a mistake.’ The appointment was wholly unsolicited and unexpected by +Mr. Littleton himself, who happened to be laid up at the time by an +accident. On the receipt of the letter from Lord Grey offering him the +Secretaryship of Ireland, and requesting him to take it, Mr. Littleton +consulted Mr. Fazakerly, who was of opinion that he ought to accept the +offer. This therefore he did, though not, as I know from his own journals, +without great diffidence and hesitation; and he intimated to Lord Grey +that he would only retain his office until some other man could be found to +accept it.]</p></div> + +<p>The Duke of Orleans is here, and very well received by +the Court and the world. He is good-looking, dull, has good +manners and little conversation, goes everywhere, and dances +all night. At the ball at Court the Queen waltzed with the +two Dukes of Orleans and Brunswick.</p> + +<p>Peel compelled old Cobbett to bring on his motion for +getting him erased from the Privy Council, which Cobbett +wished to shirk from. He gave him a terrible dressing, and it +all went off for Peel in the most flattering way. He gains every +day more authority and influence in the House of Commons. +It must end in Peel and Stanley, unless everything ends.</p> + +<h3>May 27th, 1833</h3> + +<p>All last week at Epsom, and now, thank God, +these races are over. I have had all the trouble and excitement +and worry, and have neither won nor lost; nothing but +the hope of gain would induce me to go through this demoralising +drudgery, which I am conscious reduces me to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[374]</a></span> +the level of all that is most disreputable and despicable, for +my thoughts are eternally absorbed by it. Jockeys, trainers, +and blacklegs are my companions, and it is like dram-drinking; +having once entered upon it I cannot leave it off, though +I am disgusted with the occupation all the time. Let no +man who has no need, who is not in danger of losing all he +has, and is not obliged to grasp at every chance, <i>make a book</i> +on the Derby. While the fever it excites is raging, and the +odds are varying, I can neither read, nor write, nor occupy myself +with anything else. I went to the Oaks on Wednesday, +where Lord Stanley kept house for the first, and probably (as +the house is for sale) for the last time. It is a very agreeable +place, with an odd sort of house built at different times and +by different people; but the outside is covered with ivy and +creepers, which is pretty, and there are two good living-rooms +in it. Besides this, there is an abundance of grass +and shade; it has been for thirty or forty years the resort +of all our old jockeys, and is now occupied by the sporting +portion of the Government. We had Lord Grey and his +daughter, Duke and Duchess of Richmond, Lord and Lady +Errol, Althorp, Graham, Uxbridge, Charles Grey, Duke of +Grafton, Lichfield, and Stanley’s brothers. It passed off very +well—racing all the morning, an excellent dinner, and whist +and blind hookey in the evening. It was curious to see +Stanley. Who would believe they beheld the orator and +statesman, only second, if second, to Peel in the House of +Commons, and on whom the destiny of the country perhaps +depends? There he was, as if he had no thoughts but for the +turf, full of the horses, interest in the lottery, eager, blunt, +noisy, good-humoured, ‘has meditans nugas et <i>totus in illis</i>;’ +at night equally devoted to the play, as if his fortune depended +on it. Thus can a man relax whose existence is devoted to +great objects and serious thoughts. I had considerable hopes +of winning the Derby, but was beaten easily, my horse not +being good. An odd circumstance occurred to me before the +race. Payne told me in strict confidence that a man who +could not appear on account of his debts, and who had been, +much connected with turf robberies, came to him, and entreated +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[375]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">ANECDOTE OF THE DERBY.</span> +him to take the odds for him to 1,000ℓ. about a horse +for the Derby, and deposited a note in his hand for the purpose. +He told him half the horses were made safe, and that +it was arranged this one was to win. After much delay, and +having got his promise to lay out the money, he told him it +was my horse. He did back the horse for the man for 700ℓ., +but the same person told him if my horse <i>could</i> not win Dangerous +would, and he backed the latter likewise for 100ℓ., by +which his friend was saved, and won 800ℓ. He did not tell +me his name, nor anything more, except that his object was, +if he had won, to pay his creditors, and he had authorised +Payne to retain the money, if he won it, for that purpose.</p> + +<p>We heard, while at the Oaks, that M. Dedel had signed +the convention between France, England, and Holland, on +which all the funds rose. The King of Holland’s ratification +was still to be got, and many people will not believe in that +till they see it.</p> + +<h3>June 3rd, 1833</h3> + +<p>The Government are in high spirits. The +Saints have given in their adhesion to Stanley’s plan, and +they expect to carry the West India question. The Bank measure +has satisfied the directors, and most people, except Peel. +The Duke of Wellington told me he was very well satisfied, +but that <i>they</i> had intended to make better terms with the +Bank, and he thought they should have done so. Melbourne +says, ‘Now that we are as much hated as they were, we shall +stay in for ever.’</p> + +<p>As I came into town (having come by the steamboat from +Margate very luxuriously) on Saturday I found a final meeting +at the Council Office to dispose of the lunacy case. It +was so late when Horne finished his reply that I thought +there was no chance of any discussion, and I did not go in; +but I met the Master of the Rolls afterwards, who told me +they had delivered their opinions, Lord Eldon cautiously, he +himself ‘broadly,’ which I will be bound he did (for he hates +Brougham), and that, though no judgment had been yet +given, the Chancellor’s decree would be reversed; so that +after all Brougham’s wincing and wriggling to this he has +been forced to submit at last.</p> + +<h3>London, June 11th, 1833</h3> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[376]</a></span> +At a place called Buckhurst all last +week for the Ascot races; a party at Lichfield’s, racing all the +morning, then eating and drinking, and play at night. +I may say, with more truth than anybody, ‘Video meliora +proboque, deteriora sequor.’ The weather was charming, the +course crowded, the King received decently. His household +is now so ill managed that his grooms were drunk every +day, and one man (who was sober) was killed going home +from the races. Goodwin told me nobody exercised any +authority, and the consequence was that the household all +ran riot.</p> + +<p>The first day of the races arrived the news that the Duke +of Wellington, after making a strong muster, had beaten +the Government in the House of Lords on the question of +Portuguese neutrality and Don Miguel, that Lord Grey had +announced that he considered it a vote of censure, and threw +out a sort of threat of resigning. He and Brougham (after a +Cabinet) went down to the King. The King was very much +annoyed at this fresh dilemma into which the Tories had +brought him, and consented to whatever Lord Grey required. +In the meantime the House of Commons flew to arms, and +Colonel Dawes gave notice of a motion of confidence in +Ministers upon their foreign policy. This was carried by an +immense majority after a weak debate, in which some very +cowardly menaces were thrown out against the Bishops, and +this settled the question. Ministers did not resign, no Peers +were made, and everything goes on as before. It has been, +however, a disastrous business. How the Duke of Wellington +could take this course after the conversation I had with +him in this room, when he told me he would support the +Government because he wished it to be <i>strong</i>, I can’t conceive. +At all events he seems resolved that his Parliamentary +victories should be as injurious as his military +ones were glorious to his country. Some of his friends say +that he was <i>provoked</i> by Lord Grey’s supercilious answer to +him the other day, when he said he knew nothing of what +was going on but from what he read in the newspapers, +others that he ‘feels so very strongly’ about Portugal, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[377]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">TORY BLUNDERS.</span> +others that he cannot manage the Tories, and that they +were determined to fight; in short, that he has not the same +authority as leader of a party that he had as general of an +army, for nobody would have forced him to fight the battle +of Salamanca or Vittoria if he had not fancied it himself. +The effect, however, has been this: the House of Lords has +had a rap on the knuckles from the King, their legislative +functions are practically in abeyance, and his Majesty is +more tied than ever to his Ministers. The House of Lords +is paralysed; it exists upon sufferance, and cannot venture +to throw out or materially alter any Bill (such as the India, +Bank, Negro, Church Reform, &c.) which may come up to +it without the certainty of being instantly swamped, and the +measures, however obnoxious, crammed down its throat. +This Government has lost ground in public opinion, they +were daily falling lower, and these predestinated idiots come +and bolster them up just when they most want it. Tavistock +acknowledged to me that they were unpopular, and +that this freak had been of vast service to them; consequently +they are all elated to the greatest degree. The +Tories are sulky and crestfallen; moderate men are vexed, +disappointed, grieved; and the Radicals stand grinning by, +chuckling at the sight of the Conservatives (at least those +who so call themselves, and those who must be so <i>really</i>) +cutting each others’ throats.</p> + +<p>On Saturday, the day after I came back, I found a final +meeting at the Council Office on the lunacy case, the appeal +of Grosvenor against Drax. There were Lord Lansdowne, +the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Master of the Rolls, Lord +Manners, Lord Eldon, and Lord Lyndhurst. The rule is +that the President of the Council collects the opinions and +votes, beginning with the junior Privy Councillor. This +was the +Chancellor,<a name="FNA_20_09" id="FNA_20_09"></a><a href="#FN_20_09" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> +who made a sort of apology for his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[378]</a></span> +judgment, stating that he had made the order just after two +or three very flagrant cases of a similar description had been +brought under his notice, and then he went into this case, +and endeavoured to show that there was fraud (and intentional +fraud) on the part of the Grosvenors, and he maintained, +without insisting on, and very mildly, his own former +view of the case. Leach then made a speech strongly +against the judgment, and Lord Eldon made a longish +speech, very clear, and very decided against it, interlarded +with professions of his ‘sincere’ respect for the person who +delivered the judgment. The Chancellor did not reply to +Lord Eldon, but put some questions—some hypothetical, and +some upon parts of the case itself—which, together with some +remarks, brought on a discussion between him and Leach, +in which the latter ended by lashing himself into a rage. +‘My Lord,’ said he to the Chancellor, ‘we talk too much, +and we don’t stick to the point.’ Brougham put on one of +his scornful smiles, and in reply to something (I forget what) +that the Vice-Chancellor said he dropped in his sarcastic +tone that he would do so and so ‘if his Honour would permit.’ +For a moment I thought there would be a breeze, but +it ended without any vote, in the adoption of a form of +reversal suggested by Lord Eldon, which left it to the option +of the respondent to institute other proceedings if he should +think fit. Afterwards all was harmony. Eldon seemed +tolerably fresh, feeble, but clear and collected. He was in +spirits about the dinner which had just been given him by +the Templars, at which he was received with extraordinary +honours. He said he hoped never to be called to the Council +Board again, and this was probably the last occasion on +which he will have to appear in a judicial capacity. It is +remarkable that his last act should be to reverse a judgment +of Brougham’s, Brougham being Chancellor and himself +nothing. I could not help looking with something like +emotion at this extraordinary old man, and reflecting upon +his long and laborious career, which is terminating gently +and by almost insensible gradations, in a manner more +congenial to a philosophic mind than to an ambitious spirit. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[379]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">LORD ELDON’S GREAT CAREER.</span> +As a statesman and a politician he has survived and witnessed +the ruin of his party and the subversion of those +particular institutions to which he tenaciously clung, and +which his prejudices or his wisdom made him think indispensable +to the existence of the Constitution. As an individual +his destiny has been happier, for he has preserved the +strength of his body and the vigour of his mind far beyond +the ordinary period allotted to man, he is adorned with +honours and blessed with wealth sufficient for the aspirations +of pride and avarice, and while the lapse of time has +silenced the voice of envy, and retirement from office has +mitigated the rancour of political hostility, his great and +acknowledged authority as a luminary of the law shines forth +with purer lustre. He enjoys, perhaps, the most perfect +reward of his long life of labour and study—a foretaste +of posthumous honour and fame. He has lived to see his +name venerated and his decisions received with profound +respect, and he is departing in peace, with the proud assurance +that he has left to his country a mighty legacy of law +and secured to himself an imperishable fame.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_20_09" id="FN_20_09"></a><a href="#FNA_20_09"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> +[This must be a mistake. The Chancellor takes rank in the Privy +Council after the Lord President and before everyone else. Lord +Brougham was junior Privy Councillor in mere seniority, but his office gave +him rank over the others present. His opinion was probably taken first out +of compliment to him, as he had made the order under review.]</p></div> + +<h3>June 15th, 1833</h3> + +<p>The day before yesterday I had occasion to +see the Duke of Wellington about the business in which we +are joint trustees, and when we had done I said, ‘Well, that +business in the House of Lords turned out ill the other day.’ +‘No; do you think so?’ he said, and then he went into the +matter. He said that he was compelled to make the motion +by the answer Lord Grey gave to his question a few nights +before; that his party in the House of Lords would not be +satisfied without dividing—they had been impatient to +attack the Government, and were not to be restrained; that +on the question itself they were <i>right</i>; that so far from his +doing harm to the Government, if they availed themselves +wisely of the defeat they might turn it to account in the +House of Commons, and so far it was of use to them, as it +afforded a convincing proof to their supporters that the +House of Lords might be depended upon for good purposes, +and they might demand of their supporters in the other +House that they should enable them to carry good measures, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[380]</a></span> +and they keep the House of Commons in harmony with the +House of Lords. He said the Government would make no +Peers, and that they <i>could not</i>; that the Tories were by no +means frightened or disheartened, and meant to take the +first opportunity of showing fight again; in short, he seemed +not dissatisfied with what had already occurred, and resolved +to pursue the same course. He said the Tories were indignant +at the idea of being compelled to keep quiet, and that +if they were to be swamped the sooner it was done the +better, and that they would not give up their right to deal +with any question they thought fit from any motive of expediency +whatever.</p> + +<p>I don’t know what to make of the Duke and his conduct. +The Catholic question and the Corn Laws and Canning rise +up before me, and make me doubt whether he is so pure in +his views and so free from vindictive feelings as I thought +and hoped he was. When Lords Grey and Brougham went +down to the King after the defeat, they did not talk of +Peers, and only proposed the short answer to the Lords, to +which he consented at once. His Majesty was very indignant +with the Duke, and said it was the second time he had +got him into a scrape, he had made a fool of him last year, and +now wanted to do the same thing again. Some pretend that +all this indignation is simulated; the man is, I believe, more +foolish than false.</p> + +<h3>June 19th, 1833</h3> + +<p>The King dined with the Duke at his +Waterloo dinner yesterday, which does not look as if he had +been so very angry with him as the Government people say. +The Duke had his windows mended for the occasion, whether +in honour of his Majesty or in consequence of H.B.’s caricature +I don’t know.</p> + +<p>I had a long conversation with Sir Willoughby Cotton +on Sunday about Jamaica affairs. He is Commander-in-Chief, +just come home, and just going out again. He told +me what he had said to Stanley, which was to this effect: +that the compensation would be esteemed munificent, greater +by far than they had expected; that they had looked for a +loan of fifteen millions at two per cent interest, but that the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[381]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">IRISH CHURCH BILL.</span> +plan would be impracticable, and that sugar could not be +cultivated after slavery ceased; that the slave would never +understand the system of modified servitude by which he +was to be nominally free and actually kept to labour, and +that he would rebel against the magistrate who tried to force +him to work more fiercely than against his master; that the +magistrate would never be able to persuade the slaves in +their new character of apprentices to work as heretofore, and +the military who would be called in to assist them could do +nothing. He asked Stanley if he intended, when the military +were called in, that they should fire on or bayonet the +refractory apprentices. He said no, they were to exhort +them. He gave him to understand that in his opinion they +could do nothing, and that the more the soldiers exhorted +the more the slaves would not work. With regard to my own +particular case he was rather encouraging than not, thought +they would not molest me any +more,<a name="FNA_20_10" id="FNA_20_10"></a><a href="#FN_20_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> +that the Assembly +might try and get me out, but that the Council considered +it matter of loyalty to the King not to force out the Clerk of +his Privy Council, but that if anything more was said about +it, and I went out to Jamaica, I might be sure of getting +leave again in a month or six weeks.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="FN_20_10" id="FN_20_10"></a><a href="#FNA_20_10"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> +[This refers to Mr. Greville’s holding the office of Secretary of the +Island of Jamaica with permanent leave of absence. The work of the office +was done by a deputy, who was paid by a share of the emoluments which +were in the shape of fees.]</p></div> + +<h3>June 26th, 1833</h3> + +<p>This morning at six saw my mother and +Henry start for the steamboat which is to take them abroad. +I wish I was going with them, and was destined once more +to see Rome and Naples, which I fear will never be. Last +week was marked by a division in the House of Commons +which made a great noise. It was on that clause of the +Irish Church Bill which declared that the surplus should +be appropriated by Parliament, and Stanley thought fit to +leave out the clause. The Tories supported him; the +Radicals and many of the Whigs—Abercromby and C. +Russell among the number—opposed him. The minority +was strong—148—but the fury it excited among many of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[382]</a></span> +friends of Government is incredible, and the Tories were +very triumphant without being at all conciliated. The +Speaker said he should not be surprised to see the Bill +thrown out by the junction of the Tories and Radicals on +the third reading, which is not likely, and the suppression of +this clause, which after all leaves the matter just as it was, +will probably carry it through the House of Lords. It is, +however, very questionable whether they were right in withdrawing +it, and Tavistock told me that though he thought +it was <i>right</i> it was ill done, and had given great offence. +Somehow or other Stanley, with all his talents, makes a mess +of everything, but this comes of being (what the violent +Whigs suspect him of being) half a Tory. Measures are +concocted upon ultra principles in the Cabinet, and then as +his influence is exerted, and his wishes are obliged to be +consulted, they are modified and altered, and this gives a +character of vacillation to the conduct of Government, and +exhibits a degree of weakness and infirmity of purpose which +prevents their being strong or popular or respectable. Nobody, +however, can say that they are obstinate, for they are +eternally giving way to somebody. In the House of Lords +there was a sharp skirmish between Brougham and Lyndhurst, +and high Parliamentary words passed between these +‘noble friends’ on the Local Courts Bill. The Tories did +not go down to support Lyndhurst, which provoked him, and +Brougham was nettled by his and old Eldon’s attacks on the +Bill.</p> + +<p>There is great talk of a letter which the King is said to +have written to the bishops—that is, to the Archbishop for +the edification of the episcopal bench. It is hardly credible +that he and Taylor should have been guilty of this folly, +after the letter which they wrote to the Peers a year and a +half ago and the stir that it made.</p> + +<p>I have got from Sir Henry Lushington Monk Lewis’s +journals and his two voyages to the West Indies (one of +which I read at Naples), with liberty to publish them, which +I mean to do if I can get money enough for him. He says +Murray offered him 500ℓ. for the manuscripts some years +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[383]</a></span> +<span class="pagehead">THE KING WRITES TO THE ARCHBISHOP.</span> +ago. I doubt getting so much now, but they are uncommonly +amusing, and it is the right moment for publishing +them now that people are full of interest about the West +India question. I was very well amused last week at the +bazaar in Hanover Square, when a sale was held on four +successive days by the fine ladies for the benefit of the +foreigners in distress. It was like a masquerade without +masks, for everybody—men, women, and children—roved +about where they would, everybody talking to everybody, +and vast familiarity established between perfect strangers +under the guise of barter. The Queen’s stall was held by +Ladies Howe and Denbigh, with her three prettiest maids of +honour, Miss Bagot dressed like a soubrette and looking +like an angel. They sold all sorts of trash at enormous +prices, and made, I believe, four or five thousand pounds. I +went on Monday to hear Lushington speak in the cause of +Swift and Kelly. He spoke for three hours—an excellent +speech. I sat by Mr. Swift all the time; he is not ill-looking, +but I should think vulgar, and I’m sure impudent, +for the more Lushington abused him the more he +laughed.</p> + +<h3>June 28th, 1833</h3> + +<p>The King did write to the Archbishop of +Canterbury a severe reproof to be communicated to the +bishops for having voted against his Government upon a +question purely political (the Portuguese), in which the +interests of the Church were in no way concerned. He sent +a copy of the letter to Lord Grey, and Brougham told +Sefton and Wharncliffe the contents, both of whom told me. +It is remarkable that nothing has been said upon the subject +in the House of Lords. The Archbishop, the most timid of +mankind, had the prudence (I am told) to abstain from communicating +the letter to the bishops, and held a long consultation +with the Archbishop of York as to the mode of +dealing with this puzzling document. If he had communicated +it, he would as a Privy Councillor have been responsible +for it, but what answer he made to the King I know +not. Never was there such a proceeding, so unconstitutional, +so foolish; but his Ministers do not seem to mind it, and are +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[384]</a></span> +rather elated at such a signal proof of his disposition to support +them. I think, as far as being a discouragement to +the Tories, and putting an end to their notion that he is +hankering after them, it may be of use, and it is probably +true that he does not wish for a change, but on the contrary +dreads it. He naturally dreads whatever is likely to raise a +storm about his ears and interrupt his repose.</p> + +<p>Lyndhurst is in such a rage at his defeat in the House +of Lords on the Local Courts Bill that he swore at first he +would never come there again. What he said—that ‘if they +had considered it a party question the result would have +been very different,’ which Brougham unaccountably took for +a threat against the Government—was levelled at his own +Tory friends for not supporting him. On the third reading +they mean to have another fight about it. I understand the +lawyers that the Bill is very objectionable, and calculated to +degrade the profession. I sat by Talleyrand at dinner the day +before yesterday, who told me a good deal about Mirabeau, +but as he had a bad cold, in addition to his usual mode of +pumping up his words from the bottomest pit of his stomach, +it was next to impossible to understand him. He said +Mirabeau was really intimate with three people only—himself, +Narbonne, and Lauzun—that Auguste d’Aremberg was +the negotiator of the Court and medium of its communications +with Mirabeau; that he had found (during the provisional +Government) a receipt of Mirabeau’s for a million, +which he had given to Louis XVIII.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2>END OF THE SECOND VOLUME.</h2> + +<hr /> + +<h4>LONDON: PRINTED BY <br /> +SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE <br /> +AND PARLIAMENT STREET</h4> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="INDEX" id="INDEX"></a>INDEX.</h2> + +<table style="width:75%;" border="1" summary=""> + <tr> + <td><a href="#IX_A">A</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_B">B</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_C">C</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_D">D</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_E">E</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_F">F</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_G">G</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_H">H</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_I">I</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_J">J</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_K">K</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_L">L</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_M">M</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><a href="#IX_N">N</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_O">O</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_P">P</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_Q">Q</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_R">R</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_S">S</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_T">T</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_U">U</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_V">V</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_W">W</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_X">X</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_Y">Y</a></td> + <td><a href="#IX_Z">Z</a></td> + </tr> +</table> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_A" id="IX_A"></a> +Abercromby, Right Hon. James, + proposed as Speaker, ii. 333; + Master of the Mint, iii. 95; + proposed as Speaker, 201; + the Speakership, 204; + elected Speaker, 213</li> + +<li>Aberdeen, Earl of, + Duchy of Lancaster, i. 124; + motion about Belgium, ii. <a href="#Page_238">238</a></li> + +<li>Achmet Pacha, + concludes a treaty with Russia, iii. 69</li> + +<li>Adair, Right Hon. Sir Robert, + sworn in Privy Councillor, i. 136</li> + +<li>Addington, Henry Unwin, + recalled from Madrid, iii. 14</li> + +<li>Address, proposed amendment to the, iii. 217</li> + +<li>Adelaide, Queen, ii. <a href="#Page_7">7</a>; + at the Ancient Concert, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>; + mobbed in the City, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>; + audience of, about the crown, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>; + coronation of, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>; + Lord Howe, <a href="#Page_338">338</a>; + yacht, iii. 99; + return of, 125; + illness of, 125; + supposed to be with child, 198, 199, 201</li> + +<li>Adrian’s Villa, i. 377</li> + +<li>Agar Ellis, <i>see</i> <a href="#IX_Dover">Dover, Lord</a></li> + +<li>Alava, General, and the Duke of Cumberland, iii. 275</li> + +<li>Albani, Cardinal, + influence of, i. 310; + conversation with, 373; + interview with, 380</li> + +<li>Albano, i. 331</li> + +<li>Alexander, Emperor of Russia, + death of, i. 78; + coronation of, described by Talleyrand, ii. <a href="#Page_185">185</a></li> + +<li>Allen, Dr., Bishop of Ely, iii. 363</li> + +<li>Allen, John, iii. 135; + unbelief of, 324</li> + +<li>Althorp, Viscount, + <a name="IX_Althorp" id="IX_Althorp"></a> + proposed as Chairman of the Finance Committee, i. 120; + Chancellor of the Exchequer, ii. <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, + introduces the budget, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>; + leader of the House of Commons, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>; + letter to Attwood, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>; + hurries on the Irish Church Bill, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>; + as Chancellor of the Exchequer, iii. 2; + arrested by the Sergeant-at-Arms, 56; + financial statement, 60; + defects as leader, 62; + summons a meeting of the supporters of Government, 92; + resigns, 101; + popularity of, 105; + Chancellor of the Exchequer under Lord Melbourne, 113; + succeeds his father as Earl Spencer, 140</li> + +<li>Alvanley, Lord, + duel with Morgan O’Connell, ii. <a href="#Page_257">257</a>; + on Irish affairs, <a href="#Page_348">348</a></li> + +<li>America, + dispute with France, iii. 322</li> + +<li>Anglesey, Marquis of, + recalled, i. 149; + entry into Dublin, ii. <a href="#Page_99">99</a>; + disputes with O’Connell, <a href="#Page_106">106</a></li> + +<li>Antwerp, + threatened bombardment of, by the Dutch, ii. <a href="#Page_321">321</a>; + French army marches to, <a href="#Page_329">329</a></li> + +<li>Arbuthnot, Right Hon. Charles, + nickname ‘Gosh,’ i. 103; + conversation with, on the Duke of Wellington’s Administration, ii. <a href="#Page_51">51</a>; + conversation with, at Oatlands, <a href="#Page_170">170</a></li> + +<li>Arbuthnot, Mrs., + death of, iii. 116</li> + +<li>Arkwright, Sir Richard, + fortunes of iii. 50</li> + +<li>Arkwright, Mrs., visit to, iii. 49</li> + +<li>Arms Bill, the, ii. <a href="#Page_196">196</a></li> + +<li>Arnold, Dr., proposed for a bishopric, iii. 325</li> + +<li>Artevelde, Philip van, iii. 114; + discussed at Holland House, 128</li> + +<li>Ascot Races, + 1831, ii. <a href="#Page_147">147</a>; + 1833, <a href="#Page_375">375</a></li> + +<li>Attwood, + chairman of the Birmingham Union, ii. <a href="#Page_205">205</a>, + <a href="#Page_208">208</a>; + proclamation against, <a href="#Page_215">215</a></li> + +<li>Auckland, Lord, + Board of Trade, ii. <a href="#Page_66">66</a>; + First Lord of the Admiralty, iii. 88, 113; + on the state of affairs, 238; + First Lord of the Admiralty in Lord Melbourne’s second Administration, 256</li> + +<li>Augustus, Prince, of Prussia, ii. <a href="#Page_319">319</a></li> + +<li>Austin, Mr. John, his work on Jurisprudence, iii. 138</li> + +<li>Austin, Mr. Charles, ii. <a href="#Page_306">306</a></li> + +<li>Aylmer, Lord, + recalled from Canada, iii. 394; + the King’s address to him, 395</li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_B" id="IX_B"></a> +Bachelor, + valet to the Duke of York and to King George IV., + i. 142, 143; + conversation with, ii. <a href="#Page_30">30</a></li> + +<li>Bagot, Lord, conduct to Lord Harrowby, ii. <a href="#Page_253">253</a></li> + +<li>Baić, Bay of, i. 341</li> + +<li>Baring, House of, ii. <a href="#Page_53">53</a></li> + +<li>Baring, Right Hon. Alexander, + offered the Chancellorship of the Exchequer, ii. <a href="#Page_299">299</a>; + proposes a compromise with the ex-Ministers, <a href="#Page_300">300</a></li> + +<li>Baring, Francis, + Chairman of the West India Committee, iii. 279</li> + +<li>Barnes, Mr., editor of the ‘Times,’ ii. <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>; + negotiations with, for supporting the Government, iii. 155, 156, 157 + dines with Lord Lyndhurst, 167, 169 + alarm of, at the prevailing spirit, 188</li> + +<li>Barri, Madame du, ii. <a href="#Page_219">219</a></li> + +<li>Barry, Dr., + sent to Sunderland, ii. <a href="#Page_216">216</a>; + report on cholera, <a href="#Page_217">217</a></li> + +<li>Bath, Chapter of the Order of the, i. 254</li> + +<li>Bathurst, Earl, + Lord President, i. 124; + death of, iii. 115; + character of, 115</li> + +<li>Bathurst, Countess, conversation with, ii. <a href="#Page_62">62</a></li> + +<li>Bathurst, Hon. William, + appointed Clerk of the Council, ii. <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>; + delay in appointment of, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>; + sworn in Clerk of the Council, <a href="#Page_94">94</a></li> + +<li>Bathurst, Lieut.-Colonel Hon. Seymour, + death of, iii. 79</li> + +<li>Baudrand, General, ii. <a href="#Page_33">33</a>; + reception of, <a href="#Page_38">38</a></li> + +<li>Bazaar, in Hanover Square, ii. <a href="#Page_383">383</a></li> + +<li>Beauclerc, Lord Aurelius, + dances a country dance with the King, ii. <a href="#Page_341">341</a></li> + +<li>Belgian question, the, settlement of, ii. <a href="#Page_314">314</a></li> + +<li>Belgium, + revolution in, ii. <a href="#Page_41">41</a>; + affairs of, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>; + unsettled state of, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>; + deputation from, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>; + fortresses of, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>; + invaded by the Dutch, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>; + French army refuses to leave, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>; + end of hostilities with the Dutch, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>; + Conference, 1832, <a href="#Page_321">321</a></li> + +<li>Belmore, Earl of, Governor of Jamaica, i. 140, 147</li> + +<li>Belvoir Castle, iii. 46</li> + +<li>Benson, Canon, sermon at the Temple Church, ii. <a href="#Page_113">113</a></li> + +<li>Bentinck, Right Hon. Lord William, + desires to be appointed Governor-General of India, i. 59; + address to the electors of Glasgow, iii. 339, 343; + qualities of, 339; + inscription on monument in honour of, 340</li> + +<li>Bentinck, Lord Henry, quarrel with Sir Roger Gresley, ii. <a href="#Page_148">148</a></li> + +<li>Bergara, Convention of, iii. 259</li> + +<li>Berri, Duchesse de, in La Vendée, ii. <a href="#Page_322">322</a></li> + +<li>Berry, Miss, iii. 58</li> + +<li>Berryer, M., iii. 379; + appearance of, 380</li> + +<li>Best, Right Hon. William Draper, <i>see</i> <a href="#IX_Wynford">Lord Wynford</a></li> + +<li>Bethnal Green, distress in, ii. <a href="#Page_261">261</a></li> + +<li>Bexley, Lord, + Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, i. 95</li> + +<li>Biekersteth, Henry, <i>see</i> <a href="#IX_Langdale">Lord Langdale</a></li> + +<li>Blacas, M. de, + favourite of Louis XVIII., ii. <a href="#Page_305">305</a></li> + +<li>Black Book, the, ii. <a href="#Page_79">79</a></li> + +<li>Bloomfield, Sir Benjamin, + dismissal of, i. 55</li> + +<li>Blount, Rev. Mr., + sermon, iii. 12</li> + +<li>Body-snatchers, ii. <a href="#Page_227">227</a></li> + +<li>Bologna, i. 402</li> + +<li>Bonaparte, Emperor Napoleon, + in the 100 days, i. 24; + campaigns of, described by Marshal Marmont, ii. <a href="#Page_35">35</a></li> + +<li>Bonaparte, Louis Napoleon, + Strasburg attempt, iii. 381</li> + +<li>Bonaparte, Joseph, + at dinner at Lady Cork’s, iii. 18</li> + +<li>Bonaparte, Lucien, + introduced to the Duke of Wellington, iii. 11; + at dinner at Lady Cork’s, 18</li> + +<li>Boodle’s, dinner at, ii. <a href="#Page_124">124</a></li> + +<li>Bosanquet, Right Hon. Sir John Bernard, + sworn in a Privy Councillor, iii. 30; + Judge of the King’s Bench, 71</li> + +<li>Boswell, ‘Life of Johnson,’ anecdotes lost, ii. <a href="#Page_105">105</a></li> + +<li>Boulogne, iii. 388</li> + +<li>Bourbon, Duke de, death of, ii. <a href="#Page_50">50</a></li> + +<li>Bourmont, Marshal de, marches on Lisbon, iii. 25</li> + +<li>Bourne, Right Hon. Sturges, + Secretary of State for the Home Department, i. 95</li> + +<li>Bowring, Dr., + sent to Paris, ii. <a href="#Page_219">219</a>; + satire of Moore on, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>; + career of, <a href="#Page_220">220</a></li> + +<li>Bradshaw, Mrs., acting of, at Bridgewater House, ii. <a href="#Page_353">353</a></li> + +<li>Brescia, i. 412</li> + +<li>Bretby, + visit to, iii. 327; + Chesterfield Papers, 327</li> + +<li>Bridgewater House, dramatic performances at, iii. 352, 355</li> + +<li>Bridgewater Election, iii. 398</li> + +<li>Brighton, + the Court at, 1832, ii. <a href="#Page_334">334</a>; + races, 1835, iii. 284</li> + +<li>Bristol, riots at, ii. <a href="#Page_208">208</a></li> + +<li>Broglie, Duke de, conduct of, iii. 386</li> + +<li>Brooks’s Club, iii. 320</li> + +<li>Brougham, Lord, + attack upon, in ‘Quarterly Review,’ i. 16; + speech on the Queen’s trial, 35; + letter to the Queen, 57; + character of, 117; + qualities of, ii. <a href="#Page_18">18</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>; + appointed Lord High Chancellor, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>; + discontent of, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>; + social qualities of, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>; + anecdote of, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>; + quarrel with Sugden, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>; + correspondence with Southey on rewards to literary men, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>; + speech on Chancery Reform, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>; + domestic kindness of, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>; + origin of representation of Yorkshire, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>; + as Lord Chancellor, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>; + at the Horse Guards, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>; + as a judge, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>; + at dinner at Hanbury’s brewery, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>; + at the British Museum, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>; + claims the old Great Seal, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>; + intention of sitting at the Privy Council, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>; + speech on the Russian Loan, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>; + quarrel with Sugden, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>; + anecdote of, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>; + Bill for creating a new Court of Appeal, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>; + Bill objected to, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>; + Judicial Committee of the Privy Council Bill, <a href="#Page_365">365</a>; + sits on the case of Drax <i>v.</i> Grosvenor, <a href="#Page_370">370</a>; + as Chancellor, iii. 22; + anecdotes of Queen Caroline, 36; + and Sir William Home, 67; + meets Sir Thomas Denman in Bedfordshire, 71; + judicial changes, 71; + defence of himself, 72; + apology for, 76; + speech on Lord Wynford’s Bill for the observance of the Sabbath, 83; + on the Pluralities Bill, 86; + on the Irish Church, 94; + and the ‘Times,’ 96; + Lord Chancellor in Lord Melbourne’s Administration, 113; + and Lord Westmeath, 119; + conduct in the Westmeath case, 119, 124; + versatility of, 121; + lines applied to, 121; + Greek epigrams, 121; + ambition of, 122; + in Scotland, 133; + communicates to the ‘Times’ the fall of Lord Melbourne’s first + Administration, 145; + resigns the Great Seal, 156; + takes leave of the Bar, 156; + asks for the Chief Baronship, 157; + anecdote, 232; + conduct of, in the case of Swift <i>v.</i> Kelly, 260, 267; + on the London University Charter, 261; + judgment in the case of Swift <i>v.</i> Kelly, 274; + on the Corporation Bill, 286; + violence in the House of Lords, 303; + illness of, 329; + and Macaulay, 337, 338; + at Queen Victoria’s first Council, 408</li> + +<li>Brummel, ‘Beau,’ i. 282</li> + +<li>Brussels, disturbances at, ii. <a href="#Page_40">40</a></li> + +<li>Buccleuch, Duke of, + subscription to election expenses, iii. 182</li> + +<li>Budget, the, 1831, ii. <a href="#Page_113">113</a></li> + +<li>Buller, James, death of, ii. <a href="#Page_59">59</a></li> + +<li>Bülow, Baron von, on English affairs, iii. 211</li> + +<li>Bulwer, Sir Edward Lytton, iii. 348</li> + +<li>Bunsen, Baron, i. 315; + career of, 327; + on Roman affairs, 389</li> + +<li>Burdett, Sir Francis, + returned for Westminster, 1837, iii. 398</li> + +<li>Burghersh, Lord, + at Florence, i. 299; + amateur opera, 301</li> + +<li>Burghersh, Lady, + intercedes for a prisoner at the Old Bailey, ii. <a href="#Page_85">85</a></li> + +<li>Burghley, party at, iii. 53</li> + +<li>Burke, Right Hon. Edmund, + writings of, iii. 209; + compared with Mackintosh, 314</li> + +<li>Burke, Sir G., conversation with, on O’Connell, ii. <a href="#Page_111">111</a></li> + +<li>Buxton, Fowell, dinner at the brewery, ii. <a href="#Page_148">148</a></li> + +<li>Byng, Right Hon. George, Lord of the Treasury, iii. 95</li> + +<li>Byron, Lord, + Moore’s Life of, i. 272; + character of, 273</li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_C" id="IX_C"></a> +Cambridge, H.R.H. the Duchess of, + reception of, i. 2</li> + +<li>Cambridge, University of, + petition for the admission of Dissenters to the, iii. 72, 75</li> + +<li>Campbell, Sir John, Solicitor-General, ii. <a href="#Page_333">333</a>; + Attorney-General, iii. 141</li> + +<li>Canada, affairs in, iii. 350</li> + +<li>Canning, Right Hon. Sir Stratford, + Ambassador at St. Petersburg, ii. <a href="#Page_352">352</a>, <a href="#Page_357">357</a>; + anecdote of, iii. 39; + offered the Governor-Generalship of Canada, 234</li> + +<li>Canning, Right Hon. George. Foreign Secretary, i. 55; + correspondence with the King on taking office, 59; + forms an Administration (1827), 93, 95; + death of, 103; + anecdotes of, 104; + industrious habits of, 106; + memoirs of, 263, 272; + despatch in verse, 326; + sagacity of, ii. <a href="#Page_42">42</a>; + conversation with the King, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>; + correspondence with the Duke of Wellington, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>; + coldness to the Duke of Wellington, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>; + anecdote of, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>; + negotiation with the Whigs, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>; + influence over Lord Liverpool, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>; + in favour with the King, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>; + on Reform, iii. 135; + and King George IV., 137</li> + +<li>Canning, Lady, + visit to, ii. <a href="#Page_101">101</a>; + authorship of pamphlet, iii. 40</li> + +<li>Canning, Mr. Charles, + offered a Lordship of the Treasury, iii. 202</li> + +<li>Cannizzaro, Duchess of, iii. 11; + crowns the Duke of Wellington, 406</li> + +<li>Canterbury, Archbishop of, + indecision of the, ii. <a href="#Page_250">250</a>, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>; + importance of support of the, <a href="#Page_252">252</a>, <a href="#Page_253">253</a></li> + +<li>Canterbury, Viscount, + declines to go to Canada, iii. 234</li> + +<li>Capo di Monte, i. 335</li> + +<li>Capua, i. 360</li> + +<li>Cardinals, the, i. 309</li> + +<li>Carlisle, Earl of, Lord Privy Seal, i. 95; iii. 88</li> + +<li>Carlists, the, + in Spain, iii. 66</li> + +<li>Carlos, Don, + in London, iii. 98</li> + +<li>Carlow election, iii. 348</li> + +<li>Carnarvon, Earl of, + refuses to move the address in the House of Lords, iii. 202</li> + +<li>Caroline, Queen, + return of, i. 28; + trial of, 31, 35; + anecdote of, iii. 37</li> + +<li>Carvalho, Minister of Finance to Dom Pedro, iii. 93</li> + +<li>Catacombs, the, <i>see</i> <a href="#IX_Rome">Rome</a></li> + +<li>Catholic emancipation, i. 163, 172, 174</li> + +<li>Catholic Relief Bill, + excitement concerning the, i. 180; + debates on, <i>see</i> <a href="#IX_Lords">Lords</a> and <a href="#IX_Commons">Commons</a></li> + +<li>Cato Street Conspiracy, the, i. 26</li> + +<li>Cayla, Madame du, i. 71; + dinner at the Duke of Wellington’s, 214; + Béranger’s verses on, 215; + favourite of Louis XVIII., ii. <a href="#Page_306">306</a></li> + +<li>Cenis, the Mont, i. 287</li> + +<li>Champollion, Jean François, + death of, ii. <a href="#Page_307">307</a></li> + +<li>Chapeau de Paille, the, + purchase of, ii. <a href="#Page_125">125</a></li> + +<li>Chapel, near Holland House, unable to be consecrated, iii. 200</li> + +<li>Charles I., King, + head of, discovered at Windsor, ii. <a href="#Page_168">168</a>; + executioner of, iii. 132</li> + +<li>Charles X., King, of France, + arrival of in England, ii. <a href="#Page_31">31</a>; + at Lulworth Castle, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>; + off Cowes, <a href="#Page_34">34</a></li> + +<li>Charlotte, Queen, + illness of, i. 2, 3</li> + +<li>Charlotte, H.R.H. the Princess, + anecdotes of, ii. <a href="#Page_319">319</a></li> + +<li>Chartres, H.R.H. the Duc de, + arrival of, i. 208</li> + +<li>Chatham, Earl of, + death of, iii. 316</li> + +<li>Chatsworth, + hospitality at, i. 237; + charade at, 238; + party at, ii. <a href="#Page_51">51</a></li> + +<li>Chesterfield Papers, the, iii. 327</li> + +<li>Chobert, the ‘Fire King,’ i. 276</li> + +<li>Cholera, the, + in Russia, ii. <a href="#Page_57">57</a>; + account of, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>; + preventive measures against, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>; + effect on trade of, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>; + spread of, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>; + alarm about, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>; + at Berlin, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>; + at Sunderland, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>; + at Marseilles, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>; + on the decline, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>; + near Edinburgh, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>; + in London, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>, <a href="#Page_259">259</a>; + in Bethnal Green, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>; + account of, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>; + diminution of, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>; + in Paris, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>; + alarm in London, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_311">311</a></li> + +<li>Christina, Queen, of Spain, iii. 66, 72; + reported flight of, 360; + courage of, 365</li> + +<li>Christmas trees, + introduced by Princess Lieven at Panshanger, i. 259</li> + +<li>Church Bill, the, + Committee on, iii. 199</li> + +<li>Church Reform, iii. 206</li> + +<li>City, the, + address to the King, ii. <a href="#Page_126">126</a>; + illumination in, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>; + election, 1835, iii. 184, 186, 187; + anxiety in the money-market, 373, 376</li> + +<li>Civil List, the, + excess of expenditure on, i. 253; + for debates on, <i>see</i> <a href="#IX_Commons">Commons, House of</a></li> + +<li>Clanricarde, Marquis of, + sworn in a Privy Councillor, ii. <a href="#Page_78">78</a></li> + +<li>Clarence, H.R.H. the Duke of, + Lord High Admiral, i. 95; + removal of, from the office of Lord High Admiral, 138, 140. + <i>See</i> <a href="#IX_William">William IV.</a></li> + +<li>Cobbett, William, + trial of, ii. <a href="#Page_158">158</a>; + returned for Oldham, <a href="#Page_335">335</a>; + takes his seat, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>; + and Sir Robert Peel, <a href="#Page_373">373</a></li> + +<li>Cochrane, Lord, + at Florence, i. 301; + villa near Florence, 302</li> + +<li>Codrington, Sir E., + interview with the Duke of Wellington, i. 179</li> + +<li>Coercion Bill, the, introduced, ii. <a href="#Page_359">359</a></li> + +<li>Colchester Election, iii. 112</li> + +<li>Commons, House of; + <a name="IX_Commons" id="IX_Commons"></a> + Alien Bill, i. 1; + Dr. Halloran’s petition, 14; + debate on grant to the Duke of York, 18; + debates on Queen Caroline, 30, 32, 38; + Small Notes Bill, 79; + debates on Catholic Relief Bill, 91, 133, 166, 191; + division on Catholic Relief Bill, 185; + Catholic Relief Bill read a third time, 203; + Regency and Civil List, ii. <a href="#Page_45">45</a>; + debate on the Evesham election, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>; + debate on the Civil List, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>; + announcement of the Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>; + Pension List, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>; + debate on Ireland, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>; + Budget of 1831, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>; + proposed reductions, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>; + introduction of the first Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>; + debates on the Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>; + debate on the Timber duties, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>; + debate on the Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>; + division on the Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>; + Government defeated, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>; + scene in the House, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>; + second reading of the Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>; + Wine duties, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>; + Reform Bill, Schedule A, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>; + second Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>; + debate on, and second reading of the second Reform Bill carried, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>; + Reform Bill supported by the Irish Members, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>; + division on the Russian Loan, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>; + division on the sugar duties, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>; + Reform Bill passed, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>; + debates, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>; + violent scene in debate on petition of the City of London, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>; + Irish Tithe question, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>; + debate on, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>; + debate on the Address, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>; + Irish Church Reform, <a href="#Page_354">354</a>; + aspect of the reformed House, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>; + debate on Slave Emancipation, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>; + vote of confidence in the Ministers, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>; + division on the Irish Church Bill, <a href="#Page_381">381</a>; + vote against sinecures, iii. 13; + division on Apprenticeship Clause of West India Bill, 16; + disorganised state of the House, 17; + Pension List, 60; + business of the House, 61; + debate on the Corn Laws, 68; + debate on admission of Dissenters to the University, 75; + debate on Repeal of the Union, 80; + Pension List, 80; + debate on Portugal, 82; + Poor Law Bill, 83; + debate on Irish Tithe Bill, 98, 99; + gallery for reporters, 205; + debate on the Speakership, 214; + debate on the Address, 221; + debate and division on amendment to the Address, 223; + Malt Tax, 224; + debate on appointment of Lord Londonderry, 225; + Dissenters’ Marriage Bill, 230; + Government beaten on Chatham election, 234; + state of parties in the House, 234; + debate and division on Irish Church question, 240; + uproar in the House, 243; + Government defeated on Irish Tithe Bill, 246; + debate on Irish Church Bill, 281; + position of the House, 288, 291; + conflict with the House of Lords, 225; + debate and division on the amendment to the Address, 334; + effect of division, 336; + Opposition defeated, 347; + division, 359; + Irish Corporation Bill, 388; + insult to Lord Lyndhurst, 389; + debates on Irish Tithe Bill, 391; + abandonment of the appropriation clauses, 393</li> + +<li>Como, i. 414</li> + +<li>Conroy, Sir John, ii. <a href="#Page_190">190</a>; iii. 3</li> + +<li>Conservative Club, + dinner at, ii. <a href="#Page_327">327</a>; + speeches, <a href="#Page_327">327</a></li> + +<li>Constantine, the Grand Duke, + accident to, i. 259; + death of, ii. <a href="#Page_164">164</a></li> + +<li>Convention signed between France, England, and Holland, ii. <a href="#Page_375">375</a></li> + +<li>Conyngham, Marquis of, Postmaster-General, iii. 88, 113</li> + +<li>Conyngham, Marchioness of, i. 46; + wears a Crown jewel, 48; + Court intrigues, 207</li> + +<li>Conyngham, Lord Francis, i. 50</li> + +<li>Coprogli, History of the Grand Vizier, iii. 115</li> + +<li>Cornelius, painter, ii. <a href="#Page_149">149</a></li> + +<li>Coronation, the, of William IV. + decided on, ii. <a href="#Page_156">156</a>; + preparations for, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>; + estimates for, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>; + disputes over the arrangements for, <a href="#Page_187">187</a></li> + +<li>Cottenham, Lord, + <a name="IX_Cottenham" id="IX_Cottenham"></a> + Lord High Chancellor, iii. 328</li> + +<li>Cotton, Sir Willoughby, + suppresses the insurrection in Jamaica, ii. <a href="#Page_262">262</a>; + on affairs in Jamaica, <a href="#Page_380">380</a></li> + +<li>Council, Clerk of the, + Mr. Greville sworn in, i. 44; + after the accession of William IV., ii. <a href="#Page_12">12</a>; + Lord Grey’s Administration sworn in, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>; + for the proclamation against rioters, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>; + recorder’s report in, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>; + clerks of the, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>; + scene at Council for a new Great Seal, <a href="#Page_188">188</a></li> + +<li>Council, Privy: + suttee case before the, ii. <a href="#Page_307">307</a>; + embargo on Dutch ships, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>; + meeting of the, on the London University petition, iii. 80; + counter petition of Oxford and Cambridge, 80</li> + +<li>Council, Cabinet: + the first of Lord Melbourne’s Administration, iii. 120; + the first of Sir Robert Peel’s Administration, 174</li> + +<li>Covent Garden Theatrical Fund Dinner, i. 205</li> + +<li>Coventry, glove trade, ii. <a href="#Page_224">224</a></li> + +<li>Cowley, Abraham, + lines from ‘Ode to Solitude,’ ii. <a href="#Page_272">272</a></li> + +<li>Cowper, Earl, at Panshanger, ii. <a href="#Page_229">229</a></li> + +<li>Cowper, Countess, at Panshanger, ii. <a href="#Page_229">229</a></li> + +<li>Cowper, William, Life of, by Southey, iii. 134</li> + +<li>Cradock, Colonel, sent to Charles X., ii. <a href="#Page_37">37</a></li> + +<li>Crampton, Sir Philip, Irish story, i. 243</li> + +<li>Craven, Earl of, disperses a mob, ii. <a href="#Page_77">77</a>; + on the proposed new Peers, <a href="#Page_232">232</a></li> + +<li>Craven, General the Hon. Berkeley, suicide of, iii. 350</li> + +<li>Crawford, William, member for the City of London, iii. 188</li> + +<li>Creevey, Mr., i. 235</li> + +<li>Croker, Right Hon. John Wilson, edition of ‘Boswell’s Life of Johnson,’ ii. <a href="#Page_105">105</a>; + reviews lost, <a href="#Page_106">106</a></li> + +<li>Cumberland, H.S.H. the Duke of, + opposition to Catholic Relief Bill, i. 180; + intrigues at Court, 222; + insults Lady Lyndhurst, 222, 223; + quarrel with Lord Lyndhurst, 224; + disputes concerning the office of ‘Gold Stick,’ ii. <a href="#Page_5">5</a>, <a href="#Page_21">21</a></li> + +<li>Cumberland, H.P..H. the Duchess of, i. 2</li> + +<li>Cuvier, Baron, death of, ii. <a href="#Page_307">307</a></li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_D" id="IX_D"></a> +Dalberg, Duke de, letter on European affairs, ii. <a href="#Page_44">44</a></li> + +<li>Dawson, Right Hon. George Robert, + speech on Catholic Emancipation, i. 138, 200; + sworn in a Privy Councillor, ii. <a href="#Page_71">71</a></li> + +<li>De Gazes, Duke, favourite of Louis XVIII., ii. <a href="#Page_305">305</a>; + Ambassador to the Court of St. James, <a href="#Page_306">306</a></li> + +<li>Dedel, M., Dutch Minister at the Court of St. James, iii, 32</li> + +<li>Denbigh, Earl of, Chamberlain to Queen Adelaide, ii. <a href="#Page_342">342</a>; + sworn in Privy Councillor, <a href="#Page_352">352</a></li> + +<li>Denman, Lord, correspondence with the King, i. 156; + sworn in a Privy Councillor, ii. <a href="#Page_329">329</a>; + Lord Chief Justice, <a href="#Page_330">330</a>; + qualities of, <a href="#Page_331">331</a>; + meeting of, with Lord Brougham, in Bedfordshire, iii. 71; + raised to the Peerage, 74</li> + +<li>Derby Dilly, the, iii. 236, 237, 253</li> + +<li>De Ros, Lord, in Rome, i. 368</li> + +<li>De Ros, Colonel, the Hon. Arthur John Hill, + death of, i. 81; + character of, 82</li> + +<li>Dickenson, Captain, trial of, by court-martial, i. 235</li> + +<li>Diebitsch, Marshal, death of, from cholera, ii. <a href="#Page_154">154</a></li> + +<li>Dino, Duc de, arrest of the, i. 255</li> + +<li>Dino, Duchesse de, ii. <a href="#Page_57">57</a>; + on the state of France, <a href="#Page_195">195</a></li> + +<li>Discontent throughout the country, ii. <a href="#Page_108">108</a></li> + +<li>Disraeli, Benjamin, projects for sitting in Parliament, iii. 170</li> + +<li>Dissenters’ Marriage Bill, iii. 207, 230. + For debates on, <i>see</i> <a href="#IX_Commons">Commons, House of</a></li> + +<li>Dorsetshire election, 1831, ii. <a href="#Page_203">203</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>; + crime in, iii. 77</li> + +<li>Dover, Lord, + <a name="IX_Dover" id="IX_Dover"></a> + resigns the Woods and Forests, ii. <a href="#Page_109">109</a>; + created a Peer, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>; + death of, iii. 4; + character of, 4; + Life of Frederick II., 6; + book on the Man in the Iron Mask, 6</li> + +<li>Down, deanery of, iii. 70</li> + +<li>Drax <i>v.</i> Grosvenor, case of, ii. <a href="#Page_224">224</a>; + lunacy case, <a href="#Page_369">369</a>; + decision on, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>; + final meeting on, <a href="#Page_377">377</a></li> + +<li>Drummond, Henry, mission to the Archbishop of York, iii. 333</li> + +<li>Dublin Police Bill, iii. 333</li> + +<li>Dudley, Earl of, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, i. 95, 124; + dinner to Marshal Marmont, ii. <a href="#Page_38">38</a>; + eccentricity of, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>, <a href="#Page_272">272</a></li> + +<li>‘Duke of Milan,’ quotation from the, i. 178</li> + +<li>Dülcken, Madam, performs before the Judicial Committee, iii. 325</li> + +<li>Duncannon, Viscount, iii. 104; + called to the House of Lords, and Secretary of State, 109; + sworn in, 112; + Home Secretary, 113; + on O’Connell, 117; + at a fire in Edward Street, 117; + on the state of affairs, 196; + Commissioner of Woods and Forests under Lord Melbourne, 256</li> + +<li>Duncombe, Hon. Thomas Slingsby, maiden speech of, i. 128; + petition from Barnet, ii. <a href="#Page_255">255</a>; + guilty of libel, iii. 9; + at Hillingdon, 123</li> + +<li>Durham, Earl of, quarrel with Lady Jersey, ii. <a href="#Page_119">119</a>; + influence over Lord Grey, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>; + attack on Lord Grey at a Cabinet dinner, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>; + rudeness of, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>; + return from Russia, <a href="#Page_333">333</a>; + violence of, <a href="#Page_333">333</a>; + created an earl, <a href="#Page_365">365</a></li> + +<li>Dwarris, Sir Fortunatus, dinner at the house of, ii. <a href="#Page_359">359</a></li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_E" id="IX_E"></a> +East, Sir E. Hyde, sworn in a Privy Councillor, ii. <a href="#Page_155">155</a></li> + +<li>Eboli, Duchesse d’, ball at Naples, i. 335</li> + +<li>Ebrington, Viscount, moves a vote of + confidence in the Government, ii. <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a></li> + +<li>Ebury, Lord, sworn in a Privy Councillor, ii. <a href="#Page_78">78</a></li> + +<li>Egremont, Earl of, at Petworth, ii. <a href="#Page_336">336</a>; + wealth of, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>; + hospitality to the poor, iii. 84</li> + +<li>Eldon, Earl of, audience of King George IV., i. 197; + speech at Apsley House, ii. <a href="#Page_198">198</a>; + career of, <a href="#Page_378">378</a>; + tribute to, iii. 42</li> + +<li>Election, General, in 1830, ii. <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>; + in 1831, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>; + in 1832, <a href="#Page_335">335</a>; + in 1835, iii. 184, 189, 191, 193; + results of, 195; + in the counties, 198; + result, 201</li> + +<li>Eliot, Lord, return of, from Spain, iii. 259; + conversation with Louis Philippe, 259</li> + +<li>Ellenborough, Earl of, Lord Privy Seal, i. 124; + letter to Sir John Malcolm, 271; + on West India affairs, ii. <a href="#Page_350">350</a>; + on Egypt, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>; + speech on admission of Dissenters to the University, iii. 73</li> + +<li>Ellesmere, Earl of, + <a name="IX_Ellesmere" id="IX_Ellesmere"></a> + Irish Secretary, i. 146</li> + +<li>Ellice, Right Hon. Edward, iii. 104; + and the Colchester election, 112; + Secretary for War, 113; + in Paris, 379</li> + +<li>Elliot, Frederic, letter from Canada, iii. 325</li> + +<li>Epsom races, 1831, ii. <a href="#Page_143">143</a>; + in 1833, <a href="#Page_373">373</a></li> + +<li>Erskine, Right Hon. Thomas, sworn in a Privy Councillor, ii. <a href="#Page_223">223</a>; + Chief Judge in Bankruptcy, <a href="#Page_223">223</a></li> + +<li>Escars, Duchesse d’, at a party given by the Duke of Wellington, i. 214</li> + +<li>Este, Sir Augustus d’, behaviour of, ii. <a href="#Page_194">194</a></li> + +<li>Esterhazy, Prince Paul, conversation with, ii. <a href="#Page_40">40</a>; + on Belgian affairs, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>; + on the state of England, iii. 32; + on affairs in Europe, 370; + conversation with, 373</li> + +<li>Europe, state of, ii. <a href="#Page_126">126</a>; + in 1831, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>; + in 1836, iii. 370</li> + +<li>Evans, General de Lacy, iii. 265; + reported death of, 359</li> + +<li>Evans, the incendiary, arrest of, ii. <a href="#Page_70">70</a></li> + +<li>Exeter, Bishop of, + <a name="IX_Exeter" id="IX_Exeter"></a> + correspondence with Lord Melbourne, ii. <a href="#Page_97">97</a>; + interview with Lord Grey, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>; + talents of, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>; + ambition of, <a href="#Page_289">289</a></li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_F" id="IX_F"></a> +Falck, Baron, ii. <a href="#Page_15">15</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a></li> + +<li>Ferdinand, Emperor, of Austria, iii. 374</li> + +<li>Fergusson, Right Hon. Cutlar, Judge Advocate, iii. 95</li> + +<li>Ferrara, i. 405</li> + +<li>Fieschi conspiracy, iii. 286</li> + +<li>Fingall, Earl of, created a Baron of the United Kingdom, ii. <a href="#Page_150">150</a></li> + +<li>Finsbury election, 1834, Radical returned, iii. 100</li> + +<li>Fitzclarence, Colonel George, <i>see</i> <a href="#IX_Munster">Munster, Earl of</a></li> + +<li>Fitzclarence, Lord Frederick, resigns appointment at the Tower, ii. <a href="#Page_362">362</a></li> + +<li>Fitzclarence, Lord Adolphus, picture of, ii. <a href="#Page_179">179</a></li> + +<li>Fitzclarence, Lord Augustus, at Ascot, ii. <a href="#Page_147">147</a>; + picture of, <a href="#Page_176">176</a></li> + +<li>Fitzclarence, Lady Augusta, marriage of, iii. 363</li> + +<li>Fitzgerald, Right Hon. Vesey, i. 150</li> + +<li>Fitzherbert, Sirs., death of, iii. 396; + documents of, 396</li> + +<li>Flahault, Madame de, anecdotes of Princess Charlotte, ii. <a href="#Page_319">319</a>; + <i>salon</i> of, in Paris, iii. 381</li> + +<li>Fleury, Cardinal, ii. <a href="#Page_347">347</a></li> + +<li>Florence, i. 299; + sights of, 300; + society at, 302; + sculpture, 300, 301; + pictures, 303; + Grand Duke, 303</li> + +<li>Foley, Lord, sworn in a Privy Councillor, ii. <a href="#Page_84">84</a>; + Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>; + at St. James’s, <a href="#Page_297">297</a></li> + +<li>Fonblanque, Albany, iii. 348</li> + +<li>Forester, Right Hon. Colonel Cecil, + resigns his appointment as Groom of the Bedchamber, ii. <a href="#Page_118">118</a></li> + +<li>Forfar election, 1835, iii. 197</li> + +<li>Fox, Mrs. Lane, accompanies the Prince of Orange to Gravesend, ii. <a href="#Page_133">133</a>; + receives the Cabinet Ministers, iii. 140</li> + +<li>Fox, Right Hon. Charles James, described by Talleyrand, ii. <a href="#Page_344">344</a></li> + +<li>Fox, W.J., Unitarian minister, sermon, iii. 43</li> + +<li>France, state of affairs in, i. 284; + appearance of the country, 287; + impending crisis in 1830, 369; + events in 1830, ii. <a href="#Page_17">17</a>; + revolution, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>; + Duke of Orleans ascends the throne, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>; + political prospects, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>; + reconstruction of the Constitution, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>; + army ordered to Belgium, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>; + army in Belgium, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>; + seizure of Portuguese ships, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>; + republican tendencies of, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>; + state of the country, 1831, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>; + weakness of the Government of Louis Philippe, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>; + dispute with America, iii. 322; + state of the country, 382</li> + +<li>Francis, Sir Philip, handwriting of, i. 234</li> + +<li>Franklin, Benjamin, ii. <a href="#Page_185">185</a></li> + +<li>Franz Joseph, Archduke, iii. 374</li> + +<li>Frascati, convent at, i. 305; + dinner at, 305; + visit to, 390</li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_G" id="IX_G"></a> +Gallatin, Albert, i. 257</li> + +<li>Gambier, Lord, proxy of, ii. <a href="#Page_286">286</a></li> + +<li>Garrick, David, anecdotes of ii. <a href="#Page_316">316</a></li> + +<li>Gell, Sir William, at Rome, i. 372, 375</li> + +<li>Geneva, i. 415</li> + +<li>Genoa, i. 292; + palaces, 293, 295; + churches, 294; + tomb of Andrew Doria, 296</li> + +<li>George III., death of, i. 23; + will, 64; + jewels and property, 65; + dislike of the Duke of Richmond, iii. 129</li> + +<li>George IV., + illness of, i. 23; + at the Pavilion, 49; + interview with, 91; + health and habits of, 143; + violent dislike to the Catholic Relief Bill, 153, 181; + character of, 155; + personal habits of, 189; + interview with the Lord Chancellor, + the Duke of Wellington, and Sir Robert Peel, 201; + health of, 206; + racing interests of, 212; + anecdotes concerning, 216; + eyesight affected, 233, 236; + courage of, 236; + conduct in reference to Mr. Denman, 250; + illness of, 368; + death of, 417; + funeral of, ii. <a href="#Page_4">4</a>; + sale of wardrobe, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>; + details of last illness, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>; + anecdotes concerning, <a href="#Page_189">189</a></li> + +<li>Gérard, Marshal, reported resignation of, ii. <a href="#Page_45">45</a>; + ordered to Belgium, <a href="#Page_178">178</a></li> + +<li>Gibson, John, R.A., at Rome, i. 383</li> + +<li>Gladstone, William Ewart, West India Committee, iii. 280</li> + +<li>Glenelg, Lord, + <a name="IX_Glenelg" id="IX_Glenelg"></a> + President of the Board of Trade, i. 124; + Board of Control, ii. <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, iii. 113; + Colonial Secretary in Lord Melbourne’s second Administration, 256; + and the King, 276</li> + +<li>‘Glenfinlas’ performed at Bridgewater House, iii. 353, 355</li> + +<li>Glengall, Earl of, comedy by the, i. 249</li> + +<li>Glengall, Countess of, ii. <a href="#Page_85">85</a></li> + +<li>Gloucester, H.R.H. the Duke of, ii. <a href="#Page_8">8</a></li> + +<li>Goderich, Viscount, + <a name="IX_Goderich" id="IX_Goderich"></a> + Small Notes Bill, i. 79; + Secretary of State for Colonial Affairs and War, 95; + sent for by the King, 107; + scene at Windsor, 108; + Administration of, formed, 108; + resignation of, 115; + returns to office, 116; + Ministry dissolved, 120; + Colonial Secretary, ii. <a href="#Page_66">66</a>; + Lord Privy Seal, <a href="#Page_365">365</a>; + created an earl, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>; + invested with the Order of the Garter, <a href="#Page_367">367</a></li> + +<li>Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, death of, ii. <a href="#Page_307">307</a></li> + +<li>Goodwood, ii. <a href="#Page_182">182</a>; + in 1833, iii. 20</li> + +<li>Gorhambury, party at, ii. <a href="#Page_188">188</a></li> + +<li>‘Goriot, Le Pčre,’ iii. 378</li> + +<li>Goulburn, Right Hon. Henry, Chancellor of the Exchequer, i. 124</li> + +<li>Graham, Right Hon. Sir James, First Lord of the Admiralty, ii. <a href="#Page_66">66</a>; + elevation of, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>; + remarks on, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>; + resignation of, iii. 88; + declines to join the Peel Administration, 176; + conservative spirit of, 249; + on the crisis of 1835, 249; + joins the Opposition, 272</li> + +<li>Grange, The, attacked by a mob, ii. <a href="#Page_68">68</a></li> + +<li>Grant, Right Hon. Charles, <i>see</i> <a href="#IX_Glenelg">Glenelg, Lord</a></li> + +<li>Granville, Earl, Ambassador in Paris, iii. 385</li> + +<li>Granville, Countess, i. 10; + quarrel with M. Thiers, iii. 380</li> + +<li>Greece, policy of the English Government towards, i. 255</li> + +<li>Greenwich, dinner at, iii. 1</li> + +<li>Grenville, Thomas, conduct during the riots of 1780, iii. 129</li> + +<li>Gresley, Sir Roger, quarrel with Lord H. Bentinck, ii. <a href="#Page_148">148</a></li> + +<li>Greville, Charles, sen., death of, ii. <a href="#Page_318">318</a></li> + +<li>Greville, Mrs., ‘Ode to Indifference,’ ii. <a href="#Page_319">319</a></li> + +<li>Greville, Algernon, private secretary to the Duke of Wellington, iii. 163</li> + +<li>Grey, Earl, hostility to the Government, i. 100; + forms an Administration, 1830, ii. <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>; + First Lord of the Treasury, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>; + at dinner at Lord Sefton’s, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>; + nepotism of, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>; + character of, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>; + relations with Lord Lyndhurst, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>; + lays the Reform Bill before the King, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>; + weakness of Government in the House of Commons, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>; + remarks on Administration of, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>; + invested with the Order of the Garter, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>; + at dinner at Hanbury’s Brewery, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>; + attacked on his foreign policy, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>; + on Belgian affairs, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>; + attacked by Lord Durham, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>; + proposed new Peers, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>; + altered conduct of, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>; + reluctance to make new Peers, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>; + conversation with, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>; + interview with Lord Harrowby and Lord Wharncliffe, <a href="#Page_259">259</a>; + minute of compromise with Lord Harrowby and Lord Wharncliffe, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>; + speech on Ancona, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>; + speech at the close of the Reform debate, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>; + continued efforts for a compromise, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>; + Government defeated in committee, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>; + resignation of Administration of, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>; + resumes office with his colleagues, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>; + remarks on the members of the Administration of, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>; + embarrassment of Government, <a href="#Page_369">369</a>; + instance of readiness of, iii. 10; + on Portuguese affairs, 21; + compared with the Duke of Wellington, 73; + changes in the Administration of, 88, 90, 91; + situation of, in the crisis of 1834, 91; + letter to Lord Ebrington, 92; + weakness of the Government, 97; + resignation of, 101; + refuses the Privy Seal, 112; + desires to retire, 124; + dinner to, at Edinburgh, 135; + events subsequent to retirement of, 145; + intrigue, 145; + conservative spirit of, 249; + audience of the King, 251; + dissatisfaction of, 352</li> + +<li>Grey, Sir Charles, Governor of Jamaica, sworn in a Privy Councillor, iii. 271</li> + +<li>Grote, George, returned for the City of London, iii. 188</li> + +<li>Guixot, Monsieur, reported resignation of, ii. <a href="#Page_45">45</a>; + eminence of, iii. 379</li> + +<li>Gully, Mr., account of, ii. <a href="#Page_335">335</a>; + returned for Pontefract, <a href="#Page_336">336</a></li> + +<li>Gunpowder Plot, papers relating to, i. 161</li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_H" id="IX_H"></a> +Haddington, Earl of, Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, iii. 181</li> + +<li>Halford, Sir Henry, report on the cholera, ii. <a href="#Page_137">137</a></li> + +<li>Hampden, Dr. Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford, iii. 341, 342</li> + +<li>Hanbury’s Brewery, dinner at, ii. <a href="#Page_148">148</a></li> + +<li>Happiness, reflections on, iii. 293</li> + +<li>Hardinge, Right Hon. Sir Henry, + on the prospects of the Tory Government, iii. 167; + on the King and Lord Melbourne, 168</li> + +<li>Harrowby, Earl of, Lord President, i. 95; + speech on Reform, ii. <a href="#Page_206">206</a>; + interview with Lord Grey, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>; + circular to the Peers, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>; + interview with Lord Grey, <a href="#Page_259">259</a>; + discussions on letter of, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>; + letter shown to Lord Grey, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>; + the ‘Times’ on the letter of, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>; + patriotic conduct of, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>; + declines to vote on Schedule A, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>; + character of, iii. 52; + subscription to election expenses, 182</li> + +<li>Harrowby, Countess of, iii. 52</li> + +<li>Hartwell, visit to, ii. <a href="#Page_345">345</a></li> + +<li>Harvey, Whittle, committee, iii. 112; + speech of, at Southwark, 188</li> + +<li>Harwich election, 1835, iii. 186</li> + +<li>Health, formation of a board of, ii. <a href="#Page_154">154</a></li> + +<li>Henry II., King, and Thomas ŕ Becket, iii. 130</li> + +<li>Henry VIII., King, coffin of, found at Windsor, ii. <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> + +<li>Herbert, Sydney, Secretary to the Board of Control, iii. 194</li> + +<li>Herculaneum, i. 349</li> + +<li>‘Hernani,’ ii. <a href="#Page_154">154</a></li> + +<li>Herries, Right Hon. John Charles, scene at Council, i. 108; + discussions on appointment of, 110; + ill-will of, towards his colleagues, 121; + Master of the Mint, 124</li> + +<li>Hertford, Marchioness of, funeral of, iii. 79</li> + +<li>Hess, Captain, ii. <a href="#Page_319">319</a>, <a href="#Page_320">320</a></li> + +<li>Heurteloup, Baron, before the Judicial Committee, iii. 332</li> + +<li>Heythrop, riot at, ii. <a href="#Page_77">77</a></li> + +<li>Hill, Mr., Irish members’ squabble, iii. 55</li> + +<li>Hobhouse, Right Hon. Sir John Cam, speech on the Reform Bill, ii. <a href="#Page_123">123</a>; + Secretary of War, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>; + resigns Irish Secretaryship and seat for Westminster, ii. <a href="#Page_368">368</a>; + on the state of affairs, iii. 195; + Board of Control, in Lord Melbourne’s second Administration, 256</li> + +<li>Holland, the King of, invades Belgium, ii. <a href="#Page_175">175</a>; + state of, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>; + conduct of the King of, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>; + the King refuses to give up Antwerp, <a href="#Page_321">321</a>, <a href="#Page_329">329</a>; + obstinacy of the King, <a href="#Page_324">324</a>; + bankrupt condition of, iii. 32</li> + +<li>Holland, Lord, at Panshanger, ii. <a href="#Page_47">47</a>; + Duchy of Lancaster, iii. 113; + anecdotes related by, 131; + on Reform, 135; + on Mr. Canning, 135; + anecdotes, 335; + on Mr. Fox, 335; + contempt for the Tory party, 336</li> + +<li>Holland, Lady, fancies of, ii. <a href="#Page_331">331</a>; + and Spencer Perceval, iii. 331</li> + +<li>Holland House, dinner at, ii. <a href="#Page_245">245</a>; + conversation at, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>; + Allen and Macaulay, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>; + sketch of, <a href="#Page_331">331</a>; + conversation at, iii. 127, 129; + literary criticisms, 130; + Lord Melbourne’s conversation, 131; + dinner at, 132; + news of the fall of Lord Melbourne’s Administration, 147; + party spirit at, 192</li> + +<li>Holmes boroughs, ii. <a href="#Page_140">140</a></li> + +<li>Hook, Theodore, improvisation of, iii. 119, 197; + singing of, 197</li> + +<li>Home, Sir William, Attorney-General, ii. <a href="#Page_333">333</a>; + and Lord Brougham, iii. 67</li> + +<li>Hortense, Queen, at Frascati, i. 305</li> + +<li>Horton, Wilmot, lectures at the Mechanics’ Institute, ii. <a href="#Page_97">97</a></li> + +<li>Howe, Earl, dismissal of, ii. <a href="#Page_203">203</a>; + Queen’s Chamberlain, <a href="#Page_319">319</a>; + and Queen Adelaide, <a href="#Page_331">331</a>; + correspondence about the Chamberlainship, <a href="#Page_339">339</a></li> + +<li>Howick, Viscount, Under-secretary, ii. <a href="#Page_78">78</a>; + in office, iii. 254; + civility of the King to, 255; + Secretary of War, 256; + acrimony of, 312; + interview with Spencer Perceval, 330; + on the position of parties, 360</li> + +<li>Hudson, Sir James, page of honour, ii. <a href="#Page_339">339</a></li> + +<li>Hume, John Deacon, + Assistant-Secretary to the Board of Trade, i. 223; ii. <a href="#Page_49">49</a></li> + +<li>Hume, Joseph, extreme Radical views of, ii. <a href="#Page_361">361</a>; + speech on the Orangemen, iii. 344; + deputation to Lord Melbourne, 357</li> + +<li>‘Hunchback, The,’ ii. <a href="#Page_285">285</a></li> + +<li>Hunt, Henry, speech of, ii. <a href="#Page_112">112</a>; + speech of, against the Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_134">134</a></li> + +<li>Huskisson, Right Hon. William, + President of the Board of Trade, i. 95; + dispute in the Cabinet, 120; + joins the new Government, 122; + Colonial Secretary, 124; + resignation of, 131; + Lord Melbourne’s opinion of, ii. <a href="#Page_46">46</a>; + death of, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>; + character of, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>; + funeral of, <a href="#Page_51">51</a></li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_I" id="IX_I"></a> +Incendiarism in the country, ii. <a href="#Page_84">84</a></li> + +<li>Ireland, trials in, i. 239; + dissatisfaction in, ii. <a href="#Page_76">76</a>; + unpopularity of Government changes in, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>; + state of, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>; + education in, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>; + tithes, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>; + Church difficulties in, <a href="#Page_323">323</a></li> + +<li>Irish Church, abuses in, iii. 9; + the Irish Church Bill dangerous to the Government, 86; + differences in the Cabinet, 89; + difficulties of the Irish Church question, 240, 253; + opinions of Lord Melbourne on the, 269. + For debates on the Irish Church Bill, + <i>see</i> <a href="#IX_Lords">Lords, House of</a>, and + <a href="#IX_Commons">Commons, House of</a></li> + +<li>Irish Tithe Bill, thrown out, iii. 117; + divisions on the, 246; + conduct of the Government, 298; + difficulties of, 353, 354; + abandonment of the Appropriation Clause, 355</li> + +<li>Irving, Edward, service in chapel, iii. 40; + the unknown tongues, 41; + sermon of, 41; + interview with Lord Melbourne, 129</li> + +<li>Irving, Washington, i. 249</li> + +<li>Istria, Duchesse d’, beauty of, iii. 381</li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_J" id="IX_J"></a> +Jacquemont’s Letters, iii. 115</li> + +<li>Jamaica, insurrection in, ii. <a href="#Page_262">262</a>; + Mr. Greville, Secretary of the Island of, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>; + petition to the King, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>; + affairs of, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>; + anecdote of a slave, <a href="#Page_359">359</a>; + opinion of Sir Willoughby Cotton, <a href="#Page_380">380</a>; + office of Secretary to the Island of, threatened, iii. 266, 268, 275; + secured, 279</li> + +<li>Jebb, Judge, charge of, at O’Connell’s trial, ii. <a href="#Page_109">109</a></li> + +<li>Jeffrey, Lord, and Professor Leslie, iii. 44</li> + +<li>Jersey, Countess of, character of, i. 12; + party at the house of, ii. <a href="#Page_64">64</a>; + quarrel with Lord Durham, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>; + correspondence with Lord Brougham, <a href="#Page_126">126</a></li> + +<li>Jockey Club, + dinner given by the King to the, 1828, i. 134; + in 1829, 211</li> + +<li>‘John Bull,’ the, newspaper, ii. <a href="#Page_97">97</a></li> + +<li>Johnson, Dr., anecdotes of, ii. <a href="#Page_316">316</a></li> + +<li>Johnstone, Right Hon. Sir Alexander, sworn in a Privy Councillor, iii. 27, 30; + at the Judicial Committee, 125</li> + +<li>Jones Loyd, Mr., iii. 188</li> + +<li>Jones, ‘Radical,’ interview with Lord Wharncliffe, ii. <a href="#Page_200">200</a></li> + +<li>Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, Bill for the establishment of the, iii. 21; + meeting to make regulations for the, 35; + first sitting of the, 38; + working of the, 205</li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_K" id="IX_K"></a> +Kelly, Mrs., adventures of her daughter, i. 379, 383; + case before the Privy Council, iii. 259, 261, 266, 267; + judgment, 274</li> + +<li>Kemble, Charles, and his family, iii. 260</li> + +<li>Kemble, Miss Fanny, i. 240, ii. <a href="#Page_129">129</a>; + tragedy by, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>; + in the ‘Hunchback,’ <a href="#Page_285">285</a></li> + +<li>Kempt, Right Hon. Sir James, Master-General of the Ordnance, + sworn in a Privy Councillor, ii. <a href="#Page_84">84</a></li> + +<li>Kent, H.R.H. the Duchess of, disputes + in the Royal Family, ii. <a href="#Page_190">190</a>; + and the Duke of Wellington, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>; + the Regency Bill, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>; + salutes to, iii. 3; + at Burghley, 315; + quarrels with the King, 366; + scene at Windsor, 367; + answer to the address of the City of London, 399; + squabble with the King, 400</li> + +<li>Kenyon, Lord, speech at Apsley House, ii. <a href="#Page_198">198</a></li> + +<li>Kinnaird, Lord, created a Baron of the United Kingdom, ii. <a href="#Page_150">150</a></li> + +<li>Klopstock, Friedrich Gottlieb, anecdote of, iii. 130</li> + +<li>Knatchbull, Right Hon. Sir Edward, joins the Peel Government, iii. 176, 177; + attack on, 226</li> + +<li>Knighton, Sir William, i. 72; + influence with the King, 99, 144; + behaviour of, during the King’s illness, ii. <a href="#Page_174">174</a></li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_L" id="IX_L"></a> +Lafayette, Marquis de, resignation of, ii. <a href="#Page_99">99</a></li> + +<li>La Ferronays, M. de, French Ambassador at Rome, i. 307; + on the accession of the Emperor Nicholas, 373; + on French politics, 368; + civility of, 380, 381; + on French affairs, 393, 395</li> + +<li>La Granja, revolution of, iii. 364, 365</li> + +<li>‘Lalla Rookh,’ at Bridgewater House, iii. 353</li> + +<li>Lamb, Sir Frederick, ii. <a href="#Page_94">94</a>; + reported letter to the King of France from the Duke of Wellington, <a href="#Page_94">94</a></li> + +<li>Lambeth Palace, restoration of, ii. <a href="#Page_34">34</a></li> + +<li>Lancashire election, 1835, iii. 198</li> + +<li>Langdale, Lord, + <a name="IX_Langdale" id="IX_Langdale"></a> + reply to Lord Brougham, iii. 81; + declines the Solicitor-Generalship, 141; + peerage, 328; + Master of the Rolls, 328</li> + +<li>Lansdowne, Marquis of, + Secretary of State for the Home Department, i. 95; + Lord President, ii. <a href="#Page_66">66</a>; + dinner to name the sheriffs, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>; + on the Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>; + and Lord Brougham, <a href="#Page_347">347</a>; + Lord President in both of the Administrations of Lord Melbourne, iii. 113, 256</li> + +<li>La Roncičre, case of, iii. 202</li> + +<li>Laval, M. de, at Apsley House, ii. <a href="#Page_15">15</a></li> + +<li>Law, History of English, iii. 114</li> + +<li>Lawrence, Sir Thomas, early genius of, i. 256; + death of, 263; + character of, 264; + funeral of, 268; + engagement of, to the Misses Siddons, iii. 50</li> + +<li>Leach, Right Hon. Sir John, disappointed of the Woolsack, ii. <a href="#Page_68">68</a>; + in the case of Drax <i>v.</i> Grosvenor, <a href="#Page_378">378</a></li> + +<li>Leigh, Colonel George, ii. <a href="#Page_189">189</a></li> + +<li>Leinster, Duke of, sworn in a Privy Councillor, ii. <a href="#Page_155">155</a></li> + +<li>Leitrim, Earl of, created a Baron of the United Kingdom, ii. <a href="#Page_150">150</a></li> + +<li>Le Marchant, Denis, at Stoke, iii. 21</li> + +<li>Lemon, Robert, F.S.A., Deputy Keeper of the State Papers, iii. 44</li> + +<li>Lennard, John Barrett, Chief Clerk of the Privy Council Office, ii. <a href="#Page_370">370</a></li> + +<li>Leopold, King, i. 22; + desires to ascend the throne of Greece, 265; + anxiety to ascend the throne of Belgium, ii. <a href="#Page_153">153</a>; + accepts the throne of Belgium, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>; + starts for Belgium, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>; + proposes to the Princess Louise of France, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>; + in Belgium, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>; + want of confidence in, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>; + cold reception of, at Windsor, iii. 370</li> + +<li>Leuchtenberg, Duke of, at Havre, iii. 33; + marriage of, 33; + letter to Lord Palmerston, 34; + arrival of, 195</li> + +<li>Leveson, Lord Francis, <i>see</i> <a href="#IX_Ellesmere">Ellesmere, Earl of</a></li> + +<li>Levee, iii. 213</li> + +<li>Lewis, Matthew Gregory, (‘Monk’ Lewis), + journals and voyages to the West Indies, ii. <a href="#Page_382">382</a>; + anecdote of, iii. 2; + agreement with Mr. Murray for the Journal, 8</li> + +<li>Lichfield, Earl of, at Runton, iii. 51</li> + +<li>Lichfield Cathedral, iii. 327</li> + +<li>Lieven, Prince, recalled, iii. 87</li> + +<li>Lieven, Princess, character of, i. 15; + attacks Lord Grey, ii. <a href="#Page_261">261</a>; + on the Belgian question, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>; + conversation with, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>; + renews her friendship with the Duke of Wellington, <a href="#Page_325">325</a>; + grievances of, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>; + interference of, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>; + diplomatic difficulties, <a href="#Page_357">357</a>; + reception of, at St. Petersburg, iii. 23; + position, of, in Paris, 379</li> + +<li>Littleton, Right Hon. Edward, i. 11; + proposed by Lord Althorp as Speaker, ii. <a href="#Page_333">333</a>; + Secretary for Ireland, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>; + and O’Connell, iii. 99; + instrumental in breaking up the Government, 102; + political career of, 103; + letter to Lord Wellesley, 103, 110; + in communication with O’Connell, 103, 110; + Irish Secretary, 113</li> + +<li>Liverpool, Earl of, and the King, i. 25; + paralytic seizure, 90; + transactions before the close of Administration of, ii. <a href="#Page_173">173</a></li> + +<li>Liverpool, opening of the railroad, ii. <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>; + bribery at election, <a href="#Page_79">79</a></li> + +<li>Lobau, Marshal, Commandant-Général, ii. <a href="#Page_99">99</a></li> + +<li>Lodge, the Royal, entertainments at, i. 99</li> + +<li>London, speech of Bishop of, iii. 391; + University Charter, iii. 80, 81, 237; + meeting of Committee of Council on, 260, 262</li> + +<li>Londonderry, Marquis of, death of, i. 51; + character of, 52; + funeral of, 54</li> + +<li>Londonderry, Marquis of, motion on Belgium, ii. <a href="#Page_180">180</a>; + attacks Lord Plunket, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>; + debate on appointment of, to St. Petersburg, iii. 225; + opinion of the Duke of Wellington, 227; + speech of, 228; + resignation of, 229</li> + +<li>Long, St. John, trial of, ii. <a href="#Page_85">85</a></li> + +<li>Lords, House of, debate of Royal Dukes, i. 177; + <a name="IX_Lords" id="IX_Lords"></a> + debate on Catholic Relief Bill, 199; + division on Catholic Relief Bill, 199; + debate on affairs in Portugal, 277; + debate on the Methuen Treaty, ii. <a href="#Page_118">118</a>; + speech of Lord Brougham, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>; + violent scene in the, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>; + debate on Lord Londonderry’s motion, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>; + prospects of the Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>; + First Reform Bill thrown out, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>; + attack on the Bishops, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>; + new Peers, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>; + measures for carrying the second reading of the Second Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>; + division on the Belgian question, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>; + Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>; + Irish education, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>; + debates on second reading of the Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>, <a href="#Page_286">286</a>; + list of proposed new Peers, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>; + Reform Bill carried, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>; + in Committee on the Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>; + debate on conduct of the Tory party, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>; + Russo-Dutch Loan, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>; + Government beaten on Portuguese question, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>; + powerlessness of, <a href="#Page_377">377</a>; + Local Courts Bill, <a href="#Page_382">382</a>, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>; + debate on Local Courts Bill, iii. 7; + Government defeated, 7; + Irish Church Bill, 8; + Bill for the observance of the Sabbath, 83; + debate on the Irish Church Bill, 94; + Poor Law Bill, 114; + debate on Irish Tithe Bill, 117; + conduct of the House, 239; + debate on Corporation Bill, 286, 290; + position of the House, 288, 291; + Irish Tithe Bill thrown up, 295; + conflict with the House of Commons, 295; + state of the House, 307; + debate on Corporation Bill, 308, 351; + hostility to the House of Commons, 359; + conduct of the House, 360, 361</li> + +<li>Louis XVIII., King, memoirs of, ii. <a href="#Page_305">305</a>; + favourites of, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>; + at Hartwell, <a href="#Page_345">345</a></li> + +<li>Louis Philippe, King, accession of, ii. <a href="#Page_26">26</a>; + conduct of, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>; + tranquillises Paris, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>; + speech of, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>; + averse to French attack on Antwerp, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>; + behaviour of, to the Queen of Portugal, iii. 33; + power of, in the Chamber, 142; + courage of, 286; + conduct towards Spain, 321, 360, 364; + at the Tuileries, 382; + dislike to the Duke de Broglie, 386</li> + +<li>Louise, H.R.H. Princess, daughter of King Louis Philippe, ii. <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> + +<li>Louis, Baron, reported resignation of, ii. <a href="#Page_45">45</a></li> + +<li>Luckner, General, ii. <a href="#Page_219">219</a></li> + +<li>Lushington, Dr., speech of, in the appeal of Swift <i>v.</i> Kelly, ii. <a href="#Page_383">383</a></li> + +<li>Lushington, Sir Henry, and ‘Monk’ Lewis, iii. 2</li> + +<li>Luttrell, Henry, character of, i. 10; + ‘Advice to Julia,’ 33</li> + +<li>Lyndhurst, Lord, + Lord High Chancellor, i. 95, 124; + quarrel with the Duke of Cumberland, 223; + dissatisfaction at Lord Brougham’s being raised to the Woolsack, ii. <a href="#Page_68">68</a>; + reported appointment to be Lord Chief Baron, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>; + opinion of the Government, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>; + Lord Chief Baron, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>; + political position of, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>; + anecdote of a trial, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>; + retort to the Duke of Richmond, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>; + on the Government, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>; + on Sir Robert Peel, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>; + on Lord Brougham, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>; + sent for by the King, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>; + efforts to form a Tory Government, <a href="#Page_326">326</a>; + judgment in Small <i>v.</i> Attwood, <a href="#Page_330">330</a>; + account of the efforts of the Tory party to form a Government, <a href="#Page_340">340</a>; + forgets the message of the King to Lord Grey, iii. 49; + account of transactions between the King and Lord Melbourne, 150; + policy of, 151; + on Lord Brougham, 153; + Lord High Chancellor, 156; + on the Administration of Sir Robert Peel, 189; + conduct on the Corporation Bill, 288, 292; + on the prospects of the session, 332; + on the business of the House of Lords, 333; + speech in vindication of conduct, 362; + in Paris, 378; + insult offered to, in House of Commons, 389; + capacity of, 390; + violent speech of, 401</li> + +<li>Lyndhurst, Lady, + insulted by the Duke of Cumberland, i. 222; + conversation with, ii. <a href="#Page_93">93</a></li> + +<li>Lynn Regis, election, iii. 170, 171, 175, 181</li> + +<li>Lyons, riots at, ii. <a href="#Page_219">219</a></li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_M" id="IX_M"></a> +Macao, verses on, i. 11, 12</li> + +<li>Macaulay, Thomas Babington, + speeches on the Reform Bill, ii. <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>; + eloquence of, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>; + at Holland House, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>; + appearance of, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>; + character of, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>; + on the Coercion Bill, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>; + conversation of, iii. 35; + memory of, 337; + eloquence of, compared to Lord Brougham, 338; + inscription on monument erected in honour of Lord William Bentinck, 339</li> + +<li>Macaulay, Zachary, iii. 337</li> + +<li>Mackintosh, Right Hon. Sir James, + speech of, on the criminal laws, i. 19; + conversation of, 241; + death of, ii. <a href="#Page_307">307</a>; + ‘History of England,’ iii. 139; + remarks on life of, 293, 314; + compared with Burke, 314; + life of, 316; + abilities of, 316; + religious belief of, 324</li> + +<li>Maggiore, Lago, i. 414</li> + +<li>Maidstone, state of the borough, iii. 184</li> + +<li>Maii, Monsignore, i. 367, 375</li> + +<li>Malibran, Maria Felicita, in the ‘Sonnambula,’ iii. 12</li> + +<li>Mallet, conspiracy of, ii. <a href="#Page_186">186</a></li> + +<li>Malt Tax, the, Government defeated on, ii. <a href="#Page_368">368</a></li> + +<li>Manners Sutton, Sir Charles, G.C.B., + proposed as Premier, ii. <a href="#Page_326">326</a>; + conduct of, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>; + reappointed Speaker, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>; + Knight of the Bath, iii. 30; + the Speakership, 204, + <i>see</i> Canterbury, Lord</li> + +<li>Mansfield, Lord, + speech against the Government, ii. <a href="#Page_136">136</a>; + audience of the King, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>; + meeting of Peers, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></li> + +<li>Mansion House, the, dinner at, iii. 178</li> + +<li>Marengo, battle-field of, i. 292</li> + +<li>Maria, Donna, Queen of Portugal, + at a child’s ball, i. 209; + proposals of marriage for, iii. 33; + at Windsor, 33; + picture of, 195</li> + +<li>Marie Amélie, Queen, iii. 383</li> + +<li>Marmont, Marshal, + at Lady Glengall’s, ii. <a href="#Page_34">34</a>; + conversation with, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>; + revolution of 1830, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>; + at Woolwich, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>; + dinner at Lord Dudley’s, <a href="#Page_38">38</a></li> + +<li>Matteis, trial of, i. 336, 341</li> + +<li>Matuscewitz, + Russian Ambassador Extraordinary, i. 159; + on affairs in Europe, ii. <a href="#Page_176">176</a>; + conduct of, <a href="#Page_324">324</a>; + conversation with, iii. 314</li> + +<li>Maule, Mr. Justice, at dinner at the Athenćum, ii. <a href="#Page_101">101</a></li> + +<li>Meeting of moderate men, origin of the ‘Derby Dilly,’ iii. 219</li> + +<li>Meiningen, château of, + model of the, iii. 122; + the Queen revisits the, 125</li> + +<li>Melbourne, Viscount, Home Secretary, ii. <a href="#Page_66">66</a>; + efficiency of, in office, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>; + negotiations with, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>; + dissatisfaction of, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>; + on the proposed new Peers, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>; + on the Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>; + on the members of Lord Grey’s Administration, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>; + sent for by the King, iii. 102; + forms an Administration, 108; + letter to the Duke of Wellington, Sir Robert Peel, and Mr. Stanley, 109; + Administration of, 113; + anecdote of, 126; + information of, 130; + literary conversation of, 131; + on Benthamites, 138; + theological reading of, 138; + fall of Government of, 143; + dismissal of, 144; + details of fall of Government, 147; + account of dismissal, 150, 168; + with the King, 163, 168; + with his colleagues, 164; 165, 166; + dispute with Lord Duncannon, 166; + speeches at Derby, 170; + weakness of, 170; + second Administration formed, 253; + composition of, 256; + theological reading of, 324; + appointment of Dr. Hampden, 342; + action against, brought by the Hon. Mr. Norton, 349; + result of the trial, 351; + difficulties of the Government, 355</li> + +<li>Melville, Viscount, President of the India Board, i. 124</li> + +<li>Mendizabal, + ability of, iii. 321; + dismissal of, 350</li> + +<li>Messiah, the oratorio of the, performed in Westminster Abbey, iii. 98</li> + +<li>Methuen, Paul, M.P., + on supporting the Government, iii. 65; + retort of O’Connell to, 65</li> + +<li>Metternich, Princess, anecdote of, iii. 187</li> + +<li>Mexico, failure of the Spanish expedition against, i. 249</li> + +<li>Meynell, Mr., retires from the Lord Chamberlain’s department, ii. <a href="#Page_133">133</a></li> + +<li>Mezzofanti, i. 403</li> + +<li>Middlesex election, 1835, iii. 197</li> + +<li>Middleton, party at, i. 12</li> + +<li>Miguel, Dom. ii. <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>, <a href="#Page_321">321</a>; + attacks Oporto, <a href="#Page_324">324</a>; + fleet captured by Captain Napier, iii. 9; + anecdote of, 26; + blunders of, 93</li> + +<li>Milan, i. 413</li> + +<li>Mill, John Stuart, at breakfast given by Mr. Henry Taylor, ii. <a href="#Page_59">59</a></li> + +<li>Milton, Viscount, at a meeting at Lord Althorp’s, ii. <a href="#Page_161">161</a></li> + +<li>Mirabeau, Count de, Talleyrand’s account of, ii. <a href="#Page_384">384</a></li> + +<li>Miraflores, Count de, Spanish Ambassador in London, iii. 98; + doubtful compliment to Madame de Lieven, 99</li> + +<li>Mola di Gaeta, i. 359; + Cicero’s villa, 368</li> + +<li>Molé. M., Prime Minister of France, iii. 379; + abilities of, 380</li> + +<li>Montalivet, case of the French refugee, iii. 386</li> + +<li>Monti, Vincenzo, anecdote of, ii. <a href="#Page_186">186</a></li> + +<li>Moore, Thomas, i. 239, 245; + conversation of, 242; + anecdotes, 247; + Irish patriotism of, ii. <a href="#Page_98">98</a>; + opinions on Reform, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>; + copy of ‘Lord Edward Fitzgerald,’ <a href="#Page_169">169</a>; + satire on Dr. Bowring, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>; + compared with Rogers, iii. 324; + quarrel with O’Connell, 346</li> + +<li>‘Morning Herald,’ the, moderate Tory organ, ii. <a href="#Page_269">269</a></li> + +<li>Mornington, Countess of, death of, ii. <a href="#Page_194">194</a></li> + +<li>Morpeth, Viscount, Irish Secretary, iii. 256; + speech on Irish Tithe Bill, 256</li> + +<li>Mosley, Sir Oswald, meeting of moderate men, iii. 220</li> + +<li>Mulgrave, Earl of, in Jamaica, ii. <a href="#Page_352">352</a>; + refuses the office of Postmaster-General, iii. 90; + Lord Privy Seal, 113; + capability of, 255</li> + +<li>Municipal Corporation Bill, iii. 263, 284, 290; + policy of Tory Peers on the, 283; + prospects of the, 295; + effects of the, 309, 313; + the Bill carried, 310</li> + +<li>Munster, Earl of, employed by the King, ii. <a href="#Page_10">10</a>; + <a name="IX_Munster" id="IX_Munster"></a> + raised to the Peerage, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>; + Lieutenant of the Tower, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>; + sworn in a Privy Councillor, <a href="#Page_352">352</a></li> + +<li>Murat, Achille, ii. <a href="#Page_115">115</a></li> + +<li>Murray, Dr., Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, i. 146</li> + +<li>Murray, Sir George, Secretary of State for the Colonial Department, ii. <a href="#Page_11">11</a></li> + +<li>Murray, Lady Augusta, marriage of, ii. <a href="#Page_194">194</a></li> + +<li>Musard’s ball, iii. 384</li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_N" id="IX_N"></a> +Namik Pacha, Turkish Ambassador, ii. <a href="#Page_339">339</a></li> + +<li>Napier, Sir William, on the state of the country, ii. <a href="#Page_108">108</a>; + ‘History of the Peninsular War,’ iii. 271</li> + +<li>Napier, Captain Charles, captures Dom Miguel’s fleet, iii. 9; + cause of capture of a French squadron, 11; + anecdote of, 34</li> + +<li>Naples, i. 333; + sight-seeing at, 334; + Court of Justice, 334; + manuscripts, 334; + ceremony of taking the veil, 338; + sights of, 345, 356; + miracle of the blood of San Gennaro, 353, 355, 364; + excursions to Astroni, 356; + lines on leaving, 361</li> + +<li>Navarino, battle of, i. 114, 163</li> + +<li>Nemours, H.R.H. Duc de, accompanies King Louis Philippe, ii. <a href="#Page_99">99</a>; + nomination to the throne of Belgium declined, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>; + in the House of Commons, iii. 306; + at Doncaster, 315</li> + +<li>Newmarket, political negotiations at, ii. <a href="#Page_290">290</a></li> + +<li>Nicholas, Emperor, accession of, i. 373; + reception of strangers, iii. 24; + on the change of Government in England, 211; + speech at Warsaw, 319; + dislike to King Louis Philippe, 387; + qualities of, 371</li> + +<li>‘Norma,’ the opera of, iii. 2</li> + +<li>North, Lord, Letters of George III. to, iii. 129; + anecdote of, 132</li> + +<li>Northamptonshire election, iii. 326</li> + +<li>Northumberland, Duke of, Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, i. 157</li> + +<li>Northumberland, Duchess of, + resigns her office of governess to the Princess Victoria, iii. 400</li> + +<li>Norton, Hon. Mr., action brought against Lord Melbourne, iii. 349; + result of the trial, 351</li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_O" id="IX_O"></a> +Oaks, The. ii. <a href="#Page_374">374</a>; + party at, <a href="#Page_374">374</a></li> + +<li>Oatlands, the residence of the Duke of York, i. 4; + weekly parties at, 5, 7</li> + +<li>O’Connell, Daniel, character of, i. 145; + at dinner, 203; + attempts to take his seat, 207; + elected for Clare, 1829, 223; + insult to, ii. <a href="#Page_76">76</a>; + in Ireland, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>; + opposition to Lord Anglesey, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>; + abilities of, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>; + violence of, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>; + arrest of, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>; + trial of, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>; + position of, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>; + pleads guilty, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>; + opposition to Lord Duncannon in Kilkenny, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>; + explanation of, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>; + dread of cholera, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>; + member for Ireland, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>; + violent speech at the Trades’ Union, <a href="#Page_362">362</a>, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>; + attack on Baron Smith, iii. 59; + retort to Mr. Methuen, 65; + and the Coercion Bill, 103, 110; + in correspondence with Mr. Littleton, 110; + union with the Whig party, 219; + power of, 255; + affair with Lord Alvanley, 256; + in Scotland, 316; + proposed expulsion from Brooks’s club, 320; + quarrel with Moore, 346; + Carlow election, 348</li> + +<li>O’Connell, Morgan, duel with Lord Alvanley, iii. 256</li> + +<li>Old Bailey, trials at, i. 204; ii. <a href="#Page_85">85</a></li> + +<li>Opera House, the English, burnt, i. 277</li> + +<li>Orange, Prince of, dinner to the, ii. <a href="#Page_57">57</a>; + returns to Holland, <a href="#Page_133">133</a></li> + +<li>Orange, Princess of, robbery of jewels of, i. 267</li> + +<li>Orange Lodge, association of, iii. 343</li> + +<li>Orangemen, meeting of, ii. <a href="#Page_123">123</a></li> + +<li>Orleans, H.R.H. Duke of, arrival of, i. <a href="#Page_208">208</a>; + sent to Lyons, ii. <a href="#Page_219">219</a>; + in England, <a href="#Page_373">373</a>; + project of marriage at Vienna, iii. 372; + question of marriage of, 387</li> + +<li>Orloff, Count, arrival of, ii. <a href="#Page_278">278</a>; + delay in ratification of the Belgian Treaty, <a href="#Page_285">285</a></li> + +<li>Osterley, party at, ii. <a href="#Page_187">187</a></li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_P" id="IX_P"></a> +Padua, i. 411</li> + +<li>Pćstum, i. 344</li> + +<li>Palmella, Duke of, arrival of in London, ii. <a href="#Page_315">315</a></li> + +<li>Palmerston, Viscount, + speech on the Portuguese question, i. 211; + Foreign Secretary, ii. <a href="#Page_66">66</a>; + suggests a compromise on the Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>; + on proposed new Peers, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>; + on prospects of the Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>; + business habits of, iii. 20, 21; + unpopularity of, 56; + speech on the Turkish question, 71; + Foreign Secretary in Lord Melbourne’s Administration, 113; + unpopularity with the <i>corps diplomatique</i>, 136; + loses his election in Hampshire, 197; + as a man of business, 210; + Foreign Secretary, 256; + abilities of, 360</li> + +<li>Panic, the, 1825, i. 77; + on the Stock Exchange, 1830, ii. <a href="#Page_43">43</a></li> + +<li>Panshanger, parties at, ii. <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_229">229</a></li> + +<li>Paris, society at, in 1830, i. 283; + in July, 416, 417; + Marshal Marmont’s account of events at, in 1830, ii. <a href="#Page_36">36</a>; + alarm felt in, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>; + change of Ministry, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>; + in 1837, iii. 377; + society at, 378, 385; + sight-seeing, 381, 383</li> + +<li>Park, Judge, anecdotes of, ii. <a href="#Page_92">92</a>; iii. 372</li> + +<li>Parke, Right Hon. Sir James, sworn in a Privy Councillor, iii. 21; + Baron of the Exchequer, 71; + in the appeal of Swift <i>v.</i> Kelly, 268</li> + +<li>Parliament, meeting of, 1830, ii. <a href="#Page_53">53</a>; + meeting of, 1831, ii. <a href="#Page_110">110</a>; + dissolution of 1831, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>; + opening of, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>; + in 1831, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>; + dissolution of, 1832, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>; + opening of, 1833, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>; + prorogation of, 1833, iii. 27; + opening of, 1834, 55; + dissolution of, 183; + temporary buildings for Houses of, 205; + opening of, 219; + in 1836, 334; + prorogation of, 1836, 361</li> + +<li>Parnell, Sir Henry, turned out of office, ii. <a href="#Page_243">243</a></li> + +<li>Parsons, anecdotes of, ii. <a href="#Page_108">108</a></li> + +<li>Paskiewitch, Marshal, in quarantine, ii. <a href="#Page_162">162</a></li> + +<li>Pattison, James, returned to Parliament for the City of London, iii. 188</li> + +<li>Pavilion, The, dinner at, i. 49; + completion of, 54</li> + +<li>Pease, Mr., and O’Dwyer, iii. 59</li> + +<li>Pedro, Dom, expedition of, ii. <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>; + proposal to combine with Spain, iii. 72; + in possession of Portugal, 93</li> + +<li>Peel, Right Hon. Sir Robert, Home Secretary, i. 124; + speeches on Catholic Relief Bill, 167, 183; + Oxford University election, 1829, 177; + defeated, 178; + political prospects of, ii. <a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>; + power in the House of Commons, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>; + speech on the Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>; + inactivity of, on the Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>; + complaints of policy of, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>; + conduct of, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>; + reserve of, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>; + excellence in debate, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>; + answer to Lord Harrowby, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>, <a href="#Page_249">249</a>; + policy of, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>; + speech on Irish Tithes, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>; + invited to form a Government, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>; + refuses to take office, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>; + defence of conduct, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>; + conduct during the Tory efforts to form a Government, <a href="#Page_327">327</a>, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>; + conduct compared with that of the Duke of Wellington, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>; + character of, <a href="#Page_354">354</a>; + on political unions, iii. 12; + in society, 35; + position of, in the House of Commons, 64; + collection of pictures, 70; + great dinner given by, 72; + speech on admission of Dissenters to the University, 75; + policy of the Administration of, 161; + friendship with the Duke of Wellington renewed, 167; + arrival of, from the Continent, 174; + formation of Administration, 177; + manifesto to the country, 178; + prospects of the Ministry, 179; + qualities of, 189; + Toryism of Administration of, 194; + false position of, 208; + prospects of Government, 214, 235, 236; + talents of, 224; + conduct to his adherents, 230, 244; + courage of, 283; + impending resignation of, 242; + Government defeated, 246; + resignation of Administration of, 1835, 246, 248; + speech on Corporation Reform, 263; + on Irish Church Bill, 281; + relations with Lord John Russell, 282; + seclusion of, 297; + speech on Corporation Reform, 304; + consideration for Lord Stanley, 335; + conduct with regard to the Corporation Bill, 340; + position of, 358; + on the beginning of the new reign, 402</li> + +<li>Peel, Sir Robert, sen., account of, ii. <a href="#Page_125">125</a></li> + +<li>Peel, Right Hon. Jonathan, iii. 243</li> + +<li>Pemberton, Thomas, ii. <a href="#Page_314">314</a>; + in the appeal of Swift <i>v.</i> Kelly, iii. 267, 271</li> + +<li>Pembroke, Earl of, i. 250</li> + +<li>Pension List, <i>see</i> <a href="#IX_Commons">Commons, House of</a></li> + +<li>Pepys, Right Hon. Sir Christopher, Master of the Rolls, iii. 328. + <i>See</i> <a href="#IX_Cottenham">Cottenham, Lord</a></li> + +<li>Perceval, Spencer, discourse of, iii, 41; + the Unknown Tongue, 41; + on the condition of the Church, 123; + apostolic mission to the members of the Government, 331; + at Holland House, 331; + apostolic mission of, 333</li> + +<li>Périer, Casimir, momentary resignation of, ii. <a href="#Page_175">175</a>; + attacked by cholera, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>; + death of, <a href="#Page_307">307</a></li> + +<li>Persian Ambassador, the, quarrel of, with the Regent, i. 21</li> + +<li>Perth election, 1835, iii. 197</li> + +<li>Petworth House and pictures, ii. <a href="#Page_336">336</a>; + fęte at, iii. 84</li> + +<li>Peyronnet, Comte de, i. 393</li> + +<li>Phillpotts, <i>see</i> <a href="#IX_Exeter">Exeter, Bishop of</a></li> + +<li>Pisa, i. 297</li> + +<li>Pitt, Right Hon. William, described by Talleyrand, ii. <a href="#Page_345">345</a>; + anecdotes of, iii. 131</li> + +<li>Plunket, Lord, Lord Chancellor in Ireland, ii. <a href="#Page_90">90</a>; + anecdote of, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>; + at Stoke, iii. 21; + Deanery of Down, 70</li> + +<li>Poland, contest in, ii. <a href="#Page_157">157</a></li> + +<li>Polignac, Prince Jules de, + head of the Administration in France; i. 160, 229, 283; + Administration of, 394; + behaviour of, ii. <a href="#Page_29">29</a>; + letter to M. de Molé, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>; + exasperation against, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_39">39</a></li> + +<li>Pompeii, i. 338; + excavations at, 343</li> + +<li>Ponsonby, Viscount, Minister at Naples, ii. <a href="#Page_155">155</a>; + letters of, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>; + conduct of, as Ambassador at Constantinople, iii. 405</li> + +<li>Pope, the, audience of Pius VIII., i. 382; + Irish appointments of the, iii. 269. + <i>See</i> <a href="#IX_Rome">Rome</a></li> + +<li>Portfolio, the, iii. 327</li> + +<li>Portland, Duke of, Lord Privy Seal, i. 95</li> + +<li>Portugal, ships seized by the French, ii. <a href="#Page_182">182</a>, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>; + affairs in, iii. 25, 79; + bankrupt state of, 93</li> + +<li>Powell, Mr., ii. <a href="#Page_52">52</a></li> + +<li>Pozzo di Borgo, Count, ii. <a href="#Page_347">347</a>; + views of, on the state of Europe, iii. 182; + Russian Ambassador in London, 201, 203</li> + +<li>Praed, Winthrop Mackworth, first speech of, ii. <a href="#Page_115">115</a>; + First Secretary to the Board of Control, iii. 194</li> + +<li>Pratolino, i. 402</li> + +<li>Prayer, form of, on account of the disturbed state of the kingdom, ii. <a href="#Page_99">99</a></li> + +<li>Proclamation against rioters, ii. <a href="#Page_73">73</a></li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_Q" id="IX_Q"></a> +‘Quakers’, the, address to King William IV., ii. <a href="#Page_17">17</a></li> + +<li>‘Quarterly Review, The,’ attacks Lord Harrowby, ii. <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>; + pamphlet in answer to article, <a href="#Page_270">270</a></li> + +<li>Quintus Curtius, iii. 130</li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_R" id="IX_R"></a> +Racing, remarks on, ii. <a href="#Page_373">373</a>; + anecdote, <a href="#Page_374">374</a></li> + +<li>Redesdale, Lord, letter of, ii. <a href="#Page_269">269</a></li> + +<li>Reform, plan of, ii. <a href="#Page_105">105</a>; + remarks on, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>; + negotiations concerning, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>, <a href="#Page_218">218</a></li> + +<li>Reform Bill, the, laid before the King, ii. <a href="#Page_109">109</a>; + excitement concerning, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>; + carried by one vote, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>; + alterations in, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>; + Government defeated, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>; + remarks on, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>; + attitude of the press, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>; + prospects of, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>; + negotiations for a compromise, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>; + altered tone of the press, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>; + meeting of Peers in Downing Street, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>; + measures for carrying the second reading in the House of Lords, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>; + continued efforts to compromise, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>; + finally passed in the House of Commons, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>; + continued discussions on, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>; + difficulty with Schedule A, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>; + carried in the House of Lords, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>; + in committee, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>; + passes through committee, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>; + results of, iii. 27, 191. + For debates on, <i>see</i> <a href="#IX_Lords">Lords, House of</a>, and + <a href="#IX_Commons">Commons, House of</a></li> + +<li>Reichstadt, Duke of, and Marshal Marmont, iii. 374</li> + +<li>Reis-Effendi, the, i. 159</li> + +<li>Renfrewshire election, iii. 388</li> + +<li>Rice, Right Hon. Thomas Spring, + Colonial Secretary, iii. 88, 113; + difficulties with, 253; + Chancellor of the Exchequer, 256; + incapacity of, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, 376</li> + +<li>Richmond, Duke of, and King George III. at a naval review, iii. 129</li> + +<li>Richmond, Duke of, + summary of character of, i. 199; + Postmaster-General, ii. <a href="#Page_66">66</a>; + refuses the appointment of Master of the Horse, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>; + difficulties with his labourers, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>; + at Goodwood, ii. <a href="#Page_182">182</a>; + on Reform, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>; + character of, iii. 15; + resignation of, 88</li> + +<li>Riots, + in London, 1830, ii. <a href="#Page_55">55</a>; + among the farm labourers, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>; + proclamation against, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>; + in the country, <a href="#Page_77">77</a></li> + +<li>Ripon, Earl of, Lord Privy Seal, ii. <a href="#Page_66">66</a>; + resignation of, iii. 88. + <i>See</i> <a href="#IX_Goderich">Goderich, Viscount</a></li> + +<li>Robarts, Mr., dinner given by, iii. 184</li> + +<li>Robinson, Right Hon. Frederick John, + Chancellor of the Exchequer, i. 79; + <i>See</i> <a href="#IX_Goderich">Goderich, Viscount</a></li> + +<li>Rochester election, 183.3, iii. 193</li> + +<li>Roden, Earl of, declines the office of Lord Steward, iii. 179, 181</li> + +<li>Rogers, Samuel, + breakfast given by, ii. <a href="#Page_150">150</a>; + compared with Moore, iii. 324</li> + +<li>Rolle, Lord, remark to Lord Brougham, iii. 107</li> + +<li>Rome, i. 303, 304; + <a name="IX_Rome" id="IX_Rome"></a> + St. Peter’s, 303, 321; + sight-seeing, 306, 311, 322; + the Sistine Chapel, 309; + the cardinals, 309; + a cardinal lying in state, 312; + Pompey’s statue, 313; + Temple of Bacchus, 313; + the Catacombs, 314; + the Pope’s blessing, 316, 324; + Holy Week observances, 317; + the Grand Penitentiary, 317, 319; + washing of pilgrims’ feet, 320; + supper to pilgrims, 321; + Protestant burial-ground, 322; + St. Peter’s illuminated, 325; + excavations, 327; + sight-seeing, 328, 329, 362; + aqueducts, 363; + the Scala Santa, 364; + St. Peter’s, 366; + Library of the Vatican, 367; + votive offering of a horse-shoe, 367, 372; + Columbaria, 374; + saints, 385; + the Flagellants, 387; + relations with Protestant countries, 391; + the Coliseum, 395; + story of a thief, 396; + convent of SS. Giovanni e Paolo, 397; + sight-seeing, 398</li> + +<li>Rosslyn, Earl of, + Lord Privy Seal, i. 210; + Lord President of the Council, iii. 177; + dinner for selecting the Sheriffs, 201</li> + +<li>Roussin, Admiral, at Constantinople ii. <a href="#Page_367">367</a></li> + +<li>Rovigo, the Duke de, at Rome, i. 325</li> + +<li>Rundell, Mr., fortune of, will of, i. 90</li> + +<li>Runton Abbey, + shooting at, iii. 51; + murder in the neighbourhood, 51</li> + +<li>Russell, Right Hon. Lord John, + introduces the Reform Bill, ii. <a href="#Page_121">121</a>; + seat in the Cabinet, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>; + brings in his Bill, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>; + letter to Attwood, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>; + willing to compromise, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>; + brings on the second Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>; + Paymaster, of the Forces, iii. 113; + objected to by the King as leader of the House of Commons, 160; + speech at Totness, 171; + on the Speakership, 205; + on Church Reform, 206; + first speech as leader of the House of Commons, 214; + letter of, on the Speakership, 218; + as leader of the House of Commons, 221; + marriage of, 252; + Home Secretary in Lord Melbourne’s second Administration, 256; + introduction of Corporation Reform, 263; + relations with Sir Robert Peel, 282; + course to be pursued on the Corporation Bill, 303, 310; + speech on the Orangemen, 344; + moderation of, 352; + meeting at the Foreign Office, 357, 358; + intention of the Government to proceed with their Bills, 397; + speech in answer to Roebuck, 401</li> + +<li>Russia, state of, 1829, i. 158; + intrigues of, ii. <a href="#Page_351">351</a>; + diplomatic relations with, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>; + combines with Turkey against Egypt, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>; + fleet sent to Constantinople, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>; + establishes her power in the East, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>; + quarrel with, iii. 44; + policy towards Turkey, 48; + treaty with Turkey, 69; + relations with Turkey, 183</li> + +<li>Russo-Dutch Loan, + question of the, ii. <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>; + origin of the, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>; + debate on the, in the House of Lords, <a href="#Page_315">315</a></li> + +<li>Rutland, Duke of, + anti-Reform petition, ii. <a href="#Page_263">263</a>; + birthday party, iii. 46</li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_S" id="IX_S"></a> +Sadler, Mr., maiden speech of, + in opposition to the Catholic Relief Bill, i. 191</li> + +<li>Saint-Aulaire, M. de, + French Ambassador at Vienna, ii. <a href="#Page_187">187</a>; + anecdote of, <a href="#Page_187">187</a></li> + +<li>Saint-Aulaire, Madame de, iii. 187</li> + +<li>Saint-Germain, Count de, account of, ii. <a href="#Page_186">186</a>; + the ‘Wandering Jew,’ <a href="#Page_186">186</a></li> + +<li>Salerno, i. 344</li> + +<li>Salisbury, Marquis of, petition to the King, ii. <a href="#Page_231">231</a></li> + +<li>Saltash, borough of, division on, ii. <a href="#Page_170">170</a></li> + +<li>San Carlos, Duke and Duchess of, i. 8</li> + +<li>Sandon, Viscount, moves the Address in the House of Commons, iii. 202; + on Sir Robert Peel, 340</li> + +<li>Sandys, Lord, iii. 359</li> + +<li>Sartorius, Admiral, petition, iii. 366</li> + +<li>Scarlett, Sir James, Attorney-General, i. 210</li> + +<li>Scott, Sir Walter, death of, ii. <a href="#Page_307">307</a></li> + +<li>Seaford, Lord, i. 83</li> + +<li>Sebastiani, Count, + French Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s, iii. 180</li> + +<li>Sefton, Earl of, dinner to Lord Grey and Lord Brougham, ii. <a href="#Page_69">69</a>; + on Lord Brougham, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>; + created a Peer of the United Kingdom, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>; + qualities of, <a href="#Page_183">183</a></li> + +<li>Segrave, Lord, Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, iii. 322</li> + +<li>Senior, Nassau, at Holland House, iii. 138</li> + +<li>Session of 1833, review of the, iii. 28</li> + +<li>Sestri, i. 297</li> + +<li>Seton, Sir Henry, arrival of, from Belgium, ii. <a href="#Page_178">178</a></li> + +<li>Seymour, Lord, withdraws his support from the Government, ii. <a href="#Page_124">124</a></li> + +<li>Seymour, George, Master of the Robes, ii. <a href="#Page_50">50</a></li> + +<li>Seymour, Horace, retires from the Lord Chamberlain’s Department, ii. <a href="#Page_133">133</a></li> + +<li>Seymour, Jane, coffin of, found at Windsor, ii. <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> + +<li>Shadwell, Right Hon. Sir Lancelot, on legal business, iii. 76</li> + +<li>Shee, Sir Martin, elected President of the Royal Academy, i. 269</li> + +<li>Sheil, Right Hon. Richard, dispute with Lord Althorp, iii. 55; + arrest of, by the Serjeant-at-Arms, 56; + committee, 57, 58; + insult to Lord Lyndhurst, 389</li> + +<li>Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, iii. 336</li> + +<li>Siege of Saragossa, the, iii. 40</li> + +<li>Siena, i. 303</li> + +<li>Simplon, the, i. 415</li> + +<li>Slavery, abolition of, ii. <a href="#Page_347">347</a>; + for debates on, <i>see</i> <a href="#IX_Commons">Commons, House of</a></li> + +<li>Smith, Baron, ii. <a href="#Page_105">105</a>; + O’Connell’s attack upon, iii. 59, 61, 63</li> + +<li>Smith, Sydney, and the siege of Saragossa, iii. 39; + and Professor Leslie, 44; + sermon of, in St. Paul’s Cathedral, 166; + on Sir James Mackintosh, 317; + dispute of, with the Bishop of London, 395; + letter to Archdeacon Singleton, 395</li> + +<li>Smithson, Sir Hugh, ii. <a href="#Page_337">337</a>, <a href="#Page_338">338</a></li> + +<li>Somaglia, Cardinal, i. 312</li> + +<li>Somerville, Mrs., iii. 58</li> + +<li>Sorrento, i. 352; + Benediction of the Flowers, 352</li> + +<li>Soult, Marshal, sent to Lyons, ii. <a href="#Page_219">219</a>; + Prime Minister of France, <a href="#Page_324">324</a></li> + +<li>Southey, Robert, at breakfast given by Mr. Henry Taylor, ii. <a href="#Page_59">59</a>; + letter to Lord Brougham on rewards to literary men, <a href="#Page_111">111</a></li> + +<li>Spain, the Duke of Wellington on affairs in, iii. 47; + state of, 55; + affairs in, 66, 72; + proposal to combine with Dom Pedro, 72; + affairs in, 183; + deplorable state of, 359</li> + +<li>Spanish Legion, formation of the, iii. 265</li> + +<li>Speaker, the, indecision of, ii. <a href="#Page_299">299</a>; + disputes on the Speakership, <a href="#Page_333">333</a>; iii. 204</li> + +<li>Spencer, Earl, death of, iii. 140</li> + +<li>Spencer, Earl, <i>see</i> <a href="#IX_Althorp">Althorp, Viscount</a></li> + +<li>Sprotborough, party at, for the races, ii. <a href="#Page_50">50</a></li> + +<li>Staël, Madame de, + ‘Considérations sur la Révolution française,’ i. 16; + anecdote of, ii. <a href="#Page_186">186</a></li> + +<li>Stafford House, concert at, iii. 278</li> + +<li>Stanley, Right Hon. Edward, Irish Secretary, ii. <a href="#Page_66">66</a>; + speech on the Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>; + seat in the Cabinet, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>; + speech in answer to Croker, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>; + Secretary for the Colonial Department, <a href="#Page_365">365</a>; + at The Oaks, <a href="#Page_374">374</a>; + indecision of, iii. 17; + racing interests of, 35; + resignation of, 88; + in opposition, 93; + ‘Thimblerig’ speech, 100; + conciliatory letter to Lord Grey, 107; + disposition of, 165, 167; + declines to join Sir R. Peel, 175, 176; + speech at Glasgow, 180; + formation of the Stanley party, 220; + position of Mr. Stanley, 222; + policy of, 228; + meeting of party at the ‘King’s Head,’ 237; + speech on Irish Church question, 240; + character of, 250; + letter to Sir Thomas Hesketh, 265; + joins the Opposition, 272; + conduct of, 336</li> + +<li>Stanley, Right Hon. Edward John, Under-Secretary of State, iii. 112</li> + +<li>State Paper Office, i. 160; iii. 44</li> + +<li>Stephen, James, opinions on emancipation, ii. <a href="#Page_359">359</a></li> + +<li>Stephenson, George, on steam-engines, iii. 54</li> + +<li>Stewart, Lady Dudley, party given by, ii. <a href="#Page_115">115</a>; + accompanies the Prince of Orange to Gravesend, <a href="#Page_133">133</a></li> + +<li>Stoke, party at, i. 142; ii. <a href="#Page_185">185</a></li> + +<li>Strangford, Viscount, sent to the Brazils, i. 140</li> + +<li>Strasburg prisoners, acquittal of, iii. 381</li> + +<li>Strawberry Hill, party at, i. 247</li> + +<li>Strutt, Edward, ii. <a href="#Page_59">59</a></li> + +<li>Stuart de Rothesay, Lord, Ambassador in France, i. 141</li> + +<li>Sugden, Right Hon. Sir Edward, quarrel of, with Lord Brougham, ii. <a href="#Page_312">312</a>; + origin of animosity towards Lord Brougham, iii. 22; + Irish Chancellor, 178; + resignation of, 231; + retains his appointment, 234</li> + +<li>Sugden, Lady, not received at Court, iii. 231</li> + +<li>Sunderland, state of, ii. <a href="#Page_216">216</a></li> + +<li>Sussex, H.R.H. the Duke of, marriage of, ii. <a href="#Page_194">194</a></li> + +<li>Sutherland, Duke of, death of the, iii. 19; + wealth, of the, 19</li> + +<li>Suttee case, before the Privy Council, ii. <a href="#Page_307">307</a></li> + +<li>Swift <i>v.</i> Kelly, + before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, iii. 259, 266, 267, 271; + judgment, 274</li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_T" id="IX_T"></a> +Tallyrand, Charles Maurice de, + letter to the Emperor of Russia, i. 23; + Ambassador to the Court of St. James, ii. <a href="#Page_44">44</a>; + conversation of, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>; + anecdotes, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>; + <i>mot</i> of, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>; + dinner with, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>; + on Fox and Pitt, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>; + detained in the Thames, <a href="#Page_346">346</a>; + on Portuguese affairs, iii. 25; + on relations between France and England, 314; + opinion of, of Lord Palmerston, 360; + dissatisfaction at his position in London, 386</li> + +<li>Tasso, i. 328; + bust of, 328</li> + +<li>Tavistock, Marquis of, on the prospects of the Liberal party, iii. 43</li> + +<li>Taylor, Sir Herbert, conversation with Lord Wharncliffe, ii. <a href="#Page_251">251</a>; + correspondence with, about the Chancellorship, <a href="#Page_339">339</a></li> + +<li>Taylor, Henry, breakfast at the house of, ii. <a href="#Page_58">58</a>; + breakfast to Wordsworth, Mill, Elliot, Charles Villiers, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>; + on the abolition of slavery in the West Indies, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>; + ‘Philip van Artevelde,’ iii. 114</li> + +<li>Taylor, Brook, mission to Rome, ii. <a href="#Page_153">153</a></li> + +<li>Teddesley, party at, i. 11</li> + +<li>Tenterden, Lord, death of, ii. <a href="#Page_329">329</a>; + character of, <a href="#Page_331">331</a>; + classical knowledge of, <a href="#Page_331">331</a></li> + +<li>Terceira, Portuguese expedition to, i. 169, 170</li> + +<li>Terni, Falls of, i. 401</li> + +<li>Thiers, Adolphe, dinner to, iii. 31; + account of, 31; + at the head of the French Government, 66; + on interference in Spain, 66; + foreign policy of, 364; + social qualities of, 370; + quarrel with Lady Granville, 380; + courts the favour of Austria, 387</li> + +<li>Thompson, Alderman, difficulties with his constituents, ii. <a href="#Page_166">166</a></li> + +<li>Thomson, Right Hon. Charles Poulett, + originates a commercial treaty with France, ii. <a href="#Page_219">219</a>; + Board of Trade, iii. 113, 256; + self-complacency of, 330</li> + +<li>Thorwaldsen, Albert, at Florence, i. 299, 300</li> + +<li>Tierney, Right Hon. George, i. 14; + Master of the Mint, 95; + death of, 269</li> + +<li>‘Times,’ the, on Lord Harrowby’s letter, ii. <a href="#Page_264">264</a>, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>; + attacks Lord Grey, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>; + Lord Chancellor’s speech, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>; + influence of the, <a href="#Page_362">362</a>; + and Lord Brougham, iii. 133; + disposition of, to support a Tory Government, 149, 152; + terms of support to the Duke of Wellington, 155; + power of the, 156, 157; + negotiations with Lord Lyndhurst, 171; + letter signed ‘Onslow,’ 199</li> + +<li>Titchfield, Marquis of, death of, i. 75; + character of, 75</li> + +<li>Tivoli, i. 375</li> + +<li>Tixall, party at, i. 10; + Macao, 11</li> + +<li>Torrington, Viscount, and the King, iii. 285</li> + +<li>Tory party, state of the, ii. <a href="#Page_162">162</a>; + meeting at Bridgewater House, iii. 237; + state of the, 306; + indifference of members of the, 389</li> + +<li>Treaty of Unkiar Skelessi, iii. 45; + between Russia and Turkey, 1834, 69; + the Quadruple, for the pacification of the Peninsula, signed 1834, 94</li> + +<li>Tree, Ellen, at the City Theatre, ii. <a href="#Page_181">181</a></li> + +<li>Tuileries, the, reception at, iii. 382; + ball at, 383; + small ball at, 385</li> + +<li>Turf, the, reflections on, iii. 139</li> + +<li>Turin, i. 291</li> + +<li>Turkey, threatened by Russia, i. 228; + critical state of, ii. <a href="#Page_351">351</a>; + relations with Russia, iii. 183</li> + +<li>Tusculum, i. 390</li> + +<li>Twiss, Horace, supper party given by, iii. 260</li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_U" id="IX_U"></a> +Union, speech of O’Connell on the repeal of the, iii. 80</li> + +<li>Unions, proclamation against the, ii. <a href="#Page_215">215</a>; + procession of trades, iii. 79</li> + +<li>Urquhart, Mr., Secretary to the Embassy at Constantinople, iii. 405</li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_V" id="IX_V"></a> +Van de Weyer, Sylvain, Belgian Minister to the Court of St. James, ii. <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> + +<li>Vaudreuil, M. de, + French <i>chargé d’affaires</i> in London, on French affairs, ii. <a href="#Page_24">24</a></li> + +<li>Vaughan, Right Hon. Sir Charles, special mission to Constantinople, iii. 405</li> + +<li>Vaughan, Right Hon. Sir John, sworn in a Privy Councillor, ii. <a href="#Page_155">155</a></li> + +<li>Venice, i. 405; + sights of, 406, 408, 410</li> + +<li>Vernet, Horace, at Rome, i. 325</li> + +<li>Verona, Congress of, i. 65; + visit to, 413</li> + +<li>Verulam, Earl of, petition to the King, ii. <a href="#Page_231">231</a></li> + +<li>Vesuvius, ascent of, i. 350</li> + +<li>Vicenza, i. 412</li> + +<li>Victoria, H.R.H. the Princess, + at a child’s ball, i. 209; + first appearance of, at a drawing-room, ii. <a href="#Page_119">119</a>; + at Burghley iii. 315; + health of, proposed by the King, 364; + at Windsor, 367; + letter from the King, 400; + seclusion of, 403; + first Council of, 406; + proclaimed <span class="smcap">Queen</span>, 408; + impression produced on all, 409</li> + +<li>Villiers, Hon. Hyde, appointed to the Board of Control, ii. <a href="#Page_145">145</a></li> + +<li>Villiers, Hon. George, at the Grove, ii. <a href="#Page_105">105</a>; + conversation with the Duke of Wellington, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>; + mission to Paris for a commercial treaty, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>; + Minister at Madrid, iii. 14, 20, 21; + on prospects in Spain, 69, 79; + letters of, from Madrid, 321, 360, 365</li> + +<li>Villiers, Hon. Charles Pelham, ii. <a href="#Page_59">59</a></li> + +<li>Virginia Water, ii. <a href="#Page_25">25</a>; + visit to, <a href="#Page_30">30</a></li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_W" id="IX_W"></a> +Walewski, Count Alexander, arrival of, in London, ii. <a href="#Page_104">104</a></li> + +<li>Walpole, Horace, letters to Sir Horace Mann, iii. 2</li> + +<li>‘Wandering Jew, The,’ ii. <a href="#Page_186">186</a></li> + +<li>Warsaw, affair at, ii. <a href="#Page_95">95</a>; + taken by the Russians, <a href="#Page_192">192</a></li> + +<li>Warwickshire Election, iii. 353, 354</li> + +<li>Wellesley, Marquis of, Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, iii. 31; + correspondence with Mr. Littleton, 103, 110; + resigns the White Wand, 258</li> + +<li>Wellesley, Long, Esq., committed for contempt of court, ii. <a href="#Page_166">166</a></li> + +<li>Wellington, Duke of, + account of the battle of Waterloo, i. 39; + in Paris with Blücher, 41; + dispute with the King, 51; + on affairs of France and Spain, 67; + opinion of Bonaparte, 71; + mission to Russia, 78; + visit to the Royal Lodge, 102; + opinion of Mr. Canning, 107; + forms a Government, 1828, 124; + resolves to carry the Catholic Relief Bill, 143; + correspondence with Dr. Curtis, 148; + ascendency of, in the Cabinet, and over the King, 176; + hardness of character of, 191; + duel with Lord Winchelsea, 192; + conversation with, on King George IV. and the Duke of Cumberland, 216, 218; + prosecution of the press, 233, 258, 260; + business habits of, 262; + conversation with on the French Revolution, ii. <a href="#Page_21">21</a>; + qualities of, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>; + confidence in, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>; + declaration against Reform, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>; + Administration of, defeated, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>; + resignation of, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>; + suppresses disturbance in Hampshire, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>; + political character of, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>; + reported letter of advice to the King of France, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>; + correspondence with Mr. Canning, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>; + conduct towards the Government, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>; + objections to Mr. Canning, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>; + dinner at Apsley House, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>; + anti-Reform dinner at Apsley House, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>; + remarks upon, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>; + memorial to the King, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>; + correspondence with Lord Wharncliffe, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>; + obstinacy of, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>; + letter to Lord Wharncliffe, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>; + unbecoming letter laid before the King, <a href="#Page_252">252</a>; + reply to Lord Wharncliffe, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>; + speech on Irish Education, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>; + sent for by the King, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>; + efforts of, to form an Administration, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>; + inability of, to form an Administration, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>; + statement of his case, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>; + conduct of the Tory party, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>; + ill-feeling towards Peel, <a href="#Page_325">325</a>; + view of affairs, 1833, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>; + government of French provinces, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>; + respect evinced towards, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>; + defence of policy, <a href="#Page_379">379</a>; + Speech on the Coronation Oath, iii. 9, 10; + policy on the Irish Church Bill, 10; + on Portuguese affairs, 11, 26; + and the Bonaparte family, 26; + subsequent account of attempt to form a Government, 48; + compared with Lord Grey, 73; + speech on the admission of Dissenters to the University, 73; + presents the Oxford petition, 79; + and the Whigs, 82; + installed as Chancellor of the University of Oxford, 95; + First Lord of the Treasury, and Secretary of State for the Home Office, 149; + arrangement for a provisional Government, 149; + at the public offices, 1834, 154; + account of crisis of 1834, 162; + inconsistencies of, 172; + on the division on the Speakership, 216; + on Lord Londonderry’s appointment, 227; + anecdote of Lord Brougham, 232; + on Spain, 270; + on the Walcheren expedition, 271; + policy of, on the Corporation Bill, 283; + letter to the Duke of Cumberland, 320; + speech in answer to Lord Lyndhurst, 362; + meeting of Tory Peers, 397; + crowned by the Duchess of Cannizzaro, 406; + quarrel with the Duke of Clarence, 406</li> + +<li>Western, Lord, evidence of, iii. 112</li> + +<li>West India Body, consternation of the, ii. <a href="#Page_350">350</a>; + deputation of the, <a href="#Page_350">350</a></li> + +<li>West India Bill, prospects of the, iii. 13. + For debates on the, <i>see</i> <a href="#IX_Commons">Commons, House of</a></li> + +<li>West Indies, Lord Chandos’s motion on the state of the, ii. <a href="#Page_116">116</a>; + project of emancipation, <a href="#Page_347">347</a>; + alarm in the, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>; + difficulties attending emancipation, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>; + committee on affairs of the, iii. 266; + decision on the office of Secretary of the Island of Jamaica, 279</li> + +<li>Westmeath, Marchioness of, pension, i. 157, 160</li> + +<li>Westmeath <i>v.</i> Westmeath, appeal before the Judicial Committee, + iii. 119, 124; + decision in, 140</li> + +<li>Westminster election, 1818, contest, i. 3; + in 1819, 17, 19; + in 1833, ii. <a href="#Page_370">370</a>; + in 1837, iii. 398</li> + +<li>Wetherell, Sir Charles, account of, i. 194; + speech on the Reform Bill, ii. <a href="#Page_123">123</a>; + supports Sir E. Sugden’s motion, <a href="#Page_314">314</a></li> + +<li>Wharncliffe, Lord, + <a name="IX_Wharncliffe" id="IX_Wharncliffe"></a> + interview with Radical Jones, ii. <a href="#Page_200">200</a>; + overtures for a compromise on the Reform Bill, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>; + character of, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>; + draws up a declaration for signature in the City, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>; + disappointment of, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>; + final interview of, with Lord Grey, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>; + correspondence of, with the Duke of Wellington, <a href="#Page_211">221</a>; + interview of, with the King on the proposed new Peers, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>; + memorandum laid before the King, <a href="#Page_252">252</a>; + as chief of a party, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>; + in communication with Lord Lyndhurst and Lord Ellenborough, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>; + defends his policy, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>; + paper on the Tory party, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>; + on the prospects of the country, iii. 54; + joins the Peel Government, 175; + on the prospects of the session, 341</li> + +<li>Whately, Richard, D.D., Archbishop of Dublin, iii. 280</li> + +<li>Whig party, state of the, iii. 159; + tactics of the, 216; + union with O’Connell, 219; + symptoms of disunion in the, 221; + meeting at Lichfield House, 224; + prospects of the, 235</li> + +<li>Wicklow, Earl of, attack on the Government, iii. 110</li> + +<li>Wilberforce, William, speech of, i. 16; + negotiation with Mr. Canning, ii. <a href="#Page_125">125</a></li> + +<li>William IV., King, accession of, ii. <a href="#Page_1">1</a>; + <a name="IX_William" id="IX_William"></a> + dislike of, to the Duke of Cumberland, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>; + behaviour of, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>; + at the House of Lords, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>; + personal anecdotes of, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>; + dinner at Apsley House, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>; + at Windsor, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>; + pays the racing debts of the Duke of York, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>; + speech on the change of Government, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>; + levee, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>; + health of, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>; + mobbed on returning from the theatre, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>; + in mourning for his son-in-law, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>; + in the House of Lords, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>; + dissolves Parliament, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>; + conduct to his Ministers, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>; + at Ascot, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>; + opens Parliament, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>; + at Windsor, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>; + and the Bishops, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>; + divides the old Great Seal, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>; + crowned at Westminster, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>; + levee, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>; + toasts at dinner at St. James’s, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>; + interview with Lord Wharncliffe on creation of new Peers, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>; + health of, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>; + reluctance of, to make Peers, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>; + adverse sentiments towards the Whigs, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>; + dinner to the Jockey Club, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>; + levity of, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>; + letter to the Peers, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>; + character of, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>; + struck by a stone, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>; + country dance, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>; + anecdotes of, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>; + state of mind of, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>; + letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, <a href="#Page_382">382</a>, <a href="#Page_383">383</a>; + letter-writing, iii. 2; + animosity to the French, 33; + irritability of, 81; + conduct of, 84; + personal feelings towards the members of Lord + Melbourne’s Administration, 137; + dismissal of Lord Melbourne, 144; + speech to the Tory Lords, 148; + provisional appointments, 148; + account of difference with Lord Melbourne, 150; + resolution of, to support the Tory Government, 161; + address to the new Ministers, 175; + on the state of Persia, 184; + whims of, 203; + Island of St. Bartholomew, 203; + indignation of, at the affair of Lord Londonderry, 231; + distress of, 245; + and the Ministers, 251; + personal habits of, 264; + speech to Sir Charles Grey, 272; + audience to Lord Durham, 272; + hostility towards Lord Glenelg and the Ministers, 276; + conduct to the Speaker, 279; + scene with Lord Torrington, 285; + speech to the Bishops, 303; + speech on the Militia, 311; + and the Duchess of Kent, 313; + speech at dinner to the Jockey Club, 351; + Toryism of, 358; + joke, 361; + speech to the Bishop of Ely, 363; + proposes the health of the Princess Victoria, 364; + aversion to his Ministers, 364, 366; + speech to Lord Minto, 364, 366; + rudeness to the Duchess of Kent, 366; + scene at birthday party, 367; + reception of King Leopold, 370; + speech, 1837, 385; + address to Lord Aylmer, 394; + illness of, 399, 400; + letter to the Princess Victoria, 399; + dangerous illness of, 401; + prayers offered up for, 403; + death of, 406; + kindness of heart of, 410</li> + +<li>Williams, Sir John, Justice of the Common Pleas, iii. 71</li> + +<li>Winchelsea, Earl of, + duel of, with the Duke of Wellington, i. 192; + incident of the handkerchief, 198</li> + +<li>Winchester Cathedral, iii. 283</li> + +<li>Windham, Right Hon. William, diary of, i. 231; + conversation with Doctor Johnson, 232</li> + +<li>Windsor Castle, dinner in St. George’s Hall, ii. <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>; + dinner during the Ascot week, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></li> + +<li>Windsor election, mobs at the, iii. 130</li> + +<li>Woburn, party at, i. 23; + riot at, ii. <a href="#Page_77">77</a></li> + +<li>Wood, Charles, on the Reform Bill, ii. <a href="#Page_280">280</a></li> + +<li>Wood, Matthew, returned to Parliament for the City of London, iii. 188</li> + +<li>Worcester, Marchioness of, death of the, i. 47</li> + +<li>Worcester Cathedral, iii. 327; + monument of Bishop Hough, 327</li> + +<li>Wordsworth, William, characteristics of, ii. <a href="#Page_120">120</a></li> + +<li>Wortley, Right Hon. John, Secretary to the Board of Control, i. 271. + <i>See</i> <a href="#IX_Wharncliffe">Wharncliffe</a></li> + +<li>Wrottesley, Sir John, motion of, for a call of the House, iii. 8, 13</li> + +<li>Wynford, Lord, + <a name="IX_Wynford" id="IX_Wynford"></a> + raised to the Peerage, i. 210; + Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords, 210</li> + +<li>Wynn, Right Hon. Charles, + President of the Board of Control, i. 95; + resignation of, ii. <a href="#Page_124">124</a></li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_X" id="IX_X"></a> +<a name="IX_Y" id="IX_Y"></a> +York, H.R.H. the Duke of, character of, i. 5; + management of racing establishment, 44; + dislike to the Duke of Wellington, 48, 62; + duel with the Duke of Richmond, 62; + anecdotes of King George IV., 73; + illness of, 83, 85; + death of, 84; + funeral of, 89; + letter to Lord Liverpool on the Catholic question, ii. <a href="#Page_104">104</a></li> + +<li>York, H.R.H. the Duchess of, character of, i. 5; + portrait of, 8; + illness of, 27; + death of, 34</li> + +<li>Young, Thomas, private secretary to Lord Melbourne, iii. 126</li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><a name="IX_Z" id="IX_Z"></a> +Zea Bermudez, iii. 21; + dismissal of, 55</li> + +<li>Zumalacarreguy, ii. <a href="#Page_270">270</a></li> +</ul> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Greville Memoirs, by Charles C. 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