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diff --git a/30590.txt b/30590.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c09579e --- /dev/null +++ b/30590.txt @@ -0,0 +1,18362 @@ +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: ASCII + +*** 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 + + + + + + +Transcriber's note: + + 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. + + In the original work, monetary pounds were expressed as + an italicized "l." after the number. For the text + version, I am using the more conventional L100 form for + clarity. + + 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, usually positioned where it seemed most + logical but occasionally simply between two paragraphs of + the even-odd pair. + + 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. To make the index easier to use in this work, + the page number has been added to each Diary date. + + * * * * * + + The Greville Memoirs + + A JOURNAL OF THE REIGNS + of + KING GEORGE IV. + and + KING WILLIAM IV. + + + By the Late + CHARLES C. F. GREVILLE, Esq. + Clerk of the Council to Those Sovereigns + + Edited by + HENRY REEVE + Registrar of the Privy Council + + + IN THREE VOLUMES + VOL. II. + + Second Edition + + LONDON + LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. + 1874 + + + + + CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + +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. + Page 1 + + + CHAPTER XII. + +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. + Page 40 + + + CHAPTER XIII. + +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 + Athenaeum--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. + Page 73 + + + CHAPTER XIV. + +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. + Page 121 + + + CHAPTER XV. + +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. + Page 165 + + + CHAPTER XVI. + +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 _v._ 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. + Page 197 + + + CHAPTER XVII. + +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. + Page 237 + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + +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. + Page 274 + + + CHAPTER XIX. + +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. + Page 324 + + + CHAPTER XX. + +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 _v._ 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 _v._ 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. + Page 357 + + + + + A JOURNAL + of the + REIGN OF KING WILLIAM THE FOURTH + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + +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. + + + 1830. + + +London, July 16th, 1830 {p.001} + +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 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. + + +July 18th, 1830 {p.002} + +[Page Head: KING WILLIAM'S ACCESSION.] + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +I met George Fitzclarence, afterwards Earl of Munster,[1] 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 replied that you +certainly would; did not I do right?' 'Certainly, you did quite +right.' + + [1] [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.] + +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. + +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 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. + +[Page Head: DISLIKE OF THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND.] + +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. + +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 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. + +[Page Head: THE KING'S ODDITIES.] + +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'appetit 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, 'renverse +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 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 L300, 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. + + +July 20th, 1830 {p.007} + +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 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-- + + And lambent dulness plays around his face. + +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 +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 +_permission_ to go and live in his county, at Brighton. + +[Page Head: THE KING IN ST. JAMES'S STREET.] + +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. + + +Grove Road, July 21st, 1830 {p.009} + +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 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 Wuertemberg 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. + + +July 24th, 1830 {p.010} + +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. + +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, he says, was a mistake,[2] 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. + + [2] [Sir George Murray was Secretary of State for the + Colonial Department.] + +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. + +[Page Head: THE KING GOES DOWN TO PARLIAMENT.] + +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 +Wuertemberg 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 caleche with the Queen, Princess +Augusta, and the King of Wuertemberg, and coming home he set down +the King (_dropped him_, 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. + +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 _party_, 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. + + +July 25th, 1830 {p.012} + +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. + +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 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. + + +July 26th, 1830 {p.013} + +[Page Head: THE KING DINES AT APSLEY HOUSE.] + +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 Wuertemberg 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 see him pass. He drove to +Grillon's 'to drop' the King of Wuertemberg, 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 Wuertemberg 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 Wuertemberg,' 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 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. + +[Page Head: THE KING'S SPEECH AT APSLEY HOUSE.] + +Falck[3] 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 with his hand outstretched, all with great +difficulty. He said it was very comical. + + [3] [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 Charge d'Affaires.] + + +July 27th, 1830 {p.016} + +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. + +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. + + +July 28th, 1830 {p.016} + +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. L1,125 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. + + +July 29th, 1830 {p.016} + +Yesterday a standing Council at the levee 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.' + +[Page Head: ORDINANCES OF CHARLES X.] + +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 +_something bad_ 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 _a qui voulait l'entendre_. 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 +press when he dissolved the Chambers, then he might have done +it.' + + +July 30th, 1830 {p.018} + +[Page Head: REVOLUTION IN PARIS.] + +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 _coup_. 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. + +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. + +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 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. + + +July 31st, 1830 {p.019} + +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 Buelow 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. + +_At night._ 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 Gerard, Odier, Casimir Perier, 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. 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. + + +August 2nd, 1830 {p.020} + +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. + +[Page Head: WELLINGTON ON THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.] + +_Evening._--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 +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 _would_ +not fight, that if they _would_ 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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + + +August 3rd, 1830 {p.023} + +[Page Head: WARDROBE OF GEORGE IV.] + +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. + +Nothing from France yesterday but the most absurd reports. + + +August 5th, 1830 {p.023} + +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 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 _affides_ 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 L300,000 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!' + +I had a conversation with Fitzgerald (Vesey) the other day about +the Government and its prospects. They want 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. + + +Goodwood, August 10th, 1830 {p.025} + +[Page Head: THE KING GOES TO WINDSOR.] + +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. + +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, +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. + +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. + +[Page Head: FRENCH DEMOCRACY.] + +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 _majorats_, 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 +Villele'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, 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. + + +London, August 14th, 1830 {p.027} + +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 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. + +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[4] at the revision which is to take place next +year, those particularly 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. + + [4] They are altered. The first translation of the Charter + which I read was incorrect. + +[Page Head: POLIGNAC.] + +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. + +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. + + +August 20th, 1830 {p.029} + +On Monday to Stoke; Alvanley, Fitzroy Somerset, Matuscewitz, +Stanislas Potocki, Glengall, and Mornay 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. + +[Page Head: GEORGE IV.'S ILLNESS AND DEATH.] + +The next day I called on Batchelor (he was _valet de chambre_ 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 _valets de +chambre_ how he had deceived them. 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. + +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 L12,000 or L14,000 +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 _tracasseries_ 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. + +While I was at Stoke news came that Charles X. had 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. + +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 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 _do_ 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. + + +August 23rd, 1830 {p.033} + +[Page Head: CHARLES X. IN ENGLAND.] + +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. + + +August 24th, 1830 {p.033} + +Alvanley had a letter from Montrond yesterday from Paris. He was +with M. Mole when a letter was brought him from Polignac, +beginning, 'Mon cher Collegue,' 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 arrange it for him, and in the meantime send him some +boots, and shirts, and breeches. + +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'Angouleme 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. + +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 '_travailler pour son pain_ than to +be King of England.' + +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 L40,000. 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. + +[Page Head: CONVERSATION WITH MARSHAL MARMONT.] + +_At night._--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. + +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 'denuee de tout,' without pay, in +a hostile country; that all his provisions came from a great +distance and under great escorts, 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 _corps d'armee_ 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 _corps d'armee_, 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.[5] 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 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 +_corps d'armee_ 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 'revait d'etre roi d'Italie apres 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. + + [5] [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.] + +[Page Head: CRADOCK'S MISSION TO CHARLES X.] + +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 _ordonnances_ 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 _ordonnances il tomba de son haut_. +Soon after the Dauphin sent to him to desire that, as there might +be some 'vitres cassees,' 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 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 _marechal +de quartier_ 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.[6] + + [6] [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 Angouleme was consulted, and + vehemently opposed the scheme, because, said she, + speaking of the Orleans family, 'ils sont toujours les + memes,' 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 _did_ go to + the King,'.] + + +August 27th, 1830 {p.038} + +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! + + +August 29th, 1830 {p.038} + +[Page Head: DINNER AT LORD DUDLEY'S.] + +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 +Marechal, 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 _malgre lui_ +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 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. + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + +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. + + +Stoke, August 31st, 1830 {p.040} + +On Sunday I met Prince Esterhazy[1] 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. Mole 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 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. + + [1] [Prince Paul Esterhazy, Austrian Ambassador at the + Court of St. James for many years.] + +Madame de Falck is just come, but brings no news. Falck[2] 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. + + [2] [Baron Falck, Dutch Minister at the Court of St. + James.] + +[Page Head: WELLINGTON'S FOREIGN POLICY.] + +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 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. + +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[3] 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 L200,000. There is another 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. + + [3] [Of the house of Rundell and Bridge, the great + silversmiths and jewellers of the day.] + + +September 9th, 1830 {p.043} + +[Page Head: GLOOMY FOREBODINGS.] + +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,[4] 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 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. + + [4] [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.] + +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. + +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 me that several of the Ministers are +going out--Guizot, Marshal Gerard, and Baron Louis, the two +latter _accables_ with the _travail_, and the first unused to and +unfit for official business;[5] Louis is seventy-three. + + [5] [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.] + +[Page Head: BAD PROSPECTS OF THE SESSION.] + +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. + +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 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. + + +September 10th, 1830 {p.046} + +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! + + +September 14th, 1830 {p.046} + +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[6] 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. + + [6] [William Lamb, second Lord Melbourne, afterwards Prime + Minister.] + +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 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. + + +Newark, September 18th, 1830 {p.047} + +[Page Head: DEATH OF MR. HUSKISSON.] + +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[7] 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, 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. + + [7] [Thomas Grosvenor Egerton, second Earl of Wilton.] + +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 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. + +[Page Head: CHARACTER OF HUSKISSON.] + +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,[8] 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 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 L1,200 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.[9] + + [8] [John Deacon Hume, the Assistant Joint Secretary of the + Board of Trade.] + + [9] [The Duc de Bourbon-Conde was found hanging in his + bedroom. Suspicion pointed to Madame de Fencheres, 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 Fencheres 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.] + +Last night to Brockett Hall, where I slept and came on here +to-day. The King has paid me L300 for Goodison, the late Duke's +jockey, which settles all he owed at Newmarket, and was a very +good-natured act. + +George Seymour is made Master of the Robes, and gives up his +place[10] in the House of Lords, so Jersey[11] within two months +has got an enormous place to give away. + + [10] He did not give it up; wanted Jersey to appoint his + brother Frederick, which he refused to do; so the other + remained.--_November 15th._ + + [11] [Lord Jersey was Lord Chamberlain of the Household at + the time.] + + +Chatsworth, September 27th, 1830 {p.050} + +[Page Head: HUSKISSON'S LAST MOMENTS.] + +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 L3,000 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 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. + + +Buckenham, October 25th, 1830 {p.051} + +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. + +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 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 _he_ +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. + +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 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. + +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. + + +London, November 8th, 1830 {p.053} + +[Page Head: WELLINGTON'S DECLARATION AGAINST REFORM.] + +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?' + +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 and everybody expecting that a few days would produce +his resignation. + +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. + +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. + + +November 9th, 1830 {p.054} + +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,[12] 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 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.' + + [12] [Thomas Hyde Villiers, brother of George, afterwards + fourth Earl of Clarendon, died in 1832.] + + +November 10th, 1830 {p.055} + +[Page Head: DISTURBANCES IN LONDON.] + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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.' + +[Page Head: THE DUCHESSE DE DINO.] + +After some difficulty they have agreed to give Madame de Dino[13] +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.' + + [13] [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.] + +They say the King is exceedingly bullied by the _batards_, though +Errol told me they were all afraid of him. Dolly Fitzclarence +lost L100, betting 100 to 10 that he would go to Guildhall, and +he told the King he had lost him L100, 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. + + +November 11th, 1830 {p.057} + +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,[14] +saying that there 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. + + [14] [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.] + + +November 12th, 1830 {p.058} + +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. + + +November 15th, 1830 {p.058} + +[Page Head: ROBERT SOUTHEY.] + +Yesterday morning I breakfasted with Taylor[15] 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. + + [15] [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.] + +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 L200 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. + +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 +_plat_ 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. + +When I came home I found a note to say my unfortunate colleague +Buller[16] was dead. He had had an operation performed 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. + + [16] [James Buller, Esq., senior Clerk of the Council.] + +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 spirits +and humour, and quite convinced that he will be recalled to +Brussels. + + +November 16th, 1830 {p.061} + +[Page Head: DEFEAT OF THE WELLINGTON MINISTRY.] + +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.[17] + + [17] [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.] + +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 _for_ 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. + +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 never object to a father's +doing what he can for his own children,' which was an oblique +word for the _batards_, about whom, however, it may be said _en +passant_ he has been marvellously forbearing. + +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. + +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. + + +November 17th, 1830 {p.062} + +[Page Head: THE KING'S BEHAVIOUR AT THE CRISIS.] + +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 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. + +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 L250 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. + +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 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. + +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. + + +November 19th, 1830 {p.064} + +The day before yesterday Lord Grey went to the King, who received +him with every possible kindness, and gave him _carte blanche_ 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 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 _in +terrorem_ 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. + +[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.--_November 23rd._] + + +November 20th, 1830 {p.065} + +[Page Head: DISCONTENT OF BROUGHAM.] + +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, 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.[18] + + [18] [Lord Grey's Administration was thus composed:-- + + First Lord of the Treasury Earl Grey. + Lord Chancellor Lord Brougham. + Lord President Marquis of Lansdowne. + Lord Privy Seal Lord Ripon (in 1833). + Chancellor of the Exchequer Viscount Althorp. + Home Secretary Viscount Melbourne. + Foreign Secretary Viscount Palmerston. + Colonial Secretary Viscount Goderich, and + afterwards Mr. Stanley. + Board of Control Mr. Charles Grant. + Board of Trade Lord Auckland. + Admiralty Sir James Graham. + Postmaster-General Duke of Richmond. + Paymaster-General Lord John Russell. + Irish Secretary Mr. Stanley.] + +[Page Head: LORD GREY'S ADMINISTRATION.] + +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.[19] They have +done it very quickly, however, and without many difficulties. As +to the Duke of Richmond, 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. + + [19] [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.] + + +November 21st, 1830 {p.067} + +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.] + +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 _qui vive_. 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.[20] 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 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 _in another situation_.'[21] + + [20] [This prediction was not fulfilled until 1841 (for the + short Administration of Sir Robert in 1834 can hardly + be reckoned), but it _was_ fulfilled at last.] + + [21] [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.] + +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. + +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 +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 depot of arms at Winchester. + +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. + + +November 22nd, 1830 {p.069} + +[Page Head: BROUGHAM LORD CHANCELLOR.] + +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.[22] 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 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[23] 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 _canaille_ 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,[24] 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. + + [22] [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.] + + [23] [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.] + + [24] [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.] + +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 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 L800, of which L50 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?' + + +November 23rd, 1830 {p.071} + +[Page Head: COUNCIL OF THE NEW MINISTERS.] + +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 _changement de +decoration_. 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 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. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + +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 + Athenaeum--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. + + +November 25th, 1830 {p.073} + +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 Seal and was not +engrossed till the next day, but was nevertheless published in +the 'Gazette.' + +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. + +I am in a very disagreeable situation as regards my late +colleague's place. Lord Bathurst wrote a letter to Lord 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. + + +November 28th, 1830 {p.075} + +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. + +[Page Head: DISTURBED STATE OF THE COUNTRY.] + +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, 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 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. + + +December 1st, 1830 {p.077} + +[Page Head: THE RESULTS OF TORY GOVERNMENT.] + +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. + +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. + + +December 2nd, 1830 {p.078} + +[Page Head: LIVERPOOL ELECTION.] + +Yesterday a levee and Council and Recorder's report. Clanricarde +and Robert Grosvenor[1] sworn in. + + [1] [Afterwards Lord Ebury.] + +The Liverpool election, which is just over, was, considering the +present state of things, a remarkable contest. It is said to have +cost near L100,000 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 L15 to L100 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 L12,000 or L15,000. 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? + + +December 5th, 1830 {p.079} + +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 _mal a propos_ than the appearance 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 L1,000 a year, and +Goulburn chose to give him a return of _all persons_ who had more +than L1,000 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.' + +[Page Head: POLITICAL CHARACTER OF WELLINGTON.] + +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,[2] if +the causes of it are dispassionately traced and considered, +affords a great political lesson. His 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 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 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 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. + + [2] [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.] + + * * * * * + + [Memorandum added by Mr. Greville in April 1850.] + + 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 + _selfishness_ 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. + + * * * * * + +[Page Head: AN ESCAPE FROM THE GALLOWS.] + +December 12th, 1830 {p.084} + +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 _infra dig_., because it was +to be sugared with the Lieutenancy of Worcestershire. There was +an Admiralty report,[3] at which the Chief Justice was not +present. The Chancellor and the Judge (Sir C. 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 _forgotten_ 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. + + [3] [The High Court of Admiralty had still a criminal + jurisdiction, and the capital cases were submitted to + the King in Council for approval.] + +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 _man_-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 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. + +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. + +[Page Head: THE CLERKS OF THE COUNCIL.] + +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 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 +L1,200 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. + +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. + +[Page Head: LORD GREY AND LORD LYNDHURST.] + +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 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. + +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 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 _in terrorem_ 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 _additional_ loss of character. The public will +gain by the transaction, because they will get a good judge. + +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. 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. + +[Page Head: SIR JAMES GRAHAM.] + +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 _volvenda dies_ brought back our former +friendship, as will hereafter appear; he certainly did _not +fail_.] + +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.[4] Palmerston is said to +have given the greatest satisfaction to the foreign Ministers, +and to have begun very well. So much for the Ministers. + + [4] [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.] + + +December 14th, 1830 {p.091} + +[Page Head: LORD LYNDHURST AND THE WHIGS.] + +There is a delay in Lyndhurst's appointment, if it takes place at +all. Alexander[5] now will not resign, 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. + + [5] [The Chief Baron.] + +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.' + +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 eight days. This same evening Lord Grosvenor, who is by +way of being a friend to Government, made an _amicable_ attack +upon everything, and talked nonsense. Lord Grey answered him, and +defended his own family appointments in a very good speech. + + +December 15th, 1830 {p.093} + +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 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 +_knows_ 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. + + +December 16th, 1830 {p.094} + +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 _direct_ offer to Melbourne, but +what was tantamount to it. He had desired somebody (she did not +say who) to speak to Frederick,[6] 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 _man_ ever had any influence with him, only +_women_, 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. + + [6] [Sir Frederick Lamb.] + +Lamb told me afterwards, talking of the Duke and Polignac, that +Sebastiani 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 he referred him to M. de Polignac for +his opinion generally, who was in possession of his entire +confidence. I think this _may_ be true, never having doubted that +these were his real sentiments, whether he expressed them or not. + +[Page Head: THE KING AND HIS SONS.] + +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. + +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 +_imbroglio_ as this cannot be got right without a war; such a +flame can only be quenched by blood. + + +December 19th, 1830 {p.095} + +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 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 _ame damnee_ of Lord Grey, +and defends everything of course. + +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 _not_ 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. + +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 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,[7] 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. + + [7] [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.] + + +December 22nd, 1830 {p.097} + +[Page Head: BISHOP OF EXETER AND LORD MELBOURNE.] + +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. + + +December 23rd, 1830 {p.097} + +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 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. + +[Page Head: LORD ANGLESEY AND O'CONNELL.] + +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 _totis viribus_ 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[8] 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. + + [8] [Thomas Moore, the poet.] + + +Roehampton, December 26th, 1830 {p.098} + +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. + +We had a meeting at the Council Office on Friday to order a +prayer 'on account of the troubled state of certain parts of the +United Kingdom'--great nonsense. + +The King of the French has put an end to the disturbances of +Paris about the sentence on the ex-Ministers by a gallant _coup +d'etat_. 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 _cortege_, 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. + + +December 30th, 1830 {p.099} + +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. + +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 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 _consentiens laus bonorum_ +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. + + * * * * * + + 1831. + + +January 2nd, 1831 {p.101} + +[Page Head: A DINNER AT THE ATHENAEUM.] + +Came up to town yesterday to dine with the Villiers at a dinner +of clever men, got up at the Athenaeum, 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,[9] 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 _les usages +du monde_ produce often more agreeable results than a collection +of rude, awkward intellectual powers. + + [9] [Afterwards Mr. Justice Maule.] + + +Roehampton, January 4th, 1831 {p.101} + +Called on Lady Canning this 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 _he_ 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 _under_ 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 _ipso facto_ 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 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. + +[Page Head: THE DUKE AND MR. CANNING.] + +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,[10] +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 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. + + [10] [This correspondence is now published in the third + volume of the Duke's 'Correspondence,' New Series, p. + 628.] + + +January 12th, 1831 {p.104} + +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 _made no offer_; 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,[11] who brought a letter +from Prince Czartoryski to Lord Grey, who has not seen him, and +whose arrival has naturally given umbrage to the Lievens. + + [11] [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.] + + +January 19th, 1831 {p.105} + +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. + +[Page Head: CROKER'S BOSWELL.] + +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 myself lost +_two reviews_ in the same way. I sent them both to _Brougham_ to +forward to Jeffrey (for the "Edinburgh"), and _they were both +lost in the same_ way!' That villain Brougham! + +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 _decolletees_ 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. + +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 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. + +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. + + +Roehampton, January 22nd, 1831 {p.107} + +[Page Head: O'CONNELL ARRESTED.] + +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. + + +January 23rd, 1831 {p.107} + +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 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 +_personal_ as contradistinguished from _real_.' 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?' + +[Page Head: O'CONNELL'S CASE.] + +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. + + +January 25th, 1831 {p.108} + +Met Colonel Napier[12] 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. + + [12] [Sir William Napier, author of the 'History of the + Peninsular War.'.] + +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 about Reform; probably not true. What +a state of terror and confusion we are in, though it seems to +make no difference. + + +January 31st, 1831 {p.109} + +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 L7,000 and L8,000. 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. + +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! + + While some do laugh, and some do weep, + Thus runs the world away. + +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 him but to come and hear causes in our +Court;[13] 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. + + [13] [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.] + + +February 6th, 1831 {p.110} + +[Page Head: THE CIVIL LIST.] + +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 _prospective_ 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 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. + + +February 9th, 1831 {p.111} + +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 _rayonnants_; Lord Lansdowne came to +his office and told it me with prodigious glee. + +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 has been productive of great good; it +has elicited a strong Conservative demonstration, and proved that +out of the rabbleocracy (for everything is in _ocracy_ now) his +power is anything but unlimited. There are 20,000 men in Ireland, +so Lord Hill told me last night. Hunt[14] 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. + + [14] [Henry Hunt, a well-known Radical, had just been + returned for Preston, where he had beaten Mr. Stanley.] + + +February 12th, 1831 {p.112} + +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 _now_ 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; L10,000 would give 10 of L500 +and 25 of L200; 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 Davy had been titled, but for himself, if a +_Guelphic_ distinction was adopted, 'he should be a _Ghibelline_.' +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. + + +February 13th, 1831 {p.113} + +[Page Head: THE FIRST WHIG BUDGET.] + +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. + +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! + + +February 15th, 1831 {p.114} + +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. + +[Page Head: LORD ALTHORP'S BUDGET.] + +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 L15,000 a year in possession and L50,000 in +reversion, is all of a sudden 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 _most_ profligate.' Last night +Praed[15] made his first speech, which was very good. + + [15] [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.] + + +February 17th, 1831 {p.115} + +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.' + +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. + +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 is a son of Murat, +the King of Naples, who was said to be 'le dieu Mars jusqu'a 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.)[16] + + [16] [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.] + + +February 24th, 1831 {p.116} + +[Page Head: WEAKNESS OF THE GOVERNMENT.] + +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 _leading_ 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;[17] 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 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. + + [17] It was on Lord Chandos's motion to take into + consideration the state of the West Indies. + +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 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.' + +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 L1,000 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 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. + + +February 25th, 1831 {p.119} + +[Page Head: LADY JERSEY AND LORD DURHAM.] + +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. + +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 +_tracasseries_. She was mighty glorious about her _sortie_ 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 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!' + +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. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + +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. + + +March 2nd, 1831 {p.121} + +[Page Head: THE FIRST REFORM BILL.] + +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 _general_ 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 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? + +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 _omnium oculos +in se conversos_, 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 +consequences, or the worst, or even of none at all, for all that +its authors and abettors can explain to us or to themselves. + +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. + + +March 3rd, 1831 {p.123} + +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. + + +March 5th, 1831 {p.123} + +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 +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. + + +March 7th, 1831 {p.124} + +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 _you_ 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. + +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 _yet_ 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 _ames damnees_, 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. + +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. + +[Page Head: THE FIRST SIR ROBERT PEEL.] + +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 L6,000; from this beginning he left L250,000 apiece to +his five younger sons, L60,000 to his three daughters each, and +L22,000 a year in land and L450,000 in the funds to Peel. In his +lifetime he gave Peel L12,000 a year, the others L3,000 and spent +L3,000 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. + + +March 10th, 1831 {p.125} + +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 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 _to +encourage the Reformers there_, 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. + + +March 11th, 1831 {p.126} + +[Page Head: PROBABLE RESULTS OF THE REFORM BILL.] + +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, 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. + + +March 15th, 1831 {p.127} + +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 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. + +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, _persiflage_, 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 _ipse +dixit_ 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 +_insouciance_ 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. + + +March 17th, 1831 {p.129} + +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?' + +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 +_will_ 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. + +[Page Head: BROUGHAM AT THE HORSE GUARDS.] + +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. + +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 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. + + +March 18th, 1831 {p.130} + +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. + + +March 20th, 1831 {p.130} + +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 5s. from the duty on Baltic timber, +which is 55s. (and 45s. on deals), and adding 10s. to the +Canadian, which is already 10s. He proposed instead to take off +6s. from the former this year, 6s. next, and 3s. 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 question is concerned, but +acting upon a system having for its object to embarrass the +Government. + +[Page Head: THE REFORM BILL.] + +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 _irae leonum vincla recusantum_, 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. + + +March 22nd, 1831 {p.131} + +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 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. + + +March 23rd, 1831 {p.132} + +The House divided at three o'clock this morning, and the second +reading was carried by a majority of _one_ 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. + + +March 24th, 1831 {p.132} + +[Page Head: REFORM BILL CARRIED BY ONE VOTE.] + +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 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. + +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. + +The change of Ministers at Paris and Casimir Perier'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. + +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' _totis viribus_. 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 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 _en avant_, 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. + + +April 14th, 1831 {p.134} + +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. + + +April 24th, 1831 {p.134} + +[Page Head: DEFEAT AND DISSOLUTION.] + +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 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 _he_ 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 _coup d'etat_ 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 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[1] was 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. + + [1] 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. + +[Page Head: THE KING DISSOLVES PARLIAMENT.] + +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 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.[2] 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. + + [2] 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. + +The Queen and the Royal Family are extremely unhappy at all these +things, but the former has no influence whatever 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. + + +April 26th, 1831 {p.139} + +[Page Head: THE GENERAL ELECTION.] + +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. + +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 _junior_ Baron.' This was Lyndhurst, who was offended at the +sneer upon his want of _anciennete_, 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 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. + + +April 29th, 1831 {p.140} + +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 L10,000 to the election fund. + +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--L4,000--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 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 _totis viribus_ 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. + + +May 7th, 1831 {p.141} + +[Page Head: THE QUEEN ALARMED IN THE CITY.] + +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 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. + + +May 11th, 1831 {p.142} + +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. + + +May 14th, 1831 {p.142} + +[Page Head: LORD MUNSTER'S PEERAGE.] + +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 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,[3] 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. + + [3] [If Lord Grey said this it was a mistake. The younger + sons and daughters of marquises take rank after earls.] + + +May 22nd, 1831 {p.143} + +[Page Head: LORD BROUGHAM AS A JUDGE.] + +At Epsom all last week for the races at a house which Lord +Chesterfield took; nobody there but the three sisters[4] 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 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.[5] 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 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.' + + [4] [Lady Chesterfield, Mrs. Anson, and Miss Forester.] + + [5] [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.] + +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 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. + + +May 28th, 1831 {p.146} + +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 _eclat_ from Paris that the whole +House of Commons rose and cheered him as he entered it. + +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. + + +June 5th, 1831 {p.147} + +[Page Head: THE KING AT ASCOT.] + +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 _cortege_--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 caleche 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 without twenty strangers. The Castle holds very +few people, and with the King's and Queen's immediate suite and +_toute la batardise_ it was quite full. The King's four sons were +there, _signoreggianti tutti_, and the whole thing 'donnait a +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 _changement de decoration_; 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,[6] 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. + + [6] Not Whigs--they are _les bienvenus_, which they were + not before.--_July 1838._ + + +June 7th, 1831 {p.148} + +[Page Head: DINNER AT HANBURY'S BREWERY.] + +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 _rows_ 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 +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 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. + + +June 10th, 1831 {p.150} + +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. + + +June 15th, 1831 {p.150} + +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. + + +June 19th, 1831 {p.150} + +[Page Head: THE CHOLERA.] + +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 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 _yes_ to the first +question, _no_ 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 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.' + +[Page Head: MEETING OF PEERS.] + +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 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 _attache_ 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 _official_ 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. + + +June 23rd, 1831 {p.153} + +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 _see_ the Commons.' 'Never mind,' said he; 'they shall _hear_ +me, I promise you,' and accordingly he thundered forth the Speech +so that not a word was lost. + +There has been a reconciliation between the Wellingtonians 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. + +[Page Head: PREVENTION OF CHOLERA.] + +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 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. + + +June 25th, 1831 {p.155} + +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 _approving_ 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. + + +June 30th, 1831 {p.155} + +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. + + +July 3rd, 1831 {p.155} + +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 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. + + +July 5th, 1831 {p.156} + +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 L240,000. + + +July 8th, 1831 {p.156} + +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. + +[Page Head: CONTEST IN POLAND.] + +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 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. + + +July 10th, 1831 {p.157} + +The last two or three days I have been settling everything for +the coronation,[7] 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 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. + + [7] [The arrangements for coronations are made by a + Committee of the Privy Council, which sits as a Court + of Claims.] + +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 +_after_ 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. + + +July 11th, 1831 {p.158} + +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 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. + +[Page Head: WELLINGTON AND THE GOVERNMENT.] + +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. + + +July 13th, 1831 {p.159} + +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 _the Committee_?' +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 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 _not_ 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. + +[Page Head: RESERVE OF MR. PEEL.] + +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 _atrocious_, 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 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. + +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. + +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 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. + + +July 14th, 1831 {p.162} + +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 +_manage_ 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 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. + +[Page Head: PREPARATIONS FOR THE CORONATION.] + +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.[8] I told him to throw it all +on 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 _en prince_ 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. + + [8] [It is customary to summon the Royal Dukes to a Council + by a letter This formality seems to have been + overlooked in this instance.] + + + + + CHAPTER XV. + +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. + + +July 15th, 1831 {p.165} + +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 _could_ +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. + + +July 20th, 1831 {p.165} + +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. 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. + +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.[1] + + [1] [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.] + +[Page Head: ALDERMAN THOMPSON AND HIS CONSTITUENTS.] + +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, 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. + +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 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. + +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 'Athenae 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. + + +July 26th, 1831 {p.168} + +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 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. + +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. + +[Page Head: THE CHOLERA.] + +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 +_cholera_ 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.' + + +July 27th, 1831 {p.169} + +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, 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. + + +July 28th, 1831 {p.170} + +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. + + +Oatlands, July 31st, 1831 {p.170} + +[Page Head: CANNING'S NEGOTIATION WITH THE WHIGS.] + +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 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 _did_ 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 _wished_ 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. + +It does not appear, however, as if anything could have 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. + +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 +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. + +[Page Head: CANNING AND THE LIVERPOOL ADMINISTRATION.] + +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 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. + +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 _sans mot dire_; 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. + +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 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. + +[Page Head: LONG WELLESLEY AND BROUGHAM.] + +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. + +We had a meeting on the Coronation business yesterday morning, +and took into consideration the estimates. That from the +Chamberlain's Office was L70,000 and upwards, which was referred +to a sub-committee to dissect and report upon. + + +August 5th, 1831 {p.175} + +Yesterday morning arrived the news of Casimir Perier'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.[2] It +was supposed, but not quite certain, that Mole would be First +Minister, but without much chance of being able to keep that +post. + + [2] [M. Casimir Perier 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.] + +[Page Head: HOLLAND AND BELGIUM.] + +At the same time comes intelligence that the King of Holland has +marched into Belgium at three points with 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 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.[3] 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 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 _de die in diem_, 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.--August 28th.] + + [3] [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.] + +_At night._--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. + + +August 9th, 1831 {p.178} + +On Saturday morning we were saluted with intelligence that on the +French King's hearing of the Dutch invasion he ordered Marshal +Gerard, 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, 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.[4] + + [4] [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.] + +[Page Head: THE QUEEN'S CROWN.] + +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 _you_ 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 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. + + +August 11th, 1831 {p.180} + +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 _this time_.' + +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 Athenaeum +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 +revolution, 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 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. + +[Page Head: ELLEN TREE.] + +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.] + + +August 12th, 1831 {p.181} + +Yesterday a Committee of Council met to settle the order of the +coronation and submit the estimates, which we have brought under +L30,000 instead of L240,000, which they were last time. + +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 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. + + +Goodwood, August 20th, 1831 {p.182} + +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 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, + + With safer pride content, + The wisest justice on the banks of Trent, + +and not to assist in settling Europe and making new +constitutions. + +[Page Head: REFORM BILL IN DIFFICULTIES.] + +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 _knows_ +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 _ame damnee_. + + +Stoke, August 28th, 1831 {p.183} + +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 +_malin_ with what he knows. He is against _Reform_, but not +against the _Government_; _for_ the Duke of Wellington and not +_for_ the Opposition--in 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. + +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 _why_ he +asked for such aid, nor on what terms it is to be granted. + +L. told me an odd thing connected with these troops. Easthope +received a commission from a secretary of Soult to sell largely +in our funds, coupled with an assurance that the troops would +_not_ retire. I don't know the fate of the commission. + +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. + +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. + + +August 30th, 1831 {p.185} + +[Page Head: TALLEYRAND'S CONVERSATION.] + +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, precede des assassins de son grand-pere, entoure de +ceux de son pere, et suivi par les siens.' 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 _hotel garni_, 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 +dinais chez Cesar.'[5] He was supposed to be the Wandering Jew, a +story which has always appeared to me a very sublime fiction, +telling of + + That settled ceaseless gloom + The fabled Hebrew wanderer bore, + Which will not look beyond the tomb, + Which cannot hope for rest before. + +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 _valet de +chambre's_ 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 Cambaceres and the King of 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 sur, c'est possible que cela +aurait reussi.' + + [5] [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.] + +He afterwards talked of Madame de Stael 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. + + +August 31st, 1831 {p.187} + +[Page Head: STATE OF EUROPE AND FRANCE.] + +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 Perier 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. + +Another Coronation Committee yesterday, and, I am happy 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 _his_ box in addition to his own, and +now Lord Cholmondeley claims a similar box.[6] This is resisted. +The present King disposes of his own box (and will probably fill +it with every sort of _canaille_); 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. + + [6] [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.] + + +September 3rd, 1831 {p.188} + +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 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. + + +September 5th, 1831 {p.189} + +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. + + +September 8th, 1831 {p.189} + +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 Perier'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. + +[Page Head: ANECDOTES OF GEORGE IV.] + +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[7] entreaty he allowed some box to be searched that +L3,000 was found in it. He always had money. When he died they +found L10,000 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 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, _gages d'amour_ 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 _cortege_ are passing down to Westminster Abbey to the +coronation, a grand procession, a fine day, an immense crowd, and +great acclamations.) + + [7] [Colonel George Leigh, who managed his race-horses; he + was married to Lord Byron's half-sister.] + +[Page Head: THE DUCHESS OF KENT.] + +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 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. + +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 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. + +[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.] + +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 _Corps Diplomatique_ 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.[8] + + [8] [The Earl of Darlington had been made Marquis of + Cleveland in 1827, and was raised to the dukedom in + January 1833.] + + +September 17th, 1831 {p.193} + +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. + +[Page Head: A DINNER AT ST. JAMES'S.] + +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.' + +In the meantime Reform, which has subsided into a calm for some +time past, is approaching its termination in the 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. + + +Stoke, September 18th, 1831 {p.194} + +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 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. + + +September 19th, 1831 {p.195} + +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'Abrantes's 'Memoirs,' and of her +mother, Madame Pernon. My father said, 'M. de Marboeuf etait _un +peu_ l'amant de Madame Pernon, n'est-ce pas?' He said, 'Oui, mais +je ne _sais pas dans quelles proportions_.' + + +September 20th, 1831 {p.195} + +[Page Head: STATE OF FRANCE.] + +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 _man_ or _woman_ 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 etait fatigue.' 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 them to do so. I asked him +what he thought would be the result of the dissolution of +Perier's Government; I said that there appeared to me two +alternatives, a general _bouleversement_ or the war faction in +power under the existing system. He replied he did not think +there would now be a _bouleversement_, 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. + +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. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI. + +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 _v._ 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. + + +September 22nd, 1831 {p.197} + +[Page Head: PROSPECTS OF THE REFORM BILL.] + +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. + +There was a dinner at Apsley House yesterday; the Cabinet of +Opposition, to discuss matters before having 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 _desired_ 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 _now_ that it is +safe or prudent to oppose the second reading; 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. + + +September 24th, 1831 {p.199} + +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 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. + +Dined at Richmond on Friday with the Lyndhursts; the _mari_ talks +against the Bill, the women for it. They are like the old +divisions of families in the Civil Wars. + +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. + +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. + + +Newmarket, October 1st, 1831 {p.200} + +[Page Head: PROSPECTS OF THE REFORM BILL.] + +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 +_sans-culottins_ of the present day. He wrote to Lord Wharncliffe +and said he wished to confer with him, that if he would grant him +an 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. + +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. + + +Riddlesworth, October 10th, 1831 {p.201} + +At Newmarket all last week; all the Peers absent; here since +Friday. Yesterday morning the newspapers (all in black[1]) +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 +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. + + [1] [Not all of them; neither the 'Times' nor the 'Morning + Herald.'.] + +[Page Head: DORSETSHIRE ELECTION.] + +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 _change_, though +not of a _reaction_, 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. + + +Buckenham, October 11th, 1831 {p.203} + +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. + + +October 12th, 1831 {p.203} + +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 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;[2] 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 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. + + [2] This was very unjust to Macaulay, and not true as to + Sheil; to O'Connell alone applicable. + +[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.--July +1838.] + + +October 14th, 1831 {p.205} + +[Page Head: LORD GREY AND BISHOP PHILLPOTTS.] + +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 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. + + +October 15th, 1831 {p.206} + +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 _in +limine_ 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 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. + +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 _the Bill_ 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, 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. + + +Newmarket, October 23rd, 1831 {p.208} + +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. + + +London, November 11th, 1831 {p.208} + +[Page Head: RIOTS AT BRISTOL.] + +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,[3] which for brutal ferocity and wanton, unprovoked +violence may vie with some of the worst scenes of the 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 _carte +blanche_, 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. + + [3] [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.] + + +November 14th, 1831 {p.210} + +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 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. + +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. + + +Roehampton, November 19th, 1831 {p.211} + +[Page Head: OVERTURES FOR A COMPROMISE.] + +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 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 L10 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. + +[Page Head: NEGOTIATION WITH THE WAVERERS] + +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 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. + +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. + + +November 21st, 1831 {p.214} + +Came to town from Roehampton yesterday morning, saw Henry de Ros, +who had seen Barnes[4] 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 _jeter feu et flamme_. 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 +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. + + [4] [Then editor of the 'Times' newspaper.] + + +November 22nd, 1831 {p.215} + +[Page Head: PROCLAMATION AGAINST THE UNIONS] + +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. + +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 would sanction them if they had really +the tendency that George Bentinck gives me to understand. + +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 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. + + +November 23rd, 1831 {p.217} + +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 L200 to +Colonel Creagh (which Althorp immediately advanced) to relieve +the immediate and pressing cases of distress. + +[Page Head: DISAPPOINTMENT.] + +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 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. + + +November 28th, 1831 {p.218} + +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 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. + +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'Orleans 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., Napoleon II, La Republique, 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), 'A la guillotine! a la +guillotine!' Luckner turned round and said, '_On_ y va, canaille.' + +[Page Head: POULETT THOMSON.] + +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, + + The ghost of Miltiades came by night, + And stood by the bed of the Benthamite; + +but he has been at Paris some time, understanding the 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. + +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. + + +November 30th, 1831 {p.220} + +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 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, _their_ county should not have more +representatives; that corporate rights should be saved, though +with an infusion of L10 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. + +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. + + +December 3rd, 1831 {p.221} + +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, 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, _because_ 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. + + +December 4th, 1831 {p.222} + +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 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 _doucereux_--all which +proves that they _do_ 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. + + +December 7th, 1831 {p.223} + +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 +_as an amendment_. 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 _at +the treaty_, 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. + + +December 8th, 1831 {p.223} + +[Page Head: AN APPEAL FROM LORD CHANCELLOR BROUGHAM.] + +At Court yesterday to swear in Erskine,[5] 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;[6] 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 +have somebody to hear it _with me_.' 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 _a right_ to hear it. I sit there as a Privy +Councillor.' 'Oh,' I said, 'you have certainly _a right_ 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 _him_, and should make a point of summoning all +the great law authorities of the Privy Council. This was the case +of Drax _v._ 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. + + [5] [Right Hon. Thomas Erskine, a son of Lord Chancellor + Erskine, Chief Judge in Bankruptcy, and afterwards a + Justice of the Court of Common Pleas.] + + [6] [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 _v._ Grosvenor + is reported in Knapp's 'Privy Council Reports.'.] + +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. + + +December 11th, 1831 {p.224} + +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.' + +[Page Head: THE SECOND REFORM BILL.] + +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. + +_In the evening._--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. + +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 _sortie_ 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 +_them_ as he was _their_ head, and to _Althorp_ 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 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.' + + +December 13th, 1831 {p.227} + +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. + +[Page Head: CONFESSION OF A BODY-SNATCHER.] + +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 so +disagreeably implicated that they choose to conceal these +horrors. + + +December 14th, 1831 {p.228} + +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. + + +December 20th, 1831 {p.228} + +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. + + * * * * * + + 1832. + + +Panshanger, January 1st, 1832 {p.229} + +[Page Head: PANSHANGER.] + +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. + + +Panshanger, January 6th, 1832 {p.229} + +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. + + +Gorhambury, January 7th, 1832 {p.229} + +[Page Head: EFFORTS OF THE MODERATE PARTY.] + +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: +the question about the Peers is still under discussion; Lord Grey +and the ultra party want to make a dozen, _now_, 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 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. + + +Panshanger, January 13th, 1832 {p.231} + +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. + +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 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. + +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 _he would not vote +with them_, 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 _was_ 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. + + +January 15th, 1832 {p.232} + +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 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 _a few_ +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. + + +London, January 20th, 1832 {p.233} + +[Page Head: WHARNCLIFFE'S INTERVIEW WITH THE KING.] + +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 _coup d'etat_ as this creation of Peers would be; to look +at what had happened in France, and to bear in mind that 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. + +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. + +[Page Head: THE WAVERERS AND WELLINGTON.] + +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 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. + +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 _upon this question_. 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 _on this +occasion_ without offending or quarrelling 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. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + +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. + + +January 24th, 1832 {p.237} + +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 _pledged_ 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 to Grosvenor Square, +and had a long conference with Harrowby, whom I found equally +undecided. + +[Page Head: PLANS OF CONCILIATION.] + +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 +_before_ 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 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. + + +January 25th, 1832 {p.239} + +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, +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. + +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. + + +January 29th, 1832 {p.240} + +[Page Head: DISCREDIT OF MINISTERS.] + +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 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.[1] 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 _that account_, 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. + + [1] [For a more particular account of the question of the + Russo-Dutch Loan, see _infra_ [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.] + +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 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. + + +February 2nd, 1832 {p.242} + +[Page Head: SIR HENRY PARNELL.] + +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 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[2] 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. + + [2] [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.] + + +February 4th, 1832 {p.243} + +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 _will_ follow the Duke; the +Duke _will_ 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. + +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 _de jure_ separated, and that the +_casus_ 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 _quota_ 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. + + +February 5th, 1832 {p.245} + +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 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 _caractere_, 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. + + +February 6th, 1832 {p.245} + +[Page Head: MACAULAY AT HOLLAND HOUSE.] + +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 Caesar and Scaliger 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 MACAULAY, 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 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 desirait a +present entendre Monsieur Macaulay.' + + +February 7th, 1832 {p.247} + +[Page Head: RELUCTANCE TO MAKE PEERS.] + +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 _bona fide_ 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 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 _valet de chambre_ sweeping away a _bonnet_ and a +_shawl_. + +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 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. + +[Page Head: PEEL'S DESPONDENCY.] + +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 republica,' 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 + + May point a moral or adorn a tale. + +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.' + + +February 9th, 1832 {p.249} + +[Page Head: CONVERSATION WITH LORD GREY.] + +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 _sure_? 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 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 _spirit_ of +compromise. It is certainly easier now, and very different from +the House of Commons, where I have always thought they _could_ +make no concession. In the House of Lords they may without +difficulty. I dread the obstinate of both parties. + + +February 11th, 1832 {p.251} + +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 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 _multa +gemens_, 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 +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. + +[Page Head: WELLINGTON AND WHARNCLIFFE.] + +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 _Lord Howe_ 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 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; _sic vult sic jubet_ 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. + + +February 14th, 1832 {p.254} + +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 +_at_ 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 _pledges_ 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. + +[Page Head: CONVERSATION WITH LORD PALMERSTON.] + +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 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 _to +carry the second reading_; 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[3] 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 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 _then_ 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 (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, _they_ 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 _same_ 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 L10, 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; and we +should try and blend them together into some feasible compromise. + + [3] 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. + +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. + +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 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. + + +February 14th, 1832 {p.259} + +[Page Head: INTERVIEW OF LORD HARROWBY AND LORD GREY.] + +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. + + +February 17th, 1832 {p.259} + +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 +_dans le vague_; but a disposition to mutual confidence 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. + +'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, _in the event of no creation of Peers_, 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.'[4] + + [4] This is the substance, not a textual copy. + +At present the principal difficulty promises to be the L10 +clause. Lord Grey seemed to think this could not be altered. +Wharncliffe asked if it might not be modified, and so settled as +to secure its being a _bona fide_ L10 clause, from which Lord +Grey did not dissent, but answered rather vaguely. + +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 'etait une +mauvaise tete!' Very amusing from him, but he is provoked to +death that anybody should venture to desert from him. + +[Page Head: DISTRESS IN BETHNAL GREEN.] + +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 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. + + +February 20th, 1832 {p.262} + +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. + + +February 23rd, 1832 {p.262} + +[Page Head: LORD HARROWBY'S LETTER.] + +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 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. + + +February 24th, 1832 {p.263} + +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. + +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 _since the +interview_, but I told them it was _three weeks before_, 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, 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. + + +February 29th, 1832 {p.264} + +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. 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. + + +March 6th, 1842 {p.265} + +[Page Head: VIOLENCE OF EXTREME PARTIES.] + +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 +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[5] below contempt, seduced +and governed by anybody who will minister to his vanity and +presume upon his facility. + + [5] By character I mean what the French call _caractere_, + not that he is wanting in honour and honesty, nor in + ability, but in resolution and strength of mind. + +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 _pachydermatous_ 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 coeur 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. + + +March 9th, 1832 {p.266} + +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 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. + +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. + +[Page Head: IRISH NATIONAL EDUCATION.] + +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 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. + + +March 10th, 1832 {p.268} + +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 _then_. 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 L10 clause, Wharncliffe _thinks_ 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 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. + + +March 12th, 1832 {p.269} + +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. + + +March 16th, 1832 {p.269} + +[Page Head: IRISH TITHES.] + +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 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 +Perier's, done in a hurry, a mistake, and yet he is a very able +man. Talleyrand told me 'c'est une betise.' Nothing goes on well; +the world is out of joint. + +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. + + +March 26th, 1832 {p.270} + +[Page Head: REFORM BILL IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.] + +Ten days since I have written anything here, but _en revanche_ 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 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 _de part et d'autre_ to +nothing, and that they will not be provoked by taunts from any +quarter to depart from that prudent course. + +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 _for_, 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 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. + + I see + The monster London laugh at me; + I would at thee, too, foolish City, + But thy estate I pity. + Should all the wicked men from out thee go, + And all the fools that crowd thee so, + Thou, who dost thy thousands boast, + Would be a wilderness almost.--_Ode to Solitude._ + +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 _status quo ante pacem_. 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. + + +March 27th, 1832 {p.272} + +[Page Head: DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.] + +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 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 _efficiency_, 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 _so far_ of +'the Waverers.' + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + +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. + + +March 28th, 1832 {p.274} + +[Page Head: LORD HARROWBY'S PATRIOTIC CONDUCT.] + +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 +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 +_lists_, 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 him, was +anxious to do so, and intended to advise his friends to take that +course. + + +April 1st, 1832 {p.276} + +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 L10 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 Grey's proposition which Harrowby rejected--but I +suggested keeping the whole and varying the qualification, to +which he thought no objection would lie. + +[Page Head: CONVERSATION WITH LORD MELBOURNE.] + +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 _now_, 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 do +not see how the Government is to be carried on without them_. +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 talk, but +then it is all talk, and _a quoi bon_ 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. + +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.[1] + + [1] [Of the Belgian Treaty.] + +[Page Head: THE CHOLERA IN ENGLAND.] + +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 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 _general_ +diffusion of the comforts of life (varying of course with every +variety of circumstance which can affect 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. + + +April 4th, 1832 {p.280} + +[Page Head: A DIFFICULTY AT SCHEDULE A.] + +Charles Wood[2] came to me yesterday, and brought a paper showing +the various effects of a different qualification from L10 to L40 +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 _that fifty-six +boroughs be disfranchised_. 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 _seriatim_. 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 +_fifty-six_; 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 _they_ 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. + + [2] [Mr. Charles Wood, afterwards Viscount Halifax, but at + this time private Secretary to Earl Grey, whose + daughter he married.] + + +April 6th, 1832 {p.281} + +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 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 _now_ 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. + +[Page Head: THE KING'S RELUCTANCE TO MAKE PEERS.] + +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, 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 _coup_. 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. + + +April 8th, 1832 {p.283} + +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. + +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 Peers in case the second +reading was thrown out.[3] 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 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. + + [3] [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.] + +[Page Head: 'THE HUNCHBACK.'.] + +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. + +The Duke of Wellington made a very good speech on Irish affairs +on Friday, one of his best, and he speaks admirably _to points_ +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. + + +April 9th, 1832 {p.285} + +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 _fifty-six_. +Lord Grey came in, and talked the whole thing over. He said he +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. + + +April 11th, 1832 {p.286} + +[Page Head: REFORM BILL CARRIED IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.] + +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 last year. As to our business, it is +'la mer a boire,' with nobody to canvass or whip in, and not +being a party. We shall, however, I believe, manage it, and but +just. + +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. + + +April 14th, 1832 {p.287} + +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. + +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 nothing of it whatever; there many of the +upper classes have died of it. Casimir Perier 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. + + +April 15th, 1832 {p.288} + +[Page Head: LORD WHARNCLIFFE AND LORD HARROWBY.] + +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 _almost_ 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 reading is 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 _pari passu_ 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. + +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 he was the object was, of course, the most +amusing part of the whole. + + +Newmarket, April 22nd, 1832 {p.290} + +[Page Head: MEETING OF LORD GREY AND LORD WHARNCLIFFE.] + +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 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.' + + +London, May 12th, 1832 {p.291} + +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.[4] The Committee 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. + + [4] [It was on the 7th of May that the Lords went into + Committee on the Bill, and Lord Lyndhurst's motion to + postpone the _dis_franchising clauses until after the + _en_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.] + +[Page Head: DEFEAT OF GOVERNMENT IN COMMITTEE.] + +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 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 _he_ 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 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. + +[Page Head: POSITION OF PARTIES.] + +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. + +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 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.] + +The King took leave of his Ministers with a great effusion of +tenderness, particularly to Richmond, whom he entreated to remain +in office; but I take it that he easily consoles himself, and +does not care much more for one Minister than another. + +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. + +[Page Head: PEEL REFUSES TO TAKE OFFICE.] + +The Tories are very indignant with Peel for not taking office, +and if, as it is supposed, he is to support Government 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. + + +Monday, May 14th, 1832 {p.297} + +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, 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 _coup_ has been preparing for some time. All the Royal +Family, bastards and all, have been incessantly _at_ the King, and +he has probably had more difficulty in the long run in resisting +the constant importunity of his _entourage_, 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. + +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.[5] + + [5] [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.] + + +London, May 17th, 1832 {p.298} + +[Page Head: WELLINGTON'S EFFORTS TO FORM A MINISTRY.] + +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 and prevail upon Peel to be Prime Minister, but he +was inexorable. He then turned to Baring,[6] 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 _damned +tiresome old bitch_.' 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.[7] +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 _to carry the Bill_, 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, 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. + + [6] [Alexander Baring, afterwards Lord Ashburton.] + + [7] [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.] + +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.[8] + + [8] [These communications have been published in the + 'Correspondence of Earl Grey with William IV.,' vol. + ii. pp. 406-411.] + +[Page Head: TRIUMPH OF THE WHIGS.] + +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, 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 _expose_ +to-night. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + + +May 19th, 1832 {p.302} + +The night before last the Duke made his statement. It was +extremely clear, but very bald, and left 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. + +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. + +[Page Head: THE KING'S LETTER TO THE PEERS.] + +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 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. + +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 _con amore_, and that he is +doubly rejoiced to be out of the scrape himself and to leave +others in it. + + +May 31st, 1832 {p.304} + +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. + + +June 1st, 1832 {p.305} + +[Page Head: FAVOURITES OF LOUIS XVIII.] + +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 _gentleman_ +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 Fouche. He did not take +Fouche, 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 to +make an _esclandre_ and leave the chateau 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.[9] 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'Angouleme 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 _brouille_ 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. + + [9] [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].] + + +June 18th, 1832 {p.306} + +[Page Head: CHARACTER OF WILLIAM IV.] + +Breakfasted on Thursday with Rogers, and yesterday at the +Athenaeum 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 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, Perier, Champollion, Cuvier, Scott, Grant, +Mackintosh, all died within a few weeks of each other. + + +June 25th, 1832 {p.307} + +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. + + +July 12th, 1832 {p.307} + +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 Starkie against. The former made two very +able and ingenious speeches; when the counsel withdrew the Lords +gave their opinions _seriatim_. Leach made a very short and very +neat speech, condemning the order[10] 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. + + [10] 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. + +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. 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. + +[Page Head: O'CONNELL'S DREAD OF CHOLERA.] + +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. + + +July 15th, 1832 {p.309} + +[Page Head: IRISH TITHES.] + +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 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 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. + + +July 25th, 1832 {p.311} + +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 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. + +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. + + +July 29th, 1832 {p.312} + +[Page Head: QUARREL BETWEEN BROUGHAM AND SUGDEN.] + +There has been a great breeze between the Chancellor and Sugden, +abusing and retorting upon each 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 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. + +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 +L700,000 a year--a good deal for two millions of people. + + +August 1st, 1832 {p.314} + +[Page Head: BROUGHAM'S RESENTMENT.] + +Here is an anecdote exhibiting the character of Brougham, hot, +passionate, and precipitate. He is preparing 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 _question itself_, 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. + + +August 8th, 1832 {p.315} + +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 +_coquin_ for another, the Portuguese think they may as well have +Miguel. 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 _amende_ 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. + +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.' + +Johnson liked Fox because he defended his pension, and said it +was only to blame in not being large enough. 'Fox,' he said, 'is +a liberal man; he would always be "aut Caesar aut nullus;" +whenever I have seen him he has been _nullus_.' 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. + + +August 12th, 1832 {p.317} + +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. + +[Page Head: CHARACTER OF MACAULAY.] + +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 _agreeable_. 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 +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. + + +Shepperton, August 31st, 1832 {p.318} + +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 retired from the world.[11] 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. + + [11] [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.] + + +September 18th, 1832 {p.319} + +[Page Head: ANECDOTES OF PRINCESS CHARLOTTE.] + +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 nobody else, not knowing that he +was already married _de la main gauche_ 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 _pourparlers_ 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. + +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 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 _Paradiso_ Naples. + + +September 28th, 1832 {p.321} + +[Page Head: BELGIUM, SPAIN, FRANCE.] + +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. + +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 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 Vendee 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. + +[Page Head: CONVERSATION WITH LORD MELBOURNE.] + +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 _individual_ 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. 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 _talent_, which, however, is +different from _wisdom_. 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. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX. + +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--_Tableau_ 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. + + +London, October 7th, 1832 {p.324} + +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. + + +October 12th, 1832 {p.324} + +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, 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? + + +Euston, October 26th, 1832 {p.325} + +[Page Head: TORY ATTEMPTS TO FORM A MINISTRY.] + +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. + +[Page Head: MANNERS SUTTON PROPOSED AS PREMIER.] + +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 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. + +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 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 +_his_ 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, 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. + +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 _pourparlers_, 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 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.] + + +November 7th, 1832 {p.329} + +[Page Head: EMBARGO ON DUTCH SHIPS.] + +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 _totis viribus_ 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. + +[Page Head: DENMAN LORD CHIEF JUSTICE.] + +Lord Tenterden died on Sunday night, and no time was 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 _v._ 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 +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.] + +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. + + +November 15th, 1832 {p.331} + +Sheriff business at the Exchequer Court on Monday; saw Lyndhurst +and Denman meet and shake hands with much politeness and grimace. + + +November 20th, 1832 {p.331} + +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 inconvenient than thus shortening the +day, and nothing more tiresome than such lengthening of the +evening. Rogers and Luttrell were staying there. The _tableau_ 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 +_desagrements_. 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.' + + +November 27th, 1832 {p.332} + +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. 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. + +[Page Head: THE SPEAKERSHIP.] + +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. _Haeret lateri_--the offer of the Attorney-Generalship, +and the day of vengeance is intended to come.[1] + + [1] [This refers to Lord Grey's having offered the + Attorney-Generalship to Brougham when Government was + formed.] + +After considerable delay Horne and Campbell were appointed +Attorney- and Solicitor-General; the delay was 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. + +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. + + +Brighton, December 14th, 1832 {p.334} + +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. + + +Brighton, December 17th, 1832 {p.334} + +On Sunday I heard Anderson preach. He does not write his sermons, +but preaches from notes; very eloquent, voice and manner perfect, +one of the best I ever heard, both preacher and reader. + +[Page Head: MR. GULLY.] + +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 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. + + +Petworth, December 20th, 1832 {p.336} + +[Page Head: EARL OF EGREMONT.] + +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 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 L200,000 and L300,000 a year. Banks told me that the +Northumberland property, when settled on Sir H. Smithson, was not +above L12,000 a year.[2] + + [2] [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. + 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.] + + +Brighton, December 31st, 1832 {p.338} + +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. + +[Page Head: NAMIK PACHA.] + +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. + + * * * * * + + 1833. + + +January 3rd, 1833 {p.339} + +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[3] +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 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. + + [3] ['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.] + +[Page Head: LYNDHURST AND MANNERS SUTTON.] + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + + +London, January 11th, 1833 {p.341} + +Came to town with Alvanley the day before yesterday. Howe plucked +up courage, spoke to the King and Queen, and settled Denbigh's +appointment,[4] 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 _moyennant_ a douceur +of L2,500 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 '_where he meant to be buried!_' + + [4] [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.] + +[Page Head: STATE OF THE TORY PARTY.] + +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 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. + + +January 17th, 1833 {p.343} + +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. + +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 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 _now_ as a party. + +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, _to_ Western and about Lord Stafford. He now +appears to be very fond of his Ministers. + + +January 19th, 1833 {p.344} + +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 _ergo_ 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 _currente calamo_ +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. + + +January 22nd, 1833 {p.344} + +[Page Head: VISIT TO HARTWELL.] + +Dined with Talleyrand the day before yesterday. Nobody there but +his _attaches_. 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, +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,[5] 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 Stael; afterwards they came to London, and +in the meantime Pitt had got into the hands of the _emigres_, 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. + + [5] [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.] + + A VISIT TO HARTWELL. + April 14th, 1814. + + 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. + 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'Angouleme 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. + 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 _salon_ 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'Angouleme, + Monsieur the Duc d'Angouleme, the Duc de Berri, the + Prince and Princess de Conde (_ci-devant_ Madame de + Monaco), and a vast number of ducs, &c.; Madame la + Duchesse de Serron (a little old _dame d'honneur_ to + Madame d'Angouleme), the Duc de Lorges, the Duc + d'Auray, the Archeveque 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'Angouleme 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'Angouleme, 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 Conde + 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 tres-mal loges, mais on donne ce + qu'on peut.' Soon after eleven the King retired, when + we separated for the night. We were certainly 'tres-mal + loges.' 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. + + +January 24th, 1833 {p.346} + +I have at last made Lord Lansdowne 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. + +Dined with Talleyrand yesterday; Pozzo, who said little and +seemed low; Talleyrand _talked_ 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 _a propos_ 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. + + +January 26th, 1833 {p.347} + +[Page Head: ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.] + +[Page Head: HENRY TAYLOR ON ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.] + +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 +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,[6] 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 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 coelum'--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. + + [6] [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.] + + +January 30th, 1833 {p.349} + +The intentions of Government with regard to the West Indies (or +rather that they have intentions 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.' 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. + +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 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 _a corps_ of _Arab guides_!' + + +February 1st, 1833 {p.351} + +[Page Head: RUSSIA AND TURKEY.] + +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 +_Ireland_. + +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 +etait 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.[7] + + [7] [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.] + + +February 2nd, 1833 {p.351} + +Dinner at Lord Lansdowne's for the 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. + + +February 4th, 1833 {p.352} + +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. + +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 Charge 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. + +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 _coup de theatre_ 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. + + +February 10th, 1833 {p.353} + +[Page Head: DEBATE ON THE ADDRESS.] + +After four days' debate in the House of Commons (quite +unprecedented, I believe) the Address was carried by a large +majority.[8] 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. + + [8] [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.] + +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. 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. + + +February 14th, 1833 {p.354} + +[Page Head: CHARACTER OF PEEL.] + +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 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 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. + + + + + CHAPTER XX. + +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 _v._ 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 _v._ 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. + + +February 16th, 1833 {p.357} + +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, +_soupconneux, pointilleux, defiant_;' 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. 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 _bien comble_ +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 tres-petit esprit--lourd, obstine,' &c., and +she is astonished how Lady C. with her _finesse_ can be so taken +with him. + +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 _she_ and her +_Court_ 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. + +[Page Head: LORD GREY'S COERCION BILL.] + +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 _consomme_ of insurrection-gagging +Acts, suspension of Habeas Corpus, martial law, and one or two +other little hards and sharps.[1] + + [1] [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.] + + +London, February 22nd, 1833 {p.359} + +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 _a propos_ 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. + +Stephen, who is one of the great apostles of emancipation, and +who resigned a profession worth L3,000 a year at the Bar for a +place of L1,500 in the Colonial Office, principally in 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 _any_ 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. + +[Page Head: ASPECT OF THE NEW HOUSE OF COMMONS.] + +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 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 _party_ 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 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. + + +February 27th, 1833 {p.362} + +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. + +[Page Head: DUKE OF WELLINGTON'S VIEW OF AFFAIRS.] + +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 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.] + +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 we did not acknowledge him, but in that of the Allied +Powers.' In this I think he was wrong (_par parenthese_), 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. + + +March 4th, 1833 {p.364} + +Sir Thomas Hardy told my brother he thought the King would +certainly go mad; he was so excitable, _loathing_ 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. + + +March 13th, 1833 {p.364} + +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. + +[Page Head: LORD BROUGHAM'S PRIVY COUNCIL BILL.] + +I have been again worried with a new edition of Brougham's Privy +Council Bill,[2] and the difficulty of getting Lord Lansdowne to +_do_ 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 _employes_ (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 _the Bill_ 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 '_by the +bearer_,' with any remarks I may have to make on it. The end is +that I am left, _quantum impar_, to fight this with the +Chancellor. + + [2] [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.] + + +March 15th, 1833 {p.365} + +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. + + + * * * * * + + +March 29th, 1833 {p.365} + +Lord Goderich is Privy Seal,[3] and Stanley Secretary for the +Colonies, after much trouble. Last year a 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 _only_ to the King's express commands. + + [3] [Down to this time Lord Goderich had been Secretary for + the Colonial Department in Lord Grey's Government.] + + +March 30th, 1833 {p.366} + +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 a 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 +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 +eclatante'--'le rappel et le desaveu 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 ou +etait l'Angleterre dans tout ceci?' + +[Page Head: PRECARIOUS STATE OF THE GOVERNMENT.] + +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 _bullied_ 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; _the Garter_--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! + + +London, April 28th, 1833 {p.368} + +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 journee.' 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. + + +May 2nd, 1833 {p.368} + +The Government affair is patched up, and nobody goes but +Hobhouse,[4] 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! + + [4] [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.] + +[Page Head: EMBARRASSMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT.] + +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 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. + +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.[5] Two years +have nearly elapsed since that case 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[6]), 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. + + [5] [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 _v._ 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.] + + [6] [John Barrett Lennard, Esq., was Chief Clerk of the + Council Office.] + + +May 16th, 1833 {p.370} + +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. + +[Page Head: SLAVE EMANCIPATION.] + +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.[7] + + [7] [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.] + +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 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 Charge d'Affaires +who is altogether incompetent. + + +May 19th, 1833 {p.372} + +[Page Head: RESPECT SHOWN TO WELLINGTON.] + +They have found a Secretary for Ireland in the person of +Littleton,[8] 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 _popularity_, 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 +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. + + [8] [The Rt. Hon. E. J. Littleton, M.P. for Staffordshire, + and afterwards first Lord Hatherton. + 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.] + +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. + +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. + + +May 27th, 1833 {p.373} + +[Page Head: ANECDOTE OF THE DERBY.] + +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 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, _make a book_ +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 _totus in illis_;' 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 +him to take the odds for him to L1,000 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 L700, but the same person told him if my +horse _could_ not win Dangerous would, and he backed the latter +likewise for L100, by which his friend was saved, and won L800. +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. + +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. + + +June 3rd, 1833 {p.375} + +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 _they_ 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.' + +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. + + +London, June 11th, 1833 {p.376} + +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. + +[Page Head: TORY BLUNDERS.] + +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 _strong_, +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 _provoked_ 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, 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 _really_) cutting each others' throats. + +[Page Head: LORD ELDON'S GREAT CAREER.] + +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,[9] who made a sort of apology +for his 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. 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. + + [9] [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.] + + +June 15th, 1833 {p.379} + +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 _right_; 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, 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 _could not_; 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. + +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. + + +June 19th, 1833 {p.380} + +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. + +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 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,[10] 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. + + [20] [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.] + + +June 26th, 1833 {p.381} + +[Page Head: IRISH CHURCH BILL.] + +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 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 _right_ 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. + +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. + +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 L500 for the manuscripts +some years 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. + + +June 28th, 1833 {p.383} + +[Page Head: THE KING WRITES TO THE ARCHBISHOP.] + +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 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. + +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. + + + + + END OF THE SECOND VOLUME. + + + LONDON: PRINTED BY + SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE + AND PARLIAMENT STREET + + + + + INDEX. + + +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 + +Aberdeen, Earl of, Duchy of Lancaster, i. 124; motion about + Belgium, ii. 238 + +Achmet Pacha, concludes a treaty with Russia, iii. 69 + +Adair, Right Hon. Sir Robert, sworn in Privy Councillor, i. 136 + +Addington, Henry Unwin, recalled from Madrid, iii. 14 + +Address, proposed amendment to the, iii. 217 + +Adelaide, Queen, ii. 7; at the Ancient Concert, 133; mobbed in + the City, 141; audience of, about the crown, 179; coronation + of, 190; Lord Howe, 338; yacht, iii. 99; return of, 125; + illness of, 125; supposed to be with child, 198, 199, 201 + +Adrian's Villa, i. 377 + +Agar Ellis, _see_ Dover, Lord + +Alava, General, and the Duke of Cumberland, iii. 275 + +Albani, Cardinal, influence of, i. 310; conversation with, 373; + interview with, 380 + +Albano, i. 331 + +Alexander, Emperor of Russia, death of, i. 78; coronation of, + described by Talleyrand, ii. 185 + +Allen, Dr., Bishop of Ely, iii. 363 + +Allen, John, iii. 135; unbelief of, 324 + +Althorp, Viscount, proposed as Chairman of the Finance Committee, + i. 120; Chancellor of the Exchequer, ii. 66, introduces the + budget, 114; leader of the House of Commons, 116, 200; letter + to Attwood, 205, 206; hurries on the Irish Church Bill, 364; 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 + +Alvanley, Lord, duel with Morgan O'Connell, ii. 257; on Irish + affairs, 348 + +America, dispute with France, iii. 322 + +Anglesey, Marquis of, recalled, i. 149; entry into Dublin, ii. + 99; disputes with O'Connell, 106 + +Antwerp, threatened bombardment of, by the Dutch, ii. 321; French + army marches to, 329 + +Arbuthnot, Right Hon. Charles, nickname 'Gosh,' i. 103; + conversation with, on the Duke of Wellington's Administration, + ii. 51; conversation with, at Oatlands, 170 + +Arbuthnot, Mrs., death of, iii. 116 + +Arkwright, Sir Richard, fortunes of, iii. 50 + +Arkwright, Mrs., visit to, iii. 49 + +Arms Bill, the, ii. 196 + +Arnold, Dr., proposed for a bishopric, iii. 325 + +Artevelde, Philip van, iii. 114; discussed at Holland House, 128 + +Ascot Races, 1831, ii. 147; 1833, 375 + +Attwood, chairman of the Birmingham Union, ii. 205, 206; + proclamation against, 215 + +Auckland, Lord, Board of Trade, ii. 66; 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 + +Augustus, Prince, of Prussia, ii. 319 + +Austin, Mr. John, his work on Jurisprudence, iii. 138 + +Austin, Mr. Charles, ii. 306 + +Aylmer, Lord, recalled from Canada, iii. 394; the King's address + to him, 395 + + +Bachelor, valet to the Duke of York and to King George IV., i. + 142, 143; conversation with, ii. 30 + +Bagot, Lord, conduct to Lord Harrowby, ii. 253 + +Baiae, Bay of, i. 341 + +Baring, House of, ii. 53 + +Baring, Right Hon. Alexander, offered the Chancellorship of the + Exchequer, ii. 299; proposes a compromise with the ex-Ministers, + 300 + +Baring, Francis, Chairman of the West India Committee, iii. 279 + +Barnes, Mr., editor of the 'Times,' ii. 97, 214; negotiations + with, for supporting the Government, iii. 155, 156, 157; dines + with Lord Lyndhurst, 167, 169; alarm of, at the prevailing + spirit, 188 + +Barri, Madame du, ii. 219 + +Barry, Dr., sent to Sunderland, ii. 216; report on cholera, 217 + +Bath, Chapter of the Order of the, i. 254 + +Bathurst, Earl, Lord President, i. 124; death of, iii. 115; + character of, 115 + +Bathurst, Countess, conversation with, ii. 62 + +Bathurst, Hon. William, appointed Clerk of the Council, ii. 61, + 86; delay in appointment of, 74; sworn in Clerk of the Council, + 94 + +Bathurst, Lieut.-Colonel Hon. Seymour, death of, iii. 79 + +Baudrand, General, ii. 33; reception of, 38 + +Bazaar, in Hanover Square, ii. 383 + +Beauclerc, Lord Aurelius, dances a country dance with the King, + ii. 341 + +Belgian question, the, settlement of, ii. 314 + +Belgium, revolution in, ii. 41; affairs of, 44; unsettled state + of, 69; deputation from, 160; fortresses of, 169; invaded by + the Dutch, 175; French army refuses to leave, 181; end of + hostilities with the Dutch, 184; Conference, 1832, 321 + +Belmore, Earl of, Governor of Jamaica, i. 140, 147 + +Belvoir Castle, iii. 46 + +Benson, Canon, sermon at the Temple Church, ii. 113 + +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 + +Bentinck, Lord Henry, quarrel with Sir Roger Gresley, ii. 148 + +Bergara, Convention of, iii. 259 + +Berri, Duchesse de, in La Vendee, ii. 322 + +Berry, Miss, iii. 58 + +Berryer, M., iii. 379; appearance of, 380 + +Best, Right Hon. William Draper, _see_ Lord Wynford + +Bethnal Green, distress in, ii. 261 + +Bexley, Lord, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, i. 95 + +Bickersteth, Henry, _see_ Lord Langdale + +Blacas, M. de, favourite of Louis XVIII., ii. 305 + +Black Book, the, ii. 79 + +Bloomfield, Sir Benjamin, dismissal of, i. 55 + +Blount, Rev. Mr., sermon, iii. 12 + +Body-snatchers, ii. 227 + +Bologna, i. 402 + +Bonaparte, Emperor Napoleon, in the 100 days, i. 24; campaigns + of, described by Marshal Marmont, ii. 35 + +Bonaparte, Louis Napoleon, Strasburg attempt, iii. 381 + +Bonaparte, Joseph, at dinner at Lady Cork's, iii. 18 + +Bonaparte, Lucien, introduced to the Duke of Wellington, iii. 11; + at dinner at Lady Cork's, 18 + +Boodle's, dinner at, ii. 124 + +Bosanquet, Right Hon. Sir John Bernard, sworn in a Privy + Councillor, iii. 30; Judge of the King's Bench, 71 + +Boswell, 'Life of Johnson,' anecdotes lost, ii. 105 + +Boulogne, iii. 388 + +Bourbon, Duke de, death of, ii. 50 + +Bourmont, Marshal de, marches on Lisbon, iii. 25 + +Bourne, Right Hon. Sturges, Secretary of State for the Home + Department, i. 95 + +Bowring, Dr., sent to Paris, ii. 219; satire of Moore on, 219; + career of, 220 + +Bradshaw, Mrs., acting of, at Bridgewater House, ii. 353 + +Brescia, i. 412 + +Bretby, visit to, iii. 327; Chesterfield Papers, 327 + +Bridgewater House, dramatic performances at, iii. 352, 355 + +Bridgewater Election, iii. 398 + +Brighton, the Court at, 1832, ii. 334; races, 1835, iii. 284 + +Bristol, riots at, ii. 208 + +Broglie, Duke de, conduct of, iii. 386 + +Brooks's Club, iii. 320 + +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. 18, 33; appointed Lord High + Chancellor, 65; discontent of, 65; social qualities of, 69; + anecdote of, 106; quarrel with Sugden, 106; correspondence with + Southey on rewards to literary men, 112; speech on Chancery + Reform, 118; domestic kindness of, 120; origin of + representation of Yorkshire, 125; as Lord Chancellor, 128; at + the Horse Guards, 129; as a judge, 145; at dinner at Hanbury's + brewery, 148; at the British Museum, 149; claims the old Great + Seal, 188; intention of sitting at the Privy Council, 223; + speech on the Russian Loan, 244; quarrel with Sugden, 312; + anecdote of, 314; Bill for creating a new Court of Appeal, 342; + Bill objected to, 344; Judicial Committee of the Privy Council + Bill, 365; sits on the case of Drax _v._ Grosvenor, 370; as + Chancellor, iii. 22; anecdotes of Queen Caroline, 36; and Sir + William Horne, 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 _v._ Kelly, + 260, 267; on the London University Charter, 261; judgment in + the case of Swift _v._ 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 + +Brummel, 'Beau,' i. 282 + +Brussels, disturbances at, ii. 40 + +Buccleuch, Duke of, subscription to election expenses, iii. 182 + +Budget, the, 1831, ii. 113 + +Buller, James, death of, ii. 59 + +Buelow, Baron von, on English affairs, iii. 211 + +Bulwer, Sir Edward Lytton, iii. 348 + +Bunsen, Baron, i. 315; career of, 327; on Roman affairs, 389 + +Burdett, Sir Francis, returned for Westminster, 1837, iii. 398 + +Burghersh, Lord, at Florence, i. 299; amateur opera, 301 + +Burghersh, Lady, intercedes for a prisoner at the Old Bailey, ii. + 85 + +Burghley, party at, iii. 53 + +Burke, Right Hon. Edmund, writings of, iii. 209; compared with + Mackintosh, 314 + +Burke, Sir G., conversation with, on O'Connell, ii. 111 + +Buxton, Fowell, dinner at the brewery, ii. 148 + +Byng, Right Hon. George, Lord of the Treasury, iii. 95 + +Byron, Lord, Moore's Life of, i. 272; character of, 273 + + +Cambridge, H.R.H. the Duchess of, reception of, i. 2 + +Cambridge, University of, petition for the admission of + Dissenters to the, iii. 72, 75 + +Campbell, Sir John, Solicitor-General, ii. 333; Attorney-General, + iii. 141 + +Canada, affairs in, iii. 350 + +Canning, Right Hon. Sir Stratford, Ambassador at St. Petersburg, + ii. 352, 357; anecdote of, iii. 39; offered the + Governor-Generalship of Canada, 234 + +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. 42; conversation with the King, + 102; correspondence with the Duke of Wellington, 103; coldness + to the Duke of Wellington, 103; anecdote of, 125; negotiation + with the Whigs, 170; influence over Lord Liverpool, 172; in + favour with the King, 172; on Reform, iii. 135; and King George + IV., 137 + +Canning, Lady, visit to, ii. 101; authorship of pamphlet, iii. 40 + +Canning, Mr. Charles, offered a Lordship of the Treasury, iii. + 202 + +Cannizzaro, Duchess of, iii. 11; crowns the Duke of Wellington, + 406 + +Canterbury, Archbishop of, indecision of the, ii. 250, 262, 263; + importance of support of the, 252, 253 + +Canterbury, Viscount, declines to go to Canada, iii. 234 + +Capo di Monte, i. 335 + +Capua, i. 360 + +Cardinals, the, i. 309 + +Carlisle, Earl of, Lord Privy Seal, i. 95; iii. 88 + +Carlists, the, in Spain, iii. 66 + +Carlos, Don, in London, iii. 98 + +Carlow election, iii. 348 + +Carnarvon, Earl of, refuses to move the address in the House of + Lords, iii. 202 + +Caroline, Queen, return of, i. 28; trial of, 31, 35; anecdote of, + iii. 37 + +Carvalho, Minister of Finance to Dom Pedro, iii. 93 + +Catacombs, the, _see_ Rome + +Catholic emancipation, i. 163, 172, 174 + +Catholic Relief Bill, excitement concerning the, i. 180; debates + on, _see_ Lords and Commons + +Cato Street Conspiracy, the, i. 26 + +Cayla, Madame du, i. 71; dinner at the Duke of Wellington's, 214; + Beranger's verses on, 215; favourite of Louis XVIII., ii. 306 + +Cenis, the Mont, i. 287 + +Champollion, Jean Francois, death of, ii. 307 + +Chapeau de Paille, the, purchase of, ii. 125 + +Chapel, near Holland House, unable to be consecrated, iii. 200 + +Charles I., King, head of, discovered at Windsor, ii. 168; + executioner of, iii. 132 + +Charles X., King, of France, arrival of in England, ii. 31; at + Lulworth Castle, 33; off Cowes, 34 + +Charlotte, Queen, illness of, i. 2, 3 + +Charlotte, H.R.H. the Princess, anecdotes of, ii. 319 + +Chartres, H.R.H. the Duc de, arrival of, i. 208 + +Chatham, Earl of, death of, iii. 316 + +Chatsworth, hospitality at, i. 237; charade at, 238; party at, + ii. 51 + +Chesterfield Papers, the, iii. 327 + +Chobert, the 'Fire King,' i. 276 + +Cholera, the, in Russia, ii. 57; account of, 150; preventive + measures against, 154, 216; effect on trade of, 156; spread of, + 161; alarm about, 169; at Berlin, 192; at Sunderland, 208, 210; + at Marseilles, 221; on the decline, 224; near Edinburgh, 240; + in London, 258, 259; in Bethnal Green, 261; account of, 278; + diminution of, 285; in Paris, 287; alarm in London, 309, 311 + +Christina, Queen, of Spain, iii. 66, 72; reported flight of, 360; + courage of, 365 + +Christmas trees, introduced by Princess Lieven at Panshanger, i. + 259 + +Church Bill, the, Committee on, iii. 199 + +Church Reform, iii. 206 + +City, the, address to the King, ii. 126; illumination in, 140; + election, 1835, iii. 184, 186, 187; anxiety in the money-market, + 373, 376 + +Civil List, the, excess of expenditure on, i. 253; for debates + on, _see_ Commons, House of + +Clanricarde, Marquis of, sworn in a Privy Councillor, ii. 78 + +Clarence, H.R.H. the Duke of, Lord High Admiral, i. 95; removal + of, from the office of Lord High Admiral, 138, 140. _See_ + William IV. + +Cobbett, William, trial of, ii. 158; returned for Oldham, 335; + takes his seat, 351; and Sir Robert Peel, 373 + +Cochrane, Lord, at Florence, i. 301; villa near Florence, 302 + +Codrington, Sir E., interview with the Duke of Wellington, i. 179 + +Coercion Bill, the, introduced, ii. 359 + +Colchester Election, iii. 112 + +Commons, House of; 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. 45; debate on the Evesham election, 25; + debate on the Civil List, 110; announcement of the Reform Bill, + 110; Pension List, 111; debate on Ireland, 112; Budget of 1831, + 113; proposed reductions, 118; introduction of the first Reform + Bill, 121; debates on the Reform Bill, 123, 125; debate on the + Timber duties, 130; debate on the Reform Bill, 131; division on + the Reform Bill, 132; Government defeated, 135; scene in the + House, 135; second reading of the Reform Bill, 156; Wine + duties, 160; Reform Bill, Schedule A, 170; second Reform Bill, + 227; debate on, and second reading of the second Reform Bill + carried, 228; Reform Bill supported by the Irish Members, 239; + division on the Russian Loan, 240; division on the sugar + duties, 267; Reform Bill passed, 270; debates, 296; violent + scene in debate on petition of the City of London, 299; Irish + Tithe question, 308; debate on, 309; debate on the Address, + 353; Irish Church Reform, 354; aspect of the reformed House, + 360; debate on Slave Emancipation, 371; vote of confidence in + the Ministers, 376; division on the Irish Church Bill, 381; + 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 + +Como, i. 414 + +Conroy, Sir John, ii. 190; iii. 3 + +Conservative Club, dinner at, ii. 327; speeches, 327 + +Constantine, the Grand Duke, accident to, i. 259; death of, ii. + 164 + +Convention signed between France, England, and Holland, ii. 375 + +Conyngham, Marquis of, Postmaster-General, iii. 88, 113 + +Conyngham, Marchioness of, i. 46; wears a Crown jewel, 48; Court + intrigues, 207 + +Conyngham, Lord Francis, i. 50 + +Coprogli, History of the Grand Vizier, iii. 115 + +Cornelius, painter, ii. 149 + +Coronation, the, of William IV., decided on, ii. 156; + preparations for, 157, 163, 165; estimates for, 181; disputes + over the arrangements for, 187 + +Cottenham, Lord, Lord High Chancellor, iii. 328 + +Cotton, Sir Willoughby, suppresses the insurrection in Jamaica, + ii. 262; on affairs in Jamaica, 380 + +Council, Clerk of the, Mr. Greville sworn in, i. 44; after the + accession of William IV., ii. 12; Lord Grey's Administration + sworn in, 71; for the proclamation against rioters, 73; + recorder's report in, 85; clerks of the, 87; scene at Council + for a new Great Seal, 188 + +Council, Privy: suttee case before the, ii. 307; embargo on Dutch + ships, 343; meeting of the, on the London University petition, + iii. 80; counter petition of Oxford and Cambridge, 80 + +Council, Cabinet: the first of Lord Melbourne's Administration, + iii. 120; the first of Sir Robert Peel's Administration, 174 + +Covent Garden Theatrical Fund Dinner, i. 205 + +Coventry, glove trade, ii. 224 + +Cowley, Abraham, lines from 'Ode to Solitude,' ii. 272 + +Cowper, Earl, at Panshanger, ii. 229 + +Cowper, Countess, at Panshanger, ii. 229 + +Cowper, William, Life of, by Southey, iii. 134 + +Cradock, Colonel, sent to Charles X., ii. 37 + +Crampton, Sir Philip, Irish story, i. 243 + +Craven, Earl of, disperses a mob, ii. 77; on the proposed new + Peers, 232 + +Craven, General the Hon. Berkeley, suicide of, iii. 350 + +Crawford, William, member for the City of London, iii. 188 + +Creevey, Mr., i. 235 + +Croker, Right Hon. John Wilson, edition of 'Boswell's Life of + Johnson,' ii. 105; reviews lost, 106 + +Cumberland, H.R.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. 5, 21 + +Cumberland, H.R.H. the Duchess of, i. 2 + +Cuvier, Baron, death of, ii. 307 + + +Dalberg, Duke de, letter on European affairs, ii. 44 + +Dawson, Right Hon. George Robert, speech on Catholic + Emancipation, i. 138, 200; sworn in a Privy Councillor, ii. 71 + +De Cazes, Duke, favourite of Louis XVIII., ii. 305; Ambassador to + the Court of St. James, 306 + +Dedel, M., Dutch Minister at the Court of St. James, iii, 32 + +Denbigh, Earl of, Chamberlain to Queen Adelaide, ii. 342; sworn + in Privy Councillor, 352 + +Denman, Lord, correspondence with the King, i. 156; sworn in a + Privy Councillor, ii. 329; Lord Chief Justice, 330; qualities + of, 331; meeting of, with Lord Brougham, in Bedfordshire, iii. + 71; raised to the Peerage, 74 + +Derby Dilly, the, iii. 236, 237, 253 + +De Ros, Lord, in Rome, i. 368 + +De Ros, Colonel, the Hon. Arthur John Hill, death of, i. 81; + character of, 82 + +Dickenson, Captain, trial of, by court-martial, i. 235 + +Diebitsch, Marshal, death of, from cholera, ii. 154 + +Dino, Duc de, arrest of the, i. 255 + +Dino, Duchesse de, ii. 57; on the state of France, 195 + +Discontent throughout the country, ii. 108 + +Disraeli, Benjamin, projects for sitting in Parliament, iii. 170 + +Dissenters' Marriage Bill, iii. 207, 230. For debates on, _see_ + Commons, House of + +Dorsetshire election, 1831, ii. 203, 207; crime in, iii. 77 + +Dover, Lord, resigns the Woods and Forests, ii. 109; created a + Peer, 150; death of, iii. 4; character of, 4; Life of Frederick + II., 6; book on the Man in the Iron Mask, 6 + +Down, deanery of, iii. 70 + +Drax _v._ Grosvenor, case of, ii. 224; lunacy case, 369; decision + on, 375; final meeting on, 377 + +Drummond, Henry, mission to the Archbishop of York, iii. 333 + +Dublin Police Bill, iii. 333 + +Dudley, Earl of, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, i. 95, + 124; dinner to Marshal Marmont, ii. 38; eccentricity of, 271, + 272 + +'Duke of Milan,' quotation from the, i. 178 + +Duelcken, Madam, performs before the Judicial Committee, iii. 325 + +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 + +Duncombe, Hon. Thomas Slingsby, maiden speech of, i. 128; + petition from Barnet, ii. 255; guilty of libel, iii. 9; at + Hillingdon, 123 + +Durham, Earl of, quarrel with Lady Jersey, ii. 119; influence + over Lord Grey, 222; attack on Lord Grey at a Cabinet dinner, + 226; rudeness of, 269; return from Russia, 333; violence of, + 333; created an earl, 365 + +Dwarris, Sir Fortunatus, dinner at the house of, ii. 359 + + +East, Sir E. Hyde, sworn in a Privy Councillor, ii. 155 + +Eboli, Duchesse d', ball at Naples, i. 335 + +Ebrington, Viscount, moves a vote of confidence in the + Government, ii. 202, 204 + +Ebury, Lord, sworn in a Privy Councillor, ii. 78 + +Egremont, Earl of, at Petworth, ii. 336; wealth of, 337; + hospitality to the poor, iii. 84 + +Eldon, Earl of, audience of King George IV., i. 197; speech at + Apsley House, ii. 198; career of, 378; tribute to, iii. 42 + +Election, General, in 1830, ii. 20, 29; in 1831, 139, 141, 142, + 145; in 1832, 335; in 1835, iii. 184, 189, 191, 193; results + of, 195; in the counties, 198; result, 201 + +Eliot, Lord, return of, from Spain, iii. 259; conversation with + Louis Philippe, 259 + +Ellenborough, Earl of, Lord Privy Seal, i. 124; letter to Sir + John Malcolm, 271; on West India affairs, ii. 350; on Egypt, + 351; speech on admission of Dissenters to the University, iii. + 73 + +Ellesmere, Earl of, Irish Secretary, i. 146 + +Ellice, Right Hon. Edward, iii. 104; and the Colchester election, + 112; Secretary for War, 113; in Paris, 379 + +Elliot, Frederic, letter from Canada, iii. 325 + +Epsom races, 1831, ii. 143; in 1833, 373 + +Erskine, Right Hon. Thomas, sworn in a Privy Councillor, ii. 223; + Chief Judge in Bankruptcy, 223 + +Escars, Duchesse d', at a party given by the Duke of Wellington, + i. 214 + +Este, Sir Augustus d', behaviour of, ii. 194 + +Esterhazy, Prince Paul, conversation with, ii. 40; on Belgian + affairs, 189; on the state of England, iii. 32; on affairs in + Europe, 370; conversation with, 373 + +Europe, state of, ii. 126; in 1831, 187; in 1836, iii. 370 + +Evans, General de Lacy, iii. 265; reported death of, 359 + +Evans, the incendiary, arrest of, ii. 70 + +Exeter, Bishop of, correspondence with Lord Melbourne, ii. 97; + interview with Lord Grey, 205; talents of, 287; ambition of, + 289 + + +Falck, Baron, ii. 15, 41 + +Ferdinand, Emperor, of Austria, iii. 374 + +Fergusson, Right Hon. Cutlar, Judge Advocate, iii. 95 + +Ferrara, i. 405 + +Fieschi conspiracy, iii. 286 + +Fingall, Earl of, created a Baron of the United Kingdom, ii. 150 + +Finsbury election, 1834, Radical returned, iii. 100 + +Fitzclarence, Colonel George, _see_ Munster, Earl of + +Fitzclarence, Lord Frederick, resigns appointment at the Tower, + ii. 362 + +Fitzclarence, Lord Adolphus, picture of, ii. 179 + +Fitzclarence, Lord Augustus, at Ascot, ii. 147; picture of, 176 + +Fitzclarence, Lady Augusta, marriage of, iii. 363 + +Fitzgerald, Right Hon. Vesey, i. 150 + +Fitzherbert, Mrs., death of, iii. 396; documents of, 396 + +Flahault, Madame de, anecdotes of Princess Charlotte, ii. 319; + _salon_ of, in Paris, iii. 381 + +Fleury, Cardinal, ii. 347 + +Florence, i. 299; sights of, 300; society at, 302; sculpture, + 300, 301; pictures, 303; Grand Duke, 303 + +Foley, Lord, sworn in a Privy Councillor, ii. 84; Lord-Lieutenant + of Worcestershire, 84; at St. James's, 297 + +Fonblanque, Albany, iii. 348 + +Forester, Right Hon. Colonel Cecil, resigns his appointment as + Groom of the Bedchamber, ii. 118 + +Forfar election, 1835, iii. 197 + +Fox, Mrs. Lane, accompanies the Prince of Orange to Gravesend, + ii. 133; receives the Cabinet Ministers, iii. 140 + +Fox, Right Hon. Charles James, described by Talleyrand, ii. 344 + +Fox, W. J., Unitarian minister, sermon, iii. 43 + +France, state of affairs in, i. 284; appearance of the country, + 287; impending crisis in 1830, 369; events in 1830, ii. 17; + revolution, 19; Duke of Orleans ascends the throne, 26; + political prospects, 26; reconstruction of the Constitution, + 28; army ordered to Belgium, 178; army in Belgium, 181; seizure + of Portuguese ships, 182, 184; republican tendencies of, 187; + state of the country, 1831, 195; weakness of the Government of + Louis Philippe, 322; dispute with America, iii. 322; state of + the country, 382 + +Francis, Sir Philip, handwriting of, i. 234 + +Franklin, Benjamin, ii. 185 + +Franz Joseph, Archduke, iii. 374 + +Frascati, convent at, i. 305; dinner at, 305; visit to, 390 + + +Gallatin, Albert, i. 257 + +Gambier, Lord, proxy of, ii. 286 + +Garrick, David, anecdotes of ii. 316 + +Gell, Sir William, at Rome, i. 372, 375 + +Geneva, i. 415 + +Genoa, i. 292; palaces, 293, 295; churches, 294; tomb of Andrew + Doria, 296 + +George III., death of, i. 23; will, 64; jewels and property, 65; + dislike of the Duke of Richmond, iii. 129 + +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. 4; sale of wardrobe, 23; details of last illness, 30; + anecdotes concerning, 189 + +Gerard, Marshal, reported resignation of, ii. 45; ordered to + Belgium, 178 + +Gibson, John, R.A., at Rome, i. 383 + +Gladstone, William Ewart, West India Committee, iii. 280 + +Glenelg, Lord, President of the Board of Trade, i. 124; Board of + Control, ii. 66, iii. 113; Colonial Secretary in Lord + Melbourne's second Administration, 256; and the King, 276 + +'Glenfinlas' performed at Bridgewater House, iii. 353, 355 + +Glengall, Earl of, comedy by the, i. 249 + +Glengall, Countess of, ii. 85 + +Gloucester, H.R.H. the Duke of, ii. 8 + +Goderich, Viscount, 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. 66; Lord Privy Seal, + 365; created an earl, 367; invested with the Order of the + Garter, 367 + +Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, death of, ii. 307 + +Goodwood, ii. 182; in 1833, iii. 20 + +Gorhambury, party at, ii. 188 + +'Goriot, Le Pere,' iii. 378 + +Goulburn, Right Hon. Henry, Chancellor of the Exchequer, i. 124 + +Graham, Right Hon. Sir James, First Lord of the Admiralty, ii. + 66; elevation of, 90; remarks on, 91; 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 + +Grange, The, attacked by a mob, ii. 68 + +Grant, Right Hon. Charles, _see_ Glenelg, Lord + +Granville, Earl, Ambassador in Paris, iii. 385 + +Granville, Countess, i. 10; quarrel with M. Thiers, iii. 380 + +Greece, policy of the English Government towards, i. 255 + +Greenwich, dinner at, iii. 1 + +Grenville, Thomas, conduct during the riots of 1780, iii. 129 + +Gresley, Sir Roger, quarrel with Lord H. Bentinck, ii. 148 + +Greville, Charles, sen., death of, ii. 318 + +Greville, Mrs., 'Ode to Indifference,' ii. 319 + +Greville, Algernon, private secretary to the Duke of Wellington, + iii. 163 + +Grey, Earl, hostility to the Government, i. 100; forms an + Administration, 1830, ii. 64, 66; First Lord of the Treasury, + 66; at dinner at Lord Sefton's, 69; nepotism of, 78; character + of, 88; relations with Lord Lyndhurst, 88; lays the Reform Bill + before the King, 109; weakness of Government in the House of + Commons, 116; remarks on Administration of, 137; invested with + the Order of the Garter, 146; at dinner at Hanbury's Brewery, + 149; attacked on his foreign policy, 178; on Belgian affairs, + 178; attacked by Lord Durham, 226; proposed new Peers, 230; + altered conduct of, 232; reluctance to make new Peers, 247; + conversation with, 248; interview with Lord Harrowby and Lord + Wharncliffe, 259; minute of compromise with Lord Harrowby and + Lord Wharncliffe, 260; speech on Ancona, 269; speech at the + close of the Reform debate, 288; continued efforts for a + compromise, 291; Government defeated in committee, 293; + resignation of Administration of, 294; resumes office with his + colleagues, 300; remarks on the members of the Administration + of, 322; embarrassment of Government, 369; 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 + +Grey, Sir Charles, Governor of Jamaica, sworn in a Privy + Councillor, iii. 271 + +Grote, George, returned for the City of London, iii. 188 + +Guizot, Monsieur, reported resignation of, ii. 45; eminence of, + iii. 379 + +Gully, Mr., account of, ii. 335; returned for Pontefract, 336 + +Gunpowder Plot, papers relating to, i. 161 + + +Haddington, Earl of, Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, iii. 181 + +Halford, Sir Henry, report on the cholera, ii. 137 + +Hampden, Dr. Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford, iii. 341, + 342 + +Hanbury's Brewery, dinner at, ii. 148 + +Happiness, reflections on, iii. 293 + +Hardinge, Right Hon. Sir Henry, on the prospects of the Tory + Government, iii. 167; on the King and Lord Melbourne, 168 + +Harrowby, Earl of, Lord President, i. 95; speech on Reform, ii. + 206; interview with Lord Grey, 224; circular to the Peers, 242, + 248; interview with Lord Grey, 259; discussions on letter of, + 262; letter shown to Lord Grey, 264; the 'Times' on the letter + of, 264, 265; patriotic conduct of, 275; declines to vote on + Schedule A, 281; character of, iii. 52; subscription to + election expenses, 182 + +Harrowby, Countess of, iii. 52 + +Hartwell, visit to, ii. 345 + +Harvey, Whittle, committee, iii. 112; speech of, at Southwark, + 188 + +Harwich election, 1835, iii. 186 + +Health, formation of a board of, ii. 154 + +Henry II., King, and Thomas a Becket, iii. 130 + +Henry VIII., King, coffin of, found at Windsor, ii. 168 + +Herbert, Sydney, Secretary to the Board of Control, iii. 194 + +Herculaneum, i. 349 + +'Hernani,' ii. 154 + +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 + +Hertford, Marchioness of, funeral of, iii. 79 + +Hess, Captain, ii. 319, 320 + +Heurteloup, Baron, before the Judicial Committee, iii. 332 + +Heythrop, riot at, ii. 77 + +Hill, Mr., Irish members' squabble, iii. 55 + +Hobhouse, Right Hon. Sir John Cam, speech on the Reform Bill, ii. + 123; Secretary of War, 243; resigns Irish Secretaryship and + seat for Westminster, ii. 368; on the state of affairs, iii. + 195; Board of Control, in Lord Melbourne's second + Administration, 256 + +Holland, the King of, invades Belgium, ii. 175; state of, 200; + conduct of the King of, 314; the King refuses to give up + Antwerp, 321, 329; obstinacy of the King, 324; bankrupt + condition of, iii. 32 + +Holland, Lord, at Panshanger, ii. 47; 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 + +Holland, Lady, fancies of, ii. 331; and Spencer Perceval, iii. + 331 + +Holland House, dinner at, ii. 245; conversation at, 316; Allen + and Macaulay, 317; sketch of, 331; 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 + +Holmes boroughs, ii. 140 + +Hook, Theodore, improvisation of, iii. 119, 197; singing of, 197 + +Home, Sir William, Attorney-General, ii. 333; and Lord Brougham, + iii. 67 + +Hortense, Queen, at Frascati, i. 305 + +Horton, Wilmot, lectures at the Mechanics' Institute, ii. 97 + +Howe, Earl, dismissal of, ii. 203; Queen's Chamberlain, 319; and + Queen Adelaide, 331; correspondence about the Chamberlainship, + 339 + +Howick, Viscount, Under-secretary, ii. 78; 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 + +Hudson, Sir James, page of honour, ii. 339 + +Hume, John Deacon, Assistant-Secretary to the Board of Trade, i. + 223; ii. 49 + +Hume, Joseph, extreme Radical views of, ii. 361; speech on the + Orangemen, iii. 344; deputation to Lord Melbourne, 357 + +'Hunchback, The,' ii. 285 + +Hunt, Henry, speech of, ii. 112; speech of, against the Reform + Bill, 134 + +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. 46; death of, 47; character of, 49; + funeral of, 51 + + +Incendiarism in the country, ii. 84 + +Ireland, trials in, i. 239; dissatisfaction in, ii. 76; + unpopularity of Government changes in, 89; state of, 112, 114; + education in, 267, 271; tithes, 309; Church difficulties in, + 323 + +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, _see_ Lords, House of, and Commons, House of + +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 + +Irving, Edward, service in chapel, iii. 40; the unknown tongues, + 41; sermon of, 41; interview with Lord Melbourne, 129 + +Irving, Washington, i. 249 + +Istria, Duchesse d', beauty of, iii. 381 + + +Jacquemont's Letters, iii. 115 + +Jamaica, insurrection in, ii. 262; Mr. Greville, Secretary of the + Island of, 349; petition to the King, 352; affairs of, 352; + anecdote of a slave, 359; opinion of Sir Willoughby Cotton, + 380; office of Secretary to the Island of, threatened, iii. + 266, 268, 275; secured, 279 + +Jebb, Judge, charge of, at O'Connell's trial, ii. 109 + +Jeffrey, Lord, and Professor Leslie, iii. 44 + +Jersey, Countess of, character of, i. 12; party at the house of, + ii. 64; quarrel with Lord Durham, 119; correspondence with Lord + Brougham, 126 + +Jockey Club, dinner given by the King to the, 1828, i. 154; in + 1829, 211 + +'John Bull,' the, newspaper, ii. 97 + +Johnson, Dr., anecdotes of, ii. 316 + +Johnstone, Right Hon. Sir Alexander, sworn in a Privy Councillor, + iii. 27, 30; at the Judicial Committee, 125 + +Jones Loyd, Mr., iii. 188 + +Jones, 'Radical,' interview with Lord Wharncliffe, ii. 200 + +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 + + +Kelly, Mrs., adventures of her daughter, i. 379, 383; case before + the Privy Council, iii. 259, 261, 266, 267; judgment, 274 + +Kemble, Charles, and his family, iii. 260 + +Kemble, Miss Fanny, i. 240, ii. 129; tragedy by, 270; in the + 'Hunchback,' 285 + +Kempt, Right Hon. Sir James, Master-General of the Ordnance, + sworn in a Privy Councillor, ii. 84 + +Kent, H.R.H. the Duchess of, disputes in the Royal Family, ii. + 190; and the Duke of Wellington, 190; the Regency Bill, 191; + 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 + +Kenyon, Lord, speech at Apsley House, ii. 198 + +Kinnaird, Lord, created a Baron of the United Kingdom, ii. 150 + +Klopstock, Friedrich Gottlieb, anecdote of, iii. 130 + +Knatchbull, Right Hon. Sir Edward, joins the Peel Government, + iii. 176, 177; attack on, 226 + +Knighton, Sir William, i. 72; influence with the King, 99, 144; + behaviour of, during the King's illness, ii. 174 + + +Lafayette, Marquis de, resignation of, ii. 99 + +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 + +La Granja, revolution of, iii. 364, 365 + +'Lalla Rookh,' at Bridgewater House, iii. 353 + +Lamb, Sir Frederick, ii. 94; reported letter to the King of + France from the Duke of Wellington, 94 + +Lambeth Palace, restoration of, ii. 34 + +Lancashire election, 1835, iii. 198 + +Langdale, Lord, reply to Lord Brougham, iii. 81; declines the + Solicitor-Generalship, 141; peerage, 328; Master of the Rolls, + 328 + +Lansdowne, Marquis of, Secretary of State for the Home + Department, i. 95; Lord President, ii. 66; dinner to name the + sheriffs, 109; on the Reform Bill, 131; and Lord Brougham, 347; + Lord President in both of the Administrations of Lord + Melbourne, iii. 113, 256 + +La Ronciere, case of, iii. 202 + +Laval, M. de, at Apsley House, ii. 15 + +Law, History of English, iii. 114 + +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 + +Leach, Right Hon. Sir John, disappointed of the Woolsack, ii. 68; + in the case of Drax _v._ Grosvenor, 378 + +Leigh, Colonel George, ii. 189 + +Leinster, Duke of, sworn in a Privy Councillor, ii. 155 + +Leitrim, Earl of, created a Baron of the United Kingdom, ii. 150 + +Le Marchant, Denis, at Stoke, iii. 21 + +Lemon, Robert, F.S.A., Deputy Keeper of the State Papers, iii. 44 + +Lennard, John Barrett, Chief Clerk of the Privy Council Office, + ii. 370 + +Leopold, King, i. 22; desires to ascend the throne of Greece, + 265; anxiety to ascend the throne of Belgium, ii. 153; accepts + the throne of Belgium, 158; starts for Belgium, 167; proposes + to the Princess Louise of France, 168; in Belgium, 177; want of + confidence in, 177; cold reception of, at Windsor, iii. 370 + +Leuchtenberg, Duke of, at Havre, iii. 33; marriage of, 33; letter + to Lord Palmerston, 34; arrival of, 195 + +Leveson, Lord Francis, _see_ Ellesmere, Earl of + +Levee, iii. 213 + +Lewis, Matthew Gregory, ('Monk' Lewis), journals and voyages to + the West Indies, ii. 382; anecdote of, iii. 2; agreement with + Mr. Murray for the Journal, 8 + +Lichfield, Earl of, at Runton, iii. 51 + +Lichfield Cathedral, iii. 327 + +Lieven, Prince, recalled, iii. 87 + +Lieven, Princess, character of, i. 15; attacks Lord Grey, ii. + 261; on the Belgian question, 266; conversation with, 322; + renews her friendship with the Duke of Wellington, 325; + grievances of, 351; interference of, 358; diplomatic + difficulties, 357; reception of, at St. Petersburg, iii. 23; + position, of, in Paris, 379 + +Littleton, Right Hon. Edward, i. 11; proposed by Lord Althorp as + Speaker, ii. 333; Secretary for Ireland, 372; 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 + +Liverpool, Earl of, and the King, i. 25; paralytic seizure, 90; + transactions before the close of Administration of, ii. 173 + +Liverpool, opening of the railroad, ii. 43, 47; bribery at + election, 79 + +Lobau, Marshal, Commandant-General, ii. 99 + +Lodge, the Royal, entertainments at, i. 99 + +London, speech of Bishop of, iii. 391; University Charter, iii. + 80, 81, 237; meeting of Committee of Council on, 260, 262 + +Londonderry, Marquis of, death of, i. 51; character of, 52; + funeral of, 54 + +Londonderry, Marquis of, motion on Belgium, ii. 180; attacks Lord + Plunket, 266; debate on appointment of, to St. Petersburg, iii. + 225; opinion of the Duke of Wellington, 227; speech of, 228; + resignation of, 229 + +Long, St. John, trial of, ii. 85 + +Lords, House of, debate of Royal Dukes, i. 177; debate on + Catholic Relief Bill, 199; division on Catholic Relief Bill, + 199; debate on affairs in Portugal, 277; debate on the Methuen + Treaty, ii. 118; speech of Lord Brougham, 118; violent scene in + the, 136; debate on Lord Londonderry's motion, 180; prospects + of the Reform Bill, 193; First Reform Bill thrown out, 202; + attack on the Bishops, 205; new Peers, 230; measures for + carrying the second reading of the Second Reform Bill, 235, + 237; division on the Belgian question, 240; Reform Bill, 271; + Irish education, 271; debates on second reading of the Reform + Bill, 272, 286; list of proposed new Peers, 283; Reform Bill + carried, 287; in Committee on the Reform Bill, 291; debate on + conduct of the Tory party, 303; Russo-Dutch Loan, 315; + Government beaten on Portuguese question, 376; powerlessness + of, 377; Local Courts Bill, 382, 384; 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 + +Louis XVIII., King, memoirs of, ii. 305; favourites of, 305; at + Hartwell, 345 + +Louis Philippe, King, accession of, ii. 26; conduct of, 27; + tranquillises Paris, 99; speech of, 169; averse to French + attack on Antwerp, 334; 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 + +Louise, H.R.H. Princess, daughter of King Louis Philippe, ii. 168 + +Louis, Baron, reported resignation of, ii. 45 + +Luckner, General, ii. 219 + +Lushington, Dr., speech of, in the appeal of Swift _v._ Kelly, + ii. 383 + +Lushington, Sir Henry, and 'Monk' Lewis, iii. 2 + +Luttrell, Henry, character of, i. 10; 'Advice to Julia,' 33 + +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. 68; reported appointment to + be Lord Chief Baron, 89; opinion of the Government, 93; Lord + Chief Baron, 106; political position of, 107; anecdote of a + trial, 107; retort to the Duke of Richmond, 139; on the + Government, 143; on Sir Robert Peel, 144; on Lord Brougham, + 144; sent for by the King, 294; efforts to form a Tory + Government, 326; judgment in Small _v._ Attwood, 330; account + of the efforts of the Tory party to form a Government, 340; + 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 + +Lyndhurst, Lady, insulted by the Duke of Cumberland, i. 222; + conversation with, ii. 93 + +Lynn Regis, election, iii. 170, 171, 175, 181 + +Lyons, riots at, ii. 219 + + +Macao, verses on, i. 11, 12 + +Macaulay, Thomas Babington, speeches on the Reform Bill, ii. 123, + 199; eloquence of, 204; at Holland House, 245; appearance of, + 246; character of, 317; on the Coercion Bill, 363; 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 + +Macaulay, Zachary, iii. 337 + +Mackintosh, Right Hon. Sir James, speech of, on the criminal + laws, i. 19; conversation of, 241; death of, ii. 307; '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 + +Maggiore, Lago, i. 414 + +Maidstone, state of the borough, iii. 184 + +Maii, Monsignore, i. 367, 375 + +Malibran, Maria Felicita, in the 'Sonnambula,' iii. 12 + +Mallet, conspiracy of, ii. 186 + +Malt Tax, the, Government defeated on, ii. 368 + +Manners Sutton, Sir Charles, G.C.B., proposed as Premier, ii. + 326; conduct of, 341; reappointed Speaker, 343; Knight of the + Bath, iii. 30; the Speakership, 204, _see_ Canterbury, Lord + +Mansfield, Lord, speech against the Government, ii. 136; audience + of the King, 138; meeting of Peers, 152 + +Mansion House, the, dinner at, iii. 178 + +Marengo, battle-field of, i. 292 + +Maria, Donna, Queen of Portugal, at a child's ball, i. 209; + proposals of marriage for, iii. 33; at Windsor, 33; picture of, + 195 + +Marie Amelie, Queen, iii. 383 + +Marmont, Marshal, at Lady Glengall's, ii. 34; conversation with, + 34; revolution of 1830, 37; at Woolwich, 38; dinner at Lord + Dudley's, 38 + +Matteis, trial of, i. 336, 341 + +Matuscewitz, Russian Ambassador Extraordinary, i. 159; on affairs + in Europe, ii. 176; conduct of, 324; conversation with, iii. + 314 + +Maule, Mr. Justice, at dinner at the Athenaeum, ii. 101 + +Meeting of moderate men, origin of the 'Derby Dilly,' iii. 219 + +Meiningen, chateau of, model of the, iii. 122; the Queen revisits + the, 125 + +Melbourne, Viscount, Home Secretary, ii. 66; efficiency of, in + office, 90; negotiations with, 104; dissatisfaction of, 245; on + the proposed new Peers, 254; on the Reform Bill, 277; on the + members of Lord Grey's Administration, 322; 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 + +Melville, Viscount, President of the India Board, i. 124 + +Mendizabal, ability of, iii. 321; dismissal of, 350 + +Messiah, the oratorio of the, performed in Westminster Abbey, + iii. 98 + +Methuen, Paul, M.P., on supporting the Government, iii. 65; + retort of O'Connell to, 65 + +Metternich, Princess, anecdote of, iii. 187 + +Mexico, failure of the Spanish expedition against, i. 249 + +Meynell, Mr., retires from the Lord Chamberlain's department, ii. + 133 + +Mezzofanti, i. 403 + +Middlesex election, 1835, iii. 197 + +Middleton, party at, i. 12 + +Miguel, Dom, ii. 312, 315, 321; attacks Oporto, 324; fleet + captured by Captain Napier, iii. 9; anecdote of, 26; blunders + of, 93 + +Milan, i. 413 + +Mill, John Stuart, at breakfast given by Mr. Henry Taylor, ii. 59 + +Milton, Viscount, at a meeting at Lord Althorp's, ii. 161 + +Mirabeau, Count de, Talleyrand's account of, ii. 384 + +Miraflores, Count de, Spanish Ambassador in London, iii. 98; + doubtful compliment to Madame de Lieven, 99 + +Mola di Gaeta, i. 359; Cicero's villa, 368 + +Mole, M., Prime Minister of France, iii. 379; abilities of, 380 + +Montalivet, case of the French refugee, iii. 386 + +Monti, Vincenzo, anecdote of, ii. 186 + +Moore, Thomas, i. 239, 245; conversation of, 242; anecdotes, 247; + Irish patriotism of, ii. 98; opinions on Reform, 140; copy of + 'Lord Edward Fitzgerald,' 169; satire on Dr. Bowring, 219; + compared with Rogers, iii. 324; quarrel with O'Connell, 346 + +'Morning Herald,' the, moderate Tory organ, ii. 269 + +Mornington, Countess of, death of, ii. 194 + +Morpeth, Viscount, Irish Secretary, iii. 256; speech on Irish + Tithe Bill, 256 + +Mosley, Sir Oswald, meeting of moderate men, iii. 220 + +Mulgrave, Earl of, in Jamaica, ii. 352; refuses the office of + Postmaster-General, iii. 90; Lord Privy Seal, 113; capability + of, 255 + +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 + +Munster, Earl of, employed by the King, ii. 10; raised to the + Peerage, 143; Lieutenant of the Tower, 168; sworn in a Privy + Councillor, 352 + +Murat, Achille, ii. 115 + +Murray, Dr., Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, i. 146 + +Murray, Sir George, Secretary of State for the Colonial + Department, ii. 11 + +Murray, Lady Augusta, marriage of, ii. 194 + +Musard's ball, iii. 384 + + +Namik Pacha, Turkish Ambassador, ii. 339 + +Napier, Sir William, on the state of the country, ii. 108; + 'History of the Peninsular War,' iii. 271 + +Napier, Captain Charles, captures Dom Miguel's fleet, iii. 9; + cause of capture of a French squadron, 11; anecdote of, 34 + +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 + +Navarino, battle of, i. 114, 163 + +Nemours, H.R.H. Duc de, accompanies King Louis Philippe, ii. 99; + nomination to the throne of Belgium declined, 111; in the House + of Commons, iii. 306; at Doncaster, 315 + +Newmarket, political negotiations at, ii. 290 + +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 + +'Norma,' the opera of, iii. 2 + +North, Lord, Letters of George III. to, iii. 129; anecdote of, + 132 + +Northamptonshire election, iii. 326 + +Northumberland, Duke of, Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, i. 157 + +Northumberland, Duchess of, resigns her office of governess to + the Princess Victoria, iii. 400 + +Norton, Hon. Mr., action brought against Lord Melbourne, iii. + 349; result of the trial, 351 + + +Oaks, The, ii. 374; party at, 374 + +Oatlands, the residence of the Duke of York, i. 4; weekly parties + at, 5, 7 + +O'Connell, Daniel, character of, i. 145; at dinner, 203; attempts + to take his seat, 207; elected for Clare, 1829, 223; insult to, + ii. 76; in Ireland, 96; opposition to Lord Anglesey, 98; + abilities of, 100; violence of, 106; arrest of, 107; trial of, + 109; position of, 111; pleads guilty, 114; opposition to Lord + Duncannon in Kilkenny, 115; explanation of, 123; dread of + cholera, 309; member for Ireland, 351; violent speech at the + Trades' Union, 362, 363; 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 + +O'Connell, Morgan, duel with Lord Alvanley, iii. 256 + +Old Bailey, trials at, i. 204; ii. 85 + +Opera House, the English, burnt, i. 277 + +Orange, Prince of, dinner to the, ii. 57; returns to Holland, 133 + +Orange, Princess of, robbery of jewels of, i. 267 + +Orange Lodge, association of, iii. 343 + +Orangemen, meeting of, iii. 123 + +Orleans, H.R.H. Duke of, arrival of, i. 208; sent to Lyons, ii. + 219; in England, 373; project of marriage at Vienna, iii. 372; + question of marriage of, 387 + +Orloff, Count, arrival of, ii. 278; delay in ratification of the + Belgian Treaty, 285 + +Osterley, party at, ii. 187 + + +Padua, i. 411 + +Paestum, i. 344 + +Palmella, Duke of, arrival of in London, ii. 315 + +Palmerston, Viscount, speech on the Portuguese question, i. 211; + Foreign Secretary, ii. 66; suggests a compromise on the Reform + Bill, 211; on proposed new Peers, 254; on prospects of the + Reform Bill, 256; 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 + _corps diplomatique_, 136; loses his election in Hampshire, + 197; as a man of business, 210; Foreign Secretary, 256; + abilities of, 360 + +Panic, the, 1825, i. 77; on the Stock Exchange, 1830, ii. 43 + +Panshanger, parties at, ii. 46, 47, 229 + +Paris, society at, in 1830, i. 283; in July, 416, 417; Marshal + Marmont's account of events at, in 1830, ii. 36; alarm felt in, + 99; change of Ministry, 133; in 1837, iii. 377; society at, + 378, 385; sight-seeing, 381, 383 + +Park, Judge, anecdotes of, ii. 92; iii. 372 + +Parke, Right Hon. Sir James, sworn in a Privy Councillor, iii. + 21; Baron of the Exchequer, 71; in the appeal of Swift _v._ + Kelly, 268 + +Parliament, meeting of, 1830, ii. 53; meeting of, 1831, ii. 110; + dissolution of 1831, 137; opening of, 153; in 1831, 223; + dissolution of, 1832, 334; opening of, 1833, 351; 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 + +Parnell, Sir Henry, turned out of office, ii. 243 + +Parsons, anecdotes of, ii. 108 + +Paskiewitch, Marshal, in quarantine, ii. 162 + +Pattison, James, returned to Parliament for the City of London, + iii. 188 + +Pavilion, The, dinner at, i. 49; completion of, 54 + +Pease, Mr., and O'Dwyer, iii. 59 + +Pedro, Dom, expedition of, ii. 312, 315; proposal to combine with + Spain, iii. 72; in possession of Portugal, 93 + +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. 95, 96; + power in the House of Commons, 116; speech on the Reform Bill, + 123; inactivity of, on the Reform Bill, 130, 134; complaints of + policy of, 141; conduct of, 160; reserve of, 161, 174; + excellence in debate, 200; answer to Lord Harrowby, 248, 249; + policy of, 264; speech on Irish Tithes, 269; invited to form a + Government, 294; refuses to take office, 296; defence of + conduct, 304; conduct during the Tory efforts to form a + Government, 327, 328; conduct compared with that of the Duke of + Wellington, 328; character of, 354; 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 + +Peel, Sir Robert, sen., account of, ii. 125 + +Peel, Right Hon. Jonathan, iii. 243 + +Pemberton, Thomas, ii. 314; in the appeal of Swift _v._ Kelly, + iii. 267, 271 + +Pembroke, Earl of, i. 250 + +Pension List, _see_ Commons, House of + +Pepys, Right Hon. Sir Christopher, Master of the Rolls, iii. 328. + _See_ Cottenham, Lord + +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 + +Perier, Casimir, momentary resignation of, ii. 175; attacked by + cholera, 288; death of, 307 + +Persian Ambassador, the, quarrel of, with the Regent, i. 21 + +Perth election, 1835, iii. 197 + +Petworth House and pictures, ii. 336; fete at, iii. 84 + +Peyronnet, Comte de, i. 393 + +Phillpotts, _see_ Exeter, Bishop of + +Pisa, i. 297 + +Pitt, Right Hon. William, described by Talleyrand, ii. 345; + anecdotes of, iii. 131 + +Plunket, Lord, Lord Chancellor in Ireland, ii. 90; anecdote of, + 107; at Stoke, iii. 21; Deanery of Down, 70 + +Poland, contest in, ii. 157 + +Polignac, Prince Jules de, head of the Administration in France; + i. 160, 229, 283; Administration of, 394; behaviour of, ii. 29; + letter to M. de Mole, 33; exasperation against, 38, 39 + +Pompeii, i. 338; excavations at, 343 + +Ponsonby, Viscount, Minister at Naples, ii. 155; letters of, 172; + conduct of, as Ambassador at Constantinople, iii. 405 + +Pope, the, audience of Pius VIII., i. 382; Irish appointments of + the, iii. 269. _See_ Rome + +Portfolio, the, iii. 327 + +Portland, Duke of, Lord Privy Seal, i. 95 + +Portugal, ships seized by the French, ii. 182, 184; affairs in, + iii. 25, 79; bankrupt state of, 93 + +Powell, Mr., ii. 52 + +Pozzo di Borgo, Count, ii. 347; views of, on the state of Europe, + iii. 182; Russian Ambassador in London, 201, 203 + +Praed, Winthrop Mackworth, first speech of, ii. 115; First + Secretary to the Board of Control, iii. 194 + +Pratolino, i. 402 + +Prayer, form of, on account of the disturbed state of the + kingdom, ii. 99 + +Proclamation against rioters, ii. 73 + + +Quakers, the, address to King William IV., ii. 17 + +'Quarterly Review, The,' attacks Lord Harrowby, ii. 269, 270; + pamphlet in answer to article, 270 + +Quintus Curtius, iii. 130 + + +Racing, remarks on, ii. 373; anecdote, 374 + +Redesdale, Lord, letter of, ii. 269 + +Reform, plan of, ii. 105; remarks on, 207; negotiations + concerning, 215, 217, 218 + +Reform Bill, the, laid before the King, ii. 109; excitement + concerning, 124; carried by one vote, 132; alterations in, 134; + Government defeated, 135; remarks on, 180; attitude of the + press, 193; prospects of, 199; negotiations for a compromise, + 211; altered tone of the press, 225; meeting of Peers in + Downing Street, 225; measures for carrying the second reading + in the House of Lords, 235, 237, 239, 241; continued efforts to + compromise, 268; finally passed in the House of Commons, 270; + continued discussions on, 274; difficulty with Schedule A, 280; + carried in the House of Lords, 287; in committee, 292; passes + through committee, 304; results of, iii. 27, 191. For debates + on, _see_ Lords, House of, and Commons, House of + +Reichstadt, Duke of, and Marshal Marmont, iii. 374 + +Reis-Effendi, the, i. 159 + +Renfrewshire election, iii. 388 + +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 + +Richmond, Duke of, and King George III. at a naval review, iii. + 129 + +Richmond, Duke of, summary of character of, i. 199; + Postmaster-General, ii. 66; refuses the appointment of Master + of the Horse, 67; difficulties with his labourers, 68; at + Goodwood, 182; on Reform, 211; character of, iii. 15; + resignation of, 88 + +Riots, in London, 1830, ii. 55; among the farm labourers, 68; + proclamation against, 73; in the country, 77 + +Ripon, Earl of, Lord Privy Seal, ii. 66; resignation of, iii. 88. + _See_ Goderich, Viscount + +Robarts, Mr., dinner given by, iii. 184 + +Robinson, Right Hon. Frederick John, Chancellor of the Exchequer, + i. 79; _See_ Goderich, Viscount + +Rochester election, 1835, iii. 193 + +Roden, Earl of, declines the office of Lord Steward, iii. 179, + 181 + +Rogers, Samuel, breakfast given by, ii. 150; compared with Moore, + iii. 324 + +Rolle, Lord, remark to Lord Brougham, iii. 107 + +Rome, i. 303, 304; 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 + +Rosslyn, Earl of, Lord Privy Seal, i. 210; Lord President of the + Council, iii. 177; dinner for selecting the Sheriffs, 201 + +Roussin, Admiral, at Constantinople ii. 367 + +Rovigo, the Duke de, at Rome, i. 325 + +Rundell, Mr., fortune of, will of, i. 90 + +Runton Abbey, shooting at, iii. 51; murder in the neighbourhood, + 51 + +Russell, Right Hon. Lord John, introduces the Reform Bill, ii. + 121; seat in the Cabinet, 150; brings in his Bill, 155; letter + to Attwood, 205, 206; willing to compromise, 223; brings on the + second Reform Bill, 227; 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 + +Russia, state of, 1829, i. 158; intrigues of, ii. 351; diplomatic + relations with, 352; combines with Turkey against Egypt, 366; + fleet sent to Constantinople, 366; establishes her power in the + East, 371; quarrel with, iii. 44; policy towards Turkey, 48; + treaty with Turkey, 69; relations with Turkey, 183 + +Russo-Dutch Loan, question of the, ii. 240, 241; origin of the, + 244; debate on the, in the House of Lords, 315 + +Rutland, Duke of, anti-Reform petition, ii. 263; birthday party, + iii. 46 + + +Sadler, Mr., maiden speech of, in opposition to the Catholic + Relief Bill, i. 191 + +Saint-Aulaire, M. de, French Ambassador at Vienna, iii. 187; + anecdote of, 187 + +Saint-Aulaire, Madame de, iii. 187 + +Saint-Germain, Count de, account of, ii. 186; the 'Wandering + Jew,' 186 + +Salerno, i. 344 + +Salisbury, Marquis of, petition to the King, ii. 231 + +Saltash, borough of, division on, ii. 170 + +San Carlos, Duke and Duchess of, i. 8 + +Sandon, Viscount, moves the Address in the House of Commons, iii. + 202; on Sir Robert Peel, 340 + +Sandys, Lord, iii. 359 + +Sartorius, Admiral, petition, iii. 366 + +Scarlett, Sir James, Attorney-General, i. 210 + +Scott, Sir Walter, death of, ii. 307 + +Seaford, Lord, i. 83 + +Sebastiani, Count, French Ambassador to the Court of St. James's, + iii. 180 + +Sefton, Earl of, dinner to Lord Grey and Lord Brougham, ii. 69; + on Lord Brougham, 148; created a Peer of the United Kingdom, + 150; qualities of, 183 + +Segrave, Lord, Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, iii. 322 + +Senior, Nassau, at Holland House, iii. 138 + +Session of 1833, review of the, iii. 28 + +Sestri, i. 297 + +Seton, Sir Henry, arrival of, from Belgium, ii. 178 + +Seymour, Lord, withdraws his support from the Government, ii. 124 + +Seymour, George, Master of the Robes, ii. 50 + +Seymour, Horace, retires from the Lord Chamberlain's Department, + ii. 133 + +Seymour, Jane, coffin of, found at Windsor, ii. 168 + +Shadwell, Right Hon. Sir Lancelot, on legal business, iii. 76 + +Shee, Sir Martin, elected President of the Royal Academy, i. 269 + +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 + +Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, iii. 336 + +Siege of Saragossa, the, iii. 40 + +Siena, i. 303 + +Simplon, the, i. 415 + +Slavery, abolition of, ii. 347; for debates on, _see_ Commons, + House of + +Smith, Baron, ii. 105; O'Connell's attack upon, iii. 59, 61, 63 + +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 + +Smithson, Sir Hugh, ii. 337, 338 + +Somaglia, Cardinal, i. 312 + +Somerville, Mrs., iii. 58 + +Sorrento, i. 352; Benediction of the Flowers, 352 + +Soult, Marshal, sent to Lyons, ii. 219; Prime Minister of France, + 324 + +Southey, Robert, at breakfast given by Mr. Henry Taylor, ii. 59; + letter to Lord Brougham on rewards to literary men, 111 + +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 + +Spanish Legion, formation of the, iii. 265 + +Speaker, the, indecision of, ii. 299; disputes on the + Speakership, 333; iii. 204 + +Spencer, Earl, death of, iii. 140 + +Spencer, Earl, _see_ Althorp, Viscount + +Sprotborough, party at, for the races, ii. 50 + +Stael, Madame de, 'Considerations sur la Revolution francaise,' + i. 16; anecdote of, ii. 186 + +Stafford House, concert at, iii. 278 + +Stanley, Right Hon. Edward, Irish Secretary, ii. 66; speech on + the Reform Bill, 123; seat in the Cabinet, 150; speech in + answer to Croker, 228; Secretary for the Colonial Department, + 365; at The Oaks, 374; 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 + +Stanley, Right Hon. Edward John, Under-Secretary of State, iii. + 112 + +State Paper Office, i. 160; iii. 44 + +Stephen, James, opinions on emancipation, ii. 359 + +Stephenson, George, on steam-engines, iii. 54 + +Stewart, Lady Dudley, party given by, ii. 115; accompanies the + Prince of Orange to Gravesend, 133 + +Stoke, party at, i. 142; ii. 185 + +Strangford, Viscount, sent to the Brazils, i. 140 + +Strasburg prisoners, acquittal of, iii. 381 + +Strawberry Hill, party at, i. 247 + +Strutt, Edward, ii. 59 + +Stuart de Rothesay, Lord, Ambassador in France, i. 141 + +Sugden, Right Hon. Sir Edward, quarrel of, with Lord Brougham, + ii. 312; origin of animosity towards Lord Brougham, iii. 22; + Irish Chancellor, 178; resignation of, 231; retains his + appointment, 234 + +Sugden, Lady, not received at Court, iii. 231 + +Sunderland, state of, ii. 216 + +Sussex, H.R.H. the Duke of, marriage of, ii. 194 + +Sutherland, Duke of, death of the, iii. 19; wealth, of the, 19 + +Suttee case, before the Privy Council, ii. 307 + +Swift _v._ Kelly, before the Judicial Committee of the Privy + Council, iii. 259, 266, 267, 271; judgment, 274 + + +Talleyrand, Charles Maurice de, letter to the Emperor of Russia, + i. 23; Ambassador to the Court of St. James, ii. 44; + conversation of, 185; anecdotes, 185; _mot_ of, 195; dinner + with, 222; on Fox and Pitt, 344; detained in the Thames, 346; + 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 + +Tasso, i. 328; bust of, 328 + +Tavistock, Marquis of, on the prospects of the Liberal party, + iii. 43 + +Taylor, Sir Herbert, conversation with Lord Wharncliffe, ii. 251; + correspondence with, about the Chancellorship, 339 + +Taylor, Henry, breakfast at the house of, ii. 58; breakfast to + Wordsworth, Mill, Elliot, Charles Villiers, 120; on the + abolition of slavery in the West Indies, 348; 'Philip van + Artevelde,' iii. 114 + +Taylor, Brook, mission to Rome, ii. 153 + +Teddesley, party at, i. 11 + +Tenterden, Lord, death of, ii. 329; character of, 331; classical + knowledge of, 331 + +Terceira, Portuguese expedition to, i. 169, 170 + +Terni, Falls of, i. 401 + +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, 379; quarrel with + Lady Granville, 380; courts the favour of Austria, 387 + +Thompson, Alderman, difficulties with his constituents, ii. 166 + +Thomson, Right Hon. Charles Poulett, originates a commercial + treaty with France, ii. 219; Board of Trade, iii. 113, 256; + self-complacency of, 330 + +Thorwaldsen, Albert, at Florence, i. 299, 300 + +Tierney, Right Hon. George, i. 14; Master of the Mint, 95; death + of, 269 + +'Times,' the, on Lord Harrowby's letter, ii. 264, 265; attacks + Lord Grey, 267; Lord Chancellor's speech, 313; influence of + the, 362; 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 + +Titchfield, Marquis of, death of, i. 75; character of, 75 + +Tivoli, i. 375 + +Tixall, party at, i. 10; Macao, 11 + +Torrington, Viscount, and the King, iii. 285 + +Tory party, state of the, ii. 162; meeting at Bridgewater House, + iii. 237; state of the, 306; indifference of members of the, + 389 + +Treaty of Unkiar Skelessi, iii. 45; between Russia and Turkey, + 1834, 69; the Quadruple, for the pacification of the Peninsula, + signed 1834, 94 + +Tree, Ellen, at the City Theatre, ii. 181 + +Tuileries, the, reception at, iii. 382; ball at, 383; small ball + at, 385 + +Turf, the, reflections on, iii. 139 + +Turin, i. 291 + +Turkey, threatened by Russia, i. 228; critical state of, ii. 351; + relations with Russia, iii. 183 + +Tusculum, i. 390 + +Twiss, Horace, supper party given by, iii. 260 + + +Union, speech of O'Connell on the repeal of the, iii. 80 + +Unions, proclamation against the, ii. 215; procession of trades, + iii. 79 + +Urquhart, Mr., Secretary to the Embassy at Constantinople, iii. + 405 + + +Van de Weyer, Sylvain, Belgian Minister to the Court of St. + James, ii. 180 + +Vaudreuil, M. de, French _charge d'affaires_ in London, on French + affairs, ii. 24 + +Vaughan, Right Hon. Sir Charles, special mission to + Constantinople, iii. 405 + +Vaughan, Right Hon. Sir John, sworn in a Privy Councillor, ii. + 155 + +Venice, i. 405; sights of, 406, 408, 410 + +Vernet, Horace, at Rome, i. 325 + +Verona, Congress of, i. 65; visit to, 413 + +Verulam, Earl of, petition to the King, ii. 231 + +Vesuvius, ascent of, i. 350 + +Vicenza, i. 412 + +Victoria, H.R.H. the Princess, at a child's ball, i. 209; first + appearance of, at a drawing-room, ii. 119; 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 QUEEN, 408; impression produced on all, 409 + +Villiers, Hon. Hyde, appointed to the Board of Control, ii. 145 + +Villiers, Hon. George, at the Grove, ii. 105; conversation with + the Duke of Wellington, 105; mission to Paris for a commercial + treaty, 219; Minister at Madrid, iii. 14, 20, 21; on prospects + in Spain, 69, 79; letters of, from Madrid, 321, 360, 365 + +Villiers, Hon. Charles Pelham, ii. 59 + +Virginia Water, ii. 25; visit to, 30 + + +Walewski, Count Alexander, arrival of, in London, ii. 104 + +Walpole, Horace, letters to Sir Horace Mann, iii. 2 + +'Wandering Jew, The,' ii. 186 + +Warsaw, affair at, ii. 95; taken by the Russians, 192 + +Warwickshire Election, iii. 353, 354 + +Wellesley, Marquis of, Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, iii. 31; + correspondence with Mr. Littleton, 103, 110; resigns the White + Wand, 258 + +Wellesley, Long, Esq., committed for contempt of court, ii. 166 + +Wellington, Duke of, account of the battle of Waterloo, i. 39; in + Paris with Bluecher, 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. 21; qualities of, 41; confidence in, 45; + declaration against Reform, 53; Administration of, defeated, + 61; resignation of, 62; suppresses disturbance in Hampshire, + 75; political character of, 81; reported letter of advice to + the King of France, 94; correspondence with Mr. Canning, 103; + conduct towards the Government, 159; objections to Mr. Canning, + 170; dinner at Apsley House, 188; anti-Reform dinner at Apsley + House, 197; remarks upon, 204; memorial to the King, 211; + correspondence with Lord Wharncliffe, 221; obstinacy of, 234; + letter to Lord Wharncliffe, 248; unbecoming letter laid before + the King, 252; reply to Lord Wharncliffe, 253; speech on Irish + Education, 272; sent for by the King, 294; efforts of, to form + an Administration, 299; inability of, to form an + Administration, 300; statement of his case, 302; conduct of the + Tory party, 302; ill-feeling towards Peel, 325; view of + affairs, 1833, 363; government of French provinces, 363; + respect evinced towards, 372; defence of policy, 379; 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 + +Western, Lord, evidence of, iii. 112 + +West India Body, consternation of the, ii. 350; deputation of + the, 350 + +West India Bill, prospects of the, iii. 13. For debates on the, + _see_ Commons, House of + +West Indies, Lord Chandos's motion on the state of the, ii. 116; + project of emancipation, 347; alarm in the, 352; difficulties + attending emancipation, 360; committee on affairs of the, iii. + 266; decision on the office of Secretary of the Island of + Jamaica, 279 + +Westmeath, Marchioness of, pension, i. 157, 160 + +Westmeath _v._ Westmeath, appeal before the Judicial Committee, + iii. 119, 124; decision in, 140 + +Westminster election, 1818, contest, i. 3; in 1819, 17, 19; in + 1833, ii. 370; in 1837, iii. 398 + +Wetherell, Sir Charles, account of, i. 194; speech on the Reform + Bill, ii. 123; supports Sir E. Sugden's motion, 314 + +Wharncliffe, Lord, interview with Radical Jones, ii. 200; + overtures for a compromise on the Reform Bill, 211; character + of, 213; draws up a declaration for signature in the City, 214; + disappointment of, 218; final interview of, with Lord Grey, + 220; correspondence of, with the Duke of Wellington, 221; + interview of, with the King on the proposed new Peers, 231, + 233; memorandum laid before the King, 252; as chief of a party, + 289; in communication with Lord Lyndhurst and Lord + Ellenborough, 290; defends his policy, 292; paper on the Tory + party, 343; on the prospects of the country, iii. 54; joins the + Peel Government, 175; on the prospects of the session, 341 + +Whately, Richard, D.D., Archbishop of Dublin, iii. 280 + +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 + +Wicklow, Earl of, attack on the Government, iii. 110 + +Wilberforce, William, speech of, i. 16; negotiation with Mr. + Canning, ii. 125 + +William IV., King, accession of, ii. 1; dislike of, to the Duke + of Cumberland, 5; behaviour of, 6, 9; at the House of Lords, + 11; personal anecdotes of, 11, 12, 13, 14; dinner at Apsley + House, 14; at Windsor, 25; pays the racing debts of the Duke of + York, 50; speech on the change of Government, 72; levee, 74; + health of, 106, 108; mobbed on returning from the theatre, 117; + in mourning for his son-in-law, 133; in the House of Lords, + 136; dissolves Parliament, 136; conduct to his Ministers, 138; + at Ascot, 147; opens Parliament, 153; at Windsor, 179; and the + Bishops, 185; divides the old Great Seal, 188; crowned at + Westminster, 190; levee, 192; toasts at dinner at St. James's, + 193; interview with Lord Wharncliffe on creation of new Peers, + 233; health of, 282; reluctance of, to make Peers, 283; adverse + sentiments towards the Whigs, 298; dinner to the Jockey Club, + 301; levity of, 302; letter to the Peers, 303; character of, + 307; struck by a stone, 307; country dance, 341; anecdotes of, + 342; state of mind of, 364; letter to the Archbishop of + Canterbury, 382, 383; 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, 251; and the Ministers, 245; + 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 + +Williams, Sir John, Justice of the Common Pleas, iii. 71 + +Winchelsea, Earl of, duel of, with the Duke of Wellington, i. + 192; incident of the handkerchief, 198 + +Winchester Cathedral, iii. 283 + +Windham, Right Hon. William, diary of, i. 231; conversation with + Doctor Johnson, 232 + +Windsor Castle, dinner in St. George's Hall, ii. 34, 42; dinner + during the Ascot week, 147 + +Windsor election, mobs at the, iii. 130 + +Woburn, party at, i. 23; riot at, ii. 77 + +Wood, Charles, on the Reform Bill, ii. 280 + +Wood, Matthew, returned to Parliament for the City of London, + iii. 188 + +Worcester, Marchioness of, death of the, i. 47 + +Worcester Cathedral, iii. 327; monument of Bishop Hough, 327 + +Wordsworth, William, characteristics of, ii. 120 + +Wortley, Right Hon. John, Secretary to the Board of Control, i. + 271. _See_ Wharncliffe + +Wrottesley, Sir John, motion of, for a call of the House, iii. 8, + 13 + +Wynford, Lord, raised to the Peerage, i. 210; Deputy Speaker of + the House of Lords, 210 + +Wynn, Right Hon. Charles, President of the Board of Control, i. + 95; resignation of, ii. 124 + + +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. 104 + +York, H.R.H. the Duchess of, character of, i. 5; portrait of, 8; + illness of, 27; death of, 34 + +Young, Thomas, private secretary to Lord Melbourne, iii. 126 + + +Zea Bermudez, iii. 21; dismissal of, 55 + +Zumalacarreguy, iii. 270 + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Greville Memoirs, by Charles C. F. 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