E ARL GREY .

From the cture b S ir Thomas L y awren ce in / h pi , t e Nati on al P ortrait Gallery RO UGH TO N HO BHO USE)

ADDITIO NAL EXT RAC TS

“ M H IS P RIVATE DIARIES

»m ' m a v

L XI) !

PO R RAITS IN FO UR VO L UMES T .

V L I 1 8 2 — 1 8 . O V . 9 3 4

“N MU R

BY L O R D BR O UGH TON (JO H N C AM H O BH O USE )

WIT H ADDITIO NAL EX T RAC TS F R O M H IS P RIVATE D IARIES

W T P RTRA TS F UR V UMES I H O I . IN O OL — V L . I V . 1 8 2 1 8 O 9 3 4.

LO NDO N

O H N MURRAY ALBE MARL S T REE T W E . J , , P R INTE D BY

H AZ EL L ATS O AN D VI EY L D . , W N N , , AY BUR L O N DO N AN D L ES Y . C O N T E N TS

CHAPTER IX

— Du ke and Du c he ss o f Clarence Continental Opin ion o f Wellington — — — ’ — A11an Cu nningham The Byron Copyrights Moore s Life Death — ’ ’ — of George Tierney O Co n n e ll s Parliamentary Value Unope ned — — American Despatches Funeral o f Douglas Kinnaird David Wilkie — — Ugo Foscolo- Jewish Disabilities Bill The Byron Separation ’ — Buonaparte at St . Helena His Majesty s Opposition Fanny — — — Kemble as Ju lie t Thomas Campbell Samuel Rogers Sermon by

— — O f IV Sydney Smith Joseph Hume and Middlesex Death George . — — The New King The Regency Q uestion The Revolution of July — ’ — Accession o f Louis Philippe Galt s Life of Byron The King at

— Mr v - o f . i 1 5 Brighton Death Huskisson pp . 0

CH APTER X

— The — — Charles X . Struggle in Belgium Trouble in the City Van — — derwe yer and Wellington Sir Edward Codrington End o f the — — Welli n gton Ministry The New Government Lord Chancellor — — — ’ Brougham At Holland House Alarm at Paris Moore s Life o f — — — Byron A Day o f Fasting Reform Bill introduced Lord Grey e — Wa lew ski 5 1—9 9 R jection defeated Count pp .

CHAPTER XI

— — Excite ment in Parliament Misunderstanding with Peel West minster Dinner— Lady Julia Hobhouse ill— The Second Reform Bill — — Paganini Opening o f London Bridge Death o f Sir Benjamin — 1 0—1 Hobhouse Social Reform Bills carried pp . 0 3 7 CHAPTER XII

— - — Democratic Excite ment Anti Reform Successes The National ’ — Union— Lord John Russell s New Bill— Macaul ay and Croker A ’ — — T Go d Ha ndsome Majority The H o tham s . P . Cooke Almighty s — - - — — Aristocracy Secretary a t War Kissing Hands as Minister U n — — conte ste d R e -election Proposals to create Peers The Garrick Club ’ — ’ — The King s First Levee Lord Altho rp s Dilemma Dangers from — 1 8 —200 Birmingham Flogging in the Army pp . 3

CHAPTER XIII

— — — Audience with the King James Hogg Lady Holland De presse d — — The Princess Victoria Prince Czartoryski Re forrn Bill in the Lords — — Second Reading carried Tales o f Lord Townshend Crisis Day Meeting at Brooks ’ s—The New Government—Baring and Wellington — — Opposition o f the Lords Guarante es secured Progre ss o f the Reform — — ’ — Bill The Duke O f Sussex The King s Anger Re volution in Paris — — — Unpopularity o f the King and Queen Chelsea Hospital The — — Flogging Question Farewell o f the Speaker Prorogation o f Parlia 20 1—25 1 ment pp .

CHAPTER XIV

— — Nelson and Bobbing An Efficient War O fii ce Sta te smen o f the — — - — Day Lord Dur ham R e e lected for Westmin ster Army Re forms — — The House and Window Tax Emancipation o f Slaves Nahm e k —Meh m e — Pasha e t Ali Election o f Sutton as Speaker The Bird o f — — — Prey Irish Church Reform Military Re ductions Ministe rial — — — Troubles Sinecures and Economy The Irish Coe rcion Bill A Dead — ’ — lock Lord Goderich s Relucta nce to resign At the Irish O fiice — — - Debate o n Cu rrency Resignation R e nominated for Westminster 252—3 1 3 Defeated pp .

CHAPTER XV

Th — — e Duchess o f Kent Aspects o f Wellington Illness o f Lady Julia -At ’ — — Lord Harrington s The Z oological Gardens Basildon Park CONTENTS

Macaulay—Ada Byron— Procession of Trades Unions— Lady Holland ’ s — — ’ — ’ Testimony Aff airs in Fr ance At the Duchess of Kent s O Con n e ll — — — and Ireland N O Canvass or Pledges Trouble in the Cabinet New — — Appointments Conversation wi th Lord Tavistock Quarrel between — — Ellice an d Durham Re sign ation o f Lord Grey Minister for Woods — — — and Forests Elected fo r Nottingham In the Cabinet The Min i s i - — i 1 4 —3 63 te ria l F sh dinner The K ng and the People pp . 3

APPENDIX

Table of Administrations during the Period covered by these l 3 64 — 6 Vo umes pp . 3 5

N D E X — I pp . 3 67 3 8 3

VOL . IV

LI ST O F I LLU S TRATIO N S

E ARL GREY F r on tisp iece

From the pi ctu re b y S ir Th omas L aw ren ce in the N ation al P ortra it , Galler y .

FA CING P AGE

IZ ABET T IRD EL H , H L ADY H O L LAND

From the ctu re b R ob e rt Fa an at H ollan d H ouse B k n d erm ss on of pi y g . y i p i i Mar Coun tess of Il ch ester y , .

L O RD A L TH O RP

Jo n Charles T rd E arl S en er sc o t A r B S ir H a ter B h h c V u lth o G. . , i p ( i n p) . y y y k n d erm ss on of his n e h ew V scou n t Althor to L ad Dorch ester i p i i p , i p y . ,

S IR FRANCIS BURDETT (Photogravure)

F rom a ctu re in the ossess on of L ad Dorch ester pi p i y .

REC O L L EC TIO N S O F A

L O N G L IFE

CH APTE R IX D FROM IARY . 1 6 — I O c tober . dined with Burdett at Cambridge

House , Richmond , and was introduced for the first

time to the Duke and Duchess of Clarence . The Duke seems to be fond O f appearing to

know something about everybody and everything . “ You O He said to me , were at xford and M W . talking to Penn about a iss Wauchope said ,

N ot She was the daughter O f a General . at all , Sir , replied Penn ; she was the daughter of a cheesemonger . O n the whole he is quite a Prince : a great asker of questions about nothing . His Duchess a - a pleasing , ami ble mannered woman . ’ — In n N ov emb er 7 Walked to Lincoln s . Saw

s Bicker teth and Seton . The latter just where I left him many years ago, the same small room , no sign of progress in his profession . Yet here m is a clever man , a college prize an , an excellent

‘ scholar, a painstaking person , surpassed by hun

of of dreds inferior capacity . Is it for want luck — or self c on fiden c e ?

VO L . IV R LONDON C AP . IX .

— ’ 9 . . N ov ember Dined at H . Stephenson s Met

there amongst others my Old lackadaisical , ex l c e len t . o friend , Robert Adair He t ld Of Pozzo di Borgo that at on e time he was proscribed by — N F e three Emperors apoleon , rancis , Al xander and had no way of escape but getting a Turkish

firman for , which Adair procured him , and he broke through the Transylvanian frontier . Afterwards when the French and Russians made war he went round by Torneo , and contrived to see Alexander .

From that moment his fortune was made . He lost his little patrimony in Corsica by adhering to the English when they were masters there , and got his pension from us on that account .

N o m r 1 6 — ve be . Lord Tweeddale told me he had

of been walking with the Duke Wellington , who said the Government were quite strong in both

of Houses . He asked Tweeddale what they said

on him the Continent . Tweeddale replied , Sir, they say you have sunk England to be a third ”

. ? . rate power Ah , do they said the Duke ” T But, added weeddale , they complain that

ou y have forced Polignac into the Ministry, and

n ot con have saved Constantinople , which is sistent with your degradation of England . The

Duke laughed and said , Aye , aye , all is right .

N ovemb r 20 — - f e . The sub committee o the Byron

Monument met , and agreed to accept Thorwald ’ sen s ofi er Of for the Byron statue . f I have o fered to say that I thin k Mrs . Leigh

f to to o M . may part with some her S S Murray, R AP IX C . . ALLAN CUNNINGHAM

f assist Moore in his Life o Byron . This is better than publishing them herself by means of her son in - law , Trevanion , and as she wants the money very much perhaps she may be justified , but the necessity is a grievous one . — N ovember 21 . Dined at the Brougham

do brought me home and said , Well , what you

of think politics We should oppose these people ,

n ot see for eh I said I did What, and that the only fault I found was that the Duke of Welling ton had inferior associates where he might have the best men in the country . — ’ N ovember 24 . Dined at Colonel Hugh Baillie s ,

A of where I met llan Cunningham , the author

of of Lives British Painters . He told me a ’ Ma c beth Scotsman who admired Shakespeare s , “ Ju lius Owsa r L ea r H ow and , and , but added , could he write such nonsense as The Temp est

’ and M dsa mmer Night s D r ea m l l I complimented him on the liberal tone of his

Lives . He said he never would give it up , although he knew he was suspected of being too free in his opinions . Indeed , a Cabinet Minister “ told him, he would do very well if he would steer clear of that rock . In this way the literature of the country is poisoned at its so urce . The moment a writer of talent gets into good company he is told that

of he must beware unfashionable opinions , in other

of words he must adopt the cant the age, - D ecemb er 21 . This day came on the trials for LONDON CR AP . IX .

8 2 a Morn in 1 9 . libel gainst Alexander , editor Of the g

Journ a l . The Chancellor gained his verdict

. easily , and deserved it Alexander pleaded his

of ow n cause very badly, in every sense the

word .

Lord Tenterden was fair in summing up , and though his feelings would naturally prompt him

to An tico le ite spare an Anticatholic and an p y , yet he pronounced the charge made by the Journal against the Chancellor to come within the scope

of indictment to the full extent .

- D ecemb er 22. This day the editor was tried

for M libelling the King and his inisters . The

of of jury found him guilty the first , but not the

second . The Times takes a decided part against the Ministry in these prosecutions (n ot that of

u n the Chancellor) , and so I think will every

prejudiced man . They are unworthy Of the Duke

of . Wellington , and will injure his Government

J a n u a r 5 1 8 3 0 — 1 on y , called Hanson and agreed with him that I should speak to some publisher about O fi erin g the unsold copyrights

of Byron at a trade sale . Hanson actually contemplates writing a Life

of Byron , particularly from eight to eighteen , which he says was the most interesting part of

his existence .

’ - J a n u a ry Mar Murray has sent Moore s book to

me as a present from the publisher . I see two or

three inaccuracies at once , but am struck with the

’ inf ormation collected as to Lord Byron s early

m IX LONDON C . .

of . 1 8 3 0 . I have seen too much them Gordon thinks we are ruined at home for want of on e-pound

notes , and does not believe the Duke can meet

Parliament without some change .

28 — on J a n ua ry . George Tierney died suddenly

Monday last . The panegyrics in the newspapers

seem to me true as to his Parliamentary capacity ,

but false as to his integrity . My father , who

knew him well , told me he was as great an

intriguer as ever lived . I also think that no statesman ever took such false views of coming

events as G . Tierney . His conjectures , so far f o . as I ever heard them , were never happy 3 0 — I ’ J a n u a r . y dined at Brougham s , who was l as usua most pleasing and instructive , without

or O f pedantry presumption any kind . He told us in proof of the vanity Of the news paper reporters that when he contrived to save

on e of Times Collier, the , from being sent to

N of ewgate by the House Commons , he happened “ F r to call the man the person at the Bar . o ff this o ence , though he had rescued the reporter, he was c ushion ed by the gallery press for more

than a fortnight . Another time he incurred the displeasure of the same powerful body by using the expression a

or two poor printer reporter , as if the were

on a par . Brougham had a letter from the same

Collier on the subject , and wrote an explanation

to J to Mackintosh , which Sir ames was hand

o t the offended parties . m ’ o . Ix. BR O U GH AM s CONTRADICTION Brougham advised that no effort should be

made against the Government, and he said , Let

ou t us be quite sure , before we turn the Duke ,

whom we shall turn in after him . ’ of Brougham also told us the King s remark ,

Mr when . Canning showed him the letter in which he (Brougham) had Offered to support the Govern ment without office . Does not your Majesty think that very magnanimous ? Very mag

n an im ou s said the King ; adding , soon after ”

w . wards , Take him at his ord Brougham said the King was highly O fi en ded at a paragraph about his not paying the Duke

’ of York s debts which appeared in the Times. So angry was he that he almost quarrelled with

Wellington . A Sunday newspaper imputed the

a p ragraph to Brougham . Brougham saw T .

to for Barnes and told him contradict it, , said m Brougham , I never contradict anything y

. of self Query, what is to become this extra ordinary man

“ R . FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS

Parliament met on F ebruary 4 . The Royal Speech confined the distress to some parts of the

Kn atchb ull country , but moved an amendment which spread the distress over the whole country .

who Huskisson , with his party were in battle

old con array in their places below the gangway, cluded his speech by declaring he should vote for m the a endment . Althorp also declared he CRAP . LONDON IX .

for should vote the amendment , and Brougham took the same line , adding , however , that he would n ot do so if he thought it would have a tendency to disturb the Administration When “ he sat down , I said to him , Why, Brougham , it must have a tendency to disturb the Administra

’ tion . Well , said he , I can t help it . Ministers had a majority Of only 55 ; 28 of ou r t side vo ed with Government, so that, if we had gone the other way, the amendment would have been carried . The House was very thin for a first day , and the tone Of Ministers very low . There were symptoms of a falling cause even amongst the placemen . ’ O Con n e ll made his maiden speech, which attempted no flights .

’ — n l F ebru a ry 1 1 . It was remarked that O Co n e l had spoken almost every night since taking his

’ ’

. O Con n ell s seat , and had spoken sensibly Par li m n ar a e t . y value was , at that time , underrated

- of Solicitor General Doherty , speaking to me him , M said , ark my words he will turn out nothing ; he will sink down gradually to his proper dimensions . — F ebr u a ry 1 2. Sir James Graham made the speech which was the foundation of his Parlia mentary fame . He concluded with a motion for reducing salaries to the standard of 1 79 7 ;

e f but Dawson pr posed resolutions similar in e fect, u and not clogged with the C rrency question , so that there was no division , and Graham gave BYRON COP YRIGHTS SOLD

e 1 8 3 0. way . P el concluded the debate by stating that

Government would pursue its course fearlessly , although fully aware of the opposition to be encountered in Parliament ; but , at the same

of of time , secure the final support the great majority of the people ou t of doors .

F ebr ua r 1 4 — I y . dined with the Speaker, and

’ O Con n ell Daniel sat opposite to Mr . Speaker . O h rare ! thought I . Who would have thought of this two years ago ? — F ebru a ry 1 8 . There came on the debate on the

’ of Marquis Blandford s Reform Bill . As no

Ministerialist Spoke , the debate would soon have dropped if I had not unwisely got up and made

of something a flourish , which brought up Horace F Twiss , who roused Sir rancis Burdett . Brougham proposed to substitute a general ’ f or ou r resolution Blandford s Bill , and intention was to vote for it ; but, by some unaccountable

’ confusion , we voted for Blandford s Bill , and had — 5 but a small minority only 7 .

D FROM IARY .

F ebr u a r 20 — y . The Byron copyrights , all but J Don uan , sold by auction yesterday for guineas . There wa s no bidding for Don Juan beyond 3 1 0 guineas . We might have got guineas if the auctioneer had trusted Colburn , who gave him c a r te b la n c he to exceed Murray until he was stopped . However, we did pretty well . O L V . IV IX LONDON Cm . .

R E CO L L E O TIO NS . FROM BOOK ,

. 0 n the morning O f February 22 I was at the House Of Commons in Committee on my Select J Vestries Bill . The next day Lord . Russell made his proposal for giving members to Birmin g 1 4 0 M . to ham , anchester , and Leeds We divided

1 8 8 on e or f . Huskisson and his friends , besides

An tic atholic s . two , voted with us The Morn ing Journ a l O f F ebruary 24 th con tain e d an article charging me with voting with Ministers against Lord John Russell ’ s Reform

proposal . This was too bad . I went to the Office

Of the paper, and said I could not permit my votes to be falsified ; the article was therefore

contradicted .

D FROM IARY . F e b ru a ry 27 -At a party O f thirty to-day at

O f Windsor , the King holloed to the Duke Devon shire that he did not understand these reforms an d retrenchments ; he would give up the crown

to . and ask be Prince Of Wales again But ,

’

. N O n or added he , they won t let me , will they have any more Dukes .

’ N O W , I can t understand how my friend Burdett and others strive so to turn ou t an Administration which stands so ill at Court . As for myself, I will

n o f have hand in such an exploit, di ficult as it is sometimes to support the acts Of Government , an d compelled as I am to vote for all reforms

and retrenchments . X CH AP . I . UNOPENED AMERICAN DESPATCHES

— br u a r 28 . F e y Lord Tweeddale , who had been M O f talking to Sir G . urray and the Duke

O f Wellington on the state the Administration , told me that both had said that the wishes Of most individuals in either House were of the most liberal tendency , but they felt they had

Obstacles at Windsor and from their partisans . It appears that the dumb mouths on ou r Treasury

Bench are to be opened and Peel to be supported .

R E O O L L EO TIO N S FROM BOOK , . — ’ Ma rc h 7 We dined at Lord Holland s in

Savile Row . Mr . Allen was in great force , and told me several stories which I had reason to believe were true . When the Whigs came into 1 8 06 Office in , several American despatches were ’ Mu l found in Lord grav e s Office unopened . I had heard a similar story Of a closet full Of

’ American despatches in the Duke o f N ewcastle s

on time , and I recollected a remark made that anecdote by Yes , that is very true , and those who succeeded N ewcastle took to reading despatches and what was the consequence P The

i Amer can war .

~ Mr . Allen also mentioned that Mr . Windham , having taken great pains in writing a despatch to the Officer commanding ou r troops in South b N America, eing summoned down to the orfolk election somewhat suddenly , put the despatch in his pocket , and found it there six weeks afterwards . He also said that Wilmot Horton gave orders R LONDON C AP. IX . to the Commander of our naval forces on the African coast to make reprisals on on e of the

Barbary powers , as a punishment for some insult of which he found an account in a despatch at his office . A short time afterwards it was dis covered that the said Secretary had n ot noticed

of the date the said despatch , nor of the insult ;

on e and that the was three years back , and that the other had been explained and forgiven . — ’ I . Ma r h 1 2 . i c called at Messrs Ransom s bank , and there heard that my friend of many years ,

Douglas Kinnaird , had died that morning . He was resigned and composed , and discussed matters of business with his partner , Mr . Squire , with - perfect self possession . Even in those days I could not help thinking there was a fatality

of attending the friendships my early days . M Edward Vernon , Charles atthews , Byron , Kin

ird n a . , all gone

an d In the evening I attended Parliament, voted with Sir James Graham against the appoint ment of Treasurer of the Navy . Peel was excited more than usual , appealed to the public , M and said that , if inisters gained no credit by attempting to govern by Opinion , they would govern by influence , as others had done . This was imprudent , and a tremendous cheer rose

ou r from benches .

D FROM IARY .

Ma r h 1 9 — of c . Attended the funeral my poor

R LONDON C AP . IX .

officers , and replaced some crockeryware which was accidentally broken . He told us also that

to Admiral Duncan , when left watch De Winter , had only three ships with him , but managed , by making Signals , to make the Dutch believe that the whole fleet was at hand . When De

Winter was afterwards told this , he would not believe it ; but I did , for Admiral Hotham was - a very truth speaking man .

D FROM IARY . — Ma r ch 3 0 I . went to Devonshire House with

wif . my e I hate this amusement , as it is called ,

. n or worse than ever I have no turn capacity . F f Miss anny Kemble was the lion o the evening .

I never saw any celebrated woman so very plain . — Ma rc h 3 1 . At Vestry Committee , where we

ou r considered Report, and agreed to some resolutions which I had drawn up , recommending a legislative measure founded on an elective principle . Mr . Ross , seconded by Sir Thomas

F . t remantle , moved counter resolutions Af er

M. P . for O much battling we overpowered the xford ,

two eighteen to , and agreed almost unanimously

to my resolutions .

Thus closes the first part of my Vestry labours ,

prosperously as far as I have gone , but the

Bill remains behind , and I can hardly promise f myself success in both Houses o Parliament . - Ap ril 1 . I sat up till near three in the morning to hear Peel propose his amendment of IX CRAP . . U GO FOSCOLO

1 the forgery laws . There were not above eighteen 1 8 3 0 members in the House , but Peel spoke as if there were five hundred . At last we dwindled

or to some four five , and I was the only man who did not speak and compliment the Home

Secretary . — At half past two I brought up the Report of

on e the Vestry Committee , when there was only other member in the House . The members are absolutely worn ou t with the unremitting long nights . The Speaker confessed to me that he was , and said that nothing but Easter would save him .

R FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS Early in the month of April my friend Sinclair Cullen sent me some papers from the executors of F m Ugo oscolo , in order that I might exa ine them , and see whether there were in them materials for a Memoir . I looked over them , but did n ot find much to add to the short notice contained in my work on Italy .

F ‘ 1 8 on 77 J 26 . oscolo was born in , anuary

His father was a doctor . In only on e of the

documents do I find him called Count . In

general he is described as Captain , but here ,

in England , his arms were surmounted by a

coronet .

He came to England in 1 8 1 6 . It appeared by these papers that he had attained to considerable

skill in writing English . I observed in these documents many evidences of the squabbles in IX LONDON CRAP . . which this most unhappy man was perpetually

a engaged . That he was man of very great

genius there can be no doubt, and that he was a

most unhappy man cannot be denied . — Ap ril 5 . Robert Grant moved for leave to bring in a Bill to remove the disabilities affecting

on the Jews . Peel was absent account of his ’

. ou r father s illness To infinite surprise , we

1 1 5 9 . divided to 7 I walked across the House ,

Calc raft on and said to , then the Treasury Bench , By Jove ! you will be turned ou t if you go on A e in this way y , replied he ; but you know you like a good weak Government .

I might have said , Yes , but not a bad weak

Government . I was , however , too angry to play

On words . I passed the Easter holidays O f this year with my brother Henry , at a pretty country residence hired by him near Guildford , called

Send Grove . The clergyman at Send was of a sort more frequently met with in those days than now . I heard the good man preach : he chose the Story of Balaam for his sermon , and called the prophet a singular Character but surely the ass was

C a more singular haracter, but of him he said n ot on e word . It was not a fit subject for a n f or or . sermon , a joke

of At this time , April and May, I had much my time taken up by looking after Lord Byron ’ s aflairs of , and taking advice as to the expediency IX CR AP . . TH E BYRON SEP ARATION

giving some public refutation to a charge made , as was stated , by Lady Byron , in regard to the separation between Byron and his wife . The

on of attack Lord Byron , on the authority Lady

Tom Byron , was countenanced by Campbell , who

firstrate was a poet no doubt , but a very bad pleader, even in a good cause , and made therefore a most pitiable figure when he had no case at all .

I consulted friends , and amongst them Lord

who Holland , strongly recommended silence , and did n ot scruple to say that the lady would be more annoyed if she were left unnoticed than if,

or to whether wrong right , she had figure in a

to controversy . I was far from wishing annoy her at all ; my sole wish was to do my duty by my friend ; and I hope I have done that su ffi cien tl to y by leaving behind me , be used if necessary , a full and scrupulously accurate account 1 of the transaction in question . I shall content myself here with asserting that it was not fear , on of the part Lord Byron , that persuaded him

O n to separate from his wife . the contrary , he was quite ready to go into court , as they

call it .

D FROM IARY . ’ — f B u rien n e s Ap ril 23 . Read a good deal o o

Memoirs . It seems to me the best and fairest

et N book y written about apoleon .

A ril 2 — N 6 I . p . returned to London othing

This account is published in the last chapter of Volume II . I 3 VOL . v LONDON

done in the House ; the rumour strong that the

King is dying. His illness , however , creates very

little interest , considering what his death must

produce . They say the Duke and Peel will remain fi in Of ce, but that King William will make Changes in some departments . — 1 A f . Ap ril 27 . t House o Commons The Terceira business was brought on by Charles Grant in a bitter and eloquent speech . Whilst I went away to dinner the House was near coming to a division , but Twiss was put up and made a speech , or rather read a speech from several folios of paper so that some of the wags opposite drew lots who J should call him to order, and ohn Russell won the lot. Accordingly Russell complained of Twiss reading his speech , and brought up Mr . Under

Secretary, who said he had not read , but only ’ looked at vo lumin ous notes Here s a fellow ! 8 We had but a poor division , 7 only , though

H u skisson ian s f or all the voted us , but many

Whigs kept away . They care little for Portugal

’ f r and less o Huskisson s party .

Ma 3 — F . y . ound that R Gordon had made a smart attack on the miscellane ous estimates in f the House o Commons . I took the opportunity of i speak ng , and believe I got votes by what I

1 In December 1 8 28 Count S aldanha sailed from England for Terceira with a party of Portuguese refugees who were adherents ’ ‘ h off t e . of Queen s cause The ship was , however, stopped Terceira

C . by aptain Walpole , under the orders of the British Government The Duke of Wellington defended this action as a maintenance of P neutrality between the rival ortuguese parties . ’ m 1 x C . . A L O O K or NAPOLEON S R AIR

ou r i said , which , as good people think Parl ament is dying , is no great exploit . — — May 4 . The Speaker said to me to day at

House of Commons , I think , Mr . Hobhouse , you must be at the height Of your glory now ; if you n admire a good weak Gover ment , you had your

’ heart s content last night . Certainly never did an Administration cut a poorer figure . If not Strong enough to carry their

do . jobs , they should not attempt so to We shall have no more estimates till Peel comes back , and even his presence will not calm the death-bed terrors of some county members . ’ Ma — y 5 . Dined at Hudson Gurney s . Bart F 1 i A rere and Terrick Ham lton , author Of ntar , there . The latter is a most disagreeable fellow indeed .

to Mrs . Gurney was saying she should like l k ’ have a oo of Napoleon s hair . Terrick Hamil

look of ton said , I would not care for a his hair more than for that Of a n ayer and then he fell to abusing him , and saying he never had

any curiosity about seeing such a man , and that

Buonaparte was too well treated at St . Helena .

Suppose , said somebody , that one of the sove reigns at war with Buonaparte had been taken F by the rench and treated so , what would you ? O h H “ have said , said T . . , that is another

thing . Buonaparte was n ot born a King l l ! I

m H ookham Ac Bartholo ew Frere , brother of John Frere ; ting — M S 1 8 09 1 0 s at C inister in pain ; served afterward onstantinople . P IX LONDON CRA . .

could n ot help saying that I had heard a good many bold and Strange things said in my life

time , but nothing quite so extravagant as that .

Yet T . Hamilton is reckoned a very clever fellow ,

an d may be so for all I know .

J of Sir . Sebright was the party , and told us

of his skill in instructing puppies . He can make them extract cube roots . He does it by the eye ’ O n f entirely . e o Sir John Sebright s daughters has invented an expeditious mode of extracting cubes , which he showed me . What between his dogs and his daughters , his family must be an ingenious circle ! Sebright told us some examples of Sir Astley ’ Cooper s egregious vanity . Sir A . Cooper was , it

Jac ob in n ow seems , almost a once , but is a wor shipper O f King George IV . N ot long ago he ’ made a speech , and dwelt upon His Majesty s peculiar regard for truth ! ! ’ Ma 7 — y King s birthday kept, and a favourable bulletin . It is said the King insisted it should

on be so his birthday, but Paddy Holmes said “ ’ to of ou me , Don t believe a word what y hear ; he is dying . ’ of to Looked at some letters Byron s Kinnaird , which young Lord Kinnaird has just given to me . Amongst them is the last he ever wrote , 1 0 1 8 24 dated Missolonghi , April , , the very day “ he was taken ill . He says in the end , I have ” to . been very unwell , but am thought be stronger

‘ — May 1 4 . I hear that Sir Robert Peel has left

P LONDON CRA . IX . that Brougham got defeated at the Anti-slavery

n n ot meeting o Saturday . He does bid high

for enough the people now , and is most unjustly suspected of want of sincerity . — May 1 7 . The second reading of the Jews

on of Relief Bill came in the House Commons , when Sir R . Peel made his first appearance sin Ce ’ his father s death , and spoke against the Bill .

’ Brougham s was the speech of the night . He was most successful , but was not well heard too deep and too learned for the multitude . His reference to Gibbon and Bolingbroke as professed in fidels of , though admirably introduced , failed eff ect . 2 — Ma 0 . I y read my Vestry Bill a second time , and committed it . — May 22. Went to Holly Lodge and saw the many ways by which the good-natured hostess tries to make all the world forget that such a f person as Miss Mellon ever lived . Very few o the great people who used to court Mrs. Coutts

. to were , however, there They do not choose accept favours which they must return at the hazard of having precedence taken of them in - London by the ci deva n t sou br e tte . There was no very prominent absurdity in the spectacle , except that the Duchess 1 was drawn in a garden b phaeton up and down a hill , preceded y a band

1 t Al m 1 2 9th D S . 6 1 8 7 The uke of bans arried , on June , , the

M M C . daughter of atthew ellon, who was widow of Thomas outts 1 8 3 7 S he died in . CRAP . IX . FANNY KEM BLE AS J ULIET of Prague minstrels and followed by her guests

rOcession . in p I have seen the sight once , and shall never see it again . — May 25 . Went to the orchestra at Covent

F for Garden , and saw anny Kemble , the first

J . time , in the character of uliet I was delighted , particularly with her tenderness . The tones of m her voice are ost impressive and agreeable , her manner soft and engaging , her action natural and

of easy . If she was unequal in any part the play , it was in the horror expressed for fear she should awake in the vault . There , I think , she was too loud and passionate . O n the whole I f was much a fected , and know not when the enchanting poetry of the play has so Charmed

— - Ma 26 . Tom y Walking to day I met Campbell , the poet , and took a turn with him . He said very quietly to me that he thought the Christian religion was getting into general disrepute , much more so than the monarchy .

- air The man has a half crazy look and , and whilst we were talking of Kemble asked me if I could give him any anecdotes for the Life which

e we he was writing of him . He soon recoll cted

n ot of were speaking Lawrence . He confessed that the biography of that great painter was a

fi . dif cult task . There was nothing to tell — ’ l Ma 28 . A f O on n e l y t House o Commons . C proposed Radical Reform , Universal Suffrage , J Ballot , and Triennial Parliaments . Lord ohn IX LONDON CRAP. .

Russell followed with his moderate Reform ,

n which stood o the books for a separate motion . Three or four young members opposed all re

n ot form, in speeches which the House would listen to .

Brougham turned round to me and said , The election is coming on , Burdett is not here ; by heavens you must speak , and if you do not I will say something to call you up . I therefore rose at past and made what

of was thought a very good speech , which

Brougham made honourable mention in his , saying it was on e of the ablest he had ever heard in

Parliament . I defended Universal Suffrage ,

Ballot , and Short Parliaments ; but declared

for myself any reform , preferring that which

‘ f is n s united the greatest number o part a .

We divided 1 3 for Radical Reform . After wards we divided for Russell ’ s Extended Basis

1 1 7 21 3 . of Representation , to — ’ - ’ Ma 3 0 I O Con n e ll . y . saw to day at Brooks s He talked to me about the state of Ireland pre v iou sl y to passing the Relief Bill , and said that Tipperary alone would have turned out

of fighting men . They had most them pikes , and many firearms .

of A friend his , whilst shooting on the moors , was asked whether the Counsellor (meaning ’ O Con n ell) intended to c a ll them ou t tha t yea r . He issued a sort of proclamation to keep them quiet ; but a man high in office in Dublin told ’ ’

IX . CR AP . O CONNELL S OPINION OF WELLINGTON 25 him not to disarm the Catholics until six weeks f ” o . after the meeting Parliament This , said

’ O Con n ell for , was honest and open enough a

ou Government man , and will show y how the

Relief Bill was passed . ’ ’ O Con n e ll complained to me of the Duke s obstinacy in persisting in the taxing of Ireland

of at this moment . He said that the Duke Wellington was not a great man ; he was a great

soldier , but every age produced great soldiers and

great lawyers , which showed that great genius

was not requisite for such productions . A great

genius was more rare , and appeared but once in

so . a century , if often There is something in the Observation — Ma 3 1 Bel rav e s. y . Dined with the g Young Stuart Wortley at dinner told me that he expected

the Ministry would not last long . He confessed

it was no very pleasant task acting under Peel .

His manners were cold , and very little assistance

was required by him from anybody . ’ Ju n e 4 -I J . dined at ohn Smith s , and met

there Sam Rogers . He told me that he saw

Lord Aberdeen on Monday last , and that he seemed much vexed at Prince Leopold ’ s refusal

of the crown of Greece . Rogers said he wondered any one who had bread to eat should Wish to be

in office . Lord Aberdeen said , True , but I

should not like to leave office either, although I should not be so sorry as my predecessor

was .

VO L . IV m IX C . LONDON .

Ju n e 5 —I . am deplorably idle , but help now d and then others who are active . Ten ays ago I joined a party at the Admiralty and founded

a Geographical Society . This is the Society

which , under the guidance chiefly of Sir Roderick

M dimen urchison , has grown to such formidable

sions . If I were to give up the small shop

of to business politics , and confine myself the

of consideration important questions , perhaps I

could do something , but I do not know this .

R . FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS

on J 6 I find recorded that Sunday, une , I went ’

. J to St ohn s Church , and guessed , by the unusual

muster of fashionable folk , that something good

was expected . I was not wrong , for Sydney Smith

preached a funeral sermon ; and , to my mind ,

a very good sermon it was . His manner was rather energetic than impassioned or pleasing ; l his voice more oud than distinct . I was much

gratified , and thought the sermon too short . It

t -fiv e u lasted only thir y min tes . The text was the famous comparison of the seed that dies before it produces grain with the re surrec of tion man , for which Voltaire in a most unseemly

of M manner insults the Apostle the Gentiles . y ’ friend s principal argument was that, as nothing

seems to have been created in vain , so God would not have implanted the desire and expectation of futurity in man if he were never to attain to

it . He said that the belief in a second life seemed CRAP . IX . BELIEF IN A SECOND LIFE

to have been implanted in every human heart , and might be called universal . I thought this had been denied , and that whole nations had been

v or disco ered without any such faith hope . He also drew the desired conclusion from the progress and improvement of man alone of all created — beings , and here he was eloquent ; and from

of — the love posthumous fame , and here he was

of — a pathetic ; and from the fear death , topic which he also handled with great effect . It was a great relief, after being so long wearied

of with tiresome House Commons talk , to listen to a good lecture on a subject interesting to all . — J un e 7 . I spoke and voted with Sir James Graham against some extravagant items in the c harges f or South American missions ; and I paired in favour of Sir James Mackintosh ’ s prO posal to abolish the punishment of death in f f o o . all cases forgery , except the forgery wills

D FROM IARY . ’ u n 1 — I J e 0 . went to a party at Lady Graham s given to celebrate the marriage of my young friend Lord Seymour with the remaining daughter of Tom Sheridan . Her face has been her fortune . M N rs . Her sister , orton , sang and acted a song of her own .

J un e 1 4 —At . on a Committee my Vestry Bill .

A very ungracious task , and by no means a labour of love R P LONDON C A . IX .

un 1 — J e 9 . Talking with Attwood of Birmin g who ham , seemed to think that popular associations

for might procure Reform, if contending moderate

measures upon the conservative principle . He said he was convinced that the whole people of England were essentially aristocratic and imbued

for Of with respect their superiors , and hatred those neighbours raised by accident above them

selves . I believe this is true .

R . FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS

— on J un e 1 5L Mr . Samuel Whitbread called me and told me he intended to retire from t Middlesex a the next election , and asked me to write his retiring address to the electors

for him .

on F I called Sir rancis Burdett and Mr . Place , and we agreed that the man most suitable for the electors and most fit for the situation was

Mr . Hume . Accordingly I communicated with

M of r . Hume , who naturally enough talked

of the probable expense a contest, adding he was sure of his seat for the Scottish borough which

he then represented . At last, however , he con

sented to be put in nomination . Lord Althorp

ou r fell into proj ect at once , but said some of

the Whigs might be hostile , and it would be

advisable to consult at once with Lord Grey .

This he did . At first his Lordship was restive ,

but ended by saying that , if Hume was taken

for up by the Reformers , it would be expedient

LONDON CRAP . IX .

for r e stand Middlesex , the othe cons nting to be a candidate . I said it was very hard to throw the weight of abandoning the project upon me , which would inevitably be the case if I accepted

of the letter resignation . It was agreed it would ‘ be diflic u lt to find any other man besides Hume . Warbu rton then said that he would be answer able for of the expenses to support Hume . I consented to take the letter of assent on condition that I might refer to Lord Althorp and

Mr f . Warburton in case o any future difficulty ;

of f J and so , all us con essing oseph Hume to be fl a very shabby shuf ing fellow , yet believing he

f or might be a useful member Middlesex , we

of came to the resolution standing by him , heart and hand . I made this remark in my Diary M If Hume should be returned for iddlesex , he of course will forget that he owes his seat to

: me twice over once , when I commended the proj ect to Burdett and Place ; and again , when I accepted his affirmative instead of his negative answer .

- I went to the Committee room , and commenced operations immediately , writing circulars and private letters . I apologise to those whom it may concern for - this tiresome story , about a long forgotten episode of ou r times and adventures .

D FROM IARY .

Jun e 25 — n o of . There was House Commons T DEATH OF GEORGE V.

- to : 18 3 0 . day some said because the King was dying , others because the Ministers were afraid ; but there was a serious conflict in the Lords , Lord Grey taking a most hostile attitude on the F Galway ranchise Bill . Ministers had a majority of only 1 5 ’ of We dined at the Duke Somerset s . Singularly enough , I sat between my wife and Lady

Charlotte . Lord Tavistock and I had a great deal of talk on politics . We agreed as to the strange in con ’ sistency and weakness of Lord Grey s general conduct , sometimes coquetting with Ministers , and then undoing all previous courtship by u n w f . No o reasonable hostility , with the prospect

m of a new reign , this change has uch the air

n ot shabbiness . Yet he is a shabby man ; far 1 from it , only peevish and wayward .

on e of Lord Dudley dined with us , and was in his most absent moods .

Ju n e 26 — . This morning , whilst I was reading

’ of F in bed Cunningham s Life laxman , I heard two reports of great guns . A little later I saw a man in the street with newspapers in mourning , and crying the sorrowful news , George IV . had died at ten minutes past three this morning . I went to the House of Commons a little after M twelve , and found many embers waiting to be

I L had many opportunities, after writing this, of seeing ord Grey I S -at- S I when was ecretary War, and ecretary for reland, under him and I believe I did not make any mistake in takin g this view of him —B . LONDON CRAP . IX.

18 3 0 . sworn in , but the Lord Steward had not arrived .

The Lords had taken the oaths to King William IV .

of Coming through the Park , I saw the Duke i J ’ Wellington and Peel go ng to St . ames s , where his new Majesty had arrived and gone through

the usual ceremonies . I heard that the new King M would not be proclaimed until onday , at eleven

’ o clock . Warburton and I walked to the House of M Commons , and joined a crowd of embers in

the long gallery . We were just in time to write

o ur down names , and to hurry over the oaths — with the rest all of us squeezing and giggling , and running O R to the House to be in time to

take the oaths at the table of the House . The

on swearing was going with much rapidity , but I was not soon enough to go through my part

’ of the ceremony . It was four o clock , and the Speaker adjourned the swearing to ten o ’ clock

M . on the following onday The oath was printed ,

of . but , to save time , the name George IV was

scratched out , and William filled up in writing . After I went away Brougham made a vehement Speech against the Marquis of Conyngham f or

i keep ng the House waiting , and contrasted his conduct with the considerate conduct of His

M IV . ajesty William , who had sent for the ” Speaker to facilitate all the forms . Conduct ,

said our orator , that called forth his gratitude , and expressions which would find a responsive echo in the breast of every man who heard IX CRAP . . MOOD OF THE NEW KING

h . O . 1 8 30 him Loud cheers , says the paper , to . be sure ! — I saw nothing like grief or joy only a bustle in the streets . Walking afterwards in the Green

Park , I saw the Royal carriage with the Life

Guards escorting William IV . up Constitution

. N ow Hill , on his way back to Bushy Park , though I cannot be supposed to have cause to care for George IV . or regret him in any way , yet I own there was something melancholy and disagreeable to me in the sight of his successor

of in the instant enjoyment Maj esty, whilst his

’ brother s body was scarcely cold . What a change , — too , for him coming up in his travelling carriage and stepping from it to a throne . The common ? question is , how long will it be before he is crazy

Burdett called , and said history would have b ut a sad tale to tell of George IV . The Tim es “ threatens a character for the benefit of his successors .

C . Moore told me that King William IV . was seen on the road to London this morning , in his

on carriage , with a bit of crape a white hat , grinning and nodding to everybody as he whirled along . This may not be true , but the rumour shows the character .

Jun e 27 .

s s sc r Vanes a , not of year a o e , S ighs for a gown of forty-f our !

— Jun e 28 . I saw the ceremony of proclaiming

VO L . Iv 5 R IX LONDON C AP . .

'

King William IV . A pretty sight . The crowd

was orderly, the acclamations confined to the

heralds and officiating people . I went to the House of Commons and took my M oaths at the table . Sir G . urray, Goulburn ,

Herries , and Peel were sworn at the same time .

I thought they all looked a little mournful , but it was said they were very well received by the

new King , who was very formal with Lord Grey . — Ju/n e 29 . Peel brought down a message from the King announcing immediate dissolution of

Parliament .

- of Ju n e 3 0 . Peel explained the intentions the Government as to putting off all but very urgent

n ot or business , and settling either the Civil List the Regency question . His tone was very humble . Lord Althorp proposed a delay of twenty-four hours to consider subjects of such vast importance as the Regency ; and Brougham took the same 1 3 9 line , and then left the House . We divided 1 8 5 to . I heard that Althorp had communicated with

! Lord Grey, who moved in the Lords for a similar

delay , and seemed in determined opposition to

Ministers . Lord Ellenborough , nothing daunted , told him that an Open enemy was better than

an insidious friend . The Lords in opposition could muster only 51 against more than double

their number .

ou r After division in the Commons , Lord

to Althorp moved an amendment the Address , R AP . C . IX BROUGHAM AND PEEL recommending the settlement of the Regency before the dissolution of Parliament . Everything

on seemed going quietly enough , and we had not ’ made up ou r minds about dividing on Althorp s amendment, when Brougham came in , I supposed from dinner , and soon commenced a Speech which

on grew more furious as he went ; and , after

u t personally singling o Mr . Dundas and Lord

Castlereagh for ironically cheering him , and exposing them to the ridicule of the House in every possible way , he , at last , insulted the

of whole bench Ministers , by calling them base , fawning parasites of the Duke of Wellington .

On this Sir Robert Peel rose to order , and asked

Brougham Whether he included him in the charge .

of There was great cheering , and loud cries Chair Brougham replied that he did not

to ou t of allude Peel , and he tried to get the

on scrape as well as he could ; which Sir Robert , with infinite skill and coolness , said he had no

o or d ubt that Brougham did not allude to him, to anybody personally , and that it would have been better, instead of making an unsatisfactory explanation, to have said at once that he had been betrayed to use the words by the heat of the debate ; and that, as Brougham had not made

for . n that excuse, he would make it him O this there was a cheer from all sides of the House ;

’ and Brougham rose and accepted Peel s in terpre

tation . to of his language So ended this scene , the M honour and glory of the inisters , and , as usual , R LONDON C AP . IX .

of to the confusion my learned friend , who, as

Lord Howick told me , lost us at least four votes by his intemperance . We had , however , a strong

1 4 6 1 93 . division , being to

J u l 2 — I y , received a copy of Resolutions passed at a meeting of Westminster electors , inviting Burdett and myself to be put in nomination at the ensuing election . I gave a formal answer in the affirmative , without any expressions of gratitude , which I cannot say I feel . ’ l 4 -I r J u y . went to a meeting at Lord Altho p s - after church to day . There were about sixty

: M Members there Brougham , Lord orpeth , T . J Cooke , Sir ames Graham , and many others whom

I had not seen before . It seems they had been discussing about forming O a systematic pposition , and when I came in , Cooke and others were congratulating the com pany upon the good old times of Whiggism and party being likely to be restored under the M auspices Of Lord Althorp . orpeth and Sir James Graham said that the reason they had not attended these meetings before, was that they did not think they were sufficiently hostile to M inisters . We discussed what was to be done about ’ R . Grant s motion on the Regency question ; and in spite of this wonderful and sudden union , there seemed to be a variety of Opinions . It was finally agreed we should go in force ready

R LONDON C AP . IX.

18 3 0 9 3 24 . we made a wretched figure , only against 7 . Never was there a more complete defeat in a less

worthy cause . ’ u l 8 — M J y . Dined at Burdett s . Rogers and oore

of there . A complete school for scandal , chiefly

’ and concerning Horace Twiss s dinners to the

of Duke Wellington . Rogers told me that he had tried to bring the Duke of Wellington together with Lord Grey

and Lord Holland at his house at dinner , but it

would not do . Lord Holland told many diverting

stories and did his best, but His Grace never M relaxed a muscle . This was in last ay : who knows but this failure has sharp e n ed Lord Holland ’ s wits against the Duke ? Everybody

n ow sees the folly of the Whigs . — J u ly 9 . I spoke and voted against the recog n isan c e clause in the Libel Law Amendment

for Bill . Banishment libel abolished , after eleven

of years existence in the Statute Book , during

which time it has never once been acted upon .

’ to We went a party at Lord Grey s , and in

came the Duke of Wellington , who was as gay and affable with mine host as if nothing had

to happened . This is the way succeed in the

world . — J I . J u l 1 0 . y dined with Lady Cork , Dr ohn ’ son s dunce . She seemed physically to be rather - breaking , but then she is eighty six . Intellect

u all . y she is as young as ever Her brother , M Mr . onckton , was at the table he was eighty FUNERAL OF GEORGE IV .

t 1 8 3 0 . eight . Lord Robert Spencer was here also ; he - too was eighty eight . A more pleasant evening I had not passed for a long time . Ju ly -News arrived that Algiers was taken 1 on the 5th of this month . — - 1 5 . . Ju ly . George IV buried to day Lord

Tweeddale , who was at the ceremony , told me that the account in the Times was every word - true . It was a tiresome , ill managed , tawdry

N ot pageant . a tear was shed , nor a sigh

F . heard . aces scarcely grave William IV . smiling and chatting ;

on I called this day Lord Lauderdale , and heard that Lord Jersey was made Lord Chamber

of lain . The Duke Wellington announced the appointment to him by letter . He was at N ew

n ot . J market, and did receive it Lady ersey wrote to the Duke , asking for tickets for the funeral . He said that he had no tickets , and she had better apply to the proper offic er m na ely, the Lord Chamberlain . When Lord Jersey returned home she showed him the Duke ’ s note , and he could not understand it, as he had

’ not yet Opened the Duke s letter . Lord Lauderdale did n ot approve the appoint ment of the Duke of Buckingham to be Lord

S n o teward , and told me that his Grace did t know his Own mind for a quarter of an hour

1 In conseq uence of an insult O ffered to the French representative De A x by the y of lgiers , an e pedition was sent under General de

Bourmont and Admiral Duperre. After two battles and a short A 6 1 8 0 3 . siege, lgiers was surrendered on July , LONDON

1 8 2 h im together . In 7 he wrote to (Lord

n Lauderdale) , asking him to sign a declaratio f M o r . uncompromising hostility to Canning .

Mr Shortly afterwards he applied to . Canning

f or a place . Soon after that he opposed the

Ministers .

J u l 1 9 —I Mar le y . went to a public meeting at y

o b he , called to take into consideration my Vestry

Bill . We had a very good meeting , and the whole proceedings passed off in a very satisfactory

manner to me . I put to rights the misconceptions

relative to my Bill . — The King is very lively . To day he reviewed

’

. J the Guards in St ames s Park , and made the oflicers kiss hands on parade — ’ J u ly 21 . I went to the King s Levee . The

number of people greater than I have ever seen .

The squeezing , and crowd , and heat tremendous . My name was mentioned in form to His Majesty by

’ Lord Glenlyon , when the King said , How d ye ” do ? a n d gave me his hand to kiss . This I did “ without saying Very well , thank ye , and so passed on . The Duke of Sussex gave me a most b cordial shake y the hand , and seemed most happy to of show his new court honours . He is Ranger

Windsor Park .

u l 22 — J y . This day Lord Grey told me that Sir

R . Wilson was restored to his rank , and restored m in the most full and obliging anner, being raised - of 1 8 25 . to a Lieutenant Generalship , from date Lord Grey remarked to me that the King had R IX C AP . . PARLIAMENT PROROGUED

done nothing but kind things since his accession 18 3 0 . and spoke in a tone very difleren t from his late attacks on Ministers .

R . FROM BOOK, ECOLLECTIONS

u l 23 — I of J y . went early to the House Com mons , and saw King William come down in state — to pi orogu e the Parliament a very fine sight on a very fine day . I squeezed into the Lords With ou r Speaker , and heard him deliver his speech to

of the King , In which he boasted the great things

N o done by the present Parliament . t three weeks before , he had said to me , he did not know what the House had done by all its late Sittings . These

so of harangues , however , are much a matter course that they admit of a little exaggeration ; and Sutton said what he had to say well , and in a

o full round voice . King William als performed - his part well . He spoke with a clear sharp toned voice , and what he said was good and agreeable to hear . He called us a free and a loyal people . He said the Catholic Emancipation Law was irre vocable . The Duke of N orfolk officiated as Earl

o n of of Marshal one hand him , and the Duke Wellington bore the sword of state on the other

. T Wu rtemb er side he King of g was present , but

our 3 00 lost amongst great folks . About ladies

were in the House . I saw His Majesty return to

the palace . There was not much cheering ; but ,

of u when the Duke Wellington passed , the appla se

was very great . O V L . IV R AP LONDON C . IX.

8 1 3 0 . The dissolution of Parliament appeared in the

Ga zette J 24 h of uly , and per aps my public life is

at an end .

u l 26 — I J y . saw King William review between

five and six thousand troops in Hyde Park . I

’ was on the balcony of Lord Dudley s house in

Park Lane . The arrangements were excellent,

and, when the review was over and the crowd

began to mix with the soldiers , the multitude h appeared innumerable . T ey were in very good

humour , and cheered the King , the Queen , the

' Wu rtemb er of S u ssex an d King of g, the Duke , all

M . the Royal suite , particularly the aids of Honour The party at Lord Dudley ’ s added a good deal to the gaiety of the scene ; many of the most

beautiful women in London were amongst them .

In the balcony was Sir Sidney Smith , whom I had

not seen for many years . He appeared to wear

old well , but looked rather like an beau . He had just been made a General of Marines — another

act of Royal kindness . 2 — Ju ly 8 . The newspapers of this morning contained a report of the Polignac Ministers to X Charles . , and two ordinances founded thereon one of which abolished altogether the Liberty of

of the Press , and the other dissolved the Chamber

Deputies , and remodelled , or rather destroyed , the

F O u r representative system in rance . English

press , of all shades in politics , held the same F language , and said , If the rench bear this , they

deserve to be slaves . The few people I saw on (JH AP-IXL (}IKIRICHUS IIEHWTi IF IMJL I IMRAJS CHB

this day held the same language ; but I thought 1 8 3 0 . u the general feeling was that they wo ld bear it .

n ot f or on F J 3 0 They did bear it ; riday, uly ,

Rothschild received a despatch from Paris , saying that the people in Paris had taken up arms and were fighting with the King ’ s troops when the messenger came away . This news drove the

of thoughts the Westminster election , which was

the ou t of to take place next day , my head ; but I was obliged to attend to my own concerns when the time came . 3 — J u ly 1 . The crowd at Covent Garden was not

of ou r great , but the attendance friends was Very

flattering . I hardly missed a man either of the l o d or young Westminster Reformers . When

Burdett and I had done speaking , the High

ff ou r Baili read names to the people , and , as

on e no else was proposed , declared us duly elected . F Then came the glorious news from rance . The — King had fled the people were everywhere tri u m — phant and the tricoloured flag wa s flyin g on the

of Ven d m Tuileries and the Column the Place O e .

I was , perhaps more than was wise , transported

of J with the Revolution uly , and wrote to Lafayette sending him £1 00 for the subscription opened for the families of those who fell during the short but decisive conflict . t — A u us 5 . I g went to Brentford , and met Mr . Hume and his procession of seventy -three carriages

two t . n o and steamboats Mr . Byng did come

’ until near two o clock . They were both elected LONDON CRAP . IX .

'

1 8 3 0 . the fre eholders without opposition , and thanked in speeches which were received as might be

’ expected . Hume s address related chiefly to F rance .

Burdett, in his address to the Westminster

on F electors , expatiated rench politics at length .

This frightened some City friends , and kept the

funds down . The cry amongst these timid people

was , Here is the revolutionary Spirit in England ,

war and we shall have another long . The sagacious soldier at the head of the Government

e ff used language v ry di erent . He was angry, not F with the rench movement , but with those who ’

M . had caused it . Calling at essrs Ransom s bank ,

Mr . Williams , the principal partner, told me that

of the Duke Wellington had just been there , on “ F business of his own , and asked What rench ? ” news there was in the City and , hearing what M had been done by Charles X . and his inisters , “ ’ O h oh ! a damn d ! exclaimed , , y, fools all soon — — t first over all soon over resigned , then repented ,

then resigned again .

FROM DIARY . — Courier F A ugust 1 0 . See by the that the rench Crown was decreed to be offered to the Duke of O rleans by the Chamber of Deputies on Saturday

on of last, condition his swearing to the new

’ Charter ; and at 5 o clock p m . of that day a deputation from the Chamber walked from their

place of assembly to the Palais Royal , and did in

R LONDON C AP . IX .

18 3 0 . standing that the subject would be considered

hereafter .

D FROM IARY .

u ust 1 3 — A g . Burdett has allowed the notorious ‘ Mr . Buckingham to get up a dinner to com F memorate the recent Revolution in rance , with

ou t a word to our Westminster friends , who are ’ in great perplexity . Tis a difficult thing to act

with Burdett now he is certainly losing his head ,

at least his memory . 1 8 — A ugust . The dinner was well attended and ff F went o very well . Sir rancis gave the health of N King Louis Philippe and the French ation . I gave the health of Lafayette and the National

f n e Guards o France . O ne wspaper reported that

inflammatory placards were dispersed about . It

n t t was o rue .

— Times H er a ld A ugust 1 9 . The and give a most

ou r wretched account of dinner , and particularly

so far as regards myself . However , this always

has been my fate . If I have any fame it will not

be newspaper fame . I do not think I ever spoke i better in my l fe than at this dinner , nor was ever

more applauded , but the report in these papers h l scarcely notices what I said . The C ron ic e is

more fair .

u t 20 - I £50 A u s . g sent Warburton , my sub J ’ scription to oseph Hume s election , which, in

S m x I 1 8 23 James ilk Buckingha , who was e pelled from ndia in

for ~ ourn alistic j attacks on the Government. ’

R AP . F C . Ix C AL T S LIFE O LORD BYRON

consequence of my propositions to Warburton ,

n will not cost Joseph Hume o e farthing . Yet this worthy man on the day of his election said to ou r “ Westminster Chairman : I hop e af ter this you r

Westmin ster Members will beha v e a little b etter .

M . P These Westminster Members made him . for

Middlesex . I see that some of the Royal Family of France f F have landed in the Isl e o rance . Everything

goes on prosperously at Paris . Philippe has

named his Ministers . Benjamin Constant is

Counsellor of State with a presidency ; Lafayette ,

of N permanent Commander the ational Guards . The republican party complain that the doctrin

of aires are put at the head affairs , and that

the Faubourg St . Germain is succeeded by the ’ in Chaussee d An t . They are trying to adapt their

of reformed plans to the Chamber Deputies , but find some embarrassment now that the initiative

is n ot confined to the Ministers . They would do

ou r I well to copy formalities , which think are

of sensible and the fruit experience . 8 —N F A u ust 2 . g . ews from rance good Polignac

! taken . He was disguised as servant to M de Fargeau and on the point of embarking at Gran - Ville . His rings and watch chain , and his em h arrassed manner it is said , betrayed him . His conduct since his apprehension has been that of

an extremely weak man . 0 — ’ A ugust 3 . This day Galt s Life of Lord Be n

the came down . I find he says that good critic R IX LONDON C AP . .

1 8 3 0 . who condemned Childe Harold was probably

Mr . Hobhouse . I wrote John Galt a remonstrance for his gratuitous falsehood about me ; hinting also that the idle stories in which he makes me figure with

Byron were not very agreeable , although I was willing to overlook them ; but I must have the

Childe Harold conjecture cancelled . O n September 5 I received a letter from Galt promising to correct the error in the Mon thly

Ma a zin e g , and wished all he said of Byron or

me to be kindly considered . I do not quite know what line to take with him ; he ha s n ot got the sen se or f eelin g which ma kes c orrec tion

e e tu a l fi c .

“

R . FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS O n August 3 l st came the news of a revolution

in Brussels . In France also an outcry had been t raised against what was called the new aris ocracy ,

those who ha d ot a little more mon e that is , g y

tha th ir h u n e n ei bo rs . g We were , however, happy

ou r to see that Lord Stewart, Ambassador at

Paris , had delivered his credentials in form to

Louis Philippe .

D FROM IARY .

3 — to S e temb er 1 . p Moved Brighton , where my

'

father and family were passing the autumn . Very much struck with the gaiety and number

of the population , and the great addition to the IX . CR AP . TH E KING AT BRIGHTON

. 8 buildings since I was last there The chain pier 1 3 0. ”

sa é . admirable pour noble inutilit , as Mme de

Stael says of music . The first person I met on the road was the

King , in a plain equipage . He drives about like

any other private gentleman . The Queen rides about on horseback and bathes in the Royal

Bath near the Steyne . In short, the worthy

couple are like wealthy bourgeois .

’ ou r Whilst my father s carriage was at door , 1 0 , Montpeller Road , the King came past and F Colonel George itzclarence riding behind . Great

greetings between his Majesty , the Colonel , and

my father . All this is worth recording only in

ou r contrast with late Asiatic monarch .

e temb r 1 — S p e 7 . The Liverpool and Manchester “ o on Railway was pened Wednesday last . It is said there were half a million of people to witness

of the ceremony . The Duke Wellington and

Peel were present . Mr . Huskisson was getting down from his own car to shake hands with

of the Duke Wellington , when he was stopped

by some gentleman , who spoke to him and detained him on the railroad until the Rocket

to moved rapidly upon them , and in the hurry

’ get into the Duke s car , Huskisson was knocked

or fell down , and the wheels of the Rocket went

on e of over his legs across the calf and thigh , - and double fractured both . He was conveyed

to Eccles to the house of Mr . Blackburn , and ’ h died at nine o clock at night . T is fatal accident Iv VOL . 7 IX LONDON CRAP . .

1 8 3 0. damped on e of the most surprising sights that

the world has ever witnessed . The carriage that carried Lord Wilton when he went for a surgeon travelled at the rate of thirty-three miles an

hour .

R FROM BOOK ECOLLECTIONS . — S ep tember 1 7 Huskisson seemed to have been

sincerely regretted at Liverpool , and he was in

of the enjoyment a great reputation . Alexander

Baring wrote to me saying that, the great Par

liam en tar y light being extinguished , we must be

content now with farthing candles . An article in the Times said that his loss was

O n irreparable . reading this I made a remark , thus recorded : I am not an unprejudiced nor

a competent judge , but if this is true , England

n is in a very lamentable condition . My ow

opinion was that Huskisson , as a politician ,

might be missed , but would not be mourned . As a private man he was said to be very

amiable . CH APTE R X

R . FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS — r 25 N . 1 8 3 0 . S ep tembe . Lord ugent has seen Charles X 1 at Lulworth , and heard His Majesty talk very openly on French affairs . He said the Revolution would soon pass away , and he be back again in Paris . The Duke of Norfolk also had a conversation with Charles X . at Lulworth , and he told my brother Henry that Charles drew a distinction ’ between the Duke of Wellington s policy in granting Catholic Emancipation and his own in opposing all liberal measures . He remarked that the Relief Bill was the completion of many concessions previously made to the Roman

Catholics , and he should , himself, have voted for it ; but that he and his family had never willingly made any concessions to the French

Liberals , and that he had a right to recover the privileges belonging to the Crown . He said that he would take the same steps again if he had the same assurances of success . He

I A 1 8 3 0 X fle ! n ugust Charles . d to England and for some time i L S l res ded at ulworth , near wanage, the seat of the We d family, H whence he proceeded to olyrood . 51 X LONDON CR AP . .

1 8 3 0 . M confessed , however, that his inisters were to blame for not knowing the feelings of the F rench people . They had assured him that the O rdinances would be acceded to with little or

: no resistance . He concluded thus Pour moi e t pour mon fils tout est fin i ; mais pour cet

of il le enfant !the Duke Bordeaux], sera salut F ” de la rance .

D FROM IARY . — S ep tember 26 . My brother Henry tells me that the moneyed men entertain the greatest apprehen

sions of some catastrophe even in England , and that the great fall in the funds the other day was

J 85 Co occasioned by Rothschild , and ones , Loyd . ,

and Smith , etc . , giving notice to those to whom they had lent money that they should want it

soon . The borrowers made heavy sales accordingly . — J S ep tember 28 . Lord and Lady ames Hay

dined with us . They have just arrived from F rance , and were in Paris during the great week . They gave us some particulars of recent events which we could n ot have had from any other

quarter . i F The Sw ss and rench Guard behaved well . Whenever a soldier fell he was either carried off

or in a hackney coach dragged into some Shop , where his mustachios was cut ofl and he was put to bed by the humane Parisian ; but the Revolutionists were left in heaps where they

fell .

R LONDON C AP . X .

1 8 3 0. say that they observed nothing particular in

F n o rance , except that there were carriages or - fin e dressed women in Paris . Great appre ’ hen sion s Te rn au x s entertained for house , and

even rumours about Lafi tte . Rothschild has been transmitting gold in vast quantities to ’ Meu ric e s Paris , and eleven of carriages are employed between Calais and the capital for

that purpose . Tweeddale says that all the people with whom M he spoke were for saving the inisters , but there

' was a cry against them . He h opes much from the National Guard ; nevertheless many think

that a crisis is at hand , and some anticipate a

Jac ob in insurrection . Amidst these wonders turns up another miracle : the Prince of O range has declared the Independence of Belgium at Antwerp and half shaken off the Government of his father ; no on e knows how to account for

his conduct . 22 — It O c tober . seems that the rioters in Paris have received a check ; politics seem to have

taken a liberal complexion everywhere .

— ur i r O ctober 23 . The Co e of last night contains t the good news hat the King and Lafayette , supported by the N ational Guard and troops of

the line , have , by their decided conduct , put down

the Paris populace . — O c tober 26 . Parliament met this day . O c tober -Went down to the House of Com

m a . . mons . Took the oath and y se t H Brougham R X . C AP. TH E STRUGGL E IN BELGIUM

1 8 3 0. and I held the swearing board together , and he parodied the oath as we went on .

“

R . FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS 2 —It O c tober 9 . was natural that the Revolution of July in France should cause much commotion and alarm in Europe , and more particularly in the neighbouring states . It could hardly be expected that the new kingdom of the N etherlands should escape the infection . But the struggle in Belgium lasted longer, and was more sanguinary , than it

F ofi c er of had been in rance . A young English

4 3 rd of of the Regiment , the name Byrne , was present and saw the fighting . He told me that the conduct of the Dutch troops was cruel in the extreme . He saw a poor old notary killed by a soldier , who knocked at his door, and , when he opened it , shot him dead .

C He also saw a itizen , who flung down his musket and called for quarter , deliberately shot ; but he had the satisfaction of seeing the r ufi an knocked - over immediately afterwards . Two drummer boys of thirteen and fourteen years of age were shot

in cold blood . This gentleman assured me that the newspaper accounts of the atrocities com mitted by the Dutch soldiers had not been at all

exaggerated . — N ovember 2 . I to of Went the House Commons , and found ou r folk full of fury and indignation ’ at the King s Speech . It called the people at mi Brussels revolters , and praised the ad nistration R X L ONDON C AP . .

1 8 3 0 . of their Dutch King as being prudent and en

lightened , and stated that England , in concert

with her allies , was trying to restore good govern

ment , and what not ; in short , a Holy Alliance

: speech . As to domestic matters alarm, dis ff a ection , and so forth . Doubtless the whole intended to recall the ultra-Tories to their old

fears . We shall see . Althorp declared against the foreign policy of

the speech , and said that he should support Government when right and Oppose them when wrong ; and that he should not be deterred as f o . he had been , by any fear turning them out

I ought to have risen then , being resolved to Oppose the Government n ow ; as they have taken their line I have nothing left for it ; but Lord

Blandford got up and made a foolish speech , concluding with an amendment of a mile long

against the late House of Commons , so I lost my

turn and sat restless the whole evening , feeling

I did not do as I wished nor as I ought .

Brougham made an admirable speech , pulling

’ e the King s Speech, specially the Belgic modera

tion , to pieces , but ended with a foolish flourish w about perishing ith the aristocracy . He gave notice of bringing on his Parliamentary Reform

l 6th. motion on Tuesday , the The Duke of Wellington made a speech in the

Lords , and declared against Reform . I hear he

was hissed , and hurt by a stone . The King was

applauded . R . C AP. X POPULAR UNEASINESS

— f 1 3 At o 8 3 0 . N ovember . the House Commons I gave notice of addressing the Crown on non -interference f with Belgic a fairs . I was much cheered , and all told me I had done right . That remains to be proved , but I know I intend to do right . Lord Morpeth told the House that I had anticipated him only by a few minutes .

—Mr Van derw e er on e of N ovemb er 4 . . y , the

Belgian Provisional Government, came to me . He told me that he did not like to address himself to any member of the Government , until he was sure of a friendly reception . Accordingly

I spoke to Sir George Murray , who assured me - the Government felt no ill will to the Belgians , and that the King ’ s Speech did not mean any

- ill will to them . I heard this evening that a very unpleasant

- feeling was rising amongst the working classes , and that the shopkeepers in the Metropolis were so much alarmed that they talked of arming f themselves . The Duke o Wellington was not on e of on the alarmists ; the contrary , he told Lord Tweeddale that everything would end

a pe ceably , and he might go to Scotland if he chose Lord Tweeddale told this to me ; but N ’ said otwithstanding the Duke s opinion , I

Shall stay here . I am afraid of some cata

strophe . I heard everywhere that a great change had taken place in public opinion since the meeting

of Parliament . The Duke was scarcely safe in

VO L . I v 8 R A LONDON C P . X .

’ 1 8 3 0 . the streets , and the King s popularity was

on evidently the wane .

D FROM IARY .

N ovember 5 — I to of , went the House Commons ,

’ and on Croker taunting O Con n e ll for not having

M on ot attacked inisters the address , I g up and told my mind very freely of the unfortunate

of conduct the Government , and of my resolution

now to oppose them systematically . Peel nodded his head and cheered me when I said I was no

party politician .

N mber 6 -I ove . walked about with Cornwall ,

B of M M P son of the ishop Hereford , a inisterial . . He told me that the Government ' were taking extraordinary measures to provide against the

of threatened commotions the next week . Some of the treasure had been removed from the

Bank , and several regiments ordered up to

London . Many special constables had also been

sworn in .

Mr . Cornwall owned to me that his friends had been very indiscreet in denouncing the ’

Belgian revolt in the King s Speech , and he

’ disapproved of the Duke s declaration against

all Reform . Lord Dudley joined us , and we soon frightened him so much that he declared the Government had lost their senses ; and that

of the Duke Wellington , by refusing the franchise

to Birmingham , had done more to promote the cause of Reform than all of us Reformers put m x C . . HUME AND TH E MEANING O F WORDS 59

together . Saying this , he went away sorrowing , for he had great possessions . ’ I went to Brooks s and heard rumours of the

i to M nistry going out . Lord Durham spoke me as if it was inevitable , and asked me whether

ofi c e I would take under Lord Grey . I said that a Reforming Ministry might be joined by

difi u l any Reformer . He said that the great c ty would be to give great places to all , and that the members for great towns would expect them .

I knew what he meant , but said nothing . I dined with my friend David Baillie and a

: large mixed party Lord Lansdowne , the Knight

M. P . of Kerry , Spring Rice , and Pusey , I sat next to Sir James Graham and had much

. talk with him He is dreadfully alarmed , and thinks a revolution almost inevitable . He asked

Joe me whether I thought Hume meant mischief . “ N o . I said , What then did he mean by advising the people not to use premature force ? “ said Graham . He meant nothing , said I ; he did not know the mea n in g of the word . People seem to think that Ministers will be turned ou t on the Reform question . Lord Stafford and Lord Talbot have declared for R e form . The potentates begin to tremble for their acres . Lord Lansdowne told me that the Duchesse de

H H C Joseph ume, when speaking in the ouse of ommons , often “ ” s I employed wrong phrase , such as t is not to be surprised at “ meaning It is not to be wondered at also H e is liable instead “ ” of H e lied . R AP LONDON C . X.

18 3 0. Berri went to see our King Open the Parliament,

’ and , when she saw Prince Talleyrand s carriage

! a le in the procession , exclaimed , Ah voil

tricolor, like a lively schoolgirl . — ’ N ov e mbe r 7 . I dined at Henry Brougham s , M J and I met there Lord orpeth , Sir ames Graham ,

. t . J Mr S anley (Lord Derby) , Mr Denman , ames J Brougham , Sir ames Macdonald , and Lord

Howick . After dinner we discussed our pro ’ c eedin s on g Brougham s Reform motion , fixed

for the l 6th of November .

g ff We a reed that Mr . Littleton of Sta ordshire

should be requested to second it . Sir James Graham told us that he had spoken to Lord Palmerston as to the line that he and his friends

a on r would t ke the question . Eleven of that pa ty

’ P alm erston s met at Lord house , and Graham was

informed that they were prepared to go all lengths , so far as respected turning out the Government ; also that they would vote for enfranchising the

’ great towns , and would vote for Brougham s

if a . on motion , v guely worded As to my motion

Belgium they could give no positive answer . Just before going away I ventured to e xpostu

ou hi s late with Brougham eulogy of the aristocracy ,

and his resolution of perishin g with it . I begged him to have recour se to no such topic in hi s

u w as Reform speech , not beca se the sentiment

to incorrect , but because the people did not like hear on e of their principal champions re -echo

g the langua e of the corruptionists . Brougham

R AP LONDON C . X .

1 8 3 0. of advantage would be taken an occasion , which must n aturally assemble a vast number of persons t a n d by night , to create tumul , cause confusion , and thereby endanger the lives and properties of ’ His Majesty s subjects .

See to what a pass a few foolish words have brought the Government of the country !

R T . FROM BOOK , ECOLLEC IONS

’ I went to Brooks s , and found the greatest

consternation prevailing there . NO on e knew

of u what to think this proceeding , nor could g ess

the cause of it . I heard that the City was in an

uproar , and that the funds had fallen to 77 and

a half. I went to the House of Commons . It was quite full of members and strangers ; but the

Treasury bench was empty, and Brougham began M by complaining of the absence of inisters , and

the extraordinary conduct of the Government .

Whilst he was speaking Peel came in , looking

Very pale . Then Lord Althorp rose , and asked him for an explanation of his letter to the Lord

M . ayor Peel answered , and read a letter from M the Lord ayor elect , Alderman Key, informing the Duke of Wellington that an attack would

be made on him on his approaching Guildhall .

Mr Here Colonel Davies and . Tennyson broke into

a horse laugh , on which Peel stopped , and then ” “ ! ? exclaimed , Good God is it come to this and he then went on to state that Ministers had received information which induced them to I CRAP u JL . THPO IL BIJB ITI THI FI CITHZ

advise His Majesty to postpone his visit to the 18 3 0 .

City . The excuse was very ill received ; and

Brougham , in a speech more moderate than usual , pointed ou t the absurdity of taking so serious a step upon such authority , and also upon the unfairness of making the King suffer from the

of M unpopularity his inisters .

Waithm an Alderman then rose , and , for the

first time , was well listened to . He complained of the conduct of Ministers , and , to the surprise of all , told the House that the communication of Alderman Key was n ot authorised by the Court of Aldermen , who had that day investigated the probabilities of disturbance , and had come to a unanimous resolution that there was not the

or slightest cause for alarm , the least chance of mischief . He protested that the King was most popular , although the Ministers were unpopular .

’ Alderman Thompson confirmed Waithm an s state m of ent , and read a resolution which the Court Aldermen had passed that afternoon to the same effect . M This angered Peel , who said inisters had no reason to doubt that Aldermen Key and Hunter , who came to them , were authorised to say what they did . Goulburn spoke very ill indeed , and

of M talked inisters resigning , with satisfaction , did if the House not support them . We laughed , and Sir James Graham told Goulburn we Should choose ou r ow n time for trying our strength with

H e the Government . concluded a good speech LONDON CRAP . X . by exhorting the Duke of Wellington to resign M at once . This concluded the debate , inisters

disc omfited being completely , and looking as if on of the verge a precipice .

Then , as previously agreed upon , Lord Althorp rose and asked me to defer my Belgian motion . I consented ; but took occasion to say that the Belgians would not submit to any dictation as to the form of Government they might choose .

in Peel answered me pettishly , and denied the m tention of the Cabinet to dictate to Belgiu . Went to the first meeting of the Geographical

. ou r Society Lord Goderich , President , made the inaugural speech . N ovember 9 was fixed for the expected in su r rection , which some thought not a bad substitute

’ of for the Lord Mayor s show . Rumours the resignation of Ministers were also very rife . But there happened neither insurrection n or resig

on nation that day , although there were great crowds in the streets , and the people seemed resolved upon having a holiday .

I walked about some time with Lord Althorp , an excellent person , too good for a party man . He told me that he should retire from public life the moment he got into the Hospital for

Incurables Lady Spencer , his mother , when “ some on e told her that the poor were rising ” O n against the rich , the contrary , replied “ she , it is the rich that are rising against the of poor . Whatever may have been the causes X CRAP . . VAN D E R WEYE R AND WELLINGTON

1 8 3 0. the alarm , there can be no doubt but that it was i very general . Lady Shrewsbury told my w fe

or that the Duchesse de Berri said to her, a day

l of two ago , that the peop e England were mad ; M and that , if our inisters did not resist all Reform , England would soon fall into the same wretched condition as France ! ff The night of N ovember 9 passed o quietly . The

new police acted with equal vigour and prudence .

ov em 1 —I M r N b r 1 . d r e h e r . Van e we w o saw y , told me the Duke of Wellington had written to

him a very polite note asking to see him . He

went, and was much surprised , so he told me ,

m an to see an infirm old in an armchair , from which he raised himself with difi cu lty to receive him . He gave me an account of what passed “ “ between them . Although , said he , I am no

was diplomatist, I knew there an advantage in not speaking first ; and , as the Duke had invited me , and I had not invited myself , I remained silent . So did the Duke for a short time , and then began to talk . ‘ wa s J He extremely civil , and said , e vous

’ ’ ’ donne ma parole d hon n eu r qu il n y a pas la moindre intention de notre part de nous méler

’ dans vos affaires . He also said that he hoped

of the Belgians , in choosing a form Government, would take care not to give cause for disquiet

’ to neighbouring nations . I answered that we

of t n o should take care that, provided here was ” intervention .

VO L . IV R LONDON C AP. X .

Mr an d rw e er . V e y appeared to me to be a most amiable , most honourable , and most intelligent man ; and fiv e -and-thirty years of intercourse with him have n ot altered the Opinion that I then formed of him . — N ovember 1 4 . I met Admiral Sir Edward f Codrington , and he gave me an account o his recent interview with the Emperor Nicholas . I confess I was a little startled at his report of a M conversation with His ajesty , relative to the recent revolution in France . The Emperor asked him what he thought of the conduct of the Duke F of O rleans . Codrington said it had saved rance i from anarchy . The Emperor repl ed that the Duke of O rleans had only on e line of conduct

o — to t adopt namely , follow the fortunes of the a King . Had he done so , s id the Admiral , “ there would have been another Revolution of N “ ! 1 79 3 . The Emperor icholas rejoined, Well perhaps it would have been better if there had

i on been . Codr ngton this remarked that there might be two opinions on that matter

n re and so the conversation ended . O a little flec tion I was n ot much surprised that an Emperor of Russia should prefer any revolution

n to a family revolutio . — Nov ember 1 5 . Belgium and Reform were put

ou t of our heads by the events of this day , when Sir Henry Parnell moved to refer the Civil List

to a Committee . We divided . Whilst in the

lobby Brougham addressed us , and begged us , X CR AP . . THE GAME WAS UP

in case we were beaten , to stay and try another ’ question . Whigs , Radicals , Huskisson s friends , and ultra-Tories combined and numbered 23 3 to

u 204 . When these numbers were anno nced there was some cheering , not much . I rose , and unwisely asked Ministers whether they intended to resign but Brougham , in a friendly way , interfering , said a few words , and Parnell named his Committee .

FROM DIARY . — ’ N ovember 1 6 . The gossip at Brooks s is that the D uke of Wellington told Holmes last night that the game was up . A very rainy day .

N N ot do As Lord orth said , a day to turn a g out . I went down to the House of Commons 3 — a little before found it very full , and the

rfl — gallery ov e owin g various rumours . Althorp told me that some one in the Court of Chancery this morning had heard the Chancellor say , “ fi ial . of o c We are out Some the people , M not Cabinet inisters , came in , looking as if

on f the verge o dismissal . Sheriffs of London and Middlesex came to the Bar with a Petition about London Bridge and Reform of Parlia

ment . Peel entered , looking very pale indeed ,

and talked with the Speaker . Alderman Wood made a tiresome speech about the City Feast and Reform of Parliament ; when Peel rose , and said that his great respect for the House LONDON

induced him to take the earliest opportunity of

announcing that, in consequence of the occurrence

of on last night , he had waited the King and M tendered his resignation , which His ajesty had

been graciously pleased to accept . He added that all his colleagues had pursued the same

course . He then sat down : not a word was

of . said ; no cheers , nor Signs either joy or sorrow

Lord Althorp then rose , and , in a few solemn

off phrases , asked Brougham to put his motion

on Parliamentary Reform . Brougham rose , and with equal gravity protested that it was quite against his private wishes and opinions to defer

his motion and he added these words , which he ,

or some friend , has taken care to send to the “ Times : As no change that may take place in the Administration can by any possibility affect

to t O ff me , I beg it be understood that , in pu ting

off 25th of the motion , I will put it until the the month , and no longer . I will then , and at

no more distant period , bring forward the question of Parliamentary Reform , whatever may be the

of condition circumstances , and whoever may be

’

M M . O n His ajesty s inisters hearing this , I “ said to Denman , What the deuce does the man mean ? You know as well as I do that he was f or putting off the motion last night . Denman

’ replied : I confess I can t understand this sort

Of thing . He told me this morning there could

be no doubt about the matter . I asked Brougham himself how he could have any doubts as to the

LONDON

1 8 3 0 . That Peel may come in again is very likely

’ indeed , but the Duke s age and his unpopularity will render it very inadvisable to place him

again at the head of any Administration , except it shall be resolved to run all chances and play

the Polignac game here , which is not quite out

of the question , for if any Reform shall be obtained

the people will feel their force , and will at last frighten the whole body of the aristocracy into des

perate measures . At least this is not altogether

off F r the cards . o the present a mixed Admin is

tration b e will chosen . Lord Grey has been sent for M e , and he will be Prime inister I suppos .

—I r N ovemb er 1 7 . find that folks a e a ngry with

me for pushing Ministers on Monday night .

’ Tavistock told me at Brooks s that he ha d b een

de e n din me F ox f g , and had quoted , who called the Administration that was outvoted about

’ Melville s trial , a disgraced Administration .

N ow w I kno friend Tavistock very well , and

am aware that , with all his good qualities he is

’ not ill read in the school for scandal . Tis

too u f rather , hard the Whigs sho ld a fect to be angry with me ; that the other side should I

can well understand , and they are shy enough .

; Bu i° N ovember 1 8 . de tt saw Lord Grey yester

day , and was much pleased with his frankness , promising Reform and all good things as the

of basis his Administration .

I went down to the House of Commons , and found the expiring Ministers in their places CRAP u IL . fTIL E

on 1 8 3 0 attending to a discussion the new police force . .

’ is on e of This Peel s creations , and he seemed much pleased with the testimonies in their favour . — A ’ N ovember 1 9 . t ou r Brooks s , where friends were handing about a list of the new Administra tion . Brougham Lord Chancellor ! ! Reform of - Parliament , Anti Slavery , Law Reform, Useful

E din bu r h R ev iew Knowledge Society , g , Sublime

Society of Beef Steaks , hail and farewell But

of it is believed , and people seem glad to get rid

of my learned friend from the House Commons .

. We W He came set up a shout , and he soon ent away .

O f J . all the rumoured nominations , Sir Graham , First Lord of the Admiralty strikes me as the most preposterous . Lord Durham (the Privy Seal) had a long talk

on with me , and said all was going well and nearly settled . He assured me that Lord Grey based his Ad

on ministration Reform of Parliament , and next on retrenchment . He would not have useless

of placemen for the sake influence . In that case I told him if Lord Grey was turned ou t in a month he would come in again in a month . I told Durham they should get some friend of Govern ’ off ment to put Brougham s Reform motion , and t ake it up as a Government measure . He said , ” Thank you ; it is a very good thought . My

Lord is acting the Cabinet Minister already . LONDON CRAP . X.

his Indeed , I hear that he has ordered Windsor m unifor and two or three additional footmen .

N ov emb er 21 — . Tavistock tells me that Holland

House is alive with talk . Lady Holland and Allen are distributing the Church patronage of

the Duchy of Lancaster already , and act and think as if they were in the days of the Pelhams

and . Walpoles , with perfect tranquillity and self

complacency . Very different are the sights and sounds in F the country . our or five counties are in a blaze ,

’ r Barin s and The G ange , Alexander g mansion , has been all but taken by storm , and Bingham

Baring , attempting to seize a rioter, knocked - down by a sledge hammer .

R FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS . - N ov ember 22. At the House of Commons this day the old Ministers took their seats on the

O — Calc raft pposition benches Peel , Hardinge , ,

Scarlett , and all . I ascended to my mountain J behind them, with Hume , Warburton , ohn Wood ,

Marshall , and a few others of the same stamp .

I went to the House of Lords to see Brougham . There was a great crowd on the steps of the — Throne and below the Bar men and women . At ’ t five o clock , whilst I was talking wi h the ” M on e he ! Swedish inister, some said , There is and , looking round , I saw my Lord had stepped

n in , almost unobserved , and had take his seat on the Woolsack . CHMI b ii IBIMJIH}IL AL I GHQ THI FI ’WNJOJNMACFI

1 8 3 0 . I heard Lord Grey speak . He made a declara tion of the principles on which his Government — was formed very fair and explicit, so it seemed — to me . Brougham was the observed of all pre

of siding in an assembly dignitaries , spiritual

and temporal , whom he had for a quarter of a

century endeavoured to render contemptible . He

n ot did look quite comfortable , nor know what

r to do . I heard him turn to his purseb eare and

sa ? say , What am I to y Lord Lyndhurst walked up to the Woolsack and shook hands

with the new Chancellor ; not quite cordially ,

I thought .

I returned to the House of Commons , and

heard a discussion on the state of the country . Baring made no secret of his great alarm ; and Peel said that every man Should be prepared to ht fig for his property , which sounded rather Oddly to those who knew what sums we paid for the protection of ou r lives and properties

by the Government . The alarm became more general and more

serious every day . The news from Wiltshire was

an d very bad , riotous assemblages in Hampshire had been dispersed and eighty prisoners made

oe by a military man uvre , the credit of which was given to no less a personage than the Duke

of Wellington , with what truth I knew not .

of But , in spite these unhappy disturbances , the course of life in London ran pretty much as

usual .

VO L . I V R P . LONDON C A X .

1 8 3 0 . FROM DIARY

N ov emb r 2 — e 5 . I had a long talk with Burdett

about the state of the country . He is for strong

ou t measures , such as declaring the counties of ’ re - the King s peace , enacting the Alien Act

are against foreigners , who supposed to be at b the ottom of the burnings , etc . And , above

'

all , arm the householders .

N ov ember 26 — I . hear that Brougham , in a

j udgment delivered in Chancery , has hinted that his new character will preclude him from his previous convivial habits ’ m 28 — At f or Difl i N ove ber . the Society the u s on

of Useful Knowledge . My Lord Chancellor

Brougham and Vaux , the chairman , came and

transacted business as usual , with much speed c and ac uracy . The company, consisting of some

of the most scientific men in the kingdom,

. of seemed proud their patron and founder .

Indeed, it is somewhat a wonderful sight to see

such a man in such a place . 29 —I N ovember . had a long talk with Place

on the state of the country . He thinks a

revolution inevitable . The farmers of Kent and Sussex have for the most part acceded to the

demands of the labourers , and will pay so long

as they can . When they cannot , the parson and

the landlord will be ob liged to contribute . The

first will be treated with the least ceremony . ’ Nov ember 3 0 — , Went to the Royal Society s

chambers , where the Presidency was contested E IZ BETH THIRD ADY H AND L A , L O LL .

From the icture b Rob er F a an at H ollan d H ouse tp y t g . By kin d permission of

Mar Coun tess of Ilch ester. y ,

R LONDON C AP . X.

in attributed the disturbances England . That and his complaint of the procession of Trades parading to the Palace on Wednesday l ast are very little to his honour .

D ec emb r 1 1 — e . Walked about with Burdett , who tells me that a story goes of Lady Jersey having told the Quee n that in the present Cabinet there is not one man who has any

religion . What did my Lady think of the Duke ’ of Wellington s religion ?

D ecem — ber 1 3 . I attended Parliament , and , in

of a short speech , made a sort of profession

faith . I pointed out to the new Ministers the

necessity of listening to the people , and not taking the advice of those false or foolish friends who daily urged the propriety of keeping up — establishments and continuing high salaries c g .

Ridley Colborne , who compared the public to a

great gentleman . I said that I could not

of n artic u doubt the good i tentions of Ministers , p

larl D y Althorp , Russell , and enman , who were

opposite ; and promised , if they continued as they

had begun , my cordial support . Warburton and H ume told me I had made a b ad very good speech . I did not care about good or

so far as speaking went, but I felt a sincere wish to

praise , and by praising uphold and encourage the

M old . inisters , without any sacrifice of principles

R . FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS 1 5 — I of Com D ec ember . heard at the House Cm X ’ . CORBETT S STATE O P AFFECTION

8 mons that Henry Hunt was a good deal ahead 1 3 0. of Mr . Stanley , the new Irish Secretary , at ? Preston . And why was this Because , as I

Mr . was told , Stanley would not pledge himself to vote against the Corn Laws and for the Ballot .

Now , although opinions might differ about these

ff of proposals , there ought to be no di erence

Opinion about pledges , nor about the manliness which dictates a refusal to give them .

of difi c u lt In days commotion and y, public writers and public talkers are often more bitter against individuals than against Governments and f . O parties this , in the days of which I am

writing , I had a good proof ; for Cobbett was much more savage against myself than against

O fi c e the Ministers , and against individuals in

or than against the Cabinet . He said , wrote , that he hated Stanley more than any one

living ; except Sidmouth and his gang , and

Burdett and Hobhouse . The tone of some of our friends was also n ot

at all agreeable . Dr . Bowring went so far as to tell me that he did not think ou r revolution — coming he thought it had come

Parliament dissolved till February 3 .

D FROM IARY .

’ D ecemb er 1 8 — I . dined at Lord Lansdowne s ,

with some thirteen or fourteen good people, and found very little apprehension of anything

happening . LONDON CRAP . X .

1 8 3 0 . Lord Lansdowne told me he had rather bad

news from Wiltshire . The farmers had begun to back ou t of their compulsory bargains with

the labourer . Edward Ellice confessed to me to -day that he thought the Ministers ought to dissolve the

Parliament and appeal to the people at once .

I assented most decidedly . He says Lord Grey and Althorp take everything very quietly and look

o f at the best side all matters , but he apprehends

a convulsion .

mb r 20 — At D ece e . . House of Commons Peel

made a strange speech , half reproving his friends M for indiscreet attacks on the new inistry , and half attacking those Ministers for arrogating to themselves principles which the late Govern

e . ment carried so admirably into effect , g . re

r n hm n t of t e c e and peace . He spoke equivocally f F the conduct o the rench . Hume answered

him well , which angered Sir Robert, who said he had not condemned the resistance of the F rench , but had only said that revolutions were

5 . bad when best . Funds had fallen to 7 at Paris What a sublime discovery ! — m r 24 . D ec e be , Great alarms at Paris Polignac and the others condemned to perpetual imprison

ment . The people dissatisfied and moving in N great masses , but the ational Guard and

Lafayette , and more than all , the King , by

going amongst the people , quieted them . — D ecemb er 25 . Ministers have been unwise THE BELGIAN QUESTION ‘

enough to order a form of prayer to allay the 1 8 3 0 . troubles in various parts of the country ; although , when Spencer Perce val gave notice of an address to the King to order a general fast for the same

Object , the other night , there was a horse laugh . Why should Ministers think the people greater fools than the Parliament P — I D ecember 26 . had a talk with Sir James

of Graham , who asked me what I thought public feeling , as he had heard me quoted for

n an unfavourable opinion o that score . I told him what I thought , and strongly recommended a dissolution of Parliament . What , said he , ? ” then we are come too late , you think A

or J day two afterwards Sir ames spoke , and announced that Parliament would not be dis solved until Ministers had learnt the feeling

f of o the present House Commons . If that should prove to be against them , they would

to appeal the people . Sir George Clerk sagely observed that , Perhaps the present Ministers might not have it in their power to do so , as there were two words to that bargain . — J a n u a r 1 5 1 8 3 1 . I 1 8 3 1 y , had a Visit from .

Van derwe er y . He had seen Lord Grey , who appeared to have a liking for the Prince of O range , and asked whether it was possible to

of make him King the Belgians . Certainly ,

Van derwe er replied y , with another Revolution

n ot if without it , ; and , chosen , he would be

ou t of shot a window . There are eleven thou LONDON CRAP . X .

1 8 3 1 . sand volunteers who have sworn the death of any prince of the Nassau family who might be

placed over them . — ’ ’ J a n u a r 1 8 . Warre s y Dined at , at Cambridge s

house , in Twickenham meadows . Sir R . Inglis

there . He seems to think all our troubles , and

amongst them the cry for Reform , will subside l quietly , and the old Tory princip es and practices

finally prevail . If he should turn out to be ? right, what blunderers we are

a u a 21 — Mrs J n r . A . y letter from Kennedy, f o . widow Dr Kennedy, whose religious con v ersation s with Lord Byron have been pub

lished . This insolent epistle is likely to add to the thousand and one squabbles which my

intimacy , and , I may add , my honest and dis

for interested friendship Byron , have entailed

upon me . The woman is angry with me for discouraging her from publishing the catch-penny conversa tions above mentioned : I knowing from Lord Sidney O sborne that Byron was playing upon

Dr . Kennedy , whom he used to call Saint f Kennedy , in order to distinguish him rom

another, a very good fellow, whom he called

Sinner Kennedy . 8 — J a n ua ry 2 . The day fixed for the Belgians

to choose a King , occurrences which now cease

to make us stare . The Poles and Russians seem

about to begin their mortal Strife . 3 1 —F of Ja n u a ry . inished the second volume ’

Cm . . x MOORE S LIFE O F BYRON

’ of Moore s Life Byron , and am now more pleased

of n ot than ever with the resolution taken by me , N u . contrib ting to that work evertheless , it pre ’ sents a tolerably fair picture of Lord Byron s real

’ of character, and some Moore s observations are exceedingly just and conveyed in appropriate language . That the letters and journals raise Lord Byron in public estimation as a man of

on e . talent, no will be foolish enough to assert What then has this publication achieved ? It has put at least into the pocket of

T . Moore . Murray, the publisher , says that he gave Tom Moore for the work ; but that sum must include expenses for purchasing materials .

F ebru a r 1 — y . Received an invitation from Lord Althorp to dine with him at a Parliamentary

on F 2 to dinner ebruary . Determined not go, as I considered it a meeting of Members notori ou sl y supporting the Administration , amongst

hi n ot w ch number I do choose to be ranked . I

n or M am a friend but no follower , ought a ember for Westminster to be ; so I wrote to Lord Althorp and told him that my absence in the country wo uld prevent me having the honour of dining with him . So long as I am in depen dent I will be wholly so ! From one or two observations I have made , I feel certain that the Ministers or their retainers would be glad enough to secure me or any on e by the cheapest of favours . O L V . IV LONDON CRAP . X .

F e r u a 3 -I to of b ry . went the House Commons ’ so at four o clock , and found it full that I was

scarcely able to get a place .

Lord Althorp announced that Lord J . Russell would bring forward the Cabinet Reform on 1 it “ March , and that would be full and

f on e e fectual also that the Ministers , and all ,

were agreed upon the measure . Here is an answer to the taunt that ten men cannot be

found agreeing in one plan . The House seemed

more Ministerial than before the recess .

who I walked away early with Tavistock , told

of me as a most inviolable secret that , all the

on e Cabinet , Brougham was the one and only who was afraid that the Reform Measure was going

too far . He said there would be no seat left for

a clever young lawyer . However , like a clever

old lawyer , now that the measure is resolved upon ,

ou t he takes care to have it given he originated it .

Tavistock said , had the King stood out against the measure , Brougham would have gone round . The King told Lord Holland the other day that he had a conversation of three hours with Lord Grey on the subject , and was never better pleased in his life . F e bru a ry 7 -The Civil List scheme is n ot well received . I had a talk with Sir Henry Hardinge , who said that a general war was inevitable , and that either all the thrones of Europe would fall , or Paris would be a third time taken . This shows ’ the Duke of Wellington s feeling as strongly as

X LONDON CRAP . .

1 8 3 1 . acquainted with this gentleman , I became con

v in c ed on of that , such subjects , he was not sound

on mind , although all others perfectly rational .

D FROM IARY . — b ru a r 1 2. F e y Read the Budget . See that the ’ Ministers project of taxing transfers of stock is

of furiously opposed as a breach faith . I should n ot wonder if Lord Althorp was obliged to give f up that scheme . The reduction o the newspaper

. To tax very good , but might be better my mind ,

a graduated property tax would be preferable ,

and I shall say so . - F ebru a ry 1 3 . Lord Althorp has again asked

me to a Ministerial dinner , which I again think

it better to decline . — Febru a ry 1 4 . The tax on transfers given up .

n Attended debate o finance . Althorp announced

to his intention give up the tax , as also to abandon

the reduction of Tobacco Duties . Several other

of d parts his scheme attacke , and likely to be

of given up also . This shows the imprudence

having delayed Reform . Lord Tavistock told me that his brother John urged the necessity of

on bringing the great question early, and the

1 of 7th this month was fixed , but the Cabinet

changed the day .

“

R . FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS

bru a r 1 5 —I on F e y . attended the Committee

of fi the reduction o cial salaries . Lord Chancellor m . x C . REVOLUTION IN TH E PAPAL STATES 8 5

n 1 8 3 1 . Brougham was examined at his ow request . He came into the room with the Mace and the Great

on his d Seal , and , when seated , put hat . He tol us that his colleagues in the Cabinet had obliged him to change his mode of living . He had Wished t o continue in his house in Hill Street , but had been forced to go into a larger house in Berkeley

on e Square ; also that , instead of his chariot, he had now two coaches and two chariots , in spite of his earnest remonstrance . When speaking of

- the retiring pension given to ex Chancellors , he said he wished to God he could be disp eered by

of hi s Act Parliament, and return to profession ;

n ot but , as that could be , he had thought of a

. scheme for increasing the retiring salary , and - giving the ex Minister something to do . Peel was very cool and solemn , and , as usual with

of him , flirted with Acts Parliament .

of or At this time we had news revolutions , t a tempts at revolution , in the Papal States and T f Modena . o on e o these commotions England owes the very best Librarian that ever presided

of over the literature the British Museum .

D A FROM I RY .

F ebru a r 1 5 — . n ot y Made a speech , and a bad

on e on of , the extravagant tastes the late King ,

of and the enormous expense Windsor Castle . Althorp and Lord John Russell Spoke very

honestly .

F ebrua r 1 7 — I y dined in Berkeley Square , and LONDON CRAP . X .

was too late at the House of Commons to bring

on my Vestry Bill , the only time I was ever

too late in my life . A sad business !

Febru a 23 — F f ry . The inance schemes o Ministers

for are universally decried , and were it not Brougham ’ s Chancery Reform and the expected

out . Parliamentary Reform , would turn them

“ R FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS . — F eb r u a ry This day I was witness to a scene in the House of Commons the like of

v which , I belie e , has never occurred either before or since . After a skirmish between Stanley and

’ O Con n ell , the latter made several solemn pro

of testations wishing to keep the peace in Ireland , whereupon a man in the gallery roared out , You

L IE d . He was imme iately secured by the messengers , and in the course of the evening M brought to the Bar . aking but a lame excuse , he was committed to N ewgate . It was said that

or he was mad ; but, whether mad not , there were many of us who believed he spoke the

’ truth . 2 — F eb r u a r 6 . y The House, contrary to usage , sat from twelve to six o ’ clock to receive petitions

N o on the subj ect of Reform . o n e declared — positively against all Reform a circumstance which I could not help remarking at the time , and which was a novelty . — 1 At last came the great day Tuesday , March .

’ to I went the House at twelve o clock , and found

R P LONDON C A . X .

18 3 1 . such a scheme could, by any possibility, become

the law of the land . Sir John Sebright seconded the motion in a

short speech . Poor Sir Robert Inglis made a - M long Anti Reform speech , and called the inis

e i t r al plan a revolution . Lord Althorp spoke

o ut manfully Lord L . Gower treated us to some prose run mad for an hour or two and Hume - ’ adjourned the debate at half past twelve o clock .

We all huddled away , not knowing what to — think the Anti -Reformers chuckling with de light at what they supposed was a suicidal pro

ec t of M of j , and the friends inisters in a sort

wonderment . I recollect that a very good man , M f ’ r . J i o ohn Sm th, a brother Lord Carrington s ,

’ caused much amusement by saying that R u ssell s

speech made his hair stand on end .

Sir Robert Peel , with his usual quickness and

of sagacity , took care at the end the debate to ask for an explanation of the £1 0 qualification

for h householders in towns , whic certainly par took more of disfranchisement than any other

reform, and was calculated to make the whole

plan unpopular . Burdett and I agreed there was very little

of chance the measure being carried , and that

a revolution would be the consequence . We thought ou r Westminster friends would oppose £1 0 the qualification clause ; but we were wrong , for we found all ou r supporters delighted with

the Bill . R . C AP. X DEBATE ON REFORM — 2 of . 1 8 3 1 . Ma rc h . House Commons I found the tone of the House generally had been very much changed since the previous evening . The scheme

n ow was thought not so very wild . Macaulay made a powerful speech , but his concluding peroration was too long and too laboured . Hunt supported the Bill but talked like an ass about

Ilchester jail ; indeed , he is a very silly fellow . Sir Charles Wetherell b u ffoon e d for nearly two hours , but was cheered immensely ; so that Den man , who Very imprudently would speak , could scarcely get a hearing . The debate was adjourned .

Ma r h 3 — I c . had a skirmish with Sir Henry

Hardinge before the adjourned debate began , for calling the scheme revolutionary . George Bankes resumed the discussion The Lord delivered him into my hands , for he quoted ’ of o Pitt s speech in favour the Irish Union , fr m which I had made extracts , and was enabled to

him on o n answer his w grounds . I flattered myself that I gave him and Wetherell a sufi cien t

for dressing . I spoke an hour and a half, and concluded by apologising to Sir Robert Peel for my exultation on the day of his being beaten ou t fi O c e . of , and imploring him to become Reformer

n ot I was quite pleased with myself, but I heard from all quarters that I had done very well f indeed . Peel gave no Sign o life when I was speaking ; but when he spoke he paid me a handsome compliment, by saying that the asser tion that abilities were not the first requisite VO L . IV R LONDON C AP . X .

M P for an . . came with a very bad grace from M the ember for Westminster . Alexander Baring then made a Very efi cien t although very un fair

speech against Reform . He created so much f e fect that Mr . Charles Ross told me it had

changed six votes . I mentioned this to Lord

Duncannon , who consoled me by saying that Ross said what was not true ; Baring had not

gained even his own son by his speech . Lord Tavistock was very indignant with him for say ing that Russell had drawn his Bill so as to save

, the Bedford interest . Palmerston made a very weak speech . Then rose Peel , and made what was a most effective address to the House in favour of the present system ; but his speech consisted chiefly of attacks on Palmerston and Russell for

e w inconsistencies and , wh n I read it after ards ,

I was surprised to find there was so little in it .

However , the House rang with cheers when he im sat down , and the debate was adjourned mediately at past two in the morning .

JVI a r ch 4 -I of . went rather late to the House 1 Mr Jeffre b ut . Commons , heard y, the new Lord - Advocate , speak for an hour and three quarters . His fluency and argumentative powers were admirab le ; but he was too quick and too close for a pop ular assembly such as our House of

'

Mr. Commons . I must not omit to record that

1 L f Edin bur h Francis (afterwards ord) Jef rey, editor of the g R ev iew 1 8 03 1 8 29 L A from its foundation in till ; ord dvocate, — 1 8 3 0 3 4 for Malton and then for Edinburgh ; Judge of the

C S 1 8 3 4 . ourt of ession ,

R LONDON C AP . X .

1 N 1 8 3 . which he had alluded in the month of ovember

last . He said that Lord Grey would like to

know whether I would take ofi c e . As a vacancy

had now occurred , he wanted to be informed what

to . my answer would be , if asked fill it I replied

that, since Lord Grey had brought forward his

Reform Bill , I could have but one object , namely , to support him in any way he might think

desirable . — J Ma r ch 9 . Lord ohn Russell closed the debate by an excellent speech at exactly twenty-fiv e ’ minutes to on e o clock on the morning of M 1 0 arch ; the Speaker put the question , that LEAVE BE GIVEN TO BRING IN A BILL TO AMEND TH E REPRESENTATION O F TH E PEOPLE I N ENGLAND ” AN D WALES . The friends of the Bill gave a ” tw o great shout for the AYES, and only NOES

were heard . And I have lived to witness this

the rea test ev en t or ood or or evil tha t ha s g , f g f , occurred sin ce the R ev olu tion of 1 68 8 in some

a r esp ec ts grea ter ev e n tha n th t. This was the

entry I made in my diary . The Irish and Scottish Reform Bills were also brought in after short

debates , which lasted till three in the morning .

FROM DIARY h 1 0 — Ma r c . The feeling In the country is all

of N but unanimous in favour Reform . ever

n or before were the Whigs bold , the Reformers w prudent . The King ans ered the City Address

yesterday in most decisive terms . X CRAP . . BROUGHAM IN THE CABINET

’ a r h 1 2 —I Althor s in M c . dined at Lord p Down ing Street. Lord Althorp told us that , just before

on M 1 the Debate arch , he told Stanley the plan of Reform in order that he might be prepared to speak . Stanley was so surprised that he burst into an incredulous laugh , but recovered himself by degrees , and agreed to do as he was bid . Lord Althorp remarked that if Peel had been wise he

would have spoken immediately after Russell , and would have endeavoured to negative the

introduction of the Bill at once . Tavistock told me that Brougham was doing all sorts of mischief in the Cabinet ; that he

had tried to prevent Lord J . Russell from accept

ofi ce ing , and afterwards endeavoured to prevent

him from bringing in the Reform measure . I

can believe an ything of the man . — ’ Ma r c h 1 3 . I read a good deal of Dryden s delicious prose ; a great relief from Vestry Bills

and Cotton Factory Bills .

Ma rc h 1 8 —I of . went to the House Commons ,

which I found quite full , debating timber duties . t M A great whip agains inisters , and although Lord Althorp withdrew his original tax on

on Canadian timber, and took off duty Baltic , it would n ot satisfy those Who had resolved at

all hazards to get a vote aga in st Ministers . We

4 6 . divided , and were beat by

The enemy were in ecstasies , laughed , clapped

of d . O ur hands , and gave every sign elight Benches g ave a horse laugh which rather dis LONDON CRAP . X .

comforted them , but they were still in absolute hysterics of joy . Sir Charles Forbes took occasion to abuse the

on Reform Bill as revolutionary , which I said a word or tw o ; and Forbes replied by asking me

when I should ask Ministers about resigning .

This moved me , and I gave him a good dressing , and took occasion to expose the vote of the night as a poor paltry trick , which would deceive nobody ou t of n ot afi e t doors and would c Reform . The Speaker remonstrated with me privately for using i strong language , but I was right , I repeat t the vote was got up against Reform, not against the Timber Duties .

a h 1 9 —I M rc . dined with Lord Grey in - . of fiv e Downing Street A large party twenty , all Very different from Lord Grey ’ s modest mén age in Berkeley Square .

I happened to sit next to Lord Grey at dinner , and had a great deal of talk with him . He was out of spirits with the vote of the night

afi e c t before , and seemed to think it would

Reform. He told me that nothing could exceed

of the excellent , open conduct the King ; that His Majesty had a conference of three hou rs on framing the Reform measure ; and that it was a

of of conversation question and answer, not m u to ere listening , as it sed be in the time of

George IV . The King was decidedly for Reform .

on e He had been displeased with measure only , and that was the interference with his household .

R LONDON C AP . X .

of resolved , in case necessity , to dissolve the

Parliamen t . This somewhat consoled me for the complaints

N an d P ou lett I heard from Lord ugent Thomson , who told m e that it was impossible to go on with

M s such Cabinet inister as Graham , and Grant , h and Palmerston , who eit er would not or could

n ot . speak Grant does not attend often , and is when he does he half asleep . In the meantime Lord Grey complains of his House of Commons Treasury Bench suffering such men as Herries to

roll them in the kennel without reply . h 21 - Ma rc . J Lord . Russell moved the second reading of his Reform Bill in the House this

on two evening , and the debate went till past

in the morning .

— n w s Ma rc h 22. The debate o the Reform Bill a

resumed . The rumours were rather more in favour of ou r success than they had previously

been . Hume and Holmes compared lists , and m brought them almost to an equality . But so e

votes were still doubtful . Acland , as usual ,

of ! spoke at two , amidst loud roars Question

as Russell replied, and Peel looked if he was

going to speak , but we prepared to give him a reception on both sides had he done so unfair

a thing .

The gallery was cleared , and at exactly three minutes to three in the morning the Speaker put ’ the question on Sir Richard Vyvyan s amendment , That the Bill be read a second time this day IRJL JFKITI CHN ]DFHEEAUPFH)

of of N six months . The shouts Ayes and oes were tremendous . F or some time we in the House appeared the strongest , but by degrees our ranks were thinned , and we thought we were beaten . Lord Maitland ran up to me and told me the numbers in the 3 09 lobby were , but shortly after he returned , pale and breathless , and said , You have it . 3 01 And so we had , for there were only against us ; and when the Tellers approached the table ,

w on and ours ere the right , we burst into tumults of delight , clapping hands , waving hats , and shouting lustily with all our might . I was in

— for raptures not foolish , I hope ; I said and thought that the vote had saved the country . I A crossed the House , and shook hands with lthorp ,

of Graham , and Russell , all whom seemed de lighted with the measure . The defeated party put a good face on the matter , and , as William Peel

me said to , bore their beating with good humour . — Ma rc h 23 . Passed the day in giving and re c eiv in g congratulations .

Ma rch 24 — . There was another debate on pre senting the Irish Reform Bill . Peel made the speech he ought to have made on the English

Bill . Palmerston answered feebly. I think I

for could have done it better, he did not lay hold

’ H ardin e s of the weak points , especially in Sir H . g silly and impudent speech . Peel declared strongly

ou t against the Bill , and yet threw a hint that either that or some Reform was inevitable

VOL . IV LONDON CRAP . X .

— e n Ma rch 25 . W had a long debate o the Civil

List . Althorp proposed to give more mi than recommended by the Civil List Com ttee .

who I tried to do what I could with Hume, in the most laughable way seemed to assent and yet

obj ected to the increase . R . Gordon made a most mischievous speech , and Ministers got into a

b ob b le . There was , however , no division , though N We sat up till past three in the morning . othing but Reform can give these men a chance of keeping their ground .

Ma r h 3 0 — A f r ho c . o w new writ moved Parnell , f has accepted the Secretaryship o War . It is a good appointment . He is a much better man ther e than I should have been ; but I am a better man in the House , at least so far as speaking

R . FROM BOOK, ECOLLECTIONS

a r h 3 1 — I M c . walked some time with Sir Henry f Hardinge , a man with whom I became a terwards ofi ciall of y connected, and whom I never think without feelings of affection and esteem . He told me that he despaired of any effectual opposition to the Reform Bill , and thought the Ministers

of firm in their places . He spoke despondently his own Situation , and said that he could not bear

mi of to see a child in the street, as it re nded him mi the three that he had at home , who ght be F exposed to the same wants . ormerly he had

— n no such feelings meaning , I suppose , whe he

CH APTER XI

R . FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS

A ril — f . o p All sorts rumours were afloat , and

or stories , more less absurd , were told during the

on discussions the first Reform Bill . I recollect that Lord Durham informed me Ministers were . sure of a majority in the Lords if the Bill passed — the Commons a very great mistake .

: Andrews , the Bond Street bookseller, told me that Lord Sidmouth had been with him to know

of the feelings those in his class of life , and his lordship would n ot believe that the majority of them were not against the measure . The truth was that, of the tradesmen who had any political opinion at all , the feelings were all but unanimous f in favour of Parliamentary Reform . O course those who looked only to an increase of wealthy customers preferred that all things should remain as they were .

FROM DIARY . ’ — B lh Me . e a n s t Ap ril 6 Dined at Lord v e . Sydney Smith there ; he very agreeable and good

. was natured , as usual I introduced to Lady

Charlemont, a very handsome woman , but not so 1 00 THI IB IKEINDFUMZ TBIJIL JAIIFHNIIEI)

1 8 3 1 . handsome as Lady Tullamore , who also dined with us . Lady Davy there . I have lately read ’ “ some of her husband s Last Days -a strange work , I think but that a dying man should write at all is more strange .

“ R FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS . O n April 1 8 a trial of Strength between Ministers and their opponents was expected , for General

of Gascoyne was to move that the number knights ,

for citizens , and burgesses England and Wales

n ot ought to be diminished . J At the House , Lord ohn Russell opened the debate by explaining the changes that had been

of made since the second reading the Bill . These changes did not at all afi ect the principle of the

a me sure , but only rectified unavoidable errors . Then Gascoyne moved his amendment in a Violent and foolish speech . He afterwards confessed to me that his motion had been agreed upon as the best way of defeating the Reform Bill ; yet this was denied by him , and by others , in the course of the debate . Lord Althorp declared that the Government had resolved to consider the decision of the House on this motion as final with respect to the Bill .

1 9 . The next day , April , I went to the House

A tall , ungainly young man , with a strong squint

on e of eye , spoke with great fluency and precision during nearly an hour , gaining much upon his

n audie ce , until the House became quite silent . R . LONDON C AP XI .

of m His name was Hawkins , a nephew y late f friend Sir Christopher Hawkins . He was or

of the Bill , and he made one the best speeches ,

certainly the best first speech , I ever heard in

Parliament . All sides were pleased with him,

but Sir Robert Peel , according to his usual

practice , continued turning over the pages of

the amended Bill , apparently unmoved and

o inattentive . We cheered the maiden orator n

sitting down tremendously . Sir Robert Wilson came forward with more

he boldness, and , it must confessed , with more

the eloquence , than usual , and made most dis graceful exposure that ever closed a life of

of pretended patriotism . It was a speech full

of mischief and malice , and at the end all his Vituperation he declared he should not vote at all . Peel began his speech in a tone of much b moderation and mildness , warmed himself up y

of degrees , and concluded by a denunciation

Ministers as persons who , if they could not

» govern , had resolved to make it impossible for others to govern . He attacked the People , he attacked the Press , and had the air of a person who thought Victory certain . Indeed , Hume and

we on e others told me that were beaten , but no knew by how many ; some said thirty , some ten . - We divided at half past four . The excitement

. It was not so great as at the second reading . was soon conjectured that we were defeated , but

LONDON CRAP . XI .

1 8 3 1 . to first ; and , as the second , his duty commanded ” n him to decline to give any answer . O this the friends of Ministers set up a laugh and a

the of shout , and the House seemed on point

separating , so I went away . But a violent debate

on M F sprang up afterwards , which aurice itz

gerald , Peel , and Baring made strong speeches

against the Bill and against dissolution , and William Bankes adjourned the House at one o ’ clock to prevent the O rdnance Estimates from

being reported and so to stop the dissolution .

In the Lords , Lord Wharncliffe gave notice that he Should move to address the King next

day not to dissolve Parliament .

“

R . FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS l — A ri 22. I n ow p learnt that the King , who at first had thought of adjourning the House by

' Commission , was now resolved to come in person ,

which , it seems , he ought to do, in order to thank

the Parliament for granting the Civil List . By half-past two the House of Commons was very

a . full , and Mr . Speaker was in his gal robes — There was time to report some Bills m y Factory

Bill amongst them . Then up got Sir R . Vyvyan , and made a speech in which he attempted to M do all possible mischief to inisters , and all the good to himself and party that time would

allow . He deprecated the dissolution , called upon the Protestant electors in the three kingdoms

to on be their guard , and announced a revolution C' CHNFWJS ICHN III THI Fl Cl CHMIdCHNS

. ot 1 8 3 1 as certain He g warm and excited as he went . on , and continued in a strain of Violence that called up Burdett , who spoke to order . This was natural , but not discreet , in my colleague , for the Speaker decided there had been no breach

of an d . order , Sir Richard resumed his philippic

Then Tennyson called him to order , and the

Speaker again protected him . Tennyson disputed the decision of the Chair, and the noise and confusion began to be overpowering . Vyvyan again spoke ; the cannons announced the approach of of the King , and at each discharge the guns M the inisterialists cheered loudly , as if in derision

’ of the orator s solemn sentences . At last the

of roaring the cannon , the laughter, and our cheering fairly beat the Baronet, and he suddenly

sat down .

Peel , quite beside himself, now jumped up ; so did Burdett . The Speaker, not quite fairly ,

called on Peel , and Lord Althorp rose . The calls

u for Peel , B rdett , Althorp , and Chair now were fl heard in wild confusion . The oor was covered M with embers ; half the House left their seats , and the O pposition seemed perfectly frantic ; William Bankes looked as if his face would burst with blood ; Peel stormed ; the Speaker was equally furious ; Lord Althorp Stood silent and

quite unmoved . At last the Speaker recovered

himself and said , I am quite sure I understand — what t he noble Lord moves he moves that Sir

Robert Peel be heard . Althorp assented , and ,

VO L . IV 1 4 LONDON

after some more shouting and screaming , Sir ” — Robert Peel was heard . His speech it was thus I recorded it at the time— was such as

: completely unmasked him all his candour , all i his moderat on , all his trimming , shifty policy

disappeared , and he displayed his real vexation ,

and true feelings of disappointment and rage , in

of an harangue sound and fury , signifying nothing

of but his own despair, and hatred those who had overreached him by calculating on the good

of sense the People , and the firmness of the

n Ki g , with more accuracy than himself . The Black Rod cut Short his oration just as he seemed

about to fall into a fit . Then the Speaker, with

a face equally red and quivering with rage ,

to rose , and , followed by many Members , went

e h . w o the Lords Whilst Peel was sp aking , I ,

on was opposite to him, the second bench behind

so Ministers , was much moved at his Violence,

that I waved my hand and shook my head , as t if to show him, in no unfriendly manner, tha he

was doing harm to himself, and injuring the

of . character the country Indeed , I was more sorry than angry ; I could hardly have supposed such an incident possible . But Peel was n ot the only over-excited performer on that day ; for Sir Henry Hardinge crossed the House, and said , The next time you hear those guns they

off of will be Shotted , and take some your heads . “ for ou I do not mean yours , said he to me , y have been always consistent but those gentle

LONDON CRAP . XI . Reform party was manifested by him who had contributed to it more than any one else . Robert

Grosvenor , Comptroller of the Household , told

to me that, being sent for in a hurry attend the

n M . Ki g , he found His ajesty in great spirits When in the House he insisted on putting on the crown himself, and said to Lord Grey , This shall be my only coronation . Lord Grey apologised to him for the unavoidable haste of N the proceeding . ever mind that , replied His “

M . ajesty , I am always at single anchor Lord

of Albemarle , Master the Horse , told him that the state coachman was not in the way . Then , said the King , I will go in a hackney coach . O n the evening of the day on which the King prorogued the Houses , I was waited upon by our

Westminster friends , requesting me again to be put in nomination for the City and Liberties . The next day I attended an assembly at

Lansdowne House , and was assured by the Duke of Devonshire , Lord Lansdowne , and others , that the reports of that strange commotion in the

'

Lords were not at all exaggerated . The room was quite full of beautiful women and idle men , with no signs of approaching revolution in the f o . faces any of them There were , however ,

f u r none o o opponents nor their families there . Parliament was dissolved in the Ga zette of 23 April . The news from the country was very t encouraging , and the grea est enthusiasm pre A vailed in the metropolis . Westminster meeting X I CR AP . . FUND TO ASSIST REFORM

1 8 3 1 took place in Covent Garden , to address His . Majesty and thank him for dissolving the

of Parliament . It was one the largest meetings

I ever saw assembled in that place , where I F had seen so many crowds . Sir rancis Burdett

of and myself were received as in days yore .

u r he O speeches were rather peppery , it must f b u t o . confessed , they suited the taste the day The next day I attended a meeting at the

F to Crown and Anchor, for establishing a und assist Reform candidates . I proposed the plan agreed upon ; we formed a Committee on the spot . Edward Ellice gave me the list of certain ’ influential members of Brooks s Club who had put down their names for sums amounting already to a good deal of which had been dis posed of in procuring seats for some good mbn

on and true . This appeared somewhat in c tradic tion to the principles on which we put forward o ur political pretensions ; but we were obliged to fight ou r opponents with their own

of weapons , no other mode warfare would have

t S u s ri had the slightes chance of success . b c p tions poured in by sums amounting to thousands of pounds .

Ma 2 — F y , Sir rancis Burdett and myself went

O u r in procession to Covent Garden . reception was very gratifying ; and we ascended the hust ings amidst such thunders of applause as have been seldom heard even there . There had been

of ou t rumours opposition , but they turned alto LONDON

. d gether unfounded Indeed , an opposing candi ate

would have run some personal risk . As it was , the utmost good humour prevailed throughout the vast assemblage .

- May 3 . This day Sir Henry Hardinge accosted me by saying that I had been using strong lan guage in my speech of April 26 in reference to

an d Sir Robert Peel , that Sir Robert Peel had f come up from Sta fordshire in consequence of it . I understood by this that what was in those days called a meeting might take place , and I answered accordingly . I went to Lord Dacre , and asked him to stand my friend on the occasion . He said

he would provided . I gave him discretion how to act ; he would not if he was called in merely to

load pistols . I went home and read the speech

complained of in the Tim es . There was nothing

In it of which Peel had a right to complain . Lady Julia had been seriously ill ; and as it was of the utmost consequence that she should

not be disquieted , I was not a little disturbed when I saw Sir Henry Hardinge approaching

my house . I had , however , time to leave the

room in which I was sitting with my wife , and - to receive him alone in the dining room . He

gave me a letter from Sir Robert Peel , and said that the business would be finished in five

n mi utes . I remarked that I could give no opinion

on that point . He went away , and at parting he W ! said , ell , God bless you , at any rate

Peel complained of two sentences in my speech .

X I LONDON CRAP . .

formers have said ? Peel had n o right to com plain upon the strength of a report only in one

paper ; and although my words were strong , they did not amount to an insult ; and no insult was

of . meant , course Probably Peel wrote in a passion from Drayton , and could not recall his letter . Hardinge showed Lord Dacre letters he had received from Peel , in which his rage was

fin ita for very Violent indeed . Sic est fabula , the present at least ; but there will be ink shed ,

too . a and blood shed , before all is over H ec inter , Reform is victorious everywhere .

Ma 9 —I y . dined at the Livery Reform dinner ,

London Tavern , to celebrate return of four City M embers . The London Members are very poor

Waithman creatures . said that he had fought with beasts at Ephesus .

Day after day fresh triumphs . My brother and I made ou t that our majority will be 1 20 at least . 1 2 - Ma . . y Everything going on well Indeed , except Bucks and Shropshire , we have been defeated nowhere ; and have not lost even there . Scotland and Ireland are doing well ; but not so well as merry old England !

a 1 8 —N M y . early all the elections over ; but

N ortham ton shire the fight still kept up in p , where the enemy are trying to show that Lord

Althorp has behaved with duplicity . This is Tory

’ : tactic when you cannot oppose a man s politics ,

belie his character. XI CR AP . . THE WESTMINSTER DINNER

21 —I Ma y . have been Staying with my brother 1 4 . at Send since May , I doubt whether Reform has made much progress in these parts . The new

P on e of old M. . is those courtiers who inquires O f only what the King wishes . these I hear there are still many in the country , though the race is nearly extinct in London .

R . FROM BOOK, ECOLLECTIONS — Ma 23 I y . attended the annual Westminster 3 00 dinner . There were about guests , and the whole festival went off with a spirit and efi ec t to be expected from the prospect of an immediate

for of triumph the cause which , after all , Burdett and the Westminster Reformers had been the

for . principal , and , a time , were the only promoters

of e Burdett , at the end the evening , pr posed the ” of T H health HOMAS ARDY . The worthy veteran returned thanks , and expressed , as well he might , his amazement at living to see the King and his

Ministers propose to do that , for attempting which he had been tried for his life . At Brooks ’ s I heard from Ellice that Lord

Grey was in high health and Spirits , and that the Peers would n ot be able to resist the popular feeling and the large majorities in the Commons . The King having given a supernumerary Garter to to Lord Grey , I wrote congratulate him , and added that nothing good or honourable could happen to him without the country gaining some

advantage from it .

VO L . IV m xi LONDON c . .

1 8 3 1 . to Replying my letter , Lord Grey told me that conferring the Garter on him was the spontaneous

of of im act the King , who said he thought it portance to grant him the honour at this moment

as a public mark of his favour . At this time Lady Julia was attacked by that disease which was fated to be so calamitous to

my family . The symptoms were such as I could

not mistake , and I removed her at once to London

for advice . I now found by sad experience how little all public concerns appear compared with

an object of domestic interest . I tried to occupy myself with many matters that used to engage my eager attention and I tried to think of every thing but that which pressed most upon all my h O f thoug ts . the first medical advisers we called

in , the report was favourable ; but , when I con

su lted Dr . Warren , he pronounced a sentence

which was all but fatal . I shall not record the

of varieties this treacherous disorder . The courage and gaiety of the dear creature were such as to

keep hope alive , although at times her Very n f r patie ce added to my su fe ing ; and , when she

ou r talked of little projects for the future , I O could hardly master my feelings . nce she

said , If this cough would but leave me ; but — I ought to suffer something I have been too happy !

At this time , also , my father became seriously

ill , and his house , as well as my own , was a house

f f on o sickness and o sorrow . But attendance

R LONDON C AP . XI .

1 8 1 3 . Going away from the House of Commons I

on looked into the Lords . The array the O pposi tion benches was Very formidable ; but I was

consoled by hearing this day , from Samuel Rogers , that the Duke of Wellington had said to him : “ They want to make me the head of a faction ;

n ot but I will . I have served my country forty

n ot years in the field and the Cabinet . I will n ow take such a course ; and you may tell your

o Ministerial friends s .

D A FROM I RY .

J un e 23 —For . the first time in my life I attended the Speaker of the House of Commons

to with the Address the King . We mustered at

1 3 0 or 1 4 0 the House in considerable numbers , .

O u r Ministers were in their livery , and looked

Very menial .

I thought the King looked ill . His answer ,

. to as usual , was short He was very attentive

ou r address , and seemed to wish to Show by his movements that he understood and approved of

what he heard . When the Speaker put the address into the

’ on e King s hand , he knelt on knee before the throne so that his head was n ot much above the

footstool . This looked a little like Persian

ou t of t . adoration , I hought We all backed the

of n ot room in a throng , the effect which was

imposing but ridiculous . The King is a good h d w r a . King , the best we a THIIE IL EIV' ZRJIFCHRII lBIIJJ

R . FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS — 2 was 1 8 3 1 . J u n e 4 . This the day fixed for the intro

of duction the second Reform Bill , and , although

I went down earlier than usual , I found every place taken ; and I heard that all the O pposition benches had been occupied Since eight in the

morning . Being at prayers , however , I did get

on a seat the right, below the gangway , amongst

the Irish Members . Lord John Russell began - his speech at half past five . He spoke two hours

n n e w to o introducing his Bill , which seemed

difle r very little from the old Bill . Part of his

— of n ot so speech was , I thought , good part it

happy . He did not spare the new moderate

Reformers , and Peel and Chandos , with their

o mf . associates , lo ked a little unco ortable

Sib thor . The eccentric Colonel p, and Mr Conolly ,

P for M. . Donegal , and Lord Stormont were

of amongst the most obstreperous the minority .

o Charles R ss , as usual , was providing materials ,

- fetching books and paper, for Peel . He looked e more than usually disconc rted , when Russell

mentioned that St . Germans was to be added to

u of the sched le boroughs to be disfranchised . Sir Robert Peel followed Russell in a half

angry tone . He promised a division on the

s econd reading , and Spoke out most decisively

so against the Bill , that , coupling this with the

a of thre tening aspect the Lords , we all expected

a most severe struggle .

u l 3 —I J y . heard that Prince Leopold had R LONDON C AP . XI .

of accepted the crown Belgium , the wisest choice , not only for Belgium , but all Europe , that could possibly have been made . The same day I dined in company with Achille Murat , eldest son of

of N the late King aples , and his wife , some re

of lation the great Washington . Achille was an in si n ific an t- f g looking man , with something o the

Buonaparte face about his forehead , but he wore spectacles . He talked to me a good deal , and in a most depreciating tone , of Louis Philippe, prophesying that his Government would be over thrown before the next anniversary of the Three

Glorious Days . He also foretold that the down fall of the Church and the aristocracy would inevitably follow the Reform Bill . The late heir-apparent of the kingdom of Naples lived in the Alpha Cottages .

Two or three days before this I saw , in the ’ of who course a ten minutes walk , a young man had lost two crowns ; and another personage , not

of forty years age , who was very near being

of Prince Consort of England , was Sovereign 1

e of . Greec , and was about to be King Belgium 2 Dom Pedro was coming ou t of the Clarendon

h . Hotel , w ere he was lodged Had I gone to Holles Street I should have seen a discrowned

1 King L eopold . 2 o P VI P . P D m . edro, son of John , King of ortugal roclaimed E z 1 8 22 was mperor of Bra il in , he compelled to resign his crown

II 1 8 3 1 . I 1 8 3 3 in favour of his son Pedro . in n he recovered by P force the throne of ortugal, which had been usurped by his

brother MigueL H e died in 1 8 3 4 .

A . XI LONDON CR P .

1 8 3 1 . have followed Macaulay , but William Bankes rose and made on e of the most extraordinary

exhibitions I had ever seen . He whined , clasped

his hands , and put himself into attitudes , con cluding one of his sentences thus : The Lord ” ou t of ! deliver us their hands , I say To be

for sure he was in earnest , the Bill annihilated

the Corfe Castle dynasty .

Lord Althorp followed , and Sir George Murray

then spoke . He described the approaching down

of fall the monarchy , the rise of another Crom

the of of well , and degradation the House Peers under a Lord Chancellor who would administer

to F them riendly advice , alluding , it was

supposed , to a pamphlet with that title , addressed

to to the Lords , and generally attributed

Brougham .

The debate was resumed the next day , when

Peel spoke for more than two hours . The speech ,

for his purpose , was admirable ; and I perceived

of o ur that some converts , Harcourt Vernon for

instance , winced under his whipping . He was

’ Very dexterous , and comparatively moderate , m avowing that , if the feeling for Refor was

permanent, he did not see how it could be

resisted .

He ended about three in the morning , when

Burdett , who for the first time spoke from the

floor, answered Peel as well as he could be

b u t answered , treating him civilly , stripping him

of of some his details , and putting the question CRAP L IKI . INDIE IIEIIRI) AJYI l fPAd}AJ§ITL I

1 8 3 1 . fairly before the House . Some youngsters op ” osite ou t p tried to put him by calling Question ,

on but we cheered him , and he finished a very t ’ effective Speech abou four o clock . 3 6 23 1 There were 7 in the House , and went out ; leaving a majority of 1 3 6 in favour of

Ministers .

u l 9 — i J y . There was a banquet at the Mans on House on the occasion of presenting Lord John

Russell with the freedom of the City . I was on e M of the guests at the ansion House , and must say that it was a very Splendid affair . His

Majesty Dom Pedro was there . He was a - pleasing looking person . Lord John Russell occupied the chair next to the Lady Mayoress , and , just as we thought his health was to be given , in came Signor

Paganini , in great ceremony , preceded by the

of stewards the festival , and , mounting a chair immediately behind Lord Plunket , played a

concerto on his Violin . I was disgusted , so was

Hume ; but the company generally were charmed .

Reform seemed pretty much forgotten . I confess

I felt angry that Burdett should be eclipsed,

do thinking that , if Reform had anything to

of with the feast , he ought all men to have been somewhat exalted ; and I could not help re memb erin g that John Russell had said in Par

liam en t 1 8 29 , in , that he would never introduce a Reform motion again ; an d there he was

With Lord Lansdowne , and such. patriots as O L 1 6 V . IV LONDON

1 — 1 8 3 . Palmerston and the Grants carrying off all the f honours o the day . The kingdom of honest

politicians is certainly not of this world . In the evening of July 1 0 I received a note

Mr . from Brodie , the eminent surgeon , afterwards

of Sir Benjamin , and President the Royal Society,

informing me that my father was much worse .

The next day I did not attend the House , and asked Lord Morpeth to move the second reading

of F my actory Bill for me . — u l 1 2. At O J y House of Commons . The ppo sition moved seven or eight adjournments to

prevent the Speaker leaving the Chair, and the

sat House till seven in the morning , when the Government succeeded in committing the Bill

p ro f ormat.

l 1 — of J u y 4 . The tactics our opponents were

now to create delay by every available stratagem . Even Peel took up great part of an evening on a verbal dispute about leaving ou t the word ea ch

borou h O n before the word g . this we had a

majority of 290 to 1 93 . The next day I sat until near two in the

on of morning . The debate arose a motion Sir

of Andrew Agnew, for clubbing boroughs instead 3 1 6 disfranchising them . We divided , and had

205— a M to majority which satisfied our inisters , who had previously complained of declining Af numbers . ter a long and desultory conversa

ou r tion , it was at last agreed that Chairman ,

Mr . Spring Rice, having read the words Ald

LONDON

’ 1 of Barin 18 3 . I heard part a debate on Bingham g s 1 treatment of the Benches . Althorp declared

against the part taken by the press in this affair ,

and was loudly cheered by Peel , who seemed to be appeased during the debate on Reform which

of followed , for he witnessed the extinction

borough after borough without a word . — - 22. Ju ly Sir R . Hardinge told me to day that

the Bill would not pass the Lords , at least not

Without some compromise . I can hear of no

converts amongst the Peers .

26 —We J u ly . finished Schedule A of the Reform Bill after a sort of funeral oration on

- Wootton Basset by L ord Porchester, whose chief

merit , according to his Lordship , was the having

returned Lord Bolingbroke to Parliament . Mr .

’ O Con n ell reminded him that it had also returned

Walsh , the swindler . Lord Mahon called this

an indecent personality .

29 -We ou r J u ly . got on so slowly with Bill

that even Lord Althorp became impatient , and

H ow on i said to me , the devil Shall we get w th our Bill ? I had some conversation also with

J . Stanley, Graham, and Lord ohn Russell The latter told me that Brougham was anxious that

- the Attorney General Should be put forward , and

was always grumbling at the delay . It seems he depreciates Macaulay and always extols the

L The Bench of Bishops . ord Grey had appealed to the Bishops

to vote for the Bill, telling them that if they did not do so they

would become just obje cts of popular odium . m . x 1 C . N O T CONTENT WITH BEING A MOON 1 25 Attorneyas having made the best speech on the M Bill . Sydney Smith says it is because acaulay is not content with being a moon but wants to do a little bit in the sola r lin e . Lord Althorp moved that the House Should sit on Saturday . Peel was very angry , and de c lared he would not do so , but Lord Althorp persevered , and , at three in the morning , carried his point . — Ju l 3 0 . We on y got quietly with Schedule B ,

PARALYSING , as it was said , borough after borough

— a until we got to Sudbury case which , with

Totnes , we consented to postpone ; and so finished the schedule . William Bankes gave us a Jere miad on Marlborough . Lord Duncannon told me to-day that it was as much as he could do to keep Althorp and S Graham last night to the ticking point . They were wishing to give up . He wished me to tell them what I thought , but when I spoke to

so ? Althorp , all he said was , Do you think Everybody begins to complain of the tone taken by Ministers , who speak as if they were at the head of a minority, both in the House and the country .

“

R . FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS

u t 1 - I of A ug s . attended the ceremony open ing the new London Bridge by the King and

Queen . I passed over Waterloo Bridge , and saw an indescribable sight . The river and the banks R X I LONDON C AP . .

of it were on e mass of human beings ; but the view from the new bridge itself was still more

wonderful . The newspapers gave a very striking

of and accurate account the scene . The contrast of the poor old bridge with the magnificent new structure was very striking and the preparations

for M receiving their ajesties , and other guests

of to the number were most superb , and f worthy of the metropolis o the civilised world . Captain Basil Hall and Sir Francis Chantrey

of walked up and down with me , each us ex

of pressing his unbounded admiration the sight, and I recollect a saying of ou r great sculptor on

of this day , that , all the countless thousands

n ot who around us , probably there was a man

had n ot a guinea in his pocket . I mentioned

u this to B rdett just afterwards , and he said , Does that make for or against Reform ?

’ The Royal party came about four o clock . Their procession of boats was almost lost on the bosom of the mighty river ; but wherever the small pinnace with the Royal standard was recog

” n ise d of , tremendous cheering and waving hats

and handkerchiefs , and every other demonstration

of . loyalty and joy , ensued I was at the head of - of i the corner table , just at the top the Sta rs

which the King ascended . His Majesty and the Queen Stopped to look down the Vista in the

to long tent , where the company were all standing

receive them . The sight was indeed magnificent , and I heard that ou r good King confessed that

LONDON

- 1 8 3 1 . O ff master , you must take your muzzle to night . I told him that I had n ot heard any speech ’

. do except Peel s That will , said he ; and accordingly I went to the third bench behind

the Treasury , and , when Baring sat down , rose

c fi ort at once . I recollect that with no little

pride . It was by far the most successful I had ever made ; but it was more to the general question of Reform than to the matter then in

debate . There was great cheering when I sat

down . Charles Grant handed up a scrap of

H O W paper to me , on which was written , I ” YO U ! ENVY I folded it up , and have kept it

flatterer ever since ; for my friend was no , and ,

first- being himself a rate Parliamentary speaker ,

re his judgment might be depended upon . I

i e c e v d on . congratulations all sides , and Mr Goul

burn , who followed me , said that he had heard

me with admiration . I afterwards received civil speeches and messages from men of all parties ;

of yet the reporters made very little my speech ,

Times and , according to the , Aldermen Wood and

Waithm an were the foremost men of all that night .

However , I hoped that I had done good by taking ,

and teaching others to take , the right tone . We 9 7 had a large majority , about much to the dis

of appointment , so I was told , Sir Robert Peel , who considered our Metropolitan enfranchisements

' ou r : weakest case ; and so it was London , West M minster , Southwark , and four County embers , w ere quite enough for all purposes . x1 ' Cn u . . DEATH O F SIR BENJAMIN H O BH O U S E 1 29 At this time my father became so much worse

in health that I requested Dr . Warren to see

him . When I heard his opinion , I asked Sir Robert Inglis to get a fortnight ’ s leave of absence for me from the House of Commons . From that

day I , lived more in Berkeley Square than in my

own house . The last day that my father seemed in complete 1 2 possession of his senses was August . He then asked me how the Reform Bill was going on ,

and whether all would end peaceably . The last J words he uttered to me were , ohn , do not let N them leave me . ever be afraid of that, I

of replied He then said , I am not afraid any f M . thing . r Brodie was a great com ort to the family , and tried to persuade my Sisters to leave

the room ; but they would not . They remai ned

with him to the last . He died between six and ’ seven o clock on August 1 4 . Having watched

Was him when he in his last agonies , I was astounded at the calmness with which I con

templated him when all was over . His frame was

n o longer convulsed . The calm of his benignant countenance was u n ru fi ed by the moans which had been extorted from him by pain and sleepless

. O R weariness I kissed his cold hand , and cut a lock of his grey hair From the death-bed of my father I was called

to attend to my wife , who again had alarming f u or . symptoms that ind ced me to send Dr Warren .

She was much attached to my father, who was

VOL . IV 1 7 LONDON

1 8 3 1 . very fond of her , and the news , which I was

. compelled to communicate , was doubtless injurious

to her . I was present at her last interview with

him . I shall never forget the smile with which he bade her farewell !

I shall say no more of him here . Indeed, it

would be altogether superfluous , as I have pub lished more than on e short Memoir of him ; not

equal , it is true , to his real merit , nor adequately

descriptive of his valuable character , but still ,

su fi c ie n t as I hope , to Show my affection and

f r reverence o this good man .

FROM DIARY

- - A ugust 28 . To morrow I return to my abhorred

N ot of or public duty . the control partaking in

any great national concern, which I might under take with pride and hope ; but the dull business

of of a House Commons life , and the fruitless

to endeavour satisfy selfish , silly , and unreasonable

men .

e tem — to of S p ber 7 Went the House Commons , and stayed there to witness the Reform Bill get

ou t of t Committee , which it did at abou seven ’

. n ot o clock There were many Members present , but the Reformers gave a cheer when Bernal left M the Chair . I find embers are becoming quite

wearied and almost indifferent about the Bill . 1 S e tember 1 2 — Calcraft p . Burdett told me that

Calcraf t M. P D John , . for orset, was, like his father, a Whig, 1 8 28 H e R but joined the Tories in . , however, voted for the eform

Bill .

LONDON CRAP . XI .

brilliant speech, foretelling the downfall of the

monarchy and many uncomfortable events . O n e great mistake he made in reminding the House

to of the question I had put him about resigning , but choosing to omit that I had made an apology

for that indiscretion . The bad taste and bad feeling of that reminder struck most of us on ou r Side ; and when he tried to be smart upon M acaulay, he did not at all succeed , nor did he

— so it ever in that line that might be said of him , as Quintilian said of Demosthenes Illi n on

dis licu isse c on ti isse . p jocos , sed non g He was ,

however , loudly cheered on sitting down . We divided at twenty-fiv e minutes past four in

the morning . The numbers were declared at five o ’ clock— 3 4 6 to 23 5— and at seven minutes past “ J five the Speaker said , That Lord ohn Russell

do carry this Bill to the Lords , and request their

’ Lordships concurrence . We gave a great cheer . We thought our majority satisfactory ; that was

not the common opinion , and it was true that our friends were rather Slack in their attendance .

F or example , Lord Uxbridge and Captain Byng preferred staying at the Doncaster races to their

Parliamentary duties .

FROM DIARY . 22 — I S ep tember . accompanied Russell with the

. Bill to the Lords . The House was crowded The Lord Chancellor came to the Bar very solemnly ; but , methought, looked a little arch when Russell x1 CRAP . . AN INJUDICIOUS IF

1 8 3 1 . presented the Bill . Lord Grey came in , and a good many of us stayed to hear him fix the second

reading f or Monday week . Sir Henry Hardinge had some conversation with me ; and I told him of the strong resolutions

’ Eb rin ton s passed at Lord g , of supporting Govern — ment in very strong measures prorogation of

of Parliament, creation of Peers , reintroduction f o O . the Bill , and suspension Standing rders He

said that the result would be a fight . He felt

sure the Lords would reject the Bill . Lord Grey to-night made use of the words If

the Bill is read , which I trust it will be . A “ very injudicious if .

Hardinge comes to get what he can ou t of me . O f course I tell him no lies , nor no truths , except ’ such as I think he ought to propagate . Tis an awful moment, that is certain .

S e tember 24 —I p . attended the great dinner

’ ’ to given the Ministers at Stationers Hall . 260 There were guests , and all the arrangements — were as good as possible so were most of the speeches . I remarked that the company was , to the full , as noisy and impatient as ou r Westminster tradesmen at the Crown and Anchor, although representing the greatest and proudest families

ou r in Empire .

’ e t — S p ember 3 0 . At four o clock I went to the

a n d ot Com House of Commons , g through the mittee on my Vestry Bill with only on e alteration in it . LONDON CRAP . XI.

There are various rumours as to the number by which the Reform Bill will be rejected by the

Lords ; but all agree it will be lost . — - O c tober 3 . The great debate commenced to day in the Lords . Lord Grey spoke three hours , in his best style , and appealed to the Bishops in a way which showed he despaired of their votes . Lord Wharncliff e moved the absolute rejection of w w the Bill , in terms which he withdre after ards , and substituted the usual form , deferring the Bill for S ix months . The House was quite full , and

’

t . fitted up wi h galleries , as at the Queen s trial I heard the Duke of Wellington make on e of the poorest speeches he ever made . He gave quite a different account of his resignation from that given by Sir R . Peel ; said Reform had nothing to do with it , and begged their Lord Ships not to pledge themselves either way about

Reform . He added , whatever had been his opinion as a man , yet as a Minister he had opposed Reform . In short, his Grace made a

shu fi in shabby, g speech , very like a man wanting fi o ce again .

n Lord Harrowby , though recommendi g modera

tion , was very bitter and personal . The general

result was now pretty well known , but the numbers of the majori ty were guessed at very

variously . F This night I read my actory Bill a third time ,

and passed it . I also brought up the Report

on my Vestry Bill at near two in the morning .

LONDON CRAP . XI .

. 1 8 3 1 . language Indeed , it was silly of Lord Ebrington

to dread such a thing . We Parliamentarians are , - for the most part , mealy mouthed , and fall into

the opposite extreme . Ebrington said that the debate would finish

to - n ot night , because Government did like it to

on end a Saturday evening , when workmen were

off H ow paid . Here is a precaution indeed

on e ever, no seemed to think the debate could

end before Monday , so I resolved to Visit my

family at Brighton . — A O c tober 8 . S a tur da y dark , stormy day ’ big with the fate , etc . About three o clock I

ill lost b a A dver tiser . B saw a newspaper , the y 1 majority of 4 .

The Archbishop of Canterbury made a Short

off speech against, and led twenty Bishops with

. him . O nly two Bishops for the Bill The House adjourned at twenty minutes past S ix in the

morning . — ou t O c tober 9 . The Tories give Grey has

’ resigned . Brougham s speech said by Lord Grey b of to be miraculous , and every ody talking it

in the same Strain . I read it attentively , and ,

a d homin em excepting the sarcasms and replies , did not see anything so wonderfu l in the per ’ x i ‘ Cm . . BROUGHAM S SPEECH O N REFORM

forman c e . on on e He ended by kneeling down 1 8 3 1 .

of knee , and drank a bottle mulled port during the performance . l Chron ic e . Times The is in mourning The ,

H er a ld , and other papers assuming an awful tone . The Common Council and Merchants and

of to Bankers London are meet immediately , f and o course the Westminster Reformers .

’

VO L . IV CH APTE R XII

R . FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS — 1 8 3 1 . I O c tober 1 0 . went to a Westminster meeting

at the Crown and Anchor , the largest meeting

I ever met in the great room there . Everything passed off with the greatest Spirit and propriety ; t nothing could be better, excep that I had my

pocket picked as I was borne through the crowd ,

of . amidst great cheering , to the top the room

AS there was a call of the House , we shortened

ou r proceedings , and I went down to answer

my name there , and , although it was not twelve

’ o clock , could hardly find a place vacant . b When the debate came on , Lord E rington moved his resolution f or Standing by the Ministers

and their Bill ; but his tone was very moderate. M P . hi Dundas , . for Berks re , seconded him in an equally moderate style : so it appeared to

to me , who was ready to speak and expected

difi c u lt do so , that it would be very to take a

properly spirited line . Macaulay made a speech , and took a totally diff erent View of the question

from Ebrington . He went somewhat near the wind on the intimidation Side ; and I told him

n ot so, and I saw he was pleased . I took

R LONDON C AP . XII .

In Bond Street I sa w a large placard with this inscription 1 99 versus and I went into the house to persuade the Shopman to take

. it down He was a shoemaker , and , though very civil , was very firm , and refused to remove the placard , saying he had only done as others had done . When I told him who I was , he said, O h , I know you very well but he still de clin ed to follow my advice . There was a strong force of police and of Horse J ’ . f Guards near St ames s Palace . A line o the latter was drawn across Pall Mall to keep off a crowd , whose banners I saw beyond the soldiers , and whose shouts I heard . Processions paraded the Mall , which might have been seen by the

King from the Palace windows . The parishioners h from St . Pancras had , besides t eir banners , two

of red caps liberty , and they huzzaed lustily ; but

saw n o of of I Violence any kind , nor heard any disaster . As I had not been to Court Since the death of my father , I was presented by Lord Lansdowne

on at least, his name was my card . I presented the petitions to His Majesty , and met with a most gracious reception . He spoke to me of my father

f . and said , I fear he su fered much at the last

d . He then inquired after La y H and my sisters , and behaved to me with marked kindness and attention . I went to the House of Commons through

of bu t masses people , who were noisy enough , CR AP . XII. A ROLLICKING RODOMONTADE

e n ot mischievous . I was much vex d , however , ’ to hear that the Duke of Wellington s windows

an d had been broken , that Lord Londonderry had been wounded by a stone . These occurrences

were too true , and disgraceful enough . At the House of Commons I heard Lord Althorp and L Ord John Russell complained of as having inflamed the populace by the answers which they had given to the addresses from the Bir min ham or two g Union . A day before it was asserted that the rejection of the Bill had caused no excitement .

The next day the streets were quiet , and the crowds had disappeared . The disturbance now

of was transferred to the House Commons , where

Mr . Trevor brought forward his foolish motion about rate-paying ; and Sir Charles Wetherell moved , as an amendment upon it , his more foolish proposal for a special Commission to inquire about

the riots in the country . This personage so mis behaved himself that it was charitable to think him or either drunk crazy . He threw his legs

on on the bench , and called Lord Althorp to

speak up . We passed the word that no notice

of should be taken his Speech ; but, as he had

’ of O Con n ell n ot fallen foul , we could prevent that gentleman from rising and giving Sir Charles

his deserts . The castigation was most complete h ’ and most severe . He called Wet erell s speech

a rollicking rodomontade , and no epithet

o . could be better applied t it Even Sir H . R . LONDON C AP . XII

Hardinge spoke of it as it deserved ; but soon turned the conversation on the misconduct of M inisters , and their contributing to popular ex m c ite en t . He told me that he carried about him a small pocket pistol , which he should use if attacked ; and informed me that the Duke of f ’ Wellington s servants were armed , and had orders to shoot any on e who attempted to enter the court

of yard Apsley House . I took the chair this day at a meeting of ’ of who parishioners St . George s , Hanover Square , were called together to test the truth of an assertion made by Lord Wharncliffe , in the

Lords , that the shopkeepers in Bond Street and ’

J . St . ames s Street were opposed to Reform The meeting assembled in Farm Street Mews . Lord

f n o t Wharnclif e himself came , but did address the meeting . O n going away Lord Wharncliffe told me that

a man , dressed like a gentleman , shook a rope at him ; and he informed me that he had received threatening letters respecting his Yorkshire man

sion . I could not help remarking that , consider ing the prominent part he had taken against the

. Bill , I was not surprised at this news He

assured me he was not against all Reform, but w only against the Bill . I after ards heard he was not pleased with the anti-Reformers refusing to join him in some moderate scheme ; and I thought he was not quite satisfied with t he line he had hi taken . There was a great meeting , in Yorks re

LONDO N CRAP . XII .

D FROM IARY .

tob er 1 4 - O c . The Lords have referred my Vestry

Bill to a select committee . This I considered as i t. tantamount to rejecting I spoke to G . Lamb , who thought so too , and expressed his conviction that without parochial reform the peace of the metropolis could not be preserved . The Duke of Wellington seems as eager against my Bill J ’ as against Lord . Russell s . I went to Downing Street with my three addresses . I put them into the hands of Lord

’ -in - Grey s secretary and son law , Charles Wood

me (afterwards Lord Halifax) , who told that one of the Yorkshire addresses to Lord Grey had received a hundred thousand signatures . 20 — O c tob er . Lord Grey addressed a letter to of me , which was published in the newspapers O 1 ctober 7 , in which he promised an equally efi cien t Reform Bill for the next session of

n ot Parliament . This , however , did satisfy the impatient metropolitans , who drew up a memorial

m of ad recom ending a creation Peers , and an

Ao jou rn m en t of Parliament for seven days . cordin gly seventeen delegates waited on Lord

Grey , and had an interview which was not very

agreeable to either party . There is , it must be

of ofi ciou s confessed , a good deal interference and over-anxiety on the part of friends ; at the same time I see n o reason to be surprised at of their restlessness , considering the state the

country and the opposition of the Peers . X II - CRAP . . ANTI REFORM SUCCESSES It is generally believed that the Cabinet are divided upon the question , and I gather as much from a letter which I have received from Lord

of Durham, in which he complains the hostility

. of and lukewarmness friends , and wishes he was supported by such men as myself . Just at this time comes the defeat of Ponsonby in Dorsetshire , and the Tories are going to try their hands in Cambridgeshire . The City Tories also rejected the Lord Mayor Key , twice chosen

f ou r by the Livery . All these e forts Show that opponents are resolved to fight to the last . I nevertheless believe that the majority of the

Lords now regret their triumph . They foolishly thought that their vote would turn ou t the M inisters ; but now , seeing that they Stay in , their apprehension is that the whole Bill will

n o be carried by a majority in the Peers , and modification ever admitted , such as they might have got by admitting the second reading . Sir Alexander Cray Grant 1 told me he knew

the - this was the case , and that anti Reformers were fools for their pains . In the meantime the funds rise a little ; this is attributed to the f probable settlement o the Belgian question .

the Parliament was prorogued this day, and

n ow Royal Assent given to my Vestry Bill , which applies to open as well as close vestries .

’ O c tober 24 — I F u h M f . have read o c é s emoirs or

S ir A x M P . . C C le ander Grant, for Westbury , was hairman of om mittees .

VOL . IV LONDON

the first time . It seems incredible that any man Should have been guilty of the superlative base

ness of which he confesses himself guilty , or

rather which he owns to and defends . He says he did send a detail of the plan of Napoleon ’ s 1 8 1 5 M entrance into Belgium in , by a adame D . , but took care to have obstacles thrown in

S he her way , so that did not arrive till after N F the battle . evertheless ou ché does n ot appear to have been a man of a bad heart . Madame de Stael hits off his character admirably in her

of Ten Years Exile .

R FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS . — F N ovember 4 . Sir . Burdett unadvisedly took

of - the chair at a meeting the working classes , constituted under the name of the National

of Union . I knew some of the most active these gentlemen , and that this was a scheme for watching and controlling Members of Parliament .

’ Burdett s excuse is that if he did n ot put himself at the head of this Union some designing

or man men would . Whereas the truth is , and

so I told him , that if he did not , it would fall to the ground altogether . My good colleague generally says Yes , to the last speaker , except

N o in Parliament , where he always says ; at

of least , has done so for the greater part his life . He is so pure himself that he cannot suspect any on e of artifice or malice . But his facility embarrasses his coadjutors very much .

LONDON

of ur . the Reform riots , co se It must be confessed that the Administration have a most difi c u lt

on on course to steer, between the people the e

m to f or hand , who they are afraid to appeal fear

of m ischief, and the Tories , who cannot be con

of ciliated , except at the expense character ,

consistency , popular support, and finally their

. to places The true way , I think , would be buy

off of some the most active agitators , and then to take exactly what course they thought most

expedient to carry their Reform , without caring for on e or a paragraph in two newspapers , nor

or for a few placards a Union proclamation . I

of suppose , course , that they mean honestly themselves . Lord Grey is evidently n ot blind to the con sequences , and when waited upon by the seventeen delegates at midnight , said , If I am driven from ofi c e b it will be y these things , striking the memorial with his finger . This was n ot in the newspaper report . I had it from on e who was present . It was not surprising that Lord Grey should say this , with seventeen men looking in on of him at near midnight, some whom were such ill-looking fellows that my friend De Vear told me he got before on e of them that Lord Grey might n ot see him . And then these men modestly asked him to reassemble Parliament in Seven days . I have given my opinion pretty plainly as to

of the propriety this proceeding , and displeased my Westminster frien ds thereby . The fact is , - CRAP . XII . ANTI REFORM MISCHIEF most of the party went merely from over zeal

ofi ciou sn ess s of and some , I think , had proj ect a very decisive nature .

Lord Grey received them very civilly , but he

n ot on e should have received them at all , as any will acknowledge who reads the use made of this 1 ua r ter l R ev iew interview in the Q y .

B R . FROM OOK , ECOLLECTIONS — N ovember 7 I heard an anecdote at this time which illustrates in very lively colours the mis f - o . chiev ou s character the anti Reformers Mr .

n o M. P . Howard Elphi st ne, afterwards for Hastings , told me that , being at the late Sussex county meeting , he heard George Dawson say to the

You Ministerialists , have brought a banner here with No Bishops written u pon it ; and you do

n ot so ou . dare to Show it, y have furled it The

High Sheriff interrupted him . Mr . Dawson , said he , I cannot permit this . The banner was furled out of courtesy to me ; it is no question

n ot of daring . This was in the newspaper report

of ou t the proceedings , and , doubtless , was left

of purposely, in order that the reckless malice

n ot T these gentlemen might be exposed . his would have made it manifest that they wanted The deputation from several of the L ondon parishes headed by M C “ ” P a r. arpire, a medical man , and Francis lace, attended on P M L the rime inister at midnight, praying his ordship to recommend the Kin g not to prorogue Parliament for a longer period than seven

days . A full report of the interview appeared in the Courier of O 3 freel é uoted an ctober , and this is y q in article on the state of he t e ua r t r l I t h e Review . XL V Government in Q y , Vol . LONDON CRAP . XII .

18 3 1 . to create a commotion , and then to complain f o it . The news of the breaking ou t of the cholera

at Sunderland , about this time , alarmed some people as much as the Reform Bill and dread of revolution frightened others ; and with much

AS f r . o more reason the latter panic, there was

u F not the slightest exc se , and Sir rancis Burdett,

coming into contact with these Unionists , found

so them , he told me , perfectly insignificant .

D FROM IARY .

N — o m ovember 9 . Saw J e Hu e and his good

little wife . He is a singular fellow indeed , and persuades many people he understands all the

subjects he talks about . He is to be made Lo rd

Rector of Glasgow University this year, for the

second time, I believe , and a paragraph in the

H er a ld Joe tells how great a linguist is , and how O much Greek and Latin , all riental , and most

modern tongues he knows . Le pauvre Gil - a il . Perez , peine en savait les premiers principes If he knows Greek and Latin it is without

learn ing them . — N ovember 1 0 . Burdett has dined twice with

Lord Grey lately , and says truly of him that nothing is such a mistake as calling him a — haughty , unbending man quite the contrary, he

too is too pliant , easily swayed ; and does not seem sensible that he is the sole responsible

to Minister, and if Reform fails , him will the

LONDON

1 8 3 1 . f Lord Duncannon was o the same opinion . Then ? whence the delay As Burdett said to me , Lord Grey Should turn the dissentients out of his

Cabinet .

N ovember 1 — to- 7 Writing to De Vear day , I - said , If by some e rror in judgment for I am unwilling to believe it can originate from any — “ r P other cause arliament should not meet soon ,

then all Reformers , and we above all , must be ” ou r on the alert . I foresee a squabble amongst

Westminster friends , which , if Reform does not

take place , will probably break them up and cost me my seat ; About this I am more than in

for different, I think I should like an honest

— at M P excuse for quitting public life least as . .

for Westminster . I know I have done my duty,

and if others do not think so , I cannot help it .

’ ov em 1 8 — N b er . Finished Madame de Stael s De

in stru c launay Memoirs , a very amusing and very

It u tive book . is wonderf l that whilst there are s u ch books in the world any on e can gravely

old F e recommend the rench r gime, in preference to the modern manners and political condition of

of Castelmare that country . The account the conspiracy sho ws how politics and intrigue were

old mixed in the courts of Europe . Europe might have been drenched in blood for the sake of the

’ Duchess of Maine s precedence . 2 — ' N ov ember 4 . The Westminster Reform Asso c iation dissolved itself yesterday at the appearance

of of the proclamation , under pretext their rules MEETING OF PARLIAMENT

b e 1 8 3 1 bringing them within the law ; but, in fact, . l cause the a ttemp t was fa i in g . The householders

omn is eflu su s r would not associate , ibi labo , but I am glad .

5 — ou r D ecember . Burdett told me Reform — prospects were not favourable no converts . The

King , against so far as inclination went, but being

u n ot . an honourable man , wo ld give in He said that the National Union was going fast to pieces ; and so much the better, added he . I had pre v iou sly heard from him that the Union had hesi tate d u saw abo t accepting his resignation , and I the correspondence . They are trying to trick him , he pretending not to see their manoeuvre . Such is the consequence of on e false step even in the

of best men .

R . FROM BOOK, ECOLLECTIONS

m 6 - e t D ece be m . r . Parliament The House of Commons was empty when compared with its numbers during the fierce contests of the recent session .

Several occurrences , and particularly the Bristol

of riots , had tended to cool the ardour most poli tician s ; and it required all the sagacity and courage of the tried friends of Parliamentary Reform to persevere in the course most likely to obtain their object without risk to public tran quillity .

The Royal Speech was a good speech, inasmuch as it afi orded very little for opponents to lay hold O L 20 V . IV LONDON

1 8 3 1 of . It Opened with Reform, and allowed the right of popular meetings to discuss political questions ; b ut denied that this right extended to the organi

sation of political unions . Peel promised to

discuss the new Reform Bill dispassionately . Russell gave notice that he should bring forward

that Bill on the following Monday . This drew a

loud cheer from ou r benches .

FROM DIARY .

- - D ecember 7 I saw Tavistock to day . He told me the King says he considers it to be the duty of a constitutional King to stand by his Ministers

but Tavistock added he believed H . M. was not

for Reform .

N o amendment in the Lords , and Lord Harrowby f made a sort o conceding speech . N evertheless

I believe the Lords are preparing a surprise , as

ou t . before , and mean to throw the Bill At the House of Commons Lord Althorp pre sented the Yorkshire address signed by

Mr but this did not prevent . Croker from being

somewhat smart and insolent , nor Hunt from

being lying an d vulgar .

- D ecember 1 2. I went to the House of Commons , and heard Lord John Russell propose his new

Reform Bill . I thought the Bill an improvement

on the former Bill , and I believe that was the

general opinion . But Peel made a most unjust

on and ungenerous attack the Government , con gratulating the House on the escap e which his

LONDON

of the grossest mistakes , which Macaulay de

tec ted of at once , and I handed down corrections

o them to L rd Althorp . Lord Althorp said to me ,

Will you undertake him I , seeing he wished

to N o . speak , answered Althorp spoke ill , and several Members told me that I ought to have

answered Croker . Indeed , I thought I should

for . have done it well , he had laid himself very open

R . FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS — D ecember 1 7 . This evening was conspicuous , in

ou r Reform debates , for a great speech from !Lord] M r . Edward Stanley , who lashed Croker so soundly

as he had never been lashed before . He exposed

his his false history about Charles I . and Parlia

ments , and told him Inaccurate reading was ” as dangerous as a little reading , alluding to ’ ’ ’ Macaulay s exposure of Croker s Boswell s Life ” of J E din bur h R eview ohnson , in the g , in which ’ the quotation had been applied to Croker s edition

of that famous book . But what pleased me most was the genuine English spirit which breathed

through all he said . He was tremendously

cheered when he sat down . - of Then Peel rose , and for three quarters an hour made a very lame and laboured defence of ’ himself against Macaulay s Speech of the. night

before . He talked of the sweltered venom of

his antagonist , but confessed admiration for his

talents . He read this correspondence with the Duke of Wellington respecting his wish to retire AP X II CR . . A HANDSOME MAJ ORITY F O R REFORM 1 57

n from ofi c e in 1 8 29 . But he did ot and could

’ n ot answer Macaulay s charges of unhandsome conduct in taunting Ministers with adopting the ” suggestions of their opponents ; coming , as

Macaulay said , from a man whose administra tion would be known only by its concessions . Peel concluded by declaring positively he would never be a party to any measure of Parliamentary

of 3 24 1 62. Reform . We had a majority to

We went home in great glee , and Macaulay ,

n ot walking with me , could refrain from a little pleasantry at the expense of Peel ’ s performances . at O xford . He rendered the suave mari magno — of Lucretius in this way : su a ve it is a source i of melancholy satisfact on . — I D ecember 20 . went down to Hastings , and found my wife decidedly better . During this Visit I formed an acquaintance with a very agree able man— Admiral Sir William Hotham 2— who had lived much in the world , and was a most acceptable guest at every table . Thomas Campbell , the poet , was at Hastings at this time , and , know i ing him well , I brought him and Sir W lliam a

good deal together .

FROM DIARY .

- 22 . D ecember . Sir W Hotham and Thomas Campbell dined with us ; also my friend Miss

’ S ir R L . P R The authorised version , in eel s ife by the ight “

H C . S . P onourable arker , is it is a source of satisfaction , with ” out the word melancholy. 2 1 77 2 1 7 94 Born ; served under Nelson at Bastia, ; commanded 7 1 8 4 8 Ada ma n t C 1 7 9 . at amperdown , ; died X II . LONDON CRAP .

of Bayley , a very remarkable lady great acquire

ments and a Vigorous intellect . Sir William told us that he was present at a dinner of naval O fi c ers in the West Indies when the Duke of Clarence was one of the com H H . H . N pany . . rallied Captain ewcome , and dwelt rather more than was agreeable to him

on his father being a schoolmaster at Hackney .

The Captain , when the Duke asked him why his

father had not bred him up to his own profession , “ S ir replied , Why , , I was such a stupid , good

for nothing fellow, that my father could make

f o o s to . nothing me , he sent me sea The Admiral also told us that the King saw

N for William Pitt and Lord elson the last time ,

on of the same day , within ten minutes each other ; and that both seemed impressed with the notion they were soon to die , particularly

Nelson . Pitt told him he should never go to

another Council . Hotham saw Pitt after this ,

at Bath , in high spirits , but knowing it was over

O n e man with him . day , at dinner , a foolish would read a very long letter from a boy who was in the action at Trafalgar , which Pitt bore - good naturedly , though all were tired of never

ending stories about that battle . General Tarleton , who was present , took the letter and said he would

read it, being best acquainted with sea terms .

Pitt asked him what the line of hearin was . 1 ” g Why , said Tarleton , it

— — a in the the lin e of b e r g .

R LONDON C AP . XII .

Salt Hill ; and talking of the American war

then raging , Lord Huntingdon said that Lord N orth ought to lose his head , although he believed a good deal of the mischief was to be ’ traced to the King s obstinacy . Shortly after wards Hotham was at Windsor , and George III . addressed him thus ° You dined at Salt Hill

the other day , and so and so were with you . Pray tell Lord Huntingdon from me that I re

spect his Opinions , supposing that he holds them

n co scientiously ; but that , when he devotes a

, Minister to the scaffold and accuses his King of

obstinacy , I advise him first to turn the waiters

ou t of the room .

D ec ember 29 — i . The Cholera is rag ng dreadfully 4 6 and suddenly at Gateshead , where in hours there 1 03 52 have been about cases and deaths , the rate

of on mortality being as large as the Continent , or

larger . It is said to have been caused by the

O on e drunkenness of Christmas Day . nly person

at all above the lowest orders affected . ’ D ec ember 3 0 —I . have read poor Walter Scott s “ ” “ of last romances , Robert Paris and Castle Dangerous incredibly inferior to almost all

his . other performances , and smelling of apoplexy N evertheless , no one else perhaps could produce so good and lively an historical fiction as either

of these tales .

u a — J a n ry 1 . I am glad the last melancholy

year is over , although the present commences

n o with very favourable auspices . TL ZP .

- J a n u a r 22 I 1 8 3 2. y . left Hastings , and came up

to London in the coach . T . P . Cooke , the actor ,

and his wife were of the party . He is a Very

- - pleasing mannered , good looking man with a

good deal of unassuming conversation . He has

been a common sailor , and then went on the stage to perform the part of the strong man ’ at Sadler s Wells ; afterwards he tried higher i departments , and I hear that his Will am in

la k- B c eye d S usa n is a very pathetic performance .

He talked to me of Talma, with whom he seems

of to have been well acquainted , and Kean ,

whom he knows intimately . He is rather an extraordinary man if his origin be taken into

consideration .

few I find that people , if any , approve of the

Reform measure altogether, the general impres sion with all those who have anything to lose

being that it goes too far . 4 2 I took up my residence at , Berkeley Square . Lady Hobhouse and her family left England for of the Continent , and I rented the house her

during her lifetime .

“ R FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS .

J a n ua r 2 — 4 . y . At House of Commons The

schedules of the Reform Bill came on . I voted with Ministers for dividing Lincolnshire into two

. 1 9 3 64 counties We had to , and the Tories were so angry that they walked out of the

House in a body . L VO . IV R AP LONDON C . XII .

J 25 The next day , anuary , I heard from Lord Howick that all arrangements were made for

carrying the Reform Bill . I remarked thereon , O f course , if your father has thrown the

country into this ferment , without the certainty

of to carrying his measure , he deserves be

hanged . He smiled , and said he agreed with

me ; but the thing was done . Several other ofi cial people held the same language to me ; but all regretted that the creation of a su fi cien t

of number Peers had been delayed . I became in those days acquainted with a man who figured as a leader of a powerful — I party mean Lord George Bentinck . He did n ot n ot support Ministers , but as yet he did

Oppose them . His chief dislike was to Sir Robert

of Peel . He gave me a lamentable account the N c on ottingham riots , and assured me that the Victs had not the slightest notion that they

e O n would h proceeded against capitally . the contrary, they expressed their surprise that the - Attorney General did n ot come to defend them .

of ou r a d Indeed, the language held by some - heren ts was su fi cien t to mislead better informed M W men than the rioters . y friend Colonel ild

of N ew stead man , purchaser Abbey , addressing d mob a meeting which might fairly be calle a , told them that they were God Almighty ’ s

aristocracy . This was the aristocracy that burnt N of ottingham Castle , and , when some them

to ff were condemned su er for it , a petition was

LONDON CRAP . XII .

1 8 3 2. to vote for Ministers ; and Lord Palmerston then made a Speech which I thought far the best he

had ever made since he joined the Whig Cabinet . 2 2 We had a majority of 3 9 to 1 9 . O n the vote

ou r of censure majority was larger , for we were

23 8 21 4 of to . I had the satisfaction hearing afterwards that Sir John Leech had said Ministers

. J had interpreted the treaty rightly , and Dr enner said the same ; yet Lord Palmerston was the only Minister who took the right line in the

debate . I should , however , have supported Ministers even if they had made a mistake about M the loan , for , if inisters were displaced , I knew we Should not have Reform of Parliament— the

sole object of my public life .

D FROM IARY .

’ 26 — l n l J a n ua ry . This day I had a o g t a k with F rank Place , who told me that when the Lords threw o ut the last Bill there was so little real feeling or Spirit in the people that it required all the efforts of a few individuals to found the

N Birmin ational Political Union , and that the g ham Union was just kept alive by the subscription f wh £50 o three men o sent apiece and saved it . He said that even now the National Political

Union was mere moonshine, and the Birmingham u M the same . He added that a vigoro s Tory inistry

for would keep the people down easily some time , but that they would rise at last and wa lk over a ll

the u er c la sses pp . - - R AP x1 1 . AT C . TH E OFFER O F SECRETARY WAR 1 65

or of 1 8 3 2 I had no notion of the apathy disgust the .

people , but he assured me he was right .

a n u a r 28 — J J y . Sir ames Macdonald had a long

talk with me , and told me Ministers could not

stand with the present Treasury Bench , and

ofi c e that I must come into , also Macaulay . I

said nothing , except that Ministers did appear

to want assistance . 3 — ’ J a n u a ry 0 . King Charles s Martyrdom was f a holiday at the House o Commons . Going to ’ Brooks s , I heard that Sir Henry Parnell had been dismissed from the War O fi c e for not voting

M on - with inisters the Russian Dutch loan . 3 1 —I ‘ Ja n u a r . y had a note from Lord Althorp ,

’ O n desiring me to call on him at eleven O clock . my walking to Downing Street I was overtaken

by a man with a note from Lord Durham , begging

o me to call on him at twelve . I went t Lord Althorp ; so soon as the door was shut and we

were alone he said , Sit down ; we want you

AS ? AS in harness . how said I Secretary

at- of War , replied he . The substance my answer

was , That there were two points for considera

: ' m n tion on that proposal first , y own feeli gs as

of ofi c e to the propriety accepting the and ,

of secondly , how the electors Westminster would feel on the subject : therefore I should require

some little time for consideration . Lord Althorp assented , and then added , he would tell me as a friend what was n ot to be communicated to a others , th t Ministers would carry the Reform LONDON CRAP . XII .

l Bil , but were not likely to be permanent . I said that the carrying the Bill was the only important matter with me ; the instability of

M n o t inisters would affect my answer . He told me that perhaps it might be agreeable to me to know that the Cabinet were un animous

ofi in wishing me to take c e . He added that their decision had been conveyed to the King M yesterday , and that His ajesty had returned an answer highly complimentary to me and ff approving of the o er . I told Lord Althorp that the Secretaryship of War was the least agreeable place he could offer to me . He owned it , but said it was a high

to . Nor place , and they had no other give me

difi er on e were we likely to except on point, namely , flogging . I told him that on that point

I might come to some terms , but that I was not sure of my capacity for the details of the ofi c e . This he overruled ; and he added that my assent would be of advantage to the Ministers f and to the cause o Reform . Lord Durham told me much the same as Lord

Althorp had told me , but entered more into

of M detail as to the wishes the Cabinet inisters ,

particularly the Tory portion of them , and Lord

Palmerston n omin a tim . He ass ured me that the ofi c e would be only a step to a more

important position , and that no one would be

promoted over my head . I told him that , although of course I d id not forget what was

R LONDON C AP . XII .

1 8 3 2 . su fi cien t As to personal distinction , it was hardly

to have much weight , if any ; for many might

think the place too low for me , whilst it might

subsequently be found to be too high . To this might be added the peculiar nat ure and duty of

ofi c e the in Parliament , particularly obnoxious to

of an old antagonist barracks and Standin g armies .

’ However , I made up my mind ; went to Brooks s ,

n and , finding the rumour afloat , scarcely de ied it .

I wrote a Short note to Lord Durham , conveying

my assent ; then went to Lord Althorp . He took

me in his carriage to the House of Commons . I “ ’ s aid , Well , I say yes . That s right , said he ; and so the aff air ended with this good

u of creat re few words .

The business was soon buzzed about the House .

A good many men congratulated me , and a great

many compliments , not worth recording , were

addressed to me . The Speaker shook hands with

me as I passed the Chair . Sir Henry Hardinge said that there would be a good many extra bottles drunk at the United Service Club ; and that I should do justice between the soldiers M and the public . y friend Lord Maitland alone “ O f o u seemed a little sour . He said , course y

would not take it, if you did not think the

Government likely to last . I sat up until twelve in the House ; and thus — ended this , to me , important day the opening

of a new scene in my life .

u a r 1 —I on F ebr y . called Lord Grey in Downing ’ m xn C . . H IS MAJ ESTY S WISH

Street . He was very kind and complimentary .

’ He read to me that part of the King s letter

of which referred to me . It approved the dis f missal o Sir H . Parnell ; said of me that it had not escaped His Majesty ’ s notice that I had dis countenanced the Unions ; that I was of an old family (umph and . high station ; of literary habits , likely to be qualified for business , and such a person as would be agreeable for personal

of intercourse with him ; adding , undoubted “ abilities , and concluding , His Majesty hopes J fl Sir ohn Hobhouse will not refuse the o er . Lord Grey then gave me some hints as to the ’ nature and duty of my ofi c e criticised Parnell s conduct in some respects ; begged me to keep up a good understanding with the Commander-in F Chief and Lord itzroy Somerset , and to speak to them , rather than write , when any differences occurred .

I thought Lord Grey looked ill , and when I h asked him ow he was he shook his head .

F ebru a r 2 — y . Mr . De Vear called with a resolution , passed at a meeting of Westminster electors , approving of my conduct , and asking

for me to stand again the city . t I saw Lord Al horp , who seemed in good spirits . This is a bad Sign , for nothing would

ofi c e please him so much as quitting .

F eb r ua r 3 — . I y went down to Hastings , and passed a delightful day on the Saturday with my

Wife and her babies .

VOL . IV LONDON CRAP . XII .

— Febr ua r 5 . I to 1 8 3 2. y returned London this day ,

and dined with Lord Durham . I had some

private talk with him after dinner, and he used some language which made me think that all

was not right as to the Bill . I told him I had

a character to lose , and if I had been deceived

as to the resolution of carrying the Bill , I had also deceived my constituents and the public ; and

if the Bill were not carried I Should be ruined ,

to say nothing of the country . He assented , and

assured me he would give me warning in time . I added that I would quit ofi c e the moment I

knew there was any hesitation . Lord Durham

said he would too .

I was , however , determined not to take any

hasty step , and I received assurances from more

on e of than member the Cabinet that , if the

Reform Bill was not carried , the Government

would break up .

“

R . FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS ’ - 6 I . J F eb r u a ry . went to St ames s with Lord

Durham . I was congratulated , and received in

a most friendly manner , by all the Cabinet M inisters present , and had several civil speeches “ addressed to me . Lord Brougham said , I do J not congratulate you ; I thank you . Sir ames Graham paid me a still more elaborate compli M ment . y frequent meetings with brother ” Brougham at the had given rise to

much intimacy between us . He and Lord Grey

LONDON

1 8 3 2. Mr Councillor , was ushered in with me by .

Bathurst , one of the Clerks of the Council , and

of M we both us knelt on cushions near His ajesty .

We then took the accustomed oaths , and , when ’ we had kissed the King s hand and risen , His M ajesty said , Gentlemen , take your places . w We alked round the table , the Privy Councillors

rising as we passed , and standing with their backs to the table : each of them Shook hands

with me . m F Lord Lansdowne read the program e . irst F there came the proclamation for the ast . The

King asked who preached . The Archbishop said w “ he did not kno . Lord Grey said , A Bishop ,

of course . We all smiled . Indeed , during the

of whole proceeding , which consisted reading “ O rders in Council and the King saying Ap

proved , we were whispering and talking , and

making Signs across the table , particularly

n . Stanley , and Graham , and Gra t Having never

seen the like before , I could not help saying to “ my neighbour , Do you recollect Chancellor ’ ” O xen stiern s speech to his son ? It was a tire

some ceremony , as I thought then ; and , having

of assisted at a good many such afterwards , I may

add that I think so still .

r u a 8 — F e b ry . This day was fixed upon for the Westminster electors to Show whether or not they

approved of the step I had taken . There was a

very respectable crowd at Covent Garden , but not f the least excitement o any kind . When I was - CRAP . XII . UNCONTESTED R E ELECTION

1 8 3 2 declared by the High Bailiff duly elected , there .

of was a good deal cheering , as also during my

n ot speech . I did Speak long , but told them I should support the Ministers so long as they supported Reform ; and support them as I had

— n ot b supported the popular cause namely , y ha lves , but without cavilling at little faults , decidedly and unremittingly . I told them that the Ministers looked to the public for support, and , if they withheld it, Reform might yet be “ lost . In conclusion , I said that my peaceable re-election was a practical refutation of on e of the charges made against the Bill , namely , that

M i ofi c e a ember , accept ng , would not know

to n ot v where find a seat, as he could ha e recourse to a rotten borough . There was not the slightest attempt at inter ruption . The event certainly is favourable to — — the Government at least it ought to b e S O far as the election is concerned , although I have my misgivings as to my being any great accession to them as active debater and man of business

To . o in Parliament much is expected of me , that is certain .

Such was my comment at the time , and I am afraid it was justified by my subsequent ofi cial conduct and character . — F eb ru a ry 9 . I Still heard doubts on the great

of question of creation Peers . Lord Brougham

was said to be wavering , and he frightened Lord

to Grey , who , I was assured , would be glad be A X II LONDON CR P . . — 1 8 3 2. ou t f o . e D n the concern Lord Gr y said , ! Reform I wish I had never touched it . A e fine f llow , said whom we are trying to

’ of — b on r e make a great man against his will g ,

ma l r é— a g wretched pun .

F ebru a r —I O fi c e y worked hard at the War , and then took my seat on the Treasury bench f in the House o Commons . The Speaker (Sutton)

: called me to him , and addressed me thus I

ou — first have three things to say to y , I am glad

to ou of see y again ; secondly , I wish you joy

having to bring in the Army Estimates ; thirdly , I hope you like being in the mire with the rest

of them .

F ebr u a r 1 1 — to y . Going down Westminster I

to met Lord Howick , who said he wanted speak

with me ; and , accordingly , we walked together

for some time . He told me that he had had a

conversation with his father the night before , and that Lord Grey still hesitated about creating d Peers previously to the second rea ing . Lord Howick said that his father was not aware of

of the consequences rejecting the Bill ; and that ,

of in fact , he was not aware even the paramount

importance of the measure itself, and confessed

that , had he known what would ensue , would

never have embarked in it . Lord Grey added

that , up to a certain time , he and all the Cabinet were resolved upon the creation of Peers ; but

u that Bro gham fell ill , and then took fright,

Now which was communicated to Lord Grey .

R LONDON C AP . XII .

1 8 3 2 . Ministry perhaps , but the fault would not be

of mine . The sacrifice me is needless ; it will

not save them , nor ought they to be saved . ’ — This day I dined at the Speaker s my first

Ministerial dinner . I had a serious conversation

on of afi airs with Charles Grant the State , and

urged the necessity of creating Peers at once . I said I should go to Lord Grey before the

ofi c e Council the next day , and would resign if I was not assured that the Bill was to be f . on e o carried I spoke to him, as the Cabinet,

with the utmost freedom and unreserve , because

I thought it was best to do so . I was aware that I was pledging myself to a Step which might produce to myself very painful con

sequences . However, I have no doubt what I

ought to do . It is absolutely necessary to take a N decisive step . othing else will save the country

of from convulsion . The making Peers , were it

ever so obj ectionable , is nothing in comparison

with the consequences of rejecting the Bill , and

bringing back the old set and the old system . — F ebr ua ry 1 2. I called on Lord Durham . He

on told me that the previous Thursday he had ,

through Lady Durham and Lady Grey , conveyed

his to Lord Grey intention of resigning , unless the

Bill was made quite safe in the House of Lords . He

b e to assured me that, when persuaded me accept

ofi c e r . , eve y thing was decided upon As many to Peers as were thought requisite were be made ,

or on either at once , by degrees ; and this the xi i CRAP . . TH E PROPOSED CREATION O F PEERS 1 77

’

1 8 3 2. whole Cabinet seemed determined , but Brougham s

him flin chin illness made flinch , and his g raised doubts in Lord Grey ; and both together revived the hesitation in that portion of the Cabinet that

had originally obj ected to the creation of Peers .

o f Amongst them were the Duke Richmond , M J elbourne , Palmerston , and even ohn Russell . - At this juncture two well meaning Peers , Lord

Harrowby and Lord Wharncliffe , had an inter

view with Sir Herbert Taylor , and proposed ,

to for under certain conditions , vote the second

of reading of the Bill . The main object these personages was to prevent a large creation of

Peers . The King considered the arrangement

satisfactory , but Lord Grey wrote to Lord Durham saying he considered this proposal as hi b u anyt ng t satisfactory . This did not tally with what I heard from

Lord Howick , and I mentioned that conversa tion to Lord Durham . He answered that the difleren c e between the tw o statements was startling enough ; but that Lord Grey was the most changeable man in the universe , and

n without a Steady monitor co stantly at his elbow , would never persevere in anything . He then entered into many details which

subsequent events make it unnecessary to record , except to say that the Cabinet were not kept

difi c u lt together except with the greatest y, and Lord Durham had been obliged occasionally to bully both Lord Grey and the Cabinet . He said

VO L . IV 23 LONDON CRAP . XII.

“ ’ horS oe it was framed as if a mere d uvre .

Walking down the steps of the House of Lords , “ ou Lord Grey said to him , Lambton , I wish y would take ou r Reform Bill in hand Durham i J . J consented , but took Lord Russell , Sir a nes d Graham , and Duncannon as coadjutors . Lor

Durham told Russell that, being an author, he

Should draw it up ; but Russell refused , and

“

Lord Durham drew up the Bill himself . He

of made a sketch the essential principles , and submitted it to the Cabinet at large . The Cabinet

of the voted on this syllabus Bill , scarcely

to knowing what they did . It was sent the

King , who gave his consent in the same way . This sketch was afterwards given to Lord

who of for Holland , talked using it his con

em lat d t p e History of H is O wn Times . He

of said Ballot was part their original plan , but was not agreed to .

I then went to Lord Althorp , and told him I must have some positive assurance in regard to carrying the Reform Bill . Lord Althorp said , I can set your mind at ease . Brougham and I will

o ou t g also , unless we have a moral certainty of i carry ng the measure . He seemed much

ofi c e pleased with this chance of quitting . I

ou t told him that , He never could go as he came in , for that , if it was generally suspected he might have carried the measure , and would not do it , he would be stoned in the streets ;

n o and , if the other party came in , I saw small

LONDON He told me that he had seen Lord Grey and “ given my message . Lord Grey said , He will n ot be worse off than we are ; if we cannot carry

the Bill we will go out . I told Lord Althorp I did n ot agree with Lord Grey : he had made the Bill and originated many

difi c u ltie s of other measures , and had got into his own ; and I had joined him with assurance

that Reform was to be carried , at great personal

of so sacrifice , and in the hour his utmost need , that if he went ou t now merely because he would n ot make an effort to do what I was promised l he could do , I should be a dupe , and shou d

be thought to have deceived my constituents .

of Lord Althorp made some sort reply to this ,

half owning it was true , but he added that the

ou t Administration were not going that , unless

the King broke faith with them , they were sure of carrying their Bill in all its material enact

ments . Peers would be made , if necessary ; the

King had solemnly promised it . Althorp talked very confidentially of his own

ofi c e repugnance to , and said it destroyed all “ r emoved his his happiness , adding that he p istols f rom his b edroom f or f ea r of shootin g ” himself Such are the secrets of the human heart ! Who would have imagined that such a

of the notion ever entered into the head pure , ? the imperturbable , the virtuous Althorp Amongst his confessions he said he was more attached to the Radicals than to any other party . P L O R D ALTHO R .

ir H a ter B S G . t or . ohn Charles Third Earl S pen cer Viscoun t Al h p) . y y J , ( o his n e hew V scoun t Althor to L ad Dorch ester By kin d permission f p , i p , y

LONDON CRAP . XII.

day . I had to bring on the Army Estimates for the quarter . It was the first ofi c ial speech

I had ever made , and I had to deal with many

of figures , not speech , but of financial detail .

Indeed , I was publicly complimented by Sir i Henry Hardinge , and was cheered by all s des 1

Mr . of the House . Baring told me privately that he was surprised at my familiarity with accounts . The truth was that I had been exceed in l g y well crammed , as the Cambridge students say ; and I repeated my lesson fluently and accurately .

to ou t of Hume tried put me , and talked

of reducing men from the vote , and regiments being commanded by boys ; and , when

of convicted extravagant statements , said , as usual

so with him , Well , I think , and others think

’ differently ; that s all . I soon found that there was no arguing with this gentleman . He was ’ on e like the bookseller s customer, who lost of a of set books , and could never be convinced

or that he ought to find the volume , buy the 2 whole set . — I to F ebr u a ry 1 8 . went the great dinner at M to the ansion House , given Lord Grey and the M F inisters . The rench Ambassador, Talleyrand , was there with his niece ; a wonderful -looking

. man , apparently only half alive He was a good deal engrossed by talking and listening to Roth

Af terwards L ord Ashburton. 3 The story is told by Addison . xi i 1 8 3 Cm . . P ROSPECTS O F TH E REFORM BILL

— in schild his way , almost as extraordinary a ’ personage as the French Prince . Talleyrand s

health was proposed , and drunk with acclamation .

He rose and bowed , but did not say a word .

Lord Grey made a long speech , expressing his

determination to carry Reform , and saying he

did not consider failure , in that respect, as

possible . 2 — I F ebr u a ry 0 . had a good deal of conversation

with Lord Munster , whom I thought worth

listening to . He told me that the general opinion

that the at Court was Reform Bill would pass , but that the Government would not last long ; Joseph Hume would involve them in some of H M. his democratic Schemes , which . would not tolerate . He himself, Lord M . added , had been always a Reformer ; but he thought the Bill had gone too far . I knew this gentleman pretty well : He was a man of a certain amount of

of capacity , with a good deal active energy ; but , as I understood from good authority , not very manageable , nor calculated to lessen the

difi u l ies of own c t his position .

D FROM IARY .

F e r u 2 - b a ry 1 . Lord Althorp and I went to L ord Grey and discussed with him my project

of , for reduction the force in the Colonies , and

on e or two other minor reforms . Althorp agreed with me beforehand that we should insinuate — ou r proposal gradually begin with the smallest R . LONDON C AP . XII

1 8 3 2. of item, and end with the reduction the force , to which we thought the great man would be the

most averse . We did so ; and it was amusing to observe how we cajoled the good man for his

own good , and obtained his consent to do what

was right against his own inclination . He re

quested me to go to Sir Herbert Taylor , and sound him as to the abolition of the Riding Establish

’ J — a ment at St . ohn s Wood foolish pet child of

the Duke of York .

F br u a r 22 — e . I y saw Sir Herbert Taylor , with whom I had a long conversation on the Riding

Establishment , and agreed with him to remove

M n ot e the School to aidstone , if it could be don

away with altogether .

’ I afterwards went to the King s first Levee .

of It was very much crowded . The heads the

O pposition party were there . The Duke of Wel lingtou read an address to His Majesty against

i n ot Reform . This unusual proceeding d d please

a of ou r the King , and it m de every one side Very

angry . The Duke of Wellington looked worn

and ill .

I had a long conversation with Lord Durham , who was again in the greatest alarm at the delay ’ in making Peers ; and says that with the King s

u repeated consent to the meas re , and without any guarantee from the Harrowby and Wharncliff e f . o party , it is madness to hesitate The Duke

Sussex joined us , and held exactly the same

language . Pray tell the King , said Lord

LONDON

me that I have pressed Lord Hill a little too far ’ in saying the King s Cabin et were determined on the reduction , and that Lord Goderich com plained to Lo rd Grey of arrangements . being made without him who was the War Secretary of State .

an I was highly indignant at this letter , and sw ered it most decisively , saying that to me personally it was a matter of indifference what reductions took place so long as I was n ot a responsible Minister ; but that as to this par tic u lar recommendation I could not permit any

t o wrong no ions t prevail as to my real position .

I said I considered myself merely the organ , not the adviser of Ministers about the ensuing esti mates , merely holding my place as an excuse

on n for Sitting the Treasury Be ch , and thereby giving myself a chance of being usefu l to the —m cause of Reform y only object . When I sent this letter I thought it not at all improbable that Lord Grey might say that he would n ot have any Secretary-at-War on those terms ; and for this result I was not only prepared ,

f or but I contemplated it with no small pleasure , though I will never desert these men so long

own as they do not abandon their cause , nor treat me unfairly , Still I Should not , of course , be sorry to have a real excuse for extricating myself from a party whom I n ow find to be divided amongst themselves , and beyond the salutary advice of honest adherents . m X II . C . ADDITIONAL MEMBERS F O R LONDON 1 8 7

I am quite sure that in the absorbing contem

lation p of their own interests , and whilst thinking as they well may do how to save their own necks , they do not bestow a thought upon a victim more or less of their own projects for patching up their power . They thought it a good thing for the moment to prevail on me to be their Secretary at- War , but have never thought afterwards

or . whether I was to sink swim Indeed , Lord

n Grey said to Althorp , He (meani g me) will f be no worse off than myself and all o us .

! n o Mighty fine I , who have had share , either of the enterprise or glory , if any , am to be over ! whelmed by the defeat , and the country too

— to F ebr u a ry 28 . We had a grand struggle

night ou additional Members to the Metropolis . It seems that a party headed by Lord George Bentinck have been endeavouring to persuade

certain moderate reformers to concede this point , in order to make the Bill more palatable to the

Lords , and thereby avoid making Peers . We

of 8 0 divided , and had a large majority against

the modification .

O u r set were much pleased , perhaps without

reason , for if Lord Grey will not make Peers , and if this majority widens the breach between the M middlemen and the inisters , what is to become

of ? ' M own us in the Lords y opinion , however ,

is , that the stronger we send the Bill to the

Lords , the more sacrifices we can subsequently

make , and the less they will probably demand . LONDON

a h 2 — J M rc . Sir ames Graham came to me about

M n our uti y Bills , and then talked of the position of M the inistry . He was desponding . He said not only Grey was faltering , but Brougham was again Sick , and even Althorp was not decided , besides which others of the Cabinet were divided against the creation of Peers . I said that the lives of the Ministry , to say nothing of their properties ,

of would pay the penalty a failure , and that the country would not allow them to walk out

f ofi e to o c . their villas He agreed with me , and with that sort of half-laugh which men put on when in alarm , talked of the revolution which - was inevitable upon their retiring from ofi c e . He told me he thought that Hardinge would be against ou r supplementary Mutiny Bill ; but h I t ink Graham , being a man of stratagem him

too . self , is apt to suspect deep designs in others

I repeated this conversation to Lord Althorp ,

who . replied , Graham is always in the suds Brougham is n ot sick again ; when most calm he is most determined . We shall do ; but come

- ou r to morrow , and we will have the sequel of former conversation . ’ — Al hor s a h 3 t . M rc . Went to Lord p We had a long conversation— not so encouraging as I had expected from what he had said the day before . It seems the King will allow them to make fif ty Peers ; that some doubts are entertained whether such a creation would not cause some of their own friends to vote against them ; and

LONDON CRAP . XII .

“ said he ; they would rather go out with me ; and then comes a revolution and he then added

u gravely , I do not know whether I o ght not to make matters easier by Shooting myself; ’ ” F or ! God s sake said I , Shoot anybody else

you like .

I told him that , if he went out even without

his colleagues in the Cabinet , others would resign . I would not stay an instant after he was gone ;

P ou lett nor would Thomson , nor Duncannon ,

nor even Edward Ellice . Exactly so , replied — Althorp , and that is what I say the Govern

ment will be destroyed ; and , for all this , I shall ! be responsible . Better to shoot myself I

repeated that I would lay my life that, if he ” threatened to resign , his colleagues would yield .

He Still hesitated . He said that they were all agreed Peers should be made after the second

reading , if they wanted them in Committee ; but

they wished to run the risk of the second reading . F rom this course he was , at present , averse ,

o n ot because he c nfessed he did see his way , nor thin k that they had pledges enough to justify such a risk ; yet he dreaded resignation as t he

certain commencement of national ruin . He added afterwards that he Should think himself justified in regarding his own security in pre

c on se ference to that of his colleagues ; and ,

saw of quently , unless he what any man ordinary sense would call su fi cien t ground for being sure that the Second reading would pass without Il AdflCIEfli S IFINDIEL IBIJIL IIIL GHI AL NI

f o or 1 8 3 2. creation Peers , Peers Should be made , he

of . would resign , let what would come it I urged every topic I could think of to induce

to him abide by this determination . I combated the notion that making n e w Peers would disgust old friends ; and I said that , if fifty Peers were n ot enough to carry the Bill , I would make

n ot seventy . I did deny that the measure was revolutionary ; but so was the Reform Bill , and

on I would not be frightened by a word . I c

of the fessed that, if I saw a certainty carrying second reading without Peers , I should prefer SO

n u doi g ; but , if the slightest do bt existed , not a moment Should be lost . He seemed to agree with my View but added that some In the Cabinet were afraid of Lord

Durham taking some violent step at once , and

n resigning . I replied , I did not thi k he would do of ofi ce any such thing ; he was too fond , as also were several of his colleagues . Lord

’ Althor s Althorp remarked , I was right . Lord p concluding remark on this part of the subject

own was that his impression was the Bill , some

or . how the other, would pass

left I Before I , heard from him that Attwood of Birmingham had been with him in a great fright at the state of his town so , continued Althorp ,

I was obliged to tell him all was safe . I con fessed that such an assurance was an awkward

difi c u lties addition to his . Why , what could I say ? rejoin ed he . I owned that his position R LONDON C AP . XII. was a very difi cu lt on e ; but still I could not help thinking such an assurance would certainly become public , and , if any mischief occurred , would be quoted against him . I found that Althorp thought our large majority o n the Metro politan Members clause made a compromise more difi c u lt ; yet he was persuaded that , if the second reading passed , the Bill was safe .

“

R . FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS I have been thus particular in recording this conversation , nearly verbatim , in order to convey some notion of the difi cu lties encountered by

’ Lord Grey s Cabinet in passing the Reform Bill ; and , more particularly, to give credit to him to whom most credit was due for accomplishing that C great work . Lord Althorp was hancellor of the Exchequer and Leader of the House of Commons but he was something more— being possessed of the unlimited confidence of the great majority of

h s the House of Commons , to say nothing of i well earned reputation throughout the whole country . It is true that he was powerfully assisted in debate

Mr by Lord John Russell and . Stanley ; but he

’ was the mainstay of Lord Grey s Government , and subsequent events proved how much importance was attached to his personal influence . This same evening I presided at a public dinner of ofi c ers N in au u of the Army and avy , met to g

a rate new Society for maintaining a Library,

- of Reading room, and Museum for the use the

X I R I . LONDON C AP.

Another agreeable occurrence : I am sent to Lord Hill to propose a reduction of five thousand

men . He hands to Lord Grey a counter project . ’ After a fortnight s delay , Lord Grey gives up his

reduction altogether , and thus takes part with his enemy the Commander -in -Chief against his

-at- disc om friend the Secretary War , leaving me fited in my efforts to do him and the country a

service . I told Lord Althorp that under any other than the present circumstances I would not remain in ofi c e an hour on such conditions ; but poor Lord Grey was evidently thinking of his Reform and

his to Irish Tithes , and was glad get rid of his

Army Estimates at any terms . h 1 0 — Ma rc . Lord Althorp asked me to walk

home to Downing Street with him in order,

de summa r er um said he , to talk . This was the

only time I ever heard him use a Latin phrase . He told me that he had laboured ' hard to

on prevail the Cabinet to create Peers , as the only safe mode of accomplishing their great

for object ; , if they proposed making fifty Peers ,

and the King refused , and they went out, and the — ' Bill was lost they , however , would not be lost ,

nor the country convulsed , and Reform would

come by their return to power ; also, if they

made fifty Peers , and yet were overpowered in

the Lords , just the same result would follow ,

for the country would stand by them , and the B ill be carried finally . But if they were beaten CHARACTER OR COUNTRY

a in the Lords , without m king Peers , everything — C would be lost the Bill , their haracter , and the

to country o . To this the opponents in the Cabinet reply

of that, they have a moral certainty carrying the

of 1 4 to 20 second reading the Bill by majority, t and after that, Peers , if wanted , might be crea ed .

This did not satisfy Lord Althorp , nor Brougham , who certainly acts with Althorp . Then comes the

? a sc er question , should Althorp resign He has tain ed that his threat to do so would not induce

the others to make Peers , it would only make them resign ; then would follow the loss of the

Bill , and perhaps a convulsion in the country .

But, said Althorp , my own character would

undoubtedly be saved . However , he continued , a man under certain circumstances ought to

sacrifice his character for the sake of his country .

of I said , course he ought , but then he should

be sure that his country was to be the gainer , and I did not see how that would be the case now Althorp evidently agreed with my View of the

n ot question , but showed he did know how to

difi c u lti s extricate himself from his individual e . He said that on any other question than this he should say that Government had a certainty of

on . success , but this his mind misgave him He

on should , however, insist some demonstration in the House of Lords previously to the second read who ing , in order to be sure were going to vote CR AP . LONDON XII .

with them . He added that a day or two would

decide what was to be done , and he would let

me know immediately .

We then turned to other topics , and Lord Althorp observed to me that no Administration O 250 M could stand against an pposition of embers ,

ou r organised as antagonists were , and ready to

on v vote factiously e ery occasion , and that nothing but a dissolution after the passing of the Reform

Bill could save them .

e We then had a conversation on my ofi c . He agreed with me that , if the Bill passed , a thorough reform should take place in the management of the Army ; and that no man of honour or inde pen den c e would consent to be Secretary-at-War without it . A lthorp told me before that , when the Whigs came in , he wanted Parnell to be Chief Lord

Commissioner of the Treasury . Parnell wrote back that there was only on e place he could

of take , and that was Chancellor the Exchequer .

N ow , said Althorp , to write this to the Chancellor of the Exchequer was a little too much . I think so .

on own I went away pondering my position ,

n o w whether I ought to resign , for I see the Bill is

on to be risked , which is not the condition which I

ofi S . came into c e . I think my character is at take How am I to save it in the general wreck ? It may be selfish to think so much about it, never theless I do think of it daily and nightly .

R LONDON C AP . XII .

1 8 3 2 f . He said that the majority o the Cabinet agreed

re osition s with him in the first three p p , but was t n ot ou . prepared to go upon them However , when the Duke of Richmond insisted upon going

to the vote , all were against the motion , and he

stood alone . He showed me the paper on which

the pencil marks were made . O n this he resolved

t to to resign , and had written a le ter Lord Grey ; but in the meantime came a member of the J Cabinet , no other than Lord ohn Russell , and

ou t said that if Lord Durham went , he would i resign also . Seeing that the Cab net would be

broken up and Reform certainly lost , Lord Durham

ofi resolved to remain in c e . Then he told me that this was the dark side

of the picture , but there was a brighter . He did really think that the second reading would

be carried . His course had done good ; even Palmerston had declared he would Stand by the

franchise . Goderich had assured him that the

Metropolitan Members should not be given up ,

and Lansdowne also ; moreover, all were agreed

upon making Peers after the second reading , if

necessary . The majority is expected to be twelve .

The King is bestirring himself, which he did not

do before . f Brougham is ill and out o sorts . He used

to off laugh and play Palmerston and his speeches ,

now he sits silent . Lord Durham showed me the letter which the King Wrote to Lord Grey when he agreed to m xi 1 C . . LORD DURHAM AND TH E KING 1 9 9

v er bosa et r a n dis dissolve the late Parliament , g ,

Stating all his objections , and consenting only because he thought a change of Ministry pre judicial to England and to Europe , merely as change . He expressed that he had the same regret to see the D uke of Wellington go out

of ofi c e . There was a civility and kindness ,

’ of and approbation Lord Grey s conduct , but still no great regard Shown ; and the King positively enjoined Lord Grey to take care that there should be no Stronger Reform Bill than before , no violence tolerated , and Ireland was to be kept quiet . Lord Grey employed Lord Durham to write his answer, which he showed me . It was very well done , and bound the King to Reform in as civil and respectful terms as possible . Lord

to Grey seems have thought much of the letter, for in a note to Lord Durham he calls it

perfect . Durham told me that the King had never forgiven him a letter written on the s ubj ect of dissolution , shown by Sir H . Taylor to His

Majesty . The King never speaks to him at

hears for Council , all which he , he says , love of the cause .

J O fi c e Lord ohn Russell called at the War , and talked an hour with me on the same subject as that with Lord Durham . I told him my mind

of freely, and also what I thought Lord Grey

of to and some his colleagues , which he more LONDON CRAP. XII.

1 8 3 2. than half assented . He agreed that , if they were

defeated , the least that would happen would be

eternal infamy for them ; but , added he , you “ on are velvet . Yes I said I Should be

reckoned only a dupe . I collected nothing satisfactory from him except that his impression was the Bill would pass the

second reading . At any rate , he thought Reform

ou t safe even if the Ministry went , for no anti Reforming party would control the present House

of Commons . The Tories are now convinced that Reform is inevitable and one of them said to L ord Durham - to day , that it was no use throwing out this

Bill , for if they did another would be brought

v in on a m ore extended basis b y Sir J . Hobhouse .

R LONDON C AP . XIII .

2 M 1 8 3 . aidstone Depot . We then talked about Sand

hurst . He agreed with me that it ought to pay

its own expenses , but when he heard that the

Duke of Wellington and the Board , who have

been inquiring into this subject , were against

that plan being carried entirely into effect , he

told me to settle the question with Lord Hill , saying that he was glad to find that we agreed

so Well together .

I spoke to him as freely as I thought decent ,

and told him that , although the objections to these

establishments might rise from prejudice , and

although the saving would be small , yet it would be advisable to give way where concession would

not be injurious to the service . The King said

certainly , and the saving , however little , would Show the inclination of Government to be

for in economical . He told me that he was creasing rather than diminishing the establish

n ot . ments in question , but at the public expense I ventured to say that I should want every assistance which His Majesty might afford to

c me , and I hoped that in any amicable ontest with the Horse Guards His Majesty would support - - at ar . his Secretary W The King said nothing ,

b u t did n ot appear displeased . From what I have seen of the manners of the i K ng , not to me personally, but to others , my impression is that he does not like his present

Ministers . e Lord Hill and I had some talk after the L eVe . CRAP . XIII . THE ETTRICK SHEPHERD

’ 1 8 3 2 He showed the report of the Duke of Wellington s .

board . I said Since His Grace had been so good

for m as to settle this estimate me , I presented y respectful compliments to him and requested him

to arrange all the rest for me . The Commander

in - Chief looked a little red , and did not relish

the joke .

This night , in the Commons , we got through

the Committee on the Reform Bill , and fixed the

third reading for the following Monday .

- Ma r c h 1 6 . Lord Althorp tells me that a friend of his has seen a letter from Lord Mansfield to a correspondent in Paris , in which was this expression : The Bill will be carried by a very

’ small majority , which will be the less of two evils as rej ecting it would cause a convulsion .

Ma r h 1 — c 7 . Dined at where I met M r . . Hogg , the Ettrick Shepherd He was a

- - good natured , broad , and sandy faced man , sang

ow n his songs , and made excellent whisky punch .

of Macleod Macleod was at this party , and he told me of the poetical Shepherd , that he met Sir Robert Peel at dinner at his (Macleod ’ s) “ F ! house , and said , aith Sir Robert, I heard you praised by both sides the other night I hope you are n ot going to rat ! Peel did not like it at all . Afterwards Peel asked Hogg if he had ever been in the House of Commons Hogg said he had ; but he had never heard those whom — he wanted to hear he had never heard Sir Robert LONDON

1 8 3 2. . O n l Peel this Peel smi ed , and said he would

n take him down that eveni g , and would speak “ on Than k e which Hogg replied y , no ; this is a

wetter table than yours .

Hogg seemed to me to be a simple , funny

e on f llow , and , the occasion before alluded to , he told Sir Robert Peel it was of no use his sitting

to oppose the Reform Bill any longer , it looked

- just like ill nature .

a 1 —At M r c h 9 . House of Commons , where third

reading of the Reform Bill came on .

Ma h 2 — ou r r c 3 . The third reading of Bill passed

n o in a very thin House , amidst cheers , at about

’ on e o clock in the morning .

- Ma rc h 24 . Dining at Holland House , I found

ou r my Lady, in spite of large majority , in very

low on Spirits . She quite agreed with me the probability of defeat ; and said that Lord Holland

had been for decisive measures from first to last ,

u that the King was as tr e as true could be , and

that the timidity of Lord Grey was unaccountable .

Even if all went according to promise , Lady Holland said there could not be more than 8

majority . Lord Holland repeated all my Lady had said regretted tha t twenty Peers had not been made at Christmas ; but even now Lord Grey persists in saying that by making sixty Peers he runs more

risk of defeat than by not making one . Lord Holland remarked that the prorogation

l on was clear y to be used only great occasions ,

LONDON CRAP . XIII .

’ Victoria sat on her mother s right hand . Sir J ohn Conroy , the Controller of house f o . hold , sat at the bottom the table Lord

Durham handed the Duchess in to dinner . The young Princess was treated in every respect

-u like a grown p woman , although apparently quite a child . Her manners were very pleasing

She and natural , and seemed much amused by some conversation with Lord Durham , a manifest 1 favourite at Kensington . After dinner the Duchess of Kent came up to

n - me in the drawi g room , and talked to me about R “ H . H her daughter . . . said it was a most anxious charge . She did her best , and hoped that her expectations would not be disappointed . I took the liberty of saying that the nation looked up to her , and that, from the success which t apparently had at ended her previous endeavours , there was every reason to hope that her daughter would be everything that England could desire . The Duchess asked me if I did not think the Princess like the Royal Family ? I replied that the upper part of her face was like that of the

Princess Charlotte , but the mouth and chin of a better shape . When S he left the company she curtsied

1 An - - interval of thirty three years , a reign of twenty eight years — S ome of them in very difi cult if not dangerous times and the c greatest of all alamities that can befall a woman and a Queen , n ot have deprived her of the smile , the kind and gracious smile, b - a n d which charmed me in those long y gone days , with which B she received a n old subject and servant only two days ago . ( . , a 5 M y 1 , CRAP . XIII . THE PRINCESS VICTORIA

round very prettily to all the guests , and then ran out of the room . What will become of t f this young , pret y , una fected child in a few , few years ? I was present this afternoon in the House of Lords when Lord John Russell brought up the

n e w Reform Bill . The gallery was crowded with

ladies , the Throne covered with Members . The body of the House was tolerably full ; but the interest was nothing like so great as when the

or first Bill was brought up , n did Russell put it into the Lord Chancellor ’ s hands with a solemn

Speech , as before . Lords Harrowby and Wharn c lifi e made their declaration of voting for the ' second reading ; and they confessed that the country contained no party prepared for a total rejection of the

of n holder measure . The Bishop Londo made a

and a better speech . He said he should have

for of voted the second reading that Bill , and he Should vote for the second reading of this Bill ;

‘O O S C also that he would not , in Committee , pI p . any change that would affect the principle of the

Bill . Lord Carnarvon made an angry speech against Lord Harrowby ; and then Lord Grey — made an excellent speech temperate , but deter

mined, and in his best manner . He fixed

Thursday week for the second reading . The

of Duke Wellington spoke shortly this evening ,

and said he Should Oppose the second reading .

Ma r h 2 — c 8 . I n A h called o Lord lthorp . He ad R LONDON C AP . XIII .

just returned from the Levee . It is all right , “ said he ; the King will do it . If we are beaten the Parliament will be prorogued , and we Shall make eighty Peers the next day . The Cabinet are unanimous on that point . I wished him joy , “ and told him that now, indeed , they were on

Velvet . He agreed that they were , and he added that His Majesty was much pleased at not being pressed to make Peers before the second reading . I remarked that this did not correspond with l what Lord Holland had told me . I then earnt that Lord Holland had not much influence with the King , notwithstanding their family connection and I afterwards heard from good authority that no one of the Cabinet had much influence with M His ajesty except Lord Grey . M — a r c h 3 0 . I brought in my Mutiny Bill , and the next day read it a second time .

A ril 2 — We p , went into Committee on the M — th — e . utiny Bill . Mr . Hunt Mr Hunt moved to leave ou t What he called corporeal punishment

u m l from the Bill . I felt very nco fortab e , but resolved to tell the exact truth ; which I did by saying that I was as much against flogging in the Army as ever ; that all the authorities I

on had consulted were the other Side ; and that, M as I did not frame the utiny Bill , I could f not help the continuance o the practice .

Sir Henry Hardinge followed me , saying I was ,

-at- M as Secretary War , responsible inister for the f ” h Mutiny Bill and Articles o War . T is got up a

R AP LONDON C . XIII .

propose a moderate Reform Bill , which they would support . By this process he thought no serious damage would be done to the character of the Whig Party , and something would be

of gained for the cause Reform . I disagreed with this View , and told him that the People would not understand why , when they had the

n ot sufi cien t of power , they did make a number Peers ; for this could not be explained Without a reference to the wishes and conduct of the

King .

J . on Lord Russell called , and we had a talk

ou r the Bill . He agreed that prospects were gloomy , but said very truly that, as the Govern ment had not carried their measure by force , they ought not to hesitate about concession . It would be foolish to go ou t because they were

on of beaten the number boroughs , which Althorp thought ought to be the test . il 5 - F A r . p Dining with Sir rancis Burdett ,

I met Prince Czartoryski , and another Pole , a patriot and a poet , whose name I did not hear

of distinctly . The Prince was one the most attractive men I ever met ; he had an air of noble resignation , which never deserted him in any emergency . The poet was a lively old man of very engaging manners . We had some conversation on Cutlar F er ’ 1 gu sson s proposed debate on Polish affairs . I

1 - - M R C utlar ud e A . P . obert Fergusson , J g dvocate General , for

Kirkcudbright . CRAP . XIII . THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON

2 thought it right to mention that neither the 1 8 3 . Parliament nor the public took much interest

in foreign affairs , except so far as they . affected

the funds . The Prince seemed to agree with

me , and said we wanted the will more than ’

the power to befriend the Poles .

on He called me the next day, and he seemed much surprised to find that any apprehensions

ou r were entertained about carrying Reform Bill . He also assured me that the English had not an adequate opinion on their own European

u infl ence . I confessed that I was not aware of

that deficiency in their character .

A r il 7 —T p his was to me a memorable day ,

ou r for , dining at I heard from Lord Saltoun a most interesting account of the exploits of H ou oum on t b the Guards at g , and of the attle of Waterloo towards the close of that great day ;

’ and , being at the Speaker s Levee in the evening ,

of I was introduced to the Duke Wellington .

wa s He most kind , and encouraged me to talk about his sporting pursuits , and the falls he had i had hunting . I could not help congratulat ng

on him looking so well , and told him that he would want all his health for the campaign of next week , when the Reform battle was to be

. O h ou r fought He laughed , and said , , House is not so bad as yours ; we call half-past nine late . — Ap r il 8 . S un day A large party dined with

: F J me Lord Hill , Lord itzroy Somerset , Sir ames LONDON CRAP . XIII .

1 8 3 2. J Mac Kempt, Sir Willoughby Gordon , Sir ohn

of donald , Lord Althorp , Duke Leinster , Prince

Mr n d we er M . Va er Cimitile , y , my friend ethuen , M Lord Killeen , and acaulay . It was a sort of

ofi cial dinner, and , as the saying is , went off

pretty well . Sunday dinners were not then reckoned

sinful . — f A ril 9 . I o p went to the House Lords , and ’ heard part of Lord Grey s speech introducing our

on Reform Bill , and commenting the Duke of ’ for Buckingham s fine project Reform , which is

n ot to O n likely allure a single soul . Tuesday

to I went again the Lords , and heard the Duke

of Wellington declare in favour of some Reform .

The King came to London this day , in order to be in readiness to prorogue Parliament if the B ill should be lost , so they said ; and Lord A was . Althorp again told me , ll right But the concluding sentences of Lord Grey ’ s speech

the day before were rather desponding .

A ril 1 1 — I p . went to the Lords , and heard the

of continuation the adjourned debate . Phillpotts of Exeter made a most furious harangue in

opposition . Lord Durham answered his speech

the next day, charging him with telling untruths

and speaking pamphleteering slang . Phillpotts

spoke again , and charged the Government with

being connected with the Tim es newspaper . Lord

of Grey disclaimed this , and accused the Bishop

slander and want of charity .

LONDON CRAP . XIII.

d 2 . 1 8 3 . Every one was in high spirits Lor Grey was

of extolled as the boldest and best statesmen ,

ofi c e and certain to hold for life . Seeing Lord

Melbourne , I congratulated him on the triumph

of the second reading . He said it had been a

most nervous moment . He did not think that

all was over yet . I told him I thought that having weathered the great Storm the rest of the voyage would or ought to be prosperous ; also that they ought not to be pertinacious about

the clauses in Committee , for let the Lords

mutilate the Bill as they pleased , it would still be ten times more radical than Lord Brougham ’ s

scheme in 1 8 3 0 . I hear Lord Grey ’ s concluding address was

le did n . p , and most forcible at the conclusion

He seemed to rise with the occasion . The report made him very lofty and energetic ; but at the

for same time , very prudent , he is evidently preparing for some concession about the £1 0

franchise or to the schedules .

R . FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS This day Prince Czartoryski and his poetical

friend dined with me ; I asked Warburton , Shiel ,

Hudson Gurney , George Sinclair, Bickersteth , F and Ronald erguson to meet them . I attempted to convince them that the English are not the sort of people which the writers in reviews and

b e— i e newspapers represent them to . . are not

to n ot to eager sympathise with , at least fight for, R C AP . XIII . HUME AND THE WHIGS

of the friends liberty in other countries . They would hardly believe me ; and when I told them

’ that I did not thin k C u tlar F ergu sson s speech in the ensuing week would produce much effect, “ ‘ ’ N O h f e w . said , , give us a hear , hears , at least ; it will be some encouragement to us . The patriot poet was a most interesting old man of - old seventy four years , but with all the f liveliness o youth .

J who Lady ulia , dined with us , being some w it hat better, said very truly that was impossible to look at these men without feeling a mournful interest in them which is too painful for mixed society . — J l 1 6 At . Ap ri . House of Commons oseph

on Hume , in a Speech Brazilian aggressions ,

ofi c e said that , Since the Whigs had been in , the British flag had been disgraced in every quarter of the world . I often thought that this man was totally careless about his o wn

or assertions , as well as what had been said done by others . This appeared to me strange enough in any politician ; but , in a man of long experience , and much reputation , and very high popular position , I thought it totally inexplicable .

D FROM IARY .

A ril 1 8 — At p . the Levee . The King paid

u of marked attention to the D ke Wellington ,

of the Archbishop Canterbury, Lord Rosslyn , LONDON CRAP. XIII.

- O u and , in short, to the anti Reformers . r friends

ou t r N seemed of so ts . evertheless , when I spoke

of to Althorp this evening in the House Commons ,

was he said that there no cause for despondency , and I have heard that Lord Grey is in good '

spirits . However, that something has happened

at headquarters I feel sure , and the Tories begin

to lift up their heads again . The House of Commons adjourned to the 7th of May

A ril 24 — p , The Cholera killing its thousands

at Paris ; here it is nearly extinct .

R FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS .

Ma 3 — I y . presided at a dinner of the Literary

F on e of und Club , where the guests was Sir J - w ohn Swinburne , a well kno n traveller and a

or remarkable man . He told us one two curious

stories , which I thought worth recording . He

the 1 8 6 was travelling to Berlin in year 7 , when F a rench gentleman , whose carriage had broken

. J down , asked for a seat with him Sir ohn - w consented a large , round , pock marked , po dered beau , in silk stockings dirtied to the ankles and a white handkerchief tied round his head , entered the carriage , and keep up a most agreeable con versation with him for the remainder of the journey . This was Mirabeau , going on the secret mission to Berlin of which he pub lished s o curious an account . Whilst at Berlin Sir John Swinburne t soon heard hat Mirabeau , notwithstanding all

LONDON CRAP . XIII .

1 8 3 2. was the period of the crisis which was to deter mine the fate of the Grey Government and their

Reform Bill .

D FROM IARY .

May 7 - The Streets were placarded :

S Ma eventh of y, Crisis Day

alluding to the debate in the Lords on committal

of the Reform Bill .

I went to the House of Lords , and heard that Lord Lyndhurst had proposed to take the en fra n chisemen t clauses of the Bill before the dis franchisement clauses ; and that Lord Grey had declared such a course would be fatal to the Bill ;

Wharn c lifi e that Lords Harrowby , , and others had declared in favour of Lyndhurst and that

' Ministers would be in a minority of 20 or 25 a t

the least . N othing was more unexpected than h t is news . A great many friends supposed that a creation

of was Peers now inevitable ; indeed , even the

' m lan u a e an d other side held the sa e g g , seemed

afraid of their certain Victory . The House

: divided , and , for the first time , I saw the division

Lyndhurst 1 51 ; Ministers 1 1 6 . Lord Grey then postponed the further con O f sideration of the Bill until Thursday . this

Lord Ellenborough complained , and said he was willing to admit the disfranchisement of 1 1 3 u f seats , and that he preferred ho sehold su frage Cm . XIII . RESIGNATION O F TH E GOVERNMENT 21 9

to the £1 0 qualification . This disclosure of the

of intention the Tories to come in , and carry w Whig Reform , dre forth a burst of eloquence

was from Lord Grey , who loudly cheered by our friends , and then the House adjourned . I told

ou t N o on e several friends that Ministers were . would believe me , but insisted that the King would create Peers . I told my wife with great glee , so far as I was concerned , that the Admi n istration was at an end , for it had been beaten , and would resign .

Tu esda — I May 8 . y packed up my papers at

O fi c e the War to be ready for a start, for I felt - sure all was over . At half past two Lords Grey and Brougham went to the King at Windsor,

' with a proposal to create a su fi cien t number of

Peers . Graham and Stanley and all seemed in h good Spirits , and said t at , if the Tories had been

for n ot for paid it, they could have acted more f the country and the character o the Ministers .

T n ot or i hey did seem to be sure , ndeed to care

of . much , about the result the proposal Lord Dover told me that Lord Grey had hesi tated about proposing to make Peers , and preferred t offering to resign . At las he was persuaded to take the other line .

a — M y 9 . Wedn esday Whilst I was getting up I received a note from Lord Durham marked

Immediate . It contained these words : Half

t n in as e . r p The King has efused to make Peers , ' ou and has accepted r resignation . LONDON

’ After breakfast I went to Lord Durham s , and he showed me the note just arrived from Lord “ Grey . Dear Lambton , the King has accepted

our resignations . Ever yours , G .

We went to the Levee together . The only

person , almost, to whom the King said nothing

’ at the en tr ee Levee was the Duke of Wellin gton :

of J The Duke Richmond and Lord ohn Russell ,

s tanding by me , remarked it ; and said the King

was wretched , and angry with the Duke of

. J Wellington I said , ust the contrary ; I would

bet anything the Duke was Prime Minister .

I talked with all the honest resigners , and

shook hands with Lord Grey most warmly . He

said to me , I could do nothing else ; the Bill was taken ou t of my hands ; I was no longer

Minister . We were all very merry , for undone

dogs , as we were ; and , when the Levee was over,

of the question was , what was the formality

? N o on e resignation seemed to know ; but , at last, we were told that the King would see only those of the Cabinet who had particular business with him . Lords Grey , Lansdowne , Goderich ,

Palmerston , Duke of Richmond , and Lord Althorp went in on e by on e ; and the Lord Chancellor came so late that some thought he was not coming at all . I was told that the King was

of very gracious , and wept , taking leave Pal merston and Goderich , if not of others . He pressed Brougham and the Duke of Richmond

ofi ce of to stay in . The Duke Richmond told

LONDON CRAP . XIII.

motion with a good Strong speech . Baring made

a clever , unfair speech , and moved the negative , calling on Lord Althorp to tell what his advice

to . the King had been Althorp rose , and , in

the most impressive manner , plainly and reso

lu te l y, said that Baring knew what the advice had been ; but , if he wished to be told , it was this : to create a su fi cie n t number of Peers to

efi cien t carry the Reform Bill , in an form,

of through the other House Parliament . Here the most tremendous cheers burst from all quarters of the House , and lasted louder and longer than I ever recollect to have heard ;

of indeed , the spirit the Reformers was up d i ur ng the whole debate , and evidently cowed the other Side , and gave the lie to the rumour of our apostacy .

Peel was very feeble , and felt it , as did the ’ O Con n ell House ; he said nothing about Reform . handled him roughly . Macaulay made a good speech ; but , as Burdett said , too like Coach

’ makers Hall . We then divided , thinking we had a majority of at least a hundred ; but we

28 8 208 . came in , the numbers inside being The O pposition , particularly Lord Chandos , cheered as if they had gained a victory ; and Sir Richard t Vyvyan , amidst the laugh er of us and ours , talked of the smallness of our majority . We ’

o . went away, well pleased , about twelve o cl ck

da - Ma 1 1 . F ri t y y . Rumours hat Peel and the Duke of Wellington are in negotiation with CR AP . XIII THE NEW GOVERNMENT

Lord Lyndhurst ; the greatest possible excitement 1 8 3 2. prevailing everywhere . A large Westminster meeting at Crown and Anchor, and meetings in the City . At House of Commons very sharp debates on presenting petitions , and everything

’ som e c risis announcing . The Duke of Wellington said to be Minister . — a 1 2 a tu r da F or W. O . M y . S y a short time at

!War O fi c e]. Sir James Graham called ou t under the window that everything was settled , and that the Duke of Wellington was Minister ;

of Baring Chancellor the Exchequer ; Murray ,

. ofi ce Hardinge, etc , in and Parliament to be dissolved on Monday .

w for I ent to Lord Grey, and saw him a short time . He spoke to me about his resignation , and seemed Very much affected by the tributes of esteem and respect ofi e re d to him from t every par of the country . He told me that a Birmingham man had burst into tears before

of him ; he said that Reform Parliament was , in his View, like Catholic Emancipation , the

of - removal a stumbling block , and not a cure for all e vils . He had done his best to pass

ou t. the measure, and when he failed , went

Zl!/ a 3 1 S un da . y . y It seems the Duke of

or Wellington is the chief , , at least, the framer of the Ministry ; and , from something that

. F he A Baring said to me on riday , I think is

of Chancellor the Exchequer . In the meantime

the spirit is roused all over the country , and LONDON

1 8 3 2. seems likely to end in mischief . I saw Tavistock - to day , and walked a good deal with him ; he

is completely benighted , I think , and supposes

off . everything is to go quietly Peel , Croker , and

ofi c e Goulburn , all have declined under the Tory Reformers for it now t urns out we are to have the Bill and the Duke of

Almost incredible ; but true . I went to a meeting at Brooks ’ s where Lord

Ebrington proposed another Address to the Crown ,

of against the Duke Wellington , but he eventually

. of withdrew his proposal The truth was , many

ou r people were afraid of a dissolution , and

thought an Address would bring it on . I was

afraid that , if we relaxed , the People would dis

u s b trust ; and , esides , the Tories would find

means to fritter away our opposition . t - I had a le ter from Sir Herbert Taylor to day,

’ expressing the King s regret at losing my services ,

and his satisfaction with my civility , etc . , and

appointing me to call on him the next day .

Ma 1 4 Mon da — At - y . y half past two I went

’

S t. Ja of to mes s , and had my audience resigna

tion . The King was extremely civil ; calling me ” “ ir M M S . y good friend , y dear , etc He told

u me he knew I had too m ch property to lose , to

or . wish for, assist, any attempts at convulsion

M n ot I said , Your ajesty has a more loyal

subject than myself . He replied , I know it .

of of He then talked various matters , my father,

of of his intimacy with Lord Sidmouth , the way

LONDON CRAP . XIII.

Wellington was justified in passing it . The

u debate was most tri mphant , if debate it can

be called . - I came away at half past seven . It appears

n the debate we t on , afterwards , until eleven ; and that the Wellin gton ian s were so chapfallen that

’ u O Con n e ll Burdett , H me , and recommended a

cessation of hostilities , for the sake of a reconcilia

tion between the King and the Whigs . But the coup de grace wa s given to the

ha n tom p Ministry by Inglis , who declared against such a dereliction of public honour ; and Wynne B also said , if the ill was to be carried , it ought n to be carried by the Whigs . Even Hunt ow ed that nothing but the return of Lord Grey could

tranquillise the country . Baring made a second Speech in a difi eren t tone from his first speech ;

so SO much , it was thought he had heard from the

Duke of Wellington , for he recommended recon

ciliation between the King and the Whigs . I suppose there was never b efore such a scene in

Parliament .

Tu esda — I on a 1 5 . M y y called Lord Althorp ,

of when in came the Duke Richmond , and said

for ou Well , I have bad news y ; no shooting this ~

year . Pack up your guns again . I have the

intelligence from the Palace , and know it to be W true . The Duke of ellington has been with the

King this morning , and given up his commission

altogether . At a qu arter past four I went to the House m C . XIII. GREATEST REVOLUTION IN HISTORY 227

f o Commons . There was much excitement in the streets and near the Houses of Parliament . The

’ Duke s failure was generally known , but nothing was said about Lord Grey . The House was very full and much expectation alive . Lord Althorp , Graham , Stanley , and

old ea . Palmerston entered , and took their s ts

Baring then rose , and said that he had to tell the House that the Duke of Wellington ’ s eff ort to M construct a new inistry had totally failed , and he hoped the new arrangements would be satisfactory . Lord Althorp stated that Lord Grey had re c eiv ed a message from the King , and proposed adjourning the House till Thursday . The greatest joy was apparent in the faces of

ou r all friends , and even some opponents seemed rather pleased than otherwise ; but we spared our b afi ed i on e enem es . In the streets there was

of universal look , and gesture , and language

delight . F I went to rancis Place he was overjoyed , and said it was the greatest and most surprising Revo

lu tion w in History . He told me there ould have

been a convulsion if the D uke had persevered .

Birmin The demand for gold was increasing . g

ham was preparing for resistance ; and here , in

N ow London , there were symptoms of fighting . ,

he thought, all would be well . I told him not

’ of to be so sure Lord Grey s ret urn . , a 1 6 M y . Wedn esday. I joined Alexander LONDON CRAP . XIII.

Baring in Berkeley Square , where we walked a

long time together . He told me he had escaped

a great honour . He was to be Chancellor of the f Exchequer , but not Leader of the House o

’ Commons . Peel s refusal to join them had been

their first great obstacle . He thought Peel

shabby for this , and did not understand his

morality , or the difference between supporting

ofi c e the Tories in , to carry the Reform Bill , and

ofi c e . being in himself He supposed that Peel ,

as usual , thought chiefly of Peel . He said that the Duke of Wellington had told him that he Should think himself unfit to crawl

' on s Kin ev en earth , if he did not tand by the g, at the expense of his own consistency ; and that

he had resolved to carry the Reform Bill , as an

inevitable measure , in all its great provisions ; h indeed , a Bill probably more extensive t an that

which Lord Grey would now grant . Baring said that the King had resolved to pass

of the Reform Bill , and made that the condition giving ofi c e to the Duke ; what he objected to

was the making of Peers . The Duke was not

to have been Prime Minister .

ofi c e Baring said that, if the mere love of ha d been their object , it would have been better to have waited until the Reform Bill had passed , when the Whigs would probably have fallen , and the Tories or some others succeeded . We then talked about what was to be done

ur n ow . Baring said that it was all o own game

LONDON CRAP . XIII.

even Lord Durham , and Lord Duncannon said all would be well .

We had then some talk about Ireland , and

Lord D . said I should be Secretary , with some

’ new arrangement ; but, in these times , tis absurd

or to think of individuals , anything but the great national question .

rlf a 1 Thu rsda — I y 7 . y find disturbances in

Westminster , and the panic returning . I went to the House of Commons , and there Ellice told me that the King had written to Lord Grey , stating that the Duke of Wellington , Lord

Glou Lyndhurst , the Dukes of Cumberland and o ester , and others , would make conciliatory speeches , which would enable the Reform Bill to pass without Peers being made . I heard the Duke of Wellington state his case at the Lords but so far was he from conciliation , or anything like withdra wm g his opposition to e the Bill , that every sentenc was an attack either

or on Reform Lord Grey . He did not say a

of word about his intended support the measure , had he been Minister ; but he did make use of

the expression attributed to him by Baring ,

ab out his not deserting the King . Lord Lynd

hurst followed him in a still more bitter speech , and did not Show the slightest symptom of

: concession . I was near Ellice we both stared , and he said that these men had deceived the ’ he King , for had positively seen the King s

letter ; and Lord Althorp had announced , in the R AP C . XIII . WOULD TH E LORDS YIELD ?

of Commons , that there was every probability the affair coming to a satisfactory result . Lord Grey answered in a firm and manly

Speech , defending the creation of Peers , and stating that he was resolved not to retain ofi c e unless he could carry the Bill unmutilated . He spoke too handsomely of the King , and he refuted

’ the Duke of Wellington s charge of leaving the

M in King alone . Lord ansfield Spoke , and di n an tl to g y disclaimed the Virtue , imputed him

’ Times of by the , of rejecting the Duke s offer

ofi c e . I was satisfied that all was over , and I

o went to the Commons . I sat down next t

Althorp , and told him what had passed . He

: so said Well , much the better ; but it is rather a bore for me to have spoken with so much

so confidence , though I was quite justified in

Now doing . I Shall have my shooting . may , I said SO Shall we . The pitchforks will

N ot be here here , he replied ; the other “ ’ House . I said , I don t care for that . I found the Members of the House of Commons quite satisfied with the proceedings in their

n ot House , and could persuade them that the

Lords would not yield . They had written good

to of news all parts the country .

- May 1 8 . I see by the Times that the debate it — in the Lords ended as began no conciliation ,

and the order for the Reform Bill discharged . w I went to the Treasury . Lord Duncannon sho ed me an Address for the House of Commons to the LONDON CRAP . XIII .

King , to make Peers . Lord Ebrington showed

on e me he had drawn up , for the same object ,

- re to be moved to night , in case the Ministers

O fi e tired finally from c . Ellice told me that the King had written to

Lord Grey this morning , Stating his surprise at the conduct of the O pposition Lords last night .

he T Ministers are now in Cabinet, and , one way or the other, the business will be settled this evening . I came down to the House of Commons at half past four found the call going on and every pre

aration . N p for the Address othing known , except an d that the Cabinet had agreed upon a minute , that Lords Grey and Brougham had carried that minute to the King , and were with him at that moment . Althorp , Palmerston , Stanley , Graham , and Grant entered the House ; but they knew M nothing more . The call went on . Lord ilton h came to Ebrington and me , pressing some c ange in the Address . We advised none , but , at last , Ebrington consented to go out with him to look at the alteration . The call was nearly over , when Tom Duncombe came to the end of the “ Treasury bench , where I was , and said , All

was done and settled . There was a great — bustle many complaints of the Ministers keeping

of the secret too long . Stanley was called out

the House , but presently returned and said to “ ! was me , All right When the call over

on e Lord Althorp rose , and , in sentence , told the HAVIN G TH EY House THAT MINISTERS , WHAT

LONDON

1 8 3 2. of acter the King , and the People , and the h parties in the State , t an could otherwise have

u been found o t in as many years . Lord Grey made much the same declaration

in the Lords as Althorp in the Commons , and

of the Duke Portland , and Lord Carnarvon , and

Wellin ton ian s other rabid g , gave further speci

mens of their spite . In the evening I went to the Queen ’ s Ball

’

J . O u r at St . ames s Ministers were there , and

everybody else . Lord Lowther told me that the great blunder had been not coming ou t with the whole Ministerial arrangements on Monday

on last . They had been completed Saturday ,

of ou r and , if they had been announced , many

waverers would have gone over . I said I doubted if anything would have overcome the repugnance

of f the people to the Duke o Wellington . The

of truth is , the Tories cannot be persuaded the

or f spirit real character o the people .

a 1 9 a tur da — M y . S y I went to Place . He

told me that there would , positively , have been a rising if Wellington had recovered power

yesterday . Everything was arranged for it ; he

himself would not have slept at home . Stephenson told me that on account of a

of petition from Bristol , which the Duke Sussex

twice presented to the King , on Sunday and

M H M on onday last, . . wrote Tuesday morning,

’ E R n him H . at nine o clock , a letter to . . forbiddi g the N ow who did this ? Wellington C m . XIII. REFORMBILL GOING THROUGH 23 5

to to 1 8 3 was Still thought be Minister up eleven 2. on that day . Stephenson Sho wed the letter to

Lord Grey ; something must be done about it . There are fears that the Duke of Sussex means to play the part of the Duke of O rleans ; and yesterday an address came from the City , asking the Duke of Sussex to take charge of the City f in case o disturbance . This address was shown to the King when they took the Cabinet minute

Who to him . Shall say what effect it had in securing an afi rm ativ e answer From all I hear it seems to me quite clear

H M irrec on il that . . must be considered as an c

of M able enemy the inisters ; and that, if there is the slightest chance of his escaping from them , he will . The Tories hope that we shall be embarrassed by the Irish Bill ; and even now look to a Wellington or Peel administra — . F orce orce orce P eers P eers tion , f , f that is , , , — P eers nothing else will save us and the

u co ntry .

2 n da — c om May 1 . Mo y The Lords went into mi ee on Wellin ton ian s tt the Reform Bill . The g for the most part did not attend . Lord Grey

got on with Schedule D as far as Wolverhampton .

Thus the Tories , after describing the Bill as utterly destructive of Church and State and

King and property, have given up their oppo

sition crea tion o P eers to it rather than allow a f ,

an which could not, by y possibility, produce hi more misc ef than the Bill , and which would LONDON CRAP . XIII . have saved their honour by making them yield i only to force ( . e . numbers) .

Ma 22 — F . ox y Charles told me , when walking

of - down to the H . C . to day , that a good deal of the late mischief had been caused by Lord l M of unster , whom he called a lover money ,

not a politician . He had not spoken to the

for King eight months , but was recommended

by G . Seymour , and helped to bring about ’ “ the Duke of Wellington s foolish effort . The

FitzClaren c eS F ox other are with us , said . Munster and the Duke of Cumberland are t now forbidden to talk poli ics at Court . The King has no liking nor disliking for Ministers — a . good Old man , but forgets what he says

He certainly had acceded to the making Peers , and the Duke of Wellington confessed it when he was shown the correspondence between the

King and Lord Grey . “ F ox said to the King , By recalling Lord

ou Grey , y have saved the country from civil

for war . Yes , said the King , the present . F ox said that the Duke of Sussex had been imprudent in presenting the Bristol petition to the King . I think so too . F f on . o C . At H . , a long discussion ree Trade

The Reform Bill in committee in the Lords . — 23 Wedn esda . May . y Went to the Levee

1 FitzClaren ce I . George Augustus Frederick , son of William V and M P I E rs . Jordan ; served in the eninsula and in ndia ; created arl of Munster 1 8 3 1 .

LONDON

1 2 8 3 . Edward Ellice told me that on Monday last

the King wrote an angry letter to Lord Grey , complaining of the Irish Reform Bill being

of hurried on , and the English Bill passing the

Lords without amendments . To this letter Lord

i of Grey, with the unan mous consent the Cabinet,

wrote a very decided answer . The poor King then wrote to say that his first letter had

n origi ated in mistake .

n o as There is doubt , nor concealment now ,

to the real inclination , and , indeed , intentions

f . o H M. to turn out the Government if he can .

He is angry at being hissed . He persists in

forbidding the Duke of Sussex from Court .

Ma 3 1 —I of y . went to the House Commons , H M. and sat up till near two in the morning . .

will not , they say , go to the House to give

the Royal Assent to the Reform Bill . Add to

these symptoms I hear , from good authority , Lord Grey himself remarked a change in the ’ King s manner, even to him , before the resigna tion ; and that manner has not altered since the J return of Lord Grey to power . Sir ames Graham

confirmed this , and like the rest is prepared fi for o c e . quitting However , the Reform Bill

made steady progress in the Lords . The Tories are now preaching up Household

f of Su frage and equal division districts , and are

prepared for any extremity . They say the

Monarchy is at an end .

1 — of B Jun e . The report the Reform ill passed Cm . XIII . TH E KING AND TH E DUKE O F SUSSEX 23 9

1 8 2 the Lords this night after some furious follies 3 .

n o w from Lord Carnarvon . It is certain there will be no attempt to throw out the Bill on the third reading .

— n Jun e 2 . Lord Durham called o me at the

O fi c e War , and held language much calculated to alarm any one that gave him credit for fore sight . He looked upon the King as little Short of mad , and thought there would be some fierce struggle yet , unless the King died Shortly for G he would try a new overnment, and a return d to the ol system . He thought that some great change was inevitable , and that we ought to be

for of f prepared it . He complained some o his

the of colleagues in Cabinet , particularly Palmer ston , and from what I hear from Sullivan ,

of Palmerston complains him . This gives rise

of to rumours dissensions in the Cabinet . Lord Durham told me that the real reason

’ of the King s quarrel with the Duke of Sussex ’ H M on was the Duke s refusal to dine with . . the Wednesday, the day when the Grey Cabinet

resigned . The Duke of Sussex and the Duchess of Kent were the only members of the Royal F H M . on amily who did not dine with . that

occasion . This made the King very angry ; yet

28 th of at his birthday dinner , Monday , May , he called the Queen back to hear him give a toast : The Princess Victoria ; and remember that I declare her to be the lawful successor

to the Throne . This is on e of the many extrav a LONDON

2 . 1 8 3 . gances attributed to him Pray Heaven that he J may continue sound until Thursday , une 7 . We had a large dinner party and opened ou r - handsome drawing rooms . How long for ! Lord L Dundonald dined with us , the Berrys , ady Davy ,

t a ds Mai l n . Cre ev e F the , T y, Balfours , ergusons ,

etc . ; so we go on , even on the brink , so they say

of ruin and revolution .

4 - on i f Ju n e . Debate third read ng o Reform Bill

in the Lords . A little past ten a rumo ur reached

us , that the Lords were dividing . I ran away

and got before the throne to the rail . Their n Lordships were telli g , and there was much O M confusion . nly two Bishops , Grey and altby ,

wo m t . with us , against us Lord Brougha then

: 1 06 22 read the numbers to , and after going “ tha t this shortly over the amendments , said ,

ill do ass . B p , and pass it did

I returned to the Commons , where the Scottish

n Reform Bill was going o . Presently Martin

and Adam , Masters in Chancery , came into the

House with the Bill in their hands . There was

a general murmur , and Alderman Wood made a foolish attempt to suspend our proceedings for

of the sake having it brought up , but Althorp - t resisted, and we went on till half pas eleven , M when Bernal left the chair , and the asters ill brought up the B with several others . The Speaker took a malicious pleasure in confounding

the Reform with some Church and Road Bills , and there was n o cheering or other Sign of exulta

R LONDON C AP. XIII.

to Royal Assent given the Reform Bill , but was

too late . It was just over . A little before four ’ the a J O clock , Spe ker , attended by Lord ohn

or Russell and some thirty forty Members , went

to the Lords . The Commissioners were Lords

Grey , Lansdowne , Holland , Wellesley , Durham ,

O ou r and the Lord Chancellor . nly great Bill

received the Royal Assent . The Whole proceeding

v lasted but a short time, and was slurred o er as

N ot P quickly as possible . a single eer was to O be seen on the pposition benches , and not more

on than nine or ten the Ministerial side .

A very poor picture was painted , misrepresent

for ing this scene , as I can assert ; I am placed F there next to Sir rancis Burdett , whereas I was not in the House . There were a few people collected about the doors of P arliament ; but there was very little excitement . The Ministers were , however, cheered as they left the House .

Thus ends this great national exploit . The

difi ul deed is done . It is c t to believe that it

of is done . I was obliged to leave the House

S e e Commons , being ill but I that, when the

Boundaries Bill was discussed , Croker took occa sion , as might be expected , to allude to Paris

u our r nning in blood , just as Reform Bill was receiving the Royal sanction .

R . FROM BOOK, ECOLLECTIONS — I Jun e 9 . was attacked by a Violent head Cm . XIII. UNPOPULARITY O F THEIR MAJ ESTIES 24 3

of ache, and , unluckily , had to entertain three — my masters at dinner Graham , Goderich , and

F s Palmerston . Lord Dacre and Sir ranci Burdett

of of were the party ; and talked Reform, which was n ot relished by two out of three of my

Cabinet guests . — - J un e 1 4 . I went to the drawing room , where I was most ungraciously received by Queen Adelaide ; but that did not prevent me from ’ ’ going to the Queen s Ball at St . James s the next evening a very poor pageant ; their

on row Majesties Sitting a dais in a , like monarchs in a playhouse . I thanked Heaven f that this was the last o the season .

u 2 — on J n e 0 . The King was struck the head

on - on e with a Stone , Ascot race ground , by a - legged ex pensioner of Greenwich . Both Houses voted addresses to him , and Sir Robert Peel could not resist the temptation to connect the outrage with some intemperate language of the press an d speeches in Parliament .

FROM DIARY . — u 2 . a J n e 6 There was a Review in Hyde P rk , which was attended by the King and Queen . The Duke of Wellington was at the head of his regiment He was cheered by the mob of

. gentlemen , but coldly received by the crowd

The Queen much hissed . I afterwards went in full dress to a party at the

’ Duke of Wellington s to meet their Majesties . A LONDON

hundred or so of the Guards were drawn U p in the

courtyard , and the Whole scene had a very military appearance ; it was said that a thousand guests

were present . The King made a long speech to

the Guards when he gave them their new colours ,

Cmsar and said was the first Grenadier .

This is my first, and probably will be my last, ’ - appearance at the Duke s . His pistol proof blinds

of hi s i n or u n are no proof W sdom, his broken ,

mended windows . — Jun e 27 I went to the annual Westminster dinner . Sir Francis Burdett announced this to

: ou r be the last Reform having been gained , occupation was over . ’ Daniel O Con n ell was the hero of the evening and he made a speech about “ the echoes of liberty resounding from the peaks of the Andes to the banks of Bu rrampooter

' — h fi e Ju n e 28 . t e War O c Going to , I met the Duke of Wellington at the head of a detachment of his regiment , marching from a Review in the

ot Palace Garden . All these shows are g up evi den tly to remind King and people of the advantage

of of of . a standing army, and the hero Waterloo At twelve I went to the Military Asylum at

Chelsea, and there was the Duke of Wellington

of ofi ers again , and a host c in attendance to of S how the children to their Maj esties . Many the soldiers expressed their pleasure at seeing me there , saying they hoped I would not permit the establishment to be put down .

LONDON

R I . FROM BOOK , ECOLLECT ONS — J u l 3 J on y . oseph Hume brought a motion

of relative to Somerville , a private the Scots

Greys , who was flogged for refusing to mount

an unruly horse . The partisans of Somerville alleged that his real off ence was that he corre spon de d with a newspaper called the Weekly D isp a tch and discussed the political duties of

soldiers . Hume said he had taken up the case to prevent ’ O Con n e ll it taking up in a more hostile spirit .

He agreed the less said about it the better, and

if ot he added that I g the man his discharge , he would say as little as possible on the subject .

I did procure a conditional discharge, and was never more surprised than when Hume got ! up and made a bitter speech against me . I was in no little embarrassment, for as I told the Ministers

I could not and would not defend the punishment . I was pledged against flogging the Cabinet were

for n ot therefore the best thing was me to resign .

to Althorp insisted that I was not be sacrificed , and proposed that an inquiry should be made which should be laid before the King . If he

N o said , the Government Should resign ; but eventually Hume withdrew his motion .

FROM DIARY . 5 — Ju ly . Lord Althorp says the King instantly

o on consented t the inquiry the Somerville case .

to di I then went Lord Hill , and had a smart s CRAP . XIII . OFFICIAL FRICTION

sion two 18 3 2. c u s with him . I foresee that the sides of the archway at the Horse Guards will be in acknowledged hostility , and either my Lord or

ou t . I must go , that is clear Indeed , I think it is useless to disguise the fact even from my opponents . Lord Hill must be a poor creature to maintain himself in a lucrative post in Opposition to the known wishes of a Cabinet whom he does

of not support, and nothing but the hope Seeing the ofi c e in proper hands could induce me to remain a moment where I am . But it would be unwise to attempt anything at this moment .

l — x a m Ju y 8 . The E in er calls Lord Althorp and “ ’ ou r on me infamous , for conduct Somerville s f case . Such are these gentlemen o the Press !

on F on b lan u e My brother called A . q , the editor , who said he used “ infamous in its etymological “ of sense injurious to fame . When my brother asked him how he could allow the letter of Junius

Redivivus to charge me with personal corruption , he said that he ha d n ot looked over the letter a c ur a t l sa w it un til la te on a tur c e y . H e n ev er S da n i ht a n d did n ot erc eive the a r a ra h y g , p p g p a llu ded to fit of . Are such men dispensers daily fame ?

u l 1 1 — F J y . Went to the great Reform estival at the Guildhall . Saw and heard the freedom of the City presented to Lord Grey and Lord

Althorp .

of The Duke Sussex , Lord Grey , Lord Althorp , and the Peers were at the toptable ; the others LONDON CRAP . XIII .

were arranged alphabetically . I was a great way off J , next to Sir ames Graham . Stanley was still lower down ; he looked a little sulky , I thought . m The enthusias , if there was much , scarcely reached us . All made Conservative Speeches ,

Brou ham who especially g , , parodied the Bill , the “ whole Bill , etc . , into the Law , the whole Law , and nothing but the Law .

M on e to ore than person remarked me that , if w justice ere done , Burdett and myself should n ot have been lost in the crowd when Reform was, the triumph of the day ; but Burdett did not come , and I received notice from the Lord Mayor that our healths were about to be drunk , just

of as the Duke Sussex rose , and the upper table

w of moved away , so I rose , and hat became the toast I never inquired nor heard . If fame be an l object , there is no fear that the truth wi l be

w . ackno ledged , and Burdett at least have his due l 2 — t J u 1 . A y House of Commons , where sat up

- O u r 5 a m . till . on Russo Belgian loan debate friends had the best of the debate throughout this time . Peel was very bitter, but only bitter . He made n o figure at all . O u r 4 6 majority did n ot satisfy Lord Althorp ; “ indeed , he said to me that the Government - was like a hard pushed fox running fast , but which might be run in upon at any moment

However , I thought our majority quite enough . M s Althorp announced that , if inister were r on beaten , they should resign . Peel emarked that ou r hea lths We re a ism t tO be

e v e r b tte r b t Pe l y i , u

LONDON — 1 8 3 2. u t I A gus 9 . presented the Report and evidence taken before the Court of Inquiry on the case

of Somerville . The Court of Inquiry appear to

me to have acted fairly enough . Their report

’ and the King s pleasure quite su fi cie n t censure

Wa s on Windham . The latter much stronger as

to drawn up by Grant , and assented by Lord Hill but Lord Althorp str u ck out the words severe

censure . I presented these papers at House

’ of Commons this night at two o clock in the

morning . This evening Stanley told me he was going to

’ Ireland , and would get the Secretary s house in

the Phoenix Park ready for me . I laughed ; but “ he said , Upon my honour, I am in earnest and he then spoke about my succeeding him as

a settled scheme .

— itz laren c e A u ust 1 5 . I F F C g saw Lord rederick ,

who told me matters were going on well at Court . They had been very uncomfortable ; but now were

on . going quiet , and the King in good humour

‘ He owned he and his family we re u n der the

greatest obligations to the Queen , but that she

ought not to have been a politician .

“

R C . FROM BOOK, E OLLECTIONS 1 6 — A ugust . Parliament was prorogued and J Lord Althorp , Lord ohn Russell , and myself were the only occupants of the Treasury bench who attended the Speaker and some eighty

Members to the House of Lords . CRAP . XIII . PARLIAMENT P R O R O GUE D

There were not many Peers present ; and only

— for a few ladies none of any distinction , either

of rank or beauty . Lord Grey bore the Sword

State , and was the most appropriate personage in the ceremony . Lord Chancellor Brougham also made a suitable part of the Show but I

’ thought , when he put the speech into the King s i hand , he bowed w th Persian adoration . The

Speaker made a good speech , and touched on our

Reform Bill without any O fi en siv e remark . The

’ King s Speech was , as usual , a poor performance .

Reform was mentioned , but without any par tic ular notice . The King was very loud ; in some sentences ludicrously so ; as , when he addressed

of the Gentlemen of the House Commons , he spoke with a sudden roar and emphasis that made me start . The Lord Chancellor prorogued the 1 6 Parliament until the th of O ctober .

I saw the King return to the Palace . It was like a funeral procession : scarcely a hat taken off , and positively no cheering . I never saw

Of n anything the ki d like it before . What a difi eren c e between his prorogation in April 1 8 3 ]

! au and this ceremony I was very sorry , and

u red g no good from this bad reception of royalty . CH APTER XIV

R E . FROM BOOK , ECOLL CTIONS

A u ust — g . Wishing to be near London during - the long vacation , I rented the long known

of Twicken residence Archdeacon Cambridge , in

ham Meadows . Whilst there , our friend Admiral

Sir William Hotham paid us a visit, and was as agreeable as ever . He told us that he was at an advanced post with Lord N elson in Corsica ; and , as the shots were flying about him , he N (Hotham) could not help bobbing . elson asked ’ H otham s to look through telescope , and said ,

ou see This is an excellent glass ; do y know , I ” the French ofi c ers bobbing ! Hotham felt the reproach deeply ; but presently, when the fire

saw N . became hotter, he elson bobbing He then remonstrated for adverting to that which the bravest man in the world might do inadvertently .

O ld You Lord Duncan used to say, may bob with your head , but you maunna bob with your heels . — u u t 2 I . A g s 9 . dined with Lord Palmerston A gentleman next to me, just come from Russia, told me that the Emperor Nicholas had been much enraged at the strictures on his conduct 252

LONDON

1 8 2 3 . no intention of calling upon the old Parliament

to reassemble ; or , as he phrased it , to call the

O ld condemned thief into court again .

D FROM IARY . t 1 - O c ob er . 7 Called at Holland House , and d found Lord and Lady Hollan looking very ill .

She told me she was frightened , and was attended

by sev en physicians .

“

R . FROM BOOK , ECOLLECTIONS

’ tober 23 — I d 5 O c . dine at o clock at Holland

M F ox House . Allen was there , iss , Lord Althorp , J Sir ames Graham , Labouchere , Lord and Lady

Grey , and Sydney Smith . Before dinner we went to look at a bed use d

on in hospitals . It floated water , and Sydney

flou n dere d a n d flou n c ed Smith got upon it , and h B O H . upon it for some time . for . ! said

Graham . The Sight was infinitely ludicrous ,

and we laughed most heartily at it , and kept up the merriment in the dining -room ; but

whatever pleasantry there was in the Sight , the

joke was lost without the man who caused it ,

as is generally the case with humorists , and more SO with Sydney Smith than any man I

ever knew . However , the party on this evening

of were in high spirits , in spite fears for Ireland , and uncertainties about Dom Pedro and the

struggles in Belgium . There was a good deal of freedom in the talk IPFHRS CHNAL L ITUJES ( IF IA (DAJBITL ETT

1 8 3 2. concerning our Lord Chancellor , and Lord Grey

did not spare him . He told us that Brougham

would never forgive Hayter , the painter , for

representing him looking towards Denman , as if

for a hint . But the Cabinet of those days con tain ed one man who did not speak well of any

of or his colleagues , of the Court . According

to him , Russell was the best of them , next

Graham , next Althorp ; but the others either

or . O n e unwilling incapable day , at a party which Lord Grey had n ot left more than five

minutes , this colleague of his said , in presence of J of he Lord ohn Russell , speaking t Cabinet Such a set ! such a fourteen round a table

Russell said nothing to this exclamation .

During my residence at Cambridge House ,

S udbroke Lord Durham lived at Park , and I saw a good deal of him j ust after his return from f St . Petersburg . He spoke Very highly o the N of N . Emperor icholas , and his minister esselrode

D FROM IARY .

N ov emb er 2 — to S u db roke . Walked over , and passed the whole morning walking with Lord

Durham . He told me the other day Stanley proposed his Church Reform at a Cabinet dinner , and insisted that it Should be agreed to and made a final measure like the Reform Bill . Lord Durham protested a gains t the Cabinet pledging itself in such a manner , and it was resolved to

Ao postpone the measure until next Cabinet . LONDON

’ c ordin l g y they met at Lord Holland s , and to Lord Durham ’ s surprise he was the only opponent of the measure . So Stanley is gone to Ireland to prepare his Bills . Lord Durham said he had Often been tempted to resign in con sequence of the imbecility of the Government ; nothing but his attachment to Lord

o e Grey kept him in fi c . Yet even Lord Grey did not do well he liked best those who flattered d him most, and was happier with Ma ame de Lieven and the Duchesse de Dino (Talleyrand ’ s niece)

- than with plain spoken politicians . Lord Durham talking of home politics said that he thought a dispersion of the present

Cabinet very probable , but was confident that

’ all would go right after this King s death ; even he was getting more sensible . Le jour Viendra , ’ was Lord Durham s motto . We talked of the formation of the present ’ of Government . At the meeting Lord Grey s

friends at Lansdowne House , it was discussed

who was to be Lord Chancellor . Lord Lynd “ ” N o r O h n o ? . ? ! hurst B ougham , , no Everybody was against him ; and when he was

subsequently selected , Lord Holland said , Then

‘ ' we Shall never have another c orn fortab le moment

in this room .

Brougham, however, has done pretty well in

that respect , except that he once opposed the

is r a n chisemen t o the R otten B orou hs b u t wa s D f f g , “ ’ ”

d . overp owere And this man s name , said Lord

LONDON

on e and when deserted , and the other betrayed ,

came to the Radical at last .

We talked a good deal about the Elections . Lord Durham expected the returns would be i decidedly aga nst the Conservatives , although he was most anxio u s for the Government to hold together until the new Parliament Should be chosen , so I suppose he thinks the contrary not altogether impossible . He Said neither Lord Grey nor Lord Althorp in reality thought of or wished to resign . Even

Lord Goderich , who , when the last short inter regnum took place , left the Cabinet room saying ,

N ow God , thank , this is the last time I shall put foot here , even he will not give way that

f r . o Stanley may have his place As Brougham,

to M he wants be Prime inister, and is doing all to please the King . I put down all these things from Lord Durham as being true ; I do not see why they should not

own be . I gave him my opinion very freely , and told him I did n ot know how I could meet - - the new House of Commons as Secretary at War .

to He agreed with me , but said I ought wait and

’ do am nothing precipitately . I not quite sure

of that he is right ; indeed, had I not the hope

doing some good in the ofi ce by my new warrant,

of and seeing all the arrears got rid , I do not know that I Should feel justified in Staying any

ofi e longer in c .

N ovember 1 3 — I . dined with Lord Durham , who A REQUEST F O R PLEDGES

seemed as little pleased as ever . He told me that “ the fortunate youth (Stanley) had managed to lose every election in Ireland . 1 8 — N ovember . Three independent electors of

to Westminster , whose names were unknown me , called , and asked me to pledge myself to ballot,

of on triennial Parliaments , and abolition taxes

s n ot houses and windows and a sessed taxes . I did hesitate a moment in refusing to give any pledge whatever . I said they were quite right, if they suspected me , to choose Somebody else ; that I was perfectly indifferent Whether I was chosen or n ot ; that if I had not acted in such a way as to beget confidence in fourteen years I never should be able so to do . I did not intend to divide the Reformers I should soon see how the land lay , and would take measures accordingly ;

on that I should part with the electors good terms , and look back on ou r long connection with feelings of pride and satisfaction , without a single regret , and persuaded that the time would come when my View on the subj ect of pledges would be theirs .

on They remarked that my conduct , that occasion , was very handsome and open , and they hoped theirs had been the same . I replied that it had , they had acted openly and handsomely ;

n ot a o but others had so acted , and that long g I had information that it had been resolved to

on or oppose me , some protext the other . They

on replied that the result depended my answer . LONDON

“ I added that they had my answer ; and that

Colonel Evans , or Colonel anybody , would be a better man than myself for a n y constituency that thought pledges requisite .

O n e of the party, a young man , said that he

of had formed quite a romantic opinion me . I “ smiled , and said , There was an end of all romance after this conversation . They laughed and made their bows . Such was Scene 1 of f o . Act I . my separation from Westminster I felt that I had done quite right, and never was better satisfied with myself in my life . Later in the day I had a Visit from Sir Francis

Burdett , who said he had a letter from Colonel

n Evans , stati g that he had consented to become a candidate for Westminster , and was determined to Oppose me . 1 — E N ovember 9 . . Ellice called and showed me a most extraordinary correspondence between him ’ to c on and Lord Grey, relative Lord Durham s duct sin ce his return . Lord Grey complains that it would be impos sible to prevent a rupture between him and Lord ‘

Durham . Lord Durham had said Stanley was

n not the man to conduct Irish afi airs . O the

to other hand , Lord Grey said Ellice that Stanley must b e S ecr eta ry of S ta te and that Lord Durham was much mistaken if he thought he could head a party .

Ellice wrote a very sensible letter to Lord Grey , ’ of confessing the faults Durham s temper, but

LONDON

1 8 3 2. cloudy tabernacle shrined . The result was he

’ thought nobody knew Lord Durham s merits ; nobody would think about him if he went out ; that except Lord Grey and Lord Brougham no on e had such influence as to interest the public about

the Irish Church question , and that the Protestant feeling in England was so strong as to make it very doubtful whether Government would be supported at home in upholding Catholi ci sm in

Ireland . It was time enough for Lord Durham

to go out when the Bill came in . H ow Tom Barnes must laugh in his sleeve at a Cabinet question being referred to the editor of a newspaper ! N evertheless I believe there was no better course to take in order to keep

my friend straight . — N ovember 22 . Lord Durham was rather piqued

of at the result my interview with Tom Barnes , but agreed that it would be better for him to

of O n acquiesce in the decision the Cabinet . going away he said : I Shall not let the fellows know my determination sooner than I can help

as I will keep them in hot water long as I can . Amusing man ! Ellice told me to-day that the real origin of Lord Durham ’ s dissatisfaction with Lord Grey was the refusal of an Earldom at the Corona

o mber 28 — — N ve . Lord Althorp told me to day

W O re that Lord Grey has consented to my . .

H e c E D in 1 3 was reated arl of urham 83 . m . x1 v 3 O . N E W ELECTION AT WE S TMINS TER 26

b e forms , which are to finally determined on by

Palmerston .

mb r 3 — ece e . D . Parliament dissolved this day

D ecemb er 6 — I . dined at East Sheen with Lord

: Grey a small family party . The talk chiefly about novels . He is an amiable man with an amiable family , but I cannot discover his capacity , except , to be sure , as a talker in Parliament .

F . ROM BOOK , RECOLLECTIONS

O n 8 Saturday , December , came on the nomina

for of tion the representation Westminster , at ’ the usual hustings before St . Paul s Church in G Covent arden . A considerable crowd of friends accompanied F Sir rancis and myself . Mr . Hughes , the American

Minister, ‘ and a son of Casimir Perier were amongst them . We were at first well received , but hissing and hooting soon began and placards

on e of Were exhibited , containing caricatures , which represented the Secretary-at-War flogging Somerville and extracting thirty shillings from

O n e his pocket . man immediately in front

’ -o - - O u r dangled a cat nine tails at me . foreign friends had full Opportunity of witnessing the humours of an English contested election . My opponent made up for previous civility by

on making a very malignant attack me , charging

of me with all sorts delinquencies , of which he must have known I was n ot guilty ; and par tic u larl on y dwelling flogging , and my bringing L ONDON in the Mutiny Bill to perpetuate that cruel punishment . He spoke from notes , and spoke for a hour . I bore it all as well as I could , and then stepped forward to speak ; but the crowd i began yelling and fl nging mud . Some of this M strayed and lighted on the American inister ,

Who was not at all pleased , and said he had seen

O n nothing like it in America . my remarking that the mud was not dangerous , he said it was m t er de n o . not mud it was , which it was

edn esda D e emb r 1 2 — F W c e . y, Sir rancis and myself went to Covent Garden , and heard the High Bailifl declare the state of the poll at the

B 3 241 3 6 : H . 21 E 09 O . 4 1 . S 7 . close , ; , ; , Burdett

a . and I were declared duly elected . Grat e vices To i compensate for this Westm nster triumph , I soon heard the very disagreeable news that my brother Henry was beaten at Bath , and my half brother Thomas Benjamin beaten at Aylesbury . It was something of a set-off against these disasters that my late opponent , Colonel Evans , had been beaten at Rye , after his defeat at

Westminster.

FROM DIARY . ,

r 21 — I of D ecembe . foresee the impossibility

an d to holding office , Westminster , character

c on scien ce mi gether . I may add , , for West nster may require more than I ought to grant, even f were I not in o fice . - mb r 23 —I D ece e . met Lord Sidmouth to day,

LONDON

f 1 8 . 3 3 . fit to follow I begged him not to quit o fice for a few thousand men more or less on their military

establishment , and thereby break up a good

Administration . Lord Althorp persisted , saying , “ An Administration is only good when it does

good things .

F Y ROM DIAR . — J a n u a ry 7 Lord Althorp read to me some

on notes made by Lord Grey my letter , the sum

of which was , that he was responsible for the

the safety of country , that he thought the force

of wanted , that he hoped the House Commons

ask would not anything that was not reasonable , and finally that my retiring from office would be

fatal . The next day I went with Lord Althorp to

Lord Grey . As we were walking , Lord Althorp

told me that he would resign if I did . He would

ou t not face the House of Commons if I went .

C flic e on e Parnell and myself leaving the War ,

after the other , would be fatal ; for , although

Parnell was an extravagant Reformer, it was now

notorious that I was a moderate man . He said that Lord Grey was stiff against reduction of

force .

n Lord Grey received us with a lo g face , having

half a dozen red boxes under his arm , filled , as d he sai , with disastrous news from Ireland , and

from Huddersfield , requiring more troops .

of He then talked my proposed reductions , and H C AP . XIV ARMY REFORMS

said he had n o objection to taking away troops from the Colonies ; but those taken must be sent

to Ireland . He read to me a letter from Lord

Anglesey , stating that he should want three or

' four additional regiments , if not more . I had nothing to say to this ; but asked what was to be

done if we were beaten on the Estimates . Lord

Grey said , Go out and he then talked of his responsibilities for the safety of the country , and how likely it was that some collision would take place between the soldiers and the people ; a n d if the people got the better of the soldiers

of . once , there would be an end everything Lord Grey did not think I could diminish the

Pension Warrant to the scale fixed by me . He

pitied the soldier , and , in short , convinced me that l I had another Lord Hil , or worse , to deal with . As to my other reforms respecting defining and

-at-Wa r raising the character of the Secretary , and making the transfers which I proposed in my last

letter to the Treasury , he approved ; but the first plan was to be submitted to Lord That s is , to the per on who is to have his power and

authority curtailed by my plan . I said I had no objection to have the scheme submitted to Lord Hill ; but if he was to have a veto my whole

labour would be lost . It was agreed that I should draw up reasons for framing a new Minute of

-at- Council respecting the Secretary War . I took leave of the First Lord and his Chancel

E ta lor of the xchequer re inf ec . Thus ended L ONDON

w this interview by hich my masters , no doubt, think they have accomplished their object of inducing me to remain in oflic e without an y

or material reform retrenchment , if any at all . But I will do no such thing ; if I cannot carry

my reductions , I will attempt the other alternative

: of proposed in my letter reform my office . If a I fail there , I will resign , and I sh ll fail and I

shall resign . Some of my constituents called on me to ask me What course Ministers intended to take about the

House and Window Tax , and hinted that I ought

to threaten to resign if the tax were not repealed .

M. P I said I was not chosen . for Westminster ff solely to take o the House and Window Tax .

We had another warm debate , which convinces

f r M P . o me that I cannot long be . Westminster O and in the War ffice ,

di u ltie s flic . In short , I am beset with every way What sort of speech am I to make on Monday ? I cannot and will not say what I do not think ; and if I am perfectly sincere and tell all I feel , much mischief may be done . Lord Althorp owned to me that Stanley had done harm by his declarations as to ballot , but more by the mode and manner of making them than by the substance , which was nothing more than

tha t so a r as the resen t he , Althorp , said , namely , f p

t w r n ern ed Govern men e e co c , the Reform Bill was a

final measure .

a n u a r 12 — I J y . had a note from Lord Althorp ,

L ONDON

O I went away to the War ffice , and prepared a scheme for a transfer of troops to the West

of Indies , without augmentation the army . I then went to Downing Street and made my statement , which was agreed to , so that I had a right to conclude there was to be no augmentation

of force .

’ I dined with a party at Baillie s , and had a

long conversation with Bickersteth . I think P n ot M . even he is satisfied with an . for West

minster belonging to the present Administration .

He most particularly dislikes Brougham , who he tells me gives general dissatisfaction in his

i . court , and never finishes anything that he beg ns We both agreed that his fame could not rest on the versatility of his powers .

J a n u a r 1 4 —A . y . Westminster dinner , but it did not resemble ou r old Westminster dinners in the

least . Thomas Duncombe , our Chairman , con triv ed to be very violent against the finality of

the Reform Bill ; on which , when it came to my d turn , I only said that a good authority had tol us there was no such thing as man and for

ever , but that I hoped the country would give

the Ministers and their measure a fair trial .

Ja n ua r 1 6 — I y . sent Lord Grey a short memo ran du m on the duties and power of the Secretary

at- a n d of M War , also a draft a inute of Council , which I proposed to substitute for that of 29 th

of Ma 1 8 22 s y, , which sanction the intolerable

interference of the military authorities . R AP C . XIV . NAHMER PASH A

Dined at home and went in the e v ening to a h J ’ public meeting of the paris ioners of St . ames s , convened to consider the Repeal of House a n d

Window Tax . Very disagreeable . I spoke my mind very openly , that if they persevered in pressing the Government to repeal taxes , they m b would embarrass the in every possi le way .

I warned them that , as belonging to that Govern ment , I must stand by them , and recommended them to give me instructions what they wished me to do .

I foresee a storm in Westminster , and I trust shall weather it without losing character or sacrificing my own conscience , though I do not know how .

F ROM BOOK , RECOLLECTIONS . — J a n u a r 1 8 I y . met a very remarkable man ’ - at the Lord Chancellor s dinner table . This was

N ahm k e . Pasha, the Turkish Ambassador He

u m had nothing to disting ish him fro us , except that he wore the plain red cap , which he occasion ally removed , and discovered a head of black hair .

O n his left breast was a diamond crescent , a present from the Sultan , and he had a gold chain - round his neck . He was rather good looking , with arched black eyebrows , and an aquiline nose . His manners were easy and polite , with

of very little , if any, of the gravity a Turk . He handed down pretty Miss Spalding to dinner

’ (Lady Brougham s daughter) with the air of a R AP L ONDON C . XIV .

F renchman . He drank wine like the rest of us . F He spoke rench , not very well , but quite enough

for conversation .

I thought , whilst sitting between Lord Chan

c ellor J t Brougham and Lord Chief us ice Denman ,

-at- the I myself being Secretary War, Reform Bill being now the law of the land , and other wonders f now in full play , that the sight of the re ormed

Turk Opposite to me was more strange than all .

on , He conversed all the usual topics , the Operas

our . and plays , climate , etc , with Miss Spalding ;

’ and , when she was gone , answered all Brougham s questions about Constantinople and the Sultan very pleasantly and readily . He gave us an

of account the present Grand Vizier, and told us that His Highness had been the slave of another

of great Officer state , who now treated him with

the utmost deference . He mentioned several

of other grandees the Court, and generally added i whose slaves they had orig nally been . He

mentioned the word without the least repugnance . He spoke of the present Grand Vizier as being

oe very vif, when man uvring his troops in

sham battles ; so lively , indeed , that he made

them fire bullets and charge bayonets , and kill t on e ano her ; although, in private life , he was

m an a mild .

The Sultan , he said , was a great man , and a - O f very handsome man, forty six years of age .

t o of his w sons , the younger , only six years

age , was a prodigy . He gave us an account

LONDON

1 8 3 3 . little matter in ou r way ; mais que voulez vous P Miss Spalding told us afterwards that she had

some conversation with the Pasha , and said to him that the Turks ought to have a Parliament

Yes , he replied , in three hundred years .

Well , well , said she , at least you want a

r You revolution in egard to your women . want

a great change there . The Pasha laughed , and

oh ! ou said , With all my heart ; , yes y may

reckon on me for that . Miss Spalding asked “ who his mother was . He said , A Georgian . Did she never try to make a bit of a Christian

of ou ? M y asked iss Spalding . Comment ’ pouvait-elle lo faire ? elle n av ait que cinq ans

é é sa quand elle tait enlev e de patrie . His

Excellency answered all this pretty impertinence ,

from a very pretty mouth , with the utmost good

humour . 1 9 — I Ja n ua r . y went to Lord Althorp , and heard from him that his efforts to second my military reductions had placed him in direct opposition with the authorities at the Horse

Guards . Althorp said he was nothing in the

Cabinet ; he had neither great talent, nor ill

temper , so nobody cared for him . He read Lord

’ Grey s obj ections to my proposed Minute of

a of Council . I consented to make any alter tion detail which did not compromise the principle of n on -interference of military authorities with

d -at- the civil epartment of the Secretary War . ME H EMET AL I

Before I left Downing Street , Lord Althorp said it was very, very likely that I should have

e re the Irish S cretaryship offered to me . I marked that of the tw o offices the Irish was the less detestable ; but I wished not to leave the War O ffice until I had got my Pension Warrant signed by the King , and had prepared my Official reforms .

J a n u a r 21 — I y . dined at the Asiatic Society

to J Club , and sat next Sir ohn Malcolm , who amused me with an account of his Visit to

Mehemet 1 8 3 1 T Ali , at Alexandria , in . here was then a mail-coach running between Alexandria

n of and Gra d Cairo . The regiments had bands A F fifty rabs , headed by a rank ; and these played

God save the King and Rule Britannia ,

’ at Malcolm s first reception by the Pasha . Sir J ohn asked them to play Vive Henri Quatre , e F which , in thos days , was the rench national

Mehemet of air . Ali talked the Turks with great

-of - contempt . He had two enormous ships war , and told Sir John that his brother Sir Pulteney

n ot had advised him to build ships so large .

But, said the Pasha , though the Admiral was right so far as real usefulness goes , yet I am right in order to impose upon those stupid

Turks , who are frightened at anything big .

J a n u a r 22 — y . The next day I saw for the first time and was introduced to Count Pozzo di

Borgo , another person who figured much in his

the time . I was dining with Miss Berrys ; the L ONDON

of party consisted the Lord Chancellor , Macaulay ,

Lady Charlotte Lindsay , and Lady Carlisle .

The Count spoke English easily and fluently ,

and was not the least diplomatic in his manner .

He said , Everything promised well for the peace

of of Europe . His Emperor was convinced the

expediency of preserving it . M The same evening acaulay took me aside , and talked very seriously of the difficulty of his

ow n position . He was , he felt, placed in a different position from others ; for he was liable to be taunted with sacrificing his Opinions for

money . I told him that the charge would be

of made against all us , as well as himself, and with equal injustice and that it was our duty to do i nothing until Parliament met, and M nisters

do told us what they were going to .

F ROM DIARY . — Ja n u a ry 25 . At War O ffice : Stewart of the

to Treasury with me . He seems understand the

of difficulty my position , and he told me that everybody to whom he had spoken on the subject understood it also , and knew that I stayed in office only from patriotic motives . This is saying

t . a good deal , but I hope it is rue The great object in keeping up ou r forces was to make the ' Whigs unpopular with the country : and to give the Duke of Wellington a large army to fall back upon when he returned to office . Stewart said if I carried my reforms the Secre

LONDON CRAP . XIV m ti es does , like a man raised beyond his natural

: n ow level the pump is dry and then . The Count was the most agreeable of the party ;

'

and he told us , amongst other curious stories , that he had seen a letter addressed by N apoleon

who when Brigadier at Toulon , to a man had refused to allow his tw o daughters to marry Berna

dotte and Joseph Buonaparte . He consented to

on e to of the marriages , but not the other, say “ in on e d g, It is enough to have a venturer in a N family . apoleon was angry, and wrote to the “ father of the girls : You are a fool ; give both

You your daughters . think I am nothing . It is true I am nothing now ; but I shall astonish the world Madame Bernadotte had shown that letter to Pozzo di Borgo . Graham talked in a most melancholy style of con vu lsion s , and God knows what ; but he was as neat and amiable as ever .

F . ROM BOOK , RECOLLECTIONS — 2 . O n J a n ua ry 9 . Parliament met entering the House of Commons I must say that I thought the appearance of the Members was v ery credit able to the first Reformed Parliament . The n Mi isterial benches were very full , and , as was

customary , the Members for the City of London

sat on the Treasury Bench . The Conservatives , O as they were now called , sat on the pposition — front bench Peel , Chandos , Goulburn , Lord

Mahon . CR AP ‘X IV . ELECTION OF SPEAKER

ot Hume , by a trick , g possession of the House ,

and in a long , rambling , slipslop speech , pro t posed Littleton , saying at the same ime that he

was not exactly the man fit to be the Speaker . ’ O Con n ell seconded Littleton . Lord Morpeth and M Burdett then proposed anners Sutton . We 24 1 3 1 divided to against Littleton . There was

no division against Sutton , although there was

to some debate . I was sitting next Cobbett ,

who was joking out loud to himself, and making

running comments on the speeches . When the law was stated as to the Speaker ’ s continuance “ f ou t in o fice , he called Then he is like the

King , and never dies . Sutton was handed to the Chair by Lord Mor F peth and Sir rancis Burdett , and he thanked the House in handsome terms ; and thus ended Joseph Hume ’ s first attempt to head and lead a

party .

F ROM DIARY .

J a n u a r 3 0 — y . Ellice told me that an interview had taken place between Lord Grey and Lord

of Durham . Lord D urham accused Lord Grey wishing to get rid of him ; and so they went i on . Ellice said he thought the best th ng Lord Durham could do was to resign on plea of ill health . Lord D uncannon took a different View of the matter, however , and thought Lord Durham ought not to go out .

a n ua r 3 1 — J y . Lord Durham has written the LONDON

handsomest possible letter to Lord Grey , begging that all differences might be forgotten , promising cordial support in Cabinet , and begging a fort ’ night s absence to recover his health . In short , a very conciliatory epistle , with which Lord Grey

N ow was much pleased . Lord Durham stands

’ pledged to support Stanley s Irish measures .

Thus ends this squabble .

’ This evening I went to Lord Holland s . B rougham , and Melbourne , and Lady Carlisle

’ Mu l ra e s were there . We talked about Lord g v

u of J dissol tion the amaica Assembly , and

’ Mu l r Brougham read g av e s speech aloud . We agreed it was a very good speech for the pur pose ; but Lord Melbourne rose , and , as he “ G— d was going away , said , By ! you are ruin ing your empire . Yes , said Lady Holland ,

and there is the chief sinner, pointing to

Brougham . Poor Lady Holland talked to me privately

about her health , and said she was very much

afraid . I comforted her as well as I could .

u a r - F eb r y 2 . Got my last note from Lord Hill on Pension Warrant and his final assent to this

measure , which , prospectively , is a very great

on e . I shall get no present fame , perhaps much

obloquy , but it is a very important public act , and will save at least one-half of the charge for

retired soldiers .

a 4 — F ebru ry . This morning came a note from Lord A lthorp : The Irish Government n ot to be

A LONDON CR P . XIV

1 8 3 3 . me if there was any harm in his double signa

I was going away , when he said he could not refrain from telling me how much he approved

of — my conduct public , course , he added par tic u larly to the justice done to his Hanoverian

’ subjects (the widows pensions) , for which , as King

of Hanover , he begged to thank me . He asked me how old I was ; also whether I

had ever had the gout . He gave me a pre

n : of scriptio for it six grains ginger , six of

of carbonate soda, to be taken before dinner .

H M. . then showed me his wrist , which was a

little swelled with rheumatism , and told me he had never been so well in his life as since he had

been in his present situation . After several other

inquiries I took my leave .

Thus , with infinite trouble , was accomplished the most serious change which had occurred in f War O fiice Warrants since the days o Mr . Wind

ham . Before leaving Sir Herbert Taylor, I had

some talk with him about the state of Ireland . He asserted that there was no doubt but that the Repealers were for the separation of the two

on islands , and had calculated seriously the rank they might occupy in the scale of independent

nations . They were to be number thirteen , Sir

of Herbert told me . I wondered at the modesty

their claims .

The adjourned debate began this evening . Sir

Robert Peel spoke most admirably, with good IRISH CHURCH REFORM

feeling , as well as good sense , and great eloquence .

He did not approve the foreign policy of Ministers , nor was ll l S O pm l on of individuals altered ; but he stood by the Government in all their domestic

arrangements . He owned that in former Parlia

ad ments he had acted as a party man , taking vantage of all accidents to defeat antagonists but

he should do so no more . He should support Government in all measures tending to peace and order . He was much cheere d throughout all his speech , particularly when he praised Stanley .

Indeed , the old usages of the unreformed House , in this particular , seemed revived . But there did not appear ' to be anything like a decided O pposition in the House , except the Conservative

minority . a The deb te was again adjourned , but the next — ~ 4 28 4 0 : day we divided to a complete defeat , which seemed to stagger the Repealers .

F eb ru a r 1 1 — y . Lord Althorp told me the plan

to be proposed for Irish Church Reform , and said he expected it would be received with ! acclamation . Well might he say this Ten Bishops were to be abolished ; Church cess alto gether given up ; and Church revenues revised

and redistributed .

I left Downing Street quite satisfied , and when

Macaulay asked me privately about the Irish plan , “ in the House , I replied , You may depend upon d o . it, it will ‘ L O NEO N

— ’ 1 8 3 3 . F ebru a r At of y five O clock , in the House

of Commons , I heard Althorp open his Church

Ireland Reform scheme . He was quite right it

was hailed with acclamation . When he cut down

the Bishops , and abolished Church cess , there ’ of O Con n ell were thunders applause , and the

Irish particularly loud . We were all in great spirits : P ou lett Thomson and Macaulay more

’ O Con n ell particularly so . expressed his grati tude to Ministers publicly ; and Shiel told me

privately that the plan was admirable . Leave to bring in the Bill was given about half-past

’ ten o clock . This was Reform the second ; yet some of our — supporters still aff ected to think or did really — think that Government did not go on fast

enough Stanley made an admirable speech , in the course of which he said he f elt no anger against any man who had crossed him in the exercise of his conscientious duties ; and this he said in a way and with an air that carried with

them the conviction that he spoke as he felt . ’ He told me privately that, after eight months

his battling , he had gained over the Primate to

plan . He was , and naturally enough, in great

spirits .

F ROM DIARY . — F 1 3 . F ebru a ry . Dined at Literary und Club

Mo n tn orris Lord u was in the chair . I knew him

some twenty years ago as Lord Valentia, a hand

L ONDON

1 8 3 3 . Grey has consented to my proposed Garrison

reductions , and he will speak to the King himself .

on I called Lord Durham with Ellice , and there

of n had a talk on the state the Gover ment , and the misfortune of Lord Grey not listening

to good advice , nor to any that was not given

flatterer by a . We all agreed that mischief

” would ensue ; and that as for Lord Grey think

O ff ing he would be let by simply quitting Office , it was ridiculous

a — F ebru ry 21 . I was surprised by a memoran dum sent in from the Horse Guards appointing some Major-General to the Lieutenant-Governor

of i ship Berwick, and signed by the K ng , the very appointment which I had given directions to be

flu ster left vacant . The paper threw me into a ; I considered the step as a premeditated outrage on

the part of Lord Hill . Lord Althorp consulted

Lord Grey and found he knew of the appointment .

This was still more astounding . We both agreed

it was a most unaccountable infatuation . Lord Althorp said that Lord Grey was getting

more intractable than ever, he had sworn and was in a towering passion said his friends would not

back him , and made obstacles of trumpery matters .

He agreed , however , to suspend the gazetting ,

which, to be sure , he could not help , for I would

n ot sign it . He sent several letters for Althorp ’

M. s c H . to read to me , all onveying sentiments on

passing politics , and on the garrison vote and the

two Fitzclarence appointments . I never heard MINISTERIAL TROUBL ES

N ot such rigmarole , inconclusive nonsense . one

of word said about the House Commons , but merely a discussion on the abstract right of the

King to name to these two places . It made me despair of any good result to find such blindness

at headquarters . I told Lord Althorp it would be better for me

‘ of u n easi to retire . I was a source nothing but ness to him and the Government . But he said that I gave him strength and enabled him to fight

up against Lord Grey . He told me that Lord Grey was always resolved

’ in the Duke of Wellington s time not to come

. in , of which there was some talk , without Reform

an d of Parliament , that Reform was to be a good and not a half measure . This bargain he made with the King when he accepted office. Lord Althorp told me it was but due to Lord Grey

u to say this , but that it was tr e Lord Grey had since been too delicate in his intercourse with the

King , and acted in perfect ignorance of the House of Commons . Lord Hill is preparing resistance to my Minute of v him Council , but Sir W . Gordon has ad ised to yield with a good grace , as the arrangement

so . is inevitable . I hope it is The turmoil , w intrigue , and perpetual discord bet een the

Horse Guards and War O ffice are incredible . J Sir ames Kempt , to whom I hinted what was N b . o w passing , would not elieve me , however ,

on e of . the plot thickens , and us must give way L ONDON

A d1 V1 s1 0 n took place in the House of Commons

’ on a motion of Whittle Harvey s for directing the Speaker to give correct lists of majority and

. minority Lord Althorp , in the morning , had said , that for a wise man like Harvey he thought it the most foolish motion he had ever heard of, and yet 9 2 Members voted for it and only 1 4 2 a gainst it . This disconcerted some of us on the

Treasury Bench . Horne said it seemed the House of Commons would vote anything to catch a little popularity , even if it turned the Ministers out . I owned that I did not like the complexion of

Parliament , for although in great questions the

M on new embers seemed to feel correctly , yet small points , and more especially on money

o f matters , no Government would be sure a majority again .

’ a 22 -At F eb ru r . y King s Levee , which was very full . The Swedish Minister told me that their army was not now punished by flogging . He had been Minister of War and had opposed the abolition of striking soldiers , but the result had

for w proved he was wrong , the S edish army had gained in discipline since the abolition . In the House of Commons to -day Sir Henry Hardinge announced to me his determined hostility to my suspension of his tenpenny pension and to ! my new warrant . This is pleasant What with — Hume , Davies , and Hardinge in Parliament and

Lord Hill , Lord Grey , and the King out of Parlia — ment I shall have opposition enough ; to say

R X IV L ONDON C AP. . that there are certain places exclusively in his

personal gift , and nothing can persuade him to

the contrary . F Dining at the I heard that Lord . F itzclarence had given up his place .

F ebru a r 25 — I y . received a note from Lord Grey telling me I must not leave ou t the two

appointments , Berwick and Kinsale , in my esti

mate , without explaining why the omission was

to made the King , and calling the saving

to trumpery . Althorp wrote a note telling me

o n . take my w course . This put me in a fury I had signed the Estimates leaving o u t the appoint ments at the express order of Lord Althorp as the settled by Cabinet, and here comes Lord Grey throwing the whole business on me to squabble N d about with the King . othing coul be more

unfair, but what could I do , the whole arrange ment being made and the Estimates signed

ru ar 26 — I F eb y . went to the King and showed

of him my list garrison appointments . The first thing he told me was that he had filled up Berwick

hi an d and Kinsale that morning . I said not ng ,

of we went over the list garrisons .

The King then sent for Sir Herbert Taylor, and desired him to state the position of English officers s f and the ju tice o upholding them . I said I was not afraid of the reasoning of my Parliamentary

opponents but only afraid of their votes , and I expressed my fear that some of the garrison

appointments would be negatived . The King ECONOMIES REAL ISED

of said he was aware the feeling , and if it became general the Government could not stand ; that he thought a change of Government in the present f state of a fairs the worst thing that could happen . He said he had mixed a great deal with the world

out and endeavoured to find facts , and trusted he was as well acquainted with them as could be

expected in his position . He had done all he

could to economise the public money , but he de

tested paltry savings . He spoke of Hume as a

bad man , and alluded to his Obj ection to the F itzclarence appointments as unhandsome . We had a good deal more talk without my

advancing a step as to the appointments , and I went away very civilly but very unsatisfactorily

treated .

I stated to Sir Herbert Taylor , as I was leaving ,

of the gross impolicy filling up the appointments ,

and when I . told him I had the orders of Lord

Althorp and the Cabinet not to fill them , he stared and said Lord Grey had not said a word

on to the King the subject , and offered to go M back and convey my sentiments to H . . He

went to the King , and returned shortly saying ’ H M s I knew . . inclinations , but I might use my

o wn discretion , either insert the appointments in

the Estimates or not . I thought this treatment

to i handsome , and I eventually decided est mate the sums and put Vacant to the appoint

ments . This evening I laid my Estimates and my X IV L ONDON CRAP .

18 3 n ew on of of 3 . Warrant the table the House

Commons .

F ROM BOOK , RECOLLECTIONS . — F eb ru a ry 27 The debate in the House on the

on Irish Coercion Bill had not come until late . ’ on It went languidly till ten o clock , when

on e of Stanley rose , and made the most impres

sive speeches ever heard in Parliament . His ’ ’ closing invective against O Con n ell s late b e haviour moved nearly the whole House from

the benches ; and , when he sat down , cries were ’ for O Con n ell heard from all sides to explain . ffl He did make the attempt, and shu ed out

a shabby, but impudent, explanation of his

on scoundrel speech , which drew him volleys ” of Ahs O hs of and , and every token disgust

saw and contempt . I never a man so completely

put down .

Ma rc h 1 — on . The debate the Coercion Bill still

of going on . I had an opportunity seeing how completely an Irish Member acted under some

of sort compulsion ; for Henry Grattan , showing

to me a petition the King to dismiss his Ministers ,

or said , I wish to heaven you would hang shoot

’ O Con n ell , and pass some Algerine Act if you l like , but not this Bi l . The same gentleman ,

of n , o the same evening , made the most furious all the furious speeches made against us and ou r

Irish measures . But those who remember him

on will recollect that, when his legs , he seemed

AP . XIV L ONDON CR .

1 8 3 3 . The shouts of laughter with which this message

was received enlivened a dull debate .

on M 1 2 The debate closed arch , and the

majority , curiously enough , amounted to the 4 66 8 9 same numbers as before , to .

Ma rc h 1 3 — I - . heard to day that Lord Durham

had resigned the Privy Seal , and was to be made d an Earl . His resignation was attribute to ill fl health and family af ictions .

Ma rc h 1 4 — M . inisters received a check in the

Commons this evening , for Charles Wynn would n ot allow them to read their Irish Church Reform i B ll a second time , suggesting that it was a Money Bill and must be referred previously to a Com

mittee disc omfited . I found my masters very much .

to Lord Althorp said me , Well , master , we have

ou r put foot in it this time and Stanley said ,

1 s This a blunder .

FROM DIARY 5 — I Ma rc h 1 . went to a meeting about the

r of ro epeal House and Window Tax , which I p

mise d to support , and which I must support,

of let what will come it . Indeed , I think this will be a good occasion for resigning my odious

r e ea t on 22n d office . I must vote for p the . I

n ot have promised so to do repeatedly, and I do

to W wish do otherwise , foolish as it ould appear to leave the Government for such a cause ; but the real d ifficulties of my position make this fair pre

‘ of text such as it is expedient to avail myself . A DEADL OCK

h 3 t e 1 8 3 . Here is Mutiny Bill, which I have not got ready and which I shall not be able to carry as I

to wish , to add my difficulties . I have had a very civil letter from the King , but what can that do for me ?

“

F . ROM BOOK , RECOLLECTIONS

Ma rc h 23 — I . wrote to Lord Hill , stating my

of m intention abolishing regi ental flogging , except in cases of mutiny under arms ; and I transmitted at the same time an excellent letter written to

on me by Robert Grant the same subject . I felt that this was bringing ou r differences to a crisis and that, if Lord Hill played his cards well , he would get rid of me— if I was supported by the

of Cabinet , I should get rid him . That we could n ot both of us retain ou r present positions was quite clear .

a h 25 —I M rc . went to Lord Althorp and told him Lord Hill would n ot consent to my proposal about regimental flogging . He was more per

lexe d p than I had ever before seen him . He said , A y, I now do believe we are at a deadlock . I ” on can go no longer .

to He then told me that , all appearance , the

on Cabinet was the eve of dissolution . Stanley would not stay at the Irish O ffice ; Goderich O would not move from the Colonial ffice . He would not move the West India question if Goderich stayed at the Colonial O ffice ; and the

on if ou Government could not go Stanley went t . L ONDON

s e I a ked why all this was to tak place, merely

e to b cause Goderich was not told move . It seemed that Lord Grey did not like to make this

— an proposal to Goderich amiable delicacy, but a weakness where such vast interests were at stake . The fact was that Lord Grey was tired with his official life . Lady Mary Wood told me her father had resolved not to continue at the head of affairs after the next July .

a 26 — I M rc h . had a letter from Lord Hill

n refusi g to accede to my proposal . I went at once to Lord Althorp , left the letter and Robert

’ Grant s letter with him, and told him to inform Lord Grey I could n ot present the Mutiny Bill unless the clause proposed by me was inserted in “ it . Lord Althorp said , Very well , I will send a b ox to Lord Grey directly . I returned to the

O flic e c ertu s eun di War , more tranquil ; , as I thought . — Ma rc h 27 I prepared for bringing on the

for was Estimates , and announcing that I no - - longer Secretary at War . I went to the House , but had not been there five minutes when Graham

came in , and , seating himself next to me , said ,

J . e vous salue , mon ami I asked him what “ for . : It is all settled , he said no Estimates - — — to night no Mutiny Bill all is right . Stanley

and you are where you ought to be .

At House of Commons . Lord Althorp beckoned ’

. to me , and we retired behind Solomon s Porch He said that Lord Grey had desired him to

L N A . X IV ONDO CR P .

at of of e Seal once , for fear some change purpos and the Seal was crammed into the pocket of

who Goderich , complained bitterly to Lord

Durham , saying , Why should Stanley have my ’ ” place ? why n ot Melbourne s ? He was somewhat m ollified when he heard there was a salary attached to it , and he then asked if there was any patronage belonging to it . He had since

for been asking Lord Grey several things ; but , as Lord Durham said , he ought to have done this before he gave up the seals . I laughed heartily at the story, which I tell as it was told to me . E dward Ellice came to me , and showed me a letter from Lord Grey , pressing him to take the O War ffice . I urged him strongly to give an affirmative answer . Ellice was much more fit for this office than I could pretend to be . He knew how to manage men , which I never could do ; and I w as persuaded that his intercourse with the military authorities would be more smooth than

or mine had been , ever could be ; and to this must be added his near connection with Lord

Grey , and the influence he possessed over that most influential statesman . il 3 —I ’ A r . p . went to the King s Levee I found

'

His Majesty not in the pleasantest of humours , and rather sleepy . However , he recovered his

- r usual good humou , and began to talk about

n . Irela d . He asked me if I had ever been there — He told me there were two parties there R e - R AP . C . XIV R E ELECTED FOR WESTMINSTER

— pealers and Saints and he liked the latter as little as the former . I told His Majesty that I wished to express my acknowledgments for my new appointment . O h He said , , as for that as much as to “ You ow e say , that to my advisers . I bowed away as quickly as I could , and learnt from Lord Althorp afterwards that Lord Grey had found the King in a bad temper .

ou t of Poor Lord Goderich , when he came the e clos t , after resigning the seals , looked half in tears . I was re -elected for Westminster without oppo sitiou . il 6 -I O Ap r . removed to the Irish ffice in

do Queen Street . I had endeavoured to my duty

-at- as Secretary War, and had attempted several reforms , which would have been successful had

I been seconded by the Government . My Pension u Warrant , if not superseded by my s ccessors , would produce a great n ational saving when it came into operation . All the arrears which en cumbered the Office when I came into it had been cleared away , and the establishment had been reduced from seventy-three to sixty-two

n clerks , the number fixed by Sir He ry Hardinge . Considering that it was my first experiment of — official life f or I never had held any subordinate — office I was pleased to think that I had not

of disappointed my friends . I had many tokens regard from those who served under me , and even the Heads of Departments on the other side of LONDON the archway wrote and said several civil things on my retirement . Lord Hill himself, good man , was very friendly . I found a great change in the establishment

of two in Queen Street, which consisted only clerks and three messengers . Having been so m O fi ad irably seconded and assisted at the War f ce , I felt rather forlorn in my new abode ; but ’

Stanley s private secretary promised to help me , ’ Mr O H an lan and . , the counsel attached to the t ofiic e o . , came instruct me

F ROM DIARY . l 1 2 —M Ap ri . y first duty at the was to correspond with Lord Anglesey about proclaiming

Kilkenny and suppressing the Volunteers . He

for was doing both at once , but Lord Grey and myself wrote to him to wait for some act of the

Volunteers before issuing the proclamation . As for Kilkenny , it must be proclaimed at once .

ril 1 6 —I Ap . took my seat at the morning

n . sitti g of the House of Commons The Speaker,

O u t shaking hands , said to me , of the frying pan into the fire .

2 — of Ap ril 2 . Attwood Birmingham brought forward his motion on currency as connected with national distress . He was Violent and virulent . mi Lord Althorp answered him ad rably , and moved that a change would be inexpedient and dangerous . l 2 — re Ap ri 3 . The debate on currency was

LONDON

1 8 3 3 . Hobhouse , this time we have escaped ; we are out

n ow He seemed quite happy , and told me that

n ot f or he had been so well a long time . Those of our party who had voted against us

of of were not aware the consequences their vote , w and , when the majority ere cheering at the “ of announcement the numbers , Hume said , Ah ,

ou ou n ot if you knew what y have done , y would

cheer . Althorp had received a letter from the King that morning which contained these words : His Majesty deeply regrets the result of last night ’ s

debate . He most anxiously desires that his con fiden tial servants will surmount their embarrass

of ments in the Cabinet this day .

We had a long talk of who was to come in .

Althorp thought Peel , and perhaps some of the

present set . He told me in strict confidence that he suspected Brougham intended to be Prime

f or Minister, that when Lord Grey and others wanted to make him (Althorp) First Lord of the ? Treasury , Brougham Opposed it strongly ; hence his plan to get rid of the judicial functions of

the Lord Chancellor .

J . Hume has written to Ellice begging Ministers

n ot to resign , assuring him that he and some twenty others of the best supporters of Government

had voted against them last night , but not to turn

out them . They had nothing to do but withdraw ! their Estimates , and make smaller ones I! This n is incredible , but true . Lord Grey does not thi k x ’ Cmm w. A GOOD WOR D F O R O CONNELL

a resignation necess ry , but Althorp persists it is indispensable . ’ I went to Brooks s , and found all in an uproar ; those who had voted against us in despair, and

ou t insisting we ought not to go . They said that Peel and his friends were of the same opinion ; it

' We would be base desertion , etc . had a great

of of deal fun , but some them were serious

of enough and talked revolution and such matters .

n o t They swore we should t go ou . I told them all their swearing would not swear away the

for off resolution taking half the Malt Tax , and ou t o we must g .

This day a large party , chiefly Irish Members of Parliament, dined with me amongst them was

ho Lord Duncannon , w told me something much to

’ f n n ll the credit o O Co e . When the Grey Govern

was ment formed , he was authorised by Lord

’ Anglesey to assure O Con n ell that neither Doherty n or Blackburn should be promoted ; yet, soon afterwards , the first of these gentlemen was made

J of Chief ustice the Common Pleas , and the other ’ - O Con n ell Attorney General . had never com

of plained this , nor even told the story ; and Lord h Duncannon , who would ave been injured by it , was sensibly aflec te d by that unexpected delicacy on of the part the great agitator . Indeed , he ne ver abandoned that extraordinary man nor did

’ O Con n e ll ever speak in public , nor , so far as I

of know , in private , unfavourably Lord Dun cannon . L ONDON

— I Ap ril 28 . went to the Lord Chancellor and asked him whether I was to put off the Irish

Grand Jury Committee . He stared and looked

m e red in the face , as if hesitating to tell . I then said that Lord Althorp had promised to let me

f or know whether men remained in o fice not . O h Brougham said , , to be sure , we must move some milk-and-water resolution to make the House ’ repent of their Friday s folly it would b e absurd

n to go ou t o such a question . He then said that the breaking up of this Admin istration would probably bring about a

of patchwork Government , which Peel would be

a part, and he added this would be a sad thing . I thought his comment was uttered more in the tone of of . M inquiry than reprobation . y suspicion is that he wants some such condition , and will bring it about .

A ril 29 — At of p . the House Commons , I sat

fid e t next to Lord Althorp , who was g y, and actually fretful , which I never before saw him to be in my life . A little after five he rose , and said that he should move an amendment ’ on Sir John Key s motion f or repeal of the

House and Window duties . The amendment stated that the repeal of half the Malt Tax and the whole of the House and Window duties would occasion a large deficiency in the revenue , which could only be supplied by a property

was tax , and that a property tax at that time

inexpedient .

L ONDON

n ection n m , and concluded by sayi g that y resignation was irrevocable ; I could not retract ”

. : on e it Lord Althorp then said Though , as of M the inisters , I have thought it my duty to dissuade you from leaving office , I must , as your friend , say that I think you are right . Your resignation will be a great blow to us it will all but knock up the Government . I ” “ ! said , Pooh ! nonsense Ah , rejoined Lord

ou so Althorp , y may say ; but whom shall we put in your place ? I told Althorp I was in great difficulties about d voting . He then remin ed me how he and I had abused Baring for voting against his con science to please his constituents ; and he asked me whether I really thought it a good thing ! ’ for the country that Sir John Key s motion

N o should be carried I said , ; I think it a very bad thing . Well , then , said he , how ” “ ou for ? can y vote it I said , I would not

f or . vote it, but would resign my seat He owned my position was a very painful on e ; but

of he had never thought it until Monday morning , ” when he was in bed . Lord Grey received me very kindly and very mournfully ; told me he did not know what they should do if I left office suggested what

of had been suggested before , my resigning only my seat, and seeing the effect of that step . I persevered ; said I was very sorry , but I could not help taking the step ; that I gave the best CRAP. XIV. THE CHILTERN HUNDREDS

of of m 8 3 3 possible proof the sincerity my attach ent 1 . to him and his colleagues , by resigning my seat as well as my place . F I went to Sir rancis Burdett , and begged him to move a new writ for Westminster the same evening , I having accepted the Chiltern Hundreds .

I said I had resigned my office , that was done ; and , as for my seat, I could not keep it without voting either against my constituents or against my conscience , so that I had nothing to do but to resign . Seeing he could not alter my deter mination , Burdett undertook this disagreeable task .

to I walked away De Vear, and told him what

I had done . He approved , and we both agreed to bid farewell to Westminster politics , unless indeed the electors should Spontaneously call upon me to serve them again .

I went home . Lord Lansdowne called to dissuade me from leaving oflfic e ; but I looked at the clock , and said that by that time the step was taken .

of I thought over the events this day, and felt sure that in these , the most critical circum

of stances my whole life , I had acted as became

on S of too me ; erring , if anything , the ide great

— of scrupulosity and I felt sure general , if not of universal , approbation . Indeed, it seemed utterly impossible to impute to me any but ' the

for a best motives this double s crifice .

O n 1 to ir Wednesday, May , I wrote S Herbert X IV L ONDON CRAP . .

u Taylor, req esting him to convey my duty and

regrets to the King , for being compelled to quit ’

H M s . . . service I had an answer very soon , telling me that the King deeply lamented the

loss of me , at a moment when my talents and energies would have been so advantageously

of employed in the service the country . I also received complimentary notes from many dis tin gu ished people and an article in the Times

of called the virtue the resignations unparalleled .

Being quite sure that I had done right , I was

pleased that others thought so .

Ma 2 — W on y . Charles ood called me , and I had f a long talk with him . The purport o his visit

was to persuade me to return to office . Lord

’ Grey, at the King s desire , would write such a

letter to me as I might publish . He detailed over and over again the difficulties caused by my

retirement . I told him I did not know what would be

of to thought my return office, as regards West minster ; but as there was to be a meeting at

the Crown and Anchor this evening , perhaps the opinion of the constituency might be collected

there . Some of the papers begin to abuse me, and I hear that many good folks stare and confess they

cannot understand what I meant by resigning . The double sacrifice is incomprehensible ; I must have some motiv e . General Gascoyne told me very gravely that of course I had other reasons

A . L ONDON CR P XIV .

Garden with Lord Ebrington , Duncombe , Stanley , M and other embers of Parliament , together with a

of large body friendly electors . But the moment I got into the Market the disturbance began ; and it was not without difficulty , not to say danger , that I got within the rails of the church portico . The people were ferocious , and , if they

ot had g me down , I should never have risen again .

of I saw many my Committee , well tried through many a varying year , now ranged with my F opponents . earon , the American traveller , said that he began to suspect we had given more Reform than the civilisation of the people would

hear .

I was proposed in the usual way , but when I

to stepped forward speak , I was instantly assailed

of with the most unsavoury missiles , and a storm F hisses and yells . inding I could get no hearing , my friends persuaded me to return to the hotel where my committee wa s sitting .

In the meantime , Evans , and Escott, and

Wakley attacked me furiously . The chief charge against me was for not voting for the repeal

of the House and ! Window duties ; and Evans affected not to believe that I was really ou t of

office . — M P . for a 1 0 . M y . Colonel Evans was returned 2 of 1 5 . Westminster , by a majority of ahead me to It was but poor consolation be told , as I was ,

on e that had the poll been kept open hour longer, Af m ‘ I Should have won the election . ter all y A . CR P XIV . DEFEATED

toils and sacrifices , it appears that there could not be found electors of Westminster to record their Opinion in favour of my public

or of character my private honour , which was clearly involved in the event of the contest . N evertheless I never felt more self-satisfied in my life— never more certain that I had acted as became me , and in a way which would , finally , be creditable to myself and useful to the pub lic fi

of Even at the time I saw, in the applause every honourable man , a certain proof of the opinion m which would ulti ately be formed of me . Pelted by the people , deserted by the electors , abused by the press , and assailed in every way by my

ou t of antagonists , without office and Parliament, I never felt more tranquil in my life than this

own day , at my house , with my wife , and three

’ brothers , and my wife s brother, Lord Thomas

Hay ; and , whilst waiting to hear by how many

n I had lost the electio , I allowed myself the pardonable vanity of reciting a very hackneyed

re u lsae sordidae quotation Virtus p nescia , etc .

My principal friends , De Vear, and Wylde , and u Pouncey, called upon me next day to disc ss the

of i expediency petitioning aga nst the return ,

on which, perhaps , might have been set aside account of some informality ; but I decided against the proposal , and one of my friends went

of to the hustings , at the declaration the numbers ,

n ot and declared that I should dispute the return . L ONDON

Even this did not prevent Colonel Evans from

for having a fling at me ; he said , in his Speech of thanks , that he hoped, if ever he proved

recreant , he might be treated as I had been . Recreant indeed ! When will he give up high

or office , and a year , rather than violate his engagements ?

of But such was the blind Violence the moment , that even the J ohn B u ll newspaper confessed that it could not understand why I had been so abused . Returning from a walk on the day of the declara

of - tion the poll , I found my window shutters closed , and heard that a message had been sent

’ by the police that Colonel E v an s s chairing -pro

' cession would pay me a Visit , and twelve police men were sent to guard me . Contrasting this

n ot with former scenes in Westminster, I could help bursting into a fit of laughter but I thought it advisable to send my wife and children to the

of house a friend . The triumphant procession did n ot come to my house but drew up before that of my chairman , the worthy De Vear . They pelted

n o . it a little , but did mischief

O n Ma 1 2 y I went to Send Grove , and was joined by my wife and children in a few days . I heard that my door-knocker had not been silent for half an hour since I left London . — 1 5 I . May . had a letter from Sir G Shee ,

- of i Under Secretary State , hop ng I would return

to office and find a seat in the summer . I sent back to say that I was not enamoured of martyr

CHAPTER XV

F ROM DIARY .

Ma 22 —I of y . dined with the Duchess Kent . J There were upwards of thirty at table . Sir ames Graham and Lord John Russell were of the party . It was the first time I had seen them fi since I had quitted of ce .

I had a good deal of talk with Sir J . Conroy on personal politics and characters of He told me he once heard Joseph Hume recommend the Duke of Kent to be content with keeping on e - horse chaise for the Duchess , at which the

u Duke la ghed very heartily . He asked me if I thought Hume meant mischief . I said , De id l c e d . y not He agreed with me . H R H He told me that . . . had taken a great interest in the Westminster election , and was exceedingly vexed at the result . She was most

to particularly attentive me . Indeed , I must say that every on e I see endeavours to repair

of the injustice my late constituents , so far as praise can repair it . I never met with a warmer

on e — ac reception in my life from every friend ,

n quaintance , and stra ger . — ’ May 24 . Went to the Children s Ball at 3 1 4 CRAP . XV . ASPECTS OF WELLINGTON

J ’ : . St . ames s Palace a Very beautiful sight I had a most gracious reception from all , par tic u larl of old y Tories , and some my masters .

This being Derby week , there was little done — in Parliament ; but I remark two votes on e on Corn Laws and another on House and Window — on . Tax which , if I had been in the House , I should have been obliged to go against the Ministers : so how could I have held office ?

of The more I think the course I pursued , the more I feel sure that I did what was right ; nay, more , the only thing that was right . — ’ May 26 . I dined at Lord Sligo s : a pleasant

. to party I sat next Lady Clanricarde , and was trying to find ou t the resemblance between her

n ot and Canning . I could , however . She said on e or two agreeable and sensible things , and A seemed to have a humorous turn . s a specimen ’ of young Lady Salisbury s good sense , she told me that the Tory Marchioness had said that the Duke of Wellington had no taste about women ; “ she n o to so though , added , I have right say ,

I am sure . ’ Ma 28 — - m y . Went to the Queen s Drawing Roo

’ to a celebrate the King s birthd y . The King looked cold enough , the Queen particularly

on e gracious ; all very friendly , save , who turned on his heel ; and who was he ? The Duke of

hO e for Wellington . I p , his sake , I made a a mist ke .

Ma 3 1 — I y . dined with Lady Davy, and met X V LONDON CRAP . .

1 8 3 3 . of Lucien Buonaparte , the Prince Canino . He pressed my hand and said handsome things on

being introduced to me . He looked to me very like his wonderful

of brother , particularly in the lower part his

to face . He was more than polite me , and ,

sitting next to me , talked with a frankness that

was very pleasing. He said that there was no reason to fear a revolution in England ; but he

for F would not answer rance . He added that N F apoleon knew rance better than any one , and confessed that he and his Republican friends had

been wrong . He thought Waterloo had ruined N Europe . Had apoleon been victorious , he would have governed constitutionally and peaceably ; at

least, he said he would , and Lucien believed him . ’ Lady Dudley Stuart, Lucien s daughter , was

on e of , : the party a very pleasing woman , but

n ow very plain . Lord Stuart de Rothsay and

his wife dined with us ; he , as usual , was very

an d agreeable . Lord Kerry Lord Russell were — both there very young , and made me feel very ld o .

’ I afterwards went to an Assembly at Lady

’ Grey s . Lord Grey received me most kindly,

to as , be sure, he ought .

Ju n e 1 9 — of . There are rumours of a change

f The Ministers and dissolution O Parliament .

of friends Government, as usual , are the chief propagators of these tales ; the cause assigned is

‘ that the “ Peers will throw out the Church

L ONDON

2 —I Jun e 7 . was asked to attend a Committee to answer questions respecting the duties of - — Secretary at War . I almost made up my mind

to to not attend , as I knew the intention was extract evidence from me against the military authorities at the Horse Guards , and there were ’

. s on n o less than four M P . the Committee who

of f had already been at the head the War O fice . 2 — Ju n e 8 . After some consideration I went to the Committee , and all went smoothly till Hume asked me whether the Commander -in -Chief had

of for opposed any my proposals reduction . I

n hi declined to a swer that question , as t s would

of betray the secrets official intercourse , and the

question was afterwards withdrawn . N o man ever made greater eff orts than myself

of to control the power the military authorities ,

to -at- and , had I been listened , the Secretary War

would have become an independent Minister . But I would not consent to abuse my ofiicial experi ence by making it the foundation of charges against those with whom I had been in confidential

l a t intercourse . I would willingly and fearless y c

' the office upon the knowledge I gained , when in ;

i n ot out of but I w ll tell tales school , which

n ot O n would produce the desired reforms . the

of m contrary, some y details might be incorrect,

my inferences wrong . Hardinge and others would contradict me ; their authority might be thought

better than mine , and my disclosures would retard h N instead of advancing t e public cause . ever Ca n XV . . R ESIGNATION AND AFTERj theless I of shall , course , be much abused by 1 8 3 3 . ’ ”

N . the worthy Radicals . importe - ’ u l 2 . J y . Dined at Paul Methuen s A House - of for M. P Commons party, very dull an ex . Burdett again expressed his discontent at my

W J . giving up estminster , so did ames Brougham

I said , as the girl did who ran away with the footman , I would do it again if it were to be done again . Burdett said that so far as I was concerned there was nothing to be said , but he had been so long in the habit of considering only

of the public good , that he never thought his own character or convenience .

N ow this is all very well , but how can the public good be advanced by the ruin of individual reputation ? I might have retained my office

b u t and my seat and voted with Government , after so shameless a contrast between my repeated

to - assurances my constituents , and my after con W duct in Parliament , what eight could I ever have given to any Government, or to any party, or to any cause ? I might indeed have retained my seat and opposed Government , and I some times think this would have been preferable to throwing open Westminster to an adventurer, and thereby degrading the Metropolitan con stituen c y . But who could have foreseen that , after my double sacrifice , the electors should be

n ot so imposed upon as to treat me , as a martyr to ow n of my notions scrupulous honour , which

I was ; but as a traitor to themselves , and a L ONDON

deserter of my principles ? Had I thought such

a mistake possible , it is likely I should have hesitated much more than I did before I resigned

f or of my seat, it must be confessed the result the last contest cannot but be prejudicial to the

public interests . There wanted not another

of example public ingratitude . It is some com

n ow fort, however, that the question seems to be tolerably well understood . The gallant Colonel is not raised , I am not lowered in public estima

of tion , and the electors Westminster will probably take the first opportunity of showing that they

of have recovered from the error the moment . ’ Ju l 4 — y , Dined at David Baillie s met there

Lord Tavistock , with whom I had a good deal of of e conversation on the state the Cabin t . He told me Lord John Russell is not pleased with

of the doings Government, and once had almost

' at resigned . There must be a change the close of the Session .

Ju l 6 —I y . have read a little lately , chiefly lounging books ; but I cannot say I take very

of readily to study after years public turmoil . The business of Office has also given a different turn and tone to my mind . I hope , however,

to to be able to return books in good earnest, unless I should return to my old occupation . l — ’ Ju . y 7 . Dined at H Stephenson s . Duke and

of of Duchess Cleveland , Duke Sussex , etc . , there a re tt p y Sunday party . The Duke of Cleveland showed us the letter

L ONDON

m the Countess in a very intelligible anner . A - singular bye road to fame , and yet Lord Harrington mu st love notoriety ; nothing else f can account or such troublesome vagaries . He is a pleasing , agreeable , and , in most respects , a very sensible man . We had a weary time of - it till half past ten . In the drawing -room were on e or two more

Mrs ladies , and . S . Whitbread amongst them .

i . e . We had music , a song from the Countess , ’ — the Jews harp performer a curious exploit and James Smith with his etern al Sirname

song . I had a long talk with Tavistock on the state f ff o a airs . He seemed persuaded that the present Ministerial arrangement neither could nor ought to last beyond the Session . He was against any measure that would annihilate the power of the

of House Peers . He told me that the plan was for Abercromby to move and Grote second a resolution or address to the King , if the Church Reform Bill were

out of thrown , expressive of the wish the Commons for His Maj esty to take some steps to prevent

two i . e . cr ea te a collision between the Houses ,

to P eers . If the present Ministers are remain

f . in o fice , such a step appears inevitable 5 — It Ju ly 1 . appeared very clearly by the O pposition papers this morning that the Peers

so had given way , far as the second reading was

concerned . . X CRAP V. ORLEANS HOUSE

th Z Went to e oological Gardens and saw Mr .

Sabine , who told me that the year before last the Society had taken in shillings , but only this year . He said that all the

of keepers were country folk , sons gamekeepers , — etc . ; no menagerie men they had found them

to be rogues .

u l 1 6 — J y . This day we went to Twickenham to the villa recently inhabited by Sir George k P oc oc e O . , and now called rleans House It

re was a delightful residence , open and yet tired ; not a building was to be seen from ou r

ou r . O ur own terrace , or from windows smooth

of lawn , the lovely Thames , the avenues Ham,

of of the meadows Petersham , the woody slopes

Richmond Hill , seemed to belong to us alone , and made for ou r enjoyment ; and the tranquillity

of the retreat, after London , was in itself the

of charm charms . During this season I went into society more

n o than I had been for many years , and had

to reason regret my retirement from public life . l — 1 J . Ju y 1 7 I had a letter from E . Littleton “ f yesterday , telling me he likes his o fice much ,

and contemplates official deposition with pain .

N ow n o this is just the man for office . He has

reputation to lose , and has what are called habits

to of business , without any anxiety excel in

Parliament .

1 E L C S t L L dward John ittleton , hief ecre ary to the ord ieutenant I 3 5 H 1 8 . of reland, created Baron atherton L . ONDON CRAP XV .

u l 22 —I J y . am employed in looking over — newspapers since 1 8 20 a tiresome and n ot so instructive an employment as I should have

thought . I find , however , as far as myself is

concerned , that with my present experience I t should n o have acted always as I have done .

? to Indeed , who would Yet I have nothing regret or blame in the general tenor of my

of of conduct, and least all towards the people

Westminster, to whom I have devoted the best years of my life .

ul 2 — J y 7 Sharp work in the Lords . Govern

on on e ment beat important clause in Committee , but Lord Grey said it would be folly to go ou t upon it .

to d Lord Tavistock came us to ay . He said if

Government were to restore the amended clause ,

b n ot they would e beat ; if , they will carry their

Bill . Ellice tells me Lord Grey will not attempt

of any change , and the Duke Wellington is sick

f r of opposition and sighs o repose . l 3 1 — Ju y . The Lords passed the second reading of the Irish Church Reform Bill by a large f f 59 . o or . majority , The Duke Wellington it 1 —M A ugust 7 . y friend Lord Althorp declared the other day that it was his intention to give up the House Tax the next Session of Parliament .

Had he told me this , I should not have had all my troubles , but he did not know it .

u u t 20 — I A g s . have been debating what I shall do with myself during the autumn an d winter .

A . LONDON CR P XV .

1 8 3 3. look at my young wheat most days . I go out with a gun in my hand and toil between five and

or seven hours , and bring home little nothing . I

go to church , and am civil to the neighbours .

In short , I do what is usually done , and perhaps might be well contented to continue the experiment ’

if my wife s health permitted me ; but Dr . Warren

informed me I must remove her, if only for a

short time , and accordingly I am going from

to- this place morrow to London .

N ov ember 1 4 — I R en dles . went with my wife to

’ ham , where my wife s brother , Lord Thomas Hay ,

of was rector the parish .

N ovember 1 — 7 Heard Hay preach . Like most

’ other preachers he is a good fellow , and we won t talk of his sermon

N ov ember 23 — . Returned to London , and got

permission from Dr . Warren for my wife to make

another trial of Basildon .

D ecember 2 —I . met my old acquaintance

Macaulay , who , to my surprise , told me that he was going to India as Legislative Member of

the Calcutta Council . This , he said , would make

a vacancy at Leeds , and he hoped I would think f o it . Macaulay told me that it was all very fine f M P . or for him to be . Leeds and Secretary to

of the Board Control ; but, not having a shilling

in the world , he found Parliament was not the

for place him , and he was resolved to make

money enough to ensure an independence . Six X . V CRAP . MACAULAY years in India would satisfy his wants he should

old not, at his return , be more than forty years , and he might return to public life .

to He then declaimed against Stanley , whom he allowed the highest capacity in almost every respect, except that of seeing what was beneficial for the country ; and who therefore , even more than W . Pitt , seemed born for the destruction of the aristocracy , by his honest , uncompromising defence of them . He Spoke of Brougham as everybody else speaks M of him , saying that when he ( acaulay) came into Parliament , Brougham , because not consulted , turned his back on him . So I see my friend Macaulay is not pleased with his position or his masters . — D ecember 3 . C . Wood wrote to ask me if I

or would stand for Huddersfield Leeds . Lord

J . on Tavistock , Lord Russell , and Ellice hint the same subject . The truth is it will not do for me who has been chosen seven times for

Westminster, without solicitation , to become a canvasser , and I will not .

m r 4 — J D ece be , Colonel ones called ; he is much changed for the better . He told me some anecdotes of the scoundrels who conduct ou r daily press .

Alderman Harmer, the attorney , who sits on

the London bench to punish petty larceny, gets or a year by being proprietor of the

' Weelcl D is a tch y p , a paper which thrives on the L m D C . XV ON ON .

worst of all crimes : the destruction of private and public character .

D e — cember 6 . Ellice having told me as a great secret that the King had granted a Commission

to him and Russell , and several others , to inquire into the practicability of consolidating the Civil

of A Departments the rmy under a Board , I

wrote to him to tell him another secret, namely,

d of own that the sai project was a child my , left ffi in the cradle when I quitted o ce , as he would m learn fro a Memorial drawn up by me . It is a good joke affecting to forget all the efforts I made to effect this

— a 1 1 8 3 4 . J n ua r . y , Another year May it prove less disastrous than the last ! 6 — J a n ua r . y The consolidation scheme , after a great struggle, is given up . I thought so ! hi Early in t s year George Lamb , my old di opponent in Westminster, ed . He and I had

on latterly been very friendly terms , and I much

' regretted his loss . Ellice wrote to say that Lord fi Howick was to succeed him in his of ce . I had letters inviting me to stand for Bridge o water , East Somerset, Maryleb ne , Devizes , and on e or two other constituencies . I answered

on own ° uniformly , Yes , but my terms no

n o . canvassing , pledges , no promising , no lying Being a party to the passing of the Reform Bill as a final measure (so far as we were con cerned) , I never could support any essential

L ONDON

The Lord Althorp very quietly replied , honour f able gentleman is one o them . A committee was appointed to examine into the general truth e of the charge , and Sheil was fully acquitt d . Lord Althorp made an apology in the House of

‘ b ut b ein Commons ; , g acquainted with the whole

’ Althor s transaction and the origin of Lord p error, I did n ot think he made so manly an avowal of his mistake as he might have done . But it is

to sa of a good deal y a man , who played so con s icu ou s p a part as Lord Althorp , that he made only one false move in his whole career .

F ROM DIARY .

' ’ F ebrua r 24 — W y . ent to the Queen s Drawing

Room . Introduced for the first time to Ada — Byron ; she is a large , coarse skinned young ’ of woman , but with something my friend s features , particularly the mouth . I was exceed l in g y disappointed . — Ma r h 8 . c . Dining with Sir G Shee , I met

B orn st ern e Prince Lieven , Count j j , Dedel , Bulow,

of J . Duke Richmond , Lord Lansdowne , Lord l Russell , Littleton , Spring Rice , P . Thomson ,

Sullivan , Lord Cawdor , and Lord Palmerston ; so the that , excepting Lord Cawdor , I was only - n on offi cial guest present .

I had a long conversation with Littleton . He

1 Charles Edward Poulett Thomson was then President of the H e S 1 8 4 0 Board of Trade . was created Baron ydenham in , and 1 8 4 1 died in . CRAP . XV. MEN AND MINISTERS

told me he liked the Irish , but owned that he could put little faith in any Catholic , almost all J were esuits , nor could he find much help in any official man . Plunket was grasping and shabby , rash at first and timid afterwards . He told me

On he could not have gone with Lord Anglesey , vain and rash , and taking no counsel . He had a scene with him shortly after coming to Dublin . O f Lord Wellesley he spoke in high terms . He ’ O Con n ell said that , if he had quarrelled with at

of the beginning the Session , the Estimates would not have been passed yet, but the quarrel would soon come .

“

In short, I see it is with him as it was with me .

He is not master . He was very civil , and said

that he was sorry I had not gone to Ireland , I

should have just suited the Irish .

n P ou lett Thomson then had a lO g talk with me . Said things could n ot go on much longer ; they

might get through the Session . He believed Tories would come in before a good Government

’ was formed . He condemned Graham s conduct, and as usual declaimed against the Duke of

Richmond . He abused the Cabinet Ministers for

making no arrangements during the long holidays , A but shooting , etc . He thought lthorp the best

of but them , condemned his indecision . Althorp said at the close of the Session that nothing should induce him to meet Parliament again as

of Chancellor the Exchequer , yet there he is .

ou lett i me a P Thomson agreed w th that, if L ONDON CRAP . XV .

18 3 4 - . dissolution took place to morrow , the present M M inistry , as inisters , would not have a majority .

I see that he , like Littleton , is also a reluctant

of labourer, but both them will grumble and

o go n . - ’ Ma r c h 9 . Dined at Lord Holland s . Lord

Holland told me that Mr . F ox thought shy

of men were fond public speaking . I said ,

F X . O . o Yes , and begin with Mr himself L rd

F ox Holland said that was true ; Mr . was shy in company until he had got a footing there by

a few sentences . Another saying Lord Holland told us : that a silent man was n ot to be trusted

with a secret . — I ’ a rch 1 3 . M . went to Lady Grey s assembly f on o . Lord Grey was , that day, seventy years age I said a few words to him on the occasion “

m . Yes , said he, many gone , and few to co e I thought I had more than once remarked of Lord Grey that he had a melancholy turn of mind but I had not then learnt that this belongs to old age

more than to individual despondency .

a r h 20 — M c . Lord Tavistock has written a letter to me begging to know what I think of the pro priety of some of the Cabinet r e tiring to save

their character, because they differ from Lord

Grey and do n ot approve of his timidity . He begs me to answer him without showing that he

has asked me the question . I did answer him ,

‘ earn est an d rec om half in jest, half in , did not m mend retire ent .

LONDON bidding for the leadership of the House of

Commons , and is likely to get it . — ’ h 23 . l Ma r . O o d c Dined at W rd s . Met my J friends Lady ane and Lady Fanny Harley .

Wofully changed .

F L ROM BOOK , RECO LECTIONS .

A ril 1 8 — I o p . hear great apprehensi ns are entertained respecting the intended procession of the Trades Unions with their petition to Lord

Melbourne in favour of the Dorchester convicts . But the putting down of the attempts at in su r rection at Lyons and Paris has tranquillised the alarmists in London . The Government, however ,

for have prepared a possible commotion , and some light guns have been paraded through Hyde Park J ’ to St . ohn s Wood . — ’ Ap ril 21 . The Trades Unions procession

o F to marched from C penhagen ields Whitehall .

I saw them ; they were in good order , six abreast, and were about two hours and a half passing

n ot Whitehall . They were quite Orderly, and did

shout . Dr . Wade , in full canonicals , marched O before them, accompanied by wen, the philan

thro ist . p , as some called him The petition ,

signed , it was said , by names , was carried ffi by fiv e bearers to the doors of the Home O ce .

Lord Melbourne refused to receive it . The pro

on cession moved over Westminster Bridge , and halted in the open space in front of the new ’ A de Bedlam . fter learning what Melbourne s ’ 3 3 5 m . E SS I C xv . TR TRADES UNIONS PROCE ON

ision T c had been , they separated quietly he police and the soldiers were kept ou t of sight ; so were all the special constables ; and the usual sentries at the Horse Guards were withdrawn . Joseph Hume was foolish enough to ride down

of Parliament Street by the side the procession ,

n t a but was o noticed . The numbers that m rched in procession were calculated at from to

of fin e- Some them were looking fellows , — and well dressed ; but the great majority very

d - of poorly cla , and meagre looking . All sorts absurd rumours were afloat as to these poor

c of people . A near conne tion mine told me that of them carried stilettoes I did not believe that stilettoes could be found in all — o England no, nor in all Eur pe .

FROM DIARY . We kept ou r servants at home and I believe

most families did the same , but when I went out I could not perceive that the procession had f o . Stopped the usual business the streets This ,

on of m so however, was the case the line arch ,

I heard . N otwithstanding this display of physical force

off of has passed quietly , a repetition such scenes

is not to be tolerated , and I trust something will

to be done prevent it . I think some of my Tory

friends are half sorry that blood was not spilt ; anything that can damage the Government is

to a n d n o acceptable them , they w affect to pity L AP . X V ONDON CR . the poor Unionists as being deceived by Lord Melbourne ; others amongst them assert that a great part of the procession was armed .

A ril 22 — I on p . called Lady Holland , and had a conversation with her about my resignation of last April . She told me I was missed every night in Parliament .

on who I called Lord Durham , has returned from Paris . He seemed much pleased with his l tour, and talked as if he had rea ly been negotiating

on n ot of some commercial treaty behalf , the

English Government , but the English people . He said that when the D u e de Broglie went ou t of F , the great anxiety the rench Cabinet was to know who would be most acceptable to

England as a successor to the Duke , and that his

. to opinion was eagerly asked Indeed , to listen

ou my worthy friend , y would think he was already the power he expects to be in the

of kingdom come the little Princess .

’ O Con n ell brought on his motion in the House

for of of Commons Repeal the Union . Spring

Rice , in an admirable speech of six hours , established his reputation . The motion was 560 3 negatived by to 8 . l 24 — I ’ A ri . p read , for the first time , Dumont s

Souvenirs sur Mirabeau , the most interest ing work I ever read on the subject , and throwing an entirely new light on the events f and characters o the early Revolution . The

of selfishness , trickery, and unscrupulousness

A . L ONDON CR P XV.

this S ession éin spite of the Times ; asked me to

’ come to his wife s assembly that evening , where

to of there was , he said , be a party choisi , which

n ot he should know half a dozen . What can this queer man mean by lying about such a trifle ? He reminds me often of what Lady Bolingbroke said of Pope : he will play the

. politician about cabbages and turnips . I went ’ to the Chancellor s and had a pleasant evening .

Ma 9 — y . Edward Ellice dined with us alone ;

’ gave me an account of Lord Durham s mission to the Paris , and the unbelievable vanity of man ; but it is true they were both very much feasted , and that King , Ministers , and Deputies , all pressed round them to assure them of the

of F good intentions rance towards England . The Poor Law Bill read a second time and

m 3 00 odd passed by an enor ous majority , and

28 Times to . The is furious against the measure , and falls foul of Lord Althorp accordingly .

- May 1 1 . The Lord Chancellor and Lord Advocate of Scotland (Jeffrey) called and read letters from Edinburgh by which it appeared that the electors there , on the expected vacancy by

’ Jeffre s y elevation to the Bench , had resolved to induce me to be candidate for the representation f o their city . Brougham and Abercromby urged me very J f strongly to come forward , and e frey explained

the Church question , which, he said was all

that I should have to be explicit about . But ’

R AP X V. C . O CONNELL AN D IRELAND

a 18 3 4 I still held b ck , and concluded by saying that I wished to have a few hours to consider of the matter .

I consulted Lord Tavistock , whom I looked

of upon as more a friend than the other advisers ,

and he was against my going to Edinburgh . I J therefore wrote to effrey saying positively , no .

I took a walk with Burdett , who told me that ’ he had opened a negotiation between O Con n ell ’ O Con n ell and Lord Grey . told Burdett that there was n ow an opportunity of pacifying Ireland ; that if Ministers would but adopt his

Tithe Bill , he would answer for quieting the whole country ; and following up a hint given

own him by Burdett, he confessed his position

n ot to be a disagreeable one, and he would be

to oflic e unwilling take under Lord Grey . He - w would prefer being Attorney General , in hich position he could be of great use to Government by introducing good law reforms . Burdett asked ’ re - O Con n ell if he could be elected . answered ,

N ot f or . for Dublin , but Kerry, yes They then talked of his becoming Master of the Rolls ;

old mi the present Master is an man , and ght make way if raised to the Peerage . This was

of the substance this extraordinary conversation .

B to who urdett went Lord Grey , made no how difficulty as to himself, but asked Stanley would or could sit on the same Bench with ’ O Con n ll AS of e . to making the present Master s K u d n ot r of it the Roll a Peer, the ing wo l hea ; L ONDON CRAP . XV .

F and the negotiation accordingly failed . Sir rancis thought it was scarcely possible to pay too high

acific ation a price for the p of Ireland , which , in his opinion , could be obtained only through ’ ll O Con n e . Lord Tavistock told me this day that the differences created by Lord John Russell ’ s speech as to the Appropriation Clause of the Irish Church

Revenues Bill had been made up . Russell told . Tavistock that Graham is the most difficult man ’ to deal with on this point. Graham met Russell s M f argument by saying , y position is a di ficult on e ; I am a believer l As if Russell and the Liberals in the Cabinet were not ; and as if the Appropriation Clause could be affected on e way

' or the other by his belief . Indeed , some might think the Church Stronger by giving up super

flu ou s revenues . This man cannot be a Minister l n these times much longer , although an excellent

he de burea u c f . 2 — Ma y 1 . Had a note from the Chancellor

on insisting my going to Edinburgh , enclosing

e J l tters from ohn Murray and Gibson Craig , by which it appears that the committees who brought J ff in Abercromby and e rey had met, and come to

an almost unanimous resolution to support me ,

1 n de en den ce giving as reasons my p , and character,

and talents , etc . Charles Wood called and read me several letters

‘ same v iew all concurring in the , and stating that

Sir J the man ohn Hobhouse was popular , and

A V L ONDON CR P . X .

this letter, as the resolutions said nothing either

of or canvassing pledging , so that I was obliged

to to refer my private information , which indeed was decisive enough as to the indispensable

of necessity personal intercourse , canvassing , and

speechifying , in order to gain the election . I think that so far as personal interest is con cerned I may have done wrong so far as character and public duty are to be consulted I have done

right . I should have carried the election easily if I had chosen to adopt the usual means— I mean

of i the cajolery talk ng over the good citizens , and making what Murray in his letter called a good — tr on L iber a l s eech s g p such , for example , as his

n ow to the Leith people, in which he boasted of having voted against Ministers on the Pension

question , for which boast had I been Lord Grey

I would have stopped his appointment .

2 — Mr e on May 7 . Plum r Ward brought a motion that the revenues of the Church in

Ireland exceeded its wants , and that Parliament may deal with the surplus . This motion brought 'Af the differences in the Cabinet to an issue . ter

Mr . Grote had seconded the resolution , Althorp t rose and said that, whils Mr . Grote was speaking , he had received a communication which made it expedient to adjourn the debate and the House until the followin g Monday . He could not then tell them what that communication had been ; but he threw himself upon the generosity of the

had e r . House, whose confidence he n ve abused THE CABINET IN PIECES

This was received with tremendous cheering , and the House adjourned . The next post brought the news of the resig

of nation Stanley and Graham , shortly followed b y that of the Duke of Richmond and Lord

Ripon .

29 — I on Ma . y called Lord Durham , and found him in a superlatively sulky humour . He told me that nothing was yet finally resolved upon , but that up to this moment the intention was , if possible , to patch together the pieces of the fl broken Cabinet , by shifting and shuf ing , and that neither he nor any decided Liberals were to be taken into the Government most of the papers strongly recommending the introduction of him “ u into the Cabinet, for, said Lord D rham, it is useless to mince matters ; I am the only man the country looks to . Lord Durham told me that he believes Lord Lansdowne and Lord Holland would have broken up the Government had they n ot been assured that the new Cabinet should be remodelled upon the same principles as the last, and composed

u pretty much of the same quiet men . He (D rham)

n ot had seen Lord Grey that morning . He would

on go without Lord Lansdowne and Lord Holland , but Lord Durham did n ot think him in reality more inclined to be Liberal than they were, for he had c a r te bla n c he to do what he pleased and to fill up all vacancies with any men he liked .

to This confidence is personal Lord Grey, and C XV L ONDON R AP .

has no reference to politics . In that respect the

King is as conservative as anybody . The Globe of the evening stated that Spring Rice was to be Colonial Secretary and Ellice in the

. O n Cabinet Lord Durham thought it probable . the whole I was exceedingly surprised at all he’ told me . I think him wrong as to his own claims and merits , but I think him right as to the pro bable result of the arrangement being satisfactory

’ to n o on e . His predictions as to Brougham s future pre -eminence I know n ot what to think

of of to , nor am I quite his mind as the f impossibility o forming a Tory Government .

O n e thing is clear, that Lord Durham when I last spoke to him was decidedly of opinion that if there should be a split in the Cabinet he would

to . inevitably be applied He was wrong there ,

n ow and may be . ’ I went to Brooks s , and had a great many flattering hopes expressed that I should be in

cluded in the new arrangements .

— hron ic le May 3 0 . The C mentions the new

appointments . Spring Rice is to be Secretary

of State , Ellice is to be in the Cabinet, Lord

F of Auckland irst Lord the Admiralty , Lord M Carlisle Privy Seal , Lord ulgrave talked of

for the Post O ffice .

’ At Brooks s there was great discontent ; some

thought the whole a juggle , and that Government would after all do nothing efi ectiv e respecting who the Irish Church . Lord Sefton, is generally

A . X V L ONDON CR P .

Thomson . Agreed as to new arrangements . By the way he is now President of the Board of Trade ; said it was impossible things could go

on Ellice ruined by his elevation , cannot cajole

and lie now that he is in the Cabinet . He threw

P ou lett to Durham over, but Thomson objected ’ Durham s extreme vanity and pretensions . He told me that he had had no communication with any member of the Government o n subject of

new arrangements since Wednesday last . He

spoke of Lord Grey as all but imbecile , said that ff Lord Lansdowne in e ect was Minister , but he agreed that the new Government ought to have a fair trial and be judged by their heads .

2 — i of on J un e . Debate n House Commons ’ as Ward s resolutions . The previous question w

moved , and a Committee of Inquiry into the

of revenues the Irish Church was promised .

o This man euvre succeeded , though Stanley made

a violent , and , I think , unhandsome speech ; and M Peel treated inisters with contempt . Yet they

and theirs all voted against the resolutions , and 2 Ward had only 1 4 in his minority . Spring

Rice , Palmerston , and Ellice made pitiful figures .

There was little to explain as to secession . The retiring Ministers would not agree to the Com t ou . mission , and went Althorp and Russell spoke of them most handsomely and almost

wept . Stanley began in the tender style , but

ended in a high Church tone , and said he knew the King would never sanction the alienation m . x v C . CONVERSATION WITR LORD TAVISTOCK 3 4 7 of Irish Church property . I hear he was

so was tremendously cheered , yet Althorp the other day when he announced in reality Stanley ’ s

o retirement from fli c e . The numbers were 3 9 6 1 24 against . — un 3 . for J e Campbell and J . Murray returned Edinburgh and Leith ; my substitute by a large m 50 0 . ajority, more than The Radical strength

500 . much overrated , and amounted to about I see that Campbell called himself hon est John

a m be ll C p , and that his speeches were altogether

n ot such as I would have made . 4 —I Jun e . had a curious conversation at

’ ' Brooks s with Lord Tavistock . He told me that his brother John had actually proposed to the Cabinet a Registration Bill similar to that of

W . Brougham ; that Brougham had decried it B and stopped it , and the Marriage ill was ’ substituted against . Russell s will that after

’ wards Brougham s brother brought in the Bill , and received the support of Government . Russell was charged by the Dissenters of Devonshire of taking their money to carry his election and

on to betraying them , which he determined make the truth known , and he has written a letter to them . Althorp has made a declaration in the House of Commons which absolves him from secrecy . Lord Tavistock told me he had that morning a conversation with Lord Holland as to making Byng a Peer , to make way for me

x r in Middlese . Lo d Holland thought it very L ONDON CRAP . XV .

“ 1 8 3 4 . desirable , but added , Why not make Hobhouse

? an d a Peer I laughed at this , said my use

and place were in the other House .

to The rumour as Byng is very current . I

on had a long talk with him the subject, and

for find he is nothing loth . As myself I cannot

say I much care about the matter, though I

of feel out water at times . Burdett told me he now regretted very much I had not gone to

Devizes . Perhaps that is to be regretted for

my sake , at least . People talked this day of the Government

going ou t. The Tories do not seem eager ; they

are content with abuse .

un e 6 — on J . Debate in the Lords changes . Lord Grey Spoke well about the feeling of the

country respecting the Irish Church , and he was right in telling the Tories to turn him out

at once or to refrain from faction s Complaint .

b of The Arch ishop Canterbury , and even the

of Bishop London , declared strongly against the

ss Commi ion .

20 — I had Jun e . a long letter from Edward Ellice telling me that he had been offered the h Admiralty at the last change , also t at he went into the Cabinet with the perfect concurrence f of o all those before members it , even the

who n ot to Chancellor, had spoken six words him for six months . He announced a cut between him and Lord mi e to Durham , and I told him my nd fre ly as

LONDON to do anything to facilitate his arrangements when Stanley , etc . , should leave him ; and Lord

Grey, when Stanley did go , offered the embassy of Paris to Lord Durham , who rejected it , Ellice said with disdain ; and thence all the mischief and abuse of the new Cabinet . It was hinted that the Paris embassy would be a step to the ‘ F O flic e oreign , as Palmerston would not remain

AS long , but Durham persevered in his refusal . we were talking up came C . Wood and young

of Stanley, whom Ellice suspects having forwarded

’ Durham s grumblings to the Times.

I dined with the Alexanders . P . Stewart “ was there , and said to me privately, You must f be Chancellor o the Exchequer . Perhaps Ellice

“ of has put this about , but the admission Aber

of cromby into the Cabinet, in preference me on of n ot the pretext my being in Parliament, convinces me that so long as Althorp is in power

I shall not be . And perhaps it is better so . I doubt my capacity, and the responsibility is awful . 23 — I ’ J un e . went to Lord Durham s , and had J a very long conversation with him . ust as I was going away he talked of his rupture with

Ellice . I told him my mind freely . He showed

’ me Ellice s letter, who certainly had not qualified his cessation of intercourse by the word political . He spoke in terms of the greatest indignation of

on Tim es the attack Ellice in the , and altogether convinced me that he was very sorry for the RA XV C P . . DURHAM AND ELLICE RECONCILE D 3 51

cut. e I did all I could to r store the peace , and ? at last he said , Well , what shall I do I will do anything you tell me ; I will put myself in

c a r te bla n h your hands ; I will give you c e . I went away and wrote a letter to Ellice urging the expediency of making up this more than civil war , telling him Durham had given me ca r te bla n che , and asking him what were his terms . —A Jun e 24 . letter from Ellice telling me he would shake hands with Lord Durham , and enclosing one from Lady Grey very piteously

-in - begging him to be reconciled with her son law , f for the sake o her daughter . I called on Lord

Durham . He at first was a little restive , but at last seemed glad of the prospect, provided

' they were to be good friends as before . I was

was assured by Ellice such his intention , and left him as he was going across the way to shake hands .

u n e 25 — J . There is a report Peel is willing to undertake the Government , and has said so at a great Conservative meeting ; but others deny it , and say he used quite different language .

Again , as Henry IV . said , How is history written !

u e 2 -D N - J n . F 7 . . orty eight . Sunshine and showers with thirty tons of cut grass in the

of meadow . Typical my own , the ordinary lot, on which the recurrence of this day naturally

me induces to reflect . XV. LONDON CRAP .

F ROM BOOK , RECOLLECTIONS .

u l 3 -A of J y . scene occurred in the House

Commons which led to Very serious consequences .

The principal actors in it were Littleton , the ’

O Con n ell . Irish Secretary, and These gentlemen contradicted each other repeatedly upon their honour as gentlemen . ’ It appears Littleton told O Con n ell the Irish Coercion Bill was to be renewed without the most severe clauses , and that Lord Wellesley and himself were against these clauses ; adding he told him this as a great secret , in order to induce him to mitigate his opposition to the

’ O Con n ell Government . Accordingly withdrew his Repeal candidate from the County of Wexford . He afterwards heard the Coercion Bill was to

ren ewed . mu ch be as before , and he told the secret because he said he had been tricked and

deceived . Whatever might be thought of this public of altercation , there could not be two opinions

of the imprudence Littleton ; and Lord Grey,

commenting upon the transaction , used strong

language , and said he was no party to it and

on had no cognisance of it . Stanley , this occasion , “ made use of an expression which told against

his former colleagues , and showed that he was

now their most formidable opponent . He com pared them to the thimble -rigging cheats of : the racecourse , and said they were robbers f o Church property .

L ONDON

1 8 3 4 of t . The Duke Wellington made a mos savage

for speech in the Lords , against Lord Grey , com paring the state of the country now with that in 1 8 3 0 which the Duke left it in . He accused the Whigs of having spilt more blood than any

men . l 1 4 — t Ju y . I soon became known that the King

in wished to form a Coalition Administration ,

cluding Peel , Stanley , and the Duke of Welling

M for ton ; but that Lord elbourne had been sent , and informed His Majesty that such a Govern

ment was n ot practicable . O n this Lord Durham

sent me a message , through my brother , to say that

a strong Liberal Government would be formed , and that I had better come up to London and

be in the way .

Ju l 1 5 — I y . had a letter from Lord Tavistock informing me that Lord Althorp had consented to remain Chancellor of the Exchequer under M Lord elbourne , and that Lord Grey had given

’ Althor s his sanction to the arrangement . Lord p

consent had been decided by an address , signed

21 0 M r of by embe s Parliament , presented to him ’ O Con n ell by Hume and Lord Tavistock added ,

Althorp is miserable .

J u l 1 6 — I y . had a short note from Lord Tavi

to stock , saying he hoped I would come up London

immediately . I accordingly went to London with

my wife , and , walking down towards Spring

Gardens , met Edward Ellice , who told me the

’ to King s messenger had g one down Basildon, with Cm . XV. M W INISTER F O R. OODS AND FORESTS 3 55

M ff a letter from Lord elbourne , O ering me the F Woods and orests and a seat in the Cabinet . Ellice told me that Lord Duncannon was to be

. N o Home Secretary , with a peerage other

changes were to be made .

to . I went Lord Althorp He laughed , as we

shook hands , and asked me what I said to the

proposal . I then told him that I was inclined to accept the offer ; but that I thought I could

of w have been more use in Ireland , ith Lord hi Durham as Lord Lieutenant, to w ch I knew

that Lord Durham would have consented . Al

to m thorp urged objections personal Lord Durha ,

e to . which I ndeavoured overrule , but in vain

F ROM DIARY . ’ Walking home from Lord Althorp s I met Lord

Tavistock and took him to Berkeley Square . He f told me a good deal o what I knew before . The

to of King had tried get Stanley , the Duke

to Wellington , and Peel join Lord Melbourne and his friends . Lord Melbourne had written an admirable letter showing the impracticability of so it ; did Stanley . The Duke and Peel merely a acknowledged the communication , and s id no

c a r te more . The King then gave Melbourne M bla n c he without restriction of persons . elbourne

to old resolved have the Cabinet, but Lord Althorp

to was indispensable . Althorp asked two hours

c on consider, and after a most painful struggle sented . He then announced in the Commons the L ONDON appointment of Lord Melbourne and his c on tin u an c e u in office , and adjo rned the House until

’ Althor s Thursday . Lord p refusal would have thrown the country into the hands of the Tories . ’ the Dined at Brooks s . After dinner came messenger who had gone to Basildon with Lord ’ Melbourne s letter . The offer was couched in very handsome terms , saying that all those likely to be in the Government concurred in it . I then went to Lord Melbourne and after some conversation accepted his Off er of the Woods and

F e orests and a seat in the Cabinet . At taking leav

to God ou ou he said me , bless y , and thank y ”

. a on sincerely I c me home , and reflecting what

h a ad s w . I done , nothing to disapprove I believed the Government the best which , under the cir c u m stan c e s n o , could be found , and could give reason on public grounds for refusing to join it .

n . Personally, I thi k the offer creditable to me

N 0 s n o on condition , insisting my coming into

Parliament . I believe I am the first man not in Parliament who ever had a Cabinet place ff o ered to him .

My dear wife approved and was happy . I thank God that her health is visibly improved .

That is my main consolation .

Ju l 1 —I y 7 . had a very confidential conversation with Lord Lansdowne . He was far from satisfied with the late changes , and told me that , if his retirement would n ot have broken up Lord ’ i e h u to Melbourne s Cab n t, e wo ld have gone

L ONDON

had been made even upon me , who had heard

of of so much that sort eloquence . He accused

of - me every political crime apostacy , baseness ,

of love place , love of money , cruelty , and what not— besides telling the meeting that my wife ’ s

s sisters , whom he called my sisters , were pensioner

on b . the pu lic All this I bore patiently, because

or obliged to bear it ; only once twice I said , That is false The fellow went on reading

True S un charges against me from the , and f treating me as the worst o political delinquents . ’ R n lifle N a c . either Lord , who proposed , nor Mr

Wakefield , who seconded me , was heard at all .

ou t I experienced the same treatment . I pulled

an d my watch , said I would give them five

to m f minutes beco e silent ; this had no ef ect , and the Assessor then put the question to the

of electors . The great majority in the body the hall was certainly for Eagle ; on the hustings

for about two hundred hands were held up me , and away we came . I was somewhat annoyed to find that , after my Westminster opponents

of had , apparently , repented their injustice , I was the object of this blind hatred at Nottingham .

of A good deal , however, the opposition was directed against the Corporation , who were my

r of . friends , and the f iends the Whig party

e two an d The election last d days , , at the close of of the poll , I had a majority The decision was announced in silence , when the

n ot patriot Eagle exclaimed , What, a greasy ELECTED AT NOTTINGHAM ruffian ? 1 4 8 3 . to throw up his hat He , the day

ra amu ffin s before , had called my supporters g ,

S n - of and aid that ni e tenths them were drunk . - I believe one twentieth of them were so ; and my impression then was , that, although the whole constituency was far inferior to that of

or Westminster, yet there were two three hundred

m en highly spirited , independent , as intelligent and well-mannered as any to be found in the kingdom . N I left ottingham the next day . — J u ly 27 I took my seat on the Treasury

Bench in the House of Commons , and felt as if

out of I had never been Parliament . I had many very warm greetings from friends on all sides ; but the pleasantest was that which was said to me by Henry Warburton . He crossed “ ’ ou the House , and , coming to me , said , Don t y

ou recollect that the last thing y said to me ,

ou before y left Parliament, was Honest man “ I answered , Yes ; I do recollect it well . He

n ow rejoined , That is what I say to you , that we meet again .

Ju l 3 0 — I m y . began my Cabinet life under circu stances not at all encouraging ; for Ministers were beaten in the Commons on the Irish Tithe ’ O Con n ell Bill , by an amendment proposed by — we were only 3 4 to 8 5 and some of our best friends such as Lord Ebrington and Bonham

Carter , voted against us . The Lords also chose to throw out ou r Bill for admitting Dissenters CR AP . XV L ONDON .

‘

1 8 3 4 . . to the Universities The majority was above

1 00 ou r , although Lord Melbourne and Chancellor

of made very powerful speeches in support it .

F ROM DIARY . l 3 1 —A Ju . y Cabinet Council , all fifteen Methought the masters of the British Empire round a table looked and talked much like

other men . We deliberated on the change made by the

vote of last night in the Commons , and , excepting

L a on e ord L nsdowne , no seemed to care much

about the matter . The Premier was decisive .

Lansdowne is an Irish landlord , and Althorp

told me that , whenever his pecuniary interests

O l m on 1 to interfere , his p s sure be swayed by

of them . I thought I saw an air discontent

' so about him, and told Althorp . Althorp said w that Lansdo ne ought not to be there , but he

would n ot go . ’ A u ust 2 — : g . Dined at the Chancellor s a large

party , chiefly official men . After dinner Brougham amused us by telling the events of the interregnum 1 8 3 2 in May , and what passed between him and ’ the King . He said he had the King s consent

or in writing to make sixty more peers , if

necessary . I never heard a great man talk in this way he seemed to forget that the King was

still his master . L ord Albemarle and the Duke

of Argyle and Abercromby stared , so did I . The Chancellor received and took leave of

L ONDON

of Brougham, and said that the longer he was

known the better he was liked .

Abercromby said that Brougham , in Spite of

his abuse of friends and enemies , was in the long

run just to both .

’ u t 1 — We A gus 0 . had a Cabinet to consider the ’ M King s Speech . Lord elbourne read his draft

. f u o it . Bro gham proposed a few Verbal altera i tions . Din ng at Holland House , with the Duke M of Devonshire , the Lord Chancellor , Tom oore , M and Dedel , the Dutch inister , our conversation turned chiefly on the probable fate of our Irish

Tithe Bill in the Lords . Would the O pposition in that House throw out the Bill ?

u ust 1 1 — i A g . Attended discuss on on Tithe Bill

v in the Lords . House ery full ; heard Brougham and part of Wellington , and Bishop of London . The first very amusing ; the next bitter b a d ; the last temperate but decisive . He stated that the

l Irish clergy preferred the reject on of the measure .

on I , for the first time in my life , was the throne — at the division . Bill rejected by 6 7 less than

expected .

u u 1 2 — M A g st . inisters not at all dejected by last night , only anxious as to probable consequences in

Ireland . I feel sure that Lord Melbourne is just the man for his great place .

u t 1 3 — I of A us . g had an audience the King , who told m e he had seen the Commander-in -Chief and m - Quarter aster General before me , because he had little to say to them and much to me . Had a A . CR P XV . THE KING AND THE PEOPLE

t long talk abou Buckingham Palace , which he i told me he had never seen . Sa d Duncannon had crotchets about it ; that Sir John Sebright had

do -hole told him the other day it was a g . He said

he lived at Windsor to please the public, other

wise would have preferred Bushy Park . He consented that part of Regent ’ s Park should be

opened for pedestrians . — T ’ A u u t 1 5 “ . J . g s . ent at one to St ames s King

— M -in - held a Council inisters , Commander Chief,

Steward of Household , etc . Lord Lansdowne

read some formal papers for approval . In one

he called Duncannon Duncan , at which a great H M laugh from King and . . was in

great good humour , the dust still on his coat from

his dea r his Windsor journey . Called P . Greville

r ien d . f Melbourne then read the Royal Speech , and we separated in a hurry to change ou r m clothes , and get to the House of Co mons in

time to hear it .

The King read the Speech well , but more feebly

than usual , I thought .

I saw him return . The crowd received him in off dead silence , and no hats were pulled ,

’ except Littleton s and mine . Charles Ross , an

- ex Lord of the Admiralty , remarked that in the days of his Tory friends all the crowd pulled ofl

their hats . It was the fashion then to impute every change for the worse to the Reform Bill

and the Reform Ministers . Cha n cellor of c u er lar heg .

t V . 9 . E L Van sittart M P N . L l June arl of iver to . of ondon a merston

. 1 8 23 1 8 22 pool , retired derry to , n t h e n F . J . di e d ; t h e

Robinson . G e o r g e

Canning .

Vt P . C . . C . anning G anning Earl of Dudley . almerston

d Vt l P . . H . . C L . a o D Goderich J erries E rl f udley . a merston

’ D O f H P . . . V Welling Goulburn Earl of Dudley, 1 8 28 L d H ar ton . 1 8 28 dinge, 0 d 3 L F . L e v e s O n w 1 3 0 8 . Go er,

C . . n . A . lthorp Palmerston . W Wy n

S ir H P . . arnell E E . llice . ir H ob S J . C . 1 8 3 2 house, 1 3 8 3 .

1 8 3 4 .

J I t ‘ U 1 7 . E E . . V . A . s Y Melbourne V lthorp Palmer ton . llice

I N D E X

1 Mr . IV . 3 6 Abercromby , , American despatches unopened 1 1 8 2 2 2 4 1 . 6 7 8 . 1 1 Aberdeen , Lord , , , , iv 25 iv . Anglesey , Lord , becomes Master A ’ Cou rt . o f l . (Minister at Madrid ) , iii Genera the Ordnance , iii 1 7 8 1 8 5 ; and the Duke of Wel ’ 2 lin on . t s 1 11 . 222 Adair , Robert , iv g reticence , ; ’ 2 4 ’ . 3 . 3 3 1 Addison s Freeholder , iii Littleton s opinion of , iv f l o . 1 3 Albemar e , Lord , Master the Antiq uarian Society , iii M 1 0 8 r . Horse , iv . Arbuthnot , , to be Chancellor

o f o f . 27 2 Alexander , Emperor Russia , the Duchy iii ;

. 3 7 at Chelsea , Portsmouth , and iv

. 27 Woolwich , iii ; and Napo Arguelles (Spanish statesman) , 1 1 8 1 4 . 4 3 . 1 5 1 7 8 leon in , iii iii , l ie rs r g , captu ed by the French Army Estimates the

. 3 9 2 . 1 8 iv author brings in the , iv

. 1 3 1 Ar Alien Act , the , iii my , proposed reductions , iv .

Mr . . 1 1 1 8 3 1 8 5 1 8 6 1 9 3 1 94 26 5 Allen , , iv , , , , , Al ’ m k . 2 1 a c s 0 . 267 , iii Army , proposed reforms , iv , 3 2 2 2 4 . 3 3 . 7 . Althorp , Lord , iii , , iv new Pension Warrant , iv 64 28 0 28 2 r ; opposes additional pension , abolition of sinecu es , for o . 1 69 . 28 5 28 9 f Duke of Clarence , iii ; iv , reduction garri 2 e e e . 8 6 t s . unit s the Whig Opposition , son appointments , iv q , 2 . 3 6 . 7 5 90 iv ; and Reform , iv ; the ; proposed Board to con ’ o f author s independence , iv . solidate Civil Departments , iv . 8 1 ; announces Reform measure 3 28 ’ 8 2 8 8 As ill s iv . , ; altercation g life saved by the Queen

1 5 et se 1 1 1 . 23 . 0 . O with Peel , iv q ; his f France ,

1 23 f . 27 5 patience , iv . ; of ers the Asiatic Society , iv

a 1 1 1 . 2 1 author the Secretaryship at War , Athen eum Club ,

1 65 on . . 69 iv . ; the creation of Peers , Attenborough , Dr , iii

. 1 7 8 et s e . 1 9 4 1 95 20 9 o f . 28 iv q , , , ; his Attwood ( Birmingham) , iv , f 1 1 9 1 . 8 0 repugnance to o fice , iv ,

1 8 9 in flu e n c e iv 1 92 Au c hm ore 1 11 . 26 his great , . (Loch Tay) , o f t receives freedom the City , Auckland , lst Lord , negotia es the

. 24 7 R e . 24 9 iv ; on Irish Church Coalition , iii 2 d 28 3 et s e . o n n form , iv . q ; the Auckland , Lord , made First

o f . 3 4 4 deadlock in the Cabinet Lord the Admiralty , iv 2 5 ’ iv . 9 ; and auth or s resigna

o f . 8 2 tion Irish Secretaryship , iv . Badajoz , the slaughter at , iii ’

3 06 i l . . ; his attack on Sh el and Bail ie , Dr , on Wm Pitt s last

3 29 . 2 1 other Irish Members , iv . words , iii

A . 1 25 nl . 1 0 3 1 1 1 2 lva ey , Lord , iii , , Bank Act , the iii

27 2 . W . . 92 1 1 9 1 25 (footnote ) , at Boyle Farm , Bankes , Mr , iii , , ,

206 3 1 4 . 1 04 1 20 iii . , iv , INDEX

r . 4 M . 3 02 3 0 r . 1 1 1 . 1 53 Bankes , Mr Hen y , iii , Brenton , , and Byron ,

. . 1 90 . 4 8 Baring , Mr Alexander , iii , Brighton , iv 0 9 1 1 04 223 225 . 9 1 1 1 . 20 iv , , , , ; on the British Museum , ’

o f IV . 1 22 failure Wellington s attempt Brodie , Sir Benjamin ,

. 1 1 1 . 28 u n to form a Government Brougham , H (Lord ) ,

228 e t s e . . 3 2 1 . 1 1 . iv q popular , iii on Reform , T es 1 1 1 1 Mr . im . 5 . 8 5 Barnes , , of the , iv , ; on education , iii ; on 1 26 1 1 1 . 9 7 260 Catholic Relief , , ; at ’

. 50 . 1 04 Barry , Byron s banker , iii his the Beefsteak Club , iii , 23 6 o n G . 1 1 4 account of Byron at enoa , ; religion , iii ; on ’

1 5 1 . . 1 59 iii . Byron s letters to , iii J Hume , iii . ; prepares his

1 52 et s e . 1 1 1 . 1 7 7 q speeches , his diary , 22 . 8 . 3 1 1 1 2 2 . 3 Bartolini , his bust of Byron , iii iii ; his vagaries , ;

. 3 25 o n 24 1 Basildon Park , iv law reform , iii . ; Lord ’

. 1 1 7 . 1 3 o f Bathurst , Lord , iii , iv Holland s recollections , iii . ’ i l 252 Bavar a , King Maximi ian Joseph on Huskisson s resignation ,

1 1 1 . 1 4 8 . 27 6 of , iii on the Wellington

. 1 58 . 3 7 Bayley , Miss , iv Government , iv , on news 1 . 1 6 . 6 Bear Club (Devizes) , iii paper reporters , iv ; and the f ’ h o . 1 6 6t 4 . 7 Bedford , Duke , iii Duke of York s debts , iv

7 th o f . 1 62 . 3 5 R e Bedford , Duke , iii and scene with Peel , iv his

. 1 69 60 Catholic q uestion , iii form motion , iv . ; becomes 4 . 1 0 23 6 . 7 1 7 2 7 3 Beefsteak Club , iii , Lord Chancellor , iv , , , 7 4 l Belgium , revolutionary struggle ; on the Reform Bi l ’

4 et se . 2 . 5 7 9 . 8 in iv q , ; de iv ; on Lord Chancellor s ’

d . 5 n ou n c e . 8 in King s Speech , iv salary , iv ; makes mischief ,

e . 9 3 5 5 et s q iv . congratulate s the author

be . 24 o n O 1 0 . 7 Belgrave , Lady Eliza th , iii taking ffice , iv ; Lord 1 2 4 ’ . 3 3 6 ni o f . 257 Belgrave , Lord , iii , Durham s opi on , iv ; ’

. 1 0 0 O . 3 27 Belhaven , Lord , iv Macaulay s pinion of , iv ; 2 . 08 . 3 3 7 Bentinck , Lord William , iii and Bickersteth , iv ; his 1 2 ’ . 6 . 3 3 8 o n Bentinck , Lord George , iv wife s assembly , iv the

L t . o f 1 8 3 2 Beresford , Lord , appointed interregnum May , iv .

of . 1 2 3 60 General the Ordnance , iii 1 1 O f o f . 9 r 1 1 1 . 2 10 Be ri , Duchess , iv Buckingham , Duke , ,

o f . . 3 9 Berwick , governorship , iv iv

290 . 4 6 Buckingham , James Silk , iv

. 2 1 9 . 20 Best , Lord Chief Justice , iii Buckingham Palace , iii , iv .

Box R hOn e . 28 9 3 63 ( Valley) , iii 1 1 o f . 4 . 8 3 8 8 6 Bickersteth , Mr Henry (Lord Budget , iv , ’

. 7 2 20 7 . 3 1 6 Langdale ) , iii , Copley s Buonaparte , Lucien , iv

o f . 220 opinion , iii ; dislikes Buonaparte , Napoleon , advised by

. 270 3 3 7 l o n Brougham , iv , La lemand not to go board N mb er orthu la n d 1 1 1 . 1 6 Blandford , Lord , his Reform the , ; ’ M ’ l . 3 22 O e ara s . 1 7 reso utions , iii his Bill Memoir , iii Las ’ ‘ ”

. 9 s . iv Casa Memorial of St Helena,

o f o n . 1 8 . 1 4 1 et Board Trade , debate salary iii ; Lavalette on , iii

o f e . 1 29 se . i n Pr sident , iii q as a Captain at Toulon 1 . 1 3 9 1 7 9 3 1 1 1 . 55 F la hau t 1 1 1 . Bognor , iii , and , ’

. 208 1 64 B ourie nn e s . Borghese , Prince , iii ; Memoirs , iv

A . . 1 28 1 7 Boswell , Sir , iii B o 1 1 o f u n a rr o tti 1 . 29 5 Bourbons , prospects the , Cosimo ,

. 1 7 F . . 1 8 1 9 22 3 7 . 9 iii support of the , iii Burdett , Sir , iii , , , ’ ’

l . . 68 Boyd A exander , Mrs (author s at Byron s funeral , iii and

4 0 28 1 . 1 3 . 8 5 sister) , iii . , , iv the Catholic petition , iii

e . 20 6 . 93 9 7 Boyle Farm , F te at , iii and the Catholic Bill , iii , ’ B F O X rancaleone , Contessa (author s anecdote of and Sheridan ,

. 4 0 29 1 . 1 2 1 o n sister), iii , iii ; Byron Monument

INDEX

a i o n l . C nn ng , Stratford , Turkey , Churchil , Lord J (Captain iii 2 5 . . 3 iii 4 6

. 9 i i Canova , his death , iii his C m tile , Prince , on Metternich ,

e . 1 1 1 . 8 3 1 4 0 24 0 int rviews with Napoleon , iii , , 1 22 Civil List debate iv . 9 8

r r . 3 1 5 Canterbu y , A chbishop of , Clanricarde , Lady , iv o f n l against Irish Church Com Clarence , Duke , additio a

. 3 4 8 . 1 69 mission , iv pension for , iii ; attends ’ r 3 4 i 2 1 8 Ca bonari , the , iii . , Cann ng s funeral , iii . ; iv .

. 1 8 1 . Cardington , iii See also King William l l . 68 20 7 2 1 0 o f . 3 20 Car isle , Lord , iii , , , Cleve and , Duke , iv

. 3 4 4 2n d iv Clive , Lord (afterwards Earl

. 1 04 1 3 6 . 3 0 1 . 1 55 Carnarvon , Lord , iii , of Powis) , iii , iv

. 1 7 204 . Castlereagh , iii , See also Cobbett , at the Westminster

. 1 9 6 1 9 7 Londonderry dinner , iii ; his wife ,

n . 7 1 Catholic Associations , debates his aversio s , iv

. 3 5 et s e . 9 1 1 11 . 1 7 iii q , Cochrane , Lady ,

. 3 0 1 3 03 et s e . 1 1 1 . 1 1 5 iii , q dissolution Cochrane , Lord , ; and the

o f . 3 0 5 1 1 1 . 1 55 the , iii Stock Exchange fraud ,

. 1 69 Catholic Emancipation , iii , his account of the Greek Navy ,

1 7 3 et s e . 260 27 8 . 24 3 q , , iii ; at siege and battle of o f 1 8 25 24 4 Catholic Relief Bill , Athens , iii . ’

d O C o n n ell . 9 6 r rafted by , iii ; Cod ington , Admiral Sir Edward ,

o n ibid . et se . 23 8 24 2 . 6 6 debate , q ; third iii , , iv

. 9 8 . 1 1 1 . 1 3 7 1 3 8 reading , iii ; debate in House Coke , T (of Holkham) , , 1 1 1 o f . 9 9 1 1 1 . Lords , iii Combination Bill , the ,

1 8 29 . 3 0 1 . 1 50 Catholic Relief Bill of , iii Como , Lake of , iii

e t s e . 1 1 1 . 1 6 1 q passes the Commons , Congreve , Sir William ,

. 3 1 4 . . . 1 1 7 iii debate in the Lords , iii Conolly , Mr iv

3 1 5 . 3 1 6 ; bill passed , iii receives Constance , Lake of , steamboat

l . 3 1 8 1 1 1 . 1 4 7 Roya assent , iii ; Charles on , ’ 1 X . 5 1 1 1 V 4 . s O . 9 I . 7 pinion on , iv Constant , Benjamin , ,

1 1 1 . 1 6 7 Cavendish , Lord George and Lord Constantine , Grand Duke ,

. 1 3 8 . 1 3 John , iii Conyngham , Lady , iii

. . 3 4 5 F . . 1 3 Chambers , Dr , iv Conyngham , Lord , iii

. 23 0 . 3 2 Chantrey (the sculptor) , iii , Conyngham , Marquis of , iv

1 26 3 21 . . . 1 6 1 iv . , Cooke , T P (the actor) , iv

. 1 00 1 9 7 . 20 Charlemont , Lady , iv , Cooper , Sir Astley , iv - I 1 11 . Charles . , his orders for the arrest Copley (Attorney General ) ,

o f . 1 3 1 0 7 1 1 1 e Prince Rupert , iii , ; Mast r of the Rolls , 2 - . 1 8 29 . 9 9 . 1 7 3 Charles X in , iii ; in iii and the Toby Phill

. 4 3 i 1 1 8 3 0 . 5 ii . 7 5 , iv ; deposed , iv ; at pott speech , ; made Lord 1 1 5 203 o n . 5 1 1 1 . 8 Lulworth , iv Chancellor , , ;

. 1 63 IV . . 21 9 Charlotte , Princess , iii George , iii and Lord

. 1 5 6 29 2 et . 7 3 Chateaubriand , iii , Brougham , iv defeats ’ o n s eq . Lord Grey s Government the V H os ita l Ki n I . Chelsea p , g William Reform Bill (committal stage ) ,

. 24 5 I V . 2 1 8 O visits , iv his unyielding pposi o f Blo m fie ld 23 0 Chester , Bishop ( ) , tion , iv . 4 1 . 258 . 1 3 3 1 3 7 7 iii Corn Laws , iii , , ;

e . 206 Chest rfield , Lord , iii Duke of Wellington defeats ’ 2 Mr . 20 Childe , , moves the Address Canning s Bill , iii . ; Can ’ 1 0 m 1 11 204 iii . ing s resolutions , .

. 7 8 . o f Chillingham Castle , iii Cornwall , Mr anecdotes

Chisho lm e . 7 7 . 266 et se . , iii Wellington , iii q dis ’ o f l o Chiswick House , Canning dies at , approves We lingt n s oppos

2 1 3 a ll . 58 iii . ing Reform , iv

. 1 50 1 60 1 8 1 2 1 6 . 7 6 1 3 7 . 3 8 Cholera , the , iv , , , Cork , Lady, iii , , iv INDEX

- . 3 0 1 Corry , Lord , iii Doherty (Solicitor General ) o n ’ ’ C o ttle s H ou se o f O Co n n ll e . 8 , home the author s , iv

. 223 D o m f , o . 1 1 8 father iii Pedro , Portugal , iv l . 1 2 1 Cotton Mills Regu ation Bill , iii (not ) , e ” 9 9 . 3 2 1 3 23 D o n Ju a n Ca n to s X ; amended , iii , ,

. 27 4 C 9 Courtenay , Thomas Peregrine , iv iii ; sale of opyright , iv . 8 3 Dover , Lord , and theHorseGuards

. . 1 3 7 . 27 7 Coutts , Mrs , iii marries the clock , iv

o f . . 20 3 . 1 1 1 . 3 3 7 Duke St Albans , iii iv Doyle , Colonel , 22 . 1 1 1 90 (note ) Drummond , Mr Henry , .

. 1 04 et s e . 1 8 2 L ord iii. 1 3 2 1 7 7 be Cowper , Lord , iii q , Dudley , , , comes C O X . R . . 2 9 S r i 7 e c e tar ii . 1 9 1 o n , Rev , iii Foreign y , the

. . 2 Creation of Peers See Peers Greek question iii . 20 Cre e v e . 3 0 . y , iii his character , iii Duel between Wellington and 8 0 9 3 1 Win c hilse a 11 1 1 , , 7 7 , . 3 3 22 ’ . 7 7 . 24 4 Crewe , Lord iii , Duke of York s School , iv

. W . . 1 54 1 55 1 93 l Croker , J , iv , , Duncan , Admira (Lord Camper

. 1 1 8 . 1 4 Cromwell , iii down) , iv

l 1 1 1 . 203 260 Cumber and , Duke of , attends Duncannon , Lord , ,

. 1 0 3 . 1 3 Reform debates iv Dundas , his pension , iv

. 3 59 Cunningham , Allan , iv Durham , Lord , iv . becomes f . 3 0 1 l 7 1 Currency debate , iv Lord Privy Sea , iv . ; o fers Cu l R . . o o . 2 t ar . f t 9 Fergusson , Mr , iv office the author , iv ; 21 0 2 1 4 o n of , the prospects the Reform 1 0 o n . 2 2 1 5 . . 1 70 Czartoryski , Prince , iv , Bill (Feb iv ; the

. 1 7 6 proposal to create Peers , iv

. 28 1 e t s e . 1 9 7 . Dacre , Lady , iii q , ; and the King , iv

23 1 . 1 1 1 1 9 9 i . Dacre , Lord , iii . , iv ; and Bishop Ph llpotts , iv ’ Mr e 2 1 2 o f Dallas , . , and Byron s lett rs , his opinion the Emperor

. 2 255 o n 7 . iii Nicholas , iv Lord Grey 6 ets e 25 . 1 5 . Damer , Mrs . , iii . and his colleagues , iv q ibid o n Darmstadt , its opera and Grand on Brougham , the 2 f e . 1 4 6 . 5 7 Duke , iii author , iv di ferenc s with

22 . Davenport , Mr . iii . Lord Grey about Stanley , iv

. 1 5 7 260 et s e . 27 9 David (thepainter) , tomb of , iii q , ; mission to Paris ,

1 1 1 1 . 1 . 3 8 . . 9 . 3 Davy , Dr , iii , iv iv quarrel with Ellice , iv

. 1 0 1 3 1 5 3 4 9 et s e . Davy , Lady , iv , q

D u ns ta n v ille . 5 2 De , Lord , iii 1 5 2 Delaunay Memoirs , iv . East Retford disfranchisement ,

. 3 1 7 . 269 Denman , Chief Justice , iv iii Derby Day at Epsom iii . Eaton , author visits Lord Gros - 24 1 0 1 . 269 v e n or . dead heat iii at , iii

1 1 1 . 1 3 3 . 206 De Roos , Henry , iii Ebrington , Lady ,

o f . 1 3 5 ; Despatches , stories unopened , Ebrington , Lord , iv his

1 1 t o . 222 iv . address the Crown , iv 225 e . 24 o n . De Sta l , Madame , iii attack Wellington , iv ’ o f r Destruction Lord Byron s Edinbu gh , the author declines

IV . 3 9 et se . 3 29 et s e . 3 Memoirs , iii . q to stand for , q

Mr 1 6 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 . 1 9 . . 7 3 07 3 3 De Vear , , iv , , , Elcho , Lady , 1 8 Mr . 1 1 1 . Devereux , , on the Canonical Elcho , Lord , 259 Sabbath , iii . Eldon , Lord Chancellor , on Uni

1 1 1 . 3 2 o n . 1 67 Devonshire , Duke of , iii tarian Marriage Bill ,

. 207 banquet given by , iii the Bishops and the Catholic ’ l . 1 00 n o t D Israe li . 9 2 A , ; (the elder ) , iii ; his ssociation Bil iii in 1 1 1 23 9 ssay o n the ite ary Char the Wellington Cabinet , . ; E ” L r 266 o n , . acter , iii . the Test Acts repeal iii l o f l . 258 R , Diversions Pur ey , the , iii ; on Catholic elief Bi l 3 1 3 1 8 1 3 1 iii . 7 , INDEX

. 1 8 9 h 1 1 1 1 4 Ellenborough , Lord , iii ; Francis , P ilip , . f o of 1 1 1 . 1 4 5 history his promotion by Frankfort , defence ,

. 24 0 o f Wellington , iii Fremantle , Jack , his account Mr 4 . . 7 94 1 1 9 1 20 1 11 Ellice , , iii , , , , the Prussians at Waterloo , .

. 7 8 1 09 3 1 3 267 iv , , ; joins Lord ’

. 3 4 4 r o f E X Grey s Cabinet , iv ; his pre Fremantle , Treasu er the io s 4 v u . 3 5 . 2 1 8 . 1 4 history , iv ; q uarrel chequer , iii , iv 4 c s . 3 9 l e . . 1 9 with Lord Durham , iv q Frere , Bartholomew , iv (note ) 1 1 H o okh 1 . 0 269 a m m . 29 Epsom races , iii , Frere , , E o f rskine (Lord Chancellor) and Fuller , Jack , anecdote Sheridan ,

III . . 8 0 . 1 3 6 George , iii iii

E u u b ia n . 292 g Tables , the , iii

n 1 1 1 . 1 7 8 Evans , Colonel , opposes the author Galiano (Spa ish Minister ) , ’

. o f . 4 7 5 3 at Westminster election , iv Galt s Life Byron , iv , ibi 260 3 1 0 d . . 3 3 5 , is returned , Gamba , Count Pietro , iii , , ’

Mr . . 1 9 3 227 o n Ewart , , iv Greece s debt to Byron , E x min er 24 4 o f a . 3 e 7 . , the , iv iii anecdot s Byron E n ard . 1 9 9 e t s e . 1 1 1 62 et s e . y , Chevalier , iii q in Greece , . q his ’ of o account Byr n s last illness ,

. 9 1 1 1 . 5 et s e Factory Act iii 9 ; Bill 3 6 q .

. 3 2 1 3 23 . 1 8 1 to amend iii , ; Garrick Club , iv

. 1 04 1 22 1 4 1 1 3 3 5 . 0 1 iv , , , Gascoyne , General iv ,

F a llo d e n . 9 3 0 , iii 7 8

. 28 1 1 1 . 28 9 Farnley , iii Gemmi Pass , io . of . 28 E le c t n o f . 1 22 Fawkes , Mr ( Farnley) , iii General ( iv ; P o itf ur . 264 Ferguson , of , anecdotes iv

o f . 224 3 1 9 1 1 1 . 29 , iii , Genoa , 7 f o din o f . u n Fitzclarence , Lord Frederick , iv Geographical Society , g

250 . 26 64 the , iv , ’

1 1 1 . 1 4 7 Fitzclarence , sinecure appoint Gesner s monument ,

for . 28 9 a t 1 1 1 . 29 ments the family of , iv Gibbon , Lausanne ,

et s e . ff 220 q Gi ord , Lord , iii . F z it Ge ra ld . 1 04 1 11 . 25 , Maurice , iv Glasgow , steamboat service , F l h 4 l i a a u t . 1 6 G e . . R . , iii g, Rev G , appointed chap ’ r 3 5 et Fletcher , By on s valet , iii . lain to Chelsea Hospital by

s e . 5 6 cl s e 65 . 3 1 3 2 . 3 3 3 . 7 7 q , q , , iv , Russell , iv

. 1 28 1 7 7 . 26 1 3 2 Flogging in the Army , iii , , Glenorchy , Lord , iii ,

. 1 9 7 208 24 6 In . 2 1 5 iv , , ; abolished in Goderich, Lord , ; resigns , ii 1 28 8 i . 23 0 23 2 23 5 24 the Swedish Army , iv . ; Lord , , , at Literary ’ 29 5 263 o n Hill s opposition , iv. Fund Dinner , iii . ; the 29 5 Florence , iii . scene in the House of Lords ’ F ida 1 lor . 0 7 o n , the , brings Byron s re iv ; proposed

. 58 64 mains home , iii , reductions in Army Estimates , F o n b la n u e . o f . 1 8 6 q , A (editor the iv ; causes a Cabinet crisis ,

E xa min er . 24 7 . 29 6 29 7 298 . ) , iv iv , , ; resigns , iv 2 4 Foremark (Sir F . 1 7 3 3 1 1 1 1 4 l o n 23 . n . 5 Fosco o poetry , iii . ; his Gogel , Mr (of Fra kfort) ,

1 5 o f 1 1 1 . 224 career , iv . Gordon , Duchess , ’ 24 F o u ché s . 1 4 5 S ir . 5 Memoirs , iv Gordon, Willoughby , iv

Mr . . . C . . 1 1 r . 8 5 Fox , Rt Hon , iii ; and Moore , Goulbu n , , iii

1 2 S ir B . 1 1 1 . 1 8 iii . ; and Mildmay, Graham , Sir , 1 1 1 5 208 22 . 4 8 . 7 iii . ; and Hastings , iii ; Graham , Sir James , , , o f IV. . 1 3 8 1 63 28 3 S on and George , iii , ; ; peech reduction ’

d o f . 8 20 Lord Holland s anec otes , salaries , iv , against Trea

hi o f . 1 2 . 24 7 e t s e . . 3 3 2 su re rs iii q , iv p the Navy , iv ; o f France , declares war against alarmed by the revolution 1 o f . 1 0 8 3 0 . 5 9 Spain iii ; state of , iv ; First Lord the

5 . 7 1 o n l (in Jan . iv . Admiralty , iv disso ving

INDEX

b r . 25 1 1 9 . 3 57 o f Heytes u y , Lord , iii iv , anecdotes his -i - h mi . 1 59 Hill , Lord (Commander Chief) , fa ly , iv 1 1 . 8 5 9 4 i . 1 20 iv ; friction with the Houghton , visit to , n

IV . 24 7 26 7 . 268 author , ; assents to House and Window Tax , iv , 8 27 1 29 4 3 05 3 24 author new Pension Warrant , , , , 2 O iv . 8 0 ; pposes abolition of House of Lords and Catholic f 29 5 . . 1 00 logging , iv Emancipation , iii H i de . n 4 6 iii. 7 7 . 1 62 , iii Howick , Lord , , iv ’ ’ His Majesty s Opposition , ori Hucknall (Church ) , Byron s i f 1 n o . 29 1 6 1 . . 70 g , iii , , iv funeral at , iii 1 2 . 1 1 1 1 1 o n Hume , Mr Joseph , . ’ ’ . . l 1 1 1 . 1 7 Hobhouse , Sir Benjamin (author s M A Car yle s case , and

. 1 1 4 1 22 1 1 1 . 7 4 o n father ) , iv , ; his death , Greek Loan , ; Portu

. 1 2 1 4 0 f 9 u e se 1 1 1 . 1 5 9 20 1 iv , g a fairs , , ; his “ ” . 1 o f 204 l . Hobhouse , Edward , iii use the word iable , iii ,

. . 5 9 Hobhouse , Henry , in India , iii iv candidate for West 4 5 - et e 28 s . 4 6 ; Under Secretary at the minster , iv . q , ; and

f . 1 8 5 9 8 Home O fice , iii ; resigns , the Civil List iv . ; Lord

2 1 0 . 1 6 iii . ; at Send Grove , iv Rector of Glasgow University , 25 1 o . 3 . 50 n candidate for Bath , iv iv ; the Army Estimates ,

. 264 . 1 8 2 O beaten at election , iv iv ; his letters pened at 2 6 . 8 . 20 1 Hobhouse , Lady Julia , iii , Foreign Courts , iv and

1 1 0 . 1 1 4 21 5 o n iv . ; her illness , iv , Brazilian aggressions , iv. ; 1 0 fl 4 1 29 . 5 7 1 7 r . 2 6 ; at Hastings , iv , ; ogging in the A my , iv

b e tte r iv . 2 1 5 265 gets , , ; at Send proposes Littleton for Speaker ,

. 3 1 2 . 3 1 7 . 27 9 o n a Grove , iv ; again ill , iv ; iv ; naval and milit ry

. 3 56 . 28 5 health improves , iv sinecures , iv opposes Irish ’

. . . 293 Hobhouse , T B (author s half Coercion Bill , iv ; economi

. 1 4 5 23 3 . 264 o f brother) , iii , , iv cal advice to the Duke Kent ,

o f . 7 0 . 3 1 4 Hodgson , Provost Eton , iii iv M r d . r . . 8 3 Hogg , the Ett ick Shepher , iv Hunt , , iv on Reform fl 2 . 8 9 03 Bill , iv on ogging in the

2 . 20 . . 1 3 8 Holland , Dr , iii Army , iv

. 1 5 1 7 90 9 5 9 5 1 27 Holland , Lady , iii , , , , Huskisson , , ,

1 9 8 23 0 24 0 28 2 . 7 2 20 4 1 68 1 7 7 265 o n . 1 9 3 , , , , iv , , , , ; Peel , iii ;

254 3 3 6 . . 203 , anecdotes of Mr Pitt , iii ; his 1 1 5 . 2 6 Holland , Lord , iii . ; talks health , iii ; and Lord Lans ’ 1 o f 1 1 1 23 i n . 9 . 3 Spanish , iii ; his story downe , ; Wellington s ’

. 3 1 i 1 1 1 . 23 7 24 1 254 Pitt s duel with Tierney , iii Admin stration , , , ; on the relief of the Catholics , iii . his change of opinion the Corn

9 1 . . 257 o n ; his letters to Byron , iii Question , iii ; his vote 1 9 5 o n . 1 1 2 . 27 ; Thurlow , iii ; his the East Retford Bill , iii his 2 6 . 1 1 8 o n . 27 1 27 5 7 character , iii ; France , resignation , iii , , ; ’ ’

1 e . R e iii . 3 9 ; on Canning s Govern vot s for Lord J Russell s 1 o l . 0 a . 1 9 8 o n o f r O osa ment , iii ; the need form p p iv ;

23 4 o f . 4 9 union among the Whigs , iii . eident to and death , iv ’

o f III . o f Iv . 50 his anecdotes George , author s opinion , ’

F O X 1 11 . 1 1 8 Lord North , Pitt , and , iii . Hutchinson s Memoirs , 2 24 e t s e . . 3 3 7 q , iv ; and Welling ’

3 8 o u . 7 5 21 2 o n ton , iv . ; Lord Grey s Inglis , Sir Robert , iii , ; 3 02 . 7 2 . Government , iv ; on Reform , Catholic Emancipation , iii ,

. 0 8 8 . 7 5 o n 3 0 9 8 iv ; the crisis (March on Reform , iv ,

. 28 3 292 . 204 iv Irish Church Reform , iv , , - . 27 7 3 24 Horne , Attorney General , iv

229 . 292 Horner , Leonard , iii . Irish Coercion Bill iv ,

. 27 6 3 52 et s e . Horse Guards clock , the , iv q - e . 1 1 9 Hortense (ex Queen ) , iv Irish Secr taryship , accepted by ’

. 29 7 Hotham , Admiral Sir William , the author , iv author s INDEX

1 1 1 . 1 3 6 interview with the King about , King , Lord ,

29 9 o n . . 1 1 1 . 1 iv ; author enters the , King , Mr (and 3 ibid i IV the small establishment K ng William accession o f , iv .

. 3 00 3 2 et s e in Queen Street , iv author q . ; holds a Levee , iv .

Mr . . . 3 0 5 . 4 0 ; ; ibid . resigns , iv E J reviews the Guards ,

. 3 3 1 0 0 Littleton succeeds to the , iv reviews tr ps in Hyde Park ,

. 3 59 3 6 1 4 2 r . . 4 9 I ish Tithe Bill , iv , in iv ; at Brighton , iv ; his 2 V . 3 6 the Lords , iv isit to the City postponed , iv . 62 i bid . ; alarm in the City , dis

f . e . l Jef rey , Mr (aft rwards Lord ) , iv so ves Parliament (April 4 1 1 ’ 3 8 3 . 0 5 e 90 3 t s e . (note ) , , iv q the author s high 1 2 . 8 o f . 1 1 6 Jekyll , iii opinion , iv ; opens new

. 1 0 1 . 7 6 B ; . 1 25 et s e . Jersey , Lady , iii , iv and London ridge , iv q ’ . 1 4 3 R , . 1 4 0 the eform riots iv (note ) and the author s father , iv , 1 7 1 Jersey , Lord , made Lord Cham ; wishes theauthor appointed - - b e rla in . 3 9 a t . 1 69 , iv Secretary War , iv ; holds

. . 1 7 2 Jewish Disabilities Bill iv a Council , iv the creation

1 6 22 . 1 8 1 20 9 , of Peers , iv , and Lord B u ll r 1 J ohn . 9 9 newspaper , on the Du ham , iv refuses to make ’ i o f f . 2 1 9 author s res gnation his o fice Peers , iv ; accepts Lord ’

. 3 1 2 Gre s re si n a tio n 220 and seat , iv y g , iv . ; sends

ll . 1 20 . 223 Jones , Sir Wi iam , iii ; his for Wellington , iv the - b . 1 22 o f re death ed , iii author has an audience o f o f ni . 224 Ju us , authorship , Letters , signation with , iv ; Baring ’

. 1 1 6 o n . 228 iii the King s action , iv , 229 struck by a stone at Ascot , 4 l . 1 . 24 3 t . Kemb e , Miss Fanny , iv ; as iv ; waning populari y , iv

l . 23 25 1 Ju iet , iv assents to new Pension 1 . 9 7 . 28 1 re sc ri Kenmare , Lady , iv Warrant , iv his p p

. . 8 0 . 28 2 Kennedy , Mrs , iv tion for the gout , iv ; on f 1 4 o . 205 r 3 3 3 7 . 28 9 Kent , Duchess , iv , , sinecu e appointments , iv ’

. 27 0 o n i Kerrison , General , iii the author s resign ng the

III . . 3 0 8 King George and Lord Grey , Irish Secretaryship , iv ’

. 8 0 . iii ; his reputed speech holds a Council at St James s , about Catholic Emancipation iv . 3 63 ’ 205 n 1 1 1 . 1 0 9 20 6 not a fact , iii . Lord North s Kin aird , Lord , ,

l o f . 250 . . D . . 3 7 et se . reco lections , iii Sir W Kinnaird , Mr , iii q ’ ’

H o tham s o f . 1 60 1 1 1 . 4 7 et s e . anecdote , iv and Byron s will , q

IV . e . 20 6 King George at Brighton , at Boyle Farm f te , iii ;

. 1 3 1 11 . 23 1 iii quick at quoting Latin , at Southill , and the ’

. 52 . 1 3 8 1 63 r iii ; and Fox , iii , ; destruction of Lord By on 1 1 1 2 e s e . 3 t . . 1 65 O 9 and Sheridan , iii ; pens Memoirs , q his

l . 1 58 . 1 2 Par iament iii ; death , iv

t o o f . 290 letter the Duke Welling Kinsale , governorship of , iv ’

. 1 9 9 a n d ton , iii ; and his Tory Kleinthal , the , Gesner s

. 1 4 7 i . 203 Min sters , iii ; on Cabinet monument , iii

fi Mr . 1 1 1 . 7 2 . 2 1 8 O e rs changes iii ; Knight , , bookseller ,

o f the c o m 1 1 1 . 2 1 3 the Duke Wellington Knighton , Sir William , - - in . 222 mand chief , iii ; sends

1 1 1 . 9 29 9 . 4 7 7 8 for him to form a Government , Lafayette , , , iv ,

. 23 5 24 0 1 1 1 . 27 8 iii , ; at the Drawing La Harpe ,

iii 258 1 1 1 . 1 6 room , . and the Catholic Lallemand , General ,

. 3 28 . 27 0 3 1 7 3 20 Question , iii , , and Lamb , George , iv

1 1 1 . 4 3 8 2 . 2 1 . 3 the Duke of Wellington , iii , Lamb , Lady Caroline , , ’ 3 23 o f . 28 0 ; and the Duke York s Lamb , William , iii 4 4 4 5 20 8 . 7 . 1 8 . debts , iv ; his illness , iv , Lambton , iii , , created

. 23 6 24 5 . 20 . 3 1 h , , ; his death , iv funeral , Lord Dur am iii See l u iv . 3 9 a so D rham , Lord INDEX

, . 28 of . 3 4 8 Lambton Castle iii ; racing London , Bishop , iv 1 . 8 . 1 0 9 party at , iii London Bridge , iii opening 1 . 68 o f . 1 25 Lansdowne , l st Lord , iii , , iii ’ 1 8 5 . 3 rd joins Canning s Cabinet , iii Londonderry , Charles Mar ’ 4 o o f 1 9 2 1 0 ; n , , the Bishops action quis his duel with Battier ,

. 200 . 3 1 8 2 in the House of Lords , iii , iii ,

258 l . 20 7 ; his capabi ities , iii , Londonderry , Marchioness of , iii .

229 23 2 o u t f . 24 7 8 2 , ; of o fice , iii

. 3 62 ; o f the Byron Memoirs, iii on Londonderry , Marquis , his sui 1 the scene in the House of Lords cide , iii . 1 0 t o ui (April iv . 8 ; tries Lo s Philippe becomes King O f

re . 4 5 4 7 53 dissuade the author from the French , iv , ,

i . 3 07 o h . 5 1 sign ng , iv ; Lord Mel Lulworth , Charles X at , iv . ’ 5 Mr ’ ur . 3 6 . bo ne s Cabinet , iv ; and Luttrell , , and Lord Byron s

l . 3 2 et se 8 . . 3 21 the Irish Tithes Bil division , Memoirs , iii q , iv

. 3 60 a . 252 253 iv Lyndhurst , L dy , iii , 29 l . . Lascel es , Lord , iii Lyndhurst , Lord See Copley

. 3 2 28 1 3 23 l . 2 5 Lauderdale , Lord , iii , , , Lytton Bu wer iv 8 2 1 . 3 9 iv , ; supports Wellington ,

iii. 3 22 o n ; duel with General Macaulay , Reform Bill

Ar . 9 5 . 8 9 1 1 9 1 25 1 3 8 nold , iv iv , , , ; attacks

. 1 4 0 o n . 1 55 ff o f Lavalette , Count , iii ; Peel , iv ; di iculty his

l . 2 . 7 6 Napoleon and Tal eyrand , iii position , iv ; going to India ,

e . 2 o 1 4 1 et s q iv . 3 6 ; n Brougham and

. . 23 . 3 27 Lawrence , Thos (artist) , iv Stanley , iv

o f . 207 . 1 65 Leeds , Duke , iii Macdonald , Sir James , iv ’ ‘ . . r v in dic iae l as Leigh , Hon Mrs (By on s sister) , Mackintosh , his gal ic , 6 ’ 5 et s e . 4 4 53 6 . 1 4 Cree v e s iii . 3 q , , , ; and ; O ni o f iii y pi on , e . 3 3 3 t 1 1 1 . 3 0 o f the Byron Memoirs , iii ; at the Board ’ 1 1 s e . l 1 1 . 94 q ; Count Gamba s etter to , Control , ; in Catholic

. 3 65 e t s e . . 3 1 1 on iii q Relief debate , iii ; the

. 2 of Leigh Hunt , iii ; and Byron , abolition capital punishment ,

. 1 53 23 9 . 27 o n iii , iv ; Reform Bill , iv . 1 1 9 ;

o f . 1 68 . 23 7 Leinster , Duchess , iii his death , iv

l o f . 25 . 1 24 Leopo d , Prince Orange , iv , Mahon , Lord , iv f 7 9 o . 1 68 ; becomes King the Maitland , Lord , iv

l . 1 1 8 l . 27 5 Be gians , iv Malco m , Sir John , iv ’ . 1 8 0 o f Lethbridge , Sir Thomas , iii , Malt Tax , defeat Lord Grey s 1 1 o n 8 . Government , iv 3 0 1 ’

o f . 1 27 Levee , the King s , author attends Manchester , Duke , iii

. 1 8 4 1 8 5 n as a Minister , iv , Manners Sutton , agai chosen - 1 L e v e s on . 3 9 . 1 58 204 Gower , Lord , iii Speaker iii , ; 264 Lieven , Princess , iii . Reform row in the House , iv . 1 . 3 1 04 1 05 et s e . r l Lindsay , Lady Charlotte , iii , , q ; his fa ewe l , - 3 . 24 9 re iv . 3 3 (note ) iv ; elected in reformed 1 P a u l P r . 1 2 l a . 27 9 Liston in y, iii Par i ment , iv

e . 24 1 Lit rary Fund , iii ; Dinners Mansfield , Lord , attacks Canning ,

. 2 1 6 1 1 263 ; iv , 1 1 . 8 9

28 5 r o f 1 1 1 . 28 4 Ma riage the author , ,

. 28 6 Littleton , E . J (Lord Hatherton) , 1 o n . 3 3 . 3 23 o n . 1 11 . 28 1 iv ; the Irish , iv ; Mars , Mlle , l l Lords Anglesey and Wellesley , Marsden , Wil iam (Orienta ’ O C o n n e ll ibid . . 3 07 ; his scene with , traveller ) , iii 3 53 3 52 . . S . . 29 3 5 69 iv . ; he resigns , iv Matthews , C , iii , , o n . 1 0 1 02 ; Ma v r o c ord a to n Liverpool , Lord , iii , , Prince , and Byro ,

. 1 3 3 1 1 1 . 62 3 7 1 3 7 3 Corn Question , iii ; illness , , 2 o f . 1 69 1 7 7 1 7 9 3 3 ; o f , iii , , , his Maximilian Joseph (King

l . 1 8 2 204 . 1 4 8 indo ence , iii , Bavaria), iii

INDEX

l 1 04 et se . Nottingham , the author e ected q scene in the House

f o r . 3 58 o f . 1 07 o f iv Lords , iv opening III ’ on . s . 1 1 5 Nugent , Lord , George (June iv ; King pro reputed speech on Catholic rogues iv . 250 ; meeting

. 205 o f . 27 8 Emancipation , iii the new reformed , iv 66 Parnell , Sir Henry , iv . Secre ’ - - O Co n n ell l . 94 1 70 a t . 9 8 , Danie , iii , ; tary War , iv ; dismissed ,

28 3 . 1 65 Clare election , iii . ; attempts iv ; desires Chancellorship f . 3 20 o . 1 9 6 to take his seat , iii ; his the Excheq uer , iv ; ’

. 8 . 257 maiden speech , iv ; dines Durham s estimate of , iv

. 9 . . 8 4 with the Speaker , iv ; his Parr , Dr , iii

. 23 o n . 1 11 . 223 extreme views , iv Wel Parry , Dr Charles , 5 lin ton . 2 f o 1 1 r 1 . g , iv ; at the West Passport , author applies a ,

. 24 4 28 6 minster dinner , iv ; as

Mr . . 28 1 o f agitator , iv supports Irish Paternoster , , author

ur . 28 4 B r on ic u s 1 1 1 . 28 2 Ch ch Reform scheme , iv ; y , P a l P o f 1 r . u r . 24 opposes I ish Coercion Bill , iv y, origin , iii 2 29 . 28 0 ; friendship with Lord Paulet , Lord William , iii

. 3 0 3 l 1 1 1 3 03 Duncannon , iv his Repea Peel , Mr . Jonathan , .

. 3 3 6 . motion iv ; would Peel , Mr (afterwards Sir ) Robert , ’ like to join Lord Grey s Govern speech In honour of James

. 3 3 9 1 1 1 . 52 1 1 1 . 90 ment , iv his quarrel with Watt , ; ; and - 3 52 . l . Litt eton , iv cotton factory children , iii ’

O G orm a n . 8 3 9 5 11 1 . Mahon , iv ; and the Larceny Bill , ’ . 1 3 0 1 70 o n Opposition , His Majesty s , iii ; Catholic Emancipa

o f . 1 1 1 . 1 7 4 260 Orange , Prince See Leopold tion , , ; with the

Mr . . 3 1 . 3 3 4 1 1 1 . 1 7 7 Ord , , iii , iv King , ; resigns on Can ’

l o f . n in s 1 1 1 . 1 8 3 Or eans , Duke See Louis g promotion ;

. 1 8 8 Philippe his reasons , iii ; supports ’

i . l 1 1 1 . 204 Orleans House , Tw ckenham , iv Canning s Corn Bi l , 3 23 f di ference with Lord Milton , ’ ’ 6 o n . 24 Ouvrard , Napoleon s contractor , iii Huskisson s resigna

. d O ts . 3 1 27 6 a iii tion , iii ; p Catholic

o f . 3 02 Oxford , Bishop speaks Emancipation , iii his

o f 1 1 1 . 3 05 in favour the Catholic Relief contest at Oxford , his

. 3 1 7 on l Bill , iii ; the King cuts speech Catho ic Relief Bill ,

3 22 . 08 . him , iii . iii 3 ; his cold manner , iv 25 succeeds to the baronetcy ,

1 2 . ni . 1 22 Pagani , iv iv . scene with Brougham , iv

Mr r . 29 o f l . 3 3 5 e Pa mer , Arthu , iv ; announc s resignation

o n W l . 68 o n Palmerston , Lord , Navarino , el ington Ministry , iv

. 23 8 ll e iii leaves the We ington thealarming stat ofthe country ,

. 27 1 o n . 7 3 o f . 7 8 o n Government , iii ; the iv ; and France , iv ; ’ political outlook (Feb . iii . Lord J . Russell s Reform mo

3 00 o n l . 8 8 90 on speech Catholic Re ief tion , iv , ; speech third ’

. 3 1 1 . 1 0 2 o n l Bill , iii ; and Brougham s reading , iv the disso u

6 o n . 1 06 . 0 l Reform motion , iv Lord tion of Par iament , iv sends ’ 1 1 1 . 90 . J Russell s Bill , iv . ; apa challenge to the author, iv

. 9 6 o n on . 1 1 5 thetic , iv ; the Belgian the new Parliament , iv

. 1 64 on o n . 1 1 7 question , iv ; the crisis , second Reform Bill , iv

. 1 9 8 o n . 1 55 l iv invested with the Order the third Bill , iv rep y ’

24 1 . 1 56 of the Bath , iv . to Macaulay s attack , iv

. 69 the . Papplewick , iii Ettrick Shepherd and , iv ’ o E ri t on m o r f . 204 o n b n s Pa liament , meeting iii ; Lord g

1 0 R e . 222 ; r form of , see tion , iv fus s to join ” e re e

O f i . 228 form ; difficulty speak ng Wellington , iv

. 262 di o f . the truth in , iii ssolution Peers , proposed creation , iv

o f iv 4 2 1 4 et se . 1 8 1 20 9 21 9 . ; 7 q , , , INDEX

’ R a n liff c e 1 1 1 . 69 3 59 . 3 58 Peninsular War , Napier s History , Lord , , , iv ’ . 225 “of , iii Reform , Parliamentary , Fox s 1 ’ W . . . 1 29 Penn, , iv speech , iii author s

. 7 9 8 3 . 1 3 2 3 22 Perceval , Spencer , iv , speech on iii , ; ’

e . P re la Chaise , Cemetery , iii Lord Blandford s Bill ’ 1 5 6 . 9 iv ; Lord J . Russell s pro

. . 1 0 Phillpotts , Bishop (of Exeter ) , iv posal iv ; the 1 3 9 2 1 2 ’ . 24 , author s advanced views , iv

. 2 29 6 Pisa , iii , Wellington declares against , iv .

Wm . . 1 1 56 5 . 8 f Pitt , Right Hon , iii ; , ; Lords Sta ford and

. 2 1 . 59 his last words , iii ; duel Talbot declare for , iv Lord ’ ’ 1 Ta v is o k . 3 t c s with Tierney , iii thanks and Lord Holland s

v ie w s iv . 5 l B ugham fo his Colonial , 7 ; rd hn Russ l ro ” r Lo Jo e

l . 22 3 . 8 7 Po icy , iii ; Lord Hol introduces the Bill iv ’ 24 o 8 n . c se . 8 8 i . land s anecdotes of , iii ; debate , iv q the King ’

S ir Willia m H o tha m s a n e c d ote s r o f . 94 on , in favou , iv ; debate

. 1 58 o f . 9 6 9 7 iv second reading Bill , iv , ;

. 229 . 1 64 o f . 1 00 Place , Francis , iii , iv , views tradesmen on , iv ; 227 o n Bill defeated third reading , 1 Mr . . . 203 265 . 1 03 03 Planta , , iii , , iv iv Fund established to as

. 1 9 4 . 1 0 9 Plunkett , Lord , iii sist , iv Reform Dinner in

. 9 9 . 1 1 2 Poland , Lord Grey on , iv the City , iv ; second Reform ’

o n . 2 1 0 . 1 1 7 Prince Czartoryski , iv Bill introduced , iv author s

. 69 re re Polidori , iii speech on Metropolitan p

. 4 7 7 8 se n ta tion . 1 27 Polignac , iv , , iv new Bill read

f P l P i . 1 3 1 o a u r . Poole , author y, iii a th rd time , iv debate in

24 1 L ord s iv . 1 3 4 the , ; thrown outby L d s iv 1 l IV . 3 3 8 or . 3 6 Poor Law Bil the , action of the ’

1 o u la c e iv . 1 3 9 1 4 0 1 1 1 . 22 Pope s Correspondence , p p , , ; proposed

. 1 4 4 20 9 . 1 0 5 Porchester , Lord , iii ; his creation of Peers , iv , ;

. 1 8 3 . 1 1 9 o maiden speech , iv ; p third bill introduced (Dec 1 54 for . 1 55 . poses third Reform Bill , iv iv additional Members

. 52 . 1 8 7 Portugal , King John of , iii London , iv the Bill carried

P o u le tt . 2 1 3 o n Thomson (afterwards in the Lords , iv defeated 2 1 8 ’ 1 . . . 9 3 Lord Sydenham) , iii , iv committal , iv Lord Grey s ’ 3 3 0 o n c o l . 2 1 9 (note ) Lord Grey s Government resigns , iv ’

. 3 3 1 leagues , iv ; President of Wellington s proposal to carry

224 et se . . 3 4 8 . ; the Board of Trade , iv Reform , iv q he gives 226 . 2 27 5 . Pozzo di Borgo , iv , ; it up , iv Lord Grey

o f . 27 8 anecdotes Napoleon , iv returns to office after receiving

o f . 23 3 l Privy Council , meeting the , guarantees , iv the Bi l

. 1 1 . iv 7 going through Committee , iv

1 23 5 . 24 0 ; Pruss a , King of , at Portsmouth , ; the Bill passed , iv

. 2 . III 7 receives the Royal Assent , iv 24 2

. 3 7 . 1 25 et s e . R Queen Adelaide , iv q , egency question iv

24 3 1 O . 3 3 6 ibid . 250 3 5 unpopular , , , Repeal f the Union , iv - R o f ( 1 8 3 0 ) Queen Caroline , her death bed , evolution July in 52 54 . 4 5 . 4 3 et se . iii Paris , iv q , ,

Mr . 1 o f An to in R . , Queen France (Marie icardo , , iii his death ’ As ill s 23 . 26 ette ) , saves g life , iii . iii 4 3 4 5 r R of , . 3 3 , du ing the attack on Versailles , ichmond , Duke iv

. iii . 24 Riding Establishment at St ’ 1 4 t o . 8 . 1 8 ; Quorn , a run with the , iii , John s Wood , iv be 202 3 0 moved to Maidstone , iv . 1 3 9 Riots in the country , iv . 1 2 a R . 1 5 , 8 ; R ilway , Liverpool and Man ogers , Sam , iii letter

1 8 1 8 . 1 52 . 4 9 chester , opened , iv to Byron in , iii INDEX

. 8 292 B Rome , the author in , iii , conversation with yron about ’

ibi . i d bid . r o Canova s studio in , his religion , ; his last - o m n s 1 l f a c e . 60 Ross , Char es , ex Lord the , iv

. 3 63 . 69 Admiralty , iv Scrope Davies , iii 20 Rosslyn , Lord , made Privy Seal , Sebright , Sir J iv . ; seconds

. 3 22 3 24 . 8 8 iii , Reform motion , iv

. 7 4 f Royal Society , the , iv Secretaryship at War , of ered to

. 1 62 1 63 20 7 . 1 65 ets e . Russell , Lord , iii , , author , iv q Lord Grey

. 1 7 1 22 f . 1 69 Russell , Lord John , iii , , on duties of the o fice , iv ; ’

1 23 1 28 . , ; his Reform motion author s proposed changes , iv

. 1 3 2 270 27 6 iii ; fracas with , ; at variance with the - - . 23 0 in . 24 7 Lady Holland , iii ; his Commander Chief , iv ,

1 8 3 0 . 267 28 7 29 5 Reform proposals of , iv , , ; the author leaves

1 0 24 . 29 7 , ; to bring forward the the War Office , iv 2 1 1 . 8 . 6 1 3 Reform Bill iv ; his Send Grove , iv ,

. 8 7 e r . 260 speech , iv ; present d with the Seymou , Lord , iii ; marriage

o f . 1 2 1 . 27 freedom the City , iv ; to Miss Sheridan , iv

r G . . 3 1 2 brings forwa d third Reform Shee , Sir , iv

. 1 54 2 69 Bill (Dec . iv ; pros Shelley , iii . , 2 o f S ir 1 1 1 . 03 peets carrying it in the Lords , Shelley , John ,

. 2 1 0 o f III . 23 1 1 1 . iv ; a Commissioner Chel Sheridan , ; and Byron ,

. 24 5 4 8 o f sea Hospital , iv appoints and the Duchess Devon

Gle i C . 7 6 1 1 1 . g to the haplaincy there , shire , iii ; his failings , ’

. 3 3 3 1 0 7 1 23 1 1 1 . iv ; and the Irish Church , ; Moore s Life of ,

. 3 4 0 o n 1 2 1 1 23 hi s Bill , iv ; Stanley and , ; conduct to the

. 3 6 1 . 1 28 Graham , iv Whigs , iii ; and to the - . 24 8 . 1 3 6 . Russo Belgian Loan , iv Duke of York , iii Mrs Fitz ’

O o f . 1 65 herbert s pinion , iii ;

. 1 5 9 . 1 1 6 Sackville , Lord George , iii and Lady Holland , iv

1 1 6 S ib th or . 1 1 . . 7 Sainsbury , Dr , iii p , Colonel iv

f . 264 . e o . St Albans , Duk , marries Mrs Sidmouth , Lord , iv

S im o n d 1 1 1 . 2 8 . 20 3 . 22 8 Coutts , iii , iv , Louis , 2 f . . 255 r o 8 5 St . Antonio , Countess , iii Sinecu es , abolition , iv , ’ Au l ir o f 2 St . a e s History the 8 9

226 1 1 1 . 1 3 5 . Fronde , iii . Slavery Question , , iv ’ ’

. 269 St James s Palace , Children s 1 02 2 . 3 1 5 . 1 1 1 . 63 Ball at , iv Smith , Rev Sydney , , St . Lorenzo , Duke (and Duchess ) on the belief in a second life , iv .

o f . 1 9 26 1 00 , iii on Spain and France , , 2 . 20 S ir . 4 iii Smith , Sidney , iv f ’ O o . Salaries , fficial , reduction , iv Smuggling by King s messengers , 20 4 8 8 . , , iii 3 0 1 22 1 1 1 . 2 1 9 Saldanha , Count , and the Terceira Somerset , Duke of , ,

1 8 . 1 8 5 case , iv . (note ) Somerset , Lord Fitzroy , iv 24 6 250 . 1 4 9 . Salzburg , iii Somerville case , the , iv , o f 29 1 San Marino , Republic , iii . Soult, Marshal , assists Napier in ” 225 . 28 1 1 1 . San Marsan , Marquis , iii his History ,

8 6 Il l . Scarlett , Sir J iii . Southey , his attack on Byron ,

. 1 4 5 8 4 Schlegel , iii

o n l 1 1 1 . 23 0 Scotland , steamboats West Southi l , o f 25 Coast , iii . Spain , France declares war against

f . l . 1 0 o Scott , Sir Wa ter , letter to Byron iii ; Duke St ’ o f O . 20 announcing death the two Lorenzo s pinion , iii

. 1 52 u of Boswells , iii on the D ke Speaker , the (Manners Sutton) , ’ 1 4 1 05 et se . . 1 6 1 F la hau t s O . 1 58 204 . 0 York , iii pinion iii , , iv , q , ’

o f . 1 65 1 7 4 , iii ; author s meeting

1 1 1 . 1 08 . 1 57 , with , iii ; Murray intro Spencer , Lord Robert ,

. 256 hi s 3 9 duces author to him, iii ; iv .

INDEX

’ Mr . Va n de w e e r . 57 65 7 9 3 2 1 y , , iv , , ; Lord Holland s criticism

. 1 1 3 22 . 3 8 Vansittart , made a Peer , iii of , , iv and Lord Grey ,

r 1 20 ibid . o n v olu Vernon , Harcou t , iv the French re

. 9 1 8 3 0 . 4 4 O Verona , Congress of , iii tion of , iv ; at pening ’

. 3 20 t Vestry Bill (the author s ) , iii , of Liverpool and Manches er

. 1 4 1 5 22 4 0 7 5 8 6 1 3 3 . 4 9 iv , , , , , , , railway , iv ; declares against 4 4 4 ’ 1 3 1 3 5 1 . 5 6 , , ; becomes law , Reform , iv and the King s 4 5 V 1 . 62 isit to the City , iv ; visits Va n d r . e w e e . 65 Victoria , Princess (afterwards Mr y , iv end of

Vic tor Ia . 20 6 . 6 9 Queen ) , iv his Administration , iv ; his

i Dio d a ti 1 1 1 . 28 7 5 lla , sistanc to R fo m , iv . 9 , V ” re e e r

. 1 3 5 1 1 6 1 3 4 1 8 4 20 7 Vivian Grey , iii , , , ; his windows R 1 1 4 0 . 1 . . 0 3 4 1 24 4 fl Vyvy an , Sir , iv , broken , iv , ; on ogging

. 1 9 7 in the Army , iv ; at the ’ Mr . . 3 58 . 2 1 1 Wakefield , , iv Speaker s Levee , iv in

Wa le w ski . 9 9 2 1 2 , Count , iv favour of some reform , iv .

. . 8 7 Wall , Mr Baring , iv sent for to form Government l Wa lle n se e . 1 4 8 . 223 ake , the , iii iv ; proposes to f . 25 3 . 224 et s e . War O fice business , iv dis carry Reform , iv q

. . 226 cord with the Horse Guards , iv failure , iv ; his explana

28 7 . 23 0 r ; Committee inquires into , tion , iv ; for Irish Chu ch

3 1 8 . 3 24 iv . Reform , iv ; on the Thirty

f . r . 3 3 3 War Secretaryship , of er of , iv Nine A ticles , iv

e e m a c o tt . 1 5 1 65 t s . e st q W , iii 29 Warburton , Mr . iv . , Westminster , author elected for — 3 59 . 1 3 7 e 1 8 3 0 iii ; re elect d , iV 2 2 1 1 . 1 o n a c c t . . 3 4 . 9 8 3 0 9 e Ward , Mr Plumer , iv iv ; , ; p

. . 3 1 7 f . 1 72 Warren , Dr , iv ing o fice , iv ; Colonel Evans

G . . 23 O . 260 Washington , , iii to ppose the author , iv - . re . 264 re Waterloo , some truths about , iii elected iv ; ’ 267 . o u o f ; Simond s story about , iii signs the question House

28 8 . 3 05 and Window Tax , iv ; stands

e . 24 7 . Webst r , Lady , iii again and is defeated by Col

Weekl D is a tch T e . 3 2 1 0 h 7 . 3 y p , , iv Evans , iv

. 24 7 Wellesley , Lady , iii Westminster Abbey roof on fire ,

. 3 3 1 . 3 08 Wellesley , Lord , iv iii 1 1 3 o n . Wellington , Duke of , the losses Westminster Dinners , iv ,

. 8 2 24 4 at Badajoz , iii ; on Lord ’ 1 8 2 Liverpool s indolence , iii . ; Wetherell , Sir Charles (Attorney

n . i disagreement with Can ing , iii General ) , on Cathol c Relief

1 8 4 . . 3 1 1 ; his financial ability , iii Bill , iii ; on Reform Bill , 1 4 1 0 . o 1 9 . 8 9 n . ; his mission to St Peters iv ; Reform riots , iv 4 o . 220 f . 1 0 burg iii (note ) ; ex Wharnclif e , Lord , iv ; p 2 4 o n O f . 22 . 1 3 ample his reticence , iii poses Reform Bill , iv ; 1 4 2 helps Napier in his History , the riots , iv . ; decides to

. 225 . 207 iii ; sent for to form a vote for the Bill , iv ’ in ires . 23 5 C ha r é d a a Government , iii ; his Wherry ( g fi at Dres

. 23 7 . 4 9 elusion of Huskisson , iii , den) , iii

24 1 a n d . 24 0 o f ; Ellenborough , iii ; Whigs , need union among the , 4 nearly wrecked o n voyage to iii . 23 1 1 8 1 22 . 2 1 1 1 . 55 . S . Portugal , iii author meets Whitbread , Mr , , ,

n . 264 fre 1 6 1 . 28 him at din er , iii ; , iv

1 1 1 . 1 02 q uent changes in his Cabinet , White , Miss Lydia ,

. 27 3 . iii ; his opinion of the Whitebait Dinner , Ministerial , iv

. 28 5 3 6 1 author , iii ; and the Catholic

1 1 6 et s e . l . 3 0 3 1 5 3 1 1 1 . 4 5 7 6 Re ief Bill , iii , , ; Whitton Park , , q , Win c hilse a 209 227 28 0 his duel with Lord , , , ff . 3 1 3 ll O . . 1 7 204 iii ; fa s his horse , iii Wilberforce , iii , INDEX

22 1 25 , R , , , , . Wilbraham oger iii Windsor Castle , expenses of , iv 1 26 24 4 8 5 , ; King William on , iv . 3 63 M P Wildman , Colonel (of Newstead) , Winn , Mr . ( . . for Malden) , iii .

0 . 1 62 1 58 iii . 7 , iv f . 1 3 1 1 1 . 1 7 1 Wilkie , David , iv Wol f , the missionary ,

. l e Wilkins , Mr (of the Asiatic C ub ) , and Lady Hest r Stanhope , iii . 4 8 1 4 3 1 7 2 iii . ,

. . 5 1 e Williams , Mr John iii , Wood , Charles (aft rwards Lord

2 . 1 4 4 3 0 8 3 2 4 0 7 Halifax ) , iv , , 7 , 3

. 265 3 3 3 . 24 7 Wilmot Horton , iii , Wood , Francis iii

. 1 1 5 Wilson , Sir Robert , iii ; his Woods and Forests , the author

d . 1 9 5 . 3 56 conduct to Lor Grey , iii ; becomes Minister for , iv ’

o n . 2 1 2 1 3 . . 3 Canning s illness , iii on Woolaston , Dr , iii

. 24 2 e . 1 25 the Navarino debate , iii ; Wrott sley , Sir J iii Wu r m r f . 4 0 te b e o 4 1 4 2 restored to his rank , iv ; g, King , iv . ,

. 1 0 2 speech on Reform Bill , iv ’ i L a m b to n s W mbledon , villa at , York , Duke of , on the Catholic

1 11 . 4 5 . 1 0 ; Duke of Somerset at , Bill iii ; visit to

. 2 1 1 229 iii , Woolwich with Emperor of

Win c hilse a . 27 , Lord , attacks Can Russia , iii ; on Catholic

. 1 o n . 9 8 9 6 . ning , iii ; Catholic claims , iii ; his death , iii

. 3 1 2 1 6 1 . 7 Relief , iii ; his duel with his debts , iv

. 3 1 3 . 3 0 1 Wellington , iii Yorke , Sir Joseph , iii

W . . 1 26 1 3 8 . Windham , , iii , ; as Young , Col , secretary to Lord

. 3 0 7 . 4 5 Colonial Secretary , iii ; at Hastings , iii

. 3 0 8 Westminster Abbey fire , iii

1 1 Z . 3 23 his despatches , iv . oological Gardens , the , iv