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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:34:59 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:34:59 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/10693-0.txt b/10693-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..843e7a5 --- /dev/null +++ b/10693-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13134 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10693 *** + +LORD ELLENBOROUGH'S DIARY + +1828-1830 + +VOL. II. + + + A POLITICAL DIARY + 1828-1830 + BY EDWARD LAW + LORD ELLENBOROUGH + + EDITED BY LORD COLCHESTER + +[Illustration: fide et fiducia] + + IN TWO VOLUMES + VOL. II. + + LONDON + RICHARD BENTLEY & SON, NEW BURLINGTON STREET + Publishers in Ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen + 1881 + + + + +DIARY + + +_April 1, 1829._ + +The Duke of Wellington wrote to the King to ask if he had any objection to +raising the galleries. He had none. So we sent for Sir T. Tyrwhit, and had +him at the Cabinet dinner to ask him whether he could fix the galleries by +four to-morrow. He said _No_. So we must do as we can. + +Forty foreigners applied for seats to-day after four o'clock. + +In the House I made the second reading of the Bills an order of the day at +the desire of Lord Malmesbury and Lord Grey. It is more formal so, but the +second reading might have been equally well moved without it. + +Lord Grey said a few words on presenting a petition expressing a hope to be +convinced on the subject of the Franchise Bill, but laying ground for +voting against it. Lord Malmesbury likewise expressed himself against it. +We shall be hard pushed on this Bill. The Duke says we have 122 sure votes +and no more upon it. + +The Bishop of Chester read prayers, his wife having died about ten days +ago. Really some one of the other Bishops might have relieved him. + +Lord Shaftesbury, in the absence of the Chancellor, sat as Speaker. I moved +the bills _pro formâ_ for him. + +At the Cabinet dinner at Peel's, Peel said the Bishop of Oxford was ready +to speak at any time, and wished to follow a violent bishop. He may easily +find one. + +We had much talk about our approaching debates. Peel, after the Duke was +gone, regretted his having taken the line of expressing his anxiety to +relieve himself from the obloquy cast upon him, and his having put that +desire forward as his reason for pressing the second reading of the Bill on +Thursday. The Duke having said so, we could not back him out. We might +avoid taking the same ground, but we could not alter it. + +Aberdeen mentioned the case of the Candian blockade. I am sorry to see he +does not communicate beforehand now with the Duke. He never looks forward +to the ultimate consequences of his measures. Now he talks of convoying +English ships to Candia, and telling them they may go there safely, and if +stopped shall be indemnified. But if the English ship finds a Russian off +Candia, and is warned off, yet persists, under the expectation of +indemnity, we should be obliged to pay the indemnity. The Russians, having +given warning, would be justified in taking the vessel. + +So if we give convoy, and the convoy ship persists, we should come to +blows. All these things should be foreseen. Aberdeen thinks Lièven is +ignorant of Heyden's having had any orders. He excuses him as having acted +in the spirit of the treaty, to _avoid the effusion_ of blood! + +One thing is clear; we cannot permit Russia, as a belligerent, to defeat +the objects of the Treaty of London, and yet act with her under that +treaty. + + +_April 2._ + +Second reading Catholic Relief Bill. The Duke made a very bad speech. The +Archbishop of Canterbury drivelled. The Primate of Ireland made a strong +speech, his manner admirable. Both these against. The Bishop of Oxford had +placed himself at our disposal to be used when wanted. We put him into the +debate here, wanting him very much. The first part of his speech was very +indifferent, the latter excellent. Lord Lansdowne spoke better than he has +done for some time, indeed for two years. The Bishop of London against us; +but he made a speech more useful than ten votes, in admirable taste, +looking to the measure as one to be certainly accomplished, &c. The Duke of +Richmond spoke very shortly, but better than he has ever done, in reply. We +adjourned at 1. + +229 members in the House. Room for thirty more; the House not oppressively +hot; numbers of women. The tone of the debate temperate. + + +_April 3._ + +A speech from the Bishop of Durham, full of fallacies and extravagant, but +having its effect. + +The Chancellor spoke admirably, endeavouring to bring up Eldon, but the old +man would not move. He wanted more time to consider his answer, by which he +will not improve it. + +A speech from Goderich, very animated in his way, and very heavy. The House +did not cheer him once. He pressed himself upon it with bad taste. He spoke +upon all the collateral and unimportant points. He swung his arm about like +a boy throwing a stone from a sling. + +Lord Mansfield spoke, sleepily and ill-naturedly. I was exhausted, and +could not have answered him, had he said anything worth answering. + +We adjourned at two till one to-morrow. + + +_April 4._ + +House at 1. A long absurd speech from Lord Guildford, which must have given +much pain to Lady Ch. Lindsay, who sat under the throne, and who must have +been much annoyed at seeing to what her family had fallen. We had then Lord +Lilford, who rested too much on his notes, but who has a good manner. He +drew his points well, and spoke like a man, not like a boy. + +Lord Tenterden was not powerful. Lord Grey spoke better than he has done +since 1827. He made a speech too long, and indeed the last half-hour was of +no use. He beat the brains out of the Coronation Oath, as an obstacle to +Catholic Concession, and read a curious letter of Lord Yestor to Lord +Tweddale, dated April, 1689, before William III. took the Coronation Oath, +in which Lord Tester mentions that it was understood that the king had in +council declared his understanding of the sense of the Coronation Oath-- +that it bound him in his executive capacity, not in his legislative. Lord +Westmoreland made an odd, entertaining from its manner, and really very +good speech. He supported the Bill. + +Lord Eldon, who, after an ineffectual attempt on the part of Lord Redesdale +to speak, followed Lord Grey, made a very weak, inefficient, powerless +speech. He seemed beaten, and in some respects his memory had failed him. + +Lord Plunket drew, with great power, a picture of the state of society in +Ireland as affected by the laws. The whole of his speech was powerful. + +His speech and Lord Grey's were excellent. + +After a few sentences from Lord Farnham we divided. + + Present for 149 + Against 79 + ---- + Majority 68 + Proxies for 70 + Against 33 + ---- + Total Content 217 + Not Content 112 + ---- + Majority 105 + +This will quiet Windsor. The King was to have received a number of +petitions to be presented by peers to-day. The Primate of Ireland was to +have gone, and the Irish Bishops. The latter went. If they had not gone, +the King would have made some excuse for not receiving them. + +The majority must put an end to all agitation in England, and tranquillise +Ireland. Indeed as regards this question Ireland is tranquil. The conduct +of the Catholics has been as excellent as that of the Protestants. Hitherto +the announcement of the measure has produced effects beyond what was +anticipated from its adoption. + +The Duke of Rutland, who was not expected, and indeed every doubtful vote +was with us. + +The Protestants are subdued. + +Lord Grey's speech, but still more Lord Plunket's, will have a greater +effect upon the public mind, than any which have yet been delivered. + +Really it seems like a dream! That I should, if I lived, live to see this I +did expect; but that I should see it so soon, and that I should happen to +be a member of the Government that carried it, I did not expect. I must say +with what delight I view the prospect of having Catholics in Parliament. I +am sure it will do more for the happiness of Ireland, and for the strength +of the Empire, than any measure that could have been adopted. + + +_April 5. _ + +Dined with Lady Sandwich and met the Arbuthnots, with whom I had a long +talk. She told me the Duke wanted to bring in Lord Chandos, by way of +conciliating the Tories. She thought Lord Rosslyn ought to have the Privy +Seal, and that, considering their late conduct, the Whigs should be +preferred to the Tories, whom we should have at any rate. That it was +enough not to punish them by depriving them of their offices. + +In all this I agree. I think if the Duke should go to the Tories and turn +his back upon the Whigs after what has taken place, he will make Opposition +very acrimonious, and our debates very disagreeable. + +I told her if the Privy Seal was to be a Tory, I thought the Duke of +Richmond the best. He is the most popular man in the House of Lords, and a +good debater. The Duke and Lord Bathurst say he is cunning; but as far as I +can judge he acts fairly. + + +_April 6._ + +House. Second reading Franchise Bill. Opposed by the Duke of Richmond, Lord +Malmesbury, Winchelsea, and Clanricarde. Lord Holland spoke in favour of +the Bill as connected with the Relief Bill. The Whigs voted with us. Dudley +spoke in favour, just to separate himself from the Canningites, for whom +Haddington spoke, more reluctant than the Whigs. + +Lord Winchelsea was very mad, wished to expel the bishops, to prevent +translations, equalise their sees, &c. We had 139 to 19. The minority +were--Dukes: Cumberland, Gloucester, Brandon, Richmond, Newcastle; +Marquises--Salisbury, Clanrickarde; Earls--Winchelsea Malmesbury, O'Neil; +Lords--Falmouth, Penrhyn, Boston, Grantley, Glenlyon; Earl Digby, Earl +Romney. + +The Duke goes to Windsor on Saturday to get the King to consent to give the +Royal assent on Thursday, the day before Good Friday. The Duke of +Cumberland has been mischievous at Windsor. The King fancies he is in the +situation of Louis XVI. That he shall run down by Liberalism. The Duke of +Cumberland swears he will turn us out, let who will be Ministers. + + +_April 7._ + +Lord Eldon and others opened afresh the question as to the principle of the +Bill on the first clause. We divided with more than 2 to 1. + +The Bishops and Lord Eldon got into a theological discussion. + +The Chancellor made a strong attack upon Lord Eldon, who really spoke very +childishly. + +We had as many women as ever, but a new set, and some of the prettiest +girls in London--Miss Bagot, Miss Sheridan, and others. + +At Windsor, last Sunday, the Duke of Cumberland spoke very warmly indeed to +Aberdeen about the Duke of Wellington. He said he had sat by us as our +friend, till the King's Ministers joined in the _hoot_ against him. (This +was particularly Lord Bathurst, who shook his head at him and cheered +offensively.) He seems in speaking of the Duke of Wellington to have used +terms hardly to be expected. + +He told the Chancellor to-day that he should, before the Bill passed, +declare he never could again feel confidence in His Majesty's Ministers; +that the country was ruined; and that he should leave it and never return. + +The Chancellor told him he advised him not to make the last promise. I hope +he will make it and keep it. + +I observed him afterwards address the Chancellor very warmly, after he had +attacked Eldon. + +A man of the name of Halcomb has advertised for a meeting on Friday, on the +road to Windsor, to carry petitions to the King. + +April 8. + +Committee on Relief Bill. No division. Several amendments. Those of Lord +Tenterden very silly. + +I said a very few words twice. + +The third reading is fixed for Friday. When the Duke of Cumberland heard +the third reading fixed he left the House like a disappointed fiend. He did +not take his hat off till he had got half-way down. + +Lord Eldon seems quite beaten. + + +_April 9._ + +Lord Eldon went to Windsor to-day with petitions. Yesterday Lord Howe and +three others went. I believe these peers have been: Duke of Newcastle, +Kenyon, Rolle, Howe, O'Neil, Bexley, Winchelsea, Farnham, and six bishops. + +Cabinet at 2. A meeting is advertised for to-morrow, to take place at +Apsley House. Then to proceed to Slough or Salt Hill, or to Eton, to +deliver there a petition to the Duke of Cumberland, who is then to present +it to the King, and the people are to wait for an answer. + +The Duke has written to the King, acquainting him with the plan, and +advising His Majesty to refuse to receive the petition except through the +hands of Mr. Peel. + +Peel is going down to Windsor himself. The Duke writes to-night to tell the +King he is going, and to repeat his advice of this morning as coming from +the Cabinet. + +If the King will not take Peel's advice we go out. + +The Duke thinks the King will yield, and that the meeting will be a +failure. So have I thought from the first. There is no agitation in London. +No feeling, no excitement. The King will know Peel is coming in time to be +able to inform the Duke of Cumberland, and prevent his setting out. + +In the House about nine the Duke received a letter from Sir W. Knighton, +informing him that he had _no doubt_ the King would take his advice +respecting the petitions. Eldon was there, and probably saw the letter. + +House. Got through the report of the Franchise Bill. Third reading fixed +for to-morrow. I had to say a few words. + + +_April 11, 1829._ + +House. A long speech from Lord Eldon, containing no argument, and both flat +and bad. + +Then a speech from Lord Harrowby, long and sensible; but heavily delivered +and not wanted. A long speech from Lord Lansdowne, still less wanted, and +very dull. + +The Duke was obliged to say something civil to the Whigs, but he did it +sparingly, and _contre coeur_. + +We had a majority of 104. The Franchise Bill was likewise read a third +time. + +The mutual congratulations were cordial. The House is in good humour again. +All are glad to get rid of the question. The Duke of Cumberland, Falmouth, +and Winchelsea, perhaps Kenyon, are lost to the Government, but no others. + +Lord Middleton voted with us, having been against on the second reading. +The Duke of Rutland against, having been with us before. + +The Duke of Clarence was absent, being ill. He had fourteen leeches on his +temples. + +The House was full of ladies. Mrs. Fox, Lady Jersey, Lady Pitt and her +daughters, Lady A. Brudenell, Lady Harrowby, Lady G. Wortley, Lord Eldon's +daughters, Lady Glengall, Mrs. and Miss Sheridan, the old Duchess of +Richmond, Lady Manners, Lady Rolle, Lady Haddington, and many others. + +The intended row failed altogether. Only four carriages went down to +Windsor. Halcomb and his two friends saw an equerry. They were told their +petition must be presented through the Secretary of State, and went away +quietly. + +The Duke of Cumberland said he must withdraw his support from the +Government; but he was temperate. In fact he was beaten. + +The Duke of Norfolk was in the House, as happy as man could be. + + +_April 11._ + +Dr. Clarke and H. Fane both spoke of the Chancellor's speech in attack upon +Eldon, as in bad taste and offensive. I shall endeavour to ascertain +whether this is the general opinion. Not having heard Eldon, they cannot +know how very mischievous and disingenuous he was. + + +_April 12._ + +Met the Lievens, Lyndhursts, Sir J. Murray, and others at dinner, at the +Esterhazy's. The King has not yet sent back the commission to pass the +Catholic Bill. + +The Lievens are more shy of me than ever. + +Lord Bathurst seemed to be much pleased with my idea of carrying on the +Government of India in the King's name. He said it should be under a +Secretary of State for India. + +The Chancellor approved highly of my notion of suggesting Herries for the +Government of Bombay, if the directors will not have Courtney. He is +useless to us, and a discredit. Besides, we want his place. + +Had some talk with Vernon at Lady Jersey's. He has the Canning venom about +him still, and said we should still regret having lost Huskisson, &c. + +I said NEVER. He was an able man, but he would never do as a member of a +Cabinet in which he was not chief. The Government would not have lived if +he had continued in. I told him I had become satisfied from my short +experience that a coalition Government could not conduct the affairs of the +country with advantage--especially where the difference was [blank]. + +The Duke of Cumberland is gone to Windsor. If the commission should not +arrive to-night I dare say the Duke of Wellington will go to Windsor early +to-morrow. + +Lady Jersey was very loud in her dispraise of the Duke of Richmond. Every +one who knows him says he is very cunning. There is a mixture of good and +bad taste about him. He is popular, and he would make a good man of +business. + + +_April 13, 1829, Monday._ + +Chairs at 11. Informed them of Sir Sidney Beckwith's appointment to the +command at Bombay. + +Told them my general idea was that it was necessary to fix a Lieutenant- +Governor at Agra. I showed them it could be done without expense. Sir +Charles Metcalfe should be the person appointed, with precise instructions +obliging him to a system of non-interference in the internal concerns of +the Malwa and Rajpoot States. Sir J. Malcolm would have interposed. + +The treaties with the Rajpoot States generally secure their internal +independence. Those with the States of Malwa give us the right, and impose +upon us the duty of supervision. It requires, therefore, a most delicate +hand to bring the whole into one system animated by one spirit. + +I said incidentally to-day, 'I will not sit here to sacrifice India to +England,' a sentiment which escaped me, but which I feel to be correct, not +only socially but politically. + +Ashley came and bored me about a petition of some Hindoos and Mahometans in +Calcutta, who wish to be grand jurors. I told him I could not proceed +hastily in any matter of legislation, and that this was one of much +delicacy. I should speak to Fergusson. + +A Cabinet had been fixed for 3. I concluded it was on account of a delay on +the King's part in giving the Royal assent to the Relief Bill. The Cabinet +was counter-ordered, the Commission having arrived at two. + +The Chancellor had sent a note to the King with the Bills, calling his +attention to them. The King, on sending them back with the Commission +signed, thanked the Chancellor for having called his attention to the +Bills, and said he gave his assent reluctantly. + +The Chancellor had sent a note last night to Watson, the Equerry, desiring +him to remind the King of the Commission. + +So at a few minutes before four to-day the Chancellor, Lord Bathurst, and I +sat as Commissioners to give the Royal assent to the Relief Bill, and about +thirty-nine others. So many had been kept back to force an early decision. +The Indemnity Bill was one of the Bills, and the Militia Lists Bill +another. There were thirteen peers in the House, and seven or eight more +about. Lord Savoy, his son, young Lambton, Lady Petres, and her daughters, +Mrs. Fox, and some other ladies were there--Lady Stanhope. The old Duchess +of Richmond came too late. + +I observed that in passing each other very close the Duke of Wellington and +the Duke of Cumberland took no notice of each other. + +Lord Durham said to me, 'Now the King will turn you all out in revenge as +soon as he can,' to which I assented. He certainly will when he dares. + +The Duke of Norfolk and Mr. Petres were in the House, giving and receiving +congratulations. All parties congratulate the Duke. Falmouth alone still +looks sad and sombre. The Duke of Wellington has a bad cold. He was very +hoarse, and wrapped himself in his cloak as soon as he had done speaking. + + +_April 14._ + +Saw Mr. Fergusson respecting a petition from Hindoos and Mahometans at +Calcutta, praying to be allowed to sit on grand juries. He thinks they +should--as they are allowed to sit on petty juries. If the matter had been +well considered, the privilege they now ask should have been granted before +that they have obtained. + +Mr. Fergusson is, however, rather afraid of allowing them to sit on the +trial of Christians. + +By the newspapers I see that there has been a quarrel at Teheran, between +some of the Russian Ambassador's suite and the populace, which led to an +attack upon the Russian palace, and to the death of the Ambassador and all +his people except two. This is an unfortunate event, as it will give the +Russians a new claim to indemnity, which they will exercise inexorably. +Probably they will insist on the junction of Persia in the attack on +Turkey, as the only satisfaction they can accept. + +It is just possible that the example once given, and the people despairing +of pardon, a rising against the Russians may take place, and something of a +national feeling arise in Persia. But I fear this will not be the case. I +suppose our Minister was at Tabriz. + + +_April 15._ + +The Duke was at Windsor to-day to ask the King's permission to restore the +resigners. The King said he thought the Duke could not do better. He just +mentioned Wetherell's name as if he thought he was to be excepted from the +restoration, but desired to be _certior-factus_. + +The King was cold. The Duke had to wait twenty minutes, the Duke of +Cumberland being with the King. However, I believe this delay may only have +originated in a necessary change of dress on His Majesty's part, as he was +sitting for his picture _in a Highland dress_. The Duke saw a large plaid +bonnet in the room, and he believes the King had still on plaid stockings. +The business of the restoration was finished in ten minutes, when the +conversation flagged, and the Duke was rising to go away. + +However, something more was then said, and the interview in all lasted +twenty minutes. The King said he was delighted with Lord Winchelsea. He was +so gentlemanlike, and spoke _in so low a tone of voice!_ He likewise +thought Lord Farnham very gentlemanlike, and Lord Rolle more violent than +any. + +The Duke had to wait twenty minutes before he could see Lady Conyngham. +They seemed to wish him not to see her. However, he did. She said all would +have been quiet if the Duke of Cumberland had not come over, and all would +be quiet when he went away. The King seemed relieved since the Bill was +passed. + +On his return the Duke sent for George Bankes and offered him his place +again. Bankes asked two or three days to consider. The Duke gave him till +to-morrow. + +It seems he has now a notion that he owed his place not to the Duke but to +some other influence. I think this has been insinuated to him since his +resignation. The fact is otherwise. The King had mentioned Bankes for other +situations, but not for the one he holds. On my return home I found Bankes +had called upon me. + +After dinner we considered whether the prosecution of Lawless for his +conduct at Ballybeg should be persevered in. + +Goulbourn, Peel, Lord Bathurst, Sir G. Murray, and I were for dropping it. +I think the Chancellor inclined the same way. The Duke and the rest, +Aberdeen being absent, were for going on. + +I thought no benefit would be derived from success. Even success would +revive feelings and recollections which are dying away, and which we wish +to be forgotten. If we decline proceeding we can say we did so from the +fear of exciting dormant passions. If we proceed, we shall have no excuse +should we revive the memory of bad times. + +Reference is to be made to Ireland to ascertain the feeling about it there. + +Bankes came at twelve o'clock. He told me he had been with the Duke, and +had received from him the offer of his old office. He had asked permission +to consult one person, whose name he did not mention to the Duke,--it was +the Duke of Cumberland. He had called at the Palace and found the Duke of +Cumberland was at Windsor. He wanted to write to him to ask if he had any +objection to his taking the office again. + +Bankes said he had attended none of the meetings at Lord Chandos's. He had +avoided as much as he could all communication with the Duke of Cumberland. +He had fully determined not to take a part with any new Government which +might be formed, unless it should clearly appear the King had been unfairly +dealt by, or unless there should be an attempt to make peers to carry the +Bill. The Duke of Cumberland had always said that he made him his first +object, and he had reason to think that he had mentioned him to the King, +and had been instrumental in his appointment. The Duke of Cumberland had +desired him to come to him (during the Bill), and had apparently intended +to name some particular office for him, but seeing his coldness had only +sounded him, and had received the answer I have mentioned above. + +The Duke of Cumberland had told him it was an understood thing that all +were to be restored, and that he saw no reason why he should not take his +office again. + +_This was ten days ago._ + +I told him I advised, if he thought it necessary to write to the Duke of +Cumberland at all, that he should merely state his intention to take his +office back again, refer to his conversation with the Duke himself upon the +point, and add _distinctly_ that, taking office, he could no longer have +any communication on political matters with a person who had declared his +hostility to the Government. + +I advised him to send off his own servant on a post-horse at six o'clock +to-morrow morning, with a letter to the effect I have stated to the Duke of +Cumberland, and whether he received an answer or not, to go to the Duke of +Wellington and accept at 12. + +I advised him to tell the Duke the whole state of the case, and all he had +done. + +The Duke of Wellington did not seem by any means well to-day. He was +blooded yesterday. + + +_April 16._ + +Cabinet at 3. It seems Bankes called on the Duke this morning, but he was +engaged. I told him all that passed between Bankes and me last night. If +Bankes should go out the Duke means to offer his place to Sir J. Graham. + +We met upon foreign affairs. Aberdeen read his instructions to Gordon, who +goes to Constantinople. They are unobjectionable. + +We then considered what was to be done in consequence of this second +violation of their word on the part of the Russians in blockading Candia. + +Count Heyden has written two letters to Sir Pulteney Malcolm. In the first +he justifies the blockade of Candia on the ground of its being necessary to +protect the Morea from the Pacha of Egypt; in the second he rests it on the +necessity of blockading the two extremities of Candia for the purpose of +watching Constantinople. + +We cannot permit the Russians to make fools of us in this way--to promise +one thing as parties to the Treaty of London, and to do another as +belligerents. + +After the Cabinet I asked the Duke whether he still wished me to press +Courtney upon the Directors. He said, Yes, he very much wanted his place. I +said it had occurred to me that _Herries_ might take the Governorship of +Bombay. It did not seem to have occurred to him. He said he thought Herries +would not go; but he evidently thought it would be a very good thing if he +would. + +The Duke said he wanted to have the places of Courtney and Sir G. Hill, and +to bring in Lord Chandos and M. Fitzgerald. We mentioned Ashley. I +suggested Ashley's going to the Treasury, and Sir J. Graham taking his +place. This would, I dare say, be done, if we could get the place at the +Treasury. + +I have not as yet heard a surmise as to the new Lord Privy Seal. + +Lord O'Neil has signed the Duke of Richmond's protest against the Franchise +Bill. It is very hostile to the Government, and Lord O'Neil will probably +be put out. + +The Duke of Richmond has been very imprudent. Had he taken a moderate line +he probably might have been Privy Seal. His time is now gone by. + + +_April 17._ + +Went by appointment to see Lady Jersey. Found there Duncannon and Lord +Sefton. Duncannon talked big about O'Connell's power, and in the same sense +in which he talked to Fitzgerald, wishing to induce the Government to let +him take his seat. I said we could not. It depended not on us, but upon the +law. + +Lady Sefton came in afterwards for a few minutes, and Lord Rosslyn. Lady +Jersey talked a great deal about the restoration, and feared the Whigs +would imagine they were never to come in, and would form a violent +opposition. She mentioned Mr. Stanley as being much annoyed, he having made +a laudatory speech in favour of Peel. + +I told her it would have been very harsh to have eliminated those who had +taken office under the idea that the Government was rather against than for +the Catholics, certainly _neutral_, and that it was a little unreasonable +to expect others to be turned out to make way for new friends. + + +_April 18._ + +The Duke thinks he could not offer the Privy Seal to Lord Grey, but he +would be conciliated by having a friend--that is, Rosslyn--in. If we could +get Lord Beresford out, Lord Rosslyn would go to the Ordnance. + +The Duke says the King would make it a point of honour to resist the +introduction of Lord Grey, though in reality he was in communication with +Lord Grey in 1820-21, after the Queen's trial, and then intended to bring +him in and to turn out the then Ministers for the Milan Commission, he +having been himself at the bottom of that Commission. The Duke, the only +member of the Cabinet who was not mixed up with the Milan Commission, +induced the King to give up his idea of making a change. + +Bankes received a letter from the Duke of Cumberland, very long, and +against his acceptance of office; but he begged Bankes to go down to see +him and talk it over. He did so. Bankes told him he would not accept if he +on consideration objected, but he was determined not to join any other +Government. The Duke of Cumberland spoke of himself as having been ill-used +by the Duke of Wellington. This was explained. The conference ended by the +Duke of Cumberland's acquiescing entirely in Bankes's acceptance of office. +Bankes saw the Duke of Wellington and detailed the whole to him. + + +_April 21._ + +Called on Sir H. Hardinge at Richmond. He told me the Duke had at first +great reluctance to have anything to do with the Whigs. By his account he +must have principally contributed to lead the Duke to adopt that view which +he has now of admitting Rosslyn, &c. + + +_April 22._ + +The Duke of Norfolk called, and, not finding me, left a note begging me to +ascertain privately from the Duke of Wellington whether the King would be +pleased if the English Catholics presented an address to him thanking him +for the Relief Bill. + +Received a letter from the Duke of Wellington expressing a decided opinion +against any address from the Roman Catholics. He says, 'Everything has been +done that is possible to efface all distinctions between the King's +subjects on the score of religion, and this with a view to the general +benefit, and not to that of a particular body. I confess I shall think that +this measure has failed in attaining its object if there should be any +general act of a particular body. + +'In respect to the King himself I am certain that the most agreeable thing +to him would be that all should remain quiet. + +'We must have no distinct body of Roman Catholics except in the churches +and in affairs of religion. The less we act inconsistently with the +principle the better.' + +I so entirely agree in opinion with the Duke of Wellington that, having for +my own amusement written an address for the Roman Catholics in the event of +their making any to the King, the first sentence I imagined was this: 'The +Roman Catholics of England approach your Majesty for the last time as a +body distinct from the rest of your Majesty's subjects.' + + +_April 25._ + +I had a good deal of conversation as to the next Director. There are three +city men candidates, but none are good--Lyall, Ellice, and Douglas. + +Of Ellice no one knows anything. He is brother to the Ellice who married +Lord Grey's sister. Lyall is, or was, Chairman of the Committee of +Shipowners. Douglas is brother to Lord Queensbury. They say his is not a +very good house. + + +_April 28._ + +Read the correspondence between the Duke and Lord Anglesey. Then read a +memorandum of the Duke's in reply to one of Hardinge's on the subject of +the discipline of the British army. Hardinge wished to introduce the +Prussian [Footnote: Which did not include capital punishment. See +_Wellington Correspondence_, vol. v. p. 932.] discipline into ours. The +Duke shows that with our discipline we have more men fit for duty in +proportion to our numbers than the Prussians in the proportion of two to +one. That in Prussia the army is everything. There is no other profession. +All are soldiers--the officer lives much with his men--they are always in +masses, always in fertile countries. + +In our service the worst men in the community enter the army. The officers +are gentlemen. They cannot mix with the men. Without discipline our army +would be inferior to others. It is not even now the favourite profession. +There is much jealousy of it. It is not popular with the common people. It +is difficult to find recruits even in times of distress. + +I was in an army, the Duke concludes, which cannot be governed on the +Prussian principle. You cannot treat the English soldier as a man of +honour. + +The Duke had been with the King, who was in very good humour. He had not, +however, got to close quarters with him as to the changes. + + +_April 29._ + +Cabinet at 12. A letter has been received from Lord Heytesbury, from which +it is clear that Russia will very soon resume altogether the exercise of +her belligerent rights in the Mediterranean. + +Nesselrode communicated to him the blockade of Candia. Lord Heytesbury only +observed that 'it was a resumption of belligerent rights.' This Count +Nesselrode did not deny, and he said they could not long remain in the +false position in which they now were in the Mediterranean. + +Count Heyden at the end of January blockaded Candia on pretexts arising out +of the state of Greece. In three weeks from that time he rested his +interception of the Egyptian vessels near Candia on the necessary exercise +of his rights as a belligerent. Lièven, when first spoken to, disavowed +Heyden. He now changes his tone, and it is evident that Russia now for the +second time breaks her word. The French do not behave much better. They +have 6,000 men in the Morea, and mean to keep them there notwithstanding +their engagement to withdraw their troops as soon as the Egyptians were +embarked. To be sure, they say if we insist upon it they will withdraw +them. + +I have always been for getting out of the treaty. We have been dragged +along very unwillingly--we have been subjected to much humiliation. We seem +to me to have gained nothing by all our compliances. We have been led on +from the violation of one principle to that of another. Our position has +discouraged Turkey. We have been made the tools of Russia, and have been +duped with our eyes open. I think the sooner we get out of this false +position the better, and there is no time so favourable for us to hold +strong language as this, when by the settlement of the Catholic question we +are really strengthened, and when all foreign Powers believe we are yet +more strengthened than we are. The Duke is certainly for getting out. He +has long wished it. + +A paper of Peel's was read suggesting the difficulties in which we should +still be placed by our moral obligation towards the Greeks, and by our +reasonable fear that on the principles of the Greek Treaty, to which we +have unfortunately given our adhesion, Russia and France may combine and +make a partition treaty. My expectation is that Russia and France would +soon quarrel, and I think I could before now have made them jealous of each +other, but we have done nothing. + +After much conversation, V. Fitzgerald agreeing with me and the others +saying nothing, it was determined to insist upon the freedom of +communication with Candia under the protocol, to insist upon the Greeks +withdrawing from their advanced position near Prevesa _under the protocol_, +and to insist likewise upon the withdrawing of the French troops from the +Morea, according to the engagement. + +I am not satisfied with this. Every part of our diplomacy has been +unfortunate. We have succeeded in nothing. I predicted if we became engaged +in the war, it would be ultimately on a little point and not upon a great +one. Our diplomacy cannot be defended. It is our weak point. + +House. All the Catholics there. Every good old name in England. + +The Duke of Norfolk is much pleased with the Duke of Wellington's answer to +his enquiry as to the propriety of addressing the King. I am going to send +him the Duke's original letter as a _record_. + +The King certainly received the Protestant peers, and particularly those +who had been at Windsor, with great favour, and so the Bishop of Durham. +The Duke of Cumberland stood at the King's left hand, and quizzed the +people as they passed. He seemed _rayonnant_. + +After dinner I had some conversation with Loch, the Chairman, as to +governing India in the King's name. He does not positively object. I think +I shall be able to carry that point. I consider it to be of the most +essential importance. + + +_April 30._ + +Cabinet at 12. Determined to fund eight millions of Exchequer Bills. No +taxes to be taken off or imposed. We had some conversation as to the East +Retford question. V. Fitzgerald communicated a proposal from Littleton to +propose the adjournment of all discussion upon the subject till next year, +as it is evident nothing can be done this year. Littleton proposed this +because he wished to disappoint the mischievous designs of some people. +(Palmerston particularly.) + +It was determined to adhere to the line taken by the Government last year-- +namely, to that of throwing East Retford into the hundred. The Duke was +decidedly of opinion that whatever we did we should do from ourselves, and +certainly not act in concert with an enemy. The Tories look to our conduct +upon this question as the touchstone. + +Drawing-room. The King, as yesterday, very civil to the Brunswickers and +taking no notice of our friends. He took particular notice of the +Brazilians. Madame de Lièven is endeavouring to form a Government with the +Duke of Cumberland, the Ultra-Tories, the Canningites, and some Whigs. + +The King is very Russian. I believe all this will end in nothing. The +Chancellor thinks they may try to make a change when Parliament is up, and +so have six months before them. They may think of it; but the only object +of such a Government would be _revenge._ They cannot repeal the Relief +Bill, nor do they wish to pursue a different line of policy either at home +or abroad. + +The foreigners think that having settled the Catholic question we are ready +to draw the sword, and find a field of battle wherever we can. This the +Russians are afraid of, and hence arises in some degree their wish to +overthrow the Duke's Government; but the real foundation of all the Russian +intrigues is Madame de Lièven's hatred for the Duke, and her rage at +feeling she has overreached herself. + + +_May 1._ + +Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt was with the King for two hours to-day, the Duke of +Cumberland being in the room and the King in bed. The King is very much out +of humour, and abused everything and everybody. He is very angry at ladies +being admitted to the House of Lords, and particularly at their going in +such numbers the day the Duke of Norfolk took his seat. The Duke of +Cumberland has sworn he will not leave England till he has turned out the +present Ministers. He is the only colonel of the Horse Guards who ever does +duty--Lord Cathcart being absent and Lord Harrington incapable. When he +last got the gold stick from Lord Harrington he swore he would never let it +out of his hands. As gold stick he ordered the gates of the Horse Guards to +be closed the day of the Drawing-room, and thus obliged all the Ministers +who dressed in Downing Street to go all round. + +He told Clanwilliam to-day with great satisfaction that the King never +could again be on good terms with his Ministers. + +No arrangement is yet made with the Master of the Rolls. Everything waits +for the legal promotions. The King will be delighted with Scarlett +[Footnote: Sir James Scarlett, afterwards Lord Abinger.] as Attorney- +General, and the Chancellor tells me Bickersteth is to be Solicitor. I +recollect hearing of him at Cambridge. He is a very clever man and a good +speaker. Tindal is of course to be Master of the Rolls. I am most anxious +to give up the Privy Seal to Rosslyn. + + +_May 3._ + +Cabinet at 2. Decided the Government was to take the same line exactly this +year as to East Retford (that is, as to giving the two members to the +Hundred) that it took last year. However, as it is impossible to get any +Bill through the Lords this year, Peel will be very willing to accede to +any proposition for postponing the whole question till next session. + +On the question of Irish Education and on that of the grant to Maynooth, +the vote will be as before--it being said that the state of the session and +the circumstances of the present period make it advisable that the question +of any change should be deferred. Indeed, Ministers have not had time to +consider it. + +Many of Lord Anglesey's letters to Peel and of Peel's answers were read. We +have a very strong case against him on his letter to Dr. Curtis, which by a +letter from Dr. Curtis to the Duke we know Lord Anglesey directed Dr. +Murray to publish if it could be done with Curtis's consent, and which Dr. +Murray did publish without obtaining such consent. + +Curtis's letter is dated January 2. + +Lord Anglesey wrote to Curtis for the Duke's letter and his answer, and had +them two days before December 23, the date of his letter to Curtis. + +Peel thinks the East Indian Committee should not be refused. It is better +for the East Indian Company that it should be granted than refused. I +entirely coincide with him. + + +_May 4._ + +Coal Committee at 12. Met Lord Bathhurst, with whom I had some conversation +as to the Duke's reading letters in answer to Lord Anglesey. He begged me +to go to the Duke, and try to induce him not to do so. I found the Duke +agreeing with me entirely as to the danger of the president, and disposed +to read only what might be absolutely necessary. + +Lord Anglesey brought forward his motion for 'the letter of recall.' + +The Duke answered him, and so well that even Lord Holland could not say one +word. So the thing ended. + +The Duke had been assured by the King, and within the last fortnight the +King had given the same assurance to Aberdeen, that Lord Anglesey had not +_permission_ to read confidential letters. + +Lord Anglesey stated that he had the King's permission. + +The Duke certainly seemed to contradict him. + +Lord Londonderry threw a note over to me suggesting that the contradiction +was so direct there might be an awkward explanation out of doors unless the +thing were softened down. + +I mentioned this to Lord Bathurst. He thought not. + +However, when he replied, Lord Anglesey treated the contradiction as +absolute, and Lord Bathurst told the Duke he must give some explanation, +which the Duke did, saying he did not mean to accuse Lord Anglesey of +declaring he had the King's permission when he had not, but only that he +had reason to think he had not. In fact, the King, as we always thought, +told the Duke one thing and Lord Anglesey another; and the only result of +the debate is that the King is proved to have told a lie. + +Lord Wharncliffe, who overtook me as I was riding home, considered Lord +Anglesey to be blown out of water. + +At Lady Brownlow's ball I talked with Lord Farnborough, Longford, and +Beresford. All thought the reading of the letters should have been stopped, +and that the Duke did wrong to read anything. We could not stop the reading +of the letters when the King's permission to read them was stated +distinctly by Lord Anglesey. The misery is that we have a lying master. + + +_May 5._ + +I called at the Treasury and saw the Duke. On the subject of what took +place yesterday he said, that having received the King's commands to +declare Lord Anglesey had not his permission to read the letters, he could +not do otherwise than make the observations he did. The gravamen of the +charge against Lord Anglesey as arising out of those letters is that in the +last he declares his intention of using them as public documents; and this +being the ground upon which the King had acquiesced in his being relieved, +for the King to have afterwards permitted the reading of those letters +would have been a withdrawal of confidence from his Ministers. + +I met Lord Ravensworth and talked to him upon the subject. He seemed to be +in a sort of alarm as to what took place yesterday. This is superfluous. +The Duke's explanation that he did not mean to say Lord Anglesey had reason +to think he was permitted to read those letters was quite sufficient. The +Duke added that he had understood the contrary. + +Lord Ravensworth seemed to think his Royal master came the worst off--which +is true. + +He told me the Duke of Cumberland had been abusing every one at Lady +Brownlow's last night, and had declared, as he has before, that he would +not go away till he had us out. + +Lord Anglesey is reported to be very ill to-day. + + +_May 6._ + +Cabinet dinner at Sir G. Murray's. The Duke saw the King to-day. He was in +good humour, and said the Duke was quite right in declaring Lord Anglesey +had not his permission to read the letters. It seems the King said the same +thing in the Duke of Cumberland's presence on Monday at dinner, and this +made the Duke so very angry that evening. + +We had a very good division last night on the Retford question. Almost all +the Brunswickers voted with us--none against us. + +In fact the Government is very strong. + +There are disturbances at Manchester, which look rather serious. + + +_May 7._ + +Nothing in the House. + +The meeting respecting the statue to the Duke of Wellington seems to have +finished in detestable taste. Hunt proposing a vote of thanks to Lord +Anglesey and O'Connell, and _Lord Darnley!_ speaking for it. Both these +said the Catholic Bill arose out of Lord Anglesey's Government. Lord +Darnley repeated the same thing to me to-day in the House. I told him the +contrary was the fact. That Lord Anglesey had placed the carrying of the +question in peril--that without his recall it could hardly have been +carried. + +There have been serious disturbances at Manchester. The bakers' shops have +been broken open and robbed, and money extorted by fear. This arises out of +real distress; but it seems, as might be expected, that notorious thieves +lead on the mobs. + + +_May 8._ + +The disturbances at Manchester have more the character of robbery than of +riot. Baker's shops have been broken open and pillaged, and money has been +extorted. + +At Rochdale an attack was made on the military. They behaved with extreme +forbearance; but at last fired, and killed and wounded many. + + +_May 9._ + +Dined at the Trinity House. Hardinge, whom I met there, told me Wood had +been asked by Lord Mansfield to go to the Pitt dinner on the 28th. Wood +said he did not know whether the Ministers would go or not. Lord Mansfield +said, 'Why, you must know, it is understood that as soon as Parliament is +up the Government will be changed. At this dinner we shall make such a +display of Protestant force as will enable the King to take us as his +Ministers.' + +It is surprising to me that any able man as Lord Mansfield is should be so +deluded by the lies of the Duke of Cumberland. The country is not agitated, +it is not dissatisfied. It would repudiate, as an act of the basest +treachery, such conduct towards a Government which had been permitted to +carry a great measure, and which was displaced solely on grounds of +personal pique. + +Manchester and its neighbourhood more quiet. + +Had some conversation with Peel about the next member for the direction. He +inclines to Marryatt. Hardinge reported a communication from E. Ellice, who +canvasses for his brother, Russell Ellice. E. Ellice offers some votes in +the House of Commons if we will support his brother. + +I believe E. Ellice would be a good man, but the brother is a nonentity. I +said we must strike at the mass and not at individuals. We must gain the +city by assisting a fit man on public grounds. Peel agreed in this +sentiment. I am sure it is the only wise course for any Government to +pursue. + + +_Monday, May 11._ + +The King has got the habit of taking large doses of laudanum. He sent for +the Chancellor yesterday, as usual, at two o'clock. When he got to the +palace the King had taken a large dose of laudanum and was asleep. The +Chancellor was told he would not wake for two or three hours, and would +then be in a state of excessive irritation, so that he might just as well +not see him. + + +_May 12._ + +The East Retford question was last night deferred till next session, so we +may, I think, finish all our business by about June 10; that is really +allowing full time. + +O'Connell published yesterday an argument on his right to sit in the House +of Commons in the shape of a letter to the members. At first Lord Grey +thought it unanswerable (as founded on the provisions of the Relief Bill); +but at night he told me he had looked into the Bill and found it certainly +excluded him. A large portion of the letter is quite absurd, that in which +he assumes a right to have his claim decided in a court of law. Parliament +alone is by common law the court in which the privileges of its own members +can be decided. + + +_May 12._ + +House. Lord Lansdowne put a pompously worded question as to our intentions +with respect to the course of proceeding on Indian affairs. + +I answered simply that we were as sensible as he was of the extreme +importance of the question. That for my own part my mind was never absent +from it, and that I had not been many days in office before I took measures +for procuring the most extensive information, which would be laid before +the House at the proper time. That the Government was desirous of forming +its own opinion on the fullest information and with the greatest +consideration; and that we wished the House to have the same opportunities. +That I was not then prepared to inform him in what precise form we should +propose that the enquiry should be made. + +The Chancellor introduced the Bill for appointing a new Equity Judge, and +separating the Equity Jurisdiction from the Court of Exchequer. The latter +object, by-the-bye, is not to be accomplished immediately, but it is part +of the plan opened. He soothed Lord Eldon by high compliments to his +judicial administration and to the correctness of his judgments. The wonder +of the day is that Lord Eldon should have lived to hear a Chancellor so +expose the errors of the Court of Chancery as they were exposed by Lord +Lyndhurst to-day. + + +_May 13._ + +Recorder's report. The King not well. He has a slight stricture, of which +he makes a great deal, and a bad cold. He seemed somnolent; but I have seen +him worse. + +Before the Council there was a chapter of the Garter. The Duke of Richmond +was elected. The knights wore their ordinary dress under the robe, which +was short, and had no hats. The procession was formed by Garter. The +Chancellor and Prelate of the Order and the Dean were present. It looked +rather like a splendid funeral. The Duke of Cumberland took a great deal +upon him. + +Cabinet dinner at Vesey Fitzgerald's at Somerset House. + +Much talk about Indian matters. Both Peel and Fitzgerald seem to be for +Free Trade, and _unreasonable_ towards the Company. + + +_May 15._ + +In the House of Commons yesterday the motion for a Committee on East Indian +affairs was negatived without a division, but promised for _early_ next +session, and papers promised immediately. + + +_May 16._ + +Chairs at 11. We spoke of the Charter. They rather dislike the notion of +using the King's name, and I fear Mr. Elphinstone and all the Indians will +give their evidence against the change. I may be outvoted, but I shall not +be convinced. [Footnote: This change was effected in 1858.] + + +_May 17._ + +Nothing political, except a grand dinner at the Duke of Norfolk's, given to +the Duke of Wellington, which was very fine and very dull. + +The Duke told me he had read the Persian papers. The Russians had brought +it on themselves. + + +_May 19._ + +In the House of Commons last night O'Connell was heard at the bar. The +debate seems to have been temperate. It was decided on a discussion, 190 to +116, that he must take the Oath of Supremacy. + +At the office had some conversation with Mr. Leach as to the plan of +governing India in the King's name--the Directors being made ex officio +Commissioners for the affairs of India. He seems to have some prejudices +against the plan, but he adduced no real objections. I have begged him to +put on paper all the objections which occurred to him. + +Wrote a long letter to Lord W. Bentinck on all subjects connected with the +renewal of the Charter, and the general government of India. + +Dined at the Freemasons' Hall with the Society for Promoting Christian +Knowledge. There were present 200 persons. I thought they would be very +hostile to a Minister. However, when my name was mentioned by the Bishop of +Durham, as a steward, there was much cheering. The Bishop of London, who +was in the chair, begged me to return thanks for the stewards, which I did. +I spoke of course of the wish entertained by the Ministers that a Society +might prosper the interests of which were so much connected with those of +the Established Church--of their determination in their several departments +to further its objects. It was the duty of us all as Christians, but more +peculiarly that of the Ministers, to advance objects intimately connected +with the individual happiness of the people and with the stability of the +State. I said something too of the intrinsic strength of the Protestant +Church--of its rising in proportion to the difficulties which might +surround it, to the dangers--if dangers there were (the Primate had spoken +of them)--of its security in the zeal and ability of its ministers, and in +the purity of its doctrines. + +On the whole I did well. I was loudly cheered--indeed, so much interrupted +as to be enabled to think what I should say next. + +Indian business in the morning--Coal Committee. + + +_May 20._ + +Dined at the London Tavern with the Directors, at what is called a family +dinner, to meet Mr. Elphinstone, the late Governor of Bombay. He has been +thirty-three years absent from England, having left it at fifteen. He is +one of the most distinguished servants the Company has ever had. He seems +to be a quiet, mild, temperate man. I had some conversation with him, and +have fixed that he should come to the Indian Board on Tuesday. I wish to +have his opinion as to the expediency of governing India in the King's +name. + +The Duke told Lord Bathurst and me the King had been very angry with him +for going to the Duke of Norfolk's dinner, and now openly expressed his +wish to get rid of his Ministers. The Duke wrote to the King and told him +it really was not a subject he thought it necessary to speak to him about, +that he dined with everybody and asked everybody to dinner, that had he +known beforehand who were to dine with the Duke of Norfolk, which he did +not, he could not have objected to any one of them. That the King himself +had dined with the Duke of Norfolk. That most of the persons invited were +either in his Majesty's service, or had been. + +It seems the king desired it might be intimated to the Duke that he was +much displeased at the dinner, and that he and Cumberland damned us all. + +I told the Duke and Lord Bathurst what occurred at the dinner yesterday, +with which they were much gratified. + + +_May 21._ + +Went to the Cabinet room at 2. Read papers, by which it seems that the +Russian army is very little stronger than at the commencement of the last +campaign, and that its materials are not so good. It has as yet no medical +staff. The resources of the principalities are exhausted; the cattle of the +peasants have been put in requisition; the ordinary cultivation of the land +has been neglected. The river is worse than last year. There are reports of +the successes of the Turks near Varna, and of that place being in danger. + +The recruiting of the Turkish army goes on well. + +House of Lords. The Chancellor's Bill, which creates a new Chancery judge. +Opposition from Lord Eldon, Lord Redesdale, and Lord Holland, all saying +they wished to see the whole plan before they agree to a part. Lord +Tenterden approved of the making of the new judge, but wished his functions +had been better defined. + +The Duke of Cumberland said the Non-contents had it; but he said it too +late, and his people did not wish to divide. + +Lord Londonderry would have voted against us. I fear he is half mad. The +House seems to treat him so. + +The Chancellor told me the King did many things personally uncivil to the +Duke. He did not ask him to dinner to meet the Duke of Orleans. He wishes +to force the Duke to offer his resignation. This he is much too prudent to +do upon a mere personal pique. + +The King, our master, is the weakest man in England. He hates the Duke of +Cumberland. He wishes his death. He is relieved when he is away; but he is +afraid of him, and crouches to him. + +In reality the King never was better satisfied than with his present +Ministers. He knows they will not flinch--that he is safe in their hands. + + +_May 22._ + +In the House Lord Melville presented the petition of the City of London +praying, if the House persisted in ordering the production of their +accounts of property other than of a public nature, to be heard at the bar +by counsel. He moved that this petition should be considered on Tuesday. It +being expected that on Monday these very accounts would be produced in the +committee, and thus the order of the House rendered unnecessary. In this we +were beaten too. Indeed, our management under Lord Melville as Admiral does +not answer. + +We shall certainly lose the London Bridge Approaches Bill. + +Dined at Lord Hill's. A party chiefly military. + + +_May 24._ + +Cabinet at Peel's at 11 P.M. + +The arrangements determined upon. Lord E. Somerset to have Sir W. Clinton's +office, and Trench Mr. Singleton's. Lord Rosslyn the Privy Seal. Lord +Chandos was proposed, I should rather say suggested, but rejected +immediately, as not of sufficient calibre for the Cabinet. Besides, his +elevation for the purpose of holding the Privy Seal would offend the +peerage, and be an insult to his father. It would not gain us the +Brunswickers, and we should have the Whigs hostile. It would be saying to +them, 'You shall never come in.' + +Rosslyn's appointment will be most useful. He will be of value in the +Cabinet and invaluable in the House. His accession will break the Whigs, he +is so popular with everybody. + +This is to be proposed to the King to-morrow. It is thought he will take no +step without asking the Duke of Cumberland. He may refuse altogether. Then +we go out. The legal arrangements cannot proceed, because Best [Footnote: +Afterwards Lord Wynford.] communicated with the Duke of Cumberland and +refused a peerage as the _condition_ of resignation. Alexander would go if +he could have his peerage and a pension. Leach will not go unless he is to +have a peerage and a pension of 7,000£ a year, a thing impossible. + + +_May 25._ + +Cabinet at 3. Waited a long time for the Duke. He came smiling and +victorious. The King said he would manage Best. To Rosslyn he made some +objection, and suggested Lord Dudley or Melbourne. This was referred to and +rejected by such of the Cabinet as could be on a sudden collected at the +Foreign Office. I was not there. I should certainly have rejected both, +although very willing to have Dudley. The other would never have done. With +Lord E. Somerset and Trench the King was well pleased. As the Duke left the +room the King said, 'Come, you must acknowledge I have behaved well to +you.' This he said frankly and good-humouredly. The Duke said, 'I assure +your Majesty I am very sensible of it, and I feel very grateful to you.' + +Having thus established ourselves as a Government we were going to break +our necks by attempting to pass the Chancellor's Bill, which the House of +Commons does not like. However, after a talk, it was resolved to give it +up. + +It seems the Tories have deserted us again. We are much in want of winter +quarters. + +In the House we had the City of London petition. I took a more active part +than usual in the conversation. + +Lord Rosslyn, having just lost his son, is gone to Tunbridge Wells, and the +offer of the Privy Seal will be postponed till after to-morrow, when the +King is to see Best at two, and it is hoped the Duke may be able to tell +Rosslyn that Scarlett is to be Attorney-General. + + +_May 26._ + +The King sent Knighton for Chief Justice Best, and desired him not to tell +the Duke of Cumberland; Best was sent for. So Best went, and accepted the +terms offered. Thus we shall get Scarlett, and the King and the Duke be +separated a little. + +Yesterday the Duke of Wellington did his business with the King while the +Duke of Cumberland was hearing a clause in the House of Lords. The +Chancellor, knowing how the Duke of Wellington was occupied, kept the Duke +of Cumberland as long as he could. + + +_May 27._ + +Committee on London Bridge. Lord Londonderry, who came from the review in +his uniform just covered by a frock coat, spoke against time on a +collateral point for an hour and a half, and disgusted the Committee. + + +_May 28._ + +London Bridge Committee. Lord Londonderry a little better than before, but +not much. He is running down his character altogether. He has now formed an +alliance with the Duke of Cumberland, and through him made his peace with +the King. The Duke of Cumberland wishes to be reconciled to the Duke of +Wellington. In the House of Commons there is a small Ultra-Tory party, not +fifty. In our House I doubt whether there are twenty. + + +_May 30._ + +Chairs. Lord W. Bentinck seems to be so ill as to make it doubtful whether +he can remain in India should he recover. The letter is dated January 27. +He was then in danger. The vessel did not leave Calcutta till the 30th. The +news then was that he was better, and had sat up for six hours. It was a +_coup de soleil_. + +London Bridge Committee. + +The Duke showed me a letter from Lord Rosslyn, accepting most cordially the +Privy Seal. + +I suppose we shall have a Council on Monday, or on some early day next +week, for me to give it up. + + +_June 1._ + +To the Cabinet room. + +There is a report that Varna [Footnote: Varna was in the hands of the +Russians, having been taken in the previous campaign.] is _cernée_ by +40,000 men, Bazardjik taken, the Russians running from Karasan, and from +6,000 to 8,000 Russians, who had been thrown over the Danube at Hirsova, +driven into it at Czernavoda by the garrison of Silistria. [Footnote: These +reports seem to have been unfounded. Soon after this date the decisive +battle of Kouleftcha opened to the Russians the road to Adrianople.] +Clanwilliam wrote me he thought the Duke attached some credit to this last +rumour. + +News from Calcutta of February 1 states that Lord William Bentinck was then +out of danger. Lady William, who was going to set off to join him, had +determined to expect him at Calcutta. + +Lord Rosslyn's appointment is in the newspapers to-day. The 'Times' highly +delighted. + + +_June 2._ + +London Bridge Approaches Committee. Lord Londonderry very anxious to have +an adjournment over the Derby; however, he must attend to 'the last +concern.' + +House. Anatomy Bill put off till Friday. The Bishops, Lord Malmesbury, and +many others very hostile to it. + +It seems certain that the Russians have recrossed the Danube. I am inclined +to think they have been beaten. + + +_June 3._ + +The Bishop of Oxford is dead; a great Grecian is to succeed him. + +The King is in excellent humour. The Duke of Cumberland rather going down. + +We had some talk about the Anatomy Bill. The Duke is afraid of passing it. +Indeed, it is not a Government measure. Probably it will be withdrawn for +the year. The Bishops are very hostile to it. + + +_June 4._ + +London Bridge Committee from eleven till four. We made great progress in +our evidence, and, indeed, nearly proved our case. From four to five we had +a very painful discussion in consequence of some words which passed between +Lord Durham and Lord Beresford. We succeeded at last in settling the +difference. + +Lord Beresford, having no good word at his disposal, said he did not second +the _evil deeds_ or _improprieties_ of noble lords. He really meant +_irregularities_, and irregularities only as a member of the Committee. +Lord Grey was present and much distressed. The Duke of Wellington's +authority induced both to become amenable to the wish of the Committee. + + +_June 5._ + +Anatomy Bill. Some talk; but a general agreement suggested by the +Archbishop of Canterbury, that the Bill should be read a second time, and +not proceeded with this session. The Duke of Wellington expressed his +general approbation of the principle, but thought postponement desirable. +He pledged himself to _cooperate_ in bringing in a Bill on the same +principle, and having the same objects, next year; but did not pledge +himself to bring it in himself. + + +_June 7._ + +Cabinet at half-past three. First question: whether we should extend the +time for putting an end altogether to the Brazilian slave trade from March +13 to September 13, 1830, for the equivalent of obtaining for ever the +right to seize ships fitted up for the slave trade, whether they had slaves +on board or not. The Brazilians have been encouraged by their Government to +interpret the treaty as permitting the return of any vessels quitting the +Brazils on slave expeditions before March 13. + +Dr. Lushington, who was consulted by Aberdeen, seemed to think it was worth +while to obtain the concession, but still seemed to think that by extending +the time, we should permit the transportation of a very large number of +slaves, of whom many might be destroyed by ill-treatment, and that it was +hardly justifiable with a view to a distant advantage, to sacrifice +immediately and certainly a great number of persons. + +This prevailed--the real fact being that Peel does not like awkward +questions in the House of Commons. + +So the treaty remains as it is, and both parties will interpret it as they +please. There will be many disputes, for the interpretation is very +different. + + +_June 8._ + +Received a private letter from Colonel Macdonald at Tabriz, with copies of +letters received by him from a gentleman he had sent to Teheran on hearing +of the massacre of the Russian mission; and from another gentleman, +travelling unofficially, who first heard the report between Tabriz and +Kamsin. + +These accounts only confirm what we had already heard of the arrogance and +violence of the Russians. They deserved their fate. + +Colonel Macdonald says that General Paskewitz cannot dispose of more than +25,000, or, at most, 30,000 men, although he has a nominal force of 110,000 +men under his command. + +Colonel Macdonald says there has been no serious resistance on the part of +the Turks, except at Akhalsik. + +He has done what he can to dissuade them from war with the Russians; but I +think the universal feeling of the people will propel them. + +The insurrection at Teheran appears to have been instigated by the Mollahs +and the women, but it was evidently national, or it must have failed. + + +_June 10._ + +Council. Lord Winford kissed hands. He walked in with great difficulty on +two crutches, which he placed behind him and so leant back upon. The King +had a chair brought for him, and had him wheeled out. The man who pushed +his chair very nearly shipwrecked him at the door. + +The Attorney-General (Scarlett), [Footnote: Afterwards Lord Abinger.] the +Chief Justice of the Common Pleas (Tindal), and the Solicitor-General +(Sugden), [Footnote: Afterwards Lord St. Leonards. Lord Chancellor 1862. ] +all kissed hands. The Chief Justice of the Common Pleas was sworn in as +Privy Councillor. Lord Rosslyn was sworn in as Privy Councillor and Privy +Seal. The King did not address a word to me, who gave up the seal, or to +Rosslyn, who received it. + +House. Nothing of moment. + +Dinner at Lord Bathurst's. Lord Rosslyn dined here. + +Aberdeen read a paper lately received from the Russians, in which they +concede all we ask about blockades, &c., except as to the Gulf of Enos. The +Duke says he shall bring Lièven to the point about this, and generally +about their views. He feels the Government is stronger now than it was-- +that the country is stronger, and we may insist more. He says the question +is, 'Shall we permit the ruin of the Turkish Empire?' I have long felt that +to be the case, and to that I answer 'No.' + +We had some conversation as to the charter. The Duke seems rather inclined +to continue the _name_ of the Company. I am for the _name_ of the King. + + +_June 11._ + +The world has had imposed upon it a story of the Chancellor's _selling_ his +Church preferment. The 'Age' is to bring forward its charges on Sunday +next. This is an arrow from the Cumberland quiver. + +I mentioned Lord Clare's wish to look forward to the Government of Bombay +or Madras to the Duke last night, and he did not by any means receive the +proposition unfavourably. I told Clare so to-day. + + +_June 13._ + +Gaisford has refused the Bishopric of Oxford--wisely, for he was only a +Grecian and had good preferment. He is a rough man too. I am glad he has +refused it. I do not think mere Grecians good bishops. + +Lord Clare told me Glengall was to be the new Irish peer. + + +_June 15._ + +Committee as usual. Lord Londonderry more insane than ever. The Duke said +he had never seen anything more painful. + +We made hardly any progress. The victory will belong to the _survivors_, +and I do not think Lord Durham will be one of them. + +House. Lord Londonderry made a foolish speech, and the Duke an excellent +one, very severe upon him, and defending the City. If we do not get the +City by this Committee the City is impregnable. + +Hardinge told me Lord Grey seemed out of humour. I do not think he is in +good humour. + + +_June 16._ + +At last some hope of a compromise respecting London Bridge. + + +_June 17._ + +The eternal Committee is, I trust, at an end. The agents have come to a +compromise, and if the Common Council should confirm the terms, as I +conclude they will, the thing will be at an end. We shall then have +Parliament up by Monday or Tuesday next. + +Cabinet dinner at Lord Melville's. The Duke was astonished at Lord W. +Bentinck's strong and sudden step of transferring the Supreme Government +_pro tempore_ to Meerut. He said he always expected some wild measure from +Lord W. Meerut was in too exposed a situation. + +Twenty thousand Afghan horse might ride in upon the seat of government if +placed in the north-west provinces. It is astonishing how much the Duke is +prejudiced by his old Indian feelings. Whatever _is_ he thinks best. Meerut +is ill and absurdly chosen, but Calcutta is certainly the worst chosen seat +of government. + +We are to have a Cabinet on Saturday for the King's speech. On Monday or +Tuesday Parliament will be up. On Wednesday we dine at the India House, and +on the Monday following, the 29th, will be the fish dinner. + + +_June 18._ + +Called to compliment the Duke on the anniversary of Waterloo. Left with him +Lord W. Bentinck's minute and despatch on transferring the Supreme +Government Departments and all _pro tempore_ to Meerut, and a proposed +letter, censuring the Governor for having done this without previous +sanction, and directing the members of Council and the Departments to +return. + +The Duke objects to any removal of the seat of government to the upper +provinces. It would there be exposed to the sudden inroads of cavalry. In +India a cloud of cavalry rises like a squall in the Mediterranean. At +Calcutta the Government, protected by the rivers, is safe, and always +accessible from England. + + +_June 19._ + +Rode to town. Met Rosslyn. He told me Lord Clanrickarde [Footnote: Lord +Clanrickarde was son-in-law of Mr. Canning.] intended to make some +observations on foreign policy this evening. + +Had some conversation with the Duke. He doubted whether the Supreme +Government _could_ leave Calcutta and preserve its powers. I told him of +the newspaper report of to-day that leases for sixty years were to be given +to indigo planters, and this without any authority from home. He seems to +have suspected from the first that Lord W. would do some monstrous thing, +and certainly he does seem to be emancipating himself. + +House. Lord Clanrickarde made his little speech. Aberdeen his. Then Lord +Holland, and then the Duke. Afterwards Goderich. Lord Holland talked as +usual very vaguely. No notice had been given, and few people knew there was +anything to be done. So ends the House for this year. + + +_June 20, 1829._ + +Cabinet. King's speech. Some time occupied in wording it, but no material +alterations. Aberdeen's the worst part. The King is made to _auspicate_ and +to pray, but not to trust that the Franchise Bill and the Relief Bill will +be productive of good. + +The Chancellor has prosecuted the 'Morning Journal' for a libel accusing +him of having taken money for Sugden's appointment as Solicitor-General. I +heard him tell Lord Bathurst, with reference to another calumny against +him, that he had fortunately preserved through his secretary the grounds on +which he had given every living he had disposed of. + + +_June 21._ + +Had a visit from Loch. He wishes the despatch to Lord William to be worded +more gently, as he thinks Lord William _meant_ well. This shall be done. + + +_June 22._ + +Wrote draft paragraphs to the effect above stated to Lord W. Bentinck, and +added a paragraph giving the Duke's reasoning against the removal of the +Government from Calcutta to the north-west provinces. + +I had some conversation in the House with Lord Lauderdale on China trade, +&c. He seems friendly to the Company and to the Government. + +Went to the House at 4. Found a good many peers there. By mere mistake a +Bill, slightly and necessarily amended by the Lords, was not sent down to +the Commons, although directions to that effect were given, and it by +accident was placed amongst the Bills ready for the Royal assent. So it +received the Royal assent. It became necessary to pass a Bill to make this +Bill valid in law. Lord Shaftesbury thought our House ought to inform the +Commons we had discovered the error; but the Speaker, [Footnote: C. Manners +Sutton, afterwards Lord Canterbury.] to make a flourish, insisted on +announcing it first to the House of Commons. All the steps to be taken were +settled between the Speaker, Lord Shaftesbury, and Courtenay. When I went +down I found it had not been settled that anything should be done first by +us. I suggested that Lord Shaftesbury should acquaint the House with the +circumstance, and that we should appoint a Committee to inquire before the +message from the Commons came up. This was done. + +We ordered a message to be sent, but before our messengers left the House +we heard the Commons would not receive a message, so I moved that the order +we had just made should be rescinded, and we had a second conference. The +Commons were well satisfied with our reply. The last sentence had been, +'The Lords hope the Commons will be satisfied with this explanation.' As we +in the first paragraph expressed our desire to preserve a good +understanding between the two Houses, and in the second one regret that +this mistake had taken place, I thought it was going too far to express _a +hope_ only that our explanation would be satisfactory. + +We inserted 'the Lords _doubt not_,' instead of 'the Lords _hope_.' + +At night received a letter from the Duke of Wellington, saying he thought +we might get Courtenay to resign at once and get in Lord Chandos. I am to +see him at ten to-morrow on the subject. + + +_June 23, 1829._ + +Wrote early to the Chairs and begged them to come to me immediately. Sent +Loch the Duke's note and told him why Lord Chandos's being brought in was +of so much importance. Saw the Duke at 10. The King was very much out of +humour yesterday. He wanted to make Nash a baronet. The Duke refused. The +King then went upon his Speech, which he did not like and had altered. He +left out the specific mention of the Relief and Franchise Bill, and there +he was right, and he converted the prayer that the measure might +tranquillise Ireland, &c., into a _hope_ that it would--thus making it a +little stronger, but that he did not know. + +The Duke of Cumberland, on hearing of Castlereagh's appointment, said, +'Whoever ratted he would not,' alluding to Lord Londonderry, who has been +nibbling at the Cumberland faction. However, Lord Londonderry is much +annoyed at Castlereagh's taking office. He neither likes the expense of an +election for Downshire, nor losing a vote he thought he could dispose of. + +Hardinge will not sit again for Durham. Without Hardinge Lord Londonderry +will have trouble enough there. + +The King was much out of humour during the Chapter of the Garter, and said +everything was done wrong. + +Saw the Chairs. They had just got a letter from Sir John Malcolm, resigning +from December 1, 1830. This would have been in any case a long time for +Courtenay to wait out of office; but they said the idea of his being +proposed had got wind, and several of the Directors were very adverse. +Neither of the Chairs likes him, and if they supported him they would do it +very reluctantly. As Loch goes out of office in April, and we cannot tell +who will be deputy, and six new Directors come in, there really are not the +means of saying to Courtenay, 'You are sure of your election,' and without +this he could not be asked to resign. + +I took the Chairs to the Duke. He received them very cordially, told them I +had stated the circumstances to him, and he gave up the point. + +We then talked of the legality of the removal of the Supreme Government +from Calcutta. On looking into the acts it seems very doubtful whether any +act done by the Governor-General in Council away from Calcutta would be +valid unless it were one of the acts the Governor-General might do of his +own authority. For instance, 'a regulation' issued by the Governor-General +in Council at Meerut would not be valid, because the Governor-General alone +could not issue one. + +The Duke said Lord William did everything with the best intentions; but he +was a _wrong-headed man_, and if he went wrong he would continue in the +wrong line. Other men might go wrong and find it out, and go back; but if +he went wrong he would either not find it out, or, if he did, he would not +go back. + + +_June 24._ + +Sat as Commissioner to prorogue Parliament. The King's alteration in the +Speech certainly made it better and stronger. He now expresses his _sincere +hope_ the measures of the session will produce tranquillity, &c. People +thought the Speech rather short and jejune. + +Dined at the 'Albion' with the Directors. The dinner was given to Lord +Dalhousie. There were there the Duke, the Chancellor, Peel, Sir J. Murray, +Lord Rosslyn and Goulburn, the Speaker, the Attorney General, Courtenay, +Ashley, and Bankes; Duke of Buccleuch, Lord Camden, Lord Montagu, Lord +Hill, Sir Herbert Taylor, Sir Byam Martin, Sir A. Dickson, Colonel Houston, +Lord Dalhousie, and Sir Sidney Beckwith, and their aides-de-camp; a great +many Directors, and in all rather more than 100 people. + +The Duke, in returning thanks, spoke of the cordiality and good +understanding existing between the Directors and the Government, _which was +never more necessary to the Company than now_. + +I said the good understanding would always exist while such men as Loch +were in the chair, and while I was at the Board of Control. I paid a high +compliment to Loch, and then congratulated them on the appointments of the +two Generals. Their mildness of manner, their benevolence of character, and +the goodness of their natures would obtain for them the affectionate +devotion of a grateful soldiery, and, educated in a school of continued +victories, they were the fittest leaders of an army which had never met an +enemy it had not subdued. I ended by saying I was sure they would devote +themselves to the maintenance under all circumstances, not only of the +efficiency, but of an object which they would pursue with equal interest-- +_of the happiness and well-being of the native army of India_. I spoke +rather well, was attentively heard, and well received. I sat by the Duke of +Buccleuch. We had a good deal of conversation. He seems a fine young man. +Lord Rosslyn complained he could never see a draft till it was a month old, +and that there had been no new despatches placed in the boxes since he came +into office. I told him no one complained more of the same thing than +Aberdeen did when Dudley was in office, and I believe all Foreign +Secretaries had a shyness about showing their drafts till they were sent +off and unalterable. + + +_June 25._ + +At the office found a letter with enclosures from Colonel Macdonald, dated +Tabriz April 20. What he has been doing in Persia I do not know. + +I have written to him to call upon me on Saturday. + +Called on the Duke to tell him the substance--which is, that the Turks have +already 30,000 men and sixty pieces of cannon at Erzeroum. That a +dispossessed Pacha is in arms at Akiska. That the Russians have reinforced +the garrisons of Natshiran and Abbasabad, and have withdrawn all their +troops to the left bank of the Araxes, with the exception of those who +garrison Bayazid. The plague seems rife at Erivan. The Russians about Count +Paskewitz abuse the English very much. + + +_June 27._ + +The Chairs told me Lord W. Bentinck had extended to all persons the benefit +of the regulation as to coffee planters, _omitting, however_, all the +restrictive clauses. They think very seriously of this, and very justly. +The Calcutta newspapers consider the principle of colonisation to be +conceded. + +We must abrogate this 'Regulation' without loss of time. I went to the Duke +to tell him of it. He said Lord W. Bentinck was not to be trusted, and we +should be obliged to recall him. He is gone down in a steamboat to Penang. + +No news of much importance at the Cabinet room, except that Lord +Heytesbury's despatches confirm the account of the sickness of the Russian +army. + +The Turks seem to have given the Russians a great smash at Eski Arnaut. + + +_June 30._ + +A battle near Schumla between the Russians and Turks. The Turks were +besieging Pravadi. Diebitsch marched from Silistria and moved upon their +communications with Schumla. The Turks seem to have been surprised. They +fought gallantly, however, and seem to have caused the Russians great loss. + +Saw Arbuthnot. He came to the India Board to speak about his friend, +Russell Ellice, whom he wishes to make a Director. We afterwards talked of +the House and the Government. I think all will turn out well. We have six +months before us, but certainly at present we are weak in the House of +Commons, though I believe gathering strength in the country, and already +very strong there. If we play the great game, striking at the mass, we must +succeed. It would never do to go picking up individuals. We must do our +best for the country, and we shall have it with us. The worst of it is, the +King is the most faithless of men, and Cumberland is at work. + +The Duke asked Hardinge the other day what he thought of the Government. He +said he thought that by losing Canningites and Brunswickers it was fifty +weaker than Lord Liverpool's, and these fifty go the other way, making a +difference of one hundred on a division. Lord Camden thought if the +Brunswickers would not come in we must get a few Whigs--Abercromby, Sir +James Graham, the Althorpe people. Stanley would come for anything good, +and Brougham too. + +Arbuthnot asked me if I thought Lord Rosslyn would be cordial with us. I +said Yes. His letter of acceptance was most cordial, and with the Lords he +was on excellent terms. The only danger would be if Peel and the Commoners +were shy. + +Lord Grey, I said, I did not think in very good humour, but he would differ +on foreign politics rather than on questions of a domestic nature. The Duke +will not be coquetting with him, because he says very honestly he should be +exciting expectations in Lord Grey which, while the King lives, he does not +think he can gratify. + +Saw Mr. Elphinstone by appointment. I wished to have his opinion with +regard to the new settlement of Indian Government, which may take place on +the expiration of the present Charter. He seemed to think that the +Administration of the Government in the King's name would be agreeable to +the Civil and Military Services, and to people in England. He doubted +whether, as regarded the princes of India, it would signify much, as they +now pretty well understood us. He doubted whether the orders of Government +here would be better obeyed. He thought there might be an advantage in +keeping the King's authority in reserve, to be used only on grand +occasions. He confessed, however, that 'having been educated, and having +lived under the existing system, he was not best qualified to propose to +another. He had his prejudices.' He thought the best mode of arriving at +the truth would be by taking the opinions of practical Indians as to +reforms and alterations suggested by theoretical men. + +I asked him to consider the expediency of dividing the territory as now +into three unequal Presidencies, of giving to the Governor-General the +labour of superintending the Administration in detail of the Bengal +Presidency--of having Members of Council. I told him there were many minor +points of detail discoverable only by those employed at home, which +required and must receive amendment. Such, for instance, is the +interpretation given to the Act of Parliament, by which a _regulation_ must +be sanctioned or rejected _in extenso,_ there being no power to alter a +word, or to reject part and take the rest. + +Mr. Elphinstone seems to dread a long peace in India. We hold everything +together by the Native Army, and we cannot retain that unless we retain the +affections of the European officers. In the present state of our finances +this is difficult. + + +_July 1._ + +At half-past five received a letter from the Chairman, and the draft +relative to the removal of the Governor from Calcutta. The Court wished to +have it back to-day. That was impossible; but they have omitted words I +inserted in the _précis,_ and must restore, declaring that had the removal +been legal, still the Members of Council would have been ordered back. I +have now been obliged to give reasons for this addition, and the reasons +will be so much worse, as matters of record, that I have suggested to the +Chairman he had better substitute a draft containing the words. + +I think we must detain the _Pallas_ that it may take out both letters--this +and the one relating to the leases which is not yet prepared, or we must +have an overland dispatch. + +Delay is one of the inconveniences attending the present system of Indian +Government. I told the Chairman in my private note that if we allowed Lord +W. Bentinck to emancipate himself in this manner we should really be +abandoning all real control over the Government of India. I see clearly +there is a Bentinck party in the Court. + + +_July 2._ + +Saw Hardinge. We had some conversation upon the subject of the Government. +He seems more alarmed than I am. I trust to the King's fears and the Duke's +fortune; besides, we have the country. + +Hardinge told me the King was very much out of humour. The admission of +Lord Rosslyn had not answered. None followed. Lord Durham, Calthorpe, and +others left Lord Lansdowne to coalesce with Lord Grey. Hardinge wished me +to try Herries again, with the view of opening the Mint by making him +Chancellor of the Exchequer in India; but I told him Herries said his +domestic circumstances made it impossible, and the Duke did not seem to +like it at all. + +Herries thinks Lord Durham would be glad to be Minister at Naples; for my +part I am sure nothing will win Lord Grey but a place for Lord Grey +himself, and _that_, in the present state of the King's mind, the Duke is +not in a condition to offer. + + +_July 4._ + +Cabinet at half-past three. + +The Duke read a list of the several points to be considered before the next +Session. I cannot recollect half of them. East India Charter; Bank Charter; +Usury Laws; East Retford; Duties on Sugar; Duties on Tobacco; Canada; West +Indies; Education in Ireland; Irish and English Churches; Poor in Ireland; +Public Works; Commission on Ecclesiastical Courts; Reform of English +Courts; Reform of Welsh Judicature; Reform of Courts of Equity; Scotch Law +of Entail; Salaries of Scotch Judges--_increase_; Salaries of English +Judges--_reduction_; Grand Juries, Ireland; Militia Laws; Stamp Duties, +&c., &c. + +The only talk we had was about Irish Poor, and Public Works in Ireland. The +feeling seemed against anything like Poor Laws, and against Public Works +too. This is mine. The first productive of mischief, the second useless. + +Undoubtedly it is a great hardship that the English parish should have the +burden of Irish poor, but on the other hand in many cases the payers of +poor's rates in these parishes have derived advantage from Irish labour. + +Fitzgerald, Peel, and Goulburn are to look into this subject, and all +connected with Ireland. + +Fitzgerald, Peel, Lord Rosslyn, and, I think, either Herries or Goulburn +seemed to think the opposition to the continuance of the China monopoly +would be much greater than we expected. Fitzgerald seemed desirous the +question of commerce should be reserved, and that of Government decided. I +told him the two were inseparably connected. + + +_July 6._ + +Wrote to Lord W. Bentinck telling him I much regretted the having been +obliged to send the two letters, relative to the removal of the Government, +and the leases--told him the Duke coincided in opinion with the Court. + +I then expressed my surprise that the Local Government did not obey better. +Said they seemed to forget the orders of the Directors were the King's +orders transmitted through the channel of the Court and the Board. I added +I should endeavour to introduce into every branch of Indian Government the +subordination and the improvements now established in the King's +service--depended on his co-operation, &c. I sent the letter to the Duke +to ask him if I should send it. + + +_July 7._ + +At quarter to six a messenger arrived from the Duke, to whom I sent +yesterday my letter to Lord W. asking if I should send it? The Duke desires +to see the despatches to which it refers. I have accordingly begged Jones +to send them to him. I shall however be in town early myself to-morrow. + +I told the Duke in my note I should stay in town till late to-morrow to +sign the letter as to the six regiments if they passed it. I am glad to +have an excuse for not going to Windsor to the Recorder's Report. + + +_July 8._ + +Office at 2. Wilson absent, so I could not transact any military business. +Carried the letters relative to the leases and the six regiments to the +Duke. He said mine about the regiments was _very good indeed_. + +The Emperor of Russia seems to have laid himself out most ably at Berlin to +captivate the King, and the army, and the people. + +Seymour's despatches are useful. He mentions _small_ things, which show the +character of men. + +The Emperor does not disguise his desire of peace. He wants no _garanties +matérielles_ at the Bosphorus for safe passage. He asks the principle of a +pecuniary indemnity, but does not seem disposed to contest the details. +Bernstorff observed truly, we could not get out of the Greek Treaty without +the help of Russia, and Russia wanted us to get out of the way. + +The Sultan begins to affect European manners. Calls upon ladies and talks +about education! Dines with a merchant! After all, considering his +education and his _entourage_, Sultan Mahmoud is the most remarkable man in +Europe. + + +_July 9._ + +Office at 2. Met Herries. Told him I should send him a statement of our +Indian loans, and place Leach at his disposal. We could then talk them +over, and see whether we could effect any financial operation. My idea is +that by offering some little higher interest in. India we might induce the +holders of the remittable loan to give up that privilege of receiving the +interest in England if resident here. + +Saw Major Cunningham. He looks more than forty, well, certainly, but I +should doubt his doing much hard work. He does not think himself a good +person to command Irregulars. His Rohillas were almost in as good order as +Regulars. + +He told me Lieutenant-Colonel Skinner was a man of large landed property. +He had raised his corps very much from his own estate and neighbourhood, +and was a sort of feudal chieftain. He has been educated like a native, +though the son of a Colonel in the Company's service. + +Saw Sir Murray Maxwell. [Footnote: He had commanded the 'Alceste,' which +took out Lord Amherst as Ambassador to China twelve years before.] It +seemed to me Sir Murray wanted to be sent with a frigate to try to open a +commercial communication with Pekin. He thinks even Japan might be induced +to trade. The instant the Chinese found the ship was gone and Lord Amherst +meant to return by land they would have nothing to say to him. They +probably took him for a spy. + +Sir Murray thinks the Chinese might be led to give a port to the northward. + +He describes the Spanish population of Manilla as being very small--the +native population large. It is but four days' sail, with a good breeze, +from Manilla to Canton. Always a favourable wind. The harbour magnificent. + +I think the whole object of his visit was to get a ship, and a sort of half +embassy. + + +_July 10._ + +Received a letter from Lord Clare, who saw the Duke yesterday. He says the +Duke was very kind and told him he should get all the information he could +before the Committee of next year. I shall most willingly assist him. + + +_July 11._ + +Cabinet. Talked of Ireland. The disposition to outrage seems increasing. +The Duke said we were responsible for the success of the measure of this +year, and we must put down the armed meetings. Warburton must be ordered to +do so. The Duke said emphatically if we do not preserve the peace of +Ireland we shall not be a Government. Peel is to write immediately. He +thinks the first appearance of a determination to put down these meetings +will have the effect of crushing them. We spoke of Poor Laws, Education, +and Grand Juries. Lord F. Leveson _despairs_ as to the two first. Upon both +the Government will form its opinion. I am glad to see that the more the +question of Poor Laws is considered the more the introduction of them +appears unadvisable, _or of any approach to them_. I have ever held this +opinion. + +In Cabinet we again, having done so many weeks ago, considered whether any +extension of time should be given to the Brazilians for the termination of +their traffic in slaves. + +Aberdeen seemed very indulgently inclined towards the slave dealers--not so +Peel and Fitzgerald. They seemed first of all to think it would be an +awkward Parliamentary case, and Peel protested against our becoming +responsible, as we should, for the horrible consequences which might attend +the continuance of the trade for six months. The Chancellor thought a +vessel leaving the coast of Africa, that is, engaging in the slave trade, +at such a period as would afford a reasonable probability of her arriving +on March 13, should be safe. I think February 13 was, after much desultory +discussion, fixed as the day after which no vessel should leave the coast +of Africa. + +The Brazilians had offered as an equivalent for six months an agreement +that in future vessels fitted for the slave trade, even if they had no +slaves on board, should be seizable. It seemed to be the opinion, a little +exaggerated, I think, that no prospect of future prevention of slave- +trading could justify us in permitting for an instant the immediate benefit +we had within our grasp. + + +_July 12._ + +The great day in Ireland; but I hope its happening on Sunday may break its +effect. The orders for vigorous interposition, determined upon on Saturday, +will have been of no use in preventing collision to-day, or even to-morrow, +should the anniversary be postponed. + +The Duke of Cumberland goes to Hanover, but he returns in October, and old +Eldon meets him then in London. They had a regular Cabinet to decide +whether he should go or not. + +Read the court-martial of Lieutenant Lewis, of the Bombay Artillery, who +struck an officer in the presence of his wife. The Chairs wish to restore +him. It is impossible. There is an end of all moral and gentlemanlike +feeling if it be not understood that a man's person is sacred in the +presence of his wife. We presume a wife to have feeling, and a man to +respect it. _The blow_ alone would have been a good cause of dismissal. + +Had a letter from the Bishop of Calcutta, who, on offering to execute +episcopal functions at the Cape, was told by Hay, of the Colonial Office, +that the cape was not in his Patent, and he could no do so. This is a +mistake. He can exercise episcopal functions, but not episcopal +jurisdictions. + +Had a letter from Mr. Joliffe, of Merstham, [Footnote: The seat of the +Joliffe family, near Reigate, in Surrey.] proposing steam-boat navigation +to India. An application from Salisbury for a letter of recommendation to +Lord W. Bentinck, in favour of Mr. Chester. Told him this was not a good +time to ask a favour of Lord William, and it would be better to send the +recommendation with the man, who does not sail till October. + + +_July 15, 1829._ + +Office. Found a letter from Loch, suggesting the irregularity of my sending +for his officers, and communicating with them on the subject of despatches +to be sent to the Indian Government, and expressing a hope that nothing +would occur to interrupt the harmony which existed between us. + +I said in reply that I have expressed a wish to see Colonel Salmond, and +afterwards to see Colonel Farant, merely from my desire to expedite +business, and to do it well. That it was mentioned in conversation with +Colonel Salmond and Mr. Wilson on Monday, that there was no irregularity in +that course, and that I immediately determined to desist from it. That I +believed I had so expressed myself at the time to Colonel Salmond. + +I added that I could assure him I would not willingly, by endeavouring to +extend the limits assigned by Parliament to the power of the Board, or by +my manner of exercising that power, interrupt the harmony which so happily +existed between the court and me. + +Went to the Foreign Office. I fear the defeat of the Turks near Shumla was +decisive; but still we have only Russian accounts, and they do _so lie_! It +seems certain the Russians took the opportunity of opening a negotiation. +The carelessness of the Turks in not keeping a good look-out towards +Silistria seems unaccountable, and they dawdled sadly before Pravady. The +new Vizier is very inferior to old Hussein Pacha, whose caution would have +avoided this catastrophe. + +Dined with the East India volunteers. The officers of the regiment are all +clerks in the Company's service. The non-commissioned officers and privates +serve in their warehouses. + +There are now 600 men. During the war they had three regiments, each 800 +strong--all their own servants. + +When my health was drunk I spoke of the Duke of Wellington's natural +fondness for India, of the high terms in which he always mentioned the +gallantry of the Indian army, and the purity of the Civil Service. I said +the Ministers were animated by his example, &c. + +The Speaker told me he thought Mr. Stanley [Footnote: A curious instance of +the failure of political prophecies, even by men of judgment and +experience. Seventeen years later he was leader of a party, and twenty- +three years afterwards Prime Minister.] would never rise higher than he was +now. It had been a curious Session--all men endeavouring to avoid +committing themselves. + + +_July 16._ + +Loch showed me two letters of Sir J. Malcolm, in which he deprecates the +sending of more writers, and says _numbers_ may be diminished, but not +_salaries_, especially in the higher ranks; and if writers are sent they +must be provided for. I believe he is right. I had already suggested the +non-appointment of writers this year, and the Chairs seemed to acquiesce-- +indeed, to have thought of it themselves. + +Recorder's Report. Before the report Madame de Cayla, the Duchess D'Escars, +&c., were presented to the King. I had some conversation with Rosslyn and +Herries as to the Indian Question. Herries seemed to be afraid of the House +of Commons. Rosslyn a little, too, of public opinion as to the opening of +the China trade. They both seemed rather hostile to the continuance of the +present system. I said I considered it to be a settled point that the +patronage of India should be separated from the Government. The necessity +of making that separation led to one great difficulty. The necessity of +remitting home in goods 3,200,000£ led to another difficulty, and to making +the Government of India, wherever it might be placed, _mercantile_. The +East India Company would not, and could not, without the monopoly carry on +the concern. + +Neither Herries nor Rosslyn seemed to admit the necessary separation of the +patronage of India from the Government. + +I said that, if it might not be separated, it would be easy to make a +better and a cheaper government. I can see that Peel, Fitzgerald, Herries, +Rosslyn--perhaps Sir G. Murray--will be against the Company. + +The Duke said it was clear to him that the remittances must be made in +goods, and could not be made by bills. He is for the monopoly. + +In a few days the papers will be printed. A copy will then be furnished to +each member of the Government, and I shall receive their observations. + +The Recorder's Report was a very heavy one. All the cases bad, and seven +ordered for execution. + +The King seemed very well. + +Stratford Canning and Lord Strangford were at the Court, to be presented on +their return. + +Before the report we read the last Irish papers. The Duke of Northumberland +and Lord F. Leveson seem to think rather favourably of the condition of +Ireland. The belief of Peel and Goulburn, and, I believe, of the Duke, is +that _one_ example would settle all. + +Lord F. Leveson says that the Brunswickers are encouraged _from St. +James's_ to expect that the Relief Bill will be repealed. Many wish for an +explosion, the Catholics less than the Protestants. + + +_July 19._ + +Hardinge and Wood dined with me. Hardinge says the Duke of Cumberland has +determined not to leave England, but to send for the Duchess and his son. +The Duchess of Gloucester did not before, and will not now, receive the +Duchess of Cumberland. Old Eldon wants a guarantee that no more Whigs will +be admitted. I believe he would be satisfied with none but his own +admission. + +Hardinge seems to think we may not have a majority when Parliament meets. I +think he is wrong. I trust to the Duke's fortune and to 'the being a +Government,' which is much, and to the others not being able to form a +Government, which is more. + + +_July 22._ + +Had a letter from Loch. He does not like the disbanding of the six +regiments, but he says he brings it before the Court again on Monday, +having promised every possible information. + +Read some of Colonel Tod's 'Rajastan.' I had rather see Rajastan or +Rajpootana than any part of India. It would really be interesting. Colonel +Tod seems to be an enthusiast about the country and the people. He was +there apparently at least sixteen years. The story of the beautiful +Princess of Oudeypore [Footnote: Krishna Komari. She was poisoned by her +father to avoid the hostilities of the rival princes who demanded her hand. +The father was still living when Colonel Tod wrote. The House of Oudeypore +was the only native reigning family who disdained to intermarry even with +the Emperors of Delhi. See Tod's _Rajasthan_, i. 066.] in Tod's book and +Sir J. Malcolm's is the most romantic and the most interesting I know. That +family of Oudeypore or Mewar seems to be the most ancient in the world. It +far surpasses the Bourbons and the House of Hapsburg. + + +_July 23._ + +Chairs at eleven. Told them of the danger in which they were, from the +feeling of the mercantile districts and of the country; that we could not +look Parliament in the face without having done all in our power to effect +reductions in a deficit of 800,000£ a year; that without a commanding case +no Government, however strong, could venture to propose a renewal of the +monopoly. + +They were obliged to me for my information. I advised them to turn their +attention immediately to all the great points. + +On the subject of the six regiments the Court differ from the view I took. +Loch gave me a long statement of facts, which I must read attentively, and +then communicate with the Duke. + +They are so enamoured of old habits that they hesitate about desiring their +Indian Governments and the subordinate correspondents of these Governments +to place upon the back of their voluminous letters a _précis_ of their +substance! + +After the Chairs were gone I saw Bankes and Leach, and while they were with +me Sir Archibald Campbell called. I saw him immediately. He is a fat, +rather intelligent-looking man, well mannered, and sensible. I talked to +him of the idea of exchanging Tenasserim. [Footnote: The furthest province +of the British territory towards Siam, extending along the coast south of +Pegu, and lately conquered from the Burmese Empire.] He did not like giving +up his conquest. I gave him one secret letter, and he will make his +observations upon it. + +He left Lord William at the mouth of the Hooghly. They had found out the +removal of the Government was contrary to law. They had intended to be +itinerant for a year or two. + +It is only in the Bengal army that the officers are old. There they rise by +seniority. In the Madras army they are made from fitness. + +The Madras army, though most gallant, was quite unequal, from deficiency of +physical strength, to face the Burmese. The Burmese soldiers brought +fourteen days' provisions. All men are liable to be called upon. They never +had more than 120,000 in the field. + +The English army took 2,000 cannon, and it was believed the Burmese had +2,500 left. + +Sir A. Campbell says there have been 60,000 refugees from Ava--all now +settled in Tenasserim. I had thought there had never been more than 10,000, +and that some, about half, had returned. + +Upon the whole, he seems enamoured of his conquests, but he did not adduce +any good reason against exchanging it. + +At the Cabinet room. Saw Lord Rosslyn there, as I used to be last year, +_désoeuvré_ and bored, as all Privy Seals will be. He seemed dissatisfied +with the state of affairs in Ireland and in England. At Manchester there is +a fear of a turn-out of some more cotton-spinners. Every thing depends upon +the harvest. + +The negotiations with the Turks came to nothing. The Grand Vizier's answer +to Diebitch is excellent. + +The sickness amongst the Russian troops continues, and Diebitch has not +more than 40,000 men, even with Roth's corps. + +The Ambassadors have been very well received at Constantinople. All are in +good humour there, notwithstanding the losses near Shumla. + +The Emperor does not go to the army. + +Lord Heytesbury represents Russia as being the least formidable of the +great Powers for the purpose of offensive operations, and seems to think +she contains many elements of convulsion. + +Metternich is trying to cajole the Russians by pretended fears of +revolutionary principles. + +They talk of a King in Columbia, and the French are intriguing to place a +French prince on the throne, after Bolivar. + + +_July 25, 1829._ + +Cabinet room. The Ambassadors seem to have been received most cordially at +Constantinople. We know no more of the Grand Vizier's losses. That he +experienced a complete defeat there can be no doubt. + +In Columbia, the French seem rather inclined to place, after Bolivar, a +Prince of the House of Orleans on the throne, and it does not seem unlikely +that the Columbians may consider it their best arrangement. + +The Emperor of Russia seems to be desirous of Peru, and the King of Prussia +has, at his request, sent the Baron von Müffling as his Minister to the +Porte to mediate. + +The Irish accounts are very bad. Lord F. Leveson seems now to think very +seriously of the state of things. Doherty is come back much alarmed from +Barris, where he has been with Blackie on a special commission. + + +_July 28._ + +I recommended to the attention of the Chairs the establishment of steam +communication with India by the Red Sea. + + +_July 29._ + +Read _précis_ relative to Kotah. + +These _précis_ will make me thoroughly acquainted with the history and +circumstances of the Rajpoot States, which are by far more interesting than +others. + +There is a looseness and a vulgarity in the East India House writing, the +literature of clerks which is quite disgusting. Our clerks write better +than theirs, but they do not write concisely and correctly. + + +_July 30._ + +Read Lord Heytesbury's letters. He is very Russian. They have certainly got +the plague at Odessa, and in all the stations of the Russian army. + +Met Peel at the Cabinet room. He said Ireland was in rather a better state. +He agreed with me in thinking the Brunswickers were the cause of all the +mischief. He believed the King had begged the Duke of Cumberland to stay, +and that the Duchess was certainly coming over. They wish to attack the +Ministry through the side of Ireland--to make a civil war rather than not +turn out a Government. + +He had written to the Duke suggesting that we ought to have a Cabinet +respecting Ireland, and he thought the Duke would come to town on his +letter. + + +_August 1._ + +Had from Sir G. Murray papers relative to the Canada question, upon which +he wishes to have the opinion of the Cabinet to-morrow. The immediate +question is whether a Bill passed by the Colonial Legislature for altering +the state of the representation shall be confirmed by the Crown. + +The state of Canada is such that I am convinced we ought in prudence to +place the revenue collected under the 14th Geo. II. at the disposal of the +Chambers, retaining, as they are willing to retain, a fixed salary for the +Government judges, independent of the annual vote. + + +_Sunday, August 2._ + +Cabinet at 4. Irish question. Lord F. Leveson seems to be much alarmed. He +wants to use the Bill of this year for the suppression of an expected +meeting at Derry, which meeting is to be unarmed, sing songs, drink toasts, +make speeches, and petition for a change of Ministers. + +It was considered that the powers entrusted to Government by the Bill for +the suppression of the Roman Catholic Association were never intended to be +exercised for the putting down of such a meeting as that intended to be +held at Derry. If the Brunswickers there come out of their houses and have +a procession _causing fear_ and threatening the peace, the common law can +put them down. Care will be taken to have troops enough at Derry. + +Lord F. Leveson likewise asks whether he shall proclaim martial law! Peel +very properly asks him what martial law is. In fact it is the absence of +all law--and can only be endured when a country is on the eve of rebellion +or actually in rebellion. [Footnote: This was exactly the description given +of it by Lord Beaconsfield with reference to Jamaica in 1866.] + +It seems to me that Lord Francis is unequal to his situation. I wish we had +Hardinge there. He would never go wrong. + +Herries told me he thought, after reading the papers I had sent him, that +there was more of care for the Company than he expected. + +Peel has written a very good letter to Lord F. Gower, telling him that the +first thing they must do is to establish an _efficient police_, to be paid +for by Ireland--and of which the officers must be appointed by Government. + + +_August 3._ + +Saw Hardinge. He has perfected a very excellent system in Ireland by which +all the 30,000 pensioners are divided into districts, in each of which is a +chief constable who pays them. If they move from one district to another +they have a ticket, so that the residence and the movements of all are +known. Of 30,000 about 10,000 are fit for duty. Blank orders are ready at +the Castle, directing the march of these men upon five central points, +where they would be incorporated with the regiments, so that in a few days +the army could be reinforced by 10,000 men. There are others who are not +very capable of doing anything but mischief if against us. These would be +ordered to the garrisons. + +I wish Hardinge was in Ireland instead of Lord Francis. + + +_August 6._ + +Chairs at 11. + +Astell does not seem to like my letters relative to the delay in answering +despatches from India and in communicating events in India; and respecting +the amount of military stores sent to India, and the expediency of +enquiring whether their amount could not be diminished. Loch did not say +anything. It was an attempt at bullying on Astell's part, which I resisted, +and successfully. + + +_August 10._ + +The Russians appear to have passed the defiles on the northern side of the +Balkans, and almost without loss. There is, I conclude, a force near +Bourgas, but all that is to be hoped is that the Turks will be wise enough +not to fight. It was an unlucky appointment, that of the Grand Vizier. Old +Hussein never would have committed his fault. + +R. Gordon has been magnificently received at Constantinople. + +Polignac has been made Prime Minister of France. De Rigny is made Minister +of Marine. The Government is Tory, and I should think very favourable to +English alliance, not Greek, and certainly not Russian. If it should be +able to stand, it must be good for us. Received letters from Colonel +Macdonald from Tabriz. He says the Russians at Tiflis talk as if they were +going to war with us. + + +_August 11._ + +Received Persian despatches. The Persians will pay no more. They wanted to +go to war. No one would go as Envoy to Petersburg but an _attaché_. They +all thought they should be beheaded. Macdonald seems to have kept them +quiet. + +Cabinet room. Met Lord Melville. Read Gordon's letters from Constantinople. +The Turks have not above 20,000 men there. They are not disposed to yield +at all. Gordon thinks if we declared we would fix in any manner the limits +of Greece, and maintain them, the Porte would not quarrel with us, and +would rather do anything than yield the point of honour by acknowledging +the independence of the Greeks. + +The Russians mean to pass the Balkans with 60,000 men and march on +Adrianople. They send a large force by sea to Sizeboli to turn Bourgas. + +Lord Francis Leveson holds out the apprehension of a long religious contest +in Ireland. [Footnote: Unhappily, like other pessimists, he seems to have +judged Ireland correctly.] I believe he looks only at the surface and +judges from first appearances. + + +_August 12._ + +A victory gained by Paskewitz over the Seraskier, whom he has taken +prisoner, with thirty-one pieces of cannon, &c., near Erzeroum--that is, +three days after the battle, Paskewitz, still in pursuit, was within forty +miles of Erzeroum. + +Wrote two letters to the Duke--one on the subject of Sir J. P. Grant, who +has closed the Courts at Bombay because the Government would not execute an +unlawful process, and the other respecting Persian affairs, giving the +substance of the despatches which I enclosed. + +We have a Cabinet to-morrow at 12 on Turkish affairs. I would not allow the +Russians to advance any further. I would send one from our own body, +_incognito,_ to Paris to talk to Polignac and endeavour to get him to join +us in an act of vigorous intervention which would give character to his +Government and save Constantinople. I would pass the English and French +fleets through the Dardanelles, and give Russia a leaf out of the Greek +Treaty. But I do not expect that this will be Aberdeen's course. + +Drummond, whom I saw, said the Duke was delighted with the account of the +Jaghirdars of the Kistna. Granville is gone to Ireland. + +The Duke was gone to Windsor. It is the King's birthday. + + +_August 13._ + +When the Cabinet was assembled the Duke said we were not to consider the +state of things at Constantinople, and what we should do. He thought the +Russians would get to Constantinople, and into it. If they did he thought +there was an end of the Ottoman Empire. He was doubtful whether, after the +innovations introduced, the Turks would cordially support Mahmoud, +[Footnote: Sultan Mahmoud, as is well known, remodelled the whole internal +organisation of the Turkish Empire. He was denounced as the Giaour Sultan +by old-fashioned Turks.] and already there were insurrections of the +Greeks. It was just what he predicted in his letter to La Ferronays, and +what Lord Dudley afterwards said in a letter to Lièven; the success of the +Russians was the dissolution of an Empire which could not be reconstituted. +It was too late to interfere by force, even if we had been disposed to do +so alone. + +He thought France, if we did nothing, would be quiet--if we did anything, +she would take the other line. Polignac was a more able man than people +supposed, and he would adhere to the course he adopted. We might endeavour, +at any rate, to ascertain his feelings and intentions. + +As to the Greek question we must have a conference, and consider the +suggestions of the Ambassadors, namely, that whatever we chose to make +Greece, should be declared independent, and guaranteed. Both the Duke and +Aberdeen thought France and Russia would both take the proposition into +consideration. The former as to _limits_, the latter for delay. France had +already told us that, provided we could agree upon the limits, she was +inclined to adopt the suggestion of the Ambassadors. + +We asked whether the permanent occupation of Constantinople by Russia was +to be submitted to? The answer was, _No_, to be opposed by war. It seemed +to me and to Fitzgerald we had better endeavour to prevent, at a small +expense, even if alone, a measure we could only retrieve if it took place +at an enormous expense, if at all, and which would in all probability +effect the ruin of the Turkish Empire. I did not think affairs quite so +desperate. I thought the Russians might get to Adrianople, but not to +Constantinople, and that they could not maintain themselves at Adrianople +without the command of the sea. We had six ships at the mouth of the +Dardanelles, and these with the Turkish Fleet would open the Black Sea. + +I was for passing our ships up to Constantinople and placing them at the +disposal of the Ambassador, for from hence we cannot give orders adapted to +circumstances. It was replied _that_ would be war. If war were to be +declared we should do as much mischief as possible, and go to Cronstadt, +not to the Black Sea. We should have our ships beyond the Bosphorus when +Russia occupied the Dardanelles, and shut us in. This would make us +ridiculous. + +As the object is not to do mischief to Russia, but to save the Turkish +Empire, I should say that measure was to be effected at the Bosphorus, for +Constantinople, once taken, and the Ottoman Power annihilated, it would be +of no use to distress Russia. + +Fitzgerald seemed to be of my opinion that, however desperate the chance, +we should do all we could to save Constantinople, and at any risk. + +It was determined that our fleet in the Mediterranean should be reinforced +by three or four line-of-battle ships, on the principle that wherever any +Power had a large force, we should have one--not a very wise principle, it +seems to me, if we are never to use force. I interceded for a few powerful +steamers, with 68 pound carronades, and I think Lord Melville seemed +inclined to acquiesce. + +Questions are to be put to Polignac to ascertain what he would do in +certain events. I said he never would open himself to Lord Stuart. It was +then suggested by the Duke that Aberdeen could write a private letter. This +will, I believe, be done. I said to Fitzgerald, who was next to me, +'Neither letter nor Stuart will get anything out of Polignac. One of +ourselves should go to Paris as an individual, see Polignac, and return +before the Conference.' + +I suggested Rosslyn, as he had nothing to do. Fitzgerald said he could go +and return in a week, and seemed to wish to do so. However, nothing was +said openly; and with all the means of success in our hands, for, I think, +Polignac _might_ be brought into our views, we shall lose all by not using +proper instruments; just as we have lost the Greek question by persisting +in keeping Stratford Canning. + +We had a good deal of conversation as to the limits of Greece. The Duke was +for adhering to the Morea. It was _really_ the best line. It was what we +had guaranteed. We had told the Turks we did not mean to go beyond it. + +Aberdeen has always had a little private hankering after Athens, though he +ridicules it. He had no scruple about annexing Athens, although not yet +taken. I said I thought Polignac would be disposed to hold our language to +Russia, if we would make some concession on the subject of Greece, and +enable him to settle that question with _éclat_. He would then be supported +by France in any strong language he might hold, and would establish himself +by the experiment of his first fortnight of office. + +However, the Cabinet seems disposed to look at accessories, not at +principles, at the minor objects rather than at _the one great object_, +which is inducing France to act with us to prevent the occupation of +Constantinople or to force its evacuation. Instead of yielding upon points +of minor importance, in order to carry the question, we are to insist now +on the minor points-the evacuation of the Morea by the French, and then, I +fear we shall weaken Polignac's Government, and lose our object. + +Our foreign policy has certainly been, most unsuccessful. We have succeeded +in nothing. + +The communication to be made to Polignac is to be made to him +confidentially, and he is to know it is not to be made to Austria. It is +considered that in any case Austria would support France and England if +they acted together, and any indication Austria might give of moving alone +would bring down Prussia upon her. This line, I think, well considered and +prudent. + +It seemed to be thought that, if the Turkish Empire should be _dissolved_, +Austria might be inclined to share the spoils and be quiet; but if it were +only _weakened_, she would feel she suffered. + +It seemed to be admitted by all that we ought to have taken a decided step +long ago. That we were too late, and that we were inexcusable. + +I said a year ago Aberdeen would ruin us--he would gradually let us down, +not by any flagrant error, but by being always under the mark. The Duke, +occupied as he is as Prime Minister, wanted an efficient secretary for +Foreign Affairs, and he could not have had a worse. + +Peel seems to think Ireland stands much better since the proclamation +respecting the attack made by the Ribbonmen upon the Orangemen in +Fermanagh. He seems to think the Irish Government ready enough when things +are brought to their notice, but that they do not read or attend to the +reports made to them. + + +_August 19._ + +I am inclined to think from what Colonel Hodgson says that leather might be +made in India as well as here. They have the hide of the buffalo. They want +the _tanning_, and some one must be sent from this country to teach them. +He told me of a Mr. Cotton who was long at Tanjore, where the iron is, and +I have written to him. + + +_August 22._ + +The Russians have taken Erzeroum, and have quite dispersed the Turkish army +in Asia. Every success of theirs in that quarter makes my heart bleed. I +consider it a victory gained over me, as Asia is _mine_. + + +_August 28._ + +The 'Courier' of last night throws doubts on the reported victory of +Kirkhilissa. The Sultan is said to be now ready to treat. The plague is in +the Russian army, and in the country before them. Had a long conversation +with Hardinge on Indian affairs. + + +_August 29._ + +Read a letter from Mr. Cartwright, the Consul at Constantinople, dated the +9th. The loss of Erzeroum is to be attributed to the Janizaries. In all +Asia they seem to be rising. The Russians are not expected to advance till +they are joined by 15,000 men, coming by sea. Thus our fleet would have +saved Constantinople. + +Cabinet at half-past three. Before the Cabinet read Lord Heytesbury's and +Mr. Gordon's despatches. Lord Heytesbury seems to be a mere Russian. + + +_August 31._ + +Mr. Gordon describes the Turkish Empire as falling to pieces. The national +enthusiasm and religious feeling of the people seem to be gone. The Sultan +is unpopular. The populace of Adrianople desires the advance of the +Russians, so scandalous has been the conduct of the Asiatics. The Pacha of +Egypt gives no assistance, and thinks the weakness of the Porte constitutes +his strength. The people of Trebizond have invited Count Paskewitz. +Erzeroum was lost by the treachery of the Janizaries. + +The Sultan has acceded to the Treaty of London. This accession is +qualified, but not in such a manner as to preclude negotiation. He has +consented to treat with Russia, to give freedom to the navigation of the +Black Sea, and to observe the Treaty of Akerman--but he stipulates for the +integrity of the Ottoman dominions in Europe and Asia. He has not, however, +sent Plenipotentiaries. + +General Muffling, the Prussian, is arrived at Constantinople. He reports +the moderate views of the Emperor Nicholas, and states them. + +The French Government, from the information it derived from its Minister at +Berlin, has instructed Count Guilleminot to declare to the Turks the terms +on which Russia will make peace. Russia requires the execution of the +Treaty of Akerman--indemnity--(but moderate) for the expenses of the war +and the losses sustained by her commerce, for which indemnity, as it seems, +she is willing to take Anapa. + +She requires the free navigation of the Dardanelles for all nations. This +cession to be secured by treaty, not by territorial occupation. + +The terms of the Turks are not very dissimilar; but as Count Diebitch has +orders to advance till preliminaries are signed, a catastrophe may take +place still. + +Mr. Gordon managed to get a paper into the Sultan's own hands, which may +have led in some measure to this result. He naturally gave credit to the +information contained in the Despatches of Count Guilleminot, but the +French Government have no authority for their opinion as to the terms on +which Russia will make peace. No communication to that effect has been made +officially to them. + +The French and Russian Ministers at the Conference said they could not act +on Mr. Gordon's letter, which is as yet uncorroborated by Count +Guilleminot. They could not yet act as if Turkey had acceded to the Treaty +of London. + +The Russians would now declare the independence of Greece within the Gulfs +of Volo and Arta, and they wanted Aberdeen to take that instead of the +treaty. He thought he could get them to declare the independence of Greece +_within the Morea_--that they would be satisfied with that, and that, if +they would, we had better secure that for the Turks now, than run the risk +of the event of war and of the extension which might be given to the terms +which might be forced upon them under the Treaty of London. + +However, even admitting that the Russians would be content with the +independence of Greece within the Morea (with Attica, [Footnote: Attica was +still held by the Turks, having been reconquered after its first occupation +by the Greeks.] by-the-bye), it was the opinion of the Duke and of every +one (but Aberdeen) that it would neither be generous nor honourable to +force upon the Turks in their distress terms which _they_, attaching much +value to the _suzeraineté_, might think less favourable than what they +might obtain under the Treaty of London, and that we should be drawing +ourselves into the embarrassment of what would be practically a new treaty +at the moment that we were beginning to entertain hopes of getting out of +that which had so long harassed us. + +Upon the whole, I think the aspect of Eastern affairs is better than it has +been since we have been a Government. + +Diebitch is said to have 35,000 men, and a reserve of 40,000. I doubt the +reserve being so strong. The 15,000 from Sebastopol have joined. + +Paskewitz is made Grand Cross of St. George. + +Diebitch will be so, of course. + +The King, Peel said, is very blind. He has lost the sight of one eye. The +Duke said when he was at Windsor last, the King was particularly civil to +him, and Peel and the Duke were both of opinion that the King would be most +cordial with the Government if the Duke of Cumberland were away, and was +now more so than could be expected under his influence. + +Aberdeen seems to have written the letter to Stuart, and Stuart to have +communicated it to Prince Polignac. Stuart's idea is that Polignac has had +too much to do in fixing himself to think much of foreign politics. He +expressed himself, however, disposed to consult with England as to the +measures which should be adopted if Russia should break her engagements. + +Several representations have been made to France for the withdrawing of the +French troops from the Morea--but hitherto without effect. These troops +keep the country quiet, and enable the whole force of the Greek State to +act offensively. Thus, assisted by French and Russian money, the Greeks +have acquired possession of everything within the Gulfs of Volo and Arta, +except the Island of Negropont. + + +_September 1, 1829._ + +Read with attention a paper of Courtney's on Leach's observations. Wrote +some memoranda upon it, which I shall send with it to the Duke, when I have +got from Shepheard a statement of the benefit derived by the territory from +the fixed rate of exchange. It is a valuable paper. I have written to thank +him for it, and to ask him to give me the result of his considerations on +the mode of transferring the Government of India from the Company to the +King, without materially increasing the patronage of the Crown; and +likewise the view he takes of the alterations it would be desirable to +introduce, if the Company should continue to govern India, in the powers of +the Board of Control and in its relations with the Court. + + +_September 3._ + +The Directors are much afraid of the Russians. So am I, and the Russians +begin to threaten us. They hint that they have open to them the route to +Bagdad, and they announce the presence in Petersburg of an Afghan Chief, +and of Ambassadors from Runjeet Singh. + +I feel confident we shall have to fight the Russians on the Indus, and I +have long had a presentiment that I should meet them there, and gain a +great battle. All dreams, but I have had them a long time. + +I have some idea of a secret letter to Bombay, directing the Government to +take possession of the Island of Karak, [Footnote: A small island in the +Persian Gulf to the north-west of Bushire.] and of any other tenable point +to seal the Euphrates, in the event of the Russians moving down. + +Loch wants to dethrone Runjeet Singh! + + +_September 4, 1829._ + +Saw Colonel Willoughby Cotton, who commanded _en second_ in Ava. He has +lately visited, as Adjutant-General of King's troops, all the stations of +the army in Bengal. He says no army can be in finer order. Lord Combermere +has weeded all the old men. The regiments manoeuvre beautifully. + +Lord C. wishes to have two King's regiments cantoned under the Himalaya +Mountains, where the climate is as good as in England. + +Runjeet Singh has conquered Cabul and Cashmere. He has French officers at +the head of his infantry and cavalry, and about five others. His artillery +he keeps under his own family. He has of regular troops 30,000 infantry, +and 10,000 cavalry, about eighty guns. All these easily assembled near the +capital. + +He is old, and when he dies his two sons are likely to quarrel and call us +in. + +The two ex-Kings of Cabul are living at Ludeana on pensions. Zemaun Shah, +the blind King, and his brother, who was King in Mr. Elphinstone's time. + +Colonel Cotton speaks most highly of the Madras troops. They are more +disposable than the Bengal troops, more free from prejudice of caste. + +He regrets the reduction of the bodyguard which conducted itself nobly in +Ava. I like a guard, and I would have an infantry as well as a cavalry +guard, to be formed by picked men. + +Colonel Willoughby Cotton says Colonel Skinner is about 55. His son is a +merchant, and goes every year into Cashmere for shawls. Skinner has still +about 1,300 men, and is quartered not far from Delhi. His people fire the +matchlock over the arm at full gallop, and with correct aim. They strike a +tent-peg out of the ground with their lances. + + +_September 5._ + +Received an answer from the Duke. He thinks the question of the six +regiments begins to be serious, as the Court throw upon the Government the +responsibility of running the risk of a mutiny in the army--desires to see +the paper, which I have sent him, and says it must go to the Cabinet. + +I feel satisfied I am right. If the Cabinet give in to the Court, they +weaken my hands so much that I shall be unable to effect any great reform. +They make the Directors the real Ministers of India, and almost emancipate +the Indian Government. So I told the Duke in my letter. + + +_September 7._ + +Office. Saw Sir A. Campbell. He came to offer himself for a command in +India. I spoke to him of his papers respecting war with the Burmese. He +says large boats carrying 100 men could go up to Aeng, the troops need not +land at Ramree. He was never an advocate for a diversion at Rangoon, and +thinks they make too much fuss about the frontier of Munnipore. + +Saw a Mr. Cotton, for a long time collector of Tanjore. He is against +introducing the Ryotwaree settlement into that country, and by his account +it seems very ill adapted to it, for according to him the Murassidars are +there really proprietors, and with them the settlement is now made for the +village. + +I sent for him to tell me about the iron I had understood to be in the +neighbourhood of Tanjore; but there is none, it is at Satara. He seems a +sensible man, and I must see him again. + +The Turks seem to have endeavoured to back out of their accession to the +Treaty of London, or rather to clog it with insuperable objections. But Mr. +Gordon has brought them back again, and on August 12 all was right, but no +Plenipotentiaries sent. The Russians were said to be moving on Adrianople. +They had not above 35,000 men. There is a very bad account from Smyrna of +the state of the population in Asia. In fact the Duke of Wellington's +prediction is fulfilled. The Turkish Empire is breaking to pieces. By Lord +Heytesbury's account the Russians are very desirous of peace, and very +apprehensive that a popular tumult may put an end to the Sultan. It is +impossible to see the end of the calamities which would occur, complicated +as they would be, if such an event as the dissolution of the Turkish Empire +took place. + +The new French Ministry is changing the municipalities. They hope to +succeed at the next elections. Lord Stuart considers M. de la Bourdonnaye +as the real head. + +Polignac very prudently rests on his oars as to Greece, and properly +observes it is idle to make protocols here when the march of events may +have altogether changed the state of things before the protocols arrive. + + +_September 8._ + +Office at 11. Went to the Duke. He read to me a long letter he had written +on the question of the six regiments, in which he entered at length into +the state of the Indian army such as he knows it to be, and concludes in +favour of a revision of the line I had adopted with his approbation. He +said the Government of India was wrong--every line of the proposed letter +abstractedly right; but there was to be considered the expediency of +writing it. + +I have written a letter to Lord W. Bentinck, stating confidentially the +grounds of the change of opinion as to the disbanding of the six extra +regiments. I added, 'However, such an event will not happen in your time, +nor I hope in mine,' or something to that effect. + + +_September 11._ + +Chairs at 11. Read to them the Duke's letter on the six regiments. Told +them I had written a private letter to Lord William to relieve his mind +from the censure intended for former Governments (a very small portion of +which is chargeable on him), and to caution him against similar errors. +Gave them the alteration I had intended to make in the draft respecting +pensions granted to King's soldiers enlisted into their army. They will +consider it. + + +_September 14._ + +Read the papers containing the correspondence with the local Governments +respecting the provision of stores in India. It is hardly credible, yet it +is true, that till within these few years the Medical Board indented upon +England for drugs which were produced in India! From Madras as late at 1827 +they indented for file handles and blacksmiths' tongs! From Bombay in 1826 +for wooden canteens and triangles! It is evident the local Governments have +never displayed any energy. + + +_September 16._ + +Received from the Duke his ideas on the subject of a campaign against Ava. +He would hold the great Dagon Temple at Rangoon, but only for the purpose +of having vessels in the river to co-operate with the army. + + +_September 17._ + +To-day has been an idle day. I have done nothing; but I have taken +exercise, and so acquired _health_, without which I cannot do business. + + +_September 20._ + +Met Mr. Conyngham of the Foreign Office. He told me the Turks were ready to +make the required concessions. Of the disposition of the Russians nothing +seems known. R. Gordon has of his own authority ordered up Sir Pulteney +Malcolm from Vourla to the Dardanelles. I suppose to carry away Englishmen +and their property in the event of an insurrection or of some terrible +catastrophe at Constantinople. + +Lord Stuart, as I suspected, gives no opinion as to the probable result of +the political contest in France. + +I had a letter from the Duke respecting half-Batta. + + +_September 24._ + +Cabinet room. Read all the letters from Petersburg, Paris, Berlin, and +Constantinople during the last fortnight, and the despatches sent during +the last month. + +R. Gordon seems to have done very well. He and Guilleminot have acted +cordially together, and when they had induced the Porte to consent to make +peace on the terms prescribed by the Russians, Gordon managed very +prudently to get General Muffling to send his secretary to the Russian +head-quarters with the Turkish Plenipotentiaries. Muffling would have gone +with them to the Reis Effendi had he been well enough; as it was, he sent +his secretary, who afterwards went to the Russian head-quarters and was +thus enabled to state distinctly what had passed in the conference held +with the Effendi. I think it very possible that without the intervention of +the Prussian Minister, who was known to be acquainted with the feelings of +the Emperor, General Diebitch would not have agreed to an armistice. The +armistice seems to have been made on August 29. We know of it from Seymour +at Berlin. + +Polignac seems excellently well disposed. He would act cordially with us if +he dared. At present he is obliged to cover all he does under the +instructions given to Guilleminot by his predecessor under a different +state of things, before the great Russian successes. He talks of a Congress +of the Powers interested, and of a joint declaration if Russia should not +adhere to her promise. + +Russia may be kept to her promises by the fear of a revolutionary movement +in France. The French Opposition desire the success of the Russians, the +dissolution of the Turkish Empire, and the occupation of the Dardanelles by +the Emperor Nicholas, because they know that such events would lead to a +_sotto sopra_ in Europe, a general scramble in which they would get the +Rhine as their boundary. Generally, I have no doubt, young France wishes +for confusion. + +Austria is alarmed and would do nothing. The Prussians hold that the +existence of the Ottoman Empire is not essential to the balance of power +(that is, some of them do), and they would be glad to see Austria and +Russia divide Turkey, Prussia having her compensation in Germany. However, +Muffling, going rather beyond his instructions, has been made to do good. + +I think all things tend to the preservation of peace if there should be no +explosion at Constantinople or in France. The Ottoman Empire seems, +however, to be falling to pieces. The Government has been so oppressive +that the people will not fight for it. The Sultan has but 4,000 troops, and +it is said the appearance of 10,000 Russians would lead to the capture of +Constantinople. + +Diebitch seems to dread the catastrophe which might ensue, and the +ambassadors have placed before him in strong terms the fatal consequences +of an explosion at Constantinople. + +I must say R. Gordon has done ably and well. + +The rascally Russians have been intriguing with our Ionian subjects, and +Aberdeen has written a very strong letter to Lord Heytesbury on the +subject. + +Polignac, desirous as he is of withdrawing the French troops altogether +from the Morea, is at present afraid of doing so. + +Aberdeen told me things were not going on well here. The King has quite +lost the sight of one eye, and the sight of the other is indistinct. It +gives him pain, too, and the fear of blindness makes him nervous. The Duke +of Cumberland is always about him, as mischievous as ever, but pretending +not to be hostile. + +The Duke of Wellington gives the King up as a bad job. He sees him very +seldom. At first he liked seeing him and setting things to rights; but he +says he found what he did one day was undone the next, and he is in +despair. The King has no constancy. There is no depending upon him from one +day to another. + +Aberdeen says the accession of Rosslyn has not produced the effect we +anticipated--that Lord Grey is very hostile. What we shall do for a +majority next session I know not, but I think we shall stand, [Footnote: +This might have been but for the events on the Continent in the year +following, which formed a new starting-point in the politics of a large +part of Europe.] although we shall not, I fear, be a strong Government. The +Catholic Relief Bill has destroyed our unity and the spirit of party. It +has likewise destroyed that of the Opposition, who have no longer any +rallying point. Thus the formation of a strong Government is difficult. The +Brunswickers cannot form one, and the King cannot be persuaded to make one +out of the Opposition. Indeed, that the Duke of Cumberland would never +advise. The Brunswickers will endeavour to make terms with us as a body--to +make martyrs of some of the old Protestants, particularly of the Duke and +Peel, and placing themselves at the head to go on as well as they could +with the rest of us. This will not do. + + +_September 26._ + +The Chairs, or rather the Court, somewhat impertinently object to the +addition I made to a recent draft, recommending an enquiry by practical and +scientific men as to the powers India may possess of producing many +articles of stores now sent from England. They say this is liable to +misconstruction, and then misconstrue it themselves. They suppose these +practical men, not being servants of the Company, to sit in judgment upon +the proceedings of the military Board. I have corrected their intentional +misconstruction, and have acquiesced in the substitution of a draft they +propose to send instead, which will, I hope, practically effect my object, +and therefore I have said we are willing our object should be attained in +the manner most agreeable to the Court of Directors. + +It is very lucky I had just sent them my letter about stores. It will +appear to be written subsequently to theirs. They think to humbug and to +bully me. They will find both difficult. + + +_September 30._ + +Read the collection respecting the health of the King's troops. It is +incredible to me that so many things should remain to be done--nothing +seems to have been done that ought to have been done. I fear our finances +make the building of new barracks impossible at present. We could not build +proper barracks for all the European troops in India much under a million. +Still much may be done for their health. + + +_October 5._ + +Arrived in London at 3. To the Cabinet room, where I found Lord Bathurst, +come up to town for Seymour Bathurst's [Footnote: Hon. Seymour Bathurst, +fourth son of third Earl Bathurst, married October 6, 1829, Julia, daughter +of John Peter Hankey, Esq.] marriage, and afterwards Fitzgerald came in. + +Fitzgerald was a fortnight in Ireland, and gives a bad account of it. + +A letter from Metternich says peace was actually signed. Sir E. Gordon's +despatches give every reason to expect it soon would be. The peace cannot +last. I am inclined to think it would have been better for the Russians to +have occupied Constantinople, and for the Ottoman Empire to have been +overthrown that we might have known at once where we were, than to have had +such a peace as this. It is practically present occupation (for a year) of +_more_ than they now hold, for they are to have the fortresses ceded to +them. They exact 750,000£ for the pretended losses of their merchants, and +five millions for themselves. The indemnity to the merchants to be paid by +three instalments. On the payment of the first, Adrianople and a few places +on the coast to be given up. On the payment of the second everything to the +Balkan, and on the third Bulgaria. These payments occupy a year. + +The five millions are to be paid in ten years, or sooner if the Turks can +manage it. The Principalities to be occupied till the payment. The Turks to +confirm the Government established during the ten years, and not to impose +any taxes for two years more. + +All the fortresses on the left bank to be destroyed. None of the islands to +belong to Turkey. No Turk to enter the principalities. The princes to be +for life. All payments _in kind_ from the Principalities to cease, and +instead the Turks and the princes to _agree upon a compensation_! It is +unnecessary to go through the other articles relative to the +Principalities. The treaty contains a real cession of them to Russia. + +The terms as to the navigation of merchantmen, their not being searched in +a Turkish port, the refusal of acquiescence in the demands of the Russian +Minister where any injury is pretended to have been done to a Russian, to +be _just ground for reprisal_, &c., are of a nature intolerable to an +independent Power, and not to be carried into execution. + +On the side of Asia everything is ceded that can enable Russia to attack +either Turkey or Persia with advantage. + +The terms imposed with regard to indemnities are extravagant and altogether +contrary to all the Emperor's promises. He has not deceived us; but he has +lied to us most foully. Sir R. Gordon seems to have done all that could be +done. Perhaps he has saved Constantinople from conflagration, and the +Empire from dissolution. He has managed to settle the Greek question, +Turkey consenting to everything the allies may determine under the protocol +of March 22. Sir R. Gordon has taken upon himself to order up the English +ships, and Guilleminot has ordered up the French ships, but they were still +at Smyrna when the dispatch came away. These ships, it is hoped, may be +some check on the Russians, and ostensibly they only go up to +Constantinople to save Christians. However, if the Russians advance they +will probably lead the Turks to fight. Gordon and Guilleminot have very +properly told the Sultan they will remain by him in any case. + +The Turks declare the terms are, as regards payment, such as they have +really no means of complying with. The allies will make representations to +Petersburg to obtain a relaxation of these conditions. + +In the meantime, while this was doing at Constantinople, Lord Heytesbury +was asking Nesselrode what the terms he intended to propose were, and +Nesselrode would not tell him. Lord Heytesbury's despatch and Gordon's are +both dated on September 10. The 12th was to be the day of signature. Lord +Stuart by Aberdeen's directions has been pressing Polignac very hard to +withdraw the French troops from the Morea, and Polignac has been obliged to +plead the weakness of his Government, and to put off Lord Stuart by +referring it to the Conference. I should say from what the papers show of +Polignac that he will not stand. I do not know what his antagonists may be, +but he is evidently not a powerful man. + +A Liberal told Fitzgerald their object was now in France to make the King +of the Netherlands King of France, and give Holland to Prussia, taking +Belgium and everything to the Rhine to themselves. + +I should say things looked ill everywhere, and unless we can make the +Emperor of Russia fear a convulsion in France, and determine to recede from +some of his stipulations with Turkey to satisfy the rest of Europe, we +shall have war, and war under the most unfavourable circumstances--that is, +if Austria be not as pusillanimous as she may be weak, for she ought never +to consent to the establishment of the Russians on the Danube. + +The only line for the Turks to pursue is to promise everything; to +endeavour to perform everything, and to withdraw to Asia, leaving the rest +of Europe to settle who shall have Constantinople. _Now_ they could not do +that, as they are too weak; but six months hence they may. + +We dine with the Duke on Wednesday--and shall then, I suppose, determine +what we are to do. + + +_October 7._ + +Cabinet at 3. All present except Lord Melville. + +Aberdeen read a paper he had written before the peace was known, the object +of which was to show that the Ottoman Empire was dissolved, and that it +could not be reconstituted; that our views with regard to Greece should now +change with circumstances, and that we should endeavour to make it a +substantive state. To Turkey it could no longer signify whether Greece had +a more extended or more limited line of frontier, and our desire should be +to place a fit man upon the throne. France is willing to propose in the +Conference that to Turkey should be offered the alternative of a Greece +with extended limits under Suzeraineté, &c., according to the Protocol of +March 22, or a Greece with narrower limits, entirely independent. + +The Duke said we must first have satisfaction for the insertion of the +Article in the treaty of peace which bound Turkey to the Protocol of March +22; Russia, as a party to the Treaty of London, having no right to settle +that treaty herself. Next, we should insist on an armistice between the +Greeks and Turks. + +We must recollect that Turkey had bound herself to acquiesce in the +decision of the Conference upon the Greek Treaty--that is, to defer to our +mediation. Could we, as mediators, propose to Turkey to cede Attica, +Negropont, and other possessions she now holds? and would we willingly +bring the frontiers of the Greek state into contact with our Ionian +Islands? + +If Greece were to have a sovereign, Prince Philip of Hesse Homburg would be +the best man for us--Austria would prefer him. France admitted that the +wishes of Austria ought to be consulted. + +France, however, rather wished for Prince Charles of Bavaria. Russia for a +Duke of Saxe-Weimar. + +Aberdeen seemed to think there would be no great difficulty in carrying our +point, and having Prince Philip of Hesse Homburg. + +Peel said he thought we could not allow a treaty such as that signed by +Turkey to pass without a remonstrance on our part. We referred to a letter +of Dudley's, and to Aberdeen's recent instruction to Lord Heytesbury, and +likewise to the various declarations of moderation put forth by the Emperor +Nicholas. Several ways were started of expressing our opinion--a sort of +circular to the Powers which signed the Treaty of the Congress--a +declaration to Parliament. + +The Duke suggested a remonstrance to the Emperor Nicholas to be +communicated in the first instance only to Russia. + +This seems likely to be adopted, but we are to have another Cabinet to- +morrow. + +In whatever we do we must endeavour to keep Austria out of the scrape, for +there is nothing the Russians would like so much as the opportunity of +marching to Vienna. + +Not only it would be romantic for us alone to go to war to maintain the +balance of power, but it would, in this case, be absurd indeed, for, if our +armies had driven the Russians out of Turkey, we could not reconstitute the +Turkish Empire. It is dissolved in its own weakness. + +Great dissatisfaction was expressed, and justly, at the conduct of Lord +Heytesbury, who has been humbugged by the Russians all along. + +The King has run up a bill of 4,000£ for clothes in six months. All the +offices of the Household, except the Chamberlain's, which has 1,900£ in +hand, are falling into arrear, and if there should be an arrear upon the +whole civil list, it must come before Parliament. + +Fitzgerald gives a very bad account of trade generally. + +The King does not like us better than he did, and the Duke of Cumberland +means to keep his son in England, and educate him here, taking the 6,000£ a +year. He wants to drive the Government to make him Viceroy of Hanover. + +The Cabinet dined with the Duke. + + +_October 8._ + +Cabinet at 3. A great deal of conversation of which the result was that a +remonstrance should be made to Russia on the subject of the terms of the +peace. This remonstrance will temperately but strongly, more by statement +of facts than by observations, show that the peace is not such as the +Emperor had given us reason to expect he would require, and that it in +reality threatens the existence of the Turkish Empire; that the destruction +of that Empire would seriously affect the peace of Europe by changing the +relative position of the several States. + +Aberdeen wants a guarantee of the territorial possessions of Turkey, not of +its Government. [Footnote: It is observable that this guarantee seems to +have said nothing of the internal system of government, and so far to have +been unconditional. It would therefore have gone considerably beyond the +Anglo-Turkish Convention of 1878. It would also have applied to Europe as +well as Asia. It is a commentary on the statement of Mr. Gladstone, in +later days a colleague of Lord Aberdeen, that no statesman whom he had +known in former times would ever have listened to the idea of such an +engagement.] I think no one seems much inclined to agree with him. Such a +guarantee would impose obligations without conferring rights upon us. It +would be a guarantee which would give rise to infinite complications, and +which would embarrass us very much. + +Without a guarantee we may succeed in bringing the great States to an +understanding that the distribution of the Turkish territories, in the +event of the falling to pieces of that State, must be a subject for the +decision of a Congress. + +Austria has expressed herself very frankly. She is ready to do anything. +She sees the danger and desires to know our view of it. The real view of +France does not seem to be very different; but there is no dependence to be +placed upon a Government trembling for its life. Prussia will be satisfied +with the peace. Her sovereign is very weak, and the Prussians think their +interest is served by the progress of Russia in a direction contrary to +them, and in which she menaces Austria. + +The smuggling case is said to tell against Lord Stuart. He writes +unintelligibly, and the French will not trust him--so I shall not be sorry +if we can get rid of him. + +With Lord Heytesbury we are all dissatisfied, and have been from the +beginning. There is a Council on Monday, and we have a Cabinet on Sunday at +3, when we are to hear Aberdeen's letter, and may probably have the Treaty. + +There seems a determination to effect an armistice by force if the +Conference will not order it in Greece. + +We have nine good ships there. The Russians seven bad ones, and the French +two. + +Before the Conference can proceed the 10th Article of the Treaty of Peace +must be declared _non avenu_--that which obliges the Porte to accept the +Protocol of March 22--all negotiation upon that Protocol having been +committed by Russia to the French and English Ambassadors, and it having +been expressly reserved to the Porte by us, that her objections should be +fairly weighed. + +The French have taken advantage of the peace to order their troops home +from the Morea. + + +_October 9._ + +Read many of the Protocols of the early Conferences after the Russian, +declaration of war. I shall to-morrow read these again carefully and sketch +_my_ State paper. + +If I was in opposition I should describe the details relative to the +Principalities, as showing the moderation of the thief who would stipulate +that men should sleep with their doors open, till they have ransomed +themselves by paying their uttermost farthing. + + +_October 10._ + +Received a letter from Sir J. Malcolm. He seems pleased with the secret +dispatches relative to Persia and the Pacha of Bagdad. He seems upon the +whole very much gratified, and very grateful. + +He strongly presses the appointment of an Indian as his successor, and +mentions Sir Ch. Metcalfe and Jenkins. He likewise mentions a Mr. Chaplin, +of whom I never heard. I take Jenkins to be a cleverer man than Sir Ch. +Metcalfe, [Footnote: Afterwards Lord Metcalfe.] who rather disappoints me. + +Had three letters by Petersburg from Colonel McDonald, the last dated in +August. The Persians, thoroughly alarmed, are doing all they can to satisfy +the Emperor Nicholas by punishing the persons engaged in the massacre of +the Russian mission; but they had an insurrection to quell on banishing the +High Priest, who was at the head of all. As they conclude all the bad +characters had a hand in it they mean to take the opportunity of punishing +them. Paskewitz is said to have from 20,000 to 22,000 men--to have +sustained no loss in the late engagements, but to suffer from the plague. +At Erzeroum the Mahometans are not only satisfied, but well pleased. The +Government of a Russian general is better than that of a Turkish Pasha. + +The Prince Abbas Mirza is at last doing something towards making an army. +Major Hart, alone, however, keeps it together. The troops are as yet ill- +armed, but they have their pay. McDonald thinks the King not likely to live +long. He wants a cypher. + + +_October 11, Sunday._ + +Came up from Worthing to a Cabinet. Before we met read the last letters +from Lord Heytesbury, which show a degree of infatuation respecting the +Russians, which is quite wonderful. + +Before we began to talk Rothschild called out the Duke of Wellington, and +offered at once all the money to pay the Russian Indemnity. He said he only +wanted the guarantee of England! + +If the Russians remained in the Principalities there would be a general +war. + +Irvine, an English loan jobber, saw the Duke yesterday with the same offer. + +The joke is that Rothschild is to pay the money for the Turks, and to be +made King of Jerusalem. + +Aberdeen began by begging we would first settle the Greek question. He +brought a paper the Russians were willing to deliver in containing a sort +of apology for the 10th Article, and declaring that it by no means +interfered with the powers of the Conference. We took a great deal of time +in considering whether we should not suggest some alteration in this +paper--some is to be proposed--not very essential. + +We had a long discussion as to the name of the new State. At last it seemed +to be thought 'Sovereign Prince of Greece' was the best. Aberdeen thinks +he shall have little difficulty about the Prince. The Russians agree to the +description given; but I dare say they imagine we mean to describe a +different man. I suspect they think we want to give them Leopold. + +Aberdeen read a letter he proposed sending to Lord Stuart, the purport of +which was that we wanted to know what he meant to do towards redeeming +France from the responsibility she had incurred and made us incur by giving +instructions to Count Guilleminot, stating the terms of peace and the +moderation of the Emperor--instructions which misled our Ambassador, and +induced the two Ambassadors to give assurances to the Porte which events +proved to be unfounded. + +The letter, I think, likewise desired him to enquire in what form our joint +representations as to the amount of the indemnity were to be made. To these +the Ambassadors have pledged the two Cabinets. + +There was a great deal more in the letter which is to be left out. It went +into the details of the treaty, or rather of its effects. + +The offer is to be made to the Turks of an independent Greece, from the +Gulf of Volo to Missolonghi, or of a Greece under Suzeraineté, with +Negropont, and the line from Volo to the Gulf of Arta. + +I think we are all agreed that at the commencement of the war it was our +interest to take as little as possible from Turkey--that now it is our +interest to make Greece a substantive State, which may hereafter receive +the _débris_ of the Ottoman Empire. [Footnote: This may explain the +apparently illiberal views of many of the Cabinet as to the Greek +boundaries. They saw the difficulty of any halting place outside the +Isthmus of Corinth, short of a wider boundary even than that ultimately +adopted.] + +As to the really important matter, the remonstrance to Russia, nothing was +done. Nothing is, I conclude, written, and Aberdeen does not like Cabinet +criticism, nor do I think the Cabinet at all agreed as to what should be +said. Dudley's letters used to occupy us for days, and certainly they were +the better for it--although we lost a good deal of time occasionally. + +Aberdeen said he would send it to me. I think I shall write an _esquisse_ +myself. We are to have no more Cabinets for some time. The Chancellor +wishes to have the remaining fortnight of his holidays uninterrupted. + + +_October 12._ + +Went to town at quarter-past one. To the Foreign Office. The treaty arrived +last night. Lord Aberdeen took it with him to Windsor. It differs +materially from the _projet_. The Articles respecting indemnity are +_relégués_ to a separate transaction. The payment of 100,000 ducats is to +lead to the evacuation of Adrianople; 400,000 form the next payment, then +500,000, and 500,000, making the sum originally demanded for individual +losses; but, as I understand Mr. Backhouse, eighteen months must elapse +before Turkey can be evacuated to the Danube. I had much conversation with +him as to other points. On looking into the Act of the Congress I find the +Powers adhering to it may be considered as binding themselves not to +_disturb_ the territorial arrangements that Act establishes; but they are +not bound to _maintain_ them. Thus if France appropriated to herself Spain, +she would violate the treaty, but no Power signing the treaty would be +obliged, by virtue of that Act, to make war upon France for doing so. + +That the general treaty contains no guarantee is evident from the specific +guarantee of the cessions made by Saxony to Prussia, which would have been +unnecessary if the spirit of the treaty had been that of existent +guarantee. + + +_October 13._ + +Cabinet room. Found Lord Rosslyn there. Read the treaty. + +The King was very well yesterday. The Recorder's Report was so long that +half was deferred. + +The last dispatches from Persia, which arrived on Friday, were opened at +the Foreign Office, and read by everybody. Aberdeen sent them to the Duke, +who has probably taken them to Walmer in his carriage. The Chairs sent for +them, and could not get them. I must put a stop to this. I have written to +Lord Heytesbury to beg he will in future forward letters to their address. + +Wrote a 'proposed draft' to Lord Heytesbury, directing him, if he should +have reason to think the Russians intend to exact further concession from +Persia, to intimate that such an attempt will be considered by his Majesty +as unfriendly to himself as an Asiatic Power. I doubt my getting the Duke +to agree to the sending of this despatch; but I shall try. + + +_October 14._ + +Carried my proposed letter to Lord Heytesbury to Aberdeen, who agrees to +send it with a trifling alteration, at least one not very important. Read +to him my proposed letter to Lord Heytesbury on the Peace of Adrianople. He +seemed to approve of great part of it. He has done nothing at his yet, and +seems to think there is no hurry! + +We shall stand very ill in Parliament if we have nothing to show. I think +mine is a good _cadre_ of a letter, but that specific instructions should +be given to Lord Heytesbury as to what he shall endeavour to obtain in a +separate despatch. + +Read my drafts to Lord Rosslyn after dinner. He seemed to think the view I +took was the right, and that much of what I had written was very good, but +that it might be shortened. So I think. + + +_October 15._ + +Henry copied the draft to Lord Heytesbury, for the Duke, to whom I sent it +with a letter. + +Showed the Chairs the draft to Lord Heytesbury on Persia. They were much +pleased with it. So was old Jones. Sent it to the Duke. In little doubt his +approving it. + +Received from the Duke the Persian despatches which I gave to the Chairs. +The Duke had not read them. + +Received from him a letter on the subject of half-Batta. He says as an +officer he should have thought there was a compromise in 1801. That it +should be looked into as a question of economy. That above all things in +dealing with an army you must _be just_. + +The Duke thinks the publication of the letter of Lord Combermere's +secretary indiscreet and _wicked_, and is very angry with Lord Combermere. + +A letter will be written to the Government on the subject, directing +enquiry. + + +_October 19, Sunday._ + +Read McDonald's despatches from Persia, and sent them to the Duke, with a +letter suggesting the heads of a letter to the Envoy. + +The Russians have given up one of the two crores due, and allow five years +for paying the other. They mean, therefore, to rule Persia _by influence_. +However, there is a good Mahometan and Anti-Russian feeling beyond the +Euphrates, and if mischief happens, it is our fault. + +Received a letter from Hardinge respecting half-Batta. He is for standing +firm and giving some general boon, as an addition to marching money, to the +whole army. That is my idea. I am sure it is the safest course. + +Wrote to Loch, suggesting it, and at the same time advised him to answer +the paragraphs respecting half-Batta, and not give misrepresentations too +much head. + + +_October 20._ + +Two letters from the Duke, written very hastily. It is evident he did not +like my making a sketch of a letter to Lord Heytesbury, and that he does +not like any difference of opinion as to the Batta question. + +On the first point I still think I was right. He mentions some ideas of +Russia ordering Diebitch across the Balkan, and even the Danube, of her +giving up the Principalities, &c. In short he says all we know is that +there is a peace--we do not know what it is--and it would be ridiculous to +remonstrate against we know not what. + +My draft was written before these reports were spread; and I only, from +anxiety to have the despatch well written and soon, sketched what I thought +would do. + +As to the reports, I have told Aberdeen I cannot believe Russia has on a +sudden ceased to be ambitious, or to use perfidy as a mode of accomplishing +ambitious ends. She may give out she will make these changes--she may make +some--but her object is to prevent all combination on the part of Austria, +France, and England. If we do not remonstrate against what is signed, we +shall lose all credit, if that which is executed should be comparatively +favourable, and we shall incur great blame if no relaxation takes place. A +remonstrance might be so worded as to do no harm to Turkey or to Europe, +and to do good to us. + +The Duke's other letter was on the Batta question, upon which he does not +like contradiction, yet I think his course would lead to continued demands +on the part of all the armies. I have told him I shall be in town to see +the Chairs on Saturday, and will try to see him on Friday, and, if he +wishes, bring the Chairs to him on Saturday. + + +_October 21._ + +Received a long confused letter from Fitzgerald upon my project of a draft +to Lord Heytesbury. He was at Sudborn, [Footnote: Seat of Lord Hertford, in +Suffolk] where the Duke was. The Duke was not so much inclined to think the +Russians would make any considerable concessions as Aberdeen, but he +thought, and had made Fitzgerald think, it would be premature to +remonstrate. I have written to Fitzgerald and told him my opinion more at +length than I told Aberdeen yesterday. + + +_October 23._ + +Cabinet room. Read the despatches from Petersburg and Paris. All the hints +of the Emperor of Russia's intention of not retaining his army in Turkey +come through Paris, Nesselrode having on September 29 spoken thus +specifically to the Duke de Mortemart, and merely talked about taking less +money and making some change in the guarantees to Lord Heytesbury. I did +not see Aberdeen, who was engaged with the Spanish Minister. + +I do not depart from my original idea that Russia does all this to gain +time, and with as much perfidy as she has shown throughout. + +Polignac would take a loyal view if he durst. + +I cannot see the Duke till Monday, as he does not return to London till +Sunday evening. + +I saw Hardinge and had a long talk with him about Batta, &c. + + +_October 24._ + +Chairs at 11. + +The Chairs say the Court have the matter entirely in their hands as to +Batta. They wish to have the opinion of the Cabinet, and to be governed by +that. I have written to the Duke to tell him so. + +I am glad there is to be a Cabinet, because I think a Cabinet will take a +more popular view of the question than the Duke, and, as I think, a juster +view. I am for standing firm. + +The Duke's letter on Persian affairs arrived while I was with the Chairs. I +read it to them. The Duke suggests that McDonald should raise his escort in +Persia--an excellent idea. He objects to Major Hart having an assignment of +land. He thinks Willock may be recalled. The officers not; but if the +prince will pay them, so much the better. I think the Duke may be right as +to the assignments of land. Upon all the other points I entirely agree with +him. Read last night a letter of Lushington's, or rather a minute, which +shows he is determined to remain. + +Cabinet room. Cunningham came in and showed me a draft of Aberdeen's to our +Minister in Spain on the recognition by Spain of Don Miguel--finding +excuses for Spain, and saying we cannot do it. What I saw was the +_brouillon_ which had been sent to the Duke. It had his observations in +pencil, and it seems Aberdeen sends all his proposed despatches to him and +alters them at his suggestion. Certainly Aberdeen, left to himself, would +be a very incautious writer. + + +_October 26._ + +Office early. Saw Captain Hanchett on the subject of the navigation of the +Red Sea. He was there two years and a half. He says in going in you should +make Aden and wait there for a wind. Water can be had there. Avoid Mocha, +where the anchorage is dangerous and the water bad, and go to the Island of +Cameran, then straight up in mid channel. All the dangers are visible, and +in the mid channel there are none. Cosseir a good little harbour, the +danger is going up to Suez; but that easy for a steamer. He worked with +topgallant sails against the north-west monsoon. There is a breeze along +shore at all times. The danger has been occasioned by the timid sailing of +the Arabs, who always hug the shore, and anchor at night. + + +_October 27._ + +I omitted yesterday to mention that at the Foreign Office I saw some +despatches just received from Sir R. Gordon. I think the date of the first +was October 2. He had the day before at last got the Turks to ratify the +treaty, but it seems there was a hitch, and until the ratification the +officers did not set off to stop hostilities in Asia. A Pasha had advanced +on Philippopoli and General Geismar on Sophia. Diebitch threatened to +advance on Constantinople. However, the day after he wrote his threatening +letter he must have received the ratifications. The Sultan is very anxious +to get the Egyptian fleet to Constantinople, probably as a pledge for the +allegiance of the Pasha, and to show his greatest vassal obeys him. The +Turks say it is the moral effect of the presence of the fleet on their own +subjects that they want, that they have no idea of not acting faithfully. +Sir R. Gordon assures me they mean to preserve the peace and must. + +He has written the representation the Turkish ambassador is to present to +the Emperor. It would be a good remonstrance for us, but it is not a good +one for the Turks. It is very well written, but it is quite European in its +style, and the Russians will at once know, as I did, the author. + +The Turks intended to send a splendid embassy to Petersburg, and Halil +Pasha, once the slave of the Seraskier, now the Sultan's son-in-law, was to +have been the ambassador. He is their least officer. However, Diebitch +tells them they must not send it till they have the Emperor's consent. The +Turks have ready the first 100,000 ducats, to get the Russians out of +Adrianople. + +I should say from these despatches that things do not look peaceful. + + +_October 28._ + +Had a letter yesterday from Mr. Elphinstone on Nazarre. It appears to be a +fine on descents, &c., of Jaghire lands. I think his opinion will be +different from Sir J. Malcolm's--the latter wishing to make the Jaghires +hereditary, or rather to give a fee simple interest to the actual +proprietor. Mr. Elphinstone, on the contrary, thinking they should be +resumed on death without heirs. + + +_October 29._ + +Read a work just published by Colonel de Lacy Evans, on the practicability +of a Russian invasion of India. The route would be first to China, across a +desert from the shores of the Caspian--from China by water up the Oxus, to +within 550 miles of Attock. The great difficulty is between the end of the +river, and the southern side of the Hindoo Koosh. This difficulty, however, +has been often surmounted, and the road is constantly travelled by +caravans. + +I think it is clear that the invasion of India could not be attempted till +the third year; but when should we begin to take precautions? A Government +wholly Asiatic would not be still if the Russians took possession of China; +but ours, chained by European politics, would hardly move if they entered +Cabul. + +We ought to have full information as to Cabul, Bokhara, and China. + +My letter of last year directed the attaining of information; but I dare +say nothing has been done. + + +_October 30._ + +Received a Memorial from Mr. Fullerton, asking some remuneration beyond his +salary for past services. He has a claim _if we were rich_. I think he +should have 10,000 dollars. I dare say he thinks 20,000. Thoughtless +extravagance is the destruction of generosity and even of justice. + +Upon the subject of the invasion of India my idea is that the thing is not +only practicable, but easy, unless we determine to act as an Asiatic Power. +On the acquisition of Khiva by the Russians we should occupy Lahore and +Cabul.[Footnote: It may be remembered that Lord Ellenborough strongly +disapproved of any occupation of Afghanistan, or interference with its +internal affairs, in 1840-42. At that time Russia had not advanced to +Khiva. It is clear that he would not have held the same opinion as to our +policy towards Afghanistan after the events of 1873-74.] It is not on the +Indus that an enemy is to be met. If we do not meet him in Cabul, at the +foot of the Hindoo Koosh, or in its passes, we had better remain in the +Sutlege. If the Russians once occupy Cabul they may remain there with the +Indus in their front, till they have organised insurrection in our rear, +and completely equipped their army. I fear there are passes from Balkh upon +Peshawur. If these could be closed and the enemy poured upon Cabul we +should know where to meet him. Now we, being at Cabul, might be cut off +from its resources by the descent of the enemy upon Peshawur. + +There is some road from Roondorg through Cashmere, but I do not fear that. +The road an enemy would choose would be that by the Valley of the Cachgu. + +We know nothing of these passes, nothing of the country beyond them, +nothing of the course of the Indus--but we should have full information so +as to be able to crush an advancing enemy, by making the whole country +hostile, which money would do. + +To meet an invasion we must raise every regiment to 1,000 men. + + 168 Regiments + 360 " + ----- + 1,008 + 504 + ------ + 60,480 Men, besides Artillery. + 4,000 King's Inf. raised to 1,000 each Reg. + 1,000 Do. four Regiments of Cavalry. + 4,000 Four new Regiments. + 2,000 Two new Cavalry. + Besides King's Artillery. + ------ + 71,480 + +Besides the increase which would take place in the Irregular Corps, +particularly in Skinner's. + +A smaller increase than this would not be sufficient; for we should require +20,000 men at Delhi, 20,000 in Lahore, and 60,000 in Cabul. I speak of +enrolled, not effectives--but with these augmentations the Regular Army +would only be + + 148,000 N.I. + 24,000 King's. + ------- + 172,000 + 20,000 Native Cavalry. + 6,000 King's. + ------- + 198,000 + +The out provisional battalions, local corps, &c., of 198,000, I do not +think above 100,000 could possibly be disposable, and there would not be +70,000 effectives. The Artillery must be very numerous. I omitted the +Company's English Regiments, about 3,000 men. + +Of all nations the Russians are the least adapted for an enterprise of this +nature. They have neither medical staff nor commissariat, and the men are +without resource. A French army would be the best. I doubt the possibility +of Russia bringing more than 20,000 men to Cabul, and these could not +descend the mountains till the third year, if Cabul was occupied. What I +fear is an occupation of Khiva unknown to us. No preparation on our part-- +no marching forward--so that in three or four months from leaving Khiva the +enemy might be at Cabul. I am sure we can defeat the enterprise. We ought +to defeat it before the enemy reaches the Indus. If 20,000 Russians should +reach the Indus, it will be a sharp fight. + + +_November 1, 1829._ + +A letter from the Duke. He returned the papers I sent him. He has doubts as +to the expediency of making the Commissary-General of Stores I proposed; +but he seems to have supposed I wished to do away with the Military Board. +I have explained what I meant. + +He approves of my suggestions as to correspondence, but thinks every paper +must be sent home, and the collections formed here. I have explained that I +always intended every paper should be sent home, and I have told him that I +had the opinion of the clerks I consulted that the collections might be +framed in India, with a saving of time, and without diminishing the check +on the local Governments. + + +_November 4._ + +Received from Aberdeen his draft of a remonstrance to Russia, which, it +seems, must be sent at last. He has already shown it to the Duke and Peel. + +There is no great substantive objection to it; but it is not very carefully +written. I shall send it to him tomorrow with many proposed alterations. In +the second box came Gaily [Footnote: H. Gaily Knight. Best known for his +works on the Normans in Sicily, and Ecclesiastical Architecture in Italy.] +Knight's letter to Aberdeen; which is a poor, flimsy production. A +peacock's feather in the hilt of a Drawcansir's sword. + + +_November 5._ + +Altered, not only verbally, but substantially, Aberdeen's paper, and sent +it to him. + +Cabinet room. Read a Memorandum by Lord Heytesbury, of a conversation he +has had with the Emperor of Russia. The Emperor expects the early downfall +of the Porte--and a Revolution in France. Asks if another march to Paris +would be possible? Lord Heytesbury saw Nesselrode afterwards and told him +what the Emperor had said. Nesselrode said the Emperor always saw things +_en noir_. He had a different opinion. He did not think the Porte in +immediate danger, nor did he expect a French Revolution. + +The other guarantees they talk of are further cessions in Asia, +specifically Batoum, or the occupation of Varna, or Silistria, instead of +the Principalities. The latter is worse, and the Turks will probably +consent to neither. They do not value the Principalities, and they know +Europe does.[Footnote: The Principalities, as commanding the lower course +of the Danube, were all important to Austria especially. Thus, occupation +by Russia, while it would have been felt as a menace to Central Europe, +would have left Turkey a compact state beyond the Danube.] + + +_November 6._ + +Saw Aberdeen. He is always gloomy about _divisions_. He is afraid of an +attack on Foreign Policy. He thinks the two parties will unite in that. He +hears there has been some approximation between Lord Grey [Footnote: Lord +Grey had been separated from the bulk of the Whig party since their +junction with Canning in 1827.] and Lord Holland. At the same time it is +said there is a notion of bringing in Lord Grey. I suspect this report to +have been fabricated by the Ultra-Tories to annoy the King. + +He thinks the Duke is annoyed, more particularly at the King's not treating +him well, and at his Government not being well supported. + +In fact, however, it is a Government which will not fall, for the King +hates the Whigs; the people do not regard them. He may like the Tories, but +he knows they cannot make a Government, and the Duke's Administration has +four-fifths of the country. + +Received a letter from the Duke, telling me he had settled Colonel +McDonald's knighthood, and asking me if I should be ready to talk about +India on the 13th. I said about Batta certainly; about India I had rather +talk first to Lord Melville and him. + +Wrote to the Duchess of Kent telling her a Bengal cavalry cadetship was at +her disposal for the son of Colonel Harvey. + +There is a very interesting letter from an English officer at Adrianople +with respect to the state of the Russian army. It has suffered and suffers +most dreadfully. + +I told Aberdeen if I had seen the account of the conversation between Lord +Heytesbury and the Emperor Nicholas before I read his proposed letter, I +should have suggested that much stress should have been laid upon the +effect the downfall of Turkey would have upon affairs in France. + +Polignac seems confident he can stand. He thinks he has the Chambers. The +French behave ill in the settlement of the Greek business, and object +altogether to our man, Prince Philip of Hesse Homburg. They equally object +to Prince Frederick of Orange, and to Prince Leopold, whom Russia would +have had willingly. I wonder Aberdeen did not laugh when he was proposed. +They want to settle the thing without a Prince. I suppose they want a +Frenchman. + +Aberdeen is for settling Greece as a Power into whose lap the broken parts +of Turkey may fall. He gives up Euboea. That is, the surrender of Euboea is +to be proposed to the Porte, with a frontier limited in other respects, +instead of the protocol of March 22. + +The Turks who have left the Morea have no indemnity. The Turks who are in +the other parts of the new Greece remain. It is altogether a wonderful +business. These anti-revolutionary States combining to revolutionise a +rebellious province of an unoffending ally! + + +_November 11._ + +It seems the French do not like the idea of giving to the Turks the option +of an independent State with smaller limits, or of a State under +Suzeraineté with extended limits, contrary to the treaty, and sending at +the same time secret instructions to the Ambassadors to insist upon the +_entire_ independence of the new Greek State. The French seem likewise to +have been offended at the protocol having been settled between Russia and +us, before they were called in to give their opinion. No wonder. Certainly +our diplomacy has not succeeded. We have failed in all our objects. + + +_November 13._ + +Cabinet. I was first called upon to say my say upon the general Indian +question. I observed that the present prospective deficiency was one +million a year. That until we could ascertain whether that deficiency could +be diminished or done away with we were really not ourselves prepared to +come to a decision upon the future government of India; nor would +Parliament endure that the China trade should be closed upon the country +for twenty years more without first inquiring whether it was necessary. The +first question was, 'Can we make such a reduction of expenditure, or effect +such an increase in income as to enable the Government of India to go on +without any assistance direct or indirect from England?' If it can, then we +have the China trade in our hands. If it cannot, we have to decide whether +the necessary assistance shall be found by means of a continuance of the +monopoly or in some other manner. + +I stated the increase of two millions in six years in the civil charges of +Bengal; that the Court had issued the strongest instructions, and the local +Government seemed to have a real intention to curtail expenditure. That I +had done something, and should do all I could, investigating every item. +Peel suggested a commission. I said that had occurred to me last year. The +Duke, however, objected to a commission as really superseding the Governor- +General and being the Government. Another objection certainly is the delay. +Difficulties would be thrown in its way, and we should at last be obliged +to decide without its final report, having thrown away our time here in +waiting for it. + +I mentioned that the character of the local Government was 'disrespect and +disobedience.' That nothing but a long continuance of strict rule could +bring India into real subjection. It was this disobedience which was the +chief source of increased expenditure. It arose in a great measure from the +unequal hand which had been held over them--the indulgence of the Court of +Directors--and the great delays in the communication with India arising out +of the system of correspondence. I had endeavoured to remedy that, and +hoped to get an answer to letters within the year. It was now two years and +a half. I had likewise endeavoured to make arrangements for steam +communication by the Red Sea. I hoped to be able to send a letter to Bombay +in sixty days. + +The Cabinet seemed generally to acquiesce in the expediency of only having +a Committee this year. + +At first they all seemed to think the continuance of the government in the +Company a matter of course. I told them that even with the China trade the +Government could not now go on without great reductions of expenditure, and +that I hoped the Cabinet would not come to a hasty decision upon a question +involving so many important political and financial considerations. The +present system was not one of great expense, but it was one involving great +delay--and delay was expense, and not only expense but abandonment of +authority. It was in this point of view that I hoped the Cabinet would look +at the question when it came before them. + +I mean to go quietly to work; but I mean, if I can, to substitute the +King's government for that of the Company. [Footnote: This was not carried +out till 1858, after the great mutiny.] I am sure that in doing so I shall +confer a great benefit upon India and effect the measure which is most +likely to retain for England the possession of India. + +We afterwards spoke of the Batta question. I read Lord Wellesley's letter, +and stated the opinions of Sir J. Malcolm, Sir Archibald Campbell, and Sir +J. Nicholls. + +I stated that it seemed the feeling in the army was excited more by the +apprehension of further reductions than by the establishment of the half- +Batta stations; that if concessions were made to the Bengal army, the other +armies would be discontented and further demands would be made. + +The Duke said, as a soldier, and having been in India at the time, he must +say he thought the orders of 1828 [Footnote: Orders issued by Lord William +Bentinck, abolishing full batta or the larger scale of allowances to the +military at stations where half-batta only had been recognised, before the +Act of the Bengal Government allowing full batta in consideration of +officers providing themselves with quarters.--See Thornton's _British +India_, pp. 221-25.] a breach of faith--but these having been issued, he +thought we must stand to them. The general opinion was that as nothing +could be said or done till the arrival of despatches, there could be no +necessity for deciding. + +I mentioned my Supreme Court Bill, which will be ready immediately. + +I hope to save--ultimately 60,000 pounds a year in the Supreme Courts. + + £ + £1,000 on each Judge..... 9,000 + 1 Judge at Calcutta...... 5,000 + 1 Judge at M. and B...... 8,000 + Recorder's Court......... 8,000 + Fees at Calcutta........ 30,000 + ------ + £60,000 + +Ireland is put off till Monday, that we may all read the papers. We dine +with the Duke to-morrow. + +The French oppose all the people we name for the Greek coronet. They have +named Prince Charles of Bavaria, and the second son of the King of Bavaria +with a regency till he is of age! However, this folly they did not press. + +We first named Prince Philip of Hesse Homburg, whom the French would not +hear of. Then Leopold! They did not like him. Prince Emilius of Hesse +Darmstadt was thought of. The French have suggested Prince John of Saxony, +second son of the King, a fine young man, about 28, but unknown. His elder +brother too may soon succeed to the throne, and he has no children. +Otherwise there is no objection to this Prince. + +It seems to me they are running after trifles. Russia adheres to us as to +the Prince, or rather remains neutral, thinking I have no doubt that France +and England will quarrel about the feather. + +The secret instruction which it was proposed to give to the Ambassadors is +now abandoned, France having objected. They were to have been ordered to +_insist_ upon Turkey taking one of two things of which she was to have +ostensibly the pure option. Now they are only clearly to intimate their +_wish_. However, it seems Russia will take a million of ducats less if +Turkey will make Greece independent. That is, she will give up a claim to +what she cannot get in order to effect that she has no right to ask. + +The French Government have, by giving new rates of pension, got 1,600 old +officers out of the army, and filled important stations with friends of +their own. They think they shall stand. + +I forgot to mention the Archduke Maximilian of Modena as one of the persons +talked of for Greece. It seems uncertain whether any one of these Princes +would take the coronet. + + +_November 14, Saturday._ + +Cabinet room. Rosslyn and afterwards Lord Bathurst there. Read the Irish +papers, that is, Lord Francis Leveson's private letters to Peel and Peel's +to him, with a letter from Peel to Leslie Foster, asking his opinion as to +education and Maynooth, and Foster's reply. The latter is important. He +thinks the political and religious hostility of the two parties is +subsiding. The chiefs alone keep it up. The adherents are gradually falling +off. To open the questions of education, &c., now, would be to open closing +wounds, nor would anything be accomplished. The priests would resist +everything proposed, and the Protestants would not be satisfied. The +Kildare Street Society, however defective, does a great deal of good, more +than could be expected from any new system we could carry at this moment. + +As to Maynooth, to withdraw the grant would not diminish the funds, while +it would increase the bad feeling. + +The increased prevalence of outrage, arising more from a disorganised state +of society than from politics or religion, and the _assassination_ plan, +must be met by an extensive police, directed by stipendiary magistrates; +and the expense of this police, and the indemnity to sufferers must be paid +by the barony in which the outrage takes place. + +All Peel's letters are very sensible. Lord Francis Leveson's are in an odd +style, rather affected occasionally, and his ideas are almost always such +as require to be overruled. He is a forward boy; but I see nothing of the +statesman in him. We ought to have had Hardinge there. + +Dined at the Duke's. A man of the name of Ashe is writing letters to the +Duke of Cumberland threatening his life if he does not give up a book in +MS. + +This book of Ashe's is a romance detailing all sorts of scandals of the +Royal Family, and of horrors of the Duke of Cumberland. The book is +actually in the possession of the Duke of Wellington. + +The King's violence, when there was an idea of Denman's [Footnote: The King +always resented an offensive quotation of Denman's as counsel during the +Queen's trial.] appearing for the Recorder, was greater, the Duke says, +than what he showed during the Catholic question. + +Lady Conyngham has been and is very ill. There is no idea of the Court +going to Brighton. + + +_November 16._ + +Cabinet. France, Austria, and England to ask Don Pedro distinctly what he +means to do. We certainly cannot go on as we are with Portugal for ever. +Aberdeen fears France may acknowledge Miguel first, and thus take our place +with Portugal. + +The Duke says if we can keep Spain on good terms with Portugal, and with +ourselves, the connection of France and Portugal does not signify, and we +are much better off than with Portugal against Spain and France. This is +true. + +A long talk about Ashe, who has written a libel on the Duke of Cumberland, +which the Duke gave to the Duke of Wellington. Ashe wants it back, and +threatens if he has it not returned to him; but in a letter, and in such +terms that the Attorney-General does not think him liable to prosecution. +He might be held to bail, perhaps, but that would bring out the case. It +was decided to do nothing, but to take precautions against his doing +mischief. The Duke of Cumberland has been cautioned. + +The Insurrection Act seems to be popular with Fitzgerald. Peel says it is +bad in principle, and has the effect of placing the higher classes in +hostility against the lower. The decision seemed to be to have a powerful +police--stipendiary magistrates--frequent trials--constables appointed by +Government--counties paying for additional police. + +Peel suggests the division of Ireland into smaller districts, and the +acquiring a personal knowledge of individuals, and making the districts +responsible. + +I believe the country is too populous, and the population too wicked, for +this plan to succeed. + +The murderers will be brought in from a distance. + +The state of demoralisation in which the country is is dreadful. Murders +are held to be of no account. + + +_November 17._ + +Read, as I came down to Worthing, Colonel McDonald's last despatches, and +his private letter, which I received last night. Sent them to the Duke, and +asked whether under the circumstances we should let Abbas Murza have some +thousand stand of arms, Colonel McDonald doing his best to secure ultimate +repayment. + +The Persian cavalry raised by the Russians in their newly conquered +territories seem to have fought as well as any troops in their service. +Colonel McDonald says it is from a disciplined Persian army alone, +commanded by Russian officers, that he dreads the invasion of India. A +European force would be wasted by the climate. The Pasha of Suleimania had +too European a taste, and wanted to make regular soldiers without pay or +clothing. So his soldiers turned him out, and made his brother Pacha. + +Colonel McDonald describes all that side of Turkey as going _au devant du +conquérant_. Such has been the wretchedness of their government. + + +_Worthing, November 18, 1829._ + +At 11 P.M. received a letter from the Duke of Wellington by a messenger, +telling me he regretted I had not met Lord Melville and him before the +Cabinet, and proposing, as he and Lord Melville both wished to go out of +town on Friday, that I should meet them either to-morrow, after 2, or on +Friday morning. + +I wrote to say I would be with him at 3 to-morrow. + + +_November 19._ + + +Met the Duke and Lord Melville. + +After conversation on topics connected with the subject we came to the +point, which was that the Duke wished both to preserve the monopoly and the +Company as administrators of Indian affairs. + +The Duke is much swayed by early recollections. He is besides very desirous +of having the City of London in his hands. + +I admitted that the great and solid objection to placing the government of +India directly in the hands of the Crown was the consequent increase of +Parliamentary business, already too extensive to be well performed. + +As to the China trade, if the Government of India can be conducted without +the assistance derived from it, I saw no reason for its continuance; but I +had rather continue the monopoly than lose the Company as a trading Company +to China, for I thought the trade might be greatly endangered were their +commerce to cease. I said that the continuance of the system of carrying on +the government through the instrumentality of the Company was not +inconsistent with giving to it the efficiency, the vigour, and the celerity +of the King's Government. + +Lord Melville admitted the cumbrousness of the present system. + +The Duke seemed to have no objection to alterations in details, provided +the principle were adhered to. + +Both to-day and in the Cabinet on Friday last I was surprised by Lord +Melville's inertness. + +The Duke wishes Leach's paper to be 'the case to be proved.' This may be +done, and yet the necessary improvements introduced. + +Met Seymour, who had been with the Duke. He is just come from Berlin. He +seemed to say that the great success of the war was wholly unexpected by +the Emperor. + + +_November 20._ + +Wrote to Hylton Jolliffe to beg he would turn his attention to the subject +of steam navigation to India by the Red Sea, as a private speculation. + + +_November 21._ + +Read a letter from Sir G. Murray. It seems the Duke, Lord Melville, and Sir +George are to meet soon to consider whether some alteration should not be +made in the rules of the Order of the Bath. I suggested that it might be an +improvement to make civilians eligible to the lower grades of the Order. It +might occasionally be very convenient to make a man a K.C.B. for civil +service. + + +_Sunday, November 22._ + +Told Bankes what the Duke wished respecting the Charter; but I likewise +told him it had not yet been so determined in Cabinet, and that there was +no objection to our making the Government more rapid and vigorous, and less +like the Tullietudlem coach. I desired him to consider this _confidential_ +to himself and the Commissioners. + + +_November 25._ + +Received a note from Bankes announcing that the Duke had accepted his +retirement from the office of secretary, and had consented to make him an +extra commissioner. + +This has long been an idea of Bankes's, of which I never could see rational +ground. Indeed, he seems to acknowledge it is not his own idea, but that of +others, that on his return to the Government he should not have returned to +the same office. In fact it is the influence of the Duke of Cumberland, and +it is evident from the endeavour to detach Bankes from the Government now +that the Brunswickers still have hopes. It is like giving notice to Lot and +his family before the fall of fire and brimstone. + +Bankes's letter is full of kind and grateful expressions towards me. +Indeed, we have always been on very friendly and confidential terms. I have +expressed my regret at his resolution. I told him I think he acts upon +mistaken views, and I assure him that in whatever position he may stand +towards the Board, it will afford me much pleasure and advantage to remain +on the same terms with him. + +The Duke will be angry, and I do not think Bankes will soon get an office +again. + + +_December 2._ + +Read for an hour at the Cabinet room. There is a curious account of a +conversation between De Rigny and an Austrian friend at Smyrna. De Rigny +thinks very ill of the Government, and of the state of France. He too wants +the Rhine! He judges truly enough of the results of the treaty. 'England, +Austria, and France will talk, but nothing will be done.' He says Russia +was very foolish not to go on. She might have dared anything. However, the +army seems to have suffered severely. They acknowledge the loss of 130,000 +men in the two campaigns. + +Diebitch has partly evacuated Adrianople, leaving there, however, 6,000 +sick and a battalion. The plague spreads in the Principalities, and they do +not know how to get the troops out of Turkey. + +Zuylen de Neyvelt and others give a very bad account of the state of +Constantinople. They say the Turkish Empire _cannot_ hold together. + +I do not like Lord Stuart's account of the state of the French Ministry. +They will bring in Villele, who is an able man, and he may save them; but +theirs is a desperate game. + +The French seem to be disposed to go along with us in negotiating with the +Emperor of Brazil [Footnote: _i.e._ with the Emperor Don Pedro, father of +the ultimately successful candidate for the Portuguese throne, Donna Maria +de Gloria.] for the recognition of Miguel. There would be a stipulation for +amnesty, &c. + + +_December 3._ + +The Chairs talked of Lord William Bentinck. They are very much out of +humour with him and heartily wish he was at home. He has neither written +privately nor publicly, except upon trifling matters, for five months. He +has declared his opinion in favour of colonisation. He is very unpopular. +On the subject of Sir W. Rumbold he and Sir Ch. Metcalfe are very hostile, +taking extreme views on the different sides. This hostility upon one +subject will lead to difference upon others. The Government is not +respected--and certainly there has been no moment when it was of more +importance that the head of the Government should be respected than when it +is necessary to effect a great economical reform. They describe the feeling +at Madras as being still worse. There they did not think the governor an +_honest man_. + +The Chairs expect a letter from Macdonald to the Secret Committee with +copies of his last despatches which I have already received through +Petersburg, so they are unwilling to accept a communication of them from +me. The letter, permitting Abbas Murza to purchase 12,000 stand of arms and +to pay for them by instalments, will therefore go without any reference to +the last despatches received. + +Saw Aberdeen. He agrees with me in feeling much apprehension on the state +of France as well as of Turkey. He seems, however, to think more of the +state of parties here, and does not like the looks of the Duke of +Cumberland (who was nearly dying last week) and of the King. It seems the +King, although very well satisfied with measures of a public nature, is +annoyed at not carrying some small jobs. + +There was a great party at Woburn lately, and the world of course say there +is an approximation to the Grey party. Aberdeen thinks the Woburn party +showed good wishes, and Lord Grey, it is said, does not mean to come up to +town. However, he is said to think he has been slighted, whereas the Duke +of Wellington _cannot_ do anything for him in the hostile state of the +King's mind. + +I told Aberdeen confidentially of Bankes's going out, which is an +indication, no doubt, of continued hostility on the part of the Duke of +Cumberland. + +Saw Hardinge. Talked on various public subjects, and then told him of the +probability that in three months Lord W. Bentinck would be recalled. I +asked him whether he could be induced to go as Governor-General. He +rejected the idea at first as unsuited to his rank in the army. I said we +could make him Captain-General. He seemed to think it was a great field for +a man who wished to obtain great fame, and if he was unmarried he would not +be disinclined to go, but I should think domestic considerations would +prevent him. I wish we had him as secretary in Ireland, but he is wanted +_everywhere_. He is so useful. He would be _most useful_ in Ireland. + +Saw the Duke. I told him what the Chairs had said. He said he always +thought Lord William would not succeed. Who could we get to replace him? He +had always thought it did not signify as long as we had _one_ man in India; +but we must have _one_. I told him that, seeing the difficulty of +selection, I had thought it right to tell him what was likely to happen. I +should not be much surprised if he thought of Lord Tweddale, whom he +thought of for Ireland. I do not know him at all. + + +_December 6._ + +Read Sir W. Rumbold's letters, and the minutes in Council on the Hyderabad +case. Sir W. is a cunning, clever man. Sir Ch. Metcalfe shows too much +prejudice against Sir W. Rumbold; but he was at Hyderabad at the time, and +he may be right. I suspect it was a disgraceful business. + + +_December 9._ + +Loch has got a cadetship for me. Colonel Baillie lends it. He postpones a +nomination till next year in order to oblige me. I have thanked Loch, and +begged him to thank Colonel Baillie. + +Wrote to Lady Belfast to tell her Mr. Verner had his cadetship. Begged her +to make his family and friends understand thoroughly that this was a +private favour I had led her to expect long before the discussion of the +Catholic question. + +Wrote to Lord Hertford and enclosed an extract from my letter to Lady +Belfast. + +Read a letter from Sir J. Malcolm, who is again troubled by Sir J. P. +Grant. He enclosed a letter of his upon the subject to Lord W. Bentinck. +The concluding paragraph of this letter refers to a letter from Lord +William of June 18, at which time the spirit of the Bengal army continued +bad. + +Read a letter from Jones, who will set himself to work about the navigation +of the Indus. He says a Mr. Walter Hamilton speaks of the river being +navigable for vessels of 200 tons to Lahore, and that from Lahore to the +mouth of the river, 700 miles, is only a voyage of twelve days. And no +British flag has ever floated upon the waters of this river! Please God it +shall, and in triumph, to the source of all its tributary streams. + + +_December 11._ + +Read a letter from Lord Bathurst respecting the recall of Sir J. P. Grant. +He had imagined I had said he had resigned. He seems surprised I should +have supposed it possible a judge should be recalled without a formal +meeting of the Privy Council. I reminded him of Sir T. Claridge's case, not +half so strong as that of Sir J. P. Grant. + + +_December 12._ + +Read Fraser's travels. + + +_December 13._ + +A letter from Sir J. Malcolm, by which it seems that my letter to him of +February 21 has been copied and become public: much to his annoyance. +[Footnote: This was the letter with the expression about a wild elephant +between two tame ones which afterwards attracted so much criticism. It was +intended as a private letter to Sir J. Malcolm, but by a mistake of one of +his secretaries was copied as an official communication.] + +He sends me his letter to Lord W. Bentinck upon the subject. It seems by +this letter, which adverts to other topics, that the spirit in Bengal is +very bad--that Lord W. has hitherto done nothing to check it, and that with +the press in his power he has allowed it to be more licentious than it ever +was before. + + +_December 14._ + +Found at Roehampton a letter from the Duke enclosing one addressed by Mrs. +Hastings to the King, applying for a pension. The King recommends it to the +consideration of the Court of Directors. I doubt the Court venturing to +propose any pension to the Court of Proprietors. + +I had another letter from the Duke enclosing a letter to him from Sir J. +Malcolm and a copy of Sir J. Malcolm's letter to Lord W. Bentinck, +respecting the unauthorised publication of my private letter--the same I +received yesterday. Sir J. Malcolm speaks of an intended deputation from +the Bengal army to England, which Lord William was determined not to allow; +but Sir J. Malcolm seems to think that Lord William by his conduct at first +brought on much of what has taken place. He has relaxed the reins of +Government too much. I am satisfied that, without a change of form and +name, it will be very difficult to regain the strength the Government has +lost in India. + +I shall see the Duke if I can to-morrow and suggest the appointment of Sir +J. Malcolm as provisional successor to Lord William. Sir J. Malcolm's +sentiments are known, and his nomination would show the feeling of the +Government here. It would be a hint to Lord William that we could replace +him at once and make him do his duty. It would, in the event of anything +happening to Lord William, guard against the mischiefs of an interregnum, +which is always a time of weakness and of job. + + +_December 15._ + +The Duke gone to the Deepdene. Wrote to him to say I would not fail to +bring the question of Mrs. Hastings's pension before the Chairs; but I +enclosed a memorandum showing all that had been done for old Hastings, and +reminded the Duke that the Court could not grant above 200£ a year without +the sanction of two Courts of Proprietors. + +Cabinet room. Lord Heytesbury seems to have shown Nesselrode the protocol +about November 25. The Count was greatly agitated, and put himself into a +furious passion. Asked the use of it? Perhaps it would be difficult to say. +Supposed it was intended for Parliament--which is very true. Said it would +lead to a reply we should not like--create a paper war, prevent the two +Courts from remaining upon the friendly terms he had hoped were +re-established. The more angry he is, the more right I think we must +feel we were to send it. + +There is a good paper of Aberdeen's to Sir R. Gordon, in which he considers +the Turkish Empire as falling, and our interest as being to raise Greece, +that that State may be the heir of the Ottoman Power. With this view he +considers it to be of primary importance that the Government of new Greece +should not be revolutionary, and the Prince a good one. + +There is another good paper defending England against an accusation of +Metternich that we should have spoken in a firmer tone to Russia at an +earlier period. The King seems much taken with these papers, and writes +great encomiums upon them. + +By Lord Stuart's account it appears probable that Villele will come in. The +Government mean to avoid all questions upon which it is possible to have a +difference of opinion, and to bring forward only measures of clear and +undeniable utility. They think that, if their opponents should endeavour to +throw out these measures, the Chambers will support Government. + +France coincides with us entirely as to the Portuguese question; but +wishes, and she is right, that questions more specific had been put to the +Emperor Pedro. The intention seems to be to acknowledge Miguel on +conditions, when Pedro admits he can do nothing. + + +_December 16._ + +Read Lord Ashley's memorandum on the judicial administration of India. I +wrote a note on returning it in which I said he seemed to have taken great +pains to collect the opinions which had been given by different persons +upon the subject. Mine had been expressed by me in a letter to Sir J. +Malcolm on August 7, in which I declared my general concurrence in the +views entertained by him and intimated by him in his minute, giving an +account of his tour in the southern Mahratta country. I had added that I +was satisfied the more we could avail ourselves of the services of the +natives in the fiscal and judicial administration the better, and that all +good government must rest upon the village system. I told Sir J. Malcolm I +had come to my office without any preconceived opinions, that I had kept +out of the way of prejudiced men, and had allowed opinions to form +themselves gradually in my own mind as I acquired more knowledge from pure +sources. I could not, if I had written this passage on purpose, have had +one more suited to my purpose. It showed Ashley I was not _prejudiced_, +that my opinions were formed before I read his memorandum, and that I had +formed them by abstaining from the course he has pursued--for he allows all +sorts of persons to come and talk to him, and to inoculate him with their +notions. + +I afterwards said that he would see by Sir Thomas Munro's memorandum of +December 31, 1824, that he thought we had succeeded better in the judicial +than in the fiscal administration of India, and in the criminal better than +in the civil branch of the judicial government. This I said to show I had +read Sir T. Munro's memorandum, which he did not give me credit for having +done; and that it was not so much to the judicial as to the revenue branch +that he should have directed his attention, with a view to improvements-- +the field being greater. + +I then said I did not doubt that there were capable natives to be found, +but I did doubt that they would be selected, for that the European servants +had disappointed me. The natives were better than I expected, &c., &c. + +Saw the Duke. Suggested to him Sir J. Malcolm's being made provisional +successor to Lord W. Bentinck for the reasons I have mentioned. He thought +well of the suggestion; but said we must consider it, and mention it in +Cabinet, as Lord William was a great card, and we must not do anything to +offend unnecessarily him and his connection. The objection occurred to him +that had occurred to me, that Sir J. Malcolm would die if he went to +Calcutta. I hope he would not go there, that he would remain in the upper +provinces. But I look to the effect of the nomination upon the conduct of +people in India, and that of Lord William himself, more than to his actual +succession. + +The Duke then said we must look not to India only, but to all Asia, and +asked me if I had read Evans's book. I told him I had; that in forty-eight +hours after I read it I had sent a copy to Macdonald and another to +Malcolm. I told him all the views I had with regard to the navigation of +the Indus and the opening of a trade with Cabul and Bokhara. He said our +minds appeared to have been travelling the same way. We must have good +information of what the Russians might be doing there. I reminded him I had +desired the Government a year ago to obtain information as to all the +countries between the Caspian and the Indus, and I intended now to give a +more particular direction. He said Macdonald should have his eye upon the +Caspian, and information as to those countries would be best obtained +through natives. I reminded him that that had been the suggestion in my +letter of last year. The Duke's opinion is that it is a question of +_expense only_. That if the Russians got 20,000 or 30,000 men into Cabul we +could beat them; but that by hanging upon us there they could put us to an +enormous expense in military preparation, and in quelling insurrections. +They could not move in that direction without views hostile to us, and by +threatening us there they would think to embarrass us in Europe. I proposed +that in the event of the Russians moving in that direction we should permit +the Government of India to act as an Asiatic Power. By money at least, he +allowed, without further orders, not to move in advance without +instructions. But the Duke is ready to take up the question here in Europe, +if the Russians move towards India with views of evident hostility. + +He approves of a message going at once with orders to Macdonald. + + +_December 18._ + +Chairs. They will consider favourably Mrs. Hastings's case; but she must +address her representation to them. + +I told them of my suggestion of making Malcolm provisional successor to +Lord William, and the reasons for it. They seemed to like the idea; but the +same objection occurred to them which had occurred to the Duke and to me-- +that if Malcolm went to Calcutta he would die. I said I did not want him to +go. I did not look to his going. I looked to the moral effect of the +appointment upon Lord William and upon all their servants in India. They +want to get some political man of high rank and talents and determined +character to go. They are heartily sick of Lord William. Whom they want to +send I do not know. + +I told them of my conversation with the Duke and went over the same ground. +They acquiesced in all I said. We shall have the missions to Scinde and to +Lahore, and the commercial venture up the Indus, and the instruction to +Macdonald. In short, all I want. + +Despatches are at hand from Lord William, dated May 1, in triplicate, and +without the minutes which are referred to as containing the sentiments of +the Government. These despatches merely refer the subject to the +consideration of the Court. + +One Jones, it seems, has written almost all the memorials, and is +considered a rebel more than a Radical. + +We had a little conversation respecting the future Government of India. I +told them it must be a strong Government, and I doubted whether in its +present form it could secure obedience in India. It required more of +appearance. They seemed to feel that. Astell acknowledged there was nothing +imposing in the name of 'the Company,' and that the present Government was +fallen into contempt. + +I told them I was satisfied that the patronage and the appeals should +always remain where they were. I paid them a high compliment, which they +justly deserve, upon the fairness of their conduct in deciding upon the +claims of their servants. + +They feel their Government is weak in its last year; but that the Ministers +could not do otherwise than have a committee. + + +_December 18._ + +Wrote a letter to the Duke, which he may send to the King, stating the +result of my communication to the Chairs respecting Mrs. Hastings. + +Requested information as to the trade of the Caspian, that carried on by +the caravans to Bokhara, and the general condition of that country, +desiring likewise that means might be taken to keep us constantly informed +of any movements made by the Russians towards the Sea of Aral, and of any +attempt to make establishments on the east coast of the Caspian. + +Wrote to the Duke to tell him what was done and how entirely the Chairs +entered into his views. + + +_December 19._ + +Wrote to Loch to suggest that he should send Meyendorff's and Mouravief's +books to Macdonald. + +Read a clever pamphlet on the China trade, and in coming down to Worthing +all the papers Hardinge sent me relative to the new pension regulations. + + +_December 20._ + +Read Meyendorff's 'Tour in Bokhara.' It contains all the information I want +as to the commerce between Bokhara and Russia. We can easily supply Bokhara +with many things the Russians now furnish, and with all Indian goods +cheaper by the Indus than the Ganges; but what the Bokharians are to send +us in return I do not well see, except turquoises, lapis lazuli, and the +ducats they receive from Russia. We may get shawls cheaper by navigating +the Indus. + + +_December 21._ + +Read the memorandum the Chairs gave me respecting the application of steam +navigation to the internal and external communications of India. It has +been prepared carefully and ably, and is very interesting. It suggests the +navigation of the Euphrates to Balis or Bir by steam, and thence the +passage by Aleppo to Latakia or Scanderoon. It likewise suggests that it +might be more expeditious to cross the desert from Suez to Lake Menzaleh, +or direct to the sea. + + +_December 22._ + +Wrote to Lord Hill, telling him of Sir G. Walker's dangerous illness, and +intimating the importance, under the present circumstances of Madras, of +having not only a good soldier as Commander-in-Chief, but a man possessed +of good civil qualities. + +Sent a copy of this letter to the Duke. + + +_December 25._ + +Read a memorandum of Jones on the last mission to Lahore, and a very long +secret despatch in 1811 upon the subject of Runjeet Singh's attempt to +establish himself on the left bank of the Sutlege, and his retreat in +consequence of remonstrances and military demonstration on the part of the +British Government. + + +_December 26._ + +Called by appointment on Lady Macdonald, who came here to speak to me about +Sir J. Macdonald's salary and position at Tabriz. She says that after the +letter he wrote, representing the inexpediency of Sir H. Willock's +remaining as his first assistant and the non-existence of any necessity for +two assistants, if the Bengal Government do not recall Willock Sir J. +Macdonald cannot remain. She has likewise a good deal to say respecting the +salary. I think 9,000£ a year a proper salary. The Ambassador at +Constantinople has 8,000£ and a house; but Constantinople is on the sea, +and the charge of bringing European goods to Tabriz through Russia is so +considerable that 1,000£ a year ought to be added for the charge. + + +_December 29._ + +Received three letters from Lord W. Bentinck, of July 6 and 8 and August 2. +In that of the 6th he speaks of my private letter to Sir J. Malcolm, +published in the 'Calcutta Newspaper.' In that of the 8th he sends it to +me, the names being altered, and all between brackets being interpolated, +and in fact in the light of comment. In that of August 2 he speaks of the +temper of the army, &c., and all public subjects. I have sent the three +letters to the Duke. + +I was glad to have my letter. I can defend every word in it. It contains +the simile of the elephants, which I am sorry for, as I fear those +described _as tame_ may be foolish enough to endeavour to show they are not +so by affecting a degree of vivacity beyond their nature; but still I can +defend it. + +Lord William describes his position as not agreeable, having to effect the +odious work of reduction. [Footnote: Besides the burning question of 'Half- +Batta,' Lord W. Bentinck's administration was regarded as hostile in spirit +to that of his predecessors, and so disliked by those who had served under +them, especially by the military.] He says that in India no man thinks of +anything but MONEY, that the local government has incurred great odium by +carrying into effect the orders of the home authorities. He recommends Sir +Charles Metcalfe as a man standing by Malcolm's side, and fit for the +government of Bombay. I a little fear Sir Charles Metcalfe. He is rather +too vehement. I doubt whether he would be a safe man. I am quite sure +Courtney would be a very unfit man. The Governor of Bombay ought to be an +Indian, but who is there? + +Lord William represents the Burmese Government as a barbarian Government. +He says they have sacrificed all who assisted us, and that the difficulty +in retroceding the Tenasserim provinces would be to know what to do with +the 35,000 people who have sought our protection. + +This report makes the wisdom of our recent policy yet clearer than it +appeared before. + + +_December 31._ + +Read twenty papers on the opium treaties and management in Central India. +The Supreme Government have decided upon no longer limiting the extent of +cultivation in Malwa, and upon permitting the free transit of the drug. +This was expedient because undoubtedly our restrictions led to the most +hostile feelings on the part both of princes and people, to the injury of +the traders, to violent and offensive interference on our part in the +internal policy of foreign States, and to smuggling protected by large +bodies of armed men. The smugglers would soon have been Pindarries. This +system began only in 1825. It was forced upon the small States, and not +upon that of Gwalior, so that smuggling defeated the object. + + +_January 2, 1830._ + +Received from the Duke a note to say the publication of my private letter +to Sir J. Malcolm did not signify one pin's head, and it _will have_ done +good in India. + +Wrote a long letter to Lord William Bentinck. I pressed upon him the +necessity of making the home and the local authorities draw together. I +told him he was suffering not for his obedience but for the disobedience of +his predecessors. Assured him of support, lamented the _ungentlemanlike_ +tone of society evidenced by the insult of the commanding officers to him, +and by the publication of my private letter. I spoke in high terms of +Lieut. W. Hislop's report on the opium arrangements (which on reflection I +thought better than writing a letter to him), and I likewise spoke highly +of Mr. Scott, the Commissioner in Assam. Acknowledged the Government could +not have done otherwise than give up the opium treaties; but foretold a +large falling off in the opium revenue from over-cultivation in Malwa. + + +_January 3._ + +A letter from Clare on East Indian matters which I answered at length. Sent +Prendergast's pamphlet to Jones. + +Read reports on the Delhi and Firuz Shah's canal, by which it appears my +plan of joining the Sutlege and Jumna is not visionary. It has been done. +The canal can still be traced. Delhi seems in distant times to have been +like Milan, in the midst of canals. The grand canal sent a branch through +the palace. The water has been again turned in the same channel. When the +water flowed into Delhi on the opening of the canal on May 30, 1820, the +people went out to meet it and threw flowers into the stream. In those +countries nothing can be done without water, and with water, and such a +sun, anything. + + +_January 4, 1830._ + +Head Eraser's journey and finished it. It is very interesting, and shows +how completely the Persian monarchy is falling to pieces. + + +_January 5._ + +Saw Wrangham. There is no news. The affairs of the Netherlands, he says, +look rather better, and Polignac is very stout and says he is very strong. +It seems great complaints are made of Lord Stuart, who gives little +information, and what little he does give is incorrect. + + +_January 6._ + +Vesey Fitzgerald will certainly not be able to attend the House this year. +His physicians say he would die in five minutes if he got up to speak. I +heard G. Dawson tell the Duke to-day. I rather suspect G. Dawson would like +Vesey's place. + +The Duke has been much occupied with the Greek question. I have not yet +read any papers at the Foreign Office. He spoke to me of Bankes's going +out, which he regretted. + +He had had some conversation last year at Belvoir with Lord Graham upon +Indian affairs, and had been quite surprised to find how much he knew. He +had thought he only knew how to comb his hair. The Duke thinks of Horace +Twiss for secretary. He had thought of Mr. Wortley, Lord Wharncliffe's son, +a very clever young man, but he wanted a _made_ man, not one to learn. I +shall suggest Ashley's taking Horace Twiss's place, and Lord Graham being +First Commissioner. This will force him to come forward. Then Wortley might +be Second Commissioner. Horace Twiss is a clever man, but rather vulgar. +However, he is a lawyer and a very good speaker, and will do very well. + + +_January 7._ + +I told the Chairs my views as to an alteration in the Supreme Court Bill. +They seemed to approve if the thing could be done. I had afterwards some +conversation with the Chancellor upon this subject. He admitted the force +of my reasoning, but desired to have a memorandum about it, which indeed +will be convenient to me as well as to him. It should state all the new +circumstances since the establishment of the Supreme Court which render its +existence less necessary than it was, and more inapplicable than ever to +the condition of India. + +At the Duke's dinner I told the Duke and Rosslyn the substance of Lord +William's letters. The Duke said the act [Footnote: In combining to oppose +the Half-Batta orders. See Thornton's _British India_, vol. v.] of the +officers was mutiny. + +The King is ill. He has lost a good deal of blood. + + +_January 8._ + +The King quite well again. In the morning began and nearly finished a +memorandum on the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court for the Chancellor. + +Cabinet at 2. Conversation respecting the abolition of the Welsh +judgeships, and the addition of a judge to the Courts of King's Bench and +Common Pleas, or Exchequer. The two new judges would be Circuit Judges of +Wales. The Welsh gentlemen seem to be favourable to the change. The +attornies, who are numerous and powerful, very hostile. The Chancellor +introduces again his Bill of last Session. The Equity is to be separated +from the Common Law Jurisdiction of the Court of Exchequer. The subject was +only talked of, and decision deferred till Sunday next. + +We then talked of Ireland. The Grand Jury Presentment Bill is not yet +prepared. The plan for a police is to place the nominations in the hands of +the Lord-Lieutenant. To send stipendiary magistrates when and where they +are wanted. + +Peel's suggestions went much further; but Lord F. Gower seems to me to be +only a clever boy. He has as yet proposed _nothing_ worthy of adoption, and +he has often been near the commission of errors from which he has been +saved only by Peel's advice. + +He wished to establish stipendiary magistrates in every county, the effect +of which would have been to disgust all the gentlemen magistrates, and to +lead them to the abandonment of their duty. He wished too to unite in all +cases the inspectorships of police with the office of stipendiary +magistrate, to avoid collision; but the duties of inspector are of a mere +ministerial and inferior character, and would not agree well with those of +a magistrate. + +I must read to-morrow all the late protocols and despatches. The Russians +and French have agreed to make Leopold Prince of Greece, but the King +cannot endure the idea. Aberdeen thinks he has made a great conquest in +carrying the point of Leopold's election. I confess I cannot understand the +great advantage we derive from it. What an extraordinary scene! Those +monarchical states, the most adverse to revolution, combine to assist the +rebellion of a people against its sovereign, a rebellion commenced by +murder and continued by treachery, stained with every crime that ever +disgraced human nature! [Footnote: The massacres by the Greeks at +Tripolitza and Athens, the latter in direct breach of a capitulation, had, +according to a not unfavourable historian, cast a dark stain on the Greek +cause and diminished the interest felt for it in foreign countries. +(Alison, _Hist. Europe_, 1815-52, iii. 150.)] They destroy the fleet of an +unoffending Power in a time of profound peace in his own port. They thus +facilitate the attack of an enemy, and in the extreme peril of the defeated +sovereign they increase their demands in order to form a substantive State +out of the ruins of his Empire. They then elect a Prince unknown to the +people over whom he is to reign, and support him by equal assistance in +ships and money! Those monarchical states set up a revolutionary government +and maintain it in coparcenary! It was reserved for these times to witness +such contradictions. I do not think any one is very well satisfied with +them but Aberdeen. He is charmed. + + +_Sunday, January 10._ + +Cabinet. Conversation first as to an intended publication by Mr. Stapleton +of a 'Life of Canning,' in which he means to insert the substance, if not +the copies, of public papers relating to transactions not yet terminated. +He has had it intimated to him that he will do so at his peril. He holds an +office under the Government during pleasure. I said he had no right over +private letters relating to public subjects which only came to the +knowledge of the writer by his official situation. He should be told it was +a high breach of public confidence, and he should be displaced if he was +guilty of it. He will have a hint, but I fear not one sufficiently strong. +It is Lady Canning who thinks she can injure the Duke of Wellington, and so +publishes these papers. Stapleton is her editor. She demanded from Aberdeen +official letters of Canning's, and actually threatened him with a suit in +Chancery if he did not give them up. The Duke says he has copies of all +Canning's letters, and he shall publish if they do. [Footnote: Augustus +Granville Stapleton had been private secretary to Canning, and published +about 1830-31 _The Political Life of George Canning_, and nearly thirty +years later, _George Canning and his Times_. The latter work contains much +correspondence the publication of which might have been objected to at the +earlier date.] + +We had Scarlett and afterwards Bosanquet in upon the Welsh Judicature +question. It was at last decided that the Equity Jurisdiction of the Courts +of Great Session should be sent to the Court of Exchequer, that power +should be taken to the King of directing the circuits to be held where he +pleased, and that the two new judges of the English Courts should do the +duty of the Welsh circuits. The proceedings to be assimilated to those of +the English Courts. + +The saving by the reduction of the Welsh judges, after allowing for their +pensions, will leave an ample fund for the compensation of the officers +reduced. + +I read Lord Stuart de Rothesay's last despatches and Lord Heytesbury's. +There seems to me to be great over-confidence in their strength on the part +of the French Ministers. I cannot help thinking they will fall. Villele +will have nothing to do with the Government under this House of deputies, +which declared his administration _deplorable_. He seems to stipulate for +their dissolution. + +Halil Pacha takes to Petersburg fine presents for the Emperor and Empress, +and other presents he is to distribute 'selon son gré et en son nom' which +are enough to bribe all the ladies in Europe. There is a list of them +extending over seven pages. + +It seems to be doubtful whether the French have not been endeavouring to +induce Mehemet Ali to revenge their quarrel with Algiers by marching along +the whole coast of Africa. The French are much out of humour with their +Algerine follies, and heartily tired of their expensive gasconade. + +Mehemet Ali does not seem much inclined to send _his_ fleet to +Constantinople, although he has honour enough to send the Sultan's. + +The Russians have launched two large ships (120 and 74), and they have +bought a double-banked frigate built in the United States. + + +_Monday, January 11._ + +At the Cabinet room, where I met Sir George Murray; read the letters +relative to the alterations in the judicial system of Scotland. + +Read a letter from Loch, allowing me to show to the Cabinet Lord William's +letters. He wished them to be read, not shown, or rather not circulated; +but it is contrary to all rule, so I left them to-day on the Cabinet table. + +The Duke told me yesterday he felt no concession could now be made, +although it was a mighty foolish thing to have had a quarrel about. + +Got home at 5, dressed, and was going to business, when I found a note from +Drummond, desiring me to call on the Duke as soon as I could. I ordered the +carriage and went. Found the Chancellor there. + +It seems there is a great hitch about Prince Leopold's nomination as Prince +Sovereign of Greece. The French have now proposed it. We desire it. Russia +acquiesces. We have always declared we did not care who was Prince +Sovereign of Greece, but we were resolved never to acknowledge as such a +man in whom we had not confidence. Some time ago the King of Prussia +applied through the Grand Duke of Mecklenburgh to the King for his vote in +favour of Prince Charles of Mecklenburgh, the brother of the late Queen of +Prussia and of the Duchess of Cumberland. This application was made through +the Duke of Cumberland to the King, and the King returned an answer through +the Duke of Cumberland. What this answer was is not known; but the King +having mentioned the circumstance to Aberdeen, and he to the Duke, +Aberdeen, by the Duke's desire, wrote through Sir Brook Taylor to the King +of Prussia, and civilly put him off. This letter of course the King saw, +and approved. The Duchess of Cumberland complains the answer of Aberdeen +was very different from that given through the Duke of Cumberland by the +King, and says it is an _intrigue_. + +The King has been put up to this, and tells Aberdeen he knows his own +ground--that the people of England will not bear that 50,000£ a year shall +be paid by them to the Prince of Greece. He does not care whether Leopold +goes or no, but he is determined he shall leave his annuity behind him. + +The articles in the 'Standard' and other papers, a few days ago, are +supposed to have had reference to this then intended rupture. Aberdeen goes +to the King to-morrow, and the Duke having seen all the Cabinet, Aberdeen +will, if it should be necessary, declare their concurrent opinion. The Duke +thinks the King will yield to Aberdeen; to avoid seeing him--if he is +obliged to go down, he will declare distinctly to the King that his Majesty +had better name whatever Minister he may wish to give his confidence to; +but that to whatever Minister he may choose to have, he ought to give his +confidence. + +Certainly nothing can have been more scandalous than the King's conduct to +the Duke. He has never given his Government the fair support. Say what the +Duke will, he of Cumberland is believed. + +The Duke had a note about the King the other day from Lady Conyngham, +written only to tell him the Duke of Cumberland had been four hours with +His Majesty. + +That Prince Leopold will make an efficient King of Greece I do not believe; +but he is not likely to be hostile to England. Prince Charles of +Mecklenburgh, named by Prussia, would be really Russian, and the tool of +States not friendly to us. + +Prince Leopold hopes, if he goes to Greece, that Government will purchase +the lands he has bought, for which he has given 40,000£ or 50,000£. + +Determined to have my letter respecting the acquisition of information in +Central Asia and the navigation of the Indus sent to the Chairs _to- +morrow_, that _it may_ be sent, and be on record as _mine_, in the event of +His Majesty turning me out the next day, as he will very possibly do. + + +_January 12._ + +Henry [Footnote: The Honourable H. S, Law, Lord Ellenborough's brother.] +copied for transmission the letter in the Secret Department, and I took +care it should be sent to the India House in the course of the day, that if +I should be out to-morrow, I may have the credit of having originated a +measure which, if effected, will be of incalculable value. + +Cabinet at 2. Aberdeen was gone to the King at Windsor. It seemed to be +expected he would do nothing, and that the Duke would be obliged to go down +to-morrow--the Duke thinks he shall succeed--and no one seems to dread a +_turn out_. I am not quite so sure. The mischief is that these _sécousses_ +make a weak Government. + +I found in the box of drafts the letter to Sir Brook Taylor respecting Duke +Charles of Mecklenburgh, which the King says he never saw or sanctioned. It +bears his initials and approval, which have been traced out in ink over his +pencil. + +The Duke of Cumberland wants, if it be but for a week, a friendly +administration that he may get out of the Exchequer 30,000£ set apart for +the annuity for his son's education, but to which he is not legally +entitled, his son having been educated abroad. It is out of revenge for a +hostile cheer, and to get this money, to which Lord Eldon and Lord Wynford +have told him he has no right, that he is endeavouring to overthrow the +Government. + + +_January 13._ + +After I came home read the minutes of the Governor-General and Council on +the college at Calcutta. There is nothing so important as to preserve young +men, who are to govern an Empire, from idleness, dissipation, and debt. +This must be done. The Governor-General's own superintendence may effect +much. The suspension of the incompetent may do more; but while the habits +of expense are given at Hayleybury, and continued by their residence +without any control in the midst of a dissipated capital, nothing will +reform the system. + +Cabinet dinner at Aberdeen's. He was an hour and a half with the King +yesterday. The King was much agitated in dressing himself for the +interview. The man who shaved thought he should have cut him twenty times. +He had taken 100 drops of laudanum to prepare himself for the interview. + +Aberdeen says it is a _real_ quarrel-not a plot to get rid of us--the King +thoroughly hates Prince Leopold, and he has been made to think the +Ministers have slighted him in this matter. The Duke goes down to him to- +morrow. He can show the King that Leopold was first mentioned by France-- +that he was made acquainted with the proposal or rather suggestion made by +France to Leopold on November 9, that he was then told we could not hear of +it till our candidates, Prince John of Saxony and Ferdinand of Orange, were +disposed of. The subject was again mentioned on November 24. + +In point of fact the earliest day on which it could have been made known to +the King that France had distinctly proposed Leopold was Monday, and he was +told on the Tuesday. + +The King seems to have been violently agitated. He said sneeringly to +Aberdeen, '_If I may be allowed to ask, is Prince Leopold to be married to +a daughter of the Duke of Orleans?_' [Footnote: This marriage took place in +August 1832, when Prince Leopold had become King of the Belgians, and the +Duke of Orleans King of the French.] Aberdeen said he had seen it in the +newspaper and knew nothing more of it. The King alluded to the possibility +of Government going out, admitted the inconvenience just before the meeting +of Parliament, but said he was immovable. Leopold might go to the devil, +but he should not carry English money out of the country. In the morning, +talking to the Duchess of Gloucester, he said, 'If they want a Prince of my +family, they might have had the Duke of Gloucester,' upon which the Duchess +burst out a-laughing. + + +The King seems thoroughly out of humour. He says 'Things seem going on very +ill in India. Do not you mean to recall Lord William?' He had been made +very angry in the morning by the 'Times' calling upon him to pay his +brother's debts, and this morning the 'Morning Journal' places in +juxtaposition the paragraphs in the 'Times,' and those for which it was +lately prosecuted. + +Lady Conyngham is bored to death, and talks and really thinks of removing. +She was to make a grand attack on the King to-day. I suppose she finds the +Duchess of Cumberland gaining influence. Her note to the Duke the other +day, to tell him the Duke of Cumberland had been four hours with the King, +was intended to put him upon his guard. + +The Duke does not mean to resign to-morrow, but to request, if he should +not succeed (which Aberdeen thinks he will not do), that the King will +allow the Cabinet to put their opinions in writing-which the King cannot +refuse. We shall then meet on Friday and decide what we shall do. + +The Chancellor took me aside and said it would be a foolish thing to go out +about Leopold. So it would; but if we allow ourselves to be beaten in this, +we may be beaten round the whole circle of public questions. + +When the Duke has proved the proposition was not made by us, that it came +from France, the King will say, 'Well, if you did not think it worth while +to propose him, why should you not reject him? Why adhere to him?' + +I feel very indifferent about the result. + +Dr. Seymour, Fitzgerald's physician, represents him as very ill indeed, and +in _danger_ if he does any business; but Peel, who saw him to-day, thinks +that much exaggerated. + + +_January 14._ + +Chairs at 11. I asked them to find out when Rothschild sold out his Indian +stock. It seems (by a note I received in the evening) that he began on +October 15, and at different times sold out 42,000£ stock. I sent the +Chairman's note to Goulburn. + +About ten received the promised circular from the Duke. He was an hour and +a half with the King, when he was obliged to leave him in consequence of +his being unwell--and the King afterwards sent to desire he would come +again on Saturday. + +For the first hour the King was in a state of irritated and contemptuous +indignation. However, the Duke thinks he brought him to feel he had nothing +to complain of in the conduct of his Government. He finished by getting +into better temper and a good tone; but the Duke thinks he should have +brought away his assent if he had been with him another hour. The Duke +wishes to hear the opinion of the Cabinet upon some points, and we meet at +two to-morrow. + + +_January 15._ + +The Duke gave the Cabinet an account of his interview with the King. The +King was with Munster and the Duke of Cumberland when he went; but the Duke +was admitted in about forty minutes, which time he passed with the Lady +Conyngham, who told him he must expect a storm. + +The King was in bed, looking very ill. He said, 'Well, what is your +business?' and seemed at first most indignant. The Duke, however, corrected +his misapprehensions--showed him the dates, and proved that he had known +from the first that it was probable Leopold would be proposed by France. +The proposition was made by us to Prince Frederick of Orange on November +13, his final answer received on August 11 (there may be a slight error in +these dates, as I write from memory). In the meantime the King of France +had about November 29, when Leopold took leave of him, told him he would +propose him. This was known here immediately, and Leopold distinctly told +he could not be heard of till our own candidate was disposed of. The +regular proposal of Leopold did not arrive here till January 1, and was +communicated to the King with the _projet_ of a protocol, for it was no +more, on the 9th. + +It was still only a proposition, and the Government now come to advise the +King to consent to it. + +The Duke showed the King that there had been ten candidates in all:-- + +Prince Philip of Hesse Homburgh, Prince John of Saxony, Prince Frederick of +Orange, Prince Charles of Bavaria, Prince Otho of Bavaria, the Archduke +Maximilian, Prince Paul of Wurtemburgh, Prince Leopold, Prince Emilius of +Hesse Darmstadt, and Prince Charles of Mecklenburgh. + +The seven first either declined or were rejected. Prince Emilius of Hesse +Darmstadt was an aide-de-camp of Bonaparte, and the King would not have +him, and with regard to the last, Prince Charles of Mecklenburgh, the Duke +showed the King he was much more nearly connected with Prussia, and so with +Russia, than with England. The King admitted this, and seemed to have been +brought into good humour, when he became so ill that he was obliged to beg +the Duke to leave him, and soon after sent him word he would see him in two +days. The Duke says he was really unwell, and in fact was taking physic all +the time he was with him. + +The Duke showed the King that _he alone_ had not the power of nomination. +He had one voice out of three, and there were ten candidates. + +'At any rate,' said the King, 'Claremont reverts to the Crown.' The Duke, +fearing he might wish to give it to the Duke of Cumberland, or somebody, +asked the Chancellor to-day to look at the Act of Parliament and tell us +what becomes of Claremont in the event of Leopold's being made King of +Greece. The Chancellor looked and thought Claremont would certainly remain +to Leopold, and if he died or gave it up go, not to the Crown, that is, not +to the King, but, by specific enactment, become a portion of the revenue +under the Woods and Forests. Of course Leopold will give up Claremont, +which is in fact a source of expense. The Duke said Leopold would be at +least innocuous, and he might be of use. The King asked how we could be +such fools as to think he would be of any use. + +While the Duke was with the King the Duke of Cumberland was with Lady +Conyngham, and told her, amongst other things, that the 'Times' was the +Duke of Wellington's paper. + +The 'Morning Journal' is _his_ paper, and uses the expressions he puts into +the King's mouth. + +Aberdeen says Leopold is quite aware of all he will have to go through. + +He has written to Lord Stuart to ascertain whether there is any truth in +the report of his being engaged to the daughter of the Duke of Orleans. + +I cannot help thinking that is so, and that the French proposition +originates in that. + + +_January 16._ + +Read last night a very interesting report by Captain Wade of his mission to +Runjeet Singh in 1827. + +Received a box from the Duke with a circular note saying the King is not +well enough to see him before Tuesday. He has seen no one since he saw the +Duke, and the Duke hears he was not mistaken in his judgment of the effect +he thought he had produced upon the King's mind; so I suppose this matter, +which looked threatening at first, may be considered as settled, although +not yet formally terminated. + +The King will, I dare say, make another plunge when he finds Claremont will +not be at his personal disposal, as he seems to have imagined. + + +_January 19._ + +Read all day Sir Thomas Munro's Life, which contains a great deal of +interesting and valuable information. He was a very great man. + +Talked to Hardinge of various matters. He was at Stowe when Lord Chandos in +the middle of the night received a note from his father, communicating one +from Sir. W. Fremantle, which informed him that the King was going to turn +us all to the right about. Lord Chandos said to Hardinge he would never +belong to a Government of which the Duke of Wellington was not a member. + + +_January 19._ + +Read the rest of the 'Life of Sir Thomas Munro,' a most valuable book. I +believe there are no books so really useful as the lives of great and good +men. + +On my arrival in town, found a note from Hardinge, who thinks the despatch +as to watching the Russians and navigating the Indus quite perfect. + +The Duke went to-day to Windsor. About eight he sent round a box containing +a note, saying that the King consented to Prince Leopold's being King of +Greece. So for the present, at least, we are safe again. I never had much +apprehension. + + +_January 20._ + +Cabinet dinner. Lord Bathurst not there. We had very little talk upon +public matters. The Duke had a bad cold. The opinion seemed to be that the +press of the session would be upon domestic matters, for the reduction of +establishments and taxation. + +The King wrote to the Duke and _grumpily acceded_ to Leopold's appointment. +Leopold is very _uppish_ upon the subject. He was at Cobham to-day and +yesterday. + +I am to see Peel on Sunday at half-past one on Indian matters. + + +_January 22._ + +At one, Privy Council to consider the petition of the E. I. C. for the +recall of Sir J. P. Grant. The Lord President, Lord Chief Baron, and Lord +Chief Justice of Common Pleas present. The committee reported that they did +not consider themselves warranted at present in advising Sir J. P. Grant's +removal, but they thought it right he should be directed to proceed home +that the several matters objected to him might be investigated. + +I took the opportunity of the presence of two judges to get a legal opinion +as to Sir J. Malcolm's conduct in resisting the service of the Habeas +Corpus _ad testificandum_. + +I took the opportunity likewise of laying before the two judges the change +of circumstances since the institution of the Supreme Court, and the +present reasons for making their jurisdiction without the limits of the +Presidency the exception and not the rule. + +The judges seemed to enter into my view. The Lord Chief Baron suggested +that there might be a previous enquiry before the Country Court, which +might for that purpose be a sort of grand jury. [Footnote: _I.e._ when the +case was to be transferred to the Supreme Court.] + +Lord Hill showed me a letter from Sir F. Watson addressed to Sir B. Taylor, +as the King's first aide-de-camp, and directing him as such, by the King's +command, to intimate to Lord Hill the pleasure it would give His Majesty to +know that Lord Hill had given Captain Scarlett, the son of the Attorney- +General, an opportunity of purchasing a majority. Captain Scarlett is a +very young captain--and Lord Hill feels the thing asked cannot be done. He +was going to see the Duke of Wellington about it. Not very long ago the +King gave away a regiment without asking Lord Hill--however, that was +settled; but it is clear that, unless Lord Hill is allowed to exercise the +fair patronage of his office, he will resign. + + +_January 26._ + +Cabinet. It seems the French have acceded to the proposals of the Pasha of +Egypt, and finding 50,000 men would be required to take Algiers, prefer his +operating with 40,000 of his own. He pretends to have made arrangements +which will secure an easy conquest, and promises to place Tunis, Tripoli, +and Algiers under regular governments, nominally under the Sultan, whose +consent he reckons upon, and capable of preserving the relations of peace +with other Mediterranean Powers. + +The Pasha's army is commanded by French officers, and the annexation of +these States to Egypt would be their practical annexation to France. When +his army is disseminated along the coast of Africa, I might realise my +dream of taking Egypt from India. + +We considered the proposed order in Council relative to the slave +regulations of the King's own ceded colonies. The Duke was evidently not +well, and he was rather out of humour. We were three hours and a half in +Cabinet. He made various objections to the proposed regulations. He +impressed upon us the danger of tampering with the rights of property. We +were doing that with property of an _odious_ character, which we should not +do in England. He pressed the effect in the West Indies and the example +everywhere. He seemed to complain that the regulations were different from +those agreed to in the summer. Sir G. Murray was very quiet. He is a very +sensible man, but he is overawed by the Duke, having been under him so +long. + +Poor old Tierney is dead, for which I am very sorry. He was a very good +friend of mine. + + +_January 27._ + +Cabinet at four. There can be no Council to-morrow, as Greville has the +gout and Buller is in Cornwall. + +There is to be an intimation sent to the Pasha to the effect that we +_disapprove_ of the proposed attempt to conquer Tripoli, Tunis, and +Algiers. France is to be told the same. I wished conditional orders to be +given to the Fleet, and that the Pasha should be told orders had been +given. It being doubtful whether French vessels might not convoy the +Egyptian fleet and transports, I thought we had better now consider what we +should do in that event; that we had better not threaten without +determining to execute our threat, and that we should consider how we +should deal with the French ships if we stopped the Egyptian--in short not +take a first step which might make a second necessary, without knowing in +our own minds what that second step should be. The Duke thinks the French +will back out when they know our _disapprobation_, and that at any rate the +Pasha would. I rather doubt this of either of them. + +The French say they have a sort of quarrel with Tripoli, but none with +Tunis, and they enter into a scheme for conquering both as stepping-stones +to Algiers. Tunis in their hands would be more dangerous than Algiers. + +Hardinge told me he had had a long conversation with Peel the other day on +the state of the country. He thought Peel seemed to have apprehensions, and +to think that if the King, through some intrigue of the Brunswickers, got +rid of the Duke, things would go very ill indeed; that the authority of the +Duke alone kept things quiet. England is in a bad state, because the +country gentlemen have ill-paid rents; but Scotland and Ireland do very +well, and the trade of the country is not depressed. + +Cabinet dinner at the Chancellor's. The Duke of Montrose there, as it was +to have been a dinner for the sheriffs. I told the Duke of my notion of +altering the law of succession to property in India, and enabling all +existing proprietors to leave their estates as they please. + + +_January 28._ + +The 'Times' publishes my letter to Malcolm to-day, with comments. + +Upon the whole I am glad the letter has been published. I think no one can +read it without seeing I am actuated only by public views, and that I am +determined to do my duty. + +The editor of the 'Courier' called at the Indian Board and saw Bankes, and +asked whether he should say anything. Bankes said he would see me before he +gave an answer. I do not care about the publication, and the letter will +defend itself. + + +_January 29._ + +Chairs have received very bad accounts of the temper of the Madras army, +which has no cause of complaint. Lord W. Bentinck has been at last obliged +to lay his hand upon the press, and, as might have been expected, is much +more abused than if he had done so at first. The Radicals had begun to +consider him one of themselves, and so think him a traitor when he refuses +to go any further with them. + +I went to the Duke and told him what they said. He is, as usual, sanguine, +and thinks it will blow over. + +I told the Duke I thought he had better look out for a Governor-General, +for it might be necessary to recall Lord W. Bentinck. The objection to +making Malcolm provisional successor is that he would stay till he died in +order to be Governor-General one day. Otherwise his provisional appointment +would strengthen the local Government very much. + +At the Cabinet they had all read my letter in the 'Times,' except the +Chancellor. I told him to read it. + +Peel was indignant at the publication. Lord Rosslyn said Joseph Hume had +had the letter some time in his possession, and must have sent it to the +'Times.' + +Peel said it was a very good letter. I said I was not ashamed of it. + +They all laughed very much at the simile of the elephants. + +Cabinet. Much discussion as to the terms of the speech. Aberdeen's part was +very ill done indeed. It underwent much alteration and was improved. That +regarding distress and remedies was postponed. There is no remedy, and it +is best to say so. + +In the meantime the export of almost all manufactures is increased largely +in quantity, but the value is diminished. Still this proves continued and +increased employment, although at low wages. This is a state of things in +which we cannot try to make corn dearer or wool either. Nothing but the +extreme cheapness of our manufactures makes their export possible. + +Aberdeen read his letter to Consul Barker respecting the. Pasha's designs. +The last paragraph, which intimated that the Pasha's persistence 'would too +probably lead to our decided opposition,' was omitted. It was thought that +the recommendation, 'to weigh well the serious consequences of a measure +highly objectionable to us, and to which other Powers could not but be +unfavourable,' was thought sufficient to stop the Pasha. + +If the first words had stood, we must have used the same to France, and the +threat might have led to collision. In any case the Pasha would have +communicated the expressions to France. + +The Duke and the Chancellor were to see Leopold to-morrow. + +Another Cabinet to-morrow at four for going on with the Speech. + + +_January 30._ + +Hardinge called. He told me all was not settled as to Lord Chandos having +the Mint. He referred to the Duke of Buckingham, [Footnote: He had, as +appears from the Wellington correspondence, pressed for years his claims to +a seat in the Cabinet, with an importunity to which the Duke of Wellington +expressed his objection. His large parliamentary interest, which almost +made him the chief of a party of his own, made him appear entitled to +expect it.] who would rather have it himself, with a seat in the Cabinet. + +Lord MountCharles goes out to annoy his father, and force him to give him a +larger allowance, unaccompanied by the condition of constant attendance in +the House of Commons. + +Read the Duke of Northumberland's letter to Peel on the state of Ireland. +The Duke represents the Catholic Relief Bill as having produced none of the +evils anticipated by its opposers, if it has not produced all the benefits +expected by its supporters--as having upon the whole worked better than +could have been expected in so short a time and under such circumstances. + +The disturbances he thinks confined to the counties of Tipperary, Clare, +and Roscommon; in the first produced by too high rents; in the second by +late collision and the want of proper management on the part of the +gentlemen; in the last by attempts to convert the Catholics, and the zeal +of new converts. The Catholic Union is dissolved. The great body of the +Catholics have abstained from the ostentation of triumph. + + +_Monday, February 1._ + +Bankes called this morning, but I did not see him. He saw Henry. He came to +say he was out, and S. Wortley in his place. When he understood Lord +Chandos did not take the Mint, he went to the Duke and offered to remain, +thinking his going out, with Lord Chandos's declining to come in, might, +taken together, embarrass the Government. However, the arrangement was +already made. + +Read Lushington's minute on the Neilgherry hills. He wants to make an +English colony there. If he had, every man would make some excuse, desert +his duty in the hot months, and go to the Neilgherry hills. + +Read the first volume of Gamba's 'Travels in South Russia.' He was Consul +of France, but writes like a Russian. He talks of restoring the commercial +communication with Asia by the Phasis, Caspian, and Oxus. All this is +absurd. Unless indeed the Russians, after occupying China, turn the Oxus +into its old course, and thus enable themselves to carry goods by water +carriage to the foot of the Himalaya, or rather within 250 miles of Cabul. + + +_February 5._ + +Received last night a note from the Duke asking me, if I could, to have a +Cabinet to-day on Batta. If I could not, to send Peel the letters of +Malcolm, &c. + +I determined to have the Cabinet. Peel had not read till the day before +yesterday the Batta papers, and, although inclining to the opinion that the +present orders must be maintained, he thinks it, as it is, a serious +question for the Government to decide after the minutes of Lord William +Bentinck and the members of council, with the apprehension of a mutiny as +the possible result of our standing firm. I said if we gave way the other +armies would bring forward their demands--that it was a question, not only +between the Home Authorities and the army, but the Home Authorities and the +Local Government which had for sixteen years resisted the orders sent to +them. + +The Duke cautioned the Cabinet as to the character of the Indian army, +which he said was a _mercenary army_, retained in obedience by nothing but +the wish to return to England; but he thought after what had taken place we +must resist, and adhere to our present orders. Peel wished all the members +of the Cabinet to read the minutes before they decided, and there is to be +a Cabinet on Sunday. + +It was determined that if a question should be asked to-night, Peel should +say 'the orders had not been countermanded.' Peel observed very justly on +the state of things which seemed to exist in India. An army sending such +memorials to the Government, and the members of the Government writing +pamphlets against each other. In point of fact, years will be required to +restore a proper tone to the Government of India. + +I mentioned to the Duke the mission of two Russian Poles to India and +Manilla, and that I suspected Russia of a wish to purchase Manilla. Neither +the Duke nor Aberdeen seemed to think the Spaniards would or could sell the +Philippines. However, Aberdeen will write to the man at Madrid to find out +whether any proposal to that effect has been made by the Russian +Government. + +The members of the House of Commons consider their majority last night +fortunate. The House is very loose. In the majority and minority were the +most opposite parties. O'Connell went out with Sadler. The Brunswickers are +in high glee, and have sent for their valiant champion, Falmouth. In our +House they made a poor show. + +Prince Leopold is not by any means disposed to take Greece without Candia, +and it was thought, from Lord Lansdowne's speech, he and others had advised +him to take this line. Aberdeen is very much embarrassed to find a +substitute. + + +_February 6._ + +Spring-Rice asked Bankes in the House last night whether the letter to Sir +J. Malcolm published as mine was mine. Bankes said that I had no copy of +it, and therefore could not say it was correctly given. It was a private +letter. Brougham, and Mackintosh, and that ass, M. A. Taylor, spoke in +reprobation of it. Mackintosh most unfairly and disingenuously pretended to +understand I endeavoured to get off by saying it was a private letter, and +said it would be an extenuation of my offence if I would disavow the +sentiments contained in it. What must he be himself to suppose I would +disavow what I had written! Upon the whole, the tone taken by Peel and +Bankes, but more especially by Peel, was too apologetical. I shall be +obliged to go to the House on Monday to have a question put to me by Lord +Lansdowne. I shall distinctly declare he may consider the letter as mine, +and that I am ready to defend every line of it. Wrote to Lord Wellesley to +offer to put his name upon the Committee on East India affairs if he would +attend. He declines on account of ill-health. + +Received a note from Peel begging me to have the Chairs to meet him on the +appointment of the committee. I sent to the Chairman, and he came and met +Peel; but Astell was out of the way. We are to meet at half-past one to- +morrow. Peel did not seem to have looked much into the subject, which the +Chairman observed. + +Saw Bankes. He is not certain of succeeding now to the secretaryship of the +Admiralty, but he expects it ultimately. He thinks the Duke of Buckingham +had nothing to do with Lord Chandos's rejection of the Mint: but does not +know how it went off. He thought that Lord Chandos had accepted, and the +Duke seems to have thought so too. + +A very good account from Ireland. The country gradually and quietly coming +round. + + +_Sunday, February 7._ + +Cabinet. First, Batta. The Duke gave his decided opinion in favour of +adhering to the present order. After some conversation, but no opposition, +the Cabinet acquiesced unanimously in that decision, which has been mine +from the first. + +I had a moment's conversation with Peel about the letter to Sir J. Malcolm, +and told him I would defend every word of it, elephants and all. + +Then we had a good deal of discussion respecting the policy to be pursued +with regard to Cuba, against which the Mexicans are preparing to organise a +slave insurrection, for which purpose they have sent a Minister to Hayti. +It seems to be generally believed that Canning, about the year 1823, issued +a sort of prohibition to the Mexican and Columbian States to attack Cuba, +but no trace can be found in the Foreign Office of any such prohibition. + +Sir R. Wilson means to ask a question upon the subject to-morrow. He says, +if you prohibit the Mexicans and Columbians from attacking Cuba, you should +prohibit the Spaniards from attacking them--which is fair--in fact the +expedition of Barradas was undertaken before we knew anything about it, and +if we had wished we could not have interfered. + +The question as to what answer should be given to Sir R. Wilson, and what +policy pursued, was deferred till to-morrow. + +In the meantime it appears that Mr. Robertson, who is at Mexico, +remonstrated strongly with M. de Bocaregna, respecting the objects of the +embassy to Hayti, and he was told by Aberdeen that he did quite right, and +that not only ourselves but other states might view with disapprobation an +attempt to excite a warfare of an uncivilised character in Cuba. + +The French have assembled 35,000 men to attack Algiers. They promise not to +keep it. [Footnote: This promise was repudiated by the Government of July.] +They intimate their intention of assisting Mehemet Ali with a fleet; but in +the meantime they are satisfied at Constantinople that Mehemet Ali will not +move. + +Aberdeen told Laval that we had informed the Pasha of Egypt that we should +view with disapprobation his attack upon Tunis and Tripoli without the +consent of the Sultan. Laval begged this might be repeated to him three +times. + +Much conversation as to the state of the House of Commons. The Tories are +most radical. Sir R. Vyvyan told Holmes or Planta his object was to reduce +the Government majorities as much as possible, and to make the Government +as contemptible as possible. Sir E. Knatchbull leads about twenty-three. I +think the probability is that, unless we make some coalition with the +Whigs, we shall go to the ground between the two parties, [Footnote: This +eventually occurred on the Civil List question after the accession of +William IV.] both uniting against us upon some point (upon my letter to Sir +J. Malcolm as likely as any other). + +I took home Sir George Murray. He expressed his surprise the Duke should +cling to the hope of reclaiming the ultra-Tories, whom he would not get, +and who were not worth having. + +I confess I think he carries it on too long, although I am not surprised he +should have wished it at first. + +Prince Leopold has given no reply to Aberdeen's letter, or to the offer of +the ambassadors. + +Lord Holland gives notice to-morrow of a motion about Greece, and Lord +Melbourne moves for some papers respecting Portugal. + +Lord Melville gives notice for me of the committee on East Indian Affairs, +and I am not to go down till Tuesday, that we may have out the letter to +Malcolm and other Indian matters all at once. + + +_February 8._ + +Wrote a memorandum for Peel and Bankes to this effect: 'That I had neither +copy nor recollection of the letter; but that I had no doubt the letter +published as mine was substantially correct. It was a confidential +exposition of the motives which induced me to recommend two judges to the +King. [Footnote: It was suggested that with these colleagues Sir J. Grant +would be like a wild elephant between two tame ones. Alluding to the method +of taming captured elephants in India.] It was never intended to be +published, nor did I expect it would be. The expressions, therefore, were +unadvised, but the sentiments were and are mine, deliberately formed upon +full consideration of the official documents before me. + +Cabinet. It appears on looking into papers of 1825 and 1826 that so far +from our having prohibited Mexico and Columbia from making any attack upon +Cuba, we uniformly abstained from doing anything of the kind. The Americans +declared they could not see with indifference any state other than Spain in +possession of Cuba, and further their disposition to interpose their power +should war be conducted in Cuba in a _devastating_ manner, and with a view +to the excitement of a servile war. + +We offered to guarantee Cuba to Spain in 1823 if she would negotiate with +the colonies with a view to their recognition. + +Subsequently we were willing to enter into a tripartite guarantee of Cuba +to Spain with the United States and France. + +The United States seemed not unwilling, but France held back. + +Peel is to say there was no record of any prohibition, but that the United +States declared so, and it was possible Mr. Canning may have intimated a +similar disposition on our part. This is to keep open to us the faculty of +interfering if we please. + +The Duke thinks my letter does not signify one pin. The simile of the +elephants evidently means no more than that an indiscreet judge was placed +between two discreet ones. + +The Duke told me he had offered a Lordship of the Treasury to Ashley, who +had declined it. He then told him to make himself master of the Batta +question. Ashley said he had not seen the papers. He said, let him see the +papers. I told him I had sent them the moment I got them to him, and he had +desired me to send them to the Cabinet room, which I did. When they were +taken from the Cabinet room they went to the India Board, and Ashley might +have seen them. I had never kept any papers from him. We then talked about +the speech to be made in moving the committee. The Duke seems inclined to +have little said. Peel seems disposed to say little; but he knows little. I +think they are wrong. I am sure it is necessary to correct the erroneous +notions which have been propagated with respect to the trade. They will +otherwise acquire so great a head it will be impossible to beat them back. + +However, this we are to talk over with Peel tomorrow. + +General King, who voted against the address on Thursday, is turned out by +the King himself; the Duke having only mentioned the fact. I dare say the +King may be alarmed by the spirit shown by the House of Commons. + +The suicide of . . . . on account of his wife's seduction by the Duke of +Cumberland, will drive the Duke of Cumberland out of the field. + + +_February 9._ + +Called on the Duke. He advised a very narrowed statement in moving for the +committee. I rather doubt his judgment upon this point. I fear the opinion +of the country will become settled, and that when the strength of our case +is brought forward it will be found unequal to the driving back of the +stream. However, I made a speech as he desired. Lord Lansdowne said a few +words. + +Lord Durham then questioned me as to the authenticity of my letter to Sir +J. Malcolm. I acknowledged it was substantially correct, and declared I +could not have entertained any other sentiments without a dereliction of +duty. He expressed disapprobation, considering the letter as evincing a +determination to control the independence of judges. The Duke replied--then +Lord Melville--then Lord Holland--I last. I declared that, as my father's +son, I was the last man capable of harbouring a thought against the +independence of judges; but I would resist their usurpation, more +especially when they usurped powers withheld from them by Parliament as +dangerous to the peace of India and to the stability of the British power. + +I said India could not bear the collision of the Supreme Court and the +Local Government. If we did not support the Government we should lose +India. + +I was determined to maintain the integrity, the dignity, the authority, and +the unapproachable power of the Local Government, and especially to support +a man who, at that distance from England, acting in the faithful discharge +of his public duty, incurred the highest responsibility and the greatest +personal risk in defence of what he considered essential to the stability +of the British power in India. I believe I did well. They all told me I +should hear no more of it. + + +_February 10._ + +Saw Bankes. He says the House of Commons is loose indeed; but he thinks +Ministers will have a majority on the East Retford business. The worst of +it is that those who ought to be the friends of Government will not stay +out a debate. Last night Peel and Goulburn were left with a decided +minority, but the House was counted out. + +Saw Hardinge. He seems to think there is no great danger, and he thinks the +House is in so loose a state that the accession of an individual or two +would not draw others; that Brougham may be quieted, and that the others do +not much signify. + +In the meantime Abercromby has been made Chief Baron of Scotland. Another +Whig gone. A very valuable intimation to those who remain. + +Lord Lansdowne brings in Zachary Macaulay, son of the old saint. [Footnote: +The late Lord Macaulay. He is erroneously described by his father's +Christian name.] They say a very clever man indeed, at least as a writer. + +Hardinge told me the Duke told Mrs. Arbuthnot I spoke very well last night. +At dinner the Chancellor and Sir George Murray congratulated me on what had +taken place. + +After the Cabinet dinner, much talk and nothing settled. The motion of Sir +J. Graham will, I think, be amended--and easily. There is a disposition, +very properly, not to give Portuguese papers. As to the Lord Holland's +motion on Friday no decision is come to. + +Gave the Duke the petition of the Bengal half-castes. + +Mr. Jenkins, who was for many years resident at Nagpore, called upon me and +offered himself as successor to Sir J. Malcolm. He said the Chairs were +disposed to him, if the Government had no objection. I said I was aware of +the services he had rendered, but that there were many distinguished +servants of the Company, and likewise persons of ability who had not been +in India, whose several qualifications must be considered. It was further a +point upon which I must of course communicate with the Duke of Wellington. +The man is a person of dry cold manner, not prepossessing. + +I am disposed to think Mr. Chaplin the best Indian for the situation. + + +_February 11._ + +I think Polignac's Ministry must fall, and really, as regards himself, I +cannot feel regret, as he is the greatest liar that has exercised +diplomatist functions for a long time. I had thought better of him. If +their expedition ever sails for Algiers they will find what it costs to +send an expedition over sea. I think, however, they will succeed, and, if +they do, they will keep Algiers. + +Sir R. Gordon entertains a very different opinion from that expressed by +Aberdeen as to the future fate of the Ottoman Empire. He thinks the events +of the late war prove little, and that the Sultan has learnt a lesson which +will induce him to treat his rayas better--that the war once over, all men +will return to their duty. However, he gives no good reasons for his +opinion. He states very fairly the difficulty of his own position. He says +he has hitherto believed it was the intention of his Government to support +Turkey. He has therefore had influence, because where he has advised +concession the Turks have understood we meant it should not be hurtful to +them--but now, how can he advise the Turks to yield to what is asked, when +he knows the Government think that the more is taken from Turkey, the more +is saved from Russia? Sir R. Gordon says his colleagues are by no means of +opinion that the Ottoman Empire is falling, and that France allows their +officers to go in numbers to serve with the Turkish troops. + +Received a letter from Sir J. Macdonald in which he tells me the Turkish +Asiatic provinces are falling away from the Sultan. + +He encloses a letter from a Mr. Sterling, giving a very interesting account +of his journey by Meshed and near Balkh to Cabul. He took a new road to the +north of the Paropamisan ridge. In Cabul he experienced no difficulty. + + +_February 12._ + +House. Lord Holland's motion of a resolution that the House would not be +satisfied with any plan for the pacification and settlement of Greece, +which did not secure to that state the means of independence by sea and +land, and leave the Greeks free to have their own Constitution. His +information was most inaccurate. Yet on this he founded his distrust of the +Government. Notwithstanding this distrust he was neither with them nor +against them, nor did he wish to turn them out. He made an indifferent +speech. Aberdeen a fair one ill delivered. The Duke spoke admirably. The +brains were beaten out of the motion. No division. Goderich and Clanricarde +and Melbourne spoke; Lord Melbourne poorly. + +On the East Retford [Footnote: It will be remembered that this question had +led to the resignation of Huskinsson and his friends.] question last night +we had a majority of twenty-seven in a House of 226 members--the high +Tories voting with Government. + +Bankes has now the offer of a Lordship of the Admiralty till Croker can be +got rid of; but he will not go. Castlereagh will have the Treasury +Lordship--that is, 600£ a year more for having been careless. + + +_February 13._ + +After seeing the Chairs spoke to the Duke about the Bombay succession. He +asked what I meant to do with Elphinstone? I considered he had left India +altogether. The Duke thought he must return--that he would go to Bombay +again with the expectation of afterwards going to Madras. I think the Duke +has an idea of making him Governor-General. I mentioned Mr. Chaplin. The +Duke mentioned Mr. Jenkins, of whom he thought highly. He had done well at +Nagpore, and he had had some correspondence with him when in India which +gave him a good opinion of him. The Duke spoke of Mr. Russell, but thought +he had been mixed up with the Hyderabad transactions. I then mentioned +Clare. The Duke thought him better than any of the others mentioned. That +it was a great thing to have a man of rank; he must be well supported; he +had not a very strong mind. However, on the whole he seemed better than the +others, and I am to propose him. + +I am very glad to have Clare. I have a great respect and regard for him-- +but I have a little hesitation as to his fitness. He will, however, be a +most zealous and honourable servant of the public, and his good manners +will keep people in good humour and in order. + +Leopold has sent in his answer. I have not seen it yet. He accepts on +conditions. + +The debate last night in the Commons is considered very favourable. +Dawson's amendment was adopted--and Planta and Holmes say the temper of +the country gentlemen is much improved. They are quite in spirits again. + +A hint of Peel's, but a hint that the Government did not fear an appeal to +the country, seems to have had a good effect. + + +_February 14._ + +Cabinet. On Thursday Peel, in opening the Compensation Bill, will detail +the various legal reforms. + +He is disposed to diminish gradually the number of crimes for which the +punishment of death is awarded. The Duke seemed reluctant and so did +others. However, the Chancellor did not object. + +My father considered that where a man could not protect his own property +the law ought to protect it for him by higher penalties. However, now it +seems a man must protect his own property, and punishments are to be +proportioned more to the extent of the moral offence than to the necessity +for preventing crime. + +Then we considered Leopold's answer. The man accepts provided-- + +1. There is a guarantee of the new State. + +2. That the frontier is slightly altered. + +3. That the three powers protect the present insurgents in Samos and +Candia. + +4. That a loan of 1,500,000£ is guaranteed. + +5. That he may have troops furnished to him. + +6. He stipulates that the Greeks should have the power of declining him, +_le soussigné_, as their Prince. + +A guarantee there will probably be, and therefore the alteration of +boundaries, which Leopold knew could not be listened to, is in fact +unnecessary. + +Each power separately and individually may use its good offices with the +Porte for the protection of the Greeks in Samos and Candia, and indeed, +under the agreement as to an amnesty, each would be bound to do so; but no +triple agreement will be entered into, the object being to get out of the +Treaty of July 6. + +Aberdeen seemed disposed to allow 1,000 men of each of the three Powers to +go to Greece. This would continue the triple action, and as these troops +would go, not against any external enemy, but against Greeks, the measure +would be somewhat in contradiction to the declaration the other night that +the Greeks and their Prince might make what Government they pleased. After +some conversation it seemed the general opinion that it would be better to +pay the cost of the troops than to have our own there, and in fact the same +money would enable Greece to have twice the number of Germans or Swiss that +she could have of British. This I thought. But I suggested that Greece +could not want a large sum down. A sum might be required for outfit, but +then an annual sum. Peel proposed the whole loan guaranteed should be +700,000£, of which 100,000£ to be paid down as outfit, and then 100,000£ a +year for six years at 5 per cent; the three Powers guaranteeing each a +third part of the interest. It is better to guarantee the loan, then to pay +money down. The loan, they say, can be made at three. Aberdeen says the +Greeks give a most flourishing exposé of their future finances, and he +thinks they will become a rich State, and the Powers be exposed to no +danger of being called upon for the payment of the interest. I think he +begins to love his Greek progeny. + +The Duke only desired we would get out of the treaty. I suggested the +inexpediency of our joining in the guarantee. A guarantee gave no right of +intervention we should not otherwise possess, and it obliged us to +interfere when we might not desire to do so. However, I fear there will be +a guarantee. + + +_February 16._ + +Cabinet. There seems to be little doubt that the Emperor Pedro means to +direct an expedition from Rio against Portugal, Terceira being the point of +_rassemblement_. This is a practical answer to the question recently put by +us conjointly with France and Austria as to the intentions of the Emperor, +and therefore we are at liberty to act as if a specific answer had been +received. It seems Austria will be very unwilling to recognise Don Miguel; +France not. + +The object of recognising him is to prevent a revolutionary war in Portugal +and the entrance of Spanish troops into Portugal to oppose it. + +Whenever Miguel is recognised, I think Lord Rosslyn will be made Master- +General of the Ordnance, Lord Beresford going to Portugal as Minister, and +then the Privy Seal will be disposable. I dare say the Duke, out of good +nature, will offer it to Lord Westmoreland. + +Aberdeen read the remonstrance he proposed sending to Spain against the +proposed expedition to Mexico. + +Leopold met the Plenipotentiaries, and Aberdeen thinks he would have +acceded, but he evidently required the sanction of another person. The +French Ambassador used very strong language, telling him his Court would be +very much hurt indeed at finding him make these difficulties after all that +had passed, &c. + +Peel told me he was disposed to grant the motion for any correspondence +between the Board of Control or any member of it, &c., with a direct +negative. To move the previous question was an admission of some error. I +was telling him the circumstances when it was necessary to attend to +Aberdeen's business. I must tell him to-morrow. + + +_February 17._ + +At the Cabinet dinner at Lord Melville's, talked to Peel and gave him a +copy of the report of the Privy Council and of my letter to Sir J. Grant. +He is disposed to take a high tone, and thinks men will follow him better +when he does than when he temporises. I am sure they will. + +He says he would reduce everything so low as not to be beat upon +establishments. If he is beat upon unimportant questions he does not care, +and will not go out. They will not get a majority for stopping supplies, +and if they can agree upon motions, he is prepared to play the game of '83 +[Footnote: Alluding to Pitt's course at the beginning of his first +Ministry. He retained office a whole Session in spite of the motions +carried against him, and in the general election of 1784 obtained an +overwhelming majority.] with them. I am sure he is right. + + +_February 18._ + +House. First a question from Lord Holland whether the orders to the Admiral +respecting Greek slaves, &c., would, after the settlement of Greece, apply +to Candiot Greeks. Then Lord Melbourne's motion for Portuguese papers. He +did not speak well--but very bitterly. Goderich spoke pathetically against +the Terceira affair--Lord Wharncliffe well with us--Lansdowne wide and +loose--the Duke very excellent--Aberdeen worse than usual, and very +imprudent, abusing Miguel and making awkward admissions. + +It was quite established that Canning had nothing to say to the Portuguese +Constitution, and I think we shall hear no more of Terceira. Fifty-two to +twenty-one--no proxies. + + +_February 19._ + +Cabinet. Leopold's answer. He wants troops and money. After long talk it +was resolved the French troops might stay a year, till he could raise +others, and money should be given. + + +_February 20, 1830._ + +In riding with Lord Rosslyn had a long conversation with him upon Indian +matters. He had just been reading the despatches from Lord Stuart and Lord +Heytesbury upon these subjects. I told him I had anticipated all Lord H. +suggested and had done, I really thought, all that could be done. I am to +send him the secret letter. He thinks, as I do, that Aberdeen is in a great +hurry to get rid of the Greek question, and disposed to incur future +embarrassments to avoid present inconvenience. + +Lord Rosslyn does not much like the division of last night, but I believe +it was a good one. + + +_February 21._ + +This morning looked through the finance accounts of the three years, ending +1819, and the three ending 1828, with a view to comparing the state of the +country with what it was before Peel's Bill. The increased consumption is +astonishing. The increase of British tonnage and in the number of seamen +since 1819 is equal to the whole tonnage and to all the seamen in the +foreign trade with Great Britain, although that is increased nearly in the +same proportion with our own. + +The increased consumption of tea and coffee is 50 per cent. The number of +pounds in 1819 being about 30,000,000 of pounds, and now 45,000,000 pounds. + +The import of foreign raw produce is much increased--of that produce which +competes with the landed produce of England. + +Hardinge called. He thinks the Government quite safe now. Indeed, he never +had much apprehension. He regrets Sir James Graham's divergence from the +road which leads to office. He thinks he came up to London intending well; +but that he thought under present circumstances he could be a more +considerable man out of office than he would be in a subordinate situation. + +The Duke of Northumberland says the salary of the Lord-Lieutenant may well +be reduced to 20,000£ a year. + + +_February 24._ + +Lord Rosslyn, who called upon me at the office, thinks I may go a little +too far in my directions with regard to Russian spies, that is, in a public +despatch. I had directed that if it appeared danger was likely to arise +from their return to Europe or from their passage into any Asiatic country, +their persons should be placed under restraint, and in all cases their +papers and letters got possession of. He suggests that this might be +mentioned in a private letter, or left to the discretion of the Local +Governments. + +We had a long conversation on Lord Stanhope's motion for to-morrow, when +Whigs and Tories are to combine to beat us. + +The division last night in the House of Commons on Lord J. Russell's motion +for giving two members to Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds, was not +satisfactory. There were 140 for it, and only 188 against it. The Tories +stayed away. + + +_February 25._ + +House at 4 and until 2. Lord Stanhope's motion for a Committee of the whole +House on the internal state of the country. He made a weak speech, because +to get votes he abstained from stating the cause of distress, which in his +opinion is currency, or any remedy. Goderich and Lansdowne made good +speeches. Rosebery not a bad one, though as usual pompous. All suggesting +some remedies--all for reducing taxation, but against a Committee of the +House. Lord Radnor made a good vulgar speech. King spoke better than usual. +He proposed, but afterwards withdrew, an amendment for a Committee +upstairs. The Duke, who alone spoke on our side, did not speak well, and +some of his statements were hazardous. Lords Darnley and Bute declared +there was no distress near them. + +We divided well. There being but fifteen present for Lord Stanhope's +motion, and ten proxies. + + +_February 26._ + +Chairs at 11. Went over with them the letter on Batta. + +Lord Wharncliffe intends on Tuesday to propose examining the Chairman of +the East Indian Company. + + +_February 27._ + +Wrote a note to Loch to tell him of Lord Wharncliffe's intention. He does +not like the idea at all, and wishes to see me before the Committee sits. I +have named Monday at eleven. I told him my feeling was against his being +examined, as I thought it unfair; besides, he was not the best witness. I +told Lord Wharncliffe he should examine Lord Amherst. + +At the Cabinet room I attempted to read the papers respecting Irish +education. My opinion is that it would be better to let the matter rest for +the present; the agitation of it may revive animosities, and if any good be +attainable, it may be attained at a more favourable period than the +present. I rather doubt whether it might not be yet more safely left to the +people themselves, as education in England and in Scotland. + + +_March 1._ + +Cabinet. We were to have talked about Irish education, but more important +matters intervened. There is a motion on Friday of Mr. Davenport's for a +Committee on the internal state of the country. Peel thinks there will be a +union of parties in favour of it. He feels it must be opposed. Some of the +friends of Government have said they must vote for it. He proposes that +Goulburn should to-morrow give notice of his intention of explaining his +views as to taxation on Monday week. Peel thinks that he can procure an +adjournment of the debate till after Goulburn's exposé. + +Goulburn suggests taking off the whole of the beer tax, and remitting the +hop duty for this year, as well as remodelling it. He likewise proposes +lowering the duties on East and West India sugar, the former from 37_s_. to +25_s_., and the latter from 27_s_. to 20_s_. + +As the revenue is decreasing, these reductions cannot be taken from it. +There must be a commutation. This he proposes to be a modified property +tax, to apply to landed property, all fixed property, and the funds as well +as all offices, but not to the profits of trade. + + +_March 2._ + +There seems to have been some incivility last night on the part of Sir +Charles Burrell and Sir E. Knatchbull against me, with reference to my +opposition to the Duke of Richmond's motion on the wool question last year. + + +_March 3._ + +Peel's. Met Bankes, Graham, and Ashley. It was, after talk, agreed that the +papers asked should be refused, unless in the course of the debate it +should appear that the granting of Grant's petition and the report of the +Privy Council would improve the division. I expect a regular attack upon +myself from all quarters. I would give a year of the House of Lords to be +there to throw grape-shot amongst the small lawyers. + +Cabinet room. Read despatches relating to the expedition to Algiers, which +is certainly going. + +Cabinet dinner at Peel's. The affair of the vacated offices becomes +serious, for it seems certain that it is necessary to take the declaration +again upon any new patent, and the Board of Admiralty should have taken the +declaration as well as Castlereagh--the Board of Control as well as me. + +The Chancellor continues to have no objection to reducing the salaries of +the Supreme Court Judges. + + +_March 5._ + +Chairs at 11. I got rid of them as soon as I could, as I wished to go to +the Committee. + +Loch showed me a letter from Lord William Bentinck, by which it appears +that the officers of the Cawnpore division of the army wished to have a +general meeting for the election of delegates to England. Sir J. +Whittingham forwarded their request to Lord Combermere, highly disapproving +of it. Lord Combermere directed the Adjutant-General to write a letter +coinciding with Sir J. Whittingham's opinions, and adding that he would be +the advocate of the army both in India and in England. Lord William +(Bentinck) is going up the country with the _Government_ and wishes to take +Lord Dalhousie with him. He expects very uncivil treatment, and says the +discontent is deep-seated. The same account is received from other +quarters. + +The debate was adjourned last night. R. Grant made a speech in a moderate +tone, but disingenuous. Lord Ashley spoke good stuff apparently, but Henry +says he could not hear him. Lord Graham was unembarrassed and did well; but +the 'Times' hardly gives him ten words. + +I sent a note to Peel to-day observing upon the disingenuousness of Grant's +speech. He told me he had been reading the papers, and saw it was no +question of judicial independence, but of judicial aggression, and he +thought the tone of the Governor who was in the right much better than that +of the Judge who was in the wrong. So I hope he will make a good speech. + + +_March 6._ + +Read letters from Sir J. Macdonald. They came by Constantinople. The only +news they contain is that the Russians certainly have the intention of +conquering Khiva and Bokhara. This comes from Chasanes Murza. I told the +Duke, who seems disposed to make it an European question. + +I showed the Duke a most atrocious libel on royalty which has been +published in the 'Calcutta Gazette.' If the King saw it he would recall +Lord William by the Sign Manual. A letter must be written immediately in +the press. It is in such a state that our Government cannot stand if it be +permitted to go on uncontrolled. + +I asked the Duke as to taxation. He said he thought it could be done +without income tax. To lay on income tax would be to weaken ourselves in +the opinion of all foreign Powers. Besides, it would prevent our reducing +the Four per Cents. + +He calculated the loss of the beer duty at 3,500,000£. and, marine +insurance, cider, remission of hop duty, &c., would make the loss +4,500,000£. + +To meet this he expected + + £ + Surplus of last year 1,700,000 + Additional from general improvement 400,000 + Additional malt by reducing beer duties 500,000 + Increased duty on spirits 500,000 + Reducing Four per Cents 750,000 + Savings 1,400,000 + Ireland, soap, &c. 450,000 + Stamps 200,000 + --------- + 5,900,000 + 4,500,000 + --------- + 1,400,000 + +There may have been more; but he spoke, and I write from memory. + +I told him I thought that with a diminished duty on beer and an increased +duty on spirits he could not expect an increase of 500,000£ on spirits. He +admitted that was the weak point. He said he was sure we could not carry an +income tax while we had a million surplus. If we have a good harvest, I +have no doubt the increase on malt will be great; but I apprehend there +must be a repayment of beer duties, and if there should be, the loss will +be enormous. + + +_March 8._ + +Sent Mr. Elphinstone a letter giving an account of the travels to the North +of the Paropamisan range into Cabul. + +The Duke said we really must look out for a new Governor-General. I +suggested Hardinge. He said Hardinge had not as yet station enough in the +opinion of the public, in the army, or in Parliament. He wished him to be +Secretary in Ireland. It would have been much better if he had gone there +instead of Lord F. Gower, and Lord P. to the War Office. To be sure, then +we should not have had the reductions Hardinge had effected. He had, as I +knew, always wished Hardinge to go to Ireland. + +I observed that Hardinge was rising every day in public estimation, which +the Duke acknowledged, and I added that I was sure none would do the duty +better, for he had firmness and habits of business. The Duke seems to think +of Elphinstone. He said he was a very clever man. I told him I had been an +hour and a half with Elphinstone last night. I told the Duke all my notions +respecting individual responsibility, members of Council, &c., and that I +had begged Elphinstone to think of them. The Duke seemed generally to +approve of them. It seems Lord Wellesley never would go to Council. I do +not wonder at it; but the Duke used to tell him he was Governor-General _in +Council_--that he ought always to go there. + + +_March 10._ + +Dined with the Duke. Cabinet dinner. Only the Peers there. The others +detained by Lord Palmerston's motion on Portugal, on which there was a +majority of two to one, 150 odd to 70 something. Huskisson made a very bad +dull speech. We talked about a successor to the Speaker. They seem to think +he will not resign now, as he would not get a good pension in the present +temper of the House. + +The candidates are Sir J. Beckett, Littleton, G. Bankes, Wynn of course. I +mentioned Frankland Lewis as a good man, which he would be. I dare say the +Chairs will think he should be elected unanimously. + +It seems there must be a Bill of Indemnity for not taking the declaration, +two Bishops, Chester and Oxford, not having taken it. The Duke finds he has +at Dover, as Lord Warden. + +We had some little conversation about the income tax, which the Duke is +very hostile to, and I am glad we shall not have it. + + +_March 11._ + +The Russians have at last sent their reply to our expostulatory note. I +have not had time to read it. Lord Heytesbury calculates that the last war +cost them 12,000,000£, but they endeavour to conceal the amount. + +Peel told me the House was quite excited against the Bombay judges, and +that the division fairly represented its real opinion. + + +_March 12._ + +There was but one black ball in the election of Lord Clare, and the Chairs +think that was put in by mistake; no one objected. + + +_March 13._ + +Read Sir H. Parnell's pamphlet on taxation. + +Cabinet room at two. I had only got half through the Russian answer when +the Cabinet met for the subject of taxation. + +I rather expected to find that the Duke had had communications with +Goulburn, and that the idea of a property tax was given up. However, that +seemed not to be the case. It was determined the whole beer duty should be +given up in any case. + + £ + The expected revenue is 50,250,000 + The expected expenditure 47,930,000 + ---------- + Surplus 2,320,000 + Add by reduction of Four per Cents 777,000 + By 1_s_. 6_d_. on British, + and 2_d_. on Irish and Scotch Spirits 400,000 + By stamps in Ireland 220,000 + 3,717,000 + Deduct beer tax, £3,200,000, but the loss to + the revenue from the probable increase of malt, + calculated at 2,500,000 + ---------- + 1,217,000 + Probable increase of revenue 450,000 + ---------- + Sinking fund 1,667,000 + +The conversion of stock into annuities is proceeding at the rate of +1,000,000 pounds a month, and the increased annual charge already is +250,000 pounds. Certainly to this extent the estimated three millions of +surplus might be fairly reduced; but to reduce the surplus to 1,200,000 +pounds or 1,600,000 pounds would be an entire abandonment of the system +adopted by the Finance Committee and the Government. + +It seemed to me that the members of the House of Commons were all in favour +of the income tax; all the Peers against it. The Duke was strongly against +it. He apprehended the reduction of establishments, and particularly the +pressure of the tax on men of 1,200 pounds a year, and under. + +If I imposed the income tax, I would make it the means of a thorough +reconciliation between the higher and lower classes. In this manner only +would it be effectual and make a strong Government. + +I object greatly to Goulburn's deductions from the old income tax. He +excepts _occupiers_; that is, as regards land occupiers, quite right; but +he excepts manufacturing capital and capital engaged in commerce. Now, why +should the man who has 100,000 pounds in a manufactory, and makes 10 per +cent, on that sum, pay nothing, while the man who invests his 100,000 +pounds in the funds gets only 3 1/2 per cent, and pays 5 per cent, out of +that reduced profit? The man who has a manufacturing or _commercial +capital_ is a _saving man_. He can afford to pay something to the State, +and why should he not? So the lawyer who may be making 10,000 pounds a +year is to pay nothing. If he takes 5,500£. a year and becomes a judge, he +pays 137 pounds 10 shillings. Yet his interest is still for life. + +In all this there seems to me unfairness. + +If the tax be imposed as it is proposed, it will be very difficult to +include afterwards the classes now exempted. It will be impossible to take +off the tax, and whenever a tax is unpopular, those upon whom it presses +will say, 'Take it off. It is only adding 1/4 or 1/2 per cent. to the +income tax.' + +A real property tax is the fairest of all taxes--but an income tax is the +most unfair even when it affects all income; but when it affects the income +of some who have a life interest, and not the income of others in the same +situation, it is most unfair indeed. + +It is quite erroneous to suppose that those who pay an income tax are the +only persons who suffer from it. The reduction of establishments, the +diminished consumption, the increased economy in every article of +expenditure on the part of those affected by it have necessarily the effect +of reducing the wages of labour. The labourer may buy some things cheaper, +but he has less wherewith to buy. + + +_Sunday, March 14._ + +Saw Hardinge at two. Told him how we stood as to the question of taxation. +He said he thought the income tax would be popular, but agreed with me in +thinking it should be established on strictly just principles. + +Cabinet at three. Goulburn read a new statement showing the surplus this +year, if we reduced beer and leather, and next year too. The surplus this +year is about 2 millions. Next year about 1,500,000£. + +The income tax reaches the funds, and the Irish, and the parsimonious, and +the rich--so far it is good, but it likewise reaches the man of 100£ a +year. It tends to diminution of establishments, to diminished demand for +labour. To create an alteration in demand generally. + +It was proposed to exempt professions and trades. This was unjust, and it +would have led to an entire separation and hostility between the landed +proprietors and the united body of labourers and manufacturers. + +These last would have joined on all occasions in urging a further and still +a further increase of income tax, and would never have consented to a tax +on consumption. The income tax would finally absorb all other taxes. + +Another great objection to the income tax now is that it would have the +effect of perilling the reduction of the 3 per cents. + +The Duke, Rosslyn, and I were decidedly against income tax. Lord Bathurst +and Lord Melville, as well as the Chancellor, less decidedly so, but still +in favour of abiding by the reduction of the beer and leather tax. Aberdeen +said nothing, neither did Sir G. Murray, so they were understood to go with +the majority. + +Goulburn acknowledged the discussion had to a great extent changed his +opinion, and that he was not then prepared to propose the tax. + +Herries seemed much in its favour; but more, as it seemed to me, because he +wished to maintain a large surplus according to the decision of the Finance +Committee than for any good reason. Peel was decidedly for a property tax. +He wished to reach such men as Baring, his father, Rothschild, and others, +as well as absentees and Ireland. He thought too it was expedient to +reconcile the lower with the higher classes, and to diminish the burthen of +taxation on the poor man. I accede to the principle; but I doubt whether +taxes on consumption do really press more heavily on the poor man than an +income tax. What he has to look to is not the actual price of the article +he wants, but the proportion which his wages bear to that price. It matters +little to him what the price of candles may be, if he has not money +wherewith to purchase them. That system of taxation is best for the poor +man which most tends to increase the funds for the employment of labour; +and every disturbance in the system, every alteration of demand, does +intrinsic mischief. + +After this matter was decided, Peel behaving most fairly, and declaring he +would support the decision of the Cabinet whatever it might be, and that in +this case the decision of the Treasury was to be principally looked to, we +talked of Queen Donna Maria, in whose name Don Pedro has established a +Regency in Terceira. + +I read Leopold's letter to Lord Aberdeen, in which he refers to his letter +of February 11, for the statement of his views in taking the Greek coronet, +saying that he only acceded from courtesy, and as a matter of form, to the +protocol, and further urging some alteration in the frontier. He has made +an application for a joint guarantee by the three Powers of a loan of +60,000,000 paras, or 2,400,000£. Now we only agreed to guarantee 50,000£ a +year, and that for troops. Nothing will be said upon this point till he has +withdrawn his letter. He seems to be Aberdeen's pet. I do not think, had +the Greeks searched Europe, they could have found a man whose character was +more congenial to their own. + + +_March 17._ + +Leopold has withdrawn his obnoxious letter. + + +_March 18._ + +House at five. Debate on the Duke of Richmond's motion for a select +Committee on the state of the labouring classes, and the effect of taxation +upon the productive powers of industry. + +A most dull debate, till Lord Holland spoke. I answered him. Lord Lansdowne +next, then the Duke. I spoke, showing the impracticability of the +Committee. I however showed up Committees rather too much. This Lord +Lansdowne took hold of, not very fairly, but he did it well. + +We had in the House 69; they 39. + +With proxies we had 140 to 61. My uncle voted in the minority, and so did +Coplestone. Dudley, Lord Malmesbury, Lord Gower, voted with us. + +The Whigs, Brunswickers, and Canningites were in the minority. The Duke of +Cumberland was there. + +I find we have some recruits--in proxies Lord Lauderdale, Duke of Bedford, +Downshire, Lord Wilton; and Lord Jersey sits behind us. He has now Lord +Lauderdale's proxy. All this is consequent upon Lord Rosslyn's accession. +Lord Grey has now no one left. No one expressed a wish to turn out the +Ministers. + + +_March 19._ + +It seems that in the House of Commons Huskisson made a friendly speech, +finding he can do no harm, and Lord Althorp a very friendly one. In short, +everybody seems to be of opinion that the worst thing that could be done +would be to turn out the Government. + +Peel says, and so does Herries, that the House is in favour of an income +tax. That what we have determined upon is the best for this year, but that +next year there must be an income tax. + +Cabinet. Leopold wants more money. It was agreed he should have 70,000 +pounds a year loan guaranteed to him for seven years, instead of 50,000 +pounds. + +The holders of 4 per cents. are to have the option of 100 pounds stock 3 +1/2, or 70 pounds stock 5 per cents. Trustees may only convert into the 3 +1/2 per cents. + + +_March 20._ + +Chairs at 11. They have made some alterations in the letter to the Indian +Government respecting their conduct, and have praised Lord William for his +_perseverance_, &c. This is contrary to the Duke's view and to mine. I +shall see whether I can allow their amendments. + +I find they have likewise altered much in the letter relative to Batta. + + +_March 23._ + +The Duke, Lord Bathurst, and Rosslyn went away at 2 to the Cabinet, where +they decided against the Jew Relief Bill. The bishops have intimated that +they must unanimously oppose it. + +Debate on Lord Clanricarde's motion on the eternal Terceira question. The +Duke spoke very well. The House was flat. The division with proxies 126 to +31, 4 to 1. We have now of Whig proxies Bedford, Lauderdale, Wilton, +Downshire, Belhaven, Meldrum, and Lord Jersey. + + +_March 24._ + +Cabinet dinner at Sir J. Murray's. Considered what course should be adopted +upon P. Thompson's motion for a committee to revise taxation. Peel still +hankers after the property tax, and rather unwillingly opposes this motion. +However, it will be done on the ground that the remission of such a +question to a committee would derange, by existing apprehensions and hopes, +the whole industry of the country. In fact it would likewise vest the +Government in the committee. Peel, Planta, and Holmes all think the +division will be close. I do not apprehend that, if the debate be well +conducted. + +Had a long conversation with the Duke upon Indian matters. The +recollections of his youth are strong upon him, and he still clings to the +old forms. + + +_March 25._ + +Read some evidence before the Commons on the China trade. + +Committee. Examined Mr. Elphinstone. He gave very good evidence. + +House. A flat discussion on the Kentish petition. + + +_March 26._ + +We had two to one last night. The House not very full. It seemed by no +means the wish of the House to have a property tax; quite the contrary. + +Mr. Elphinstone re-examined by Lord Lansdowne and others. He gave a very +good evidence, and quite knocked up colonisation. + + +_Monday, March 29, 1830._ + +Office at 2. Looked over regulations, &c., relative to the half-castes and +considered their question. Came to a decided opinion against their +admissibility to offices which can be held by natives. + +When Lord Carlisle presented the petition I said very little, expressed +compassion for their situation, and a wish to relieve it in any manner +consistent with the conservation of our empire and the well-being of the +great body of the native population. I said what they asked was not +equality of rights, but privilege. + +Lord King's resolutions on the Corn Laws. A dull debate which lasted till +nine--no division. The Duke did not speak well, and it was unnecessary for +him to speak at all. + + +_March 30._ + +Committee. Examined Mr. Chaplin, who gave a very good evidence. He is +decidedly against the employment of half-castes. + +I told the Duke at the Committee that I had written to the King immediately +on Clare's appointment, and afterwards to Sir F. Watson, when I sent the +warrant and had got no answer. The Duke said he would enquire about it. He +thought he should have spoken to the King _before_. However, he would +settle it. + + +_March 31._ + +Committee at 1. Examined Mr. Ricketts, the half-caste, when Lord Carlisle +had examined him in chief. Mr. Ricketts did not seem to know much about the +law. It was odd enough to observe him looking round to me after every +answer. + +We had afterwards Mr. Baker, a strong contrast indeed with Mr. Ricketts. He +gave very curious evidence relative to the trade of the Arabs of Malabar +with Scinde, the Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea. + + +_April 2._ + +Cabinet. Question whether the French should be allowed to hire 9,000 tons +of transports now in the river for the expedition against Algiers. The Duke +was strongly against it. The French had behaved so ill to us, concealing +their objects from us, and revealing them to other Courts, besides +intriguing with the Pasha of Egypt. + +Aberdeen was for giving the permission. He thought the French would +consider it quite a hostile measure if we refused permission. However, +permission will not be given. + +Leopold is still negotiating about the money, and it seems doubtful whether +he will not resign at last. + + +_April 3._ + +The Company have got into an awkward scrape. It seems they have not made +out their account of the prime cost of their tea as merchants do, that they +have charged all losses whether from fixed rate of exchange or other +causes, whereas merchants in general state prime cost on a calculation of +the price in the place where the article is purchased, the other +calculations going in diminution of profit. + +I begin to think the maintenance of the monopoly will be impossible. I have +long thought it very inexpedient. It would leave a sullen, settled feeling +of discontent in the minds of the manufacturers and merchants of England. + + +_April 6._ + +Wrote to the Duke to tell him I had not yet received the Duke of +Devonshire's memorandum respecting Sir W. Rumbold, and that in the meantime +I was getting into as small a compass as possible the information he +desired. + +I added that the liberation of the Nizam changed our position with respect +to Sir W. Rumbold, and I should be glad to speak to him about it. + +I reminded him of Lord Clare's appointment, not yet approved by the King. + + +_April 8._ + +Cabinet at 2. The Committee on the Bank Charter to be taken out of +Huskisson's hands. + +The King was not well yesterday. The Duke recollected Clare's appointment, +and thinks I shall have the warrant in a day or two. + + +_April 9._ + +Wrote to Wrangham, begging him to send me the Cabinet box I desired the +Cabinet messenger to take to my house yesterday. I think it contained the +papers relative to Russian projects against India. + +I have been so unwell the last two days I have been unable to do any public +business. + + +_April 12._ + +Had some conversation with Hardinge. He thinks the Duke will not remain in +office above a year more, and that Peel will then be Minister, and that +Peel looks forward to that now. I said I feared he would be a very Radical +Minister. + +Hardinge thinks Sir G. Murray would be very well satisfied to be Master- +General, that he feels the Colonial Office is above him. I doubt, however, +if he would like leaving it. If Peel was Minister he would have all the +Ministers he could in the House of Commons. + +From what Hardinge heard from Croker I am inclined to think that foolish +fellow and others imagine they could go on without Peel. + +I do not think it impossible we may have a dissolution of Parliament if +there should be a good harvest. + + +_April 12._ + +Sent the letter and list of Russian papers about China to the Duke. Wrote +to Aberdeen and told him so. Observed at the same time that I should be +very glad to make some arrangement with the Portuguese for excluding opium +from their Indian ports; but I feared the present state of our relations +with Portugal was not favourable for our doing so. + + +_April 13._ + +Found in London the papers I had sent to the Duke. He says he is sorry he +has read them. He had thought better of Sir Ch. Metcalfe. The only one of +the four who writes _common sense_ is Elphinstone. + + +_April 15._ + +The King was apparently very ill indeed yesterday. + +Received a medal struck for the native troops engaged in the Burmese war +from Loch, and another to be transmitted to the King. + + +_April 16._ + +Saw Hardinge, who called upon me at R. + +The King has really been very ill, but certainly not worse than the +bulletin made him. + +Sir H. Halford does not go down to-day, nor will there be any more +bulletins. + +Hardinge seems to be dissatisfied with Peel, who he says is cold and never +encourages any one. All this is very true. + +I think Hardinge rather looks to the Colonial Office. He thinks Sir G. +Murray does not do the business well, and that he would be perfectly +satisfied with the Ordnance. Hardinge does not like Ireland, yet, I think, +he will find he goes to Ireland. The Duke certainly wishes it. + +The Duke of Clarence is very fond of Hardinge, and tells him all he means +to do when he is 'King William.' This seems much confined at present to +changes in uniforms. He means to make the Blues _red_, and to have gold +lace for all the Line, and silver lace for all the Militia. + + +_April 17._ + +Saw Sir A. Campbell at 1. He came about his claim upon the Company. I told +him I transacted all business of that nature in writing. I gave him +information as to the proposal of the Chairs, which is to give him staff +allowances for a year, instead of Batta, by which he would gain about +15,850 R., or about 1,580£. What he wants is about 25,000£, or the +difference between that and the value of his pension of 1,000£ a year--that +is, 15,000£. + +Went to the Foreign Office. No news there or at the Treasury of the King. +The report is that he is better. + +Read there for an hour and a half. + +Polignac offers, if it were desired, to sign a Convention upon the +principles laid down in Aberdeen's despatch as to Algiers. + +He seems out of humour altogether with Leopold; Villele seems to have no +great disposition to come in, although his friends have. He says the +Opposition will in any case have 180 votes in the new Chamber. + +Spain will withdraw her Minister and have only a Chargé d'Affaires at +Lisbon if Don Miguel will not grant the amnesty. + +France does not remonstrate against the abolition of the Salic Law in +Spain, as she precluded herself by treaty from the succession. The law was +otherwise in the old Spanish monarchy. [Footnote: The Salic law was +introduced by Philip V. of Spain, the first Bourbon king, whose own claim +was through his mother, daughter of Louis XIV., who had renounced the +succession.] The abrogation of the Salic law is directed against Don +Carlos, &c., and the King naturally wishes his own child to succeed, be the +child male or female. + +Saw Mr. Downie on the part of Mr. Chippendale, the man who was removed by +the Sign Manual from the service of the India Company. The Court and the +Bengal Government did not view his offence in the same light. The poor man +is ruined, but the feelings of humanity must not interfere with the +interests of the public service. His removal was a good hint to the whole +body of civil servants, and did good. + + +_April 18._ + +Brought Lord Clare home after church, and showed him my letter to Mr. +Elphinstone respecting the chiefs of Kattywar and the Guicowar. Talked over +the policy to be pursued with regard to them. + +He is to leave England in September, and means to go to Marseilles. + + +_April 19._ + +Lord William seems to have been much gratified by my letters in May and +June affording the pledges of my support and the assurances of my +confidence. Afterwards, however, he received my letter of July, intimating +censure for the relaxations of the rules restricting the residence of +Europeans, and a difference of opinion as to the Government leaving +Calcutta. His letters are in a very good tone and temper. + +I sent all the letters to the Duke. + + +_April 20._ + +Drove to the Foreign Office and saw Aberdeen. Went to enquire how the King +really was, for the bulletin of yesterday says his difficulty of breathing +continues. Aberdeen said the King really was not so ill as the bulletin +represented him to be. There was no present danger. The Duke thinks he +understands the King's case exactly, and says he has no water on the chest, +as is reported, but is _rather fat_. It is said the seat of pain is the +prostate gland. The people about him are seriously alarmed. + +Advised Hardinge, who dined with me, to come forward on the Terceira +question, which he seems inclined to do. Peel will be much obliged to him. +I told him I thought the strong position was this: 'We are at liberty to +prevent that which, if we permitted, would be a cause of war.' I think I +shall write a memorandum for him. + + +_April 21._ + +Wrote to Astell to ask if he would buy the Russian China papers. I told him +at the same time that a Russian ship was going at the charge of the Russian +Government to India, Swan River, and China as a commercial feeler. + +Cabinet at 2. The King is rather better, but in a precarious state. The +embarrassment in his breathing comes on in spasms. His digestion is good, +and they think there is no water. The Duke will urge him to have regular +bulletins published. He goes down tomorrow. He has not seen him since this +day week. The King is in excellent humour with everybody, and never was +more kind to the Duke. + +There has been a short difference between the King and Peel. The King +having sent a pardon to Ireland for a Mr. Comyn, who burnt his house to +defraud his landlord, &c., Peel insisted, and the man will be hanged; the +Lord Lieutenant having taken upon himself to give a reprieve only, and not +to promulgate the pardon. + +The Duke described the King as a bold man, afraid of nothing if his +Ministers would stand by him, and certainly neither afraid of pain or of +death. I did not think this of the King. In general he has been supposed to +be a coward. + +In Cabinet it was decided to authorise and advise the Lord Lieutenant to +put into execution the law for suppressing the association against that +which O'Connell is now endeavouring to organise, and at the same time to +give silk gowns to Shiel and two or three other Roman Catholic barristers, +omitting O'Connell. However, this last measure will be mentioned to the +King, although a King's letter is not required. + +We had afterwards a talk, and a long one, about Algiers. + +Prince Polignac sent a despatch to the Duc de Laval, giving explanations +satisfactory upon the whole, but mixed up with matter accusatory of us. Of +this despatch the Duc de Laval was not authorised to give a copy. We want a +written declaration of their views, none other being official. They are +afraid of their Chambers, and of giving a pledge to England different from +that which they have given to other Powers, and with which other Powers +have been satisfied. Peel thinks they will promise to abstain from +permanent occupation, and exact an amount of indemnity so large, with +occupation as a security, as to make that occupation permanent. If they got +possession of Algiers, I do not believe they will ever give it up--say +what they may. + +Peel objected to me saying what declaration would satisfy us, as in the +event of their deceiving us, or quibbling, it would then seem to be our +folly which had led to it. + +All seem to view the comparative statement of the prices of teas in the +same light that I do, as fatal to the monopoly. + + +_April 23._ + +Rode to the Treasury to enquire after the King; but there were so many +waiting to see the Duke I did not wait. The King is rather better. + + +_April 24._ + +A letter from Lady Macdonald enclosing one from the Nain Muhan to herself, +very complimentary and really pretty. She is to be at Tabriz in October. + +The King has had two good nights. + +Peel's letters to the Lord Lieutenant respecting the suppression of the new +Association and the appointment of Catholic King's Counsel was circulated. + + +_Sunday, April 25._ + +Read Aberdeen's and the Duke's speeches on the Terceira question, and +afterwards wrote a memorandum for Hardinge's use, bringing into a short +compass all the strong points of the case. + +Mr. Sullivan called upon me after church, and told me his son remained in +India. It is very extraordinary that he should be glad of this, as he must +be without the hope of ever seeing him. + + +_April 26._ + +Cabinet at 3. The King has had another good night. He has, however, had +another attack. His pulse is in a weak state. He seems oppressed by fat. He +is become alarmed about himself, which much increases danger in such a +complaint. Consequently all the _entourage_ is alarmed too. + +The drawing-room and levee are to be postponed _sine die_. Trade and +agriculture are both flourishing. The only embarrassment arises out of the +uncertainty as to the King's health. + +Leopold is to have a loan of sixty millions, guaranteed in equal portions +by the three Powers. The loan to have a sinking fund of 3 per cent, to be +paid in equal portions in eight years. The guarantee is to Leopold and his +descendants, being sovereigns of Greece. + +Thus he has obtained almost all he asked, and what he most wanted, the +money. + +Peel seems to think the King's death by no means improbable. If it should +take place, Parliament would adjourn till after the funeral, and then be +dissolved. + +In the House Lord Durham, in presenting a petition against the East Indian +monopoly, said he gathered from what had fallen from His Majesty's +Ministers that they were determined to maintain it. + +I said, 'I cannot admit that anything which has fallen from me, or, in my +presence, from any of my noble colleagues, can justify the noble lord in +assuming that His Majesty's Government have formed any determined opinion +upon the subject.' + + +_April 27._ + +House. East Retford case. The Duke showed me a letter from Halford which +gives a very alarming account of the King. He went on much the same till +half-past three this morning, when Halford was sent for and remained till +half-past eight. The embarrassment of breathing was considerable. The King +was rather better at half-past ten, when the bulletin was dated. Halford +says he can tell more than he can write. He does write that there is +_water_, and it is evident the King is very much alarmed. + +From the letter I should say he could not live many weeks. + +In the House Lord Strangford told me that Sir W. Seymour [Footnote: +Recently appointed a judge at Bombay.] was dead. He died in December--a +short time after the birth of his son. + +Really the mortality amongst judges is awful. + + +_April 28._ + +Went to Guildhall to be present at the trial of Serjeant Kearney for the +assault on Astell. I was not called as a witness. The man was very +intemperate indeed, and abused Astell very much. He spoke of my kind +interference, &c., but made a mistake in imagining that I had advocated +with the Chairs the loan he asked of 250£. I came away as soon as the +Recorder began to sum up. It was curious to see how justice was +administered. The Recorder, an old twaddle, who talked half the time with +the accused, and allowed him to make speeches instead of putting questions, +and Sir C. Hunter, Sir J. Shaw, and another alderman! + +Went to the office at 3. Loch, with whom I had some conversation at +Guildhall, told me he had heard the explanation Melville intended to give +of the matter of prime cost, and he thought it satisfactory. Wortley said +Arbuthnot by no means thought it satisfactory, but was to put the +questions. Wortley said Arbuthnot told him the Duke had read the evidence +and was himself satisfied the monopoly could not be maintained. + +Cabinet dinner at Lord Bathurst's. The Duke was at Windsor this morning. He +did not see the King because the King refused to see the Duke of +Cumberland, and begged the Duke would not see him unless it was very +pressing, that the rebuff to the Duke of Cumberland might be less. +Accordingly, the Duke sent in on paper what he had to say, and he got two +signatures, although they were given very reluctantly. The King says it is +_unkind_ in those about him to urge him to sign, as they know how +distressing it is to him. In fact _yesterday_ it would have been death to +move his arm. We are to meet on Friday to consider what shall be done. Some +means must be devised of getting signatures, for his state may last some +months. He was ill for four hours yesterday evening. Halford was with him +all the time, and held his hand. Halford says he is sure the King would +have died had he not been there. He was nearly dead as it was. However, +after this attack, which began at half-past two, he had a solid dinner and +slept well, and this morning he woke much relieved, but _with a dropsy_-- +that is, an external dropsy, the water being between the skin. Knighton +thinks some must be upon the chest; but the two others are inclined to +think not. He may live days, weeks, or even months; but I doubt his living +weeks. On Sunday he saw the women, and on Monday too. He was then alarmed +about himself. Now he mistakes water for gout, although his legs are +swelled to double their usual size. The physicians do not undeceive him. +However, the public will find it out. He has not read the newspapers for +two days _He_ is much relieved by the effusion of water. + +It seems the medical men when they read the first bulletin said, 'It must +end in water.' + +Lord Rosslyn has looked into the Acts, &c., and finds there is no +difficulty at all about the money vote on the Bills. They all went on at +the accession of the present King. + +The Duke was requested by the physicians and the people about the King not +to mention Shiel's proposed appointment; to make it, if he thought it +essential, but to spare the King all discussion. Of course, as it is +thought the King would be agitated, the Duke has neither mentioned it nor +done it. + +There was in circulation a letter from the Duke of Northumberland +expressing his extreme satisfaction at the decision of the Government with +respect to the putting down of the new associations, and likewise with +respect to the making of the Catholic silk gowns. + +The bulletins are to be now shown at St. James's; a lord and groom-in- +waiting will be there. + +Received a letter from Sir J. Dewar [Footnote: Chief Justice of Bombay and +a colleague of Sir W. Seymour. They were the two judges referred to in the +letter to Sir J. Malcolm.] to inform me of the death of Sir W. Seymour. He +died more of the fear of dying than of fever. His apprehension for Lady +Seymour affected him very much. She was confined the day he was taken ill. + + +_April 29._ + +Halford thinks worse of the King. There have been other attacks of +embarrassment of breathing. I do not myself think he will live a fortnight. + +There was an excellent division on Terceira about 2-1/2 to 1. Hardinge was +not wanted. + + +_April 30._ + +Cabinet. The King very ill yesterday. The least exertion brings on an +attack. Halford thinks he has water in the abdomen and chest. He had some +sleep, and was better in the morning when they issued the bulletin, which +says his symptoms were alleviated. However, the bulletin so little +corresponds with his real state that they think he saw it. It seems to be +now more an affair of days than of weeks. It may happen at any moment. + +Peel suggested the possible case of both Kings dying before an Act +appointing a regent, and we may be called upon to provide for it. The +Duchess of Clarence would be Queen Regent. + +We talked about a Bill for enabling the King to give authority for the +affixing of the Sign Manual. + +To avoid delay and the examination of physicians Rosslyn proposed that, if +the King would sign it, there should be a message. + +It will be arranged that there shall be two Ministers present-one to +countersign, the other to affix the stamp. + +The Attorney- and Solicitor-General were called in. They evidently thought +the King's mind was gone as well as his head, for they proposed a +delegation of the Royal authority. + +Planta called upon me to ask more particulars as to the office of Signer of +the Writs. It seems it comes in lucky time to oblige Lord Chandos, who has +long wanted something for a Mr. Wentworth, and nothing could have happened +more conveniently for the Government. + + +_May 1._ + +Met Lord Rosslyn, who told me he and Lord Bathurst met every committee day +Lord Londonderry and Lord Durham on the Coal Committee. Sometimes they +could not get a fifth, and then they adjourned joyfully. Both Lord +Londonderry and Lord Durham continued most wrong-headed upon the question. + + +_May 2._ + +I rode as fast as I could to town as soon as church was over (for the Duke +had wished to see me before he went to church, thinking I was in town), and +in Brompton met Lord Rosslyn, who told me there was no Cabinet, and that +the Duke had found the King better than he expected. + +Rode at once to Apsley House. The Duke was gone out, having left word he +should be back soon if I came. I waited an hour. When he returned he told +me he had no idea I was out of town, or he would not have written. Lord +Combermere had asked to see him, which he could not refuse. + +The Duke said that on Friday the King was much better. The miracle which +the physicians had said could alone save him seemed accomplished. Great +quantities of ether-quantities much greater than are usually given-had +apparently restored him, and all were in good spirits, when, feeling +himself much better, he drank a great deal and was actually sick! Thence +the indifferent night of Friday. On Saturday he was better again, and when +the Duke saw him, seemingly very well, quite alive--in very good humour +with everybody, and quite without nervousness. However, he passed a bad +night, as the bulletin says, probably in consequence of having drunk again. +Sir H. Halford was quite in tears on Saturday, not more on account of the +King's state than on account of his own professional disappointment. He had +thought on the Friday that he had accomplished a miracle. They have treated +the King as if he had been a hospital patient, and have _épuisé'd_ the +resources of art boldly applied to his case. + +The King did not express the least apprehension to the Duke; but to the +women he speaks of his danger, and as if he was a dying man. The Duke +thinks he does this to try and vex Lady Conyngham. + +The thing most surprising to me is the Duke's opinion of the King's firm +courage. He said he had seen him not only now, but before, when he was +considered not to have twenty-four hours of life in him, yet he, knowing +his situation, was perfectly firm. + +Before the Duke came I had some talk with Holmes, whom I met with Drummond. +Holmes said they could finish the session by the end of July if they acted +with that view. I fear it will last much longer if the King lives, and if +he dies, that we shall have a six weeks' session in August and September. +Holmes said he did not think the King's illness by any means diminished the +strength of Government. He thought the friends of Government were rather +more disposed to come down, and he could on any great question get 300. + +He had gone round on Wednesday to the reporters, and had told them they +would never have a holiday if they reported speeches on a Wednesday, so +they did not, and they will not. This will put an end to all speechifying +on holidays. + + +_May 3._ + +Cabinet. Saw a letter from Halford to the Duke. The King was 'in a most +distressing, not to say alarming, state' from eight to-day evening to half- +past three. He cannot get sleep. Halford says it was 'a gigantic struggle.' + +The Duke saw Lord Combermere to-day, having received the letters I sent him +before the interview. The Duke told him the Government were parties to the +disapprobation expressed by the Court of Directors. + +Lord C. threw the whole blame upon Lord W. Bentinck. He had carried the +order into execution without communication with him, 'and had told the army +if they objected to it, they might memorialise.' + +This _I do not believe_. + +Lord C. said the army was not in a state approaching to mutiny, and never +had been. + +He had not said it was in his minutes (but he did in a letter); as to the +minutes of the other members of Council, he was not responsible for them. +They were civilians. Besides, Lord W. wished to go up the country. He had +received in July a letter telling him he was not to go except in a case of +emergency, then the Government was not to move from Calcutta, and he +endeavoured in his minute and the others in theirs to make an apparent case +of emergency that they might move. + +As to the last point there is an anachronism, as the orders not to leave +Calcutta _as a Government_ arrived after the minutes were recorded. + +The Duke told Lord Combermere that all the orders for reduction of +expenditure having proved inefficacious, it was necessary for the +Government here to take reduction into their hands, and it was very natural +and obvious to enforce an order twice repeated and already obeyed at the +other presidencies. + +When the army assumed the tone which appeared in the memorials, it was +impossible for the Government to do otherwise than insist upon the +enforcement of the order. They had expected from him that his whole +influence would have been used to strengthen the Government and to prevent +any ebullition of feeling on the part of the army. Lord Combermere left the +Duke very angry. If the King had been well he would have joined Lord +Anglesey. As it is, I expect he will oppose the Government. Lord Hill saw +him for a few minutes, and had only some unimportant conversation with him. +He told Lord Hill he had made thirteen or fourteen lacs. He made seven lacs +by prize money at Bhurtpore. + +The French have not yet given a written explanation as to Algiers. Their +army is said to be in very fine order. + +Leopold seems to have insinuated that our yielding on the subject of the +loan was sudden and late, &c. Aberdeen understood him to allude to the +King's illness, and to impute our concession to the wish to get him out of +the way. He took no notice of it, and treated the thing as settled. + +Preparations have been made for the event of the King's death. + +Peel has been obliged to leave London, as his father is dying. + + +_May 4._ + +Committee. No witnesses. Walked with Lords Bathurst and Rosslyn to the +Duke's. The bulletin is good. The King had some sleep and is better. +Halford's account, too, is better. The King slept six hours, but the water +was so much increased about the legs that they have made punctures to draw +it off. Upon the whole the account leads one to suppose the thing will be +protracted. + +In the House of Commons last night, Goulburn was obliged to withdraw the +vote of 100,000£. for Windsor Castle and refer it to a Committee upstairs. +The expectation of a dissolution is acting powerfully on votes, and he +would have been beaten. The Duke approved entirely of his having withdrawn +the motion. + +The continuance of the King in this state would be highly inconvenient +indeed. There would be no possibility of carrying on the money business in +the House of Commons. + +In the House of Lords we had a motion from Lord MountCashel for an address +for a commission to enquire into the abuses of the English and Irish +Church. No one thought it worth while to reply to him. + + +_May 5._ + +Read and altered a letter relative to the new arrangement of civil +allowances. + +Elphinstone approved generally of what I proposed--which is. + +1. To depose every chief who shall harbour banditti. + +2. To oblige them to give up refugee criminals under the same penalty. + +3. To engage as many as possible to abandon their heritable jurisdictions. + +4. To remit the arrears. + +5. To form a local corps in which the chiefs and their relations should be +officers (with only two or three Europeans) to maintain order. This corps +to be a sort of bodyguard to the Resident. The robbers to be admitted as +privates. + +6. Troops to be brought if necessary from Cutch. + +7. Every measure to be adopted to encourage the growth of cotton. + +These things I shall throw into a letter, which, however, will not be sent +till Clare goes out. + +We talked of native education. I read to E. my alterations of the letter of +last July relative to his plans for education, with which he seemed +satisfied. + +He seems generally to approve of my views upon that subject, particularly +of uniting the English with the native classes at the several colleges, and +teaching the natives useful knowledge. + +They should be examined in the regulations of the company. + +Office, but first saw Hardinge, who seems full of the Duke of Clarence, +with whom he is high in favour, as having, urged by Wood, had several +things done for the young FitzClarences. + +He said the Duke thought the King might live four months. + +Cabinet dinner at the Chancellor's. The Duke saw the King, who looked very +well, and seemed cheerful and in good humour. + +He was very ill yesterday. Black in the face, and the ends of his fingers +black. They think he will go off suddenly in one of these attacks. + +Little water came from one leg, and they will scarify it again. + +O'Reilly, who probably performed the operation of scarifying, and who must +know the state of the King, whom he saw daily, declared positively +yesterday to Lord Maryborough, and with a face of surprise, that there was +no water. + +The Duke of C. saw the King on Sunday, and was at Windsor and probably saw +him to-day. + +The Duke of Sussex has lent the King an easy chair, and affectionate +messages have passed between them. + +The Bishop of Chichester is now at Windsor, the Lord and Groom and Equerry +in waiting, two physicians, besides O'Reilly and Sir Wathen Waller and +Knighton. + +When they told the King they must make a puncture in about four hours, he +desired it might be made at once if it was necessary. + +The Duke told the King he had told Sir H. Halford he would always find him +intrepid--with which the King was much pleased. + +He said when he saw a thing was necessary he always made up his mind to it. + +Wortley told me the Household betted the King would be at Ascot. + +By-the-bye, Wortley did very well last night in not allowing Wynne to lead +him into a speech on the half-castes. He spoke very officially and +properly. I complimented him upon it. In fact it is an act of forbearance +in any man, but especially in a young man, to throw away a speech. + +Precedents have been looked into, and every necessary step is known, should +the King die. + +The Duke will immediately go in uniform to the Duke of Clarence and advise +him to come to his house in town. + +A sketch of the speech will be prepared, but kings like making the +declaration to the Privy Council themselves, as it is the only thing they +can do without advice. + +Peel's father died on the 3rd. + + +_May 6._ + +Left my card with Lord Combermere, who called yesterday. + +The bulletin states the King to have been better yesterday, but to have had +a bad night. + +The private letter to the Duke says he passed the night wretchedly, and +with much inquietude. They find it necessary to make further punctures, and +have sent for Brodie. + +The King spoke to Halford for some time with much composure and piety as to +his situation. + +Lord Bathurst looked into the precedents in Queen Anne's reign, and at the +declarations of several kings on their first meeting their Privy Council. + +House. A good and useful speech from Lord Goderich on the funded and +expended debt. He showed that the receipt from taxes was about the same as +in 1816, although 9 millions had been taken off, and that the interest of +the National Debt would, in 1831, be reduced 44 millions below its amount +in 1816. + +Cabinet at half-past ten at Aberdeen's. A letter from Leopold, endeavouring +to throw upon us the blame of delay for two months, and treating +acquiescence in his terms of loan as a _sine quâ non_. Now the terms we +propose are not _exactly_ the same, as we make a payment by annual +instalments a part of it, and I expect he will break off at last; but he +will wait till the King is actually dead. + + +_May 7._ + +A very good account of the King. He has passed twenty-four hours with +mitigated symptoms. + +Dined with Sir J. Murray. I must next year have an Indian dinner. + + +_May 9._ + +Read as I went to town to Cabinet, and returned in the carriage Cabell's +memorandum on the Hyderabad transactions. + +The Duke read the letter he had received from Sir H. Halford. It gave a bad +account of the King. Yesterday was a day 'of embarrassment and distress,' +and he is swollen notwithstanding the punctures made by Brodie. He is +anxious about himself, and must know his danger, yet he talks of the +necessity of having a new dining-room at the Cottage ready by Ascot. + +We had much conversation respecting the law asserting his power of +disposing of his property by will. + +The Chancellor was not there. He went to Windsor. + +The other matters considered were merely the mode of dealing with several +questions to be brought on next week. It seems to be clear that no +dependence whatever can be placed in the House of Commons. Every man will +vote for his constituents. + +No answer has been received from Prince Leopold. + +My apprehension is that the King cannot live ten days. + +Lord Londonderry went to Windsor yesterday and saw the physician. He had a +dinner afterwards at his villa, and told every one, the Lièvens being +there, that the King was much worse than he had ever been. This was untrue, +for the Duke left Windsor after Lord L., and when he left the Castle the +King certainly was not worse, but rather better. I have no doubt Lord L. +managed to tell Wood, [Footnote: Lord Londonderry's brother-in-law, having +married Lady Caroline Stewart, also sister-in-law of Lord Ellenborough.] +and Wood would tell the Duke of Clarence, who would think he was ill-used +and deceived. + + +_May 10._ + +The Duke will read the Hyderabad memorandum as he goes down to Windsor on +Wednesday. + +I told him of the alteration in the treaty with Nagpore. + +The Chancellor was at Windsor yesterday. He did not see the King. The +physicians seemed to think it could not last a week. He is greatly swollen, +and generally. + +Lord Bathurst went to Windsor to-day. His account was a little better, but +his expectation did not go beyond a fortnight. In the meantime the +physicians are afraid of telling the King of his danger. + +Sir W. Knighton sat up with him last night, and was much alarmed by one of +the attacks, not having seen one before. However, he did not call Sir H. +Halford. + +The probability is that the new Parliament will meet in the last week in +July. + +The Speaker says the House of Commons is like a school two days before the +holidays. They do not know what mischief to be at. + +Lord Rosslyn seems to think all sorts of intrigues are going on, and has +some little doubt as to the Duke of Clarence. I have none. + +House. E. Retford again. Wrote to Lord Holland when I came home to call his +attention to the Hickson Nullity of Marriage Bill. I cannot take a part; +but he must do so if he wishes to preserve his grandfather's clause. + + +_May 11._ + +Heard from Lord Holland, who is fully alive to the consequences of the +Bill. He thinks I am right not to take a part. + +There was an indigo-planter before the Committee to-day. It seems, as I +supposed, to be just as unnecessary for indigo-manufacturers to be indigo- +growers as it is for maltsters to be great farmers. This man took out no +capital and he had no licence; yet he was permitted to reside and take a +lease, and the agency houses lent him money at 10 and 12 per cent. + +The judge, Sir T. Strange, was a sensible man. He deprecated the +introduction of English law into the provinces. + +The King is getting weaker, which the physicians dread more than his +spasms. It is thought he can hardly last a week. + +Read the memorandum on Hyderabad a second time, and sent it with the +proposed letter and alterations to the Duke. + +Prepared materials for Lord Stanhope's motion about shipping on Thursday. + + +_May 12._ + +Cabinet dinner at Lord Rosslyn's. + +The Duke saw the King to-day. He said there was a decided alteration since +Wednesday last. He was now in appearance an invalid, but not a dying man. +His body is very much swollen. They took several quarts of water from his +feet yesterday. He is good-humoured and alive. His eyes as brilliant as +ever. His voice a little affected. His colour dark and sodden. + +The Duke thinks he may die at any time; but may live a fortnight or ten +days--Knighton thinks so too. The other physicians think worse of him. + +He called for the 'Racing Calendar' yesterday. They were afraid he would +call for the newspaper. + +Knighton found he was not aware there were now any bulletins. + +Knighton proposed to him the taking the sacrament, as he did not take it at +Easter. He said he would think about it, but to be better before he took +it. His taking it now might lead to the publishing of more bulletins. + +He continues to take the greatest interest in the improvements at the +lodge. + +After dinner we talked only of the things necessary to be done on a demise. + +Lord B. seemed to say we _could not_ have the Duchess of Clarence as +Regent, because there was no precedent. I trust this will be got over. + +Leopold has written an unsatisfactory answer to the last letter about the +loan. However, he goes. + +The Porte has acquiesced in the arrangements of the protocol, so Leopold is +Prince Sovereign of Greece. + +The Duke read Cabell's memorandum to-day. He thinks Cabell proposes doing +more than should be done. He has a strong feeling as to the scandalous +nature of the whole transaction. Lieutenant-Colonel Arabin has been +infesting the Chancellor upon the subject. + + +_May 13._ + +Dined at four. Rode to the office and back, and to the House. + +Prepared for Lord Stanhope's motion for returns on shipping, &c. + +The Duke had a great deal of information, and answered Lord Stanhope. I +spoke, however, afterwards, as I had some new facts. Then E. Retford till +nine. + +Read letters from Sir John Macdonald and a paper he enclosed from +'Blackwood's Magazine' in 1827 on the invasion of India by the Russians. + + +_May 14._ + +Colonel Briggs called. He is a clever man. He will prepare for me a +memorandum on the composition of the native army. He seems equally +conversant with revenue, judicial, and military matters. + +House. E. Retford as usual. The King is much relieved by the draining of +the water from the punctures; but the wounds gave him much annoyance last +night. The fear is they may lead to mortification. Lord Rosslyn and I go +down on Sunday to Windsor to enquire. + + +_May 15._ + +Astell has sent to Lord Combermere the letter lately despatched to India in +which the conduct of the several members of Government is commented upon as +regards the Batta question. Lord Combermere only asked, as far as I +recollect, to know upon what grounds his conduct has been censured. I told +Astell to tell him the censure rested entirely on official documents with +which he must be acquainted. The Duke was very angry with Astell, when I +told him of it after the Cabinet, and expects a question in the House of +Lords. + +I told Astell the letter ought not to have been given. It reveals what has +been done with regard to the Batta question, and the news may possibly +reach India through the press before the Government obtain it. + +Cabinet at half-past four. Not only have the Turks acceded to the +arrangement for Greece, but the Greeks have done so too. Leopold adheres to +his memorandum of March, and wants the power of drawing as much as he +pleases of the loan at any time. + +He will be invited to meet the Plenipotentiaries or to send a person to +meet them to discuss this point. The people about him say he means to break +off. If he should, Peel thinks we could not do it upon a better point, and +he is right. + +The King is decidedly better. The Duke saw him to day. He was looking more +healthy. He has had some refreshing sleep. He is more likely to live than +to die. The only danger is from mortification in consequence of the +punctures; but his constitution is so good that in all probability he will +avoid this danger. This wonderful recovery quite changes our position. In +all public business we must now calculate upon his living--at least till +the end of the Session. + +Lord Morpeth is to make a motion for the repeal of the Banishment Clause in +the last Libel Act. To the repeal of that clause, which is inoperative +against the common libeller, we have no objection, and the Attorney-General +is pledged to it; but the House of Lords would not like, and the King would +not endure, the repeal of that provision without the substitution of some +other security. That proposed by the Attorney-General is the requiring +security to the amount of 500L. from two sureties that the editor shall pay +_fines_ on account of libels. This is reasonable, and would to some extent +prevent the putting up, as is now done, men or women of straw as editors, +who have no means of paying fines. The other proposal of the Attorney- +General, that the types should be seizable to whomever they may belong, is +objectionable and would hardly be carried. Peel is very sorry the question +is stirred at the present moment. The press is generally with us or +quiescent, and the 'Morning Journal,' [Footnote: It had been obliged to pay +heavy damages for a libel on the Duke of Wellington.] a paper instituted to +oppose the Government, has within these few days been given up altogether +from the want of support. Certainly this is not the moment at which it is +desirable to appear to commence an attack upon the Press--and the Attorney- +General can do nothing that will not be suspected by them. + +The Duke has written a memorandum on the Hyderabad affair. + + +_May 16._ + +Read the Duke's memorandum; he mistakes the law. However, I cannot write +notes upon his memorandum without the Act of Parliament. The King had an +indifferent night, but still feels better. I only met Lord Bathurst, who +told me so. He had not seen the private letter. + +Had a long conversation with Lady C. Wood at Lord Camden's about the +Clarences. It seems there has been a great deal of hope excited in the +Spencers. + +They expect Lord Holland to be made Minister, and their son Bob or Lord +Darnley to be first Lord of the Admiralty!--_Nous verrons_. + +It seems the Duchess of Clarence and the Duchess of Kent were and are great +friends, and the Duchess of Clarence is very fond of the young Princess. + + +_Monday, May 17._ + +At eleven set off with Lord Rosslyn for Windsor. We drove to the visitor's +entrance. After a time Sir A. Barnard came. Lord Rosslyn said we did not +presume to ask to see the King, but we were anxious to know how His Majesty +was, and to present our humble duty to him. + +Sir A. asked if we would see Knighton? Lord Rosslyn said it would be very +satisfactory. However, no Knighton came, but a message through Sir A. +Barnard that Sir Wm. Knighton had gone in to the King and had mentioned we +were there, and His Majesty had expressed himself very sensible of our kind +attention. This I conclude is Knighton's own message, and that the King +will never hear we have been. Sir A. Barnard seemed in excellent spirits +about the King. He had a good night, and is certainly much better. He talks +of being able to go to Ascot and to stand up in the carriage, though he +could not go up into the stand. + +We met the Bishop of Chichester going back to town. I suppose he thinks he +shall not be wanted. + +Rode down to the House. East Retford. + +The Duke's private account of the King is excellent. + + +_May 18._ + +Committee. Examined Colonel Briggs, who gave very good evidence indeed. +Ordered the attendance of six witnesses for Tuesday, whom we shall +endeavour to despatch, and that will enable everybody to go to Epsom on +Thursday and Friday. + +The King much better. All his symptoms alleviated. + +To-morrow the Duke will get from him his signature to the message for a +_stamper_. There are to be three signatures of Ministers, that is, of Privy +Councillors, to authorise the stamper, who is to be nominated by the King +to affix the royal stamp to instruments in the King's presence. + +By the account from Marseilles, it appears that there are 11 sail of the +line and 28 frigates in the French expedition, in all 97 sails--about 350 +transports, carrying 75,000 tons. There will be 30,500 infantry, besides a +very complete equipment of artillery, &c., 75 battering guns, 4,000 horses. +The Luke of Angoulême's (the Dauphin's) visit has delayed the expedition +four days. They will probably be on the sea _to-day_. + +Rosslyn was talking yesterday of the _danger_ from this expedition, and the +annexation of Algiers to France. I do not fear it--we can, if we manage +well, make it very costly by bringing forward the people of Tunis and +Morocco, not near the coast, but almost from the desert. We must take care +to secure Tunis, and then the French will be no gainers by their move. + +Lord Londonderry made a very foolish speech about foreign policy in putting +off his motion, which stood for the 25th. Aberdeen promised the Greek +papers on _Monday next_. + + +_May 19._ + +The Duke saw the King to-day and found him looking better than he did at +the last Council. + +The drain from the legs is now very small. He was annoyed last night by +them and sent for Halford, who sent off for Brodie; but there was nothing +of importance. They cannot yet say that he will not ultimately die of this +complaint. Knighton thinks he will be an invalid all his life. Tierney says +they cannot tell for a week whether there is any mischief remaining about +the chest. The Duke wished to speak to him about the stamp; but he made an +excuse about his legs requiring some dressing, and the Duke, seeing he did +not choose to talk about business, went away. + +It seems clear that Leopold means to abdicate. + +The Attorney-General has made his libel preventive measure a poor weak +inoperative thing, ridiculous, and unconciliating. + +The French Chambers are dissolved as a _coup de théâtre_ on the sailing of +the expedition, and they are to meet on August 3, by which time they expect +to hear of its success. + +A union of parties is expected on the Greek affair. I am not sorry for it. +The Huskissonians and Whigs are drawing nearer together. The Tories, on the +other hand, are rather approximating to us--so that by the beginning of +next Session men will be at last in their right places. + + +_May 21._ + +The King had a bad night. The private letter gave a bad account. He has +been _drinking again_, very irritable, _intolerably_ so. Halford says, +would neither sit in a chair nor lie in a bed, &c. Halford at last held +strong language, and I believe told him his life depended on his obeying +his physician. + +I am very much disappointed indeed at this. I hoped he was really getting +better and would live. + +Aberdeen is to allow the instalments of the loan guaranteed to Leopold to +be paid in four instead of eight years if he can keep him to his +principality by doing so. + +The French were off on the 18th. There is a partial change in their +Ministry. + + +_May 23._ + +Rode to the Cabinet at three from Roehampton. The bulletin is that the King +had had embarrassments in his breathing. + +The Duke waited two and a half hours before he saw him yesterday. The King +signed the two messages, and then said 'the Duke has just caught me in +time!' and in an instant there was a gurgling in his throat. He seized +Knighton's arm. The Duke ran for Halford, went out into the gallery where +he did not find him, then into another room where he was. Halford +immediately took a bottle from the table and gave the King something which +seemed to relieve him. + +The Duke thinks the King was in pain three or four seconds; but it was a +minute and a half before he was relieved. He then did not speak; but made a +motion with his hand for the Duke to go. + +He had just before been talking of going to Ascot and then to Aix-la- +Chapelle. + +The King was perfectly satisfied with the proposed arrangement for the +stamp. + +He asked the news, was told Leopold was behaving very ill, and agreed. + +As to Algiers he was told the note of the French Minister was +unsatisfactory, and that it was under consideration whether a note should +not be presented. He thought it right. + +The Duke's opinion is that if the King should be seized with one of those +attacks when no one was with him, he would die. + +The opinion of Halford and the others is that the disorder is mortal; but +he may live six weeks or two months. + +The punctures are healed. They are afraid of opening them again for fear of +mortification, and can only proceed by medicines. + +The King's state seems distressing. He can neither remain quiet in his +chair or in his bed. He is in a state of constant restlessness. + +The Duke of Cumberland was there to-day, but the King had desired he might +not see him. + +Leopold has declined. He sent a note to that effect on Friday night at +twelve o'clock--very well written, not by himself. Aberdeen thinks +Palmerston wrote it. He takes popular ground, and cannot impose himself +upon _a reluctant people_. The fact is Friday's bulletin wrote his letter. + +The Duke thinks he will be shown up. The papers presented to-morrow will be +no more than it was before intended to present; but Aberdeen will announce +the _evasion_ of the sovereign, and say that that circumstance will render +necessary the production of other papers which will be presented as soon as +they can be printed. The whole discussion will turn upon Leopold's conduct. + +Aberdeen will be in the position of the manager of a country theatre who, +just as the curtain is about to be drawn up, is obliged to come forward and +announce that the amateur gentleman who had solicited the part of Macbeth, +who had attended all the rehearsals, and whose only difficulty, which was +about money, seemed to be in a fair way of adjustment, had unexpectedly +intimated his intention to withdraw in a printed address to the galleries. + +Forsooth there should have been an appeal to the people of Greece on the +subject of their Government! An appeal to the people of Newgate on the +subject of the new police! [Footnote: This sentiment, however severe, +represents the feeling about the Greeks of many Englishmen at that time, +and especially of those who, as in the case of naval officers employed in +Greek waters, had seen much of them during the war. Their struggle for +independence was undoubtedly disgraced, not only by cruelty, but by a +treachery and disregard of faith which, though perhaps attributable to past +subjection and oppression, was peculiarly odious to English observers. Lord +Ellenborough adopted this view.] + +By a letter of C. Capo d'Istria's, dated 25 M., April 6, written +immediately after his receipt of one from Leopold (after his acceptance), +it appears that Leopold had intimated his intention to change his religion. +He must have had about forty-eight hours to consider the point. + +Lord Melville had heard that Leopold had consulted Lord Grey and Lord +Lansdowne without acquainting one that he had seen the other. + + +_May 24._ + +Rode to the office at four to receive the manufacturers. Mr. Crawford was +there, Finlay being ill. I told them of my plans as to the Indus. I +directed their attention to the point of bringing out in evidence the +effect the stoppage in China had upon the general trade of the East. I +again desired them to show, if they could, why British manufactures did not +go to China by the country trade. + +Met Aberdeen. Told him I thought, on consideration, that a reply to Leopold +would lead to an answer from him, to which the Plenipotentiaries could not +reply without entering into an undignified discussion with Palmerston, who +would be the real controversialist. + +There should be an answer, but it should be addressed to the Residents, and +what could not be addressed to them might be stated in Parliament, that is, +all relating to letters, conversations, &c. + +I dare say Leopold will publish to-morrow. It is unlucky the French have +troops in the Morea. If they had not, I should be disposed to leave the +Greeks to settle their affairs as they pleased, giving them no money. They +would soon become reasonable. + +The bulletin had 'The King had a sleepless night.' + +House at five. The message and address. The Opposition made no objection to +the address, which was carried _nemine dissentiente_. Lord Grey seems to +expect a delegation of the royal authority. I told Lord Holland I thought +he would be satisfied. + +Then Aberdeen presented the Greek papers, and, having explained their +contents, stated the change of circumstances since Friday night. He +represented Leopold as having made preliminary objections on other points, +but none on any but money since February 20, when he accepted. Within these +few days other grounds have been taken, and the abdication is on these +other grounds. + +There was much movement amongst the Opposition. Aberdeen was accused of +unfairness. Lord Durham opened the fire, and I prevented Aberdeen from +answering him. The others--Darnley, Lord Londonderry, and Lord Winchelsea, +all for Leopold. In short there is a general union of all those who prefer +the rising to the setting sun. We shall have a personal debate. + +We went into E. Retford. I sat by the Chancellor, and worked the Bill for +the King's relief. + +In the House of Commons little was said upon these points. Aberdeen did +well. He can make a biting speech as well as any one, and in a quiet way. + + +_May 25._ + +The King passed yesterday uncomfortably. He was a little relieved by +medicines during the night. Water is forming again. + +House. The Chancellor explained very well the objects and details of the +King's Relief [Footnote: Relieving him from the necessity of constant +signatures.] Bill. The only objections made were to reading it to-morrow, +and it was conceded that it should be read on Thursday--to its duration, +and it was conceded that should last a month. Lord Grey, I hear, says it is +too complicated, that it would have been better to appoint a Custos Regni. +I hope he will say that on Thursday. + +There is but little hope of the King's living till the Bill is passed. + + +_May 26._ + +Hardinge, whom I met in the Park, told me Sir J. Graham informed him there +was to be an opposition _à l'outrance_. That Lord Anglesey was to be +Minister Lord Grey would serve with him. Palmerston was to be made a great +man of. Huskisson to have nothing but revenge. The Duke of Richmond was to +be had at all events. All this is childish. + +House. I expected nothing but the Chancellor's Bill, and went at half-past +five, expecting to find Eldon in the midst of his speech; but I found Lord +Durham talking about Greece, and soon engaged in the talk myself. Lord Grey +was decidedly in opposition. I called the attention of the House to this, +that our conduct was to be judged of by the papers on the table--the +resignation of Leopold was not alleged to have taken place in consequence +of any act of the Government. If noble Lords chose to put on one side the +conduct of the Government, and to make this a mere personal question as to +the conduct of Leopold we were prepared to enter into the discussion. In +speaking of Leopold I said he 'was connected with this country by some of +its dearest recollections.' + +Cabinet dinner. The King's digestion is affected now; but otherwise he is +well. He has had many attacks of embarrassed breathing; but none serious. +The Duke of Clarence was in the room with him (the Duke of W. being +present) for a quarter of an hour today. The King talked of his own danger. +He said, 'God's will be done. I have injured no man.' This he often +repeated. He said, speaking of his own danger to the Duke of Clarence, 'it +will all rest on you then.' He was in very good humour, very angry, +however, with Leopold--his anger brought on a slight spasm. + +He afterwards talked of going to Ascot, and told the Duke to manage that he +might be able to go to Aix-la-Chapelle. + +He is much pleased with the conduct of both Houses about his Signature +Bill. After dinner Aberdeen read His proposed answer to Leopold to be +addressed to the Residents with a copy of Leopold's letter. It was full of +admissions, many of which Peel noticed. Aberdeen was going to meet Laval +about it. I objected to sending a copy of the letter to Leopold, as that +would as much lead to a reply as if they answered him directly. This the +Cabinet seemed to feel; and if there is a letter to the Residents it will +be printed with the other papers only, and not communicated. + + +_May 27._ + +Privy Council at one. The Archbishop of Canterbury ordered to frame a +prayer for the King's recovery. + +Cabinet. King's Signature Bill amended. Then Aberdeen read a letter from +the Residents in Greece giving an account of all that took place from the +notification of the protocol to the Senate to their adhesion. Unfortunately +this letter was not sent to Leopold as it ought to have been, when he on +the 15th sent Capo d'Istria's letter to Aberdeen, and it is thought we +cannot publish it. It shows that the adhesion was entire. + +No answer to his letter is to be published. We are to wait till we can have +a protocol. Laval would not sign any joint letter to the Residents. Being +so near he prefers waiting for the orders of his Court. + +House. King's Signature Bill passed, with some amendments. It is to last +till the end of the Session. + +The King's command is to be signified by _word of mouth_, a very +inconvenient mode to a sick man. + +East Retford for a House. + +All Columbia is at war again. The Mexicans are urging the Haytians to land +5,000 men in Cuba. Peel fears war will begin there by the Americans taking +Texas. + +Fitzgerald writes from Paris that he thinks the French will not retain +Algiers. That an energetic demand on our part would have drawn from +Polignac a distinct disavowal of the intention. That he does not think the +channel (Lord Stuart) a good one. + +I think Fitzgerald would not at all dislike being made Ambassador at Paris. + +It seems there is a very sore feeling indeed excited by de Peyronnet's +appointment. He thinks the only safety of the Government is in throwing +themselves upon the ultra-Royalists. + +The King is a little better. His stomach begins to bear a little light food +again. + + +_May 28._ The account of the King not good. + +Cabinet. Found them talking about Scotch boroughs. Aberdeen presented the +papers relative to Leopold in the House. Some conversation as to the +correctness in point of form of presenting them printed. The rule is to +present papers written by the King's command, and to have them printed for +the immediate use of the House. + +The Commons passed the King's Signature Bill without a word. + +I thought it necessary to determine at once who should be the new judge at +Bombay, and upon full consideration thought Awdry the best man. The +Chancellor had no objection, and I immediately wrote to Awdry to tell him I +should advise the King to appoint him. + + +_May 29._ + +Before the Cabinet met Hardinge and walked some time up and down Downing +Street with him. He told me the Duke had proposed an exchange between him +and Lord F. Leveson. Hardinge declined; however, he was at last induced to +acquiesce. There cannot be a better thing for him, for the Government, and +for Ireland, than his going there. I have always told him so. We may now be +satisfied things will go on well there. Lord F. Leveson is a mere boy, and +quite unequal to the situation. Hardinge will do admirably and be very +popular. So will she. They will like an Irishwoman. + + +_June 1._ + +The King had a quiet night. In other respects he is much the same. + + +_June 2._ + +Employed all the morning on the Greek papers. Cabinet dinner at Peel's. The +King rather better. They have opened punctures above the knees. 400 papers +were stamped. Lord Farnborough was the stamper. The King was perfectly +alive to all that was going on. + +A steamboat has made the passage from Bombay to Suez in a month and two +days, leaving Bombay on March 20 and reaching Suez on April 22. The letters +arrived here on May 31. The steamboat was detained ten days for coals. +There was no steam conveyance from Alexandria to Malta, so we may reckon +upon gaining fourteen days at least upon this passage. Besides, the steam +vessel was probably a bad one. + + +_June 3._ + +House. Aberdeen, in reply to a question of Lord Londonderry's, promised all +the protocols of Paris! A most voluminous mass of dull twaddle. The House +postponed Miss Hickson's divorce case to Lord Salisbury and East Retford. +We had only 18 to 69! The Duke seemed very angry, and I heard him speaking +to Lord Bathurst of some peer who went out without voting, whose conduct +seemed to make him very indignant. + + +_June 4._ + +House. All seems quiet again. Nothing more said about Leopold. There was to +be a meeting to-day at Lord Lansdowne's which the Duke of Newcastle was +expected to attend. Palmerston was at the last. [Footnote: The conjunction +of these names indicated an alliance of Whigs, Canningites, and Tories +irritated by the Roman Catholic Bill.] Rosslyn does not know whether Lord +Grey was. + +The King not going on well by the bulletin; worse by the private account, +which, however, I did not see. He has lost his appetite and grows weaker. + +The Duke has not yet read my Nagpore letter; but he will to-morrow. He +seems to agree with me in general views upon the subject of our policy +towards the native States. + + +_June 5._ + +Chairs at 11. They are dissatisfied with Malcolm for sending a steam vessel +into the Red Sea, because he had no important intelligence to communicate! +I shall never make these people feel they are at the head of a _State!_ + +The bulletin to-day is very alarming. The Duke had not returned at half- +past 4; but soon after he was seen coming into town looking very +melancholy. The Duchess of Gloucester arrived an hour later. I thought the +Duke had stayed to be there at the King's death. Knighton sent up to +Goulburn to desire a warrant might be sent down to be stamped conveying the +King's fines, &c., belonging to the Privy Purse. + +Goulburn very properly refused to send the warrant till he had seen the +Duke. This looks as if they did not expect 24 hours. + +He was as ill as possible when Aberdeen saw him yesterday for a few +minutes. + +A Cabinet is summoned for half-past 3 to-morrow. + +All is still again in the House of Commons, as well as with us. They have +found the Leopold line will not do. + + +_June 6._ + +Cabinet at half-past 3. They all say Scarlett did ill. He did not fight +gallantly, and he fought without judgment. + +The Duke said he thought the King was _really_ suffering yesterday; but +from several circumstances he thought he would live three or four weeks. +The physicians said eight days. He was better than when Aberdeen saw him on +Friday. No stamping was done. Peel went down to-day. It was hoped some +papers would be stamped. Peel had not returned when the Cabinet separated +at 5. + +Aberdeen brought forward the question of a Bill it is thought necessary to +introduce in consequence of slave-dealing by Brazilian subjects having now +become piracy. + +Goulburn seems to be unable to fix any time for the conclusion of the +Session in the event of a demise. I fear it will be necessary to sit a long +time to get the necessary votes. There are no less than fifty subjects +unvoted. + + +_June 7._ + +House. In going down met Goulburn, who said the account of the King was +very bad. Halford had suggested it would be better for the Duke to go down; +which he did. Peel thought the King very much changed indeed in the week +which had elapsed since he last saw him. + + +_June 8._ + +Cabinet at 3. The diplomatic expenses were carried only by 18, and the +abolition of the punishment of death for forgery was carried by 13. This is +a very serious state of things; with such a Parliament there is no +depending upon the carrying of any measure, and Peel is quite disgusted. As +to the Forgery Bill it will be difficult to find juries to convict when a +majority has decided against the punishment of death. I am satisfied that +the property of many will be exposed to much danger by the abolition of the +punishment of death. + +One Ashe who has libelled the Duke of Cumberland, or written a threatening +letter, will be prosecuted as if he had done the same thing against any +private individual. + +The Fee Bill will be altered in the Committee (which out of delicacy is +indefinitely postponed) and the commissioners continued by endorsement. +This is a very ingenious device, saving all the difficulty of dealing with +patent offices and of sharing the present fees. + +Lord Combermere has written a letter to the Duke explaining and defending +his conduct. This is a trouble brought upon us by Astell. He has written +rather an impertinent answer to my letter respecting the 600£ for the +Russian papers, or rather some one has written it for him and he has only +signed it. + +I find Mr. Archibald Campbell, who applied yesterday to me for an +assistant-surgeoncy, is Campbell of Blytheswood, a good voter and a great +friend of Lord Melville's, and others. I have given him the surgeoncy. I +told Planta, who is much pleased. + +The Duke was sent for because the physicians intended to acquaint the King +with his danger. + +He was restless yesterday. The bulletin says he passed a very distressing +day. He walked across the room, however, and will probably last some days. + +In the House, East Retford till 8, when I came away. + + +_June 9._ + +A better bulletin. Office before 12. Settled with Wortley the 'reasons' for +abolishing the College. [Footnote: Haileybury.] + +At 3 Sir P. Freeling came. Went with him and Wortley to Lord Melville's. +There will be no difficulty in getting the steam vessel to Alexandria. + +Read Colonel Macdonald's Journal for January, February, and to March 10. It +is not so interesting as the last portion, or rather not so entertaining. +These make no doubt from the account of Khosroo Murza and of the others who +went to Petersburg, that the conquest of India by the route of Khiva and +Bokhara is the favourite object of the Russians, and the whole people seem +animated by hatred of England. + +Cabinet dinner _chez moi_. The Duke did not see the King to-day; the Dukes +of Clarence and Cumberland being there, whom he did not wish to see. The +King is better. There is coagulated lymph in his legs, one thigh, Tierney +thinks, is a little swelled. He has had no embarrassment of breathing for +thirty-six hours, and slept yesterday as soundly as a child. + +The man who was with the Queen and the Duke of York when they died is with +the King now. When the King was sleeping yesterday Knighton said to him, +'This is not the sleep of death!' The other answered, 'Lord, sir! he will +not die!' They think the King has never thought himself in danger, not even +when they told him he was. He seemed flurried, however, or they thought so, +for a moment, and then they endeavoured to unsay; but the King, who was +quite firm, said, 'No, no! I understand what you think. Call in the Bishop +and let him read prayers.' + +Last night he was talking a great deal to Knighton, and was as amusing as +ever. In constitution and in mind he is certainly a wonderful man. I have +no doubt that the feeling that he is always in representation makes him +behave in the face of death as a man would on the field of battle. + + +_June 10._ + +The King passed a restless night. He is weaker than he has been yet. + +East Retford. Salisbury concluded his case. + + +_June 11._ + +House. I expected to get away immediately; but Lord Londonderry made a +motion for papers, which led to a discussion of an hour and a half. He was +put down entirely by Aberdeen, who really, with a bad manner, said very +good things. At last Lord Londonderry chose to say the Contents had it and +did not divide, so that the motion was negatived _nemine contradicente_. +Most scandalously many went out, not voting against the motion after +Aberdeen had declared it would be injurious to the public service to give +the Papers. + +The King rather better, but weaker. + + +_June 12._ + +Chairs. They did not come till half-past 11. I began to think they had +taken huff and did not mean to come at all, as I had taken no notice of +Astell's letter. However, they came. They do not much like my Nagpore +letter, which it seems is contrary to the line of policy laid down by the +Court and approved of by Wynne. I told them I took the responsibility upon +myself. They were ministerial only. My opinion was confirmed by that of +Jenkins and of the Duke. + +Met at dinner, at Hardinge's, Arbuthnot, with whom I had some conversation +about the Report he is writing on the China Evidence. He is to show it to +me. The Duke saw the King, who is much better. The King said he would defer +taking the sacrament till he was well; but he takes it to-morrow as a +_convalescent_. + + +_June 13._ + +Cabinet at half-past 3. First considered the line to be adopted on the +Forgery Bill, which seems to be to allow it to pass unaltered, throwing the +whole responsibility on the House of Commons; but Peel is to see the +bankers and merchants that he may ascertain what their opinions are now the +Bill has passed the Commons abolishing the punishment of death for forgery. +Peel's idea is that no conviction would be obtained. + +I believe the French and the Russians are so alarmed by the effect produced +in France by the continued exhibition of democratic violence in Greece and +successful rebellion, that they would be disposed to enter into our views +with respect to the nomination of a prince rather than leave the question +open; but that they will procrastinate if they find we will unite with them +in giving money which may keep Greece in a state of tranquillity. As to +Capo d'Istria, he first wished to prevent the nomination of any prince and +to keep the government to himself. When he found that would not do, he +endeavoured to frighten Leopold into subserviency; but if he finds he can +get money without having a prince, he will frighten other princes and +remain there himself. + +It is like paying money in consequence of a threatening letter. If it is +done once there is no stopping. + +I said I believed the dissolution of the Acarnanian army, happen as it +might, would be better than its maintenance, and that the state of anarchy +into which it was pretended Greece would fall if it had not money, would be +a better foundation of improvement than the state of military thraldom in +which it is now held. + +Peel proposed that Dawkins should be instructed under circumstances of +imminent danger to advance money not exceeding 20,000£, and this would be +the best way of doing it. The Duke has great repugnance to giving anything, +and objects to doing what might be considered an unconstitutional act. He +hopes Aberdeen will be able to persuade the other Powers to give 30,000£ +each, leaving us out of the subscription. + +The thing was left undetermined. I suggested that it was by no means +impossible a question might be asked by some 'friend of Greece' whether we +intended to give or had given money in consequence of Capo d'Istria's +representations, and then what we had done would come out. In fact if the +King was well the matter would be brought before Parliament. + +His illness creates great embarrassment. It is doubtful whether the +Government can command majorities on questions on which a defeat under +ordinary circumstances would lead them to resign; but it is known that now +they cannot resign and cannot dissolve, and the Opposition has no other +effect than that of interfering with the conduct of public business. + +A powerful man would place this strongly before the country and bring the +House to a sense of its duty. + +The Duke showed me the letter he had written to Lord Combermere in reply to +his, upon my Memorandum. It is _excellent_. + +There is to be a great fight upon sugar. Charles Grant makes a proposition, +and Goulburn proposes to modify his original proposition by suggesting the +addition of 6_d_. a gallon to Scotch and Irish spirits and to rum, thus +leaving the proportional burthen nearly the same. In addition to this he +proposes lowering the duty on the inferior kinds of sugar. + +The French Expedition was in Palma Bay on May 31, awaiting the arrival of +the last division, which was expected the next day. + + +_June 15._ + +The King much better. He has been in good spirits about himself, and has +expectorated, which is thought a good sign. + +In the House of Commons Goulburn's altered plans seem to have succeeded +with all parties as far as first impression goes. + + +_June 16._ + +At the Cabinet dinner spoke to Lord Melville and Goulburn about the +embarrassments of the civil servants. Both are very much indisposed to +grant the papers asked for by Hume on the subject. I shall write to +Arbuthnot to do what he can to prevent their being given. + +The Duke got a number of papers stamped--indeed all the arrears, about 400. +The King paid more attention to them than he ever did while he was well. He +recollected everything. + +The Duke did not think him so well as when he last saw him. The physicians +do not like this catarrh. The Duke thought his hand was hotter than usual, +that he was larger, and that altogether he was not so well. His judgment +has hitherto been so correct that I attach much importance to it. + +Peel spoke after dinner with much _ennui_ of his position in the House of +Commons. He complained that it really was not worth a man's while to be +there for so many hours every night. The sacrifice was too great. He said +the Radicals had brought the House into such a state that no man could do +business but themselves. He seemed not well, and thoroughly out of humour. + +We had some discussion about the Forgery Bill. We are to see the Governor +and deputy-governor of the Bank, &c. The Duke is much indisposed to +acquiesce in the Commons' amendment. + +Peel thinks that after the vote of the House of Commons no verdicts will be +obtained; but may not a contrary vote of the House of Lords turn public +opinion into its former course? I think it may. + + +_June 17._ + +In French newspaper a bad report of the French fleet, which is very much +dispersed. One division was in sight of the shore on May 30 when it came on +to blow, and they ran to Majorca. The other divisions will have gone to the +rendezvous on the African shore, where they will have met no men-of-war and +much bad weather. The star of Napoleon is set. + +Lord Combermere has written another letter to the Duke, in which he +acknowledges his error as to the compact in 1796 and 1801, and says he was +led into it by Col. Fagan. He restates all he before said on the other +points, and still wishes his letter to go to the King. + +The King seems to have had a good night. I did not hear the private +account. + + +_June 18._ + +Received last night from Astell a letter in which he speaks of an intended +address of his respecting the Nagpore letter. I have told him he has +already privately told me his opinion--that the Act of Parliament has made +no provision for a representation on the part of the Secret Committee if +they disagree with the Board, and I cannot receive any such representation +officially. I have further told him that I think any more delay will be +injurious to the public service. + +Wrote a letter to Runjeet Singh to go with the horses. Showed it to Lord +Amherst, Clare, and Auckland. Lord Amherst and Clare were delighted with +it. Showed it to the Duke, who approved. Saw the Duke. + +The King alarmed the princesses yesterday, but the Duke of Clarence did not +think him so ill. I saw the Duke of Clarence's letter to the Duke of W. +Halford thinks the expectoration is an additional evil. + + +_June 19._ + +At 11 Privy Council to hear the appeal of Elphinstone (that is, East India +Company) against Ameerchund Bidruchund, a case of booty. Remained till +half-past two, when I was obliged to come away, having a dinner at +Roehampton. Indeed I do not think that upon a point affecting the revenues +of India I ought to vote as a judge. + +Brougham ridiculed the Directors who sat there in a mass, nine of them. +Fergusson spoke of "the Court." Brougham said he was not surprised he +should make that mistake seeing such an array of directors. Brougham put it +_ad verecundiam_ to the directors whether they would vote upon a question +in which they were directly interested, and in which they had already +appeared by Counsel. + +They were and will be very sulky. They will stay away and decline +supporting Government. + +The bulletin is bad. + +Two most impertinent letters from Lord Arbuthnot and Mr. Arbuthnot asking +for, or rather _demanding_, cadetships. They will find I am not to be +bullied. + + +_June 21._ + +The King expectorated blood yesterday. He is failing in strength, and now +certainly dying. + +Read a memorandum of Wilson's on a proposed remodelling of the army. It is +founded on my idea of bringing it into the form it formerly had, with fewer +European officers and more native officers, in higher ranks. He proposes +having two more European Non-Commissioned officers, a Subadar Major, and +another Subadar, and several minor things. + + +_June 22._ + +Cabinet. The Duke thought the character of the Government would be affected +if we gave up the Forgery Bill in the Lords, not in consequence of any +change of opinion, but of a majority of 13 in the House of Commons. I am +satisfied the law, as it is, ought to be maintained. In the House Lord +Lansdowne made a speech on moving the second reading, and Lord Winchelsea +and the Duke of Richmond said they should vote for the Bill as it was-- +none, however, taking religious objections, Lord Lansdowne throwing out +that he would consent to make the bill temporary. The Chancellor made a +very good speech, expressing his general objections to the Bill as it +stands, and reserving his reasons for the Committee. + +The King is rather worse and weaker. + +In the House of Commons last night a mine was sprung and all parties, Whigs +and Tories, East and West Indians, united by a trick on the sugar duties. +However, we had a majority. + + +_June 23._ + +It seems Peel and Herries and even Goulburn himself rather doubts whether +the sugar arrangement will work, and Peel has some doubt as to his +majority. Altogether he is very much out of humour, or rather _ennuyé_, and +a very little would induce him to give up. + +Cabinet dinner. The Duke saw the King and some stamping took place. The +King was much worse than on Saturday. The expectoration is matter from the +lungs. Knighton says that if they can keep the bowels right he may live a +month. Halford says if he was an ordinary man he should think he would not +live three days. Tierney says his pulse almost failed while he was asleep +this morning, and he thought he would have died. The Duke says he thinks +more with Knighton than the others. + +The King was perfectly alive to all the business done. He talks of going to +the Cottage still. + +Much talk at the Cabinet dinner as to what should be done as to +dissolution; but all depends on the time of the King's death, and the state +of public business then. + +Peel, Herries, and all seem to think the Low Party gains, and will gain +strength. Hume, on Whitbread's retirement, is to come in for Middlesex. + + +_June 24._ + +House. Galway Franchise Bill read second time Counsel were to have been +heard; but the petitioners declined having them. I fear we shall have a +sharp debate about it to-morrow, and Lord Grey be directly opposed to the +Duke, and the worst of it is I do not believe our case is very good. + +Hardinge and Wortley both say we are in a great scrape with these sugar +duties, and Ireland, which was all with us, is hostile again on account of +the spirit and stamp duties. + +Walked as far as Mrs. Arbuthnot's with the Duke. He told me his view of the +Galway Franchise Bill, and is very certain of his case. He feels Goulburn +has satisfied no one with his sugar duties. + +The King seems much worse by the bulletin; but the private account was not +much so. He was said to be worse when Lord Hill left Windsor. I really +believe that we are so bothered with sugar duties and other things that an +immediate demise and immediate dissolution would be best for us, and for +the country. + + +_June 25._ + +Went to the Duke about the Galway Bill before the House met. The Duke spoke +very well and made a very good case. Lord Grey well, but the Chancellor +demolished his speech, and placed the question on such good grounds that it +was useless to speak afterwards; nor was there much subsequent debate. The +Duke of Buckingham made a speech against us, in which he mistook every +point, and gave me a great disposition to follow him; but I knew if I did I +should have a whole hornet's nest upon me, and I wished to keep Durham and +Radnor in check, or answer them. Had I spoken the debate would have lasted +three hours more. As it was we got away by nine. On the division we had 62 +to 47. Not brilliant. Our case was excellent. I had feared it would be +indifferent. The Chancellor had got it up admirably. Lord Londonderry, the +Dukes of Newcastle and Richmond, Calthorpe, all the Canningites, of course +voted against us. Dudley was in the House at one time, but he did not vote +against us, nor has he once since he went out. + +The King much weaker. + + +_June 26._ + +At half-past eight this morning I received a Cabinet box containing the +bulletin signed by Halford and Tierney of the King's death, and Halford's +private letter to the Duke of Wellington. The letter stated that the King +had slept for about two hours and woke a little before three. Soon +afterwards, Sir W. Waller only being in the room, he suddenly put his hand +to his breast, and said, 'Good God, what is the matter? This is death?' He +then sent for Halford. He and the others came, and so soon afterwards as I +have said, he expired without the least struggle or pain. + +Peel summoned a Cabinet at half-past ten. We met and talked of very little +but in what dress we should go to the Council, which was to be at twelve. +It was agreed we should go in black, shoes and stockings, but not full +dress. However, after I left the room the Duke arrived, and said the King +[Footnote: The Duke of Clarence now became William IV] intended to appear +in uniform, so the Duke, Lord Bathurst, Rosslyn, and Sir J. Murray, who +were there, put on their uniforms. The group at the Council was most +motley. Lords Grey, Lansdowne, Spencer, Tankerville, Sir J. Warrender, and +some others being in black full dress. Lord Camden and some more in +uniform, which several sent for after they arrived, as Salisbury and +Hardinge. The mass, however, in plain black, some in colours. The Royal +Dukes came in full dress. + +We waited a long time before the Council, almost two hours, a time occupied +in audiences. + +The Duke of Cumberland got the King to send for Lord Eldon, who went in for +a minute only. The Duke of Cumberland received his gold stick, and seemed +very active. The Duke of Wellington, Lord Bathurst, Rosslyn, the +Chancellor, and Sir R. Peel went in together, and personally acquainted the +King with the late King's death. The King said he might not have an +opportunity of seeing that day the rest of his late Majesty's confidential +servants; but he told those present that all had his confidence, and that +they would receive his _entire, cordial, and determined support_. He told +the Chancellor in a private audience not only the same thing, but that if +at any time he should hear reports of his ceasing to place confidence in +his Government, they were not to be believed. If he had any fault to find +he would at once tell them. + +When the Duke and the others came out from the King we all went to the +ball-room, where we began to sign the proclamation, and a few, the Royal +Dukes and others, had signed, when we were called to the Privy Council +Room, where the King soon arrived, attended by the household of the late +King. He took his seat, and read his declaration. He read it with much +feeling, and it was well imagined, and will have a good effect. The Lord +President entreated it might be printed. + +I should have mentioned that before the King came in the Council made the +usual orders, with the addition of an order for defacing the late King's +stamps, which was accordingly done by the clerk of the Council. + +When the declaration had been read the King took the Scotch oath in the +usual form, the Lord-President reading it to him, and the King holding up +his right hand. + +He then said it was a satisfaction to him to find such a Privy Council, and +requested them all to take the oath. + +This the Royal Dukes did first, then the Speaker, that he might go to the +House of Commons. Then the Archbishop and the Chancellor together, then the +Dukes, with the Lord President and Privy Seal, then the Marquises, then +others according to their rank. When all had taken the Privy Councillor's +oath the Lord Chancellor took his, and the Clerk of the Council was sworn +by the Lord President. The King then retired, and the Council ordered as +usual respecting the disposal of the late King's body. + +After the swearing in we signed the Proclamation. Some remained to alter +the Liturgy. Queen Adelaide is to be prayed for, and the rest of the Royal +family. + +The Duke of Norfolk was there as Earl Marshal. He observed he was the only +person there who was not a Privy Councillor, and expressed a wish to be +one. The Duke mentioned it to the King, who readily assented. He observed +there had been no Duke of Norfolk a member of the Privy Council since the +time of James II., and that that Duke of Norfolk was a Protestant. The Duke +of Norfolk, however, will consider the oath before he takes it. He would +have taken the Earl Marshal's oath to-day, but it was not there. + +We met in Cabinet at 4. + +The only innovations I yet hear of are in the dress of regiments. The King +intends, as he told Lord Farnborough, to live at Windsor. He intends to +have a battalion of the Guards at Edinburgh, and a regiment of the Line at +Windsor. + +I went in, by some misdirection, the wrong way, and found Wood and Sir Ch. +Pole waiting for the King. Wood, whom I met near the Horse Guards, as I was +riding down to the Cabinet, told me the King had rehearsed his declaration +to him, Sir Ch. Pole, and Lord Errol, before he went into the Privy +Council. + +There was no grief in the room in which we waited. It was like an ordinary +_levée_. + +The Chancellor went down to the House between the Cabinet and the Council, +and took the oaths. + +The Lord Steward was sent for by Peel, and only arrived a quarter before +four at the House of Commons. + +Lord Holland, Grey, and others seemed to think the Proclamation ought to +have been made to-day, and I think it might have been just as well. + +The Duke of Wellington was much cheered by the people. The Duke was called +out of the Cabinet to see Halford, but we had a long conversation as to the +course to be pursued with respect to the Parliament, and especially with +respect to the Regency question. + +The House must sit next week, as the sugar duties expire on Saturday next, +and Goulburn seems disposed to propose a Bill for the continuance of the +present duties for a time; to take money on account for miscellaneous +services; to throw over the judicial Bills and end the session at once. + +The stumbling block is the Regency question--whether it should be brought +forward now, and if brought forward, who shall be Regent. + +Peel seems to think we can hardly avoid bringing it on; as the session +would have lasted two months in the event of the late King's living, why +should it not now, when the reason for Parliament sitting is so much +greater? And what would be the situation of the country if the King should +die, leaving a minor Queen? + +Peel suggested appointing the Queen Regent for a year. I said, depend upon +it, when the King once has her as Regent he will never consent to change +her, and if you appoint her for a year you appoint her for the whole time. + +He afterwards suggested her appointment for a year after the King's death +on account of the probability of her pregnancy. To this I objected, the +state of distraction in which the country would be placed during that year. +It is impossible consistently with the constitution to have an Executive, +of which the existence shall be dependent on the good pleasure of +Parliament. + +Peel then suggested the giving to the King the power of naming either the +Queen, the Duchess of Kent, or any member of the Royal family. The +objection to this is that he ought to name one of the two first--that we +got no security against a bad nomination, which we ought to do. + +The views we ought to have are these: to give all possible strength to the +monarchy. This we do not, if we permit a frequent change of the Executive; +if we diminish the power of the Crown while in the hands of a Regency. We +want to give stability to the Government, and this can only be given by +making the Queen Regent. If we do that we provide, as far as human wisdom +can, for a stable Government of seven years. + +We can in no case _name_ any other person than the Queen, because she may +become pregnant, and in that event it would be monstrous to make the +Duchess of Kent Regent. All we can do, then, is to give the King the option +of choosing the Queen or the Duchess of Kent. He will name the Queen, and +she will be the best. + +It has been observed that all Kings of England die either on Saturdays or +Sundays. + + +_June 27._ + +Came up to a Cabinet at half-past three. We had a great deal of +conversation as to the course to be pursued. The Chancellor said that in +the event of a minor succeeding to the throne, all the minor's acts would +be valid, and under the responsibility of ministers the Great Seal might be +put in the minor's name by the minor's sign manual to an Act creating a +Regency. + +It was determined to take the opinion of the Attorney- and Solicitor- +General upon this point. + +On the supposition that the law is as the Chancellor states, we considered +what should be done. All turns upon our being able to get a temporary Act +for the sugar duties, and if we cannot get that we are _really_ no longer a +Government. It was determined to carry through the Beer Bill and Beer Duty +Bill, to throw over Stamps in Ireland, and carry Spirits. To take a sum of +800,000£ on account of miscellaneous estimates, and 250,000£ on account of +the civil list. + +These last points were decided at a Cabinet at Sir R. Peel's, which +assembled at eleven, and sat till near one; at which the Attorney- and +Solicitor-General delivered their opinion, in conformity with that of the +Chancellor as to the legal competency of a minor sovereign. + +The Attorney-General reminded us that if the King died before the new +Parliament assembled, the old Parliament would revive. + +Peel talked a good deal of the Regency. He is much in favour of making the +Queen Regent for a year after the King's death, to provide for the possible +pregnancy. It seems the principle of all Regencies has been to make the +guardian of the person Regent. It is curious that the case should never +have been provided for of a Queen being left pregnant of an heir apparent, +and that it should never have occurred. The difficulty would be infinite. + +I consider the death of the King to have been one of the fortunate events +which have often saved the Duke of Wellington. I really do not know how we +could have gone on, had he lived two months. + +The King wishes to make Lord Combermere a Privy Councillor, thinking all +gold sticks have been so. We find he is misinformed, and the Duke means to +show him the list of gold-sticks not Privy Councillors, and at the same +time to tell him how Lord Combermere stands, having within these few months +been censured by the Government. The Duke will show the King the +correspondence which passed lately, and leave it to him to decide. There +would be no objection to making him a Privy Councillor some months or a +year hence. + +Brougham made a violent speech against Lord Conyngham for not being in +readiness to swear in the House of Commons. + + +_June 28._ + +Went to St. James's at eleven. The Household, the Royal family, and the +Ministers only were there. The King was dressed in plain black. He went to +a large window looking into the courtyard, and stood forward. There were +but few people there at first, the Horse Guards and the Heralds. The King's +band played God Save the King, and those who were there cheered, upon which +numbers of people came round from before the Palace and filled the +courtyard. They then cheered well. + +As the King passed through the line we formed for him to go to the window +he came up to me and said he must begin by chiding me for not coming to him +yesterday. In fact he had forgot I was a Cabinet Minister, and he therefore +would see me to-day. I said 'it was my first and I hoped it would be my +last fault.' After the Proclamation he sent for the Duke of Wellington, and +when the Duke left him, for me. He asked about China. I told him how we +stood there. That there was an interruption which would probably prevent +the arrival of any ships this year; that orders had been given for a double +investment next year. I said the state of affairs generally was by no means +satisfactory. The King said he was afraid Lord W. Bentinck had not been +doing well. I said I feared he had let down the dignity of his office, and +had when he first went there run after popularity too much, and allowed the +press to get ahead. It would now be very difficult to check it. I added +that he went to make great reductions and had made some. That that had +rendered him unpopular. He was honest and well-meaning. The King said he +should go down to Bushey soon, and as I was living near he would have me +over at eleven o'clock some morning, and give me some hours to make him +acquainted with the state of India. I told him of the secret letter to the +Bengal Government about the Nagpore Treaty, and the principles laid down, +of which he highly approved. He then expressed apprehension of Russia. I +told him all that had been done upon that subject, and of the present to +Runjeet Singh, and the navigation of the Indus, with all which he seemed +much pleased. I said I would send him the secret letters, and get together +information that would bring the whole state of India before him as +concisely as possible. As I was led to mention Sir J. Macdonald, I asked a +coat for him, and the King granted it, thinking it very proper. + +The Duke attends the opening of the King's will at 12. + +The late King died, as was thought, of fatness about the heart. The dropsy +was gone. + +Cabinet. We had none at St. James's, but there was a council. The Duke of +Norfolk attended to be sworn in as a Privy Councillor. We found, on +reference to the Act of last session, that he must have taken the oath +within three months before his receiving any office of trust or profit. So, +on my proposal, the Petty Bag was sent for, and the Chancellor held a court +of Chancery in the ball-room, where the Duke took the oath. He was +afterwards sworn in, as were the Duke of Bedford, Sir S. Canning, Sir J. +Mackintosh, Lord Bexley, and two or three others who were not in time +yesterday. There were a good many orders in council, but of no moment. + +There was the usual proclamation against vice and immorality. + +The King did very well. He was very gracious to all who approached him, and +had something to say to every one. He took little notice of Sir. J. +Mackintosh. + +Lord Bathurst had to change a sheriff. The King, when he heard the name of +the new one (sheriff of Suffolk, I think), said, _'He is a Whig.'_ Lord +Bathurst said, 'He is a very good man, I believe, Sir, and is recommended +by the Duke of Grafton.' 'Oh!' said the King, 'I do not mean to say it is +wrong; only remember, _he is a Whig_.' + +After the council we went to Peel's, but we remained but a short time, the +Duke going to the House and Peel too before 4. In our House not a word was +said. In the Commons Brougham, who seems, as Frankland Lewis told me, half +frantic, made rather an apologetic speech for his attack upon the Lord +Steward, but again hinted at intentional disrespect towards the House of +Commons, not on the part of Ministers in that House, but of persons +elsewhere. He reminded Peel that whatever accession of strength Ministers +might have recently obtained, they could not carry on the Government +without the confidence of the House of Commons. + +His speech was very mysterious, and hardly any one understood it. Some +thought he alluded to the accession of Lord Grey to the Government; that +must have rested upon foolish rumour. He alluded, I conclude, to the King's +support, now well known. What symptoms of disrespect for the House of +Commons he may have discovered I know not. Probably he chooses to imagine +them, to produce an effect. + +He is evidently mad with disappointment. He could not well be wooed in such +a temper, even if he were to be wooed at all. + +After the House I rode to leave my name at the Princess Augusta's, and +forgot the Duke of Cumberland, who lives close by; then I went to the Duke +of Gloucester's, where I met F. Lewis, who told me of Brougham's speech and +so on. I went with Wood to the Princess Sophia of Gloucester's. He told me +all the King said of the late King's error in not frankly supporting his +Government, and of his own determination to do so. He had been long in the +habit of saying, 'the Queen is not with child.' There had been a report to +that effect. Rode to the Duchess of Kent's and Duke of Sussex's. Met Lord +Graham, Mr. and Mrs. Arbuthnot, and the Chancellor. Rode on with the +Chancellor to Kensington. As we were coming away from the Palace we heard +the trampling of horses behind us, and turning round, saw the King coming +full tilt with his lancers; we had but just time to wheel round and salute +His Majesty, who seemed much amused at seeing two of his Ministers amongst +all the little children who were running by his carriage, and the +Chancellor, so lately in all the gravity of his official robes, mounted on +a little white New Forest pony of Lady Lyndhurst's. I rode on to +Roehampton, dined there, and rode back. + +At 10 a Cabinet at Peel's. We framed the message. Peel was very flat. The +measure of immediate dissolution is one he does not half approve. He wished +to settle the Regency question. He has been put out of humour by having his +opinions upon that point not at once acquiesced in. He sees all the +difficulties of our position, and does not meet them with energy and +_elan_. He certainly is not an agreeable person to transact business with, +but he is a very able man. + +The accounts from Ireland are very bad. The potatoes are exhausted at +Limerick, Tralee, and other places, and the new crop will not come in till +August. At Limerick some stores have been forced, and the troops attacked +with stones. + +At Tralee there was a subscription of 450£ for the purchase of potatoes; +300£ was expended, and the Mayor of Tralee and other _gentlemen_ bought +some of these potatoes, which were offered at a reduced price to the +people, for _seed_! Can any country be tranquil in which resident gentlemen +can do such things? A discretionary power has been given to the Lord +Lieutenant to expend 3000£ in food, should it become necessary, without +further reference. + +About 180 peers have taken the oaths. I fear we shall be beaten upon the +Forgery Bill; we have a very narrow margin indeed, not above six or eight +without bishops. It is supposed the bishops will stay away. I fear those +will stay away who would, if present, vote with us, and all who are against +will come. If this should be the case we must be defeated. + +The King was perfectly reasonable about Lord Combermere. The Duke showed +His Majesty the letters which had passed, and the King said he should not +think of it. He told Peel and Lord Melville he wished the Royal Academy to +remain open till after the King's funeral, that he might see the +exhibition, and said Peel should attend him when he went. This Peel thinks +very foolish, and his disposition seems to be to turn the King into +ridicule, and to throw the suspicion of insanity upon all his acts. This is +the _tactique_ of the Whigs. The King takes the Sacrament on Sunday, and +has desired the two English and one Irish archbishop to attend. This they +call 'an indication.' + + +_June 29._ + +At half-past ten went to Lord Rosslyn's, to arrange with him the Lords' +Address. Went with him to Peel's, to show it to him. He was reading when we +went in, and hardly looked up. He heard the Address which I read, and +approved of it; but he hardly took any notice of us or of it. He seemed +really ill, and quite broken down. + +Called on Hardinge. We had some conversation respecting the state of the +Government. His idea is that the strength of the Government in the House of +Commons is much injured by Peel's being in a subordinate situation to the +Duke. That if he was Chancellor of the Exchequer and First Lord of the +Treasury, things would go on better, the Duke taking a secretaryship of +State. This would do very well in the House of Commons, but very ill in the +Cabinet. He is for getting Mr. Stanley, and suggests (or Rosslyn did, or +both, for having talked to both on the same subject I may confound them) +that Lord F. Leveson should be made a peer. I think that a good idea. He is +of no use in the Commons, and his peerage would open a place which Mr. +Stanley could fill. + +Rosslyn thinks Aberdeen's notions upon foreign politics have, together with +his assumption of independence which is of recent date, made the Duke +rather sore, and that he would not be sorry to have another Secretary of +State for Foreign Affairs. Lord Rosslyn wants to have Lord Grey in, and +says he would as soon be First Lord of the Admiralty as Foreign Secretary. +Rosslyn would, I think, like to go to Ireland as Lord Lieutenant. He would +willingly give up the Privy Seal to Aberdeen. He thinks Sir G. Murray would +make an excellent Governor General. I fear he would be too indolent. He +said he knew, if there was a vacancy, the Duke would be glad to make him +Master General. + +I had said I believed Lord Beresford would go to Portugal as Minister, if +Miguel would be on good terms with us. It seems Goulburn would be glad to +be Speaker. That would open a proper office for Herries, and his offices +might be divided, Lord Althorpe having the Board of Trade. + +I really think some arrangement must be made to give us strength in the +House of Commons. Saw the Duke at two. He approved of the address. Rosslyn, +was with him. I told him how ill Peel seemed. He said he would go to see +him. + +House. The Duke moved the Address. He gave a character of the late King as +one of the most accomplished, able, and remarkable men of the age. I saw +Lord Grey smile a little, but the House generally was grave and formal. +Lord Grey assented to the Address, but _laissait entrevoir_ that he should +be hostile to the Address to-morrow, hinting at the Regency. The same thing +was done in the Commons. + +The Duke told me the late King had three disorders which must have proved +fatal, and he died of bursting a blood-vessel in the stomach. He had a +concretion as large as an orange in his bladder, his liver was diseased, +and his heart was ossified. Water there was not much, and all proceeding +from the interruption of circulation about the heart. I read the report, +signed by Halford, Tierney, Brodie, and A. Cooper. + +We had East Retford again. Lord Londonderry, whom Lord Durham puts forward +as his tool, moved an adjournment. The question was postponed till Friday. +Afterwards the Duke of Buckingham, when most peers had gone away, moved the +same thing, and then Lord Londonderry twice. We had majorities but gave it +up at last. The Chancellor is heartily tired of the whole thing. The Duke +went away while Lord Londonderry was explaining in answer to his speech, to +the noble Lord's great annoyance. + +I rode home with the Duke, who spoke of Lord Londonderry as a madman. He +said Peel had not taken a sufficiently high line. He did not like the +position he stood in in the House of Commons. The Duke said no Government +was ever beaten by its enemies, but many have been by their friends. + +The King was very amenable and good-natured to-day. + + +_June 30._ + +Occupied all the morning in looking at the precedents in the case of +regency. There are two modern contradictory precedents, 24 Geo. II. and 5 +Geo. III., and no experience of either, nor has there been a minority since +Edward VI. in 1547. + +It is clear the sovereign is sovereign whatever be his age, and the Act +appointing a regent must have his assent. Whatever has at any time been +done, has been done or sanctioned by Parliament. Parliament cannot +supersede the Royal authority. + +It is remarkable that Parliament in 1811 made provision for the care of the +King's person in case of his death; but none for the care of the kingdom in +the event of the Regent's death, although the Princess Charlotte was but +fifteen. + +House at 5. The Duke moved the Address in a very short speech, not +adverting to the regency. Lord Grey followed and declared his opinion of +the incapacity of Government as exhibited in their measures during the last +five months. Goderich said 'nothing had been done,' and was for going on +with the business. Lord Harrowby wished a short Regency Bill to be passed, +giving the regency to the Queen for six weeks, to provide for the case of +pregnancy. The Chancellor made a speech, not long, admitting the law to be +as stated, that is, that the sovereign immediately on accession possessed +all Royal power. Eldon spoke against us, and treated the question of a King +_en venire sa mere_ with jocularity. I followed, and observed gravely upon +his jocularity on such a subject; then stated my view of the question, and +expressed my regret and surprise at Lord Grey's declaration, added I was +happy to know at last where we were, who were our friends and who were our +enemies. + +Then got up the Duke of Richmond, totally misrepresenting what I had said +as to Lord Eldon and Lord Grey, and endeavouring to make them appear as +personal attacks to which no gentleman could submit. Lord Londonderry +followed in the same tone. (After the Duke of Richmond I explained that I +had not attributed improper motives to Lord Grey, nor attacked Lord Eldon's +character.) We had afterwards Lord Lansdowne, Lord Harewood giving his +first vote for the Government after the Catholic Question, and _that_ +because it was the first measure of the new King. A foolish reason, but I +dare say many voted on the same ground. Lord Wharncliffe spoke against us, +Lords Bute and Wicklow and the Duke of Buckingham for us, Lord Radnor +shortly against. The Duke replied. Then Lord Grey spoke, and observed, of +course, upon what I had said, but not angrily, and I made an explanation +which was satisfactory, and set us quite right again. He had imagined me to +say he owed a debt of gratitude to the Government for the measure of last +session. I said he had expressed gratitude, but we had not claimed it, +because we only did our duty. In the lobby during the debate Lord Jersey +told me he was afraid Lord Grey might have misunderstood the meaning of +what I said about gratitude, and begged me to set him right immediately if +it was so. + +We had 100 to 54. A very good division. We went, at ten, to Goulburn's to +dinner, and expected soon to see the members of the House of Commons, and +to hear of as good a division there as in the Lords, but after an hour we +heard the division had only been 185 to 139. This made us a little flat, +and Lord Bathurst drank no more champagne. + +I intentionally committed the Government thoroughly with the Whigs, for +after Lord Grey's declaration it was idle to expect a vote from them, and +our people were pleased, as I knew they would be. The Duke of Bedford and +Lord Jersey voted with us. So did Dudley. + +I shall have work enough now, as they have ten or twelve speakers, and we +but three. + + +_July 1._ + +Looked over the debates on the Forgery Bill this morning. Committee at one. +Examined a manufacturer of camlets and bombazines from Norwich. House. +Forgery Bill. The Chancellor made an admirable speech, Lord Lansdowne +followed him, then Lords Wynford, Tenterden, and Eldon all against the +bill. We divided 77 to 20. The Duke was delighted, he said, '_How very +right we were._' So said the Chancellor. Peel would have given it up. Now, +I think one large majority will set public opinion right again. The +Chancellor said all that was contained in Peel's two speeches and much +more. Peel and Brougham were under the throne. + +Lord Bathurst, with whom I walked home from the House at three, when we +talked of Goulburn's becoming Speaker, suggested Hardinge as Chancellor of +the Exchequer. He would be an excellent one. + +I met Goulburn in the Park this morning. He did not seem much pleased with +the House last night. I see there were strong words indeed in the second +debate, Brougham talking of the _parasites_ of the Duke of Wellington. Peel +asked whether he presumed to call him a parasite? There was great +confusion, and it ended by Peel's making an explanation for Brougham, in +which Brougham acquiesced. Several members, amongst the rest, I hear, +Castlereagh, were going to call Brougham out. + +In the House Lord Bathurst told me Wortley had stayed away from the +division last night, and had sent in his resignation. Soon after I received +a note from Wortley telling me so, expressing great regret that he could +not vote for a course of measures which excluded a Regency Bill. His regret +was increased by my kindness and encouragement. I have sent his letter to +the Duke, having shown it to Lord Bathurst in the House. I wrote an answer +to say I felt great regret at his not being able to adopt our line, and +expressing my personal regret at losing him, and my acknowledgments for the +assistance I had derived from him. + +His father and father-in-law both voted against us last night. He says in +his note he has taken his line entirely on his own view. + +I had some talk with Dudley in the lobby of the House. I began by saying he +had acted very handsomely by us. He said he was friendly to the Government, +and above all things unfriendly to Lord Grey and the Duke of Newcastle. The +motion of last night he called pure faction. + +Salisbury told me he stayed away to-night not liking to vote against us, on +account of yesterday's declaration of war. The Duke of Gordon told me he +was much pleased with me last night. I do not, however, think I spoke as +well as usual. + +Bankes I had some talk with. He said the Duke of Cumberland was hostile to +the Duchess of Kent and Leopold. He would prefer the Queen as Regent. He +had been much with the King for the last six weeks, and there was a good +understanding between them. Bankes asked if I had left my name with him. I +told him I had, and I believed all the rest had. By some mistake of a +servant the summons to the Privy Council did not reach the Duke of +Cumberland till the day after the accession, and he was very angry. It had +been sent to Kew. He is satisfied now. Goulburn has hit upon a _mezzo +termine_ which answers for the present session. He has reduced the duty on +West Indian sugar to 24,9., and on East Indian sugar to 32s. The duty on +other sugar to be 63s. I did not fail to tell Dudley and Bankes in what +strong terms the King had expressed his determination to support the +Government. They were both 'colpiti.' Dudley had had no idea terms so +strong had been used. He comes to the Council to be sworn in on Saturday. + + +_July 2._ + +Chairs at eleven. They have sent a representation on the subject of the +Kattywar draft, impugning, as I understand, for I have not yet read it, the +power of the Board to give orders in the Secret Department which do not +require secresy. + +I told the Chairs distinctly that I intended to take upon the King's +Government the whole responsibility of the foreign policy of India. + +I saw Wortley, who thanked me very much indeed for my note of yesterday +evening. He was much distressed, and evidently regrets extremely that he +has tendered his resignation. He adheres, however, to his opinion that the +Regency question should have been settled at least provisionally before +Parliament separated. He was going to see Peel and afterwards the Duke. + +He told me the Government could not be conducted in the House of Commons +unless some more Ministers would speak-that there must be a change. + +I called at Hardinge's. He told me the same thing, and that he had talked +about it to the Duke yesterday and made him promise to place the +ministerial seats in the House of Commons at Peel's disposal. Hardinge is +for having Edward Stanley. He spoke of Wilmot Horton, but he is not of +Cabinet calibre. I think Hardinge is disposed to displace Murray rather +than either of the others. He talked again of making Peel First Lord of the +Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Duke Secretary of State +for Foreign Affairs--Aberdeen going to Ireland. Aberdeen would not go +there, I think. I told Hardinge Lord Bathurst had suggested him as +Chancellor of the Exchequer. He would not hear of it. + +It seems Brougham was almost drunk the other night. Hardinge and several +others were getting up to question him when Peel stopped them. He pulled +Hardinge down by the coat. Hardinge says Peel managed admirably. + +In the House spoke to the Chancellor and Lord Bathurst, and told them I had +heard we must have an addition of strength to the Treasury Bench. They both +said they believed so too. Lord Bathurst again mentioned Hardinge. + +Spoke to the Duke about Wortley. He said he had written a kind note to him, +and told him he had been too hasty. He should have spoken to some of the +Ministers first. The Duke evidently intends the thing to blow over. + +Spoke to Lord Wharncliffe about the same thing. He said he would neither +have voted nor have spoken against Government on Wednesday if he had had an +idea of Wortley's resigning, because it gave the appearance of concert, and +there really was none. He did not know of the letters till after they had +been written. I said Lord Harrowby's taking the same line, both voting and +speaking, gave the appearance of concert. He said he thought Wortley +altogether wrong. That a young man, having joined a Government, had no +right, for a difference on a single point, to resign. If he differed upon a +system of policy it was another thing. I said I thought it would be allowed +to blow over. He afterwards talked to the Duke, and I have no doubt Wortley +will remain. + +Lord Bathurst says W. Horton is a gentleman. I doubted it. He rather wishes +to have Wilmot in office. But the person to be got is Mr. Stanley. + +We had a discussion on a motion of Lord Londonderry's whether we should +proceed with East Retford or not. I followed Lord Grey and spoke very +quietly but, I think, reasonably, for going on. I said if we were obliged +to postpone any measure, the last we should postpone should be one deeply +interesting to the House of Commons and affecting their privileges. + +I think we did all Peel could require. We had 45 to 13. I remained till +eight, but I could stay no longer. + +Lord Londonderry attacked me again, and said instead of planting a dagger +in the side of Lord Grey I should have applied a _healing plaster!_ His +comparative civility to the Government to-day was to conciliate their +support to Sir R. Gresley for Durham. + +The Duke told Hardinge yesterday I was always ready. I was a little too +lively, but I was of great use. + + +_July 3._ + +The King has done two popular things. He has allowed a passage to be made +from Waterloo Place into the Park, and he has dismissed all the late King's +French cooks! He will have no foreigners about him. + +The foreign Ministers were all introduced to him to-day. He was very +gracious, Aberdeen said, but he did not choose his topics quite so well as +the late King, who had much tact and grace, neither does the King speak +French well. + +Lord Combermere came and had an audience to present a picture of the King +of Delhi, painted by an Indian artist. It seemed not ill done, and had the +appearance of an ordinary picture, but when placed against the light was a +transparency. Lord Combermere did not remain long with the King, and when +he came out he seemed annoyed. He remained some time, and the Duke was +afraid he remained to be sworn in, in consequence of some incautious +promise of the King. It was arranged that Buller, who had a list of the +Privy Councillors, should turn him out with the rest who were not so, when +the Council began. However, he went away a little before. + +The Duke of Montrose has resigned, and the King has placed the office at +the disposal of the Duke of Wellington. + +Peel seems to think Lord Graham is dissatisfied and unfriendly. It seems he +has been heard complaining of vacillation, &c., on the part of the +Government, and does not attend well. + +The Queen has named Lady Wellesley and Mrs. Berkeley Paget as two Ladies of +the Bed-chamber. Valletort is to be in some high situation about the Queen. +Lord Errol, her Master of the Horse. + +I conclude Lord Conyngham will resign, but it is not known. + +The Duke goes to Windsor to-morrow respecting the late King's papers, the +Duke of Cumberland having meditated an _enlèvement_. + +Peel thinks Brougham really rather mad, and would not be surprised to hear +he was confined. Last year he was melancholy, and his friends and _he +himself_ feared he might commit suicide. Now he is in an excited state. +Peel speaks of him as a most wonderful man in ability. + +It seems that last night the leaders came down to make an attack, but the +followers, not having been consulted, would not support. R. Gordon came +over to Herries and said he should vote with Government. Hume, who in the +morning had sent to ask Planta whether Government intended to oppose him +for Middlesex (a question Planta was desired not to answer till the end of +next week), was very civil, and disposed to let business pass. It is not +impossible that the House of Commons may have done their business by this +day week. + +I am to look at the Beer Bill, and have already begun to read the Commons' +debates upon it. + + +_July 4._ + +Read all the debates on the Beer Bill, made notes, and considered the +subject. The Queen seems to have selected her maids of honour from the +neighbourhood of Bushey. This is amiable and very right. + + +_July 5._ + +I proposed to Wortley, as Edward Stanley was an acquaintance of his, to +give him a hint not to commit himself against the Government just now; but +he says he does not know Stanley intimately enough. + +I asked him whether he did not find the Duke of Wellington very kind. He +really had the kindest heart of any man I ever knew. When I looked up I saw +the tears in his eyes. + +Clare told me he heard all the Whigs in our House, except Lord Lansdowne, +were determined to push us _à l'outrance_; but Lord Lansdowne thought the +Duke must endeavour to strengthen himself during the vacation. He could not +do it now, as it would be a confession of weakness; but he thought he would +do it before Parliament met. However, the others would not hear him. + +There was a meeting at Lord Althorpe's yesterday, but I have not heard the +result. + +Talked to Clare about the affairs of Kattywar, and promised to give him +precise instructions before he left England. + +He will remain at Bombay, I think. He tells his mother three years, but he +will remain till he has made some money and done something worth going +there to do. He has got Elphinstone to make a list of the civil servants +_with their characters_. + +The King took the sacrament yesterday with the Royal Family, and afterwards +received the bishops and the judges. He made long speeches to both. Thirty +minutes to the first, and twenty to the second. + +Polignac seems quite firm, although certain he shall be in a minority of 1 +to 2 or 3. It is expected he will _evade_, and that Villele may be able to +go on with the new Chamber. + +No news from Algiers. 15,000 men are assembled at Toulon as a reserve. + + +_July 6._ + +Cabinet. Peel said the Lord Advocate would resign if we did not pass the +Scotch Judicature Bill, so we must struggle through with it. The Welsh +Judicature Bill is to be passed too. This will keep us sitting some time. +The Commons will have finished on Friday. + +House. We had the second reading of the Beer Bill. I said a few words to +show the inaccuracy of one of Lord Malmesbury's conclusions; but I must +speak in detail in the Committee. + + +_July 7._ + +Last night we had 247 to 93, a great division. The Tories in general voting +with us. + +Looked over again all the papers relative to the Beer Bill. + +In my way back from Roehampton met Lord Ravensworth, who told me the King +had the gout, and that he had given the Guelphic ribbon to his three sons- +in-law. He likewise told me what I knew before, that the Duke of Montrose +had resigned. + +I told him of the dismissal of the French cooks, which horrified him. + +Cabinet dinner at Herries's. All the House of Commons pleased with their +division. They got three county members to speak for others. The Whigs did +not like the motion, and were unwilling to divide. Robert Grant divided the +House. The King was delighted with the division. + +He came to town to-day, almost for nothing, and received the Duke and +others. He sent for Lord Rosslyn and told, him he had made his regiment the +Queen's Own. + +He has changed the uniform of the navy, which is to be blue with red cuffs +and facings. He wore the uniform so to-day. + +Aberdeen introduced Prince William of Prussia. The King desired him to +stay, and said he should never receive foreigners except in his presence, +and never but in his naval uniform. He should wear the military uniform now +and then, but as little as possible. + +All the cavalry are to be in red. + +No news from Algiers. The Duke thinks they must be rather in want of +provisions. The French are all in a state of sentiment, as Bourmont's +second son has been dangerously wounded. Certainly the way in which it is +mentioned in the dispatch is good, and indeed Bourmont, a very clever man, +and first under fire with his four sons, will soon be popular with an army. + +Polignac seems to be insensible rather than bold. He thinks all will go on +well still. + +The present intention is that we should all be in gala at the funeral, with +black scarfs, &c. + +I have asked several to dine at Roehampton and go from thence. + +The Queen is to be present, I suppose, in the King's pew. The King is +certainly to be chief mourner. + +We had a great deal of talk after dinner about elections. I fear they have +not been attended to in time. It is hoped Seaford will be conquered from +Lord Seaford, and that the two Grants will be thrown out. We have nobody +for Surrey and nobody for Middlesex. + + +_July 8._ + +House. Answered the Duke of Richmond on the sale of Beer Bill. The Duke +seemed very well satisfied, and the House was very attentive and cheered +frequently. We had on a division 60 to 15. + + +_July 9._ + +Lord Radnor made some observations upon the continuing of the Irish Arms +Bill without explaining the reason, the Bill having been introduced in +troublesome times and expiring at the end of this Session. Lord Grey +supported him. It is clear Lord Durham and Lord Radnor evidently intend to +make us look about us and not do work in a slovenly manner. I cannot find +fault with them. + +Lord Durham moved the printing of the Appropriation List, which was +negatived without a division, as unusual; but I dare say he will ask +questions as to some of the items. + + +_July 10._ + +As I was coming home from the office I called on Hardinge. He considers the +division to have been invaluable to us here and even to France. Certainly +the French funds rose when it was known the present King held the same +course as his predecessor. Hardinge thinks many men are disposed to support +the Duke's Government under the idea that all sorts of calamities would +attend the weak Government which must succeed it. He thinks Palmerston the +best man to have in Goulburn's place, Goulburn going to the Speakership. He +thinks W. Horton would be better than Frankland Lewis as his successor at +the War Office, it being necessary in either case to get Lord F. Leveson +into the House of Lords. Fitzgerald has written to Hardinge, and seems +eager about politics. I wish he was well and could come into office again. + +I do not know that the Duke or anybody would have any objection to +Palmerston coming in by himself; but I doubt Huskisson's ever being in +office again while the Duke lives. Neither will the Grants come in--indeed +it is to be hoped they will both be turned out of their seats. + + +_July 12._ + +Office. Backhouse brought the account of Sir J. Macdonald's expected death; +the date, May 12. Sir Henry Willock will take charge of the mission _ad +interim_. He may be a sensible man, but the loss of Macdonald is severe. I +do not know how we shall replace him. + +Cabinet at 2. The business was the eternal slave question--what answer +should be given to Brougham to-morrow. He is expected to propose some +pledge of proceeding _legislatively_ in the next session as to the +admission of slave evidence and other points. A Bill has been prepared +making slave evidence admissible, and it would probably have been +introduced but for the early termination of the session. However, there +seems to be great reluctance to embark in a contest with the Colonial +legislatures. The foolish resolutions moved by Canning are deeply +regretted. I was the only man who objected to them, when, two years after +they had been found of no avail, it was proposed that the Lords should +concur in them. Peel objects to any pledge on the part of Parliament, more +particularly on the eve of a dissolution. It is thought that _by paying +from our funds_ for an improved judicature in the West Indies we may induce +the colonies to acquiesce in the admission of slave evidence, although +imposed by the interposition of Parliament. I doubt it, and if we pass a +law to which the colonies are adverse, which they will regard as being _no +law_, how are we to execute it? We may make judges and pay them, but we +must procure submission to those judges, and further, we must make +_jurymen_. + +All these difficulties I foresaw when the Lords adopted the Commons' +resolution; but I suppose Canning forced it upon Lord Bathurst and the +Cabinet. + +House at 5. Debate on the Scotch Judicature Bill. Lord Wynford made a +miserable speech, which proved he knew nothing about the subject. The +Chancellor was very angry with him, and once interrupted him improperly. +The debate was dull, and there was no division. + + +_July 13._ + +Went to St. James's at half-past one. A few Privy Councillors were there to +be sworn in, amongst the rest the Duke of Hamilton. + +The Duke of Wellington had to talk over the King about giving a lodge in +Bushey Park to one of the FitzClarences for his life, and about gazetting +the Queen's household. He found the King very reasonable indeed. + +The King means to give his Ministers a grand dinner. He intends asking the +Speaker and the two Gold Sticks, but _not_ the _third_, the Duke of +Cumberland. + +The Duke of Buckingham is Lord Steward. A bad appointment. The office of +Lord Chamberlain was offered by the Duke of Wellington to the Duke of +Bedford, Lord Rosslyn going to make the offer. The Duke of Bedford was much +gratified, but declined on the ground of his health. The office was then +offered to Lord Jersey, who accepted willingly. + +House. The Chancellor made an excellent speech on the Welsh Judicature +Bill, and it was read a second time without a further word. The Forgery +Bill passed with a motion of Lord Holland's _pro formâ_ that he might +protest. + +We had Sir Jonah Barrington for a short time. He is very roguish and sly. + +There are no particulars yet of the capture of Algiers, except that the +fleet co-operated. + +The French seem to have been highly delighted. + + +_July 15._ + +Sir G. Murray, Goulburn, and Herries came down to Roehampton at four to +dinner. At five we set off for Windsor. The day was beautiful, and all the +world made it a holiday. Carriages of all sorts and hackney coaches were on +the road all the morning to Richmond. I never saw so many persons there, +and chiefly of the class of shopkeepers. London was quite empty, but the +Park quite covered with the people. It seemed to be a day of general +recreation. + +Arrived at Windsor at a quarter after seven. There were a few Lancers along +the road from Frogmore, where the King and Queen were, but no crowd. Near +the town there were a great many waggons. We turned to the right at the end +of the Long Walk and drove through the park to the great gate of the +Castle. Within the court were Horse and Foot Guards. We entered at the +visitors' entrance, and went to St. George's Hall, where we all assembled. +A great many were already come. They began forming the procession at half- +past seven, and it was all formed so as to move before nine. I walked with +Lord Hill. There were ten or twelve barons, a number of judges, six or +eight bishops, and upon the whole a fair representation of the peerage and +the Privy Council. There was a double line of Life Guardsmen within the +castle, without Foot Guards, and the Blues in the chapel. We did not see +the body as we passed. A screen of black concealed the room in which it lay +in state. I imagine the King was in the room. As we returned it was open. + +It struck nine as we came to the Round Tower. A rocket was fired as soon as +the body moved, to give notice to Linden for the firing of the minute guns. +The bands of the several regiments played the Dead March in Saul, &c., as +the procession passed. The Foot Guards stood close together with arms +reversed, every fifth man having a flambeau. The platform was, in most +places, open on both sides. There was a good deal of air, but the night was +warm. Had there been rain, or had it been cold, some must have died. There +were but few people on the right of the platform in the inner court, but in +the outer court there was a dense mass of people, and all the roofs were +covered. There was hardly a whisper. All the people seemed very decent in +their dress, and their conduct was perfect. The procession entered at the +great door of the chapel and turned to the left, went down to the end of +the aisle and then turned, facing the door of the inner chapel. In the +space we thus went round were the Eton boys. In the chapel there were some +persons on the right of the altar. I could not well see who they were, as +there was a sort of haze, but they were all in uniform. With this exception +the chapel was empty. We were all placed as we entered in the seats and +stalls. The body was drawn upon a carriage. It was too heavy to be carried. +The King had a vast number of attendants, such as equerries, &c. Half of +them captains in the navy. The attendants pressed rather too close upon +him. He was in black with the collars of all the orders. He nodded +occasionally as he recognised people; but when his countenance was still he +looked very grave. He is become very like his father. The assistant +mourners, who were Lords Goderich, Sidmouth, Granville, Grantham, Carlisle, +and some others, had no seats and stood during the service. The last who +entered were the Guard, the colours preceding. These came half way into the +aisle, the colours depressed. The colonels of the battalions and the +general, Sir H. Vivian, came in with their caps on and swords drawn, and +stood to the right and left of the King, but not near him. The banners were +depressed on the two sides of the grave. Over the grave was a black canopy, +on the top of which was an enormous crown. The music was good. The service +was very ill-read by the Dean Hobart, and the Garter could not make himself +heard when he recited the King's titles. Lord Jersey walked as Lord +Chamberlain, Lord Conyngham as Steward. He broke his staff into the grave. +Lord Cholmondeley was there as Lord Great Chamberlain, and sat on the left +of the aisle in a stall opposite the passage. On the other side was the +Earl Marshal. When all was over the King went out by the small door on the +left near the King's closet, and so by the cloister to the platform. As +soon as he appeared the Guard received him with presented arms and God Save +the King. We all returned by the way we came. There was tea in St. George's +Hall but we went on, and finding Goulburn's servant, followed him to the +carriage, which was on the other side of the entrance gate, and so got away +even before the King. We were at Roehampton by half-past one. The whole +procession lasted about two hours and a half or rather less--that is, from +the first move to the end. + +It was very well arranged. Pohlman, our Deputy Black Rod, who is a Herald, +was the acting person, and did his duty admirably. There was no +interruption, no confusion, but everything managed as if we had been +drilled and did the same thing every day. And so King George IV. is gone to +his grave with all the pomp of royalty, and splendid the pageant was; but +it was considered a mere pageant even by his household, who had lived so +intimately with him for years. There was no regret. A coronation could +hardly be gayer; but the procession was gravely done and decently. + +The magnificence of the castle aided the spectacle and made royalty appear +almost as imposing in death as at the moment when the Crown was assumed in +the Abbey. + +We had supper and they all went to London. + +Huskisson and Palmerston were there. Huskisson very sulky and sour. +Palmerston very cordial, as if he thought he might come in, I should be +glad if he did. + +It seems the Duke of Buckingham hints that he must have something more than +the stewardship for his seven votes. No one likes his appointment, and we +all feel as if an alliance with the Grenville party would bring us ill- +luck. + + +_July 16._ + +House. Administration of Justice Bill. A great many amendments made by Lord +Tenterden. We struck out a clause by which Le Blanc would have been obliged +to sit to tax costs every day in the year. Lord Eldon said the Bill as it +was originally drawn was more like a string of resolutions at the London +Tavern than an Act of Parliament. + +The Attorney-General was very angry indeed at the alterations made in the +Bill, and threatened to throw it over in the House of Commons. + +Nothing said about the Libel law; but Lord Holland is to say something on +the third reading. Sir Jonah's case. W. Goady spoke. He spoke so slow, it +was like a banker paying in sixpences to gain time. He was so dull I went +away for fear of falling asleep. The Duke stayed and slept. + +The Duke remained at Windsor all night. I met him as he was coming down to +the office to-day. He said he had remained to see the King and give up to +him the late King's snuff-boxes, &c., which were all in a great box. + +Lord Wharncliffe told me he thought Duncombe, Bethel, Lord Morpeth, and +Ramsden would come in for Yorkshire. Afterwards we heard Brougham was to +stand. It will have a very bad effect if Hume and Brougham come in for +great counties. Yet I dare say they will. + +Wortley goes down to stand for some Scotch boroughs, which will lead to the +County of Forfar. + +Long Wellesley has been arrested by Gosling the Banker for 4,000£, on which +it was found that he had but 3,000£ in the books in the Bank, so he +remained in durance for the other 1,000£ till he found five people, each +willing to be bound for 200£. This disposes of him for Essex. He had given +out that he had 30,000£. An express has been sent off to a Mr. Lloyd, the +son-in-law of the old Eliab Harvey, to stand for Essex. I know the man. He +was at Ryde in 1813, and at Cowes in 1826. His daughters are rather pretty +girls. I suggested Tower, who would have done very well for Essex. + + +_July 17._ + +St. James's at 2. The Lord Mayor and Aldermen first came up with their +address, then the same with the Common Council. The King received the +addresses, which were very loyal, on the throne. He read the answers very +well. The Ministers stood on his left and the household on his right. About +seven gentlemen pensioners were on each side from the door to the foot of +the throne. The Lord Mayor, &c., were introduced by the Lord Chamberlain. +It was well done, and is rather an imposing ceremony. + +Cabinet. First a question as to what should be done about Ashe, the man who +wrote a libel on the Duke of Cumberland, which he sent to him and now +reclaims. He has written many letters indicative of an intention to +assassinate, and is now come up from Carlisle on foot, and has been walking +opposite the Duke's house for three hours, having first written another +letter of a threatening nature. + +Lord Wynford wrote to Peel on the Duke of Cumberland's part; but the Duke +will not exhibit articles of the peace. Colonel Peter gave Ashe 5_s_. and +he went away. + +The question was what could be done with him? I suggested that, as in the +case of an expected duel, a magistrate on mere information that a breach of +the peace was apprehended would take persons into custody and hold them to +bail; so here the same thing might be done, one of the letters distinctly +threatening a breach of the peace. This would secure the man till it could +be discovered whether there was legal ground to indict him for the letters. +This will be done. + +We then came to the consideration of the East Retford question. All the +press were for giving up the Bill. I took some part in the discussion. +However, Peel was so strongly for the Lords going as the Commons had done, +and for preventing the appearance of disunion in the Cabinet, that his +wishes were acceded to, and we support the Bill. The Duke _thinks_ it will +be thrown out, and I _hope_ it will. It will be very difficult to make a +speech in favour of the Bill which will not commit us to a bad precedent. +However, I shall try. Peel was very obstinate and disagreeable. In fact the +interfering with the existing franchise never was made a Cabinet question. +The giving the franchise to Bassetlaw [Footnote: The Hundred of Bassetlaw, +forming the existing borough of East Retford.] rather than to Birmingham +was, and it was because after an agreement that we should all vote for +Bassetlaw, Huskisson voted for Birmingham and then resigned, that the +separation took place. + +These questions never were made Government questions before, and it is much +better they should not be. + +Peel thinks he will not be able to oppose reform in general if we do not +show a disposition to punish individual cases of corruption. + +I did not get away till seven, and then went to Hardinge's to bring him +down to Wilderness. [Footnote: Seat of Lord Camden, near Sevenoaks.] He +told me the Speaker had been with the Duke and did not resign just now. +There had been a question whether he should not; but it was thought we +might be damaged at the elections if we made any change now. The Duke asked +Hardinge what he thought as to taking Huskisson and Palmerston back again? +Hardinge declared against having Huskisson, but recommended Palmerston. I +dare say as soon as the elections are over something will be done, and that +Palmerston will be offered the Chancellorship of the Exchequer. + +Peel once wanted Edward Stanley, but it seems he has wavered a good deal. +Unless his manner should change it would be impossible to go on with him as +Minister; but I trust in God we shall never lose the Duke. + + +_July 19._ + +Received at nine a card from Lord Bathurst informing me that the Queen +would be in Downing Street at ten. Went in plain clothes as I was desired. +Found the Queen was to be there to see the Guards, whom the King was to +inspect. The Ministers were invited and the connections of the Bathursts. +We were presented to the Queen, and kissed her hand. After the parade, +which the King attended on foot, he joined the party, and they had +breakfast. However, before that I went away. At one again at St. James's. +The two Universities came up with addresses to the King and Queen. Oxford +first. They very properly put their doctors first. The address was read by +the Vice-Chancellor, and then, after the Queen's reply, the doctors and +proctors, and a few others who formed the deputation, kissed the King's +hand. As the Queen has no separate apartment the King retired, the Queen +entered with her household and ladies, and then the same ceremony was gone +through, the Ministers remaining on the left behind the ladies. The Queen +read pretty well. She was obliged to rise each time to give her hand to be +kissed. Cambridge came afterwards with the Duke of Gloucester and all the +Peers, who belonged to the University, in their gowns at the head. This +destroyed the character of the collegiate body. However, those only were +presented who were presented of the Oxford deputation. The King went beyond +his written speech to the men of Cambridge, and put us in a fright. +However, it was good-humoured, and of no great harm--a sort of joke. + +I came away as I had business. Afterwards there was a Council, and the +Lords Lieutenant were admitted to take the oaths. + +House. East Retford. The Chancellor made a capital speech, and we had a +better division than case, 29 to 7. Lord Durham spoke temperately and well. +Lord Grey well too. We had Wynford with us. There is no explaining that +man. The Duke of Cumberland voted against us, and Eldon spoke. + +At St. James's. Lord Westmoreland told me that yesterday at a great dinner +the King gave his household he gave as a toast, 'The land we live in, and +let those who don't like it leave it.' + +This and many other things show his feelings towards the Duke of +Cumberland. + +The King reviews a regiment every morning this week. He has been on +horseback within these six weeks, but he has a rupture, and is now rather +afraid of riding. He is going to change the uniforms of the Lords +Lieutenant. + +We expect to prorogue on Friday and dissolve on Saturday. + + +_July 20._ + +Then East Retford. Lord Wharncliffe moved a resolution with the view of +giving the franchise to Birmingham instead of the Hundred. Dudley spoke for +Birmingham and well. I spoke shortly. I guarded myself against being +considered as pledged to any other measure, intending to decide all +measures according to the special circumstances of the case. + +The Duke was not so cautious as I was, and spoke strongly against giving +the franchise to great towns. [Footnote: No one expected it to occur in two +years' time.] Lord Holland said to the Chancellor, 'He will live to see it +done.' I think I may, and therefore was cautious. + +We had 39 to 16. + +So ends the business of this Session. + + +_July 21._ + +Went at ten to the Duke of Wellington's, where the King and Queen were to +breakfast after an inspection of the 2nd Life Guards. The day was beautiful +and the people in excellent humour. The King first went with the Queen to +the Regent's Park barracks, and then to the Knightsbridge barracks. When +they came to the Duke's the King went to the window and was well cheered. +They then called for the Queen, who went to the window and was very well +received indeed. + +Yesterday evening the King walked out alone into St. James's Street. He +found Watson Taylor and took his arm. The mob pressed upon him so much that +Watson Taylor's shoes were trodden down at heel. While the King was alone +an Irish woman came out of an alley and kissed him. This and a lecture from +the Duke have cured him of walking out alone. At least he has promised not +to do so again. + +House at 2. Aberdeen says the King spoke very well to the foreign Ministers +to-day. There was an extraordinary number of naval officers, and the +fullest _levée_ I ever saw. The King recognised very cordially all his old +friends. He was very gracious indeed to Elphinstone, whom he saw for the +first time. He was imprudent enough to make a sort of speech to the West +Indian deputation, and pledged himself warmly to support their interests. +This I saw. After I was gone I hear Astell and Campbell came up with the +address of the East India Company, and that he spoke in similar terms to +them. This the foolish Astell will publish everywhere. + +The Duke says he goes away when the King begins to speak. I really covered +my face when he began to speak about the Catholics to the deputation from +Cambridge. What he said to them, which was no more than an indifferent +joke, has been variously misrepresented and not at all understood. It must +have been imperfectly heard. + +The King is angry with the Duke of Gloucester for slurring over a part of +the address from Cambridge, which was very loyal, and for not kissing his +hand. He has reason to complain of this. The Duke of Gloucester kissed the +Queen's hand with marked devotion. + +The Duke of Sussex has been already infusing poison into the King's ear and +talking of invasions of the property of the Church. This the King told +Peel. Those who observed the Duke of Sussex at the levee thought he seemed +very triumphant, and received his Whig friends with a smile which said, 'We +shall do them yet.' + +He was invested with the Thistle to-day. The King asked all the knights +presented to drink a bottle of claret with him in October. + +Blomberg was up with an address. The King said, 'You and I know each other +of old. You need not be presented. By-the-bye, you may as well dine with me +to-day.' + +The King made an extemporaneous reply to the address of the Canons of +Windsor the day after the funeral. They begged to have a copy. He +endeavoured to recollect it for them, and sent it to Peel. Peel found some +curious historical inaccuracies. + +The Duke of Wellington thinks we shall gradually bring the King round, and +induce him to move more quietly. To thwart him directly would have a bad +effect; but he may be led. In the meantime he is very well in health. + +The King has promised to dine with Leopold, who has asked the Duke, but not +Aberdeen. The Duke thinks the King should not dine with him now. The two +other Powers having manifested the greatest dissatisfaction with Leopold's +conduct, and we having intimated it in the House, it would be incongruous +and injurious for the King to dine with him. Leopold has written one if not +two letters complaining of the conduct of the Allied Powers. + +We went to the House for fear Lord Durham should play us a trick, and it is +perhaps fortunate we did, for he was there and made a protesting speech, +which was followed by one from Westmoreland on the East Retford Bill. +However, we had a majority in the House, and there was no division. + + +_July 22._ + +Rode to town. Cabinet. Considered the King's Speech. Peel had introduced a +plagiarism from the first speech of the old King, 'Born and educated in +this country, I glory in the name of Briton.' However, the whole sentence +would not do, and it was omitted. I assisted in working the sentences into +form, and breaking them up into short ones. Went away to dress for the +Council, thinking the whole settled. Council at three. First the deputies +of the two Houses carried up the joint address respecting Sir Jonah +Barrington. Then the King being alone, and saying he was ready for his +Ministers--none being there but me--I went in, and first asked him to allow +Clare to wear the uniform the late King gave him. This led to a long talk +about uniforms for Indian Governors, and I had some little difficulty to +carry my coat without having a general consideration of the whole question +of Governor's uniforms. I then told the King of the approaching death of +Sir J. Macdonald. He asked whom we proposed sending in his place? I told +him it did not entirely depend upon the King's Ministers, but that I +thought, if we recommended a very fit man, we should get the Chairs to name +him. + +The King said, 'You heard what I said to the East India Company yesterday?' +I had not, but I bowed, and he added, 'I told them they should not be +unfairly dealt with. There is a run on them, and the notions of people are +very much exaggerated with regard to the question.' + +I said the question would require and receive the most mature consideration +from his Ministers before they ventured to offer any advice to his Majesty +upon the course to be pursued. + +The King said in about ten or twelve days he should be able to give me a +day or two for Indian matters. + +I thought I had given time to the others to arrive, and rose. I should +mention that he spoke of Algiers, and said he suspected there was an +understanding about it between the Russians and the French. + +I said I did not entertain much fear of the French having Algiers. With a +little money we could raise Morocco on one side and Tunis on the other, and +harass them from the interior, and while we took care they had not Tunis, +Algiers was comparatively unimportant. With Tunis, Malta, and Corfu we +should hold our hands across the Mediterranean. + +I went out and found them come. The Duke went in. The King gives up dining +with Leopold. He gave it up the moment the objections to it were mentioned +to him. + +The speech was, I found, much improved after I went away. The King said he +thought nothing could be better, and indeed it is a very good speech. He +said he thought the reference to the Catholic question was unavoidable, as +it was the great measure of the Parliament; and it was particularly proper +that he should refer to it as he had voted for it, really thinking that the +Church would be more secure by means of Catholic admission than by their +exclusion. + +I thought the King seemed a little tired. Well he might be. He had been at +an inspection of troops, the Grenadier Guards and the Lancers, from ten to +one, and the day was very hot. He inspected the troops on foot. + +The Duke of Wellington passed the King at the head of his regiment, and +Lord Rosslyn at the head of his. Lord Rosslyn is delighted with the +opportunities of wearing his uniform, and playing the general officer +again. + + +_July 24._ + +Council at 11. Parliament dissolved. The seals were delivered to the +Secretaries and to Goulburn. Herries kissed hands. + +Sir G. Clark becomes Under-Secretary to the Home Department. W. Peel goes +to the Treasury. Charles Ross comes into Clark's place. Macnaughten goes +out. + + +_July 26._ + +Dined at St. James's. The King of Wurtemburg, the Ministers, Foreign +Ministers, Household, and Knights of the Garter there, in all 80. After +dinner the King made a speech which made his Ministers' hearts fail within +them. However, we were _quitte pour la peur_. He only spoke of his love of +peace. The only thing painful was that he should speak at all, and before +his servants, like a chairman of a public meeting. + +At the Duke of Wellington's on Sunday he made a speech, praising very much +the Duke, and declaring his entire confidence in him. This was before the +Foreign Ministers. The speech was a little warlike, I believe. The Duke's +reply very short indeed, and peaceful. The King should recollect that what +he speaks is as important as what is written in a State Paper. + + +_July 28._ + +Levée. Before it a Council, _standing_, in the King's closet, for swearing +in Privy Councillors. Sir R. Wilson was presented on his restoration to the +army, and holding the King's hand in his expressed his gratitude. + +The King made an energetic reply, and then there was a short rejoinder from +Sir R. Wilson. I could not hear what was said. We afterwards shook hands +cordially with Sir R. Wilson, whose restoration pleases everybody. + +The French Government have dissolved the Chamber without allowing it to +assemble; have placed the press under restriction, and altered the mode of +electing deputies, so as, as far as I can understand, to give to _les plus +imposis_ the power of electing a majority. + +No letter has been received by any Foreign Minister or by us. The whole was +kept a profound secret. The report to the King respecting the press, which +is made the foundation of the Ordonnance, is a long violent declamation, +very weakly written indeed. [Footnote: These were the celebrated Ordinances +which cost Charles X. his crown.] + + +_July 28._ + +Cabinet at half-past three. I was rather late, and found them considering +what should be said by Lord Stuart at Paris, respecting the late violent +measures of the French Government. They had decided that Lord Stuart, if +Prince Polignac endeavoured to draw from him in conversation his opinion, +should say he was directed to offer none. They seemed inclined to tell him, +if Prince Polignac required his opinion by offering an explanation, to say +we considered the measure adopted was in violation of the Charter. At my +suggestion, if Polignac asked his opinion more formally and offered no +explanation, he was directed to request the explanation might be in +writing, and he would transmit it to his Court, or it might be made through +the French Ambassador here. The French Ambassador, however, knowing nothing +of what was doing, left England on Monday, and would meet the news on his +road to Paris. + +At six o'clock on Tuesday evening a row was going on, and a Guardsman had +been killed. This was resistance when the police broke the types, &c., of a +press which would go on. The idea is, that the Chamber of Deputies will +meet, considering the dissolution to be illegal. + +Matuschevitz openly inveighs against the measure. It is doubtful whether +Metternich did not advise it. He sent a long paper from Johannisberg, +giving his views on the present position of the French Government. + +The King of Wurtemburg had an interview of two hours with the Duke of +Wellington yesterday. He is very anxious on the subject of France. He says +the people of Wurtemburg will cry out that a similar measure is intended +against them--that everywhere the two extreme parties will be placed in +collision. Bulow thinks the same. The Duke advised the King of Wurtemburg +to avoid Paris on his return; but the King has some _emplettes_ to make, +and goes there. The Duke advised him then, if he must go for his +_emplettes_, to stay only a day. He said he would not stay above five or +six! Thus is every consideration of real importance sacrificed to motives +of private fancy and convenience! + +Lea informed Aberdeen that a vessel was fitting out in the Thames with +Spanish refugees and arms to endeavour to raise an insurrection in Spain. +After some time they found the vessel, and to-day she was detained. She had +sixty-nine men, and about 150 stand of arms on board. They sank the printed +proclamations which were picked up. Torrijos and Valdes were to be the +leaders. Torrijos was to join below the revenue vessels. Some of the men +had 10£ each, given to them by the Spanish Committee, to aid their voyage +to Rio. There is some doubt under what law they are to be indicted, and the +Attorney and Solicitor-General are out of town. + +Received a letter from Lord Heytesbury, enclosing one he had received from +Captain Campbell, announcing the death of Sir J. Macdonald. + + +_July 29._ + +The Duke told me he had seen Rothschild that morning, who had recent +intelligence from Paris. The Guards were faithful, but the 53rd Regiment, +which was at the Hôtel de Ville, had joined the people, and so had +individual soldiers of other regiments. The people and the National Guards +were arming. The Chambers had assembled. The King was not at Paris. He was +nought to be at Compiègne. + +The Duke thought Henry had better not go to Paris, that one party or the +other would soon attack the English. + +Called on Elphinstone. Offered him Persia. He was much obliged, but said +nothing would induce him ever to go to Asia again. + +Spoke to him of Monteith. He knows him, and a little doubted his +discretion. He promised to find him, and send him to the Duke if he was in +town; but he thought he was at Algiers. Spoke to him of Jenkins and Briggs. +He says Jenkins is the abler man. + +Saw Lord Essex and Lord Clinton. They had heard the Duke of Orleans was +proclaimed Regent. + + +_July 31._ + +Went to town early. Called at the Duke's to hear the news. None had arrived +since yesterday morning. The Duke said he considered the King dethroned, +and we should soon have to consider whether we should acknowledge the new +Government. I observed that our course must depend very much upon the +manner in which the French effected their Revolution. The King had put +himself decidedly in the wrong, and if they make their Revolution as we +made ours in 1688, there was no reason why we should not acknowledge the +new Government, be it what it might. The Duke said the foreigners were +already coming to know what we thought and meant to do. We should have them +all in our train, and provided we took a reasonable course on the question +of Algiers, and others which might arise, we should do very well. The +mischief was that this event would place the two parties in presence on +every occasion, and every trifling difference would resolve itself into one +of Liberal and anti-Liberal. I said I feared whatever party predominated, +even if the King regained his power, France would be precipitated into a +war, for no party would be able to maintain itself in quiet times. The Duke +said the King's Government was becoming very dangerous. It had, as was +shown in the case of Algiers, and their discussions with us, no more +morality than that of Buonaparte, and it had the favour of European Powers +as an ancient dynasty, while it was prepared to act upon the principles of +a new one. Now, under a Government of Revolutionary origin, all their Acts +would be viewed with disfavour and suspicion. + +The Duke spoke very strongly against Canning's policy, in admitting France +to the Triple Alliance [Footnote: By the Treaty of London with reference to +Greece.] and thus bringing her into a prominent station in Europe again. +She would naturally have risen again in good time. The time should not have +been anticipated by us. + +The Duke agreed with me in thinking the Government here would be +strengthened by what was occurring in France. + +I lamented Brougham's success in Yorkshire, and viewed with some +apprehension the increased power it would give him. He said Yorkshire was +quite radicalised by having four members. No gentleman could bear the +expense--the middle classes had it all to themselves. + +At a quarter to four I called at the Treasury and found Rothschild had +received intelligence down to the 29th, at 4 P.M. Drummond showed me the +Duke's letter to Peel which contained this account:--That there was +fighting all Wednesday, the 28th, and Thursday, till 3 P.M. There had been +a terrible massacre, but the troops got the worst of it. The people were +led by the students of the Ecole de Droit, and of the Ecole Polytechnique. +The 53rd Regiment, which it was said yesterday had joined the people, had +in fact surrendered. The people had armed themselves at the Arsenal. On the +night of the 28th the Guards retook the Hôtel de Ville, but were driven out +again, and retired to the Louvre. The firing did not cease at the Tuileries +till past 3 P.M. The people pillaged it when the troops retreated, and the +tri-coloured flag was hoisted there, and on the column in the Place +Vendôme. The Ministers escaped by subterraneous passages from the +Tuileries, and were with the King, who had a great many troops about him at +St. Cloud. La Fayette commanded the National Guard, and was a member of the +Provisional Government. Generals Gerard, Lafitte, and Casimir Perrier were +the others. C. Perrier was deputed to the King at St. Cloud. + +No couriers were allowed to leave Paris. These letters were sent by private +servants to the first stage. + +I told all this to Henry, but he goes. So do many others. There were thirty +people applying for passports when he went for his. On the other hand many +English come away. + + +_August 2._ + +There is a great deal of information in the 'Times.' The result is, that +the King's offer to change his Ministers and to recall the Ordonnances was +not accepted, and the Duke of Orleans accepted the office of Lieutenant- +General of the kingdom. His address is quite in the spirit of the +Revolution. + +The Guards are disorganised and desert. + +The Swiss only are said to remain with the King, who it is thought is gone +to Nantes. + +Lord Stuart says if the Royalists do not resist, the French will invade +Belgium in three months. The Deputies, at first in very small numbers, not +more than thirty, nor at any time much above sixty, seem to have been +irresolute. They were decided by others, and indeed the whole seems to have +been done by the people. There is no appearance of previous concert. If +there were leaders, they were the boys of the Ecole de Droit and the Ecole +Polytechnique. Polignac seems to have been firm after the beginning of the +fight, and when Lafitte and others went to Marmont at the Tuileries, in the +middle of the tumult, he declared concession impossible. + +The Guards at St. Cloud told the King they would protect him, but would not +advance again to Paris. General [blank] seems to have had 6,000 men at +Versailles, but the people would not admit him. At Rouen there was great +ferment, and forty pieces of cannon were sent by the people to the +assistance of Paris. The troops seem to have been ordered upon Paris from +all quarters. The total loss of life is estimated at 5,000. + +The people were becoming impatient, and cried _Vive la République! Vive +Napoleon II._! This, it is said, determined the Duke of Orleans to accept: +and the Deputies offered, because they feared the establishment of a +Republic would be the signal of general war. + +I do not hear of the pillage of private houses. The churches have been +pillaged and the palaces ransacked. The priests thought fit to fire from +the Archbishop's palace, which led to the death of many and to the pillage +of the palace. + +The Duke said they had done everything in the most offensive way, re- +establishing the tri-coloured flag, &c. They seem determined to force the +Revolution down the throat of Europe. He spoke of the Duke of Orleans' +address. I said I supposed he was obliged for his own safety to throw +himself at once into the Revolution. The more natural thing would have been +for the French to have sent for young Napoleon. The Duke said he heard +young Napoleon was getting hold of French pamphlets, &c. + +The Duke of Orleans asked Lord Stuart's advice as to accepting the Crown. +Lord Stuart reminded him of his oath, and told him the Powers of Europe +which restored the Bourbons could never recognise him. + +On consideration I think we should endeavour to induce the Powers which +signed the Treaty of Vienna to declare that they are determined to maintain +the territorial arrangements made by that treaty; but that they will not +interfere with the internal Government of France. + +I think this declaration, made at once, would perhaps prevent any attempt +on the part of the French to make war for the frontier of the Rhine. + +The elections go well for us, except Canterbury, where Lord Fordwich has +beat our man, Henry B. Baring, the husband of Lady Augusta. + + +_August 3._ + +The accounts from Paris state that the Due de Mortemar, who had been +appointed Minister by Charles X. himself, saw it was too late, and that the +only chance for the House of Bourbon was in the placing the Duke of Orleans +in the office of Lieut.-General. + +This he proposed himself to the Duke of Orleans, who wrote to the King, and +in accepting the office said his conduct would show with what views he did +it. Then he issued a tri-colour proclamation! Lord Stuart says this was +done at the last possible moment. The proclamation was received with cries +of _Vive la Republique! Vive Napoleon II._! However, these cries ceased, +and it was hoped things would go on quietly. Sebastiani and B. Constant +expressed hopes that in a few months men's minds would be tranquillised, +and things placed on a regular footing It seems that the King is at +Trianon, with about 4,000 guards. He talked of resigning to the Dauphin, if +he had not already done so. It will probably be too late, and the Dauphin +is supposed, I believe very justly, to be implicated in all that has +passed. + +Lord Stuart states the loss of the troops at 3,000. That of the people at +6,000. Of course these calculations are very vague, and probably +exaggerated. It would appear as if there had been more preparation on the +part of the insurgents than was imagined. The decisive measure, that of the +Bank refusing discounts, was of course suggested by Lafitte. The Royalists +are much in want of money. They left forty-two millions in their caisses, +and 150 millions at the Bank! Bourmont was to leave Algiers on the 25th. +Probably he was called home to be present at the crisis. + +The King's troops still remaining in force at St. Cloud, the barricades are +continued. + +Everybody seems to think the military force was as ill-managed as +everything else. Marmont acted _mollement_. + +We have been beaten at Canterbury, and what is worse at Norwich, where a +brother of Peel's has been driven out by Robert Grant, the most decided +enemy of the Government. No one declares himself the opponent of +Government, and as such asks support; but our candidates do not succeed at +popular elections. + + +_August 4._ + +To London early. The King of France is supposed to be gone towards +Cherbourg. We fear he will come here. The Duke said the King seemed +disposed to receive him, and reminded the King that the Pretender had been +three times ordered out of Paris on the representations of this country. I +was glad to find a very general feeling that the King of France could not +be permitted to remain if intrigues were allowed by him. That he could have +no more than a refuge. Peel seemed to feel this most strongly. The Duke +seemed to think there had been previous concert on the part of the +_patriots_. + +The King is violent against the Duke of Orleans. + +Our Duke of Orleans, as I call him, the Duke of Sussex, sticks close to the +King whenever he appears. + +The Duke of Cumberland has resigned the Blues in a huff because they are +placed under the Commander-in-Chief. However, he wore the uniform to-day at +the levée. + +We have a Cabinet to-morrow at 4, on Civil List and Regency. Indeed we know +not how soon we may meet Parliament. Perhaps on September 15. + +The Queen received the address of the London clergy. She had her whole +_état major_. + + +_August 5._ + +At four Cabinet. Talk about the Civil List. There are pensions to the +amount of about 7,000£ a year which the present King will pay, and he will +pay 6,000£ a year to Mrs. Fitzherbert, her charge on Brighton. She had +10,000£ a year before. Many pensions are struck off, one of 500£ to Sir J. +Lake, many others, to jockies, &c. + +It seems the late King borrowed 50,000£ for himself and as much for the +Duke of York, on the revenues of Hanover, which sums have been paid off. + +The King of France abdicated, and so did the Dauphin, in favour of the Duc +de Bordeaux, in a letter addressed by them to the Duke of Orleans, in which +his Lieut.-Generalship was treated as emanating from the King. The Duke of +Orleans in his speech to the Chambers announced the abdications, but did +not say they were in favour of Henry V. Hence the people of Paris, hearing +the King made difficulties, supposed he had receded from his original +promise--whereas he only said his original promise was conditional, _and +had not_ been fairly made known. Be this as it may, 35,000 men set off for +Rambouillet to take him, 10,000 were sent afterwards by the Duke of Orleans +to protect him, and he has 7,000 at Rambouillet, chiefly cavalry and +artillery, for the same purpose. I think there must be a smash. + +Stuart and Pozzo went to the Duke of Orleans to represent the personal +danger of the King, and to desire that measures might be taken to preserve +his life. The Duke is represented as having been _très ému_, and as having +said that his character depended upon the preservation of the King's life, +and the measures I mentioned were immediately taken. + +Chateaubriand and Hyde de Neuville are for the Due de Bordeaux. + +Stuart has, I know not why, counselled the Duc de Bordeaux's friends to be +quiet. + +The Duke of Wellington thinks there is Radicalism in everything-that the +Lieut.-General will have no power. + +The King went in grand state through the City to the Tower. He had six +carriages and six. At the Tower the Duke gave him a breakfast. He then went +on to Greenwich by water, and returned to London by land. He was very well +received. + + +_August 6._ + +At the dinner we had the Ministers, Household, and Trinity House. Chairman +and deputy-Chairman of the East India Company, Governor and deputy-Governor +of the Bank, Lord Mayor, and Ward and Thompson, members for the City. The +King made speeches and gave toasts as if he was Duke of Clarence at the +Trinity House. He alarmed and pained us, but he did less mischief than I +should have expected; and as all the people present were real friends, he +only let down the dignity of the Crown. + +He gave the healths of the Ministers, and afterwards of the Duke of +Wellington. Some things he said very well. The Duke answered very well. + +There is so much good feeling about the King that his errors of taste are +pardoned. He will improve, and wear his robes more gracefully. + + +_August 7._ + +Cabinet. Determined that the principle of the Regency Bill should be that +the mother of the Sovereign should be Regent. The Regent to have unlimited +power. If any limitation, it should only be placed upon the creation of +Peers, and a Council of Regency should exist only for that purpose. + +We separated till the 23rd. + + +_August 9._ + +In coming down to Sandgate read James's and Cabell's memoranda on the +progress of the British Government in India, and our foreign relations. + +As I was coming out of Maidstone met the candidates coming in. Sir E. +Knatchbull in a cocked hat, attended by thirty or forty gentlemen in black, +all covered with dust, preceded by about six blue flags, and followed by +some carriages with ugly women. Then came T. Law Hodges (why _Law_ I do not +know), with many light blue flags, and some low people--few gentlemen. The +numbers, however, of the Hodges colours and people were greater than that +of the Knatchbull squad. Not a cheer for either. The whole thing flat and +ridiculous--worthy of Hogarth. There were some people collected in +Maidstone, but not so many as on a market day--there were none on the +roads. + +By the 'Times' I see the Chamber has modified the Charter, and has +proclaimed the Duke of Orleans King of the French; at least has offered him +the Crown on the condition of his acceptance of the modified Charter. + +The Chamber of Peers is put by. It is only advised to _eliminate_ the last +seventy-six peers. + + +_August 10._ + +Briscoe comes in for Surrey, to the exclusion of Jolliffe, our friend. +Certainly the popular elections have all been unfavourable to us. In fact +the Tories have not yet recovered their good-humour, and the Government has +some furious enemies, and no warm friends. I do not think we can go on +without an accession of speaking strength. Our measures must be modified to +meet the circumstances of the times, and so far I have no fear. + + +_August 13._ + +Cabinet room. Read Lord Stuart's despatches. There is little in them that +is not in the newspapers. He says the Revolution has been brought about by +small proprietors acting under the influence of bankers and lawyers. The +troops have shown no great popular feeling. Many have taken the opportunity +of going home. + +The new King's oath-taking was flatly received. As long as he can keep La +Fayette with him he is master of Paris. + +Lord Stuart seems to have behaved prudently in merely acknowledging the +receipt of the communication from Marshal Jourdan of his being appointed +foreign secretary. The Neapolitan Ambassador wished to have a note +generally agreed upon. All the Ambassadors say they are so sure England +will judge rightly, that they will, without instructions, follow in our +wake. + +La Fayette has originated the idea of a mission of deputies of the National +Guard to London to thank the English people for their sympathy. Lord Stuart +hopes the King will induce La Fayette to give up this mischievous and +foolish scheme. + + +_August 18._ + +Lord J. Russell is not returned for Bedford. He lost it by one vote. He has +published a good address, and is evidently very indignant. + +Brougham has had questions put to him by Martin Bree, which he has answered +satisfactorily to the venereal doctor. It would have been good fun had they +fought. + +The only merit of the French Revolution seems to be that it has not been +vindictive. If they are wise they will not touch the lives of the +Ministers. The new King calls his eldest son Duke of Orleans. All the +daughters are to be Princesses of Orleans, distinguished by their Christian +names. + +This is like Henry IV.'s policy in reserving the Duchy of Lancaster. He +wishes to be able to make room for Henry V. He has given up his property to +his eldest son's little children, and would probably, if he were displaced, +emigrate quietly, as he has often done before, and leave his children in +possession. + +When Brougham accused the Duke of Wellington of advising Polignac, the +whole meeting of his own friends expressed dissent. It is incredible that +he should be so foolish as to believe such a thing, or as to attempt to +make others believe it. + + +_August 19._ + +I see by the 'Sun' that the ex-King of France is arrived at Portsmouth. I +am very sorry for it, although he will not be received by the King, and +will probably sail immediately. He may require refitting, for I dare say he +brought off little from Rambouillet. His packets are accompanied by two +French vessels of war, and all the French vessels at Spithead hoisted the +tri-coloured flag when he was known to be there. + + +_August 20._ + +It seems the Royal party have landed at Cowes. + + +_August 23._ + +Went to the Cabinet room to read despatches. Lord Stuart represents the +Government as by no means settled; anxious to remain at peace, and to +prevent revolution, but not secure. Things which are essential the new King +is obliged to ask humbly of La Fayette, who is now really Sovereign. + +La Fayette wanted to dissolve the Chamber. The King rightly thought that to +do so now would be to make a Convention. [Footnote: I.e. as in 1792.] + +Some persons are gone off to bring Napoleon II., but the Austrians will +stop them on the way. + +The Prussians on the first intelligence of the events at Paris sent orders +to their Minister to come away, but he was directed not to do so without +concert with his colleagues. They met, and agreed to recommend him to stay. +The disposition of Metternich and Nesselrode, who met at Toplitz or +Carlsbad, I forget which, was the same and reasonable--to leave France to +settle her own affairs quietly, and only to interfere if she invaded the +peace of other States. + +The Duke has left a memorandum on the Cabinet table showing clearly from +treaties that this is not a case in which we are bound to interfere. We +engaged to support a constitutional monarch against revolutionary +movements, but the monarch having violated the constitution has broken the +condition. France may still form a part of the Congress of Europe, in +'Union or _Pacific Concert_,' with the four great Powers. The treaty of +offensive alliance between those Powers is dormant, while France remains +under a constitutional King. + +The Duke properly thinks that the sooner, after having taken a decent time +for deliberation, we can recognise the Duke of Orleans, the better for him +and for us. + +He expects at no distant period war, as the consequence of these events, +and I fear he may be right. It will arise by the imitation of the Spaniards +and Portuguese, and the ambitious sympathy of the French. + +It is evident that Russia means to indulge France with Algiers. + + +_August 23._ + +Received a letter from the Duke respecting Rajpootana. He thinks the +cession of territory will only lead to new demands on our part, and advises +that, unless it should be necessary to give some instruction, the letter +should not be sent. He thinks, too, that as no brevet has been given to +King's officers in Ava, none can be given to those of the Company. I am to +see him tomorrow upon these points. + +Cabinet at 3. Showed Herries the answer I proposed sending, respecting the +Interest Bills, of which he entirely approved. + +Peel was not at the Cabinet. + +Read the Duke of Orleans' letter to the King, which is proper. He says he +laments and wishes he could have prevented the fall of the eldest branch of +his family. He _devoted_ himself to prevent misfortunes which would have +endangered the peace of Europe. He avows pacific intentions. + +The King is to receive General Baudrand, who brought the letter in the +Levee, which will be before the Council on Wednesday. + +The King of the French will be acknowledged. A letter will be written to +our Ministers with the great powers stating our reasons for doing so. This +will be read to the Foreign Ministers here. + +I suggested that it might be as well to make the letter substantially the +Duke's Memorandum, and particularly to remind France that the Quadruple +Alliance still existed. We shall have the drafts of the letter tomorrow. + +Parliament to be prorogued to October 26. + +To-morrow the Brazilians will acknowledge Miguel as the Regent, if he will +marry Maria da Gloria. Then came some absurd conditions. However, the thing +is to be considered to-morrow. Aberdeen's idea is that there is no doing +anything with Don Pedro, and that we must acknowledge Don Miguel as soon as +he will grant an amnesty. + +We were to have a Council on Wednesday for the prorogation. The King will +not much like this, as he wanted to go to Ascot, but he may have it as +early as he likes, and he ought to receive General Baudrand soon. We may +have the Council at 10, and he may be at Ascot in excellent time. + + +_August 24._ + +The Council is at 1. At 1 I went to the Duke. Told him of my recent letters +to the Chairs. He said we must not make bankrupts of the Company, if we +would use them hereafter. I said it was my duty to state the case of the +public, as the Board were guardians of the territorial revenue. + +A letter from Count Moltke, requesting to see me. I have appointed to- +morrow at 3. + +Cabinet at 3. Aberdeen read the proposed letter from the King to King Louis +Philippe. With a few trifling alterations it was adopted. + +The Duke called on Marmont to-day, and received from him a military account +of the affair at Paris. Marmont said he knew nothing of the Ordonnances, +and disapproved of them. He was at the King's levée on the Tuesday, and was +told there were _quelques inquiétudes_ at Paris, and to take the command of +the troops. He found only 7,000 men. Polignac, forgetting any were _en +congé_, thought there were 12,000. He occupied the Places de l'Hôtel de +Ville, de la Bastille, de Victoire, and de Vendôme in sufficient force. His +troops were not attacked. He withdrew them at night, and reoccupied the +Posts in the morning. Then the attack began. The troops maintained +themselves, but he found it necessary to withdraw them to the Louvre, the +Tuileries, the Pont Neuf, and the Place de Vendôme. In the Louvre he had +two battalions of Swiss; two battalions of the Line in the Place de +Vendôme; the Guards in the Tuileries. He kept open his communication with +the country by posts at all the avenues leading to the garden of the +Tuileries and the Bois de Boulogne, Champs Elysées, &c. The battalion at +the Place de la Bastille could not retreat by the straight road, and was +obliged to march all round Paris, crossing the river at the bridge nearest +Charenton, and coming to the Tuileries by the Faubourg. + +The two battalions in the Place de Vendôme went over to the people. He then +sent one battalion from the Louvre to the grille of the Tuileries garden, +opposite the Rue de Rivoli, and so protected his flank. On Thursday he had +lost 1,800 men, killed and wounded; and 1,200 _égarés_--besides the two +battalions; but he had received a reinforcement of 3,000 men. The troops +were _extenués de fatigue_. When Lafitte and the others came to him he told +him he could not order the fire to cease. He was attacked. + +If the fire of the people ceased, his troops would not fire. He fairly told +the King it was not _une commotion_, nor even _une insurrection_, but _une +Révolution_. There were not above thirty or forty people behind the +barriers, but all the windows were occupied by armed men. He counselled +concession, but Polignac would not hear of it. He said Polignac was +_l'homme le plus présomptueux_ he had ever seen. + +When the Louvre was attacked the Swiss ran out towards the Tuileries and +carried with them a battalion he had in the Place de Carrousel, as well as +two guns he had with him. The rush was such he could hardly get upon his +horse, and the men ran so fast that a person he sent after them on +horseback found them almost at the extremity of the Tuileries garden. +However, some returned to protect the retreat of about sixty men whom he +had got together to defend the grille at the Arc de Triomphe in the Place +de Carrousel. They were just enabled to retreat. + +Marmont is violent against the Swiss, who were, he says, retained in the +French service by higher pay and privileges for _this very thing_, and yet +they ran away in this shameful manner. + +Marmont means to go to Italy for a year. After that he hopes he can return +to France. He has no wish to emigrate. + +If the account in Lord Stuart's report be correct, France is in a +deplorable state. In many parts of the country no taxes are paid, and the +Republican party has not lost hope. + +The conditions of what Don Pedro considers a conciliatory arrangement are +entirely inadmissible. They are founded upon the marriage of Donna Maria da +Gloria, and England, France, and Austria are to guarantee her against any +_injure_ she may receive from her husband. Certainly we may safely say +these terms are inadmissible, and so break off all negotiations with Don +Pedro, who, since these terms were proposed by him, has recognised the +independent Regency of Terceira. By-the-bye, one of his terms is the +payment, by Portugal, of all the expenses incurred by himself for Donna +Maria. + +It seems the draft of a decree of amnesty has been sent to Lisbon, and if +Miguel will pass that decree we are to recognise him. + +The Chancellor and others seemed to think this was an awkward time, and we +had better wait a little. I think so too. However, undoubtedly our early +recognition of Miguel might lead to the prevention of a Portuguese +Revolution. + +There was much conversation respecting the Bank Charter. It seemed to be +the general opinion that Government should take it upon itself to arrange +terms with the Bank, which terms will be prohibition to any other Bank to +issue notes within twenty-five miles of London. This being granted, the +Bank will do the public business for 100,000£ a year less. The whole +question of country banking, whether it is to be with limited or unlimited +responsibility, a limited or an unlimited number of partners, is to be left +open to Parliament. + +I suggested that the most important question was the revision of taxation. +My view now is that we must take off some of the taxes which press most on +the poorer classes, and have an income tax. I dislike an income tax as much +as any one. To me it is a very oppressive tax, but I believe it may become +necessary. + +Walked to the corner of Hyde Park with Lord Rosslyn. Had some conversation +with him respecting the changes necessary in the Government before we meet +Parliament. He says Lord Althorpe will not come in without Lord Grey, and +he is not sure Lord Grey would not stipulate for Lord Durham. The latter is +out of the question on account of his temper. I do not think the Government +could go on with the Duke and Lord Grey. Of the Huskissonians, Palmerston +is the only one. To E. Stanley there is no objection. + + +_August 26._ + +At 3 Count Moltke came to the office. He had two Danish claims to speak +about. + +Dinner at the Albion for Clare. There were present of the Ministers, Peel, +Rosslyn, Goulburn, Herries; then Lord F. Leveson, Calcraft, the Solicitor- +General, W. Peel, Lord G. Somerset, Planta, Gen. Macdonald, Col. Fitz- +Clarence, Lord Tenterden. Of Clare's friends Glengall, Agar Ellis, Sneyd, +Lord Templeton, besides H. Vyner, and Upton, who go with him. + +I spoke feebly, not being well; besides, I did not think it in good taste +to make a great speech; but to leave Clare's the first speech of the day. +Peel made a very good speech; but too much of it. Clare really spoke very +feelingly and well. He spoke a little too much of his gratitude to the +Court. + +I had some conversation with Loch. I was as well received as I expected, +and better, considering the run that has been made at me. The Duke went off +to Walmer Castle, very wisely, for he wants sea air; but Clare would have +been more pleased had he been present, and the Directors too. The +Ministers' healths were well received. + + +_August 28._ + +Received from Elphinstone his remarks upon the proposed letter to Bombay, +respecting native education, of which he generally approves. He strongly +urges the sending out of European professors, young men, acquainted with +English literature, to learn the language there, and teach the natives. I +have sent the extract from his letter to Astell, suggesting that the +Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Dublin, and Edinburgh should each name +those from whom should be selected the necessary number. I have observed +that the object of native education is of such importance that the state of +the finances must not prevent its accomplishment. + + +_August 30._ + +Wrote a very long letter to Hardinge on the present position of the +Government and our policy. I gave my opinion that any accession of men +which destroyed the unity of the Duke's Government would do harm. That we +must meet our difficulties by measures. That the first was a revision of +taxation, that no men we could get would add moral strength to the +Government, and the Whigs would not support unless they had half the +Government. That the question of Reform could not be made an open question. +It was best for the country that parties should be decidedly separated. It +might then choose which it preferred, and men would be obliged to take a +side. We had better be out with character than in with a detachment of the +enemy, in possession of a gate. Still TALK we must have, and we want a +financier. I said of myself that I cared little about office. I should +without reluctance acquiesce in retirement if the Duke could fill my office +more advantageously, and I believe Rosslyn would do. I thought Rosslyn +would like Ireland or Paris. + +I do not think it improbable Hardinge may send this letter to the Duke. + + +_August 31._ + +An insurrection at Brussels, the houses of the Ministers burnt. The troops +fired and killed many. They, not being 1,500, retired to the park, and +formed before the palace. An evening paper I got at Ashford says the +nobility had joined the people, and the troops had acceded on condition of +keeping their arms, and guarding the palace. If this Revolution takes the +line of union with France, war is almost inevitable. It may be only for a +more popular form of Government, but what the people of the Netherlands +desire is annexation to a great State. They are ashamed of being Dutch. + +Most fortunately all our manufacturers are in full employment, and the +harvest is abundant. The peace and constitution of England have depended +upon fine weather. + +Clare, from whom I heard to-day, tells me Lord Wellesley assures him there +is to be a Revolution in Spain, and named the day. The nobles are supposed +to be at the head of it. This may all be true, for our Ministers never find +anything out; but my apprehension is that there will be a low, ill- +supported revolutionary movement. + +Received a letter from Lady Londonderry. She first wishes me to obtain, if +I can, Ward's exchange to a better climate. This I have told her I have +already endeavoured to do; but that I have no expectation of Aberdeen's +doing it. + +Lady L. says her brother was two hours with the Duke, and as long with Lord +Grey. The latter would have acted a second part, but the Duke would not +admit him. I have told her I think she must have misunderstood Lord +Camden's account, and that she may be assured it is not the Duke's +character to fear an equal. + +I sent her letter to Hardinge, and asked him if he knew anything of the +affair. I cannot imagine when it can have taken place. Lord Camden was an +odd person to employ. He knows so little of Lord Grey. Rosslyn would have +been the natural envoy if it proceded from the Duke; but I think it must +have been a volunteer of Lord Camden's. + + +_September 2._ + +Read the papers relative to the Danish claims. Canning seems to have +decided one case, that of the Danish East India Company, hastily. However, +we cannot undo a decision of a Secretary of State. + +The other case, that of the private individuals at Tranquebar, has been +determined in their favour. + + +_September 3._ + +Had a long conversation with Herries, with whom I rode for a long time, +respecting affairs, both here and abroad. He is rather downcast. However, +he thinks this Belgian insurrection will be put down. Rothschild has +exported 800,000£ in silver and 400,000£ in gold to meet his bills when +they become due--diffident of having anything paid to himself. + + +_September 5._ + +Cabinet room. Found Lord Rosslyn there. He told me the substance of a +report I did not see of Col. Jones, who was sent by the Duke to the +Netherlands, and is returned. He says the Prince of Orange is with 1,600 +men in the park and palace at Brussels; 5,000 men are close at hand under +Prince Frederick of Orange, at Vilvorde, and two bodies of 10,000 each are +marching upon the same point. The troops at the palace have twelve guns. +All the troops show a good disposition. + +The first deputation from Brussels was rather insolent. They were treated +accordingly, and told to return without cockades, &c. They did so, and the +Prince agreed to go into Brussels without troops. There was a great crowd, +and for a moment he was separated from the staff and the Garde Bourgeoise, +and alone in the midst of the people. He leapt his horse over a barrier and +so got back. A Commission of very respectable men has been appointed to +investigate grievances. So the thing will rest till the meeting of the +States on September 13. + +There is a letter from Lord Heytesbury giving an account of his +conversations with the Emperor of Russia. The Emperor is violent against +the Bourbons; says very correctly that his treaties only oblige him to +maintain a constitutional King. Still he may recognise, but shall always +consider the Duke of Orleans as a usurper. + +Prussia seems very prudent; disposed to recognise, but to state the +condition of peace--that the territorial possessions of 1815 shall be +maintained. Austria seems to be less prudent. Metternich sent to Bernstorff +the answer he intended to give, which required a declaration of not having +any intention to interfere in the affairs of France, but required a pledge +as to the observance of the Treaty of 1815 before recognition. Bernstorff +very prudently advised Austria to recognise unconditionally. + +The Spaniards seem to have been in great consternation at first. + +The Minister (Addington) thinks the King and Queen are so popular, and the +public interest is so much directed to the Queen's approaching +accouchement, that no revolutionary movement of importance is likely to +take place. He deprecates, however, the commencement of any such movement, +because he thinks it would enable the Apostolical Party [Footnote: The name +given in Spain and Portugal to the Absolutist and Clerical Party.] to +induce the King to dismiss his present quiet Ministers, and have recourse +to measures of rigour, which would infallibly ruin the dynasty. Spain, and +indeed all the Powers, seem to look for instruction to England, and there +can be no doubt that all will recognise and all be quiet. Salmon, when he +communicated to the King the events in France, said, 'Your Majesty sees how +dangerous over-zeal is in a Minister. No one could be more devoted to the +Royal Family than Prince Polignac.' + +The King said, 'I see it.' + +However, notwithstanding this, they say he is so weak that he may adopt a +violent course. + +Nothing can be more correct than the conduct of M. Molé, the French +Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. He is most anxious to preserve +peace in Europe, the new King's Government in France, and himself in +office. He is much alarmed by the events in Belgium, and wished our +Minister to join the French Minister at Brussels in recommending some +concession to the King of the Netherlands. The Duke has, as Rosslyn told +me, written a memorandum to serve as the basis of Aberdeen's dispatch, very +civil indeed to Molé, very much satisfied with the disposition evinced by +the French Government, but, in our ignorance of the real state of things, +declining to advise the King of the Netherlands. + +It is very amusing to see the French Government most _liberally_ permitting +the Bonaparte family to return to France, and most _prudently_ sending +circulars to all the Ministers of the Powers which signed the protocols of +1815, urging them in the name of that treaty not to allow the members of +the Bonaparte family to leave their present residences. + +It seems this is very necessary; for although their partisans can do little +without their presence, they might do much with it. + +Martignac has got together sixty members of the Chamber of Deputies who +will act _en masse_ for royalty. + +There is no military force to keep people in order, and the National Guard +does not like doing so. In fact the Revolution is not over. Things may go +on as they are, but we have as yet no security. The French seem heartily +sick of Algiers. It costs a great deal of money. Tropical products will not +grow there. The climate does not suit the French troops, who have besides a +most extraordinary _maladie de pays._ They must send 15,000 men more there +to maintain it, as now they have no more than the town. They are willing to +give it up to the Sultan if he will renounce tribute, &c. + +I never considered the acquisition of importance to France. I always felt +we might vex the French to death by the use of a little money which would +at any time have brought forward all the Arabs from the desert. The port +will only hold a few vessels. + +The Emperor of Russia proposes to cut the Greek question short by proposing +the crown at once, without the intervention of France, to Prince Frederick +of Orange, and if he should refuse, then to Prince Charles of Bavaria, who +we know will accept. + +I should say from all I have read to-day that if France should make an +aggressive movement all Europe would be united against her as in 1813; but +if she remain quiet within her own frontier no Power will wish to molest +her. + +It is satisfactory to observe the increased prudence and reasonableness of +the great States; their general union, and the deference which in the hour +of danger they all show to the opinion of England. + +There are some apprehensions, I hear, of riots at Manchester. There is no +cause for them. All men can get work. I would put them down with a strong +hand. + + +_September 6._ + +Saw at the office Colonel Monteith. + +The King of Persia has about six millions sterling left in his treasury in +gold and silver, besides jewels unsaleable on account of their high price, +but which might be estimated at four millions more. + +There will be a civil war on the death of the Shah. + +Abbas Mirza might succeed if he had energy, but he is the weakest man on +earth. Probably all the Rajahs will be put down and some new dynasty +established. + +The chiefs are not likely to serve the Russians at any time. The Persians +are fine men and make excellent soldiers, bearing heat and cold, but not +wet and damp. Officers there are none. + +The Russians lose 10,000 men a year in Georgia and Caucasus, and it costs +them about 500,000£ a year. They have never conquered the country. + +The cession lately obtained from Turkey has enabled the Russians to put +down the robbers who lived in Abkasia; [Footnote: The country at the +western end of the Caucasus.] but it is of no value for purposes of +offensive war--of some for defence. + +It is cheaper in the proportion of 100 to 220 to send goods to Tabriz by +Trebizond than by the Persian Gulf. + +The Imaum of Muscat carries on a large trade in opium between the Red Sea +and China. He carries British manufactures to the Indus, and trades +extensively with Cochin China, where sugar is half the price it is in +India. + +The officers of the Crown Prince's army all speak Turkish. It is more +important to have at the head of it a man of energy than one conversant +with Persian. + +His rank should be increased, as now he is made to rank below the last +member of the Mission. + +The disturbed state of Persia has driven much trade to the Indus which was +carried on by the Euphrates. + +Persia may now be considered not as a monarchy, but a Federative State, all +the King's sons being independent Princes. + +Colonel Monteith was at Algiers--the only Englishman in the army. There may +have been twenty foreigners in all. He had letters of introduction and got +there in a transport, taking his chance of being sent back. He was with the +intendant of the army, and at the siege was attached to a division. +Bourmont offered to receive him in his family. Bourmont was hated and +despised. He seemed to take very little trouble about the army, and to +leave everything to the generals of division. On the 19th, the day of the +battle, he lost 600 men by not advancing sooner. The moment he advanced the +enemy fled. The loss was 2,200 men in all, yet fifty were never to be seen +dead and wounded together. The loss was by skirmishing at long shots along +the whole of the line. This sometimes lasted all day, and the troops, being +young, were too foolhardy. The Arabs are a miserable race, half naked. +Everything beyond Algiers seems a desert. For eight miles round Algiers the +cultivation is beautiful, and the villas more numerous than near any town +he ever saw. A profusion of water. The town, miserable in the extreme, +inhabited by Moors and the descendants of Turks, about 50,000. The port is +formed by one pier which hardly protects two or three frigates. There is no +safety in the bay. + +There were 3,000 Turkish soldiers in Algiers, and about 7,000 in the +country. These kept order. Now they are sent away the French may colonise +extensively, but they cannot keep the country with the present inhabitants. + +The Dey had ten millions sterling in gold and silver, a treasure which had +been accumulating since the time of Barbarossa. [Footnote: A famous corsair +of the sixteenth century.] He claimed 400,000£ as his own, and was allowed +to carry it away. The French enquired about the jewels of the Regency. The +Dey said there were no jewels but those which belonged to his wives, and +_la galanterie Française_ would respect them as private property. So they +did. + +There was a magazine containing 250,000£ of things in the trinket line. +There were 150 ornamental daggers, all the presents of European princes, +&c. Colonel Monteith saw one officer coolly put into his pocket a watch set +in diamonds, which had evidently been given by a King of England, worth, he +supposed, 2,000£. + +General Lavardo pillaged more openly than any one. He had thirty soldiers +employed in carrying off his pillage. + +The affair at Belida was accidental. Bourmont went out with 1,600 men and +invited the chiefs to meet him. They were coming peaceably; but some Arabs +saw the French artillerymen taking their horses down to water without their +guns, and they could not help attempting to steal. The artillerymen beat +them off; but the firing having begun was soon converted into a battle. +Bourmont beat them off, but thought it expedient to retreat. + +The beach was particularly favourable for landing. The weather fine, and +there was plenty of time to prepare. + +The thing best done was by General Valagi, who in eighteen hours raised a +continued work of a mile and a half. He had 1,600 sappers and miners. +Colonel Monteith is in admiration of this entrenchment, which was +beautifully finished, and was capable of resisting 30,000 regular troops. + +The Arabs are miserably mounted. The Dey's two best horses were not worth +30l. each. + +Duperre he thought a man willing to do all, but quite overpowered by the +management of 100 ships of war and 500 transports. His reports are all +lies. Bourmont's are nearest the truth. The ships, with the exception of +those which were in the Levant, were not in good order. There seemed to be +no discipline. + +The army never wanted either water or provisions. Water was within three +feet of the surface everywhere. In the gardens on the side of the hills +towards Algiers the water was found at the depth of twenty feet. + +Nothing could be more perfect than the equipment of the army. They +calculated the cost of the expedition at four millions. + +I see by the newspapers that the Prince of Orange yielded the point of the +colours to the deputation from Brussels. He seems to have conceded a great +deal, but to have acted with great personal courage and decision. It is +expected that the Commission he appointed have asked for the separation of +Holland from Belgium, and the establishment of a Federal union only; two +countries under one King with distinct legislatures, armies, &c. The great +towns are quiet. Holland ready to march upon Brussels. + +I shall not be satisfied unless some of the Bruxellois are hanged for +pillage. + +The answers of the King seem to have been firm and judicious. + +It is impossible not to admire the constancy of the troops, who bivouacked +for eight days in the park. + +The French Government seems too weak or too timid to prevent outrage in +Paris. The printers' devils will have no machinery for printing! It is +entertaining to see those who make all revolutions suffer by them. + + +_September 7._ + +Saw Greville at the Treasury. He told me he had got from Lord Chesterfield +that Palmerston had no objection to come in. Lord Melbourne had; but they +required the sacrifice of Aberdeen, Bathurst, and Arbuthnot. There must be +some mistake about this condition. I told Greville if he could get a _fact_ +to communicate it to the Duke. + +It is feared the Prince of Orange is gone away to the Hague. He promised +Colonel Jones he would be firm. + + +_September 8._ + +The Prince of Orange certainly went to the Hague. He was received there +enthusiastically. The proposition he takes is for Federal union. I fear he +must submit to some modification of that, or encounter real opposition and +civil war. + + +_September 9._ + +Hardinge gives me rather an indifferent account of Ireland. Great animosity +still existing between the Catholics and Protestants in the _lower_ ranks; +in the higher, peace. A revolutionary disposition raised in the middle +classes by the example of Prance. Great dissatisfaction in consequence of +the proposed taxation of last session. + +He told the Duke, and so did Arbuthnot, that he might dispose of their +offices if he wanted them. He seems to think Peel is tired and anxious to +withdraw--annoyed at the idea of being unpopular, an idea the defeat of his +brothers has given him. This makes him less energetic than he should be +with respect to the measures necessary to strengthen himself in the House +of Commons. + + +_September 10._ + +It seems the desire of separation is general in the Netherlands. It is the +result of national prejudice and vanity. The Dutch seem just as violent the +other way, and the deputies were rather in danger at Rotterdam. The +separation will probably defeat the objects of the great Powers in 1814, +for it is idle to expect such terms of Federal union as will enable the two +States to act cordially together. + + +_September 11._ + +By withdrawing his troops from the palace, and going to the Hague, the +Prince of Orange has ruined his cause. He has appeared to give it up. + + +_September 13._ + +Read on my way to London the intelligence obtained by Lord Heytesbury +relative to the Russian trade with Tartary and on the Caspian. It is very +full and satisfactory. + +The 'Times' has a sensible article on the state of France; the want of +materials to form a constitutional monarchy, the growing dissatisfaction +that _more_ is not done in a revolutionary sense, and the irresponsible +power of a deliberative army of 800,000 men. + +Ghent and Antwerp seem to cling to the connection between Holland and +Belgium, and I begin to hope that if France is tranquil the Bruxellois and +Liègeois may grow tired and become reasonable. Men cannot play at +barricades long when no one attacks them. + + +_September 14._ + +House of Lords. I had to wait half an hour for the seals, which were +carelessly carried off by Lady Lyndhurst in her carriage. + +Talked to Rosslyn. He told me Aberdeen was led to expect another revolution +in France. The paper they were going to prosecute was an _affiche_ calling +upon the French people to overthrow _l'aristocratie bourgeoise_, which was +as bad as the other, and to divide the lands. + +In the Netherlands the people and their leaders are divided, and if Antwerp +and Ghent, &c., remain firm, it signifies little what Brussels does. +Brussels will be brought into terms by distress. + +Rosslyn thinks some of the Whigs as well as of the Tories will be alarmed +by events on the Continent and support Government. + +He hears of no negotiations for accessions. + +The people of Brunswick, very justly provoked, have turned the Duke +[Footnote: This was the eccentric Duke who died a few years ago at Geneva, +bequeathing his whole property to the city, who have erected a monument to +him.] out of the town and burnt his palace. He escaped with ten Hussars. He +deserves his fate. I believe he is mad. He is a complete _vaurien._ + +When Parliament is prorogued, as to-day, the peers are without their robes. +The Chancellor was in his legal dress. The Commons appear without a summons +by their clerks, and the Chancellor merely desires the proclamation to be +read. However, as it is held, _improperly,_ to be the first day of the +sitting of Parliament, the return of the Scotch peers is laid on the table. +All this is sanctioned by precedent, but contrary to reason. + + +_September 20, 1830._ + +Wrote a long letter to Hardinge upon the political consequences of +Huskisson's death, [Footnote: He was killed, as is well known, at the +opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.] urging the introduction +of Palmerston and Stanley. The latter to Vent the junction of the Whig +aristocracy with the Radicals. + +I am sure, if measures are not taken immediately, we shall have all the +Huskissonians, Whigs and Ultra-Tories (the last are insane), united against +us. + +Received from Sir J. Malcolm a letter with some enclosures about suttees. +He has reluctantly and fearfully abolished suttee, making it culpable +homicide to assist, and murder to force the victim. He has done it, I +think, wisely by a repeal of a clause in one regulation and an amendment. +Thus not putting it vainly forward as Lord William did in a pompous +document. + +He has abolished the Military Board, I believe, very wisely; but there may +be a difficulty with the Duke, if I cannot do it without talking to him +about it. I believe Sir J. Malcolm is quite right, and that there would +have been no hope of preserving a system of real economy had the Military +Board been permitted to remain. + +I am curious to see his measure of checks on expenditure, that if it be +good it may be adopted at the other Presidencies. + +Received some letters from Lord W. Bentinck. Lord Dalhousie has been very +ill, and the command of the army would fall, Lord William says, into the +weakest hands, if anything happened to him. + +The spirit of the army was becoming better, I gather from Lord William's +letter, but it required much attention. I have been thinking all day of +what measures may be adopted for improving it. + + +_September 21._ + +Office. Read to Cabell my memorandum on the alterations which might be +introduced into the army, which I wrote hurriedly this morning. He was long +in the military department, and can be of much use. Cabinet room. I think +the result of Lord Stuart's dispatches is that the moderate party are +gaining strength. I should say the facts we see in the newspapers lead to a +different conclusion. + +The Ministers and the old leading members of the Chamber of Deputies act +manfully against the crowd. Their declarations of intention are +satisfactory. I really believe they mean to act honestly if they can. + +Austria seems to have hesitated about the acknowledgment of the King of the +French after the receipt of a dispatch from Petersburg, and Metternich, who +seems to be growing weak, wavered after he had received General Belliard +very cordially. + +Prussia, that is _the King,_ hesitated about signing the letter to Louis +Philippe when he heard of the doubts of Austria. The result, however, is +that all _entrainés_ by us will acknowledge; the Emperor of Russia, who was +the most reluctant, having determined to do so if the others did. I should +say there is this satisfactory conclusion to be drawn from what we have +seen, that if France showed a disposition to aggrandise herself all Europe +would be against her. + +The object of the French Government is to place France exactly in the +position in which she stood a fortnight before the ordonnances--that is, +Talleyrand's wish, and he has _rédigé_ his own instructions. + +Read Aberdeen's letter, dated the 17th, stating the necessity of +maintaining cordial intercourse with and between Spain and Portugal, and +intimating that on the promulgation of an amnesty according to the terms +recently communicated England will resume diplomatic relations with Miguel, +but not otherwise. + +Spain seems to be sensible. There was a movement of folly about Royalist +volunteers which was put down, and the Government seems by no means +disposed to give way to Absolutists. If the Queen should have a son Spain +will probably be tranquil. + +Talleyrand pretends the French will be reasonable about Algiers. I do not +wish them to be so. I believe they could not have made a worse purchase. +They will find the possession very expensive. Their troops will hate it, +they will have nothing beyond their outposts, and it is no port. + +My first opinion is strengthened, that they could not be worse than if they +were left as they are. + + +_September 24._ + +The populace and the burghers at Brussels have quarrelled, and fought a +little. It seems the Liberals and the Catholics, [Footnote: They have +formed the two opposing parties in the Belgian Chambers since the country +became an independent State. They had temporarily united against Protestant +Holland.] as the others are called, have been long diverging. The deputies +and men of property, excepting M. de Stassart, have become alarmed. The +Prince de Ligne and D'Aremberg and others have left Brussels. On the 21st, +probably the 20th, in the evening a proclamation was published at Antwerp +by Prince Frederick of Orange, noticing the excesses of the populace, and +announcing that the troops would relieve the burgher guard. This must have +been done in concert with the influential persons of the town who are +alarmed for their property. The Liégeois are very violent. They will be +expelled from Brussels. No more can get there, as the road is interrupted. + +The Dutch have but 20,000 men, of whom the Belgians are as three to five. +The Belgians had begun to desert, but they did not join the Bruxellois in +any numbers. The hanging of some of the Brussels mob would have an +excellent effect. + +The Government of France seems to become weaker, and to permit things which +discredit it. + +A night or two ago some _ouvriers_ insisted on going into the King's +bedroom, after he was gone to sleep, woke him, and made him make a speech +sitting up in his bed. Twelve departments have united against indirect +taxes, and few pay those which are direct. Meanwhile, the Algerine treasure +has been pillaged by the officers of the army, and ships clearing for +Toulon go elsewhere to land it. They want a loan, while the fallen +Government would have had a surplus. They will find the raising of a loan +difficult. The French are displeased by the coldness of Austria and +Prussia, and by the marching of Austrian and Prussian troops. + +The King of Saxony has resigned, or rather he has associated his nephew +with himself as Co-Regent; the brother waiving his claim to the throne. + +The Landgrave of Hesse Cassel was met by a deputation requiring him to do a +number of public acts, and amongst the rest the dismissal of all +mistresses. It seems the Electoral Prince has one to whom he is going to be +married. + +The Duke of Brunswick lately galloped off _lui Troisième_ while his palace +was burning! + +These are odd times! + +However, here people seem to be inclined to be quiet. Even the Common +Council have by a large majority decided against congratulating or noticing +the French people. + + +_September 26._ + +Brandreth told me there was a report of the Belgian troops having entered +Brussels, and of a great massacre. There will be news to-morrow as the wind +is down. + + +_September 27._ + +No direct news from Brussels yet. There has been fighting for two days, and +it was known at Antwerp that the first regiment that entered was nearly +destroyed. It seems the invitation of one section was a ruse. + +There are to be no Cabinets for eight or ten days, the Civil List not being +prepared. When we do meet we are not to separate. + +There seems to be every expectation of a new Ministry in Paris, and in the +revolutionary sense. + +I saw Aberdeen. He rather expects it. + +Read the report of the Commission appointed to form the articles of +accusation against the Ministers. It is a party speech, with little points +and prettinesses, affecting moderation, and full of rancour. It is a nation +which has no idea of justice. + + +_September 28._ + +Cabinet room. Dispatches of the 24th and 25th from Sir Ch. Bagot; but none +from Mr. Cartwright. When Sir Ch. Bagot wrote last thirty hours had elapsed +without official intelligence, although the distance is only thirteen +hours. It was known there had been hard fighting, that it was necessary to +take in succession every house in the Rue Neuve Royale, that the troops +were in possession of the upper part of the town, and a proposition had +been made by the lower town for a cessation of hostilities, after which +they had recommenced. + +It is evident the resistance has been most serious. 20,000 French are in +the town, and these probably direct the defence. All clubs, and councils of +all sorts, had ceased to have power two days before the attack. There has +been perfect anarchy. The troops behaved admirably. They were much +exasperated. No assistance had been sent by the country. + +Aberdeen is confident the King's troops have been driven out, because no +official accounts were sent. The Duke, and all the military men, say the +non-arrival of dispatches proves nothing but that the affair was not over. +During an engagement a general can think of nothing but victory. The +importance of the result is incalculable. + +At Paris the National Guard have dispersed a meeting of lookers on, who +were led by curiosity to crowd about a riding school in which the Society +of Les Amis du Peuple met the day after they were denounced by Guizot in +the Chamber as agitating France. Two officers of the National Guard entered +the riding school, and warned the meeting of the danger they were bringing +upon public tranquillity. On the representation of the second they +adjourned. + +At dinner at Lord Rosslyn's the Duke said the French Government could not +go on as it was. The chief of the National Guard necessarily commanded +everything. The National Guard might become janissaries. I think the +Government may go on as it is _in form,_ but it will vary _in substance_ +from day to day. Management, a little good fortune, and a few examples of +determination may make it a fair Government; a single error may produce +anarchy. + +The Duke gave an excellent account of the feeling at Liverpool, Manchester, +and Birmingham. At Manchester it was better than at Birmingham, but there +they received very coldly Tennyson's speech about giving them members, and +at last put an end to it by striking their glasses with their knives, which +made such a ringing that Tennyson was obliged to sit down. He deserved this +for his bad taste. + +The Duke was astonished by the machinery. Those who have witnessed the +improvements of late years expect progressive improvements so great that +they say a man who laid out 100,000£ now in the best machinery would, if he +refused to adopt the new improvements they anticipate, be without profit in +five years and be ruined in ten. + +The rapidity of motion is so great in the steam carriages that even the +Duke with his quick eyes could not see the figures on the posts which mark +the distance at every quarter of a mile, and when two steam carriages +crossed no face could be seen. [Footnote: This was on the Manchester and +Liverpool Railway, then just opened, and describes the first impression +made by railway travelling.] It was like the whizzing of a cannon ball. The +cold is great, and they must have some defence against the wind, through +which they pass so rapidly. + +A new canal without locks, which brings coals to Birmingham in two hours, +which by the old canal required nine, is more magnificent even than the +railroad, splendid as that is. The railroad cost a million. For several +days after it was opened the proprietors made 250£ a day. + +The King has the gout. The Duke goes to Brighton to-morrow. We dine with +him on Thursday. Cabinets will not begin till next week. + + +_September 29._ + +No news in the newspaper from Brussels. No dispatches from Sir Ch. Bagot or +Mr. Cartwright arrived at the office; but a gentleman who left Brussels at +five on Sunday reports that they were then fighting in the town, but the +troops had the worst of it. + +The Consul at Ostend reports that the King's troops evacuated Brussels on +Sunday night; that reinforcements from the country were pouring into +Brussels; that there had been an attempt at insurrection at Ostend, which +was put down for the time by the Governor, who killed two and wounded six; +that eleven or twelve men had marched in from Bruges, which was in +possession of the Bourgeois; that Ghent was expected to rise, and in a few +days all Belgium would be separated from the King. + +A son of Holmes of the Treasury arrived at the Foreign Office at four, and +said he had left Ostend at three yesterday, when there was a report that +the Dutch had made another attack and had recaptured the park. + +It seems they never had more than the park. They had to take, and did take, +the Rue Royale. They were more thoroughly masters of the Place Royale. They +planted guns against the town, which were answered by guns from the rebels. +At five on Sunday the latter were gradually advancing, and picking off the +troops in the park. + +The first day some rockets were fired and eighteen houses burnt; but Prince +Frederick ordered the discontinuance of this, the only efficacious mode of +attack. + +Lord Blantyre was killed. He was lame and on a sofa, but curiosity led him +to crawl to the window and peep out, when a ball struck him in the +forehead. Lady Blantyre and his children were with him. He was much +esteemed. He was in the Peninsula, and a gallant officer. + +I think the employment of European officers in civil situations under +native princes may be very useful to their subjects; and while we do not +ourselves employ natives in high situations, to force all native princes to +employ them is to make a striking contrast between their Government and +ours, very injurious to ours. + +Jones seemed to hesitate and to think I committed myself. However, I feel +sure of my ground. + +A letter from Lord Cleveland, expressing a wish to have the Vicarage of +Ilchester, and offering an equivalent living in Shropshire, or Cheshire. + +I sent his letter to the Bishop of Bath and Wells, saying I should be much +obliged to him if he could make the arrangement, Lord Cleveland being a +faithful and powerful supporter of Government. + +Told Lord Cleveland I had transmitted his letter with a strong +recommendation. + +I made my letter as agreeable to the Bishop as I could, but I dare say he +will refuse. Very likely he has given away the vicarage. I told Lord +Cleveland I thought it probable. + + +_September 30._ + +The Consul at Antwerp writes a long foolish letter in much alarm. + +Mr. Cartwright's reports are come. He describes a horrible carnage. The +events much as we know them. Sir A. Bagot says his Russian colleague has, +with the consent of the King and the Dutch Ministers, written home to say +Belgium can only be preserved by foreign aid. + +At dinner at the Duke of Wellington's met Talleyrand and Vaudreuil. The +others there were Aberdeen, Goulburn, Herries, Murray, Beresford, Lord F. +Somerset, and Rosslyn. + +Talleyrand is not altered since 1815, except that he speaks thick. He has +not even changed his hairdresser or his tailor. + +Lord Rosslyn showed me a letter from Lady Janet, who was in Brussels during +the fight. She walked about frequently, and was treated with civility by +the armed burghers. A few grape-shot fell into the courtyard, and she +picked up one. She was at the Hotel de Brabant in the Rue Neuve. There was +no pillage, nor any riot. The loss of the people was great. She left the +town on Sunday (I think) with a passport from Count Hoogwoorst, and got +round to Antwerp. + +The troops are said to have lost only 600 men. Prince Frederick is about +two leagues from Brussels, on the road to Louvain, waiting for heavy guns. +This is the report. I suspect he will retreat altogether. + + +_October 1._ + +On consideration thought it would be better to have a secret letter on the +press, authorising the Government to allow their servants to be connected +with the press. To this letter I thought it advisable to add an exhortation +to redoubled zeal on the part of the Company's servants on account of the +unsettled state in which the minds of men must be until it was decided +under what form the future Government of India should be administered, and +I directed the Government to make all thoroughly understand that no +possible change could effect the public debt, or the rights of the natives +or the just expectations of the European servants. My reason for thinking +the officers of Government should be permitted to be concerned in the press +is this, that if none but those who are unconnected with the Government, +and who, according to the existing system, cannot be connected with it, +manage the press, the probability is that everything will be said against +the Government and nothing for it. + +I showed the proposed letter to the Duke. He thought it would be better to +pay people for writing than to employ the Company's servants, and that the +concluding paragraphs would lead the Government to suppose it was quite +decided that the Company should be put an end to. It is wonderful the sort +of prejudice he has in favour of the Company. He thinks that unless +Directors selected writers and cadets we should have an inferior sort of +people in India. I have no objection to the patronage being in a corporate +body, but I am satisfied the present system leads to a degree of delay +which is more mischievous than misdirection. He acknowledges, however, that +the service is much changed. The exhibition made by Courtenay Smith has +produced a strong impression upon his mind. He has done more injury to the +Company in his mind than all the evidence. He still seems unwilling to make +his opinion up against the continuance of the monopoly. It must fall, +however. + +The King wishes to have Sir E. Barnes appointed provisional successor to +Lord Dalhousie. The Duke thinks him a better man than Sir R. O'Callaghan, +who was suggested by Lord F. Somerset. I suggested that it would be +expedient to unite the influence of Governor-General with that of +Commander-in-Chief, and make Lord William Bentinck provisional successor. +The Duke seemed to think Lord William could not execute both duties, and +that it was better to adhere to the general usage of separating the two +offices. It seems that after Lord Hastings' return the Court intimated a +disposition to separate the offices in future. I can do nothing against the +King, the Duke, and the Horse Guards; but I am satisfied it would have been +better to send Sir E. Barnes as second in command to the Governor-General. + +The King (Lord F. Somerset told me) was desirous of doing away with the +Company's European regiments. He could not do a better thing. He has +likewise some notion of bringing the army under himself. The Duke thinks it +must be a _local army,_ and certainly it must. [Footnote: In accordance +with this view Lord Ellenborough opposed the eventual amalgamation of the +Queen's and the Indian army.] I believe it is better to make it an army of +three Presidencies, not one army. My doubt is whether it would not be +advisable to allow exchanges from the King's army to the Company's. +Everything would be beneficial that raised the tone of the Indian army. + +The Duke showed me a draft letter he had written for Aberdeen to Lord +Stuart, informing the French Government that the King of the Netherlands +had required the assistance of his allies to re-establish his authority in +Belgium. That it was as much the interest of France as of other Powers to +put down a revolution not carried on by the higher or the middle, but by +the lowest classes of the people. That we were desirous of concerting with +France, as one of the contracting parties to the Treaty of Vienna, what +course should be now adopted. It could not be supposed the Allies would +forego the advantage of the union of Belgium and Holland for which they had +sacrificed so much. + +This was the substance of the letter. It will not be sent without the +concurrence of the Cabinet, which will be summoned the moment Peel comes to +town, and he is hourly expected. + +I think this letter prudent, inasmuch as whatever may happen it will place +us in the right; but I do not expect that France will do anything against +the rebels, or sanction the doing of anything. + +The Duke considers, as indeed is clear enough, that it is idle to expect +the future submission of Belgium to the King of the Netherlands. It may be +possible to place it under a Prince of the House of Nassau. I do not think +the Duke sees his way; but he expects war. + + +_October 2._ + +Cabinet. Aberdeen's letter to Lord Stuart. It is founded upon the Duke's +memorandum, but much extended _à l'Indienne_. I think none approved of it +but Lord Bathurst. I objected to the statement that the treaty of 1815 +imposed upon us _obligations_. It may give us _rights_, but it imposes no +obligation. Then the principle of non-interference is advanced as just and +wise, but there are peculiar circumstances attending the position of the +Netherlands which make a difference. + +There is an assertion that the troubles in Belgium have been fomented by +French agency, although not assisted by the Government, and a direct +reference is made to the Barrier Treaties. France is requested to concert +with us and the Allies to _suppress_ the anarchy which exists in the Low +Countries. She is at the same time reminded that in no case can the Allies +consent to renounce the security given to them by the Treaty of Paris in +consequence of an insurrection amongst the lower orders at Brussels. Of +this a great deal will be left out. Peel seemed to be rather averse to the +whole tenor of the letter, which looks like an invitation to put down the +insurrection by force. He sketched in a few words a letter which would be +innocuous. + +The Duke's object is to make an effort to induce France to act with us to +settle the Belgian affairs amicably. They cannot be settled _without_ +France, without a war. But is there any hope that the French Government +will venture to give us her _appui_? If they be self-denying enough to +renounce the hopes of annexing Belgium to France, their fears of the +Jacobins will not allow them to do so. My expectation is that they will say +they neither have interfered nor will interfere to dissolve the union +between Holland and Belgium. That they will not interfere in the internal +concerns of other States. + +Some think they will go farther and declare they will not allow other +_Powers_ to do so. I do not expect this. + +Every word of this letter must be well weighed, for every discontented man +in England and in France will criticise its words and its spirit. There is +no writer more unsafe than Aberdeen. + +Rosslyn did not seem to like the letter at all, but he said little. I +whispered to Peel that I wished he would bring a letter to-morrow. _Short_. +It was at last agreed alterations should be made, and we are to meet at one +to-morrow. + +Peel takes the letter home, and will, I trust, cut it down. + +The King Charles X. is in danger of being arrested, of which he naturally +has a great horror, and he desires to be allowed to go to Holyrood House, +where he would be safe. At Lulworth they are afraid of the Due de Bordeaux +being kidnapped. The pretence is the getting masters from Edinburgh for the +children. + +It may be feared that the placing him in a royal residence may look or be +represented as looking like recognition. On the other hand his removal from +the southern coast to Scotland is a renunciation of intrigues with France. + +It would be inconvenient if the King should wish to go to Edinburgh next +year. Charles X. is to be told he cannot stay there after the spring. +However, he will probably live there all his life. + +It would be a revolting sight to see a King imprisoned for debt, and all +gentlemen, all men of feeling, would have cried out _shame_! + +We are right in feeling, but in policy I am not sure. + +Nieuport has fallen as well as Ostend. The Bruxellois are drilling, and +threaten to attack Prince Frederick. Probably Van Holen drills them to keep +them quiet. + +Many people have applied to Falck [Footnote: Dutch Minister.] for passports +for Brussels, going in reality to join the rebels. Today two Irish +labourers asked for passports! Brussels will become the sink of Europe, and +every unquiet spirit will go there. + +The Duke thinks our attempt to make France act in concert with us the only +chance of preserving peace. + +I fear its preservation is almost desperate. One thing is in favour of it, +that all the European States desire it yet more than we do. + +I cautioned them to-day not to take any advanced position from which it +would be difficult and discreditable to retreat. The people would not go in +with us in a war to avert a distant danger, nor indeed for any object not +commercially interesting. + +It came out accidentally in the course of conversation respecting the loan +to the Netherlands that we had lent 20,000£ to the Greeks; the sum to be +repaid by bills to be drawn by our Commissioner whenever the loan we are to +guarantee may be made--that is, we are to be paid out of our own money. + +Of this loan I knew nothing, and my impression is that when it was +earnestly pressed by Aberdeen such objections were stated on the ground of +illegality that the decision was against it. Certainly nothing was decided +in favour of it. I recollect having said I would rather advance a portion +of the money myself than be a party to the transaction. + + +_October 3._ + +Cabinet. The Consul at Ostend announces that nothing remains to the King of +the Netherlands but Antwerp. The troops have everywhere laid down their +arms. On the 1st the Brussels papers announce that orders had been issued +by the provisional Government for arresting all the Dutch officers. + +Peel read first the dispatch written by Aberdeen with the omissions agreed +upon, and then his own substitutions. His is much the best. It speaks of +'composing troubles' instead of 'suppressing anarchy,' avoids all mention +of interference, and altogether is a more prudent paper, touching the +Barrier very slightly. It was understood that Peel's was adopted. + +It is determined to allow the King, Charles X., to go to Holyrood House, +but he will be told there is no furniture, or very little, and that he can +only stay six months, and that no expense can be incurred on his account. +He has admitted no one to an audience, but many have been to Lulworth to +ask for places. + +Talleyrand says they have found an _ébauche_ of Polignac's, telling +Bourmont that his proposal that the money taken at Algiers should be given +to the Legion of Honour could not be complied with, as the King intended to +distribute it amongst his most faithful friends. They pretend they do not +intend to make use of this because there is no proof of its having been +sent; in fact they do not use it because it reflects credit on Bourmont. + +Lord Rosslyn, with whom I walked as far as Pimlico Palace, showed me the +Treasury list of the House of Commons. 311 decided friends and 189 enemies- +that is 500; the remainder, consisting of moderate Tories, violent Tories, +good and bad doubtfuls, as well as Huskissonians (the latter 13), are more +likely to be against us than for us. + +Rosslyn still hankers after a coalition, but reform has made it impossible. +We might have had this time last year Sir J. Graham. We might even now have +Palmerston, [Footnote: It appears from Lord Palmerston's published papers +that this was an error. He had already determined to act with the Whigs, +and not to take office without Lord Grey and Lord Lansdowne. See Ashley's +_Life of Lord Palmerston_, vol. i. p. 211.] but the Duke seems determined +to go on as he is, Peel and all, even Bathurst, seem to have a correct view +of the danger; but I see no flinching. + + +_October 4._ + +Saw the Duke. Suggested that we must soon consider what should be done with +respect to the China trade. If we were to give up the monopoly we had +better do so at once, on the first day of the Session, with a good grace, +and not make ourselves appear to do it with reluctance. The Duke said we +must certainly consider it. Had I talked with the Chairs about it? I said +no. I had thought it best to wait till the Cabinet had come to a decision +as to what should be done. I had privately advised them to turn over in +their minds the plan of the Company going on with the Government slightly +varied, but without monopoly. + +The Duke said he could not make up his mind without hearing first what the +Chairs had to say. I observed that if they, that is Astell, thought the +Government hesitated, they would certainly say they could not go on without +monopoly. However, the Duke seemed to think it was impossible for the +question to come before the Cabinet before we had talked with the Chairs. +So I have asked him and Loch to meet at the Treasury at twelve on Monday. + +I should like to see Tucker and Stuart, but I must do it privately, as I +have no principle to go upon in consulting with individual Directors. + +The Duke seems very reluctant to give up the monopoly, and to have very +exaggerated ideas of the value of the Company's intervention. + +He showed me a letter he had received from Molé, in which he takes a very +moderate view of the Belgian question. Expresses the most earnest desire +for peace, as war would place everywhere the two extreme principles in +conflict. France will not interfere, neither can she suffer others to +interfere, in the internal affairs of the Netherlands. He hopes to be able +to arrange everything amicably. + +A letter the Duke showed me from Rothschild's brother is still more +satisfactory if the view taken in it be correct. He says France will, _with +England and the Allies_, amicably settle the question; but she will not +have to be excluded. + +He mentions Leopold as a probable King of Belgium. + +The Court of Turin [Footnote: The first French Republic had made a similar +non-recognition a plea for seizing Savoy.] seems to be in a great fright +because the French Government took huff at their not recognizing at once. +They were afraid to do so till they heard what the great Powers did. + +M. de la Tour says they can bring 60,000 or 90,000 men into the field, if +Genoa is guarded for them by a fleet; but Genoa would require 14,000 men. +On that place they must retreat. + +The Spaniards seem to be going on well. They mean not to be _empressés_ +with their recognition, but are advised not to be the last. + +There have been insurrections at Hanau, Swerin, and I know not where else. +The Diet intend to vary the law of the Empire and to allow any neighbour, +whose assistance may be asked, to give it at once. + +The Emperor of Russia received General Athalia very graciously, but he +keeps him waiting for his answer. Lieven professes himself well satisfied +with our reasons for immediate recognition. So does Metternich. In fact +they cannot do without us, and if we lead they must follow. + + +_October 5._ + +Cabinet. Goulburn's Civil List. He transfers to the Consolidated Fund all +the salaries heretofore partly paid by the Civil List, and in diplomacy +there is a reduction of 28,000£ a year. + +It is supposed there can be no reduction in the great departments in the +article of tradesmen's bills, or in the Board of Works. + +The King gives up the Droits [Footnote: 'Droits of Admiralty.'] without any +compensation. This is all a loss to the privy purse. + +It seems possible to reduce perspectively many officers in England and in +Ireland who do not really contribute to the state of the crown. This, +however, did not occur to Goulburn but to Peel. + +The account of Liege is very bad indeed. Things there seem going on in the +style of the French Revolution. + +Nothing can be better than the account from France. They will be pleased by +the letter read to them. All they feared was the attempt to exclude them +from all concert in the settlement of Belgium. They think neither the King +nor Prince Frederick can return to Brussels; but the Prince of Orange may, +and this will, I think, be finally settled. + + +_October 6._ + +Council at 2. Talleyrand was presented. He backed to the window and read a +speech in which there were several erasures. He declared the determination +of France to pursue the course so wisely followed by England of non- +interference. He spoke of himself as 'Ministre d'une Royaute votée à +l'unanimité.' + +The King did not much like receiving him, and was a little nervous. To what +Talleyrand said about noninterference the King answered it was a very good +thing, especially when exercised _de bonne foi_. This he said by Aberdeen's +advice. + +I read the King of the Netherlands' letter. He asks distinctly for +_military assistance_. + +Cabinet dinner at the Duke's. The Prince of Orange is gone to Antwerp. This +the Duke thinks the very worst step that could have been taken; the only +mistake the King has made. In fact the King was unwilling, and ever since +the affair of Brussels there has been a coolness between the King and the +Prince. The Duke fears the consequences of the Prince's going, because he +is a man devoted to popularity-vain. The Duke and Talleyrand were talking +about popularity. The Duke said those who loved it never loved it with +moderation. Talleyrand said, 'Il n'y a jamais de modération, où il n'y a +pas de _goût_--et il n'y a pas de gout dans l'amour de la popularité!' The +Duke asked Talleyrand what sort of a man the Duke of Orleans was. 'Un +Prince de l'Ecole normale.' Of the Queen he said, 'Elle est bonne femme, et +surtout grande dame--c'est ce qu'il nous faut.' + +Talleyrand said he had given the King a piece of advice, '_to go to +Neuilly_'--that is, to rescue himself from the vagabond cortége. + +Talleyrand is very well pleased with the letter sent to Paris, and the +foreign Ministers are satisfied. + +The King (our King) seemed to me to be very weary to-day. Aberdeen said he +was a good deal distressed at the state of Europe, and rather anxious. + +Lord and Lady Holland and Rothschild appear to be the only people besides +the Ministers who have called on Talleyrand. Lord Holland is very much with +him. Lord Holland is doing all he can to save the lives of the French +Ministers--for the interest of the French Government, not of the Ministers +themselves. He has written to La Fayette and to the King. + + +_October 7._ + +I forgot on what authority it was mentioned yesterday, but it was mentioned +as a fact that the Liberaux would not have done anything unless they had +been certain of the Duke of Orleans. So afraid were they of a revolution +that they would have submitted to the Ordonnances rather than run the risk +of it. + + +_October 9._ + +At Canterbury heard more particulars of the machine-breaking now going on +in the neighbourhood. Notice is given, and the frames are broken. One +gentleman boasted at market they should not break his, as he had armed men +to protect them. They on the same night set fire to his rickyard. Sir Henry +Oxenden's sons went out to meet them, when they came according to notice to +break Sir Henry's machines. One man spoke for the rest. He acknowledged Sir +Henry seldom or ever used his machine, and that he was the landlord in Kent +who gave most to the poor; but they must do as they were ordered; they +would, however, do as little as they could, and they only sawed off a +shaft. + +The farmers now leave their thrashing machines out in the fields to be +broken. + +The rickyard of one gentleman was set on fire because he committed a man +for machine-breaking. He lost 6,000£, nothing being insured. + +It seems suspicions are entertained that the machine-breakers are not all +of the station they assume. They all wear smock frocks, but their language +is better than their dress. When money was offered them, if they wanted it, +by the Oxendens, they said they did not want money, they obeyed orders. + +It is reported, but this must be an exaggeration, that 500 assembled lately +on a Down near Mr. Brockman's. + +The magistrates have no good evidence against any. Some Bow Street officers +are here. Lord Winchelsea and Sir Edward Knatchbull have been here at every +meeting of the magistrates, although they live eighteen miles off. + +The Provisional Government of Belgium have declared the independence of the +country and the defeazance of the House of Orange. In the meantime the +Prince of Orange is arrived at Antwerp, as Viceroy, with a Belgian Etat +Major Civil. + +It seems probable the Chamber of Deputies will abolish the punishment of +death for political offences, and so save Polignac. + +The levy of 108,000 men will hardly make the French army 240,000 effective, +for it was not full before the Revolution, and numbers have deserted; +besides the disbandment of the Guards, which was 25,000 men. + + +_October 11._ + +Cabinet. Aberdeen read Lord Stuart's account of his interview with Molé. +Molé suggests an immediate conference, and thinks the Prince of Orange may +be made Sovereign of La Belgique. No communication will be held by the +French Government with the Provisional Government of Belgium. They will +communicate through the King. + +It is proposed to have the Conference here. The Ministers of Austria, +Prussia, and Russia have expressed their readiness to acquiesce in anything +proposed by this country. They may inveigh against the diplomacy of +England, but in moments of danger all rally under our wing. + +Molé distinctly admitted that the existence of the present Government of +France depended on its remaining on good terms with England and Prussia, +and the affairs of Belgium gave them an opportunity of showing _la droiture +de leurs principes_, &c.--in short, of gaining a good character. + +It was decided against guaranteeing the sum of 500,000£ the Dutch wish to +raise here. There would be no end to such loans if we once began to assist +the credit of foreign States. Parliament would not approve of the measure. +To the Dutch Government it is important that this Administration should +remain, and likewise that their own credit should not be injured in all +Europe by the confession of weakness which their recourse to us implies. + +To guarantee a loan is to give money, and to do that is to assist one of +the parties to lose the mediatory character, and, in fact, put ourselves +out of the Congress. + +Hardinge can reduce 57,000£ a year in net and on the Civil List, 30,000£ on +the Pension List, and 27,000£ on officers of State. + +We had some talk about details, but Goulburn does not reduce as much as +Hardinge. + +Had some talk with the Duke and Peel respecting the fires in Kent, and the +breaking of frames. Five are in prison. The Duke thinks smugglers are at +the bottom of it. + +There has been alarm at Carlisle. The officers in command of the castle +apprehended an attempt to surprise it and seize the arms. Men had been seen +measuring the wall. Sir J. Graham was alarmed about it. Orders will be +given to provision for thirty days all the places where arms are kept, the +town included, where there are 600,000 stand of arms. In the meantime all +classes are more comfortable in this country than they ever were, and this +alone keeps down insurrection. There are leaders but no troops. + +Hardinge reports that the spirit in Ireland is _disimproved_ since the +events in Belgium. + +There is to be an Anti-Union Society, which, as soon as it meets, will be +put down under the Act. + + +_October 12._ + +At nine went to Apsley House. Met the Chairs. We went in to the Duke. Our +conversation lasted two hours. As they are to send in a _procès verbal_, it +is unnecessary for me to state it. The substance was that, supposing the +monopoly to be taken away, they would administer the Government of India as +heretofore on one of two conditions; either closing their account with the +public and receiving payment in full, or an equivalent annuity for all +their property in India, in which case they would require no guarantee of +the present dividend; or making over all their property, and taking a +perpetual guarantee of the dividend. + +The public to make good in either case all deficiency of Indian revenue, +and in either case the Company to be the agents for the territory, +providing all necessary sums here and receiving repayment at a rate of +exchange to be paid from time to time fairly. + +The Chairs were given to understand that the public being liable to the +making good of Indian deficiency, we should require a strict control over +the whole expenditure _here_, as well as in India. + +They show, especially Campbell, a disposition to leave off trading and +become gentlemen. They were told by the Duke that if they did so we must be +at liberty to revise our arrangement with them. We might as well go to the +Bank as to them, if we were to treat with a body not commercial. + +The Duke seems much pleased with his foreign prospects. + +M. de Choiseul was waiting to see him. I suppose on the affair of Holyrood +House. + +It seems probable that the French will abolish the punishment of death, and +so save Polignac. + + +_October 14._ + +Found at the office several papers giving accounts of Radical meetings in +Lancashire. All the old Radicals are reappearing on the scene. They do not +as yet seem to be attended by any numerous assemblies, never above 200 or +300. + +A letter from a clergyman at Wrotham speaks of burnings near that place, +and of the bad conduct of the people who interfere with the working of the +engines, and seem to rejoice in the destruction. + +Read all the papers relating to the education of the Princess Victoria, who +seems to have been admirably brought up. + +At the Cabinet room read a long and excellent letter of Hardinge's +respecting the state of Ireland. + +The 87th Regiment at Newry, when paraded for church, refused to march +without music, to which it had been accustomed in the south. It had been +discontinued in the north to avoid displeasing the Orangemen. + +The captain sent for the Lieutenant-Colonel Blair, who was at first +disobeyed, but he placed a drum to have a drum-head court martial, and then +they marched. The Duke says it is, and always has been, the worst regiment +in the service. It ran away at Salamanca and exposed him to being taken +prisoner. It has always been unmilitary, and from the same cause, a +disposition to seek popularity on the part of its officers. Hardinge +proposes embarking it at once for the West Indies. The Duke prefers +bringing it to Dublin, where there are other regiments to keep it in order, +and soon sending it to England, and by detachments at no distant period to +Botany Bay. They do not expect there will be any further exhibition of +mutinous spirit. The only mischief of this is the effect at this time. + +There have been apprehensions of an attempt to scale the Pigeon House, and +a full garrison has been ordered into it, with directions to add to its +defences on the seaside so as to protect it from escalade. + +Hardinge can bring twenty guns together in a very short time, at any point +in Dublin. He talks of arming the students in Trinity College in the event +of an explosion. + +They rather expect an explosion about the 18th or 19th, when probably there +will be the first meeting of the new Association. + +This it will be the first object to put down by the Act of 1829. The +meeting to petition for the repeal of the Union will be permitted. + +Hardinge is quite himself on horseback. The only fear is that he should be +too lively. Peel seems to think he is; but it is a great comfort to have +him there instead of Lord Francis Leveson, who was always wrong. + +The King of the Netherlands has called his States at the Hague, the +Constitution requiring them to meet this year in Belgium. He takes +advantage of the provision in the Constitution which permits him to call +the States in Holland in case of war. They fear the loss of Antwerp. The +Prince of Orange thinks things look better. + +The Netherland Ambassador is much annoyed at the refusal of pecuniary +assistance; but, as was expected, the Dutch have got their money, only +paying a little more for it. + +Our depots are only 160 strong. We have hardly a battalion. One or two at +least of those which were going abroad will be retained for a time. + +The Duke of Brunswick does not much like abdicating. The Duke of Wellington +thought he had brought him to make his brother Governor-General for his +life, retaining the succession for his children. However, Aberdeen seems to +have blundered him back again. He is to go to see the King on Saturday. The +King desired he might come early, that he might not be obliged to have him +to dinner, and he desired Aberdeen would remain in the room. + +Pozzo thinks the French Government is gaining strength; but they are very +inefficient in preventing armed men from assembling on the frontiers of +Spain. + +The French have exercised such coldness towards the Belgians that they are +become unpopular. De Potter was French while he had hopes of becoming so. +Now he is a Republican. + +The Austrians will send troops into the Sardinian dominions if there is any +insurrection. [Footnote: They had similarly interfered to put down the +Constitutional movement in Piedmont which followed on the Neapolitan +revolution of 1821.] This by invitation. + + +The Queen of Spain has, it is said, a son. [Footnote: It was a daughter, +afterwards Queen Isabella II., born October 10, 1830. The alteration of the +succession in favour of the female line led to a civil war on Ferdinand +VII.'s death. A son might have secured peace, but probably without a +Constitution.] This event would, it is thought, secure Spain against any +revolutionary movement. + + +_October 15._ + +Called on the Duke. Settled with him the alterations necessary in the +Chairs' memorandum of the conversation on the 12th. He thought we had gone +too far in leading them to expect they should be repaid the money they had +sunk in the territory while they held the Government. + +Received from him the opium letter. He thinks the principle good, but +considers it is not fair to make the Scindians prevent the transit of +opium. We cannot prevent them, for they are independent; but unless we +endeavour to persuade them, and succeed in doing so, we shall lose our +opium revenue. + + +_October 16._ + +Chairs at 11. Head over with them my alterations of their protocol. Astell +did not seem to see the greatness of the variations. Campbell did, and +particularly observed upon the words, 'value of the fixed property in India +which might be adjudged to appertain to the Company in their commercial +capacity.' He wanted an admission of the justice of the claims, leaving +nothing for adjustment but their amount. I said we could not admit claims +without examination, the nature of which we did not yet know. All we could +admit was that the claims were such as should be submitted to examination, +and their validity decided upon just principles. + +Astell wished to go back again and recommence the discussion. I said he +knew I could decide nothing without the Cabinet, and he nothing without the +Court; all he had to do now was to bring the subject before them. + +He asked whether they were distinctly to understand that the Cabinet had +decided upon the termination of the monopoly? I said that the question not +having yet been before the Cabinet I could not give an answer officially; +but when the First Lord of the Treasury and the President of the Board of +Control desired to know what the course of the Court would be in the event +of its being proposed that the Court should administer the Government +without monopoly, I thought it was not difficult to draw an inference. + + +_October 19._ + +Sent to the Duke a memorandum on his letter. Read at the Cabinet room. The +King of the Netherlands is much annoyed at the desertion, as he thinks it, +of his allies. He now proposes a Congress of the Four Powers and _France_ +at Breda or Cleves. He admits France very unwillingly, and by no means +acquiesces in the reasoning in favour of the advance we made. + +Sir Ch. Bagot seems to think the Prince of Orange will be losing the +affection of the Dutch without gaining the Belgians. + +The German Confederation is arming in the neighbourhood of Hanau for the +preservation of the peace. They have put 6,000 or 7,000 men in motion, and +have a reserve of 15,000 or 18,000. + +The excitement against Polignac and Peyronnet increases, and the Ministers +run the hazard of their places by attempting to save them. I fear that is +hopeless. The Spanish Radicals seem to find it would be dangerous to pass +the frontier. + + +_October 20._ + +Office. Cabinet room. The Prince of Orange has written a most offensive +letter to the King of the French, almost insinuating that the troubles in +Belgium are fomented by France, and saying that by a declaration against +the Belgians France would show her good faith, and secure the recognition +of Russia. The French Cabinet is much offended at the silence of the King +of the Netherlands, and Count Molé is going to write to the Dutch Minister +upon the subject. + +Nesselrode seems to see great difficulties in the intervention of France in +the settlement of Belgium--the union of Belgium and Holland having been +made _against_ France. The Russian Minister at the Hague has general +directions to follow the course of England upon all points not provided for +by his instructions. + +There is a great fall in the Funds to-day; partly, it is said, in +consequence of those who desired to keep up the Funds being no longer able +to do so; partly from the general aspect of affairs. My surprise is that +the Funds have not fallen before, and much more. + +Cabinet dinner at the Duke's. Showed the protocol of our Conference with +the Chairs. The heads of the speech were read. Aberdeen's will not do at +all. To my surprise he intended to announce the recognition of Miguel, he +having engaged to do a great act of justice; that is, to publish the +amnesty. He will not do it till a British Minister arrives at Lisbon; that +is, he makes us, whom he has once deceived, dependent upon his word. This +would be a very incautious step on our part. We meet on Friday to consider +the speech in detail. + +We had a good deal of conversation about the Duchess of Kent's allowance, +which is to be much increased. It is proposed to give her 20,000£ a year. +She has now 12,000£ for herself and the Princess, out of which she pays +interest and insurance upon 12,000£ she borrowed on the Duke of Kent's +death for her outfit. + +The King has about thirty people at dinner every day, belonging to the +Household. His expense must be enormous in living. + + +_October 21._ + +Read in the newspaper the King of the Netherlands' speech. It is querulous +and angry. I really thought the Proclamation _extraordinary_ of the Prince +of Orange a forgery; but it is genuine, and he throws off all connection +with Holland, declaring the independence of Belgium, and placing himself +practically at the head of the Rebellion! + +On Monday night at a dance at the Lodge, Hardinge saw accidentally in an +evening newspaper, shown to him for another purpose, the advertisement of +the Anti-Union Association, and by seven o'clock the next morning the Lord +Lieutenant's Proclamation prohibiting it was placarded in the streets. This +is decision. There was no riot. Persons in general were satisfied the act +was right. O'Connell is alarmed. The Duke of Leinster is ready to sign a +declaration in favour of the Union. All is safe in Ireland with Hardinge's +promptitude. I wish he could remain and not come over to Parliament. + + +_October 22._ + +Saw Campbell, who was very nervous and anxious, and I at night wrote a +letter to Lord Hill in favour of his son--more, I admit, from a father's +feelings than from a conviction of being right. + +It seems the Lord Lieutenant not having been near Dublin when the +Proclamation was issued by Hardinge, he must have had a blank Proclamation +in his pocket, and have issued it without the opinion of the law officers. +He has good debatable Parliamentary grounds of defence; but he has trodden +upon the margin of the law. Not the worse for that in these times, when it +is most important that every one should see the Government are vigilant and +determined. + +Valdez, who entered Spain with a few hundred men, has been smashed at once. + +At the Cabinet we had a long discussion respecting the Regency question. +Aberdeen started the objection that the proposed measure was destructive of +the principle that the King could not die. On the other hand it was +contended that we maintained that principle. We made a Regent for _a King_. +We acknowledged _a King_; but we deferred taking the oath of allegiance +till we knew who he was. The difficulties attending the _unkinging_ of a +Sovereign on the birth of a Prince nearer to the present King seem greater +than any attending the measure proposed. It was ultimately determined that +the Chancellor should consult the judges and the law officers. + + +_October 23._ + +Cabinet. Twenty-six magistrates at Canterbury sentenced to three days' +imprisonment threshing machine breakers, who pleaded guilty! Such has been +the terror struck into them! Sir E. Knatchbull was in the chair. + +We went through the speech--not deciding absolutely upon the words; but +generally upon the substance. + +Then arose a conversation as to the Regency which, in this last hour, is +thought a point of importance. The Chancellor seems alarmed and unwilling +to move the suspension of the rights of the presumptive heir until the non- +existence of an heir apparent be ascertained, without the opinion of the +judges. It is admitted there is no written opinion to guide us. The analogy +of property is in favour of the heir presumptive; that of peerage in favour +of the heir apparent _in utero_. + + +_October 24._ + +Cabinet at 4. Read two letters from Hardinge. By his account all the men of +property will support the Government and the Union. + +The press is coming round--_bought_. A Mr. Conway, an able writer, is +furious against O'Connell, and, upon the whole, the Press is on our side. +Hardinge dilates with delight upon his military preparations and plans of +defence, and seemingly will be disappointed if he cannot put them into +execution. + +The Belgian Ministers resigned after the Prince of Orange's Proclamation. +He is left without advisers. He has endeavoured to get Sir Charles Bagot to +join him, and Grasioff. He sends for Cartwright. He seems much embarrassed. +In fact he is in heart a Belgian, and would sacrifice everything to be King +of Belgium. He never knew the Dutch, and not unnaturally likes the Belgians +better. They are indignant at his conduct in Holland, and with reason. He +seems to intend to rule the Dutch by means of the Belgians. This he cannot +do. + +The Duke of Wellington always thought him a silly fellow. + +The Provisional Government is going to send some mission here. + +We had a long talk about the Regency. Really it does us little credit to +begin now, within ten days of the meeting of Parliament, to consider that +question seriously. + +The Chief Justices will be asked whether, supposing the Queen to be +pregnant at the death of the King, the next living heir would succeed? How +in the event of the birth of a child the _de facto_ Sovereign is to be put +aside? And what should be done if the Queen only may be with child? The +difficulty consists in the oath of allegiance, which must be altered and +made conditional. But what a curious position the Queen Victoria would be +placed in, if a baby were to oust her after eight months of reign! + +I think the course adopted will be this--to make an oath of allegiance +conditional, saving the rights of a child to be born; to appoint the Regent +who would be named for the Princess Victoria, with the provision that on +the birth of a child the child's mother shall be Regent. + + +_October 25._ + +Cabinet at 4. Peel read letters he had received from Mr. Foster, the +magistrate of Manchester, Mr. Hulton, of Hulton, and a manufacturer whose +name I forget. They all give an alarming account of the state of +Manchester. The colliers have turned out in some districts, and where they +have turned out the mills are necessarily stopped. This has thrown numbers +out of employment. These colliers can earn 10_s_. a day; that is, as much +as many clergymen. The spinners can earn 5_s_. a day. Yet they turn out. + +This seems to be a manoeuvre like that of Lafitte when he refused to +discount bills. To stop the supply of coal is to throw all mills out of +work, and every one out of employment. The question is, Shall the masters +resist? If they do, there will be an early collision. If they do not, they +may defer it, but not long. Concession was counselled six weeks ago, on the +ground that, after the events in Belgium and in France, collision was +dangerous; and this even by bold men. It seems there are 3,000 infantry, 3 +guns, and about 600 or 800 cavalry near Manchester. Perhaps some howitzers +may be sent, but more force there is not. Peel at the Cabinet wrote a +letter to Mr. Taylor, saying that under ordinary circumstances he should +have counselled resistance or rather non-concession; but now it was a +doubtful question whether a collision at Manchester would not lead to +collision in many other places, and was our force sufficient? He was +desired to see Mr. Hulton, Sir E. Bouverie, and others, and to consider +what could be done, particularly whether Volunteer Corps could be formed. +The delegates who went to Mr. Chappell seem to be amenable to the law and +get-at-able. This will be done. + +The law officers came in and were asked as to the power of the Crown to +permit the formation of Volunteer Corps. They were desired to consider the +point. By the Act of 1794 there seems to be no doubt about it. + +Hardinge is arrived. He has been calling out O'Connell. I am sorry for it, +for O'Connell had declared he would not fight. O'Connell had called him the +Duke's aide-de-camp. So far it does good, that it lowers O'Connell still +more, and destroys the value of anything he might say against Hardinge. + + +_October 26._ + +Called on Hardinge. He says the accounts from Manchester to-day are worse. +In the House Lord Hill showed me a letter (from Sir E. Bouverie, I think), +giving a very alarming account--30,000 out of work, and apprehension of +early collision. + +Parliament opened. Took the oaths. Office. Lord Dalhousie was so ill on +June 4 that I have no idea of his being now Commander-in-Chief in India. + +Received a summons to a Cabinet at four _precisely_, and went to the +Foreign Office; but nobody came. I think it must have been summoned to meet +at Peel's house. The times are so critical that I should be sorry to lose a +Cabinet. I could not find out that any summonses had been sent from the +Foreign Office. There was a crowd of people in Downing Street, who had, I +dare say, followed the Duke from the House of Lords. There were a good many +about the House. All quite quiet. + + +_October 27._ + +_Levée_ at two. Addresses from the Church of Scotland, and the Lord Mayor +and Corporation of Dublin. Dr. Chalmers was with the Church of Scotland. +The Recorder of Dublin, Mr. Shaw, who is member for Dublin, made a speech +before he read the address--a thing quite unprecedented, and which might be +very inconvenient. The speech itself was innocent. The _levée_ by no means +full. + +Peel had an audience of the King, and in half an hour the King slept twenty +minutes. He says he never knew any man so much altered in three months. His +somnolency increases. He slept during an interview with Aberdeen yesterday. +When the Duke saw him he was alive enough. + +Cabinet. Prince at the Chancellor's. Some conversation respecting the +burnings in Kent. Peel thinks they were effected by a chemical process, by +some substance deposited hours before, and igniting when the perpetrators +are far off. The persons who met Lord Winchilsea expressed detestation of +the burnings, and went away to break threshing machines, but a man who +committed persons for breaking threshing machines had his ricks burnt; +another suffered the same thing who defended his threshing machines. I +believe the two offences to be committed by the same persons. The +magistrates are supine and terror-struck; but they have no police, no +military. Sir E. Knatchbull doubts whether they would arm as yeomen. Peel +does not seem to me to view with sufficient alarm the effect these burnings +will produce upon men's minds, and the example of impunity. Nothing was +said about Manchester. All seemed to think less seriously of our dangers +than they did some days back. + +The law officers mean to give in their report on the case put to them to- +morrow. They will say it is not provided for. The Chancellor has the judges +at dinner on Friday, and he will then obtain theirs. + + +_October 28._ + +Captain Harvey of the 4th Dragoons called by the King's desire to say the +King of Persia told him when he was at Teheran that he was hurt at not +receiving a letter from the King. I told Captain Harvey the King had +announced his accession to the Shah of Persia as he had to other +sovereigns. Captain Harvey was interpreter to his regiment. It seemed to me +that he rather wished to command the Persian troops. He is brother to the +tutor to Prince George of Cambridge. He is a very gentlemanlike man. + +The French insist on having the conferences respecting the settlement of +Belgium at Paris, if there are to be any regular conferences. They cannot +permit Talleyrand to act for them. The French would be jealous of him, &c. +We had wished to have the conferences here for the very reason that we +thought Talleyrand would do his utmost to have the credit of preserving +peace. I see there will be no Congress. The French think that, if they +stand still, the fruit will fall into their mouths. The folly of the Prince +of Orange will ruin his party in Belgium. The ambition of the Belgians will +induce them to attempt to form a separate State, which after much disorder +will be found impracticable; and as they will not become Dutch, they _will_ +become French. Then we shall have a war, and present forbearance only +postpones it. All the Volunteers who are acting in Belgium are French. All +the forces in the field are commanded by Frenchmen. French money is +employed. The French are really now carrying on the war covertly. + +Russia is paralysed by the devastating progress of the cholera morbus which +has reached Moscow. The Emperor is gone to Moscow to establish order and +obedience, for the civil and military authorities are quarrelling, and the +troops are unwilling to form the cordon. All cordons I believe to be +fruitless. It would be as wise to form a cordon against the wind. The +disease advances, however, along the high roads and navigable rivers. It is +the most extraordinary plague we have had. + +Prussia cannot act for fear of disorders at home, and Austria is literally +the only power to which war is possible. The French dare not go to war for +fear of a Republic. + +It seems the French Ministry will be partially changed, the Due de Broglie +and Guizot going out. The Due de Broglie seems to be a pedantic coxcomb. + +I pity the King of the Netherlands, who is a good man. To be hated by two- +thirds of his subjects, betrayed by his foolish son, and abandoned as he +thinks by his allies, must be great trials to him; while, although the +Dutch adore him and really love him, they will not give him money, and I +have a little doubt whether they will fight much. Probably, however, the +fear of pillage will make them do that for themselves. + +Read a very well-written pamphlet in reply to Brougham's two. I suspect the +writer is Philpotts. It is too powerful for an ordinary man, and far beyond +Croker. Neither is it in his style. Brougham has made Ridgway put forth a +letter stating that he never communicated upon the subject of the pamphlet +with Brougham--which is no denial that it is Brougham's. + +It is a good and useful pamphlet, and will teach the Whigs good manners by +showing them they cannot commit aggression with impunity. There is no part +much better done than that in which the falsehood and absurdity are shown +of what was said in the Brougham pamphlets respecting me. To be sure my +champion had a good case. What was said about me rather leads me to think +Lord Durham or T. Moore had a hand in it. + + +_October 29._ + +The letters from Manchester recommend resistance on the part of the +masters--that is, non-concession. This will put the colliers to the +necessity of adopting _force_, and in the defence of property we should +commence the contest, which can only be deferred, with great advantage. Mr. +Foster thinks the views of the Union have been shaken by the increase of +force near Manchester; and that, although there might be much disturbance, +the event would not be doubtful. One committee of the Union has proposed +acquiescence in the masters' terms. + +The accounts from Kent are bad. Peel has offered to send down a magistrate +and police officers, and to go to any expense. + +He was to receive Mr. Hammond, Plumptree, Lord Camden, and others to-day. +Poor Lord Camden, in the meantime, has the lumbago. + + +_October 30._ + +Cabinet. A very bad account of Manchester. No means of raising Volunteer +corps. Little hope of uniting the masters. The operatives triumphant. No +disposition, however, on their part to come to blows, and a confidence on +the part of the magistrates that a fight would be in their favour; but then +they must have _troops_, keep all they have, and get more if possible. + +Mr. Taylor recommends that constables should have the power of arresting +_picketers_ without warrant. + +Went through the speech. It will do very well now. + +Spoke to the Duke about Indian finance, and told him the result. He wished +to see all the papers, which were not yet quite ready. In the meantime +nothing is to be done, and we are to appoint the Committee. + +The Attorney and Solicitor-General deprecate the prosecution of a libel +transmitted for their opinion, and say they think it unadvisable to +prosecute without the sanction of Parliament! What this means I do not +know, unless it means that they are cowed. + +There is an infamous article in the _Times_ to-day, against the conduct of +the farmers and country gentlemen, and there are worse in the _Morning +Chronicle_. + +Had some conversation after dinner at St. James's with Frankland Lewis. He +longs for the Grants. I told him it would not do, and what sort of a man +Charles Grant was. Frankland Lewis does not seem to like his office, but he +says he shall bring it into order if he remains there, and make it a Privy +Councillor's office without drudgery. He and, indeed, all seem to wish they +were better and more boldly led in the House of Commons. All we want is +that. + + +_October 31._ + +Cabinet. On Monday the 25th the Prince of Orange left Antwerp. He embarked, +and intended to go to see his father, and then to come to England! On the +26th General Mellinot marched in and went on to Breda, with 5,000 men. On +the 27th (there having been a parley on the 26th), the populace attempted +to seize the arsenal. The citadel fired. The, town was on fire when Mr. +Cartwright came away, and is nearly destroyed. + +At Maidstone two or three ringleaders were seized very gallantly by the +magistrates, and carried off to the gaol by the cavalry at a canter. +However, there are but thirty-four troopers there. So four troops have been +sent from Windsor, a depot from some other place, and two guns from +Woolwich. All this was rendered necessary by an intended meeting on +Penenden Heath to-morrow. March, the Solicitor of the Treasury, is gone +down. + +There was much conversation about the state of the Press, and a resolution +taken to prosecute, notwithstanding the unwillingness of the law officers. +Scarlet appears to be quite cowed by opposition and the Press. + +This Press may be bought, but we have no money. Five-sixths of the Foreign +Secret Service money are preoccupied by permanent old charges--the Secret +Service money of the Treasury is preoccupied in the same way. + +There is a small sum of droits which may be turned over to the Privy Purse, +and then by the King to the Government, but it is not more than 3,000£. It +is thought that perhaps some of the pensions on the Secret Service money of +the Treasury may be turned over to the Foreign Office. The Treasury money +is the only money applicable to the purchase of newspapers. + +We twaddled a great deal over the speech. It was proposed by Peel to insert +a paragraph referring to the disturbed state of the country. He will write +it, and we shall consider it in a Cabinet at St. James's to-morrow at one, +before the Council. + +Lord Bathurst is more alarmed than any one; but Peel is a good deal alarmed +too. + +There is _danger_, for there are many to attack and few ready to risk +anything in defence. It was otherwise in 1793. + +The Duke thinks that with every disposition to do mischief there is no +conspiracy, or we should have heard of it. + + +_November 1._ + +Cabinet at St. James's at one. The Lord-Lieutenant has prohibited, by +Proclamation, the meeting of the Volunteer Society. Very properly and +consistently. It was a much more dangerous society than the other. He is a +firm man, not to be turned from the course he thinks right. + +O'Connell has not been spoken to in the clubs he has entered. At Brookes's +they turned their backs upon him. + +There was no meeting at Maidstone. Probably they had intimation of the +movements of troops. Lord Beresford told me there were 3,000 artillerymen +at Woolwich, enough to serve guns for an army. + +Went through the speech again. Aberdeen is the most obstinate man I ever +saw, about the mere _words_ of his part of the speech. We lost half an hour +at least in talking about words to-day. Peel read his concluding sentence, +which is very good. He laments the outrages, and the attempt to disturb the +concord between portions of the empire whose union is essential to their +mutual strength and happiness, declares the King's determination to exert +the powers confided to him by the Law and the Constitution for the +punishment of sedition, and ends by expressing a firm reliance on the +loyalty of the great body of the people. + +As far as I could judge by the King's countenance when the speech was read, +he acquiesced, and thought it right, but was pained at being obliged to +hold such language. + +I had prepared a paragraph to be used in case it had been thought right to +say anything about India. For my own part I thought it better not. We could +not produce a measure this year, and it would hardly be fair by the Court +to declare to Parliament that we thought the monopoly must be put an end to +without having previously acquainted them with our determination. The Duke +said he had seen nothing yet to satisfy him that the revenues of India +could meet the expenditure without the China trade. I think his reluctance +increases to put an end to the present system. My disposition to terminate +the existence of the Company increases the more I see of them. + + +_November 2_ + +House at five. Lord Bute made a very long, heavy speech. Lord Monson a very +little one, not bad. The stuff would do; but he has neither stature nor +voice. + +We then had Lord Winchilsea, Lord Camden, Duke of Leinster, and Lord +Farnham. Lord Winchilsea right in tone, but desiring inquiry into +agricultural distress. This, too, was the burden of a mouthy speech made by +the Duke of Richmond, whom I had nearly forgotten. Lord Farnham spoke, as +he always does, well. He deprecated the dissolution of the Union, but +desired relief for Ireland. This, too, was desired by the Duke of Leinster, +who spoke very firmly, as all did, against agitators. + +Lord Grey said it was a moment of great _danger_ and _importance_. +Fortitude, caution, and wisdom were required. He spoke strongly against the +dissolution of the Union, and against the disturbers of the public peace +everywhere. He used the words of the speech, _grief_ and _indignation_. He +joined in the determination to put down sedition by law. Rejoiced no new +laws were asked for. Approved of the prompt recognition of King Louis +Philippe; lamented the _necessity_ of the French Revolution. Said 'all +Revolutions were in themselves evils,' although they might produce eventual +good. Expressed his hope, for the honour of France and for the interests of +Liberty, that they would not sully a Revolution hitherto unstained by a +single act of vengeance. This part of his speech was very well worded and +spoken. He objected to the terms in which the passage respecting the +Netherlands was worded, as seeming to cast all the blame upon the Belgians, +and so to make our mediation less effectual. He likewise objected to the +making the Portuguese Amnesty a seeming condition of the recognition of +Miguel. Of the recognition itself he did not complain, as he had so long +been King _de facto_. These objections were fair. + +Lord Farnham having suggested the necessity of preparing for war, Lord Grey +said the preparation should be by gaining the hearts of our own people--and +he advocated, but very temperately, Reform. He did not, however, allow that +there was any abstract right to a particular mode of constituting a +Legislature. The right of the people was to a _good Government_, and to +whatever form of Legislative Assembly might seem best to secure that +Government. + +His speech was good, and temperate, as well as firm. The Duke of Wellington +followed him. He declared his intention to oppose Reform. He said we were +not bound to interfere for the maintenance of the Amnesty further than by +advice and remonstrance, not by war. + +I should mention that Lord Grey seemed pleased by the abandonment of the +droits. He was not very well, and at times was almost unable to proceed. + +Upon the whole the tone of the debate was very good, and will do good. + + +_November 3._ + +Office at eleven to see Col. Houston. + +Upon the whole the debate in the Commons was satisfactory. Peel was very +much cheered. O'Connell spoke well, and was heard in perfect silence. +Brougham made an ordinary speech; theme a bad one, violent. + +There was much row in the streets yesterday; but all occasioned by attacks +upon the police, and attempts to rescue pickpockets. The Guards were called +out rather hastily. Colonel Rowan who commands the police has begged they +may be left to themselves. They are quite strong enough. + +Cabinet dinner at Lord Rosslyn's. No House of Commons people there. The +Prince of Orange is come. He has written to the King, and is to see him to- +morrow. It seems there are 7,500 men in the citadel of Antwerp, which can +only hold 2,000, and has provisions only for two months. The forts of Lillo +and Liefkenshoek are ill-garrisoned; so is Breda, and so is Bergen-op-zoom. +The Dutch have not 4,000 men in the field near Breda. The question is, +whether the evacuation of the citadel of Antwerp would not be advisable for +the purpose of getting out the 7,500 men. It seems that if Flushing be +held, the Scheld is of no use. The Conference respecting Belgian affairs +meets to-morrow, Talleyrand being sole representative of France. The first +object will be to establish an armistice. + +After dinner we had some conversation respecting the debate in the Commons +of last night. Peel is disgusted at not being supported by the three +Cabinet Ministers present, who knew the whole subject which had been so +often discussed in Cabinet--yet not one of them rose to answer Brougham. +The Duke is very angry with them, and says he shall take an opportunity of +advising Peel in their presence never to rise till Brougham has spoken, let +others be abused as they may. If the three mutes will not speak, it is +clear they will not remain in very long. + +I consider a debate to be a battle, in which the chief should be able to +put every man into the fight, as he would every battalion, with a view to +the ultimate object; he himself being the reserve. + + +_November 4._ + +It seems Sir G. Murray did speak last night, but he went further than he +intended on Reform, and so rather damaged our position as a Government. + +Office. Saw Mr. Sullivan. He seems a sensible, liberal man. His evidence +would be a death-blow to the government of the Company. He says the cotton +of Coimbatore is carried to Tinnevelly and thence to Madras by country +boats, where it is taken up by the China ships. It might be sent directly +to the sea on the Malabar coast, the distance being 300 miles. There is no +obstruction to the cultivation. The country is under a Ryotwar settlement. +The unequal demand of the Company is very injurious. Their great demand at +some periods encourages cultivation and raises prices exorbitantly--the +next year there is no demand at all. They now purchase by contract. The +contracts are too large for the native merchants, and fall, as jobs, into +the hands of Europeans. Sufficient notice is not given of the contract. The +native merchants have from one lac to one and a half. + +Great injury is sustained by the tobacco monopoly. The Company's officers +sell it as retailers. The Government is, as I always thought, practically +in the hands of the natives. They require European co-operation, but if +they combine against their European superior he can do nothing. House at +five. Lord Winchilsea made a violent tirade against the Administration, +without any motion before the House. The Duke made a few observations on +the point of order very quietly, and we rose. + + +_November 5._ + +St. James's at half-past one. The clergy of the Province of Canterbury were +there, with their address on the accession. They were not expected, and +there were no gentlemen pensioners. However, they delivered their address +to the King on the throne, and a very good address it was. Peel had to +write the answer in a hurry. + +Recorder's report. One man left for execution for a street robbery +accompanied with violence. + +The Recorder gave but a bad account of the disposition of the City. The +Chancellor seems a good deal alarmed, and so does Peel. Every precaution is +taken, but I cannot help fearing there is a conspiracy of which we know +nothing. Aberdeen suspects connection with France. + +We are to inquire into the circumstances of the fires in Normandy, which +seem very much to resemble ours. We have had one near Godstone, and another +at Fair-lawn, in Kent; the sufferers unoffending persons. The object seems +to be to spread general terror. It is clear that they are effected by the +discharge of some chemical preparation, which ignites after a time. No +watching has any effect. Fires take place where no one has approached. + +Goulburn told me he thought Sir G. Murray had said much more than he +intended, purely from want of habit of speaking; still he had done much +injury. + +The new French Ministry is formed, and Lafitte is at its head. He pretends +to have the same views as the late Ministry; but it is impossible to +suppose the French can resist the offer of Belgium. We shall have no war if +we can preserve internal peace and the integrity of the Constitution. + + +_November 6._ + +A letter from Hardinge, who seems to think we stand ill, not for want of +numbers, but of speakers. Astell told me the Duke's declaration against +Reform had injured him in the City. + +Saw Wortley, and had a long conversation with him respecting the state of +the Government. He thinks we cannot go on. The Duke's declaration against +Reform has made it impossible for any to join him, and upon the question of +Reform it is doubtful if we should have numbers enough. + +We talked over possible Governments on the supposition that Lord Grey was +at the head, and that Peel remained in. In walking away I was overtaken in +Downing Street by Lord Graham, who had been waiting to speak to me on the +same subject. He seems to think our fall not so immediately necessary as +Wortley does. I then called on Hardinge, who had been with the Duke this +morning. Hardinge had candidly told the Duke that if he had a minority on +Reform, or a small majority, he would advise him to resign; and previously +to tell the King in what a situation he stood. If he had a good majority he +might perhaps get some to join; but if not, the position of the Government +would be as bad in February, or worse, than it was now. The Duke said he +thought things might do still. He had a number of young men who depended +upon him. He would take care to give the King timely notice. The King had +behaved very well to him. Indeed I know the Duke feels very strongly how +admirably and how kindly the King has behaved. + +Lord Maryborough had been to Hardinge to express his fears for the Duke's +life, and the Duke has received many letters informing him there is a +conspiracy to assassinate him on Tuesday, as he goes to Guildhall. + +Hardinge said every precaution should be taken, but he begged Lord +Maryborough not to tell the Duke his apprehensions. Hardinge, however, has +the same; and fears there may be an attempt that day to make London a scene +of barricades like Paris and Brussels. Troops will be disposed at intervals +in bodies of half battalions, with provisions, and there will be 1,000 +cavalry. Two guns will be ready with the marines at the obelisk, and two in +the park. Hardinge observed to the Duke that he knew he had bolts inside to +the doors of the carnage, and added, 'I shall take pocket pistols!' The +Duke said, 'Oh! I shall have pistols in the carriage.' Hardinge asked the +Duke to take him, which he does. Arbuthnot goes with the Duke, too. I wish +I could manage to follow him in my carriage. I shall buy a brace of double- +barrelled pocket pistols on Monday. Hardinge showed me his. + +The Duke has made himself very obnoxious by declaring his resolution to +oppose Reform, which in fact, however, he did not do in such terms as has +been said. + +Hardinge told me there was a proposal to Palmerston and others in the +summer, and they at once started the difficulty of Reform, which put an end +to the negotiation. If I thought Reform would tranquillise the country I +should be quite satisfied with a change of Ministers which would produce +internal contentment, but that I do not expect. + +I shall take care to have records in the office to show the line I was +prepared to take on the East Indian Monopoly, and the steps already taken. +I shall likewise leave a memorandum upon the alterations I propose in the +army. + + +_November 7, Sunday._ + +All the morning occupied with a letter on the Salt question. At half-past +two rode to the Cabinet robin. The Cabinet was to meet at three. We did +not, however, all assemble till four, the Duke having been with Peel at the +Home Office. + +Before the Duke came we had all been talking of the Lord Mayor's Day, and +the manner in which we should go into the City and return, and the +precautions taken against riot. + +The Duke and Peel came together, and it was evident from the first words +the Duke spoke that he and Peel had made up their minds to put off the +King's visit to the City. The Chancellor seemed almost to take fire at the +idea of this, but the Duke very quietly begged him to hear the letters +before he decided. The Duke then read various letters he had received, all +warning him against going, as there was a plot to assassinate him, and +raise a tumult. One of them was from Pearson, a Radical attorney. There was +one from a coachmaker, saying he was satisfied, from what his men told him, +there was such a design, and offering to come with eighteen of his people +and guard the Duke. There was another offer, in a letter not read, to the +same effect. There was an examination of a man who serves a Radical +printer, and who formerly lived with Cobbett, which showed the intention to +exist of attacking the Duke. The impression seemed to be general that the +attempt would be made. There was a letter from the Lord Mayor elect +(Alderman Key) to the Duke, telling him there was an intention amongst +disaffected persons to excite tumult and confusion, and to attack him; that +he could not be in safety without a guard, and a strong one; and that if an +attack was made _in one quarter_ the civil force would not be sufficient. + +The Duke said he would not go. Peel, who had received many letters +informing him of the intention to assassinate him, said if he went he would +go privately, and come away privately. He observed that if our force, the +disposition of which was mentioned, and was admirable, succeeded in putting +down a riot along the line of the procession, he could not answer for the +security of life or property in other parts of the town. We had information +that the Duke's house would be attacked while he was in the City, and it +was to be feared that fires might take place to exercise terror and create +a diversion. + +The feeling in the Duke's mind was that we should not be justified in +giving an occasion for the shedding of blood, by means of a crowd of our +own making. The consequences of the collision would be incalculable, and +might affect all parts of England. + +The consequences of putting off the King's visit were not lost sight of; +the effect it would produce on the Funds, and on public confidence--all +that would be said against the Government as weighing down the King by its +unpopularity. + +The letter it was proposed to send was written, and the Duke and Peel went +with it to the King at a little before seven. + +While they were gone the feeling of the Cabinet underwent a change. Lord +Bathurst first observed that it would put an end to the Government, and +carry Reform. The Chancellor was most unwilling to postpone the King's +visit. It would be said we did it for our sakes only, and sacrificed him. +Lord Bathurst thought the King would take the advice, but be very angry, +and get rid of us. + +There would be a violent storm in Parliament, and the mobs would come to +our houses. All these feelings rested upon the supposition that the +procession could return without a tumult, but the letter had been written +on the supposition _that it could not_; which was the correct one. The Duke +and Peel came back and told us the King had thought the advice quite right, +and had behaved as well as possible. The tears were in his eyes while the +Lord Mayor's letter was read. He said he had already determined in his own +mind to bring the Duke and Peel back in his own carriage. The Duke thought +the King had rather expected the advice, and that his mind was relieved by +it. + +We knew the Queen was much alarmed; but it had been said that the King +would not hear of there being any danger. + +The account of the King's manner of receiving the advice seemed to +tranquillise those who had before been dissatisfied with the resolution +which had been come to. We then went to the Home Office, where we found +Alderman Thompson, Mr. Oldham (the Chairman of the Entertainment +Committee), Lord Hill, Lord F. Somerset, Sir W. Gordon, General Macdonald, +and Mr. Phillips. There were two City men I did not know. + +The Duke told them the course we had determined to adopt. Alderman Thompson +said he anticipated the decision--that it could not be announced in more +proper terms. There would be disappointment undoubtedly, but he thought +people in general would be satisfied with the reasons. He was almost in +tears, and indeed all were much affected--the _cause_ of the measure being +the apprehended danger to the Duke. + +Just as the letter was going off Alderman Thompson observed that although +he had no doubt the letter from the Lord Mayor elect was written by his +authority, as it was in a handwriting in which a letter had been received +from him by the Entertainment Committee, yet it was not in the Lord Mayor +elect's handwriting, nor was it dated or signed by him as the other letter +was. It was immediately determined that it must be ascertained whether the +Lord Mayor elect had authorised the sending of the letter before Peel's +letter to the Lord Mayor was delivered. + +Many began to think there was a hoax, and certainly the forgery of one +letter would have thrown suspicion upon all the rest. + +We were to meet at half-past ten. In going down at half-past ten I called +upon Hardinge, who was in his dressing-gown. His servant gone to bed. He +did not seem at all surprised. + +Went on to the Cabinet room. Found every word of the letter was in the +Lord Mayor elect's own handwriting. + +Mr. Phillips, Sir R. Binnie, and Col. Rowan came in, and Lord F. Somerset, +and Sir W. Gordon. The artillerymen and marines, of whom there were to have +been 500, with two guns, at the Obelisk, are not to be moved up. All the +other troops are to remain, and every precaution to be taken, as an attempt +to create disturbance may be expected on Tuesday. + +After we had disposed of this matter we spoke a little of Civil List and +Regency. Notice is to be given to-morrow of the two bills, _as if we were +still a Government_, but I now think nothing but general alarm can enable +us to weather the question of Reform. + + +_November 8._ + +The letter to the Lord Mayor is in the _Times_, and the measure is +temperately approved of. + +At the same time the result of the Conference on the affairs of Belgium is +announced--namely, the declaration that there must be an armistice. This +will, I trust, give more solid expectations of peace than men have +entertained since the King's Speech. The opening of the West India ports to +American ships is likewise announced. Both the measures are well-timed. + +Rode down to the Horse Guards. Overtaken by the Duke, who said he heard +that people were delighted with the measure of postponing the King's visit +to the City. However, whether they _would say so_ was another thing. He +spoke with much feeling of the King's kindness. He said he had behaved as +well as possible. + +Some boys hooted, but in general people took off their hats. + +Dodd, the coachmaker, told me the people in his neighbourhood were almost +all well-disposed. There were very few Radicals. Colonel Jones had told him +he could get very few people to attend his meetings, and none who were +respectable. + +Met Hardinge. He considers it to be the end of the Government. We met Lord +Hill, who lamented the measure, but concluded it was necessary. Went to the +office, where I saw Wortley. He thought it a sad business, and fatal to the +Government. He said London had been full of reports yesterday. Wynne was +talked of for the India Board. + +Hardinge's idea (as well as the reports) was that Leach would be +Chancellor, and Brougham Master of the Rolls. + +All the world was much amused by the Chancellor's giving a dinner to Lord +Grey, Brougham, Lord Lansdowne, and others. They themselves must have been +much amused, and the Chancellor's not getting to dinner till a quarter past +eight, and going away at a quarter-past ten, must have satisfied them that +something was in the wind. + +Desired Jones to make out the appointment of Leach's son to a clerkship +immediately, and signed it in the course of the evening. + +House at five. It was very full. Every Whig who is above ground and some +who are half under it were present. After an hour of talk about everything +but the only thing men were thinking of, the Duke of Richmond outed with it +in an offensive manner, and he is the last man who should have done so. The +Duke made his explanation very well. Lord Grey afterwards spoke in a very +bad temper, with personal civility, however, to the Duke. The Duke replied, +which prevented my speaking at all. Lord Grey had spoken 'of measures +tending to bring this country into the situation in which France was the +time of the late Revolution;' words which should have been taken up, but +the Duke's rising after him prevented it. + +Upon the whole I think the measure is considered right, and people are very +glad; indeed, the danger is no longer hanging over their heads. I hear that +in the Commons Peel did admirably, and that he was cheered by the whole +House when a Colonel Davies _sneered_ at the letter from the Lord Mayor to +the Duke. Brougham made as mischievous a speech as he could. + +The Chancellor gave notice of the Regency Bill for Friday. + +I do not think our friends see our danger, and they will never forgive us +if we go out of office without absolute necessity. + + +_November 9._ + +Looked into the Salt question in the morning. Cabinet at two. There was +last night a meeting at the Rotunda; about 2,000 people within, and 3,000 +or 4,000 without. About half-past ten they dispersed, and from 200 to 600 +ran down to Westminster, first going to the House, which was up, and then +to Downing Street. The police licked them well, and sent them off. They +came so quick that a man who headed them, and brought information to the +Home Office, where Peel and the Duke were, could not, by hard running, get +in advance above a minute, and they had passed the Horse Guards before the +Duke, who went there by the back way from the Home Office, had got into the +courtyard. He was going out at the door when the porter told him the mob +was passing. One man was taken, in whose pocket was found his will, leaving +his body to form a rampart against the troops, &c. + +It was determined to endeavour to induce the mob to disperse as soon as the +Rotunda was full, and then to read the Riot Act as soon as the law +justified it, and to disperse them by police. There will be common +constables there besides. Mr. Chambers will be there; and if he sends for +assistance to the Horse Guards, two bodies of fifty each, each headed by a +magistrate, will go over Westminster Bridge, one by Stamford Street, the +other by the Blackfriars Road, to the Rotunda. + +There will be about 300 or 400 new police there. I suggested to Chambers +the having a boat ready to take a note to the Horse Guards, as his +messenger might be impeded in the streets. Persons are flocking in from +Brixton and Deptford, and by the Kentish roads. + +Mr. Chambers represents the mob as very cowardly. + +There are two shorthand writers at the Rotunda. The speeches are not very +seditious. + +The _Times_ is turning against us, and I hear the Press is worse than it +was--none of the newspapers fighting our measure well. + +After the Duke was gone there was a little said about Reform. Many +defections announced--the Staffords, young Hope, Lord Talbot, the Clives +very unwilling to vote against it, thinking the public feeling so strong. I +suggested that neither the Duke nor Peel had gone further than to say that +no proposition had yet been made which seemed to them to be safe, and that +we might perhaps agree to a Committee to inquire into the state of the +Representation, and afterwards defeat the specific measures. Peel said he +thought the terms of the motion did not signify. It was 'Reform, or no +Reform!' He never would undertake the question of Reform. Lord Bathurst, of +course, was against me, and generally they were; but they had, before my +suggestion, said, 'Had we not better, then, consider what we shall do?' +Afterwards they said nothing. + +Peel and the Duke both think the measure generally approved, and Peel is +satisfied with the House of Commons. Goulburn, on the other hand, thinks +the general feeling is against us. + +House. Nothing said. There was a crowd at the door, and much hooting. I had +to drive my horse through it. While we were in the House the mob was +removed by the police. Not knowing this, Clanwilliam and I came home in the +Duke's carriage. There was no mob till we passed Bridge Street, where there +were a good many people who recognised the carriage, and followed it +hooting. They ran into Downing Street, and we passed on through the Horse +Guards. I was glad to find a Grenadier at the Duke's. Clanwilliam said he +had ten or twelve there. + +Altered the Bill respecting the fees of officers in the Superior Courts, +and sent it with a letter to Lawford, appointing eleven on Thursday for +seeing him at the office. + + +_November 10._ + +Office. Wrote a placard and showed it to Peel, who will have it printed. +The tide is turning. Carlisle began to abuse the Duke last night, and found +it would not do. Some cried out, 'He gained the Battle of Waterloo!' and +Carlisle was obliged to begin to praise him. He then tried to abuse the new +police, but that would not do, and he was obliged to praise them too. + +There was a good deal of rioting in different parts of the town. The City +Police was inefficient, and at Temple Bar rascals were masters for some +time. The new police, however, gave them a terrible licking opposite +Southampton Street, and not far from Northumberland House. They got licked, +too, in Piccadilly--and the whole was put down by the Civil Power. + +The military were so arranged that, had they been called for, they would +have enveloped the rioters. The thing may be considered as nearly put down, +and the Government strengthened by it. + +The Funds have risen to-day, and are as high as before the postponement of +the King's visit--indeed higher. So much for Lord Clanricarde's speech. + +Cabinet dinner at the Duke's. The King is anxious about the duration of his +Government. He would concede on the subject of Reform, although he is +against it. Peel told him he thought that by opposing all Reform in the +first instance the Government would be able to make better terms +afterwards. The King said either course had its conveniences and +inconveniences. He did not decide between them; but he evidently inclines +to concession. + +It seems the Queen _now_ declares herself much disappointed at not going to +Guildhall, and the Fitzclarence family are turning against the Government, +wishing, as the Duke says, to be Dukes and Duchesses, which is impossible. + +On Tuesday night 4,000 troops could have been collected in St. James's Park +in ten minutes. There were 2,000 police near Whitehall as a grand reserve. +The Lord Mayor wrote to Peel acknowledging the total inefficiency of the +City Police. The contrast between the City and Westminster was most +striking. + +The Press is turning against us. Like cats, they are leaving the falling +house. + +In the House of Commons this evening there was an almost unanimous shout +when Peel admitted that the new Bishop of Exeter was to hold the living of +Stanhope _in commendam_. It seems all unite upon that question, which is an +unlucky one, although the interference of Parliament is quite irregular. + +There was much talk about the Regency question after dinner, and I left +them talking still at half-past eleven. + +On Friday the Chancellor should open the question to the House, and we are +not prepared, having called Parliament together for this specific purpose! + +We have neglected the Press too much. The Duke relies upon the support of +'respectable people,' and despises the rabble; but the rabble read +newspapers, and gradually carry along with them the 'respectable people' +they outnumber. + +I do not think the being out of office for a Session would be of any +ultimate disadvantage to me. I am sure I should enjoy better health, and I +should have much more to do in the House. I should be enabled to regain my +proper place. + + +_November 11._ + +Office. Saw Wortley. He says the spirits of our friends are improved, and +those of our foes lowered, the few last days as to Reform. Cabinet at two. +A fire at Melton-Constable. The country round Battle and Hawkhurst almost +in insurrection. Troops sent there The accounts from France good. The +French Government acknowledges the right of the Diet to drive the Belgians +out of the Duchy of Luxembourg, which is a part of the German Empire. They +have instructed Talleyrand to promote the interests of the Prince of +Orange. + +Regency Bill. Decided that the Princess Victoria shall be considered Queen, +and the oath of allegiance taken to her with the reservation of the rights +of any child that might be born. If the child should be born, the Queen +Dowager to be Regent. During the Princess's minority the Duchess of Kent. + +The Duke saw the King to-day, and found him very well satisfied with the +postponement of the dinner, and tranquil. + +House. The Duke of Buckingham told me they had formed their Government, and +expected to be in in a week. They think the Duke will resign after Tuesday. +Lord Grey to be Foreign Secretary. The Duke of Richmond to be First Lord of +the Treasury. Palmerston and Grant Secretaries of State. Lansdowne +President. The Government to be as Tory as possible. The Chancellor to +remain. + +Lothian told me all the best old friends of the Government were against +Philpotts. I told him the reasons why Parliament should not interfere; with +which he was satisfied, and was sorry he had not heard them before. + +Lord Camden spoke to me on the same subject. I wish we could get rid of +Philpotts. He will damage us more than Reform. + +The Funds have risen to 84 3/4; that is, 7 1/2 per cent, in three days. I +believe this is the consequence, not only of the broken heads, but of the +idea that the Duke will be firm and not run away. + +We had a two hours' talk about agriculture; the Duke acquiescing in a +motion of Salisbury's for a Committee on the Poor Laws. + + +_November 12._ + +Wrote a note to Hardinge, suggesting to him the expediency of calling upon +Dr. Philpotts and placing before him the hopelessness of his keeping +Stanhope, the damage to himself of a vote of Parliament, and to the Church +from the example of Parliamentary interference, leading him to propose the +exchange of Stanhope for a living near Exeter, and I mentioned Dr. Barnes. +If this could be managed we should turn evil into good, and avoid the +division we must lose. The Funds rose to 853/4, and then fell to 84 3/4, +being still a rise. In the City they think the Government will stand. + +There have been threatening notices as near as Colnbrook. In Sussex and +Kent things are very bad. I did not, however, see Peel to-day. There was +nothing in the House. + + +_November 13._ + +It seems Peel and Scarlet licked Brougham well yesterday. The temper of the +House is said to have been rather good. Hardinge told me Goulburn made an +indifferent speech. Philpotts has so good a case that he looks confidently +to the result of the debate. We agreed that there was no reason-why the +_congé d'élire_ should not issue. Philpotts himself decides that it should, +happen what may as to Stanhope. + +We had some talk as to the division on the Civil List. Peel is for refusing +a Committee, and the separation of the diplomatic expenditure, and will not +yield because he is weak. I think he is right. The better face we put upon +it, the more votes we shall have. + +Hardinge suggested the placing of Doherty in Arbuthnot's office. Nothing +could be better than that arrangement; but he thought, and I think, the +Duke would not displace Arbuthnot. Arbuthnot knows more about my office +than any one else. Where would they put me? + +We had some conversation respecting the Regency. It was determined to +legislate as _little_ as we could. + + +_November 14._ + +Cabinet at four. Peel is of opinion that the fires are in many cases +perpetrated for stock-jobbing purposes. They are certainly done by persons +from London. + +He said he was satisfied that, whatever might be the division on Reform, +the question was carried. Admiral Sotheron, Lindsay, he thought [blank], +and I think he mentioned another, voted for it. If the county members did, +and it was thrown out by the representatives of Scotch and English +boroughs, it was impossible to stand much longer. He read a paper, +circulated for signatures in the parish of St. Ann, in which the +subscribers declare their readiness to be sworn in as special constables, +and their determination to protect property. At the same time they declare +their opinion that there ought to be a Reform, first in the House of +Commons; but of Church and State. This he considers the commencement of a +Burgher Guard. I cannot understand his reasoning; if he thinks Reform must +be carried, surely it is better to vote a general resolution, and to fight +the details. By objecting to the general resolution we shall probably be +turned out, and have much less power to do good out of office than if we +were in. + +It seems to me that obstinacy, and the fear of being again accused of +ratting, lead to this determination to resist when resistance is, in his +own opinion, fruitless. + +Clive, whom I saw to-day, is for a modified Reform; but he will vote for us +in order to keep the Duke in. + +We had a long conversation about the Regency, and agreed upon the substance +and form of the Bill. Aberdeen wanted again to open the whole question, on +which he has no fixed opinion. He has come round entirely. First he thought +the right was in the presumptive heir; now he thinks it must be in the +child _in utero_. + +It appears certain that at Carlisle the 9th was looked to as the day of +signal to them and to all England. It seems the plan was to attack the +Guildhall and massacre all in it. There would have been a smash, but a most +signal defeat, for there would have been 250 cavalry, and from 700 to 800 +Volunteers there (the East India Volunteers and the Artillery Company), +besides a battalion within reach. + +Sir Claudius Hunter has published in the _Sunday Times_ a denial of the +speeches attributed to him, and a statement of the City force. Their +ordinary force is fifty-four men! With Volunteers, Artillery Company, +Picket men, Firemen, Lumber Troop, &c., they would have had about 2,250. + + +_November 15._ + +House. A very temperate speech of Lord Durham, and a very good one of Lord +Suffield, respecting the new police. Lord Bathurst observed to me they +spoke as if they expected to come in. I mentioned Salisbury's motion for a +Committee which is to be made on Monday next, and Lord Bathurst said 'Shall +we be alive then?' He has a serious apprehension of being out. + +The Chancellor made a most excellent speech in moving the first reading of +the Regency Bill, and was cheered on both sides of the House. It seems as +if the measure would be unanimously approved. Lord Eldon seemed to say he +should advise the Duke of Cumberland to acquiesce in it. + +The ultra Tories were to have a meeting to-day--thirty-eight of them--to +decide what they should do about Reform. Yesterday the report was they +joined us; but the Duke of Richmond will do all he can to make them go +against us, and, if they do, I suppose we shall be obliged to make our +bows. + + +_November 16._ + +Goulburn opposed the submitting the Civil List accounts to a Committee, and +was defeated. We had 204 to 233. Majority against us, 29. Hobhouse asked +Peel whether Ministers would resign, to which he got no answer. Brougham +rose and said Ministers would have time for consideration. + +I suppose this division must be considered to be fatal to us. Henry is +going off to take chambers. He means to apply himself to the Law. He is +rather in a hurry. For my own part I am by no means sorry to be out of +office. I think I shall be better able to regain my proper station in +Opposition than I could have done in office, and the emoluments are of no +value to me now. + +Office. Saw Wortley. He is glad that the division against us has been upon +the Civil List, rather than upon Reform. He thinks we should resign to-day, +and thus throw upon the Whigs the burden of bringing forward Reform as a +Government measure. Probably Brougham would postpone his motion if we +resigned. + +At about half-past three I received a note from Sir Robert Taylor desiring +my immediate attendance at St. James's. I dressed and went, and in a few +moments was admitted to the King. I met Lord Melville coming away. The King +desired me to sit down, and asked me whether I had any expectation of the +division of last night? I said no--I thought that upon any question +connected with the Civil List we should have had a majority; that the +question itself was one of little importance; but, as the Committee had not +been granted before, Sir R. Peel thought it would be a confession of +weakness not to oppose it now, and I thought he was right. The King said it +was probably chosen as a question merely to try strength. + +The King asked me what had taken place between the Government and the +Company. I told his Majesty, and added an outline of the plan I had for the +new military arrangements, of which he seemed highly to approve. I then +said I supposed I must take leave of his Majesty. He said in one sense his +Ministers seemed to think they could not go on. + +I said I could not but express my sentiments, which were I was sure those +of all my colleagues--the sentiments of deep gratitude to his Majesty for +the constant kind and honourable confidence he had placed in us. + +His Majesty said he thought it his duty to give the full support of the +Crown to his Ministers. He had confidence in those he found at his +brother's demise; and since July 26, which was the commencement of our +troubles, he had regarded with admiration that which was most important in +their conduct, their Foreign Policy. He had a feeling of entire +satisfaction with them. + +I said it must likewise be satisfactory to his Majesty to feel that his +late Ministers, fully aware of the real difficulties of the country, would +never be led by any personal or party feelings to do anything which could +be _prejudicial_ to the country, and that whatever might be their +differences in principle from his new Ministers they would ever support his +Majesty's interests. + +The King was much affected, and had the tears in his eyes all the time I +was speaking to him. I then rose and kissed his hand, and he shook hands +with me, and wished me good-bye for the present. I asked for the _entrée_, +which he gave me very good-naturedly. As I came away I met Rosslyn going +in. The three Fitzclarences were in the lower room, seemingly enjoying our +discomfiture. + +House at five. The Duke had already declared that the occurrence which had +taken place elsewhere had induced him to think it his duty to tender his +resignation to the King, and his Majesty had been graciously pleased to +accept it. + +Lord Grosvenor asked a question as to the appointment of a successor to Mr. +Buller, and Lord Bathurst said none had been made. + +It is a sad loss to Wm. Bathurst, who would have been Clerk of the Council +if the Government had lasted three days longer. + +Nothing was said. Lord Grey has been sent for by the King. + +I went through all the protocols on the table, and have left hardly +anything but two unanswered letters to my successor--one respecting the +rate of Exchange between territory and commerce; the other respecting +Hyderabad affairs. + + +_November 19._ + +Office. Saw Cabell, Jones, and Leach. They had all the tears in their eyes. +Old Jones could hardly help bursting altogether into tears. Left directions +with Leach for placing certain papers before my successor, showing the +state of the finances and expenditure prospectively, and the position in +which we were as to the renewal of the Charter. + +Cabell will place the Hyderabad papers before my successor, with my letter +to Astell, and his reply. + +Called on Hardinge, who was not at home. + +I can only leave a memorandum in the office showing the nature and extent +of the military alterations I projected. + +Called on the Duke. He told me Peel came to him in a very nervous state on +Monday night. Arbuthnot and Goulburn were with him. It was clear that the +majority would have been against us if there had been a House of 500. The +Duke sent for the Chancellor, who said as soon as he heard of the division +he thought the game was up--that we could not go on. The Duke went to the +King in the morning, and told him it was better he should resign +immediately, and so force the new Government to bring forward their measure +of Reform. It was better for the country. The King asked the Duke's opinion +of Lord Grey, and whether he had ever had any communication with him. The +Duke said No. The King knew the personal objections the late King had to +Lord Grey, and he could not, although often pressed by Lord Grey's friends, +have any communication with him without either deceiving _him_ or deceiving +the King; and he would not do either. The King asked what sort of a man +Lord Grey was? The Duke said he really did not know. He had the reputation +of being an ill-tempered, violent man; but he knew very little of him. He +had never had any political conversation with him. The King was much +agitated and distressed. + +I told the Duke what passed at my interview with his Majesty yesterday. + +Drummond, Greville, and Sir J. Shelley, whom I saw in the ante-room, +congratulated me on being out, but condoled on Lord Durham's being removed +out of my way. He goes Minister to Naples _vice_ Lord Burghersh, +_dismissed_. It is understood Brougham will not _positively_ take my +office. + +Levée. The Duke of Buckingham told me the King was much out of spirits. He +expressed himself much pleased with his Ministers. + +The King desired Lord Camden to come and see him frequently--every three or +four days. + +The Duke of Newcastle, Lord Falmouth, Sir E. Knatchbull, Sir R. Vyvyan, +will not support the new Government. Having had their revenge they mean to +put their knees in our backs and do all they can to get out the others. +They are sorry for the work they have performed, and regret their vote. +They had intended to stay away on the question of Reform--now they mean to +vote against it. + +Lord Anglesey goes to Ireland; a very bad appointment. The Duke of +Devonshire would have been a very unexceptionable one. + +None of the Whigs or Whig Radicals were at the levée, but a good many +Tories. We were there as usual as Ministers, and those who had business +with the King went in to him as usual. + +I proposed to Herries, Goulburn, Arbuthnot, and others, that we should in +each department prepare a statement of what has been done since the Duke +came into office. This we shall do to-morrow. + +I likewise proposed we should have a large sheet of paper with columns for +the new Ministers, and in each column their pledges with the dates. + +Croker has promised to undertake a newspaper, probably the 'Star.' + +Arbuthnot told us before dinner that as yet no progress had been made by +Lord Grey, except in getting Lord Althorp after much solicitation. Brougham +has again in the House of Commons to-night declared he has nothing to do +with the new Government, and will positively bring on his motion on the +25th. The new Government wish to postpone the question till March, when +they promise to bring in a Bill. + +Lord Lansdowne is said to be much dissatisfied, and the Palmerston party +think they have not enough offered to them. It is evident that Brougham +prefers power to temporary emolument and distinction, and he will be very +dangerous acting at the head of the Whig Radicals. + +The Duke said 300 people had called upon him to-day--amongst the rest Lord +Cleveland, with whom Lord Grey was early this morning, and whom he in vain +endeavoured to induce to go to Ireland. + +William Bankes, whose father did us most mischief on Monday, and who did +not vote with us, came to ask the Chancellor for a living to-day! + +Lord Grey was much agitated when he was with the King, and has expressed +himself as very much struck by the strong terms in which the King declared +his approbation of his late Ministers. + +My fear is that the Whigs will not be able to form a Government. It is of +much importance to the country that their incompetence should be exhibited, +and the fallacy of the grounds upon which they have been attempting to +obtain popular favour. We shall never be strong until it is proved they +cannot form a Government. Again I say my fear is they will be unable to +take the first step. It was considered that we ought to transact all the +ordinary business of our several departments. + + +_November 18._ + +Called on Hardinge. He is out of spirits. Yesterday at the meeting of the +_employés_ Lord G. Somerset asked Peel if he would lead them--to which Peel +gave a damping answer. Hardinge feels that he is capable of business, that +his circumstances require he should exert himself and be in office; and, as +he would not take office without the Duke's acquiescence, he thinks it +rather hard he should be deprived of a Parliamentary leader, and thus of +the means of coming in. + +I told him Peel would be in Opposition in a fortnight, as soon as he +recovered his health and his spirits. There has been a report that the Duke +had declared he would not take office again--which is untrue. + +Office. Saw Jones. Received a letter from the Chairs asking whether I had +given Sir J. P. Grant authority to appeal to my sanction for his remaining +in India, notwithstanding the Order in Council for his return. My answer is +_No_. I add that I imagine the misapprehension arose out of some private +communications from Sir J. P. Grant's friends, of the purport of a +conversation with me which must have been inaccurately reported to him. I +showed my draft reply to Lord Rosslyn, and begged him to show it to Grant's +son. + +The report Hardinge gave me was that Lord Wellesley was to succeed me. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Political Diary 1828-1830, Volume II +by Edward Law (Lord Ellenborough) + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10693 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Political Diary 1828-1830, Volume II + +Author: Edward Law (Lord Ellenborough) + +Release Date: January 12, 2004 [EBook #10693] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A POLITICAL DIARY *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Keren Vergon, Robert Fite and PG +Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + + + + + +LORD ELLENBOROUGH'S DIARY + +1828-1830 + +VOL. II. + + + A POLITICAL DIARY + 1828-1830 + BY EDWARD LAW + LORD ELLENBOROUGH + + EDITED BY LORD COLCHESTER + +[Illustration: fide et fiducia] + + IN TWO VOLUMES + VOL. II. + + LONDON + RICHARD BENTLEY & SON, NEW BURLINGTON STREET + Publishers in Ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen + 1881 + + + + +DIARY + + +_April 1, 1829._ + +The Duke of Wellington wrote to the King to ask if he had any objection to +raising the galleries. He had none. So we sent for Sir T. Tyrwhit, and had +him at the Cabinet dinner to ask him whether he could fix the galleries by +four to-morrow. He said _No_. So we must do as we can. + +Forty foreigners applied for seats to-day after four o'clock. + +In the House I made the second reading of the Bills an order of the day at +the desire of Lord Malmesbury and Lord Grey. It is more formal so, but the +second reading might have been equally well moved without it. + +Lord Grey said a few words on presenting a petition expressing a hope to be +convinced on the subject of the Franchise Bill, but laying ground for +voting against it. Lord Malmesbury likewise expressed himself against it. +We shall be hard pushed on this Bill. The Duke says we have 122 sure votes +and no more upon it. + +The Bishop of Chester read prayers, his wife having died about ten days +ago. Really some one of the other Bishops might have relieved him. + +Lord Shaftesbury, in the absence of the Chancellor, sat as Speaker. I moved +the bills _pro formâ_ for him. + +At the Cabinet dinner at Peel's, Peel said the Bishop of Oxford was ready +to speak at any time, and wished to follow a violent bishop. He may easily +find one. + +We had much talk about our approaching debates. Peel, after the Duke was +gone, regretted his having taken the line of expressing his anxiety to +relieve himself from the obloquy cast upon him, and his having put that +desire forward as his reason for pressing the second reading of the Bill on +Thursday. The Duke having said so, we could not back him out. We might +avoid taking the same ground, but we could not alter it. + +Aberdeen mentioned the case of the Candian blockade. I am sorry to see he +does not communicate beforehand now with the Duke. He never looks forward +to the ultimate consequences of his measures. Now he talks of convoying +English ships to Candia, and telling them they may go there safely, and if +stopped shall be indemnified. But if the English ship finds a Russian off +Candia, and is warned off, yet persists, under the expectation of +indemnity, we should be obliged to pay the indemnity. The Russians, having +given warning, would be justified in taking the vessel. + +So if we give convoy, and the convoy ship persists, we should come to +blows. All these things should be foreseen. Aberdeen thinks Lièven is +ignorant of Heyden's having had any orders. He excuses him as having acted +in the spirit of the treaty, to _avoid the effusion_ of blood! + +One thing is clear; we cannot permit Russia, as a belligerent, to defeat +the objects of the Treaty of London, and yet act with her under that +treaty. + + +_April 2._ + +Second reading Catholic Relief Bill. The Duke made a very bad speech. The +Archbishop of Canterbury drivelled. The Primate of Ireland made a strong +speech, his manner admirable. Both these against. The Bishop of Oxford had +placed himself at our disposal to be used when wanted. We put him into the +debate here, wanting him very much. The first part of his speech was very +indifferent, the latter excellent. Lord Lansdowne spoke better than he has +done for some time, indeed for two years. The Bishop of London against us; +but he made a speech more useful than ten votes, in admirable taste, +looking to the measure as one to be certainly accomplished, &c. The Duke of +Richmond spoke very shortly, but better than he has ever done, in reply. We +adjourned at 1. + +229 members in the House. Room for thirty more; the House not oppressively +hot; numbers of women. The tone of the debate temperate. + + +_April 3._ + +A speech from the Bishop of Durham, full of fallacies and extravagant, but +having its effect. + +The Chancellor spoke admirably, endeavouring to bring up Eldon, but the old +man would not move. He wanted more time to consider his answer, by which he +will not improve it. + +A speech from Goderich, very animated in his way, and very heavy. The House +did not cheer him once. He pressed himself upon it with bad taste. He spoke +upon all the collateral and unimportant points. He swung his arm about like +a boy throwing a stone from a sling. + +Lord Mansfield spoke, sleepily and ill-naturedly. I was exhausted, and +could not have answered him, had he said anything worth answering. + +We adjourned at two till one to-morrow. + + +_April 4._ + +House at 1. A long absurd speech from Lord Guildford, which must have given +much pain to Lady Ch. Lindsay, who sat under the throne, and who must have +been much annoyed at seeing to what her family had fallen. We had then Lord +Lilford, who rested too much on his notes, but who has a good manner. He +drew his points well, and spoke like a man, not like a boy. + +Lord Tenterden was not powerful. Lord Grey spoke better than he has done +since 1827. He made a speech too long, and indeed the last half-hour was of +no use. He beat the brains out of the Coronation Oath, as an obstacle to +Catholic Concession, and read a curious letter of Lord Yestor to Lord +Tweddale, dated April, 1689, before William III. took the Coronation Oath, +in which Lord Tester mentions that it was understood that the king had in +council declared his understanding of the sense of the Coronation Oath-- +that it bound him in his executive capacity, not in his legislative. Lord +Westmoreland made an odd, entertaining from its manner, and really very +good speech. He supported the Bill. + +Lord Eldon, who, after an ineffectual attempt on the part of Lord Redesdale +to speak, followed Lord Grey, made a very weak, inefficient, powerless +speech. He seemed beaten, and in some respects his memory had failed him. + +Lord Plunket drew, with great power, a picture of the state of society in +Ireland as affected by the laws. The whole of his speech was powerful. + +His speech and Lord Grey's were excellent. + +After a few sentences from Lord Farnham we divided. + + Present for 149 + Against 79 + ---- + Majority 68 + Proxies for 70 + Against 33 + ---- + Total Content 217 + Not Content 112 + ---- + Majority 105 + +This will quiet Windsor. The King was to have received a number of +petitions to be presented by peers to-day. The Primate of Ireland was to +have gone, and the Irish Bishops. The latter went. If they had not gone, +the King would have made some excuse for not receiving them. + +The majority must put an end to all agitation in England, and tranquillise +Ireland. Indeed as regards this question Ireland is tranquil. The conduct +of the Catholics has been as excellent as that of the Protestants. Hitherto +the announcement of the measure has produced effects beyond what was +anticipated from its adoption. + +The Duke of Rutland, who was not expected, and indeed every doubtful vote +was with us. + +The Protestants are subdued. + +Lord Grey's speech, but still more Lord Plunket's, will have a greater +effect upon the public mind, than any which have yet been delivered. + +Really it seems like a dream! That I should, if I lived, live to see this I +did expect; but that I should see it so soon, and that I should happen to +be a member of the Government that carried it, I did not expect. I must say +with what delight I view the prospect of having Catholics in Parliament. I +am sure it will do more for the happiness of Ireland, and for the strength +of the Empire, than any measure that could have been adopted. + + +_April 5. _ + +Dined with Lady Sandwich and met the Arbuthnots, with whom I had a long +talk. She told me the Duke wanted to bring in Lord Chandos, by way of +conciliating the Tories. She thought Lord Rosslyn ought to have the Privy +Seal, and that, considering their late conduct, the Whigs should be +preferred to the Tories, whom we should have at any rate. That it was +enough not to punish them by depriving them of their offices. + +In all this I agree. I think if the Duke should go to the Tories and turn +his back upon the Whigs after what has taken place, he will make Opposition +very acrimonious, and our debates very disagreeable. + +I told her if the Privy Seal was to be a Tory, I thought the Duke of +Richmond the best. He is the most popular man in the House of Lords, and a +good debater. The Duke and Lord Bathurst say he is cunning; but as far as I +can judge he acts fairly. + + +_April 6._ + +House. Second reading Franchise Bill. Opposed by the Duke of Richmond, Lord +Malmesbury, Winchelsea, and Clanricarde. Lord Holland spoke in favour of +the Bill as connected with the Relief Bill. The Whigs voted with us. Dudley +spoke in favour, just to separate himself from the Canningites, for whom +Haddington spoke, more reluctant than the Whigs. + +Lord Winchelsea was very mad, wished to expel the bishops, to prevent +translations, equalise their sees, &c. We had 139 to 19. The minority +were--Dukes: Cumberland, Gloucester, Brandon, Richmond, Newcastle; +Marquises--Salisbury, Clanrickarde; Earls--Winchelsea Malmesbury, O'Neil; +Lords--Falmouth, Penrhyn, Boston, Grantley, Glenlyon; Earl Digby, Earl +Romney. + +The Duke goes to Windsor on Saturday to get the King to consent to give the +Royal assent on Thursday, the day before Good Friday. The Duke of +Cumberland has been mischievous at Windsor. The King fancies he is in the +situation of Louis XVI. That he shall run down by Liberalism. The Duke of +Cumberland swears he will turn us out, let who will be Ministers. + + +_April 7._ + +Lord Eldon and others opened afresh the question as to the principle of the +Bill on the first clause. We divided with more than 2 to 1. + +The Bishops and Lord Eldon got into a theological discussion. + +The Chancellor made a strong attack upon Lord Eldon, who really spoke very +childishly. + +We had as many women as ever, but a new set, and some of the prettiest +girls in London--Miss Bagot, Miss Sheridan, and others. + +At Windsor, last Sunday, the Duke of Cumberland spoke very warmly indeed to +Aberdeen about the Duke of Wellington. He said he had sat by us as our +friend, till the King's Ministers joined in the _hoot_ against him. (This +was particularly Lord Bathurst, who shook his head at him and cheered +offensively.) He seems in speaking of the Duke of Wellington to have used +terms hardly to be expected. + +He told the Chancellor to-day that he should, before the Bill passed, +declare he never could again feel confidence in His Majesty's Ministers; +that the country was ruined; and that he should leave it and never return. + +The Chancellor told him he advised him not to make the last promise. I hope +he will make it and keep it. + +I observed him afterwards address the Chancellor very warmly, after he had +attacked Eldon. + +A man of the name of Halcomb has advertised for a meeting on Friday, on the +road to Windsor, to carry petitions to the King. + +April 8. + +Committee on Relief Bill. No division. Several amendments. Those of Lord +Tenterden very silly. + +I said a very few words twice. + +The third reading is fixed for Friday. When the Duke of Cumberland heard +the third reading fixed he left the House like a disappointed fiend. He did +not take his hat off till he had got half-way down. + +Lord Eldon seems quite beaten. + + +_April 9._ + +Lord Eldon went to Windsor to-day with petitions. Yesterday Lord Howe and +three others went. I believe these peers have been: Duke of Newcastle, +Kenyon, Rolle, Howe, O'Neil, Bexley, Winchelsea, Farnham, and six bishops. + +Cabinet at 2. A meeting is advertised for to-morrow, to take place at +Apsley House. Then to proceed to Slough or Salt Hill, or to Eton, to +deliver there a petition to the Duke of Cumberland, who is then to present +it to the King, and the people are to wait for an answer. + +The Duke has written to the King, acquainting him with the plan, and +advising His Majesty to refuse to receive the petition except through the +hands of Mr. Peel. + +Peel is going down to Windsor himself. The Duke writes to-night to tell the +King he is going, and to repeat his advice of this morning as coming from +the Cabinet. + +If the King will not take Peel's advice we go out. + +The Duke thinks the King will yield, and that the meeting will be a +failure. So have I thought from the first. There is no agitation in London. +No feeling, no excitement. The King will know Peel is coming in time to be +able to inform the Duke of Cumberland, and prevent his setting out. + +In the House about nine the Duke received a letter from Sir W. Knighton, +informing him that he had _no doubt_ the King would take his advice +respecting the petitions. Eldon was there, and probably saw the letter. + +House. Got through the report of the Franchise Bill. Third reading fixed +for to-morrow. I had to say a few words. + + +_April 11, 1829._ + +House. A long speech from Lord Eldon, containing no argument, and both flat +and bad. + +Then a speech from Lord Harrowby, long and sensible; but heavily delivered +and not wanted. A long speech from Lord Lansdowne, still less wanted, and +very dull. + +The Duke was obliged to say something civil to the Whigs, but he did it +sparingly, and _contre coeur_. + +We had a majority of 104. The Franchise Bill was likewise read a third +time. + +The mutual congratulations were cordial. The House is in good humour again. +All are glad to get rid of the question. The Duke of Cumberland, Falmouth, +and Winchelsea, perhaps Kenyon, are lost to the Government, but no others. + +Lord Middleton voted with us, having been against on the second reading. +The Duke of Rutland against, having been with us before. + +The Duke of Clarence was absent, being ill. He had fourteen leeches on his +temples. + +The House was full of ladies. Mrs. Fox, Lady Jersey, Lady Pitt and her +daughters, Lady A. Brudenell, Lady Harrowby, Lady G. Wortley, Lord Eldon's +daughters, Lady Glengall, Mrs. and Miss Sheridan, the old Duchess of +Richmond, Lady Manners, Lady Rolle, Lady Haddington, and many others. + +The intended row failed altogether. Only four carriages went down to +Windsor. Halcomb and his two friends saw an equerry. They were told their +petition must be presented through the Secretary of State, and went away +quietly. + +The Duke of Cumberland said he must withdraw his support from the +Government; but he was temperate. In fact he was beaten. + +The Duke of Norfolk was in the House, as happy as man could be. + + +_April 11._ + +Dr. Clarke and H. Fane both spoke of the Chancellor's speech in attack upon +Eldon, as in bad taste and offensive. I shall endeavour to ascertain +whether this is the general opinion. Not having heard Eldon, they cannot +know how very mischievous and disingenuous he was. + + +_April 12._ + +Met the Lievens, Lyndhursts, Sir J. Murray, and others at dinner, at the +Esterhazy's. The King has not yet sent back the commission to pass the +Catholic Bill. + +The Lievens are more shy of me than ever. + +Lord Bathurst seemed to be much pleased with my idea of carrying on the +Government of India in the King's name. He said it should be under a +Secretary of State for India. + +The Chancellor approved highly of my notion of suggesting Herries for the +Government of Bombay, if the directors will not have Courtney. He is +useless to us, and a discredit. Besides, we want his place. + +Had some talk with Vernon at Lady Jersey's. He has the Canning venom about +him still, and said we should still regret having lost Huskisson, &c. + +I said NEVER. He was an able man, but he would never do as a member of a +Cabinet in which he was not chief. The Government would not have lived if +he had continued in. I told him I had become satisfied from my short +experience that a coalition Government could not conduct the affairs of the +country with advantage--especially where the difference was [blank]. + +The Duke of Cumberland is gone to Windsor. If the commission should not +arrive to-night I dare say the Duke of Wellington will go to Windsor early +to-morrow. + +Lady Jersey was very loud in her dispraise of the Duke of Richmond. Every +one who knows him says he is very cunning. There is a mixture of good and +bad taste about him. He is popular, and he would make a good man of +business. + + +_April 13, 1829, Monday._ + +Chairs at 11. Informed them of Sir Sidney Beckwith's appointment to the +command at Bombay. + +Told them my general idea was that it was necessary to fix a Lieutenant- +Governor at Agra. I showed them it could be done without expense. Sir +Charles Metcalfe should be the person appointed, with precise instructions +obliging him to a system of non-interference in the internal concerns of +the Malwa and Rajpoot States. Sir J. Malcolm would have interposed. + +The treaties with the Rajpoot States generally secure their internal +independence. Those with the States of Malwa give us the right, and impose +upon us the duty of supervision. It requires, therefore, a most delicate +hand to bring the whole into one system animated by one spirit. + +I said incidentally to-day, 'I will not sit here to sacrifice India to +England,' a sentiment which escaped me, but which I feel to be correct, not +only socially but politically. + +Ashley came and bored me about a petition of some Hindoos and Mahometans in +Calcutta, who wish to be grand jurors. I told him I could not proceed +hastily in any matter of legislation, and that this was one of much +delicacy. I should speak to Fergusson. + +A Cabinet had been fixed for 3. I concluded it was on account of a delay on +the King's part in giving the Royal assent to the Relief Bill. The Cabinet +was counter-ordered, the Commission having arrived at two. + +The Chancellor had sent a note to the King with the Bills, calling his +attention to them. The King, on sending them back with the Commission +signed, thanked the Chancellor for having called his attention to the +Bills, and said he gave his assent reluctantly. + +The Chancellor had sent a note last night to Watson, the Equerry, desiring +him to remind the King of the Commission. + +So at a few minutes before four to-day the Chancellor, Lord Bathurst, and I +sat as Commissioners to give the Royal assent to the Relief Bill, and about +thirty-nine others. So many had been kept back to force an early decision. +The Indemnity Bill was one of the Bills, and the Militia Lists Bill +another. There were thirteen peers in the House, and seven or eight more +about. Lord Savoy, his son, young Lambton, Lady Petres, and her daughters, +Mrs. Fox, and some other ladies were there--Lady Stanhope. The old Duchess +of Richmond came too late. + +I observed that in passing each other very close the Duke of Wellington and +the Duke of Cumberland took no notice of each other. + +Lord Durham said to me, 'Now the King will turn you all out in revenge as +soon as he can,' to which I assented. He certainly will when he dares. + +The Duke of Norfolk and Mr. Petres were in the House, giving and receiving +congratulations. All parties congratulate the Duke. Falmouth alone still +looks sad and sombre. The Duke of Wellington has a bad cold. He was very +hoarse, and wrapped himself in his cloak as soon as he had done speaking. + + +_April 14._ + +Saw Mr. Fergusson respecting a petition from Hindoos and Mahometans at +Calcutta, praying to be allowed to sit on grand juries. He thinks they +should--as they are allowed to sit on petty juries. If the matter had been +well considered, the privilege they now ask should have been granted before +that they have obtained. + +Mr. Fergusson is, however, rather afraid of allowing them to sit on the +trial of Christians. + +By the newspapers I see that there has been a quarrel at Teheran, between +some of the Russian Ambassador's suite and the populace, which led to an +attack upon the Russian palace, and to the death of the Ambassador and all +his people except two. This is an unfortunate event, as it will give the +Russians a new claim to indemnity, which they will exercise inexorably. +Probably they will insist on the junction of Persia in the attack on +Turkey, as the only satisfaction they can accept. + +It is just possible that the example once given, and the people despairing +of pardon, a rising against the Russians may take place, and something of a +national feeling arise in Persia. But I fear this will not be the case. I +suppose our Minister was at Tabriz. + + +_April 15._ + +The Duke was at Windsor to-day to ask the King's permission to restore the +resigners. The King said he thought the Duke could not do better. He just +mentioned Wetherell's name as if he thought he was to be excepted from the +restoration, but desired to be _certior-factus_. + +The King was cold. The Duke had to wait twenty minutes, the Duke of +Cumberland being with the King. However, I believe this delay may only have +originated in a necessary change of dress on His Majesty's part, as he was +sitting for his picture _in a Highland dress_. The Duke saw a large plaid +bonnet in the room, and he believes the King had still on plaid stockings. +The business of the restoration was finished in ten minutes, when the +conversation flagged, and the Duke was rising to go away. + +However, something more was then said, and the interview in all lasted +twenty minutes. The King said he was delighted with Lord Winchelsea. He was +so gentlemanlike, and spoke _in so low a tone of voice!_ He likewise +thought Lord Farnham very gentlemanlike, and Lord Rolle more violent than +any. + +The Duke had to wait twenty minutes before he could see Lady Conyngham. +They seemed to wish him not to see her. However, he did. She said all would +have been quiet if the Duke of Cumberland had not come over, and all would +be quiet when he went away. The King seemed relieved since the Bill was +passed. + +On his return the Duke sent for George Bankes and offered him his place +again. Bankes asked two or three days to consider. The Duke gave him till +to-morrow. + +It seems he has now a notion that he owed his place not to the Duke but to +some other influence. I think this has been insinuated to him since his +resignation. The fact is otherwise. The King had mentioned Bankes for other +situations, but not for the one he holds. On my return home I found Bankes +had called upon me. + +After dinner we considered whether the prosecution of Lawless for his +conduct at Ballybeg should be persevered in. + +Goulbourn, Peel, Lord Bathurst, Sir G. Murray, and I were for dropping it. +I think the Chancellor inclined the same way. The Duke and the rest, +Aberdeen being absent, were for going on. + +I thought no benefit would be derived from success. Even success would +revive feelings and recollections which are dying away, and which we wish +to be forgotten. If we decline proceeding we can say we did so from the +fear of exciting dormant passions. If we proceed, we shall have no excuse +should we revive the memory of bad times. + +Reference is to be made to Ireland to ascertain the feeling about it there. + +Bankes came at twelve o'clock. He told me he had been with the Duke, and +had received from him the offer of his old office. He had asked permission +to consult one person, whose name he did not mention to the Duke,--it was +the Duke of Cumberland. He had called at the Palace and found the Duke of +Cumberland was at Windsor. He wanted to write to him to ask if he had any +objection to his taking the office again. + +Bankes said he had attended none of the meetings at Lord Chandos's. He had +avoided as much as he could all communication with the Duke of Cumberland. +He had fully determined not to take a part with any new Government which +might be formed, unless it should clearly appear the King had been unfairly +dealt by, or unless there should be an attempt to make peers to carry the +Bill. The Duke of Cumberland had always said that he made him his first +object, and he had reason to think that he had mentioned him to the King, +and had been instrumental in his appointment. The Duke of Cumberland had +desired him to come to him (during the Bill), and had apparently intended +to name some particular office for him, but seeing his coldness had only +sounded him, and had received the answer I have mentioned above. + +The Duke of Cumberland had told him it was an understood thing that all +were to be restored, and that he saw no reason why he should not take his +office again. + +_This was ten days ago._ + +I told him I advised, if he thought it necessary to write to the Duke of +Cumberland at all, that he should merely state his intention to take his +office back again, refer to his conversation with the Duke himself upon the +point, and add _distinctly_ that, taking office, he could no longer have +any communication on political matters with a person who had declared his +hostility to the Government. + +I advised him to send off his own servant on a post-horse at six o'clock +to-morrow morning, with a letter to the effect I have stated to the Duke of +Cumberland, and whether he received an answer or not, to go to the Duke of +Wellington and accept at 12. + +I advised him to tell the Duke the whole state of the case, and all he had +done. + +The Duke of Wellington did not seem by any means well to-day. He was +blooded yesterday. + + +_April 16._ + +Cabinet at 3. It seems Bankes called on the Duke this morning, but he was +engaged. I told him all that passed between Bankes and me last night. If +Bankes should go out the Duke means to offer his place to Sir J. Graham. + +We met upon foreign affairs. Aberdeen read his instructions to Gordon, who +goes to Constantinople. They are unobjectionable. + +We then considered what was to be done in consequence of this second +violation of their word on the part of the Russians in blockading Candia. + +Count Heyden has written two letters to Sir Pulteney Malcolm. In the first +he justifies the blockade of Candia on the ground of its being necessary to +protect the Morea from the Pacha of Egypt; in the second he rests it on the +necessity of blockading the two extremities of Candia for the purpose of +watching Constantinople. + +We cannot permit the Russians to make fools of us in this way--to promise +one thing as parties to the Treaty of London, and to do another as +belligerents. + +After the Cabinet I asked the Duke whether he still wished me to press +Courtney upon the Directors. He said, Yes, he very much wanted his place. I +said it had occurred to me that _Herries_ might take the Governorship of +Bombay. It did not seem to have occurred to him. He said he thought Herries +would not go; but he evidently thought it would be a very good thing if he +would. + +The Duke said he wanted to have the places of Courtney and Sir G. Hill, and +to bring in Lord Chandos and M. Fitzgerald. We mentioned Ashley. I +suggested Ashley's going to the Treasury, and Sir J. Graham taking his +place. This would, I dare say, be done, if we could get the place at the +Treasury. + +I have not as yet heard a surmise as to the new Lord Privy Seal. + +Lord O'Neil has signed the Duke of Richmond's protest against the Franchise +Bill. It is very hostile to the Government, and Lord O'Neil will probably +be put out. + +The Duke of Richmond has been very imprudent. Had he taken a moderate line +he probably might have been Privy Seal. His time is now gone by. + + +_April 17._ + +Went by appointment to see Lady Jersey. Found there Duncannon and Lord +Sefton. Duncannon talked big about O'Connell's power, and in the same sense +in which he talked to Fitzgerald, wishing to induce the Government to let +him take his seat. I said we could not. It depended not on us, but upon the +law. + +Lady Sefton came in afterwards for a few minutes, and Lord Rosslyn. Lady +Jersey talked a great deal about the restoration, and feared the Whigs +would imagine they were never to come in, and would form a violent +opposition. She mentioned Mr. Stanley as being much annoyed, he having made +a laudatory speech in favour of Peel. + +I told her it would have been very harsh to have eliminated those who had +taken office under the idea that the Government was rather against than for +the Catholics, certainly _neutral_, and that it was a little unreasonable +to expect others to be turned out to make way for new friends. + + +_April 18._ + +The Duke thinks he could not offer the Privy Seal to Lord Grey, but he +would be conciliated by having a friend--that is, Rosslyn--in. If we could +get Lord Beresford out, Lord Rosslyn would go to the Ordnance. + +The Duke says the King would make it a point of honour to resist the +introduction of Lord Grey, though in reality he was in communication with +Lord Grey in 1820-21, after the Queen's trial, and then intended to bring +him in and to turn out the then Ministers for the Milan Commission, he +having been himself at the bottom of that Commission. The Duke, the only +member of the Cabinet who was not mixed up with the Milan Commission, +induced the King to give up his idea of making a change. + +Bankes received a letter from the Duke of Cumberland, very long, and +against his acceptance of office; but he begged Bankes to go down to see +him and talk it over. He did so. Bankes told him he would not accept if he +on consideration objected, but he was determined not to join any other +Government. The Duke of Cumberland spoke of himself as having been ill-used +by the Duke of Wellington. This was explained. The conference ended by the +Duke of Cumberland's acquiescing entirely in Bankes's acceptance of office. +Bankes saw the Duke of Wellington and detailed the whole to him. + + +_April 21._ + +Called on Sir H. Hardinge at Richmond. He told me the Duke had at first +great reluctance to have anything to do with the Whigs. By his account he +must have principally contributed to lead the Duke to adopt that view which +he has now of admitting Rosslyn, &c. + + +_April 22._ + +The Duke of Norfolk called, and, not finding me, left a note begging me to +ascertain privately from the Duke of Wellington whether the King would be +pleased if the English Catholics presented an address to him thanking him +for the Relief Bill. + +Received a letter from the Duke of Wellington expressing a decided opinion +against any address from the Roman Catholics. He says, 'Everything has been +done that is possible to efface all distinctions between the King's +subjects on the score of religion, and this with a view to the general +benefit, and not to that of a particular body. I confess I shall think that +this measure has failed in attaining its object if there should be any +general act of a particular body. + +'In respect to the King himself I am certain that the most agreeable thing +to him would be that all should remain quiet. + +'We must have no distinct body of Roman Catholics except in the churches +and in affairs of religion. The less we act inconsistently with the +principle the better.' + +I so entirely agree in opinion with the Duke of Wellington that, having for +my own amusement written an address for the Roman Catholics in the event of +their making any to the King, the first sentence I imagined was this: 'The +Roman Catholics of England approach your Majesty for the last time as a +body distinct from the rest of your Majesty's subjects.' + + +_April 25._ + +I had a good deal of conversation as to the next Director. There are three +city men candidates, but none are good--Lyall, Ellice, and Douglas. + +Of Ellice no one knows anything. He is brother to the Ellice who married +Lord Grey's sister. Lyall is, or was, Chairman of the Committee of +Shipowners. Douglas is brother to Lord Queensbury. They say his is not a +very good house. + + +_April 28._ + +Read the correspondence between the Duke and Lord Anglesey. Then read a +memorandum of the Duke's in reply to one of Hardinge's on the subject of +the discipline of the British army. Hardinge wished to introduce the +Prussian [Footnote: Which did not include capital punishment. See +_Wellington Correspondence_, vol. v. p. 932.] discipline into ours. The +Duke shows that with our discipline we have more men fit for duty in +proportion to our numbers than the Prussians in the proportion of two to +one. That in Prussia the army is everything. There is no other profession. +All are soldiers--the officer lives much with his men--they are always in +masses, always in fertile countries. + +In our service the worst men in the community enter the army. The officers +are gentlemen. They cannot mix with the men. Without discipline our army +would be inferior to others. It is not even now the favourite profession. +There is much jealousy of it. It is not popular with the common people. It +is difficult to find recruits even in times of distress. + +I was in an army, the Duke concludes, which cannot be governed on the +Prussian principle. You cannot treat the English soldier as a man of +honour. + +The Duke had been with the King, who was in very good humour. He had not, +however, got to close quarters with him as to the changes. + + +_April 29._ + +Cabinet at 12. A letter has been received from Lord Heytesbury, from which +it is clear that Russia will very soon resume altogether the exercise of +her belligerent rights in the Mediterranean. + +Nesselrode communicated to him the blockade of Candia. Lord Heytesbury only +observed that 'it was a resumption of belligerent rights.' This Count +Nesselrode did not deny, and he said they could not long remain in the +false position in which they now were in the Mediterranean. + +Count Heyden at the end of January blockaded Candia on pretexts arising out +of the state of Greece. In three weeks from that time he rested his +interception of the Egyptian vessels near Candia on the necessary exercise +of his rights as a belligerent. Lièven, when first spoken to, disavowed +Heyden. He now changes his tone, and it is evident that Russia now for the +second time breaks her word. The French do not behave much better. They +have 6,000 men in the Morea, and mean to keep them there notwithstanding +their engagement to withdraw their troops as soon as the Egyptians were +embarked. To be sure, they say if we insist upon it they will withdraw +them. + +I have always been for getting out of the treaty. We have been dragged +along very unwillingly--we have been subjected to much humiliation. We seem +to me to have gained nothing by all our compliances. We have been led on +from the violation of one principle to that of another. Our position has +discouraged Turkey. We have been made the tools of Russia, and have been +duped with our eyes open. I think the sooner we get out of this false +position the better, and there is no time so favourable for us to hold +strong language as this, when by the settlement of the Catholic question we +are really strengthened, and when all foreign Powers believe we are yet +more strengthened than we are. The Duke is certainly for getting out. He +has long wished it. + +A paper of Peel's was read suggesting the difficulties in which we should +still be placed by our moral obligation towards the Greeks, and by our +reasonable fear that on the principles of the Greek Treaty, to which we +have unfortunately given our adhesion, Russia and France may combine and +make a partition treaty. My expectation is that Russia and France would +soon quarrel, and I think I could before now have made them jealous of each +other, but we have done nothing. + +After much conversation, V. Fitzgerald agreeing with me and the others +saying nothing, it was determined to insist upon the freedom of +communication with Candia under the protocol, to insist upon the Greeks +withdrawing from their advanced position near Prevesa _under the protocol_, +and to insist likewise upon the withdrawing of the French troops from the +Morea, according to the engagement. + +I am not satisfied with this. Every part of our diplomacy has been +unfortunate. We have succeeded in nothing. I predicted if we became engaged +in the war, it would be ultimately on a little point and not upon a great +one. Our diplomacy cannot be defended. It is our weak point. + +House. All the Catholics there. Every good old name in England. + +The Duke of Norfolk is much pleased with the Duke of Wellington's answer to +his enquiry as to the propriety of addressing the King. I am going to send +him the Duke's original letter as a _record_. + +The King certainly received the Protestant peers, and particularly those +who had been at Windsor, with great favour, and so the Bishop of Durham. +The Duke of Cumberland stood at the King's left hand, and quizzed the +people as they passed. He seemed _rayonnant_. + +After dinner I had some conversation with Loch, the Chairman, as to +governing India in the King's name. He does not positively object. I think +I shall be able to carry that point. I consider it to be of the most +essential importance. + + +_April 30._ + +Cabinet at 12. Determined to fund eight millions of Exchequer Bills. No +taxes to be taken off or imposed. We had some conversation as to the East +Retford question. V. Fitzgerald communicated a proposal from Littleton to +propose the adjournment of all discussion upon the subject till next year, +as it is evident nothing can be done this year. Littleton proposed this +because he wished to disappoint the mischievous designs of some people. +(Palmerston particularly.) + +It was determined to adhere to the line taken by the Government last year-- +namely, to that of throwing East Retford into the hundred. The Duke was +decidedly of opinion that whatever we did we should do from ourselves, and +certainly not act in concert with an enemy. The Tories look to our conduct +upon this question as the touchstone. + +Drawing-room. The King, as yesterday, very civil to the Brunswickers and +taking no notice of our friends. He took particular notice of the +Brazilians. Madame de Lièven is endeavouring to form a Government with the +Duke of Cumberland, the Ultra-Tories, the Canningites, and some Whigs. + +The King is very Russian. I believe all this will end in nothing. The +Chancellor thinks they may try to make a change when Parliament is up, and +so have six months before them. They may think of it; but the only object +of such a Government would be _revenge._ They cannot repeal the Relief +Bill, nor do they wish to pursue a different line of policy either at home +or abroad. + +The foreigners think that having settled the Catholic question we are ready +to draw the sword, and find a field of battle wherever we can. This the +Russians are afraid of, and hence arises in some degree their wish to +overthrow the Duke's Government; but the real foundation of all the Russian +intrigues is Madame de Lièven's hatred for the Duke, and her rage at +feeling she has overreached herself. + + +_May 1._ + +Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt was with the King for two hours to-day, the Duke of +Cumberland being in the room and the King in bed. The King is very much out +of humour, and abused everything and everybody. He is very angry at ladies +being admitted to the House of Lords, and particularly at their going in +such numbers the day the Duke of Norfolk took his seat. The Duke of +Cumberland has sworn he will not leave England till he has turned out the +present Ministers. He is the only colonel of the Horse Guards who ever does +duty--Lord Cathcart being absent and Lord Harrington incapable. When he +last got the gold stick from Lord Harrington he swore he would never let it +out of his hands. As gold stick he ordered the gates of the Horse Guards to +be closed the day of the Drawing-room, and thus obliged all the Ministers +who dressed in Downing Street to go all round. + +He told Clanwilliam to-day with great satisfaction that the King never +could again be on good terms with his Ministers. + +No arrangement is yet made with the Master of the Rolls. Everything waits +for the legal promotions. The King will be delighted with Scarlett +[Footnote: Sir James Scarlett, afterwards Lord Abinger.] as Attorney- +General, and the Chancellor tells me Bickersteth is to be Solicitor. I +recollect hearing of him at Cambridge. He is a very clever man and a good +speaker. Tindal is of course to be Master of the Rolls. I am most anxious +to give up the Privy Seal to Rosslyn. + + +_May 3._ + +Cabinet at 2. Decided the Government was to take the same line exactly this +year as to East Retford (that is, as to giving the two members to the +Hundred) that it took last year. However, as it is impossible to get any +Bill through the Lords this year, Peel will be very willing to accede to +any proposition for postponing the whole question till next session. + +On the question of Irish Education and on that of the grant to Maynooth, +the vote will be as before--it being said that the state of the session and +the circumstances of the present period make it advisable that the question +of any change should be deferred. Indeed, Ministers have not had time to +consider it. + +Many of Lord Anglesey's letters to Peel and of Peel's answers were read. We +have a very strong case against him on his letter to Dr. Curtis, which by a +letter from Dr. Curtis to the Duke we know Lord Anglesey directed Dr. +Murray to publish if it could be done with Curtis's consent, and which Dr. +Murray did publish without obtaining such consent. + +Curtis's letter is dated January 2. + +Lord Anglesey wrote to Curtis for the Duke's letter and his answer, and had +them two days before December 23, the date of his letter to Curtis. + +Peel thinks the East Indian Committee should not be refused. It is better +for the East Indian Company that it should be granted than refused. I +entirely coincide with him. + + +_May 4._ + +Coal Committee at 12. Met Lord Bathhurst, with whom I had some conversation +as to the Duke's reading letters in answer to Lord Anglesey. He begged me +to go to the Duke, and try to induce him not to do so. I found the Duke +agreeing with me entirely as to the danger of the president, and disposed +to read only what might be absolutely necessary. + +Lord Anglesey brought forward his motion for 'the letter of recall.' + +The Duke answered him, and so well that even Lord Holland could not say one +word. So the thing ended. + +The Duke had been assured by the King, and within the last fortnight the +King had given the same assurance to Aberdeen, that Lord Anglesey had not +_permission_ to read confidential letters. + +Lord Anglesey stated that he had the King's permission. + +The Duke certainly seemed to contradict him. + +Lord Londonderry threw a note over to me suggesting that the contradiction +was so direct there might be an awkward explanation out of doors unless the +thing were softened down. + +I mentioned this to Lord Bathurst. He thought not. + +However, when he replied, Lord Anglesey treated the contradiction as +absolute, and Lord Bathurst told the Duke he must give some explanation, +which the Duke did, saying he did not mean to accuse Lord Anglesey of +declaring he had the King's permission when he had not, but only that he +had reason to think he had not. In fact, the King, as we always thought, +told the Duke one thing and Lord Anglesey another; and the only result of +the debate is that the King is proved to have told a lie. + +Lord Wharncliffe, who overtook me as I was riding home, considered Lord +Anglesey to be blown out of water. + +At Lady Brownlow's ball I talked with Lord Farnborough, Longford, and +Beresford. All thought the reading of the letters should have been stopped, +and that the Duke did wrong to read anything. We could not stop the reading +of the letters when the King's permission to read them was stated +distinctly by Lord Anglesey. The misery is that we have a lying master. + + +_May 5._ + +I called at the Treasury and saw the Duke. On the subject of what took +place yesterday he said, that having received the King's commands to +declare Lord Anglesey had not his permission to read the letters, he could +not do otherwise than make the observations he did. The gravamen of the +charge against Lord Anglesey as arising out of those letters is that in the +last he declares his intention of using them as public documents; and this +being the ground upon which the King had acquiesced in his being relieved, +for the King to have afterwards permitted the reading of those letters +would have been a withdrawal of confidence from his Ministers. + +I met Lord Ravensworth and talked to him upon the subject. He seemed to be +in a sort of alarm as to what took place yesterday. This is superfluous. +The Duke's explanation that he did not mean to say Lord Anglesey had reason +to think he was permitted to read those letters was quite sufficient. The +Duke added that he had understood the contrary. + +Lord Ravensworth seemed to think his Royal master came the worst off--which +is true. + +He told me the Duke of Cumberland had been abusing every one at Lady +Brownlow's last night, and had declared, as he has before, that he would +not go away till he had us out. + +Lord Anglesey is reported to be very ill to-day. + + +_May 6._ + +Cabinet dinner at Sir G. Murray's. The Duke saw the King to-day. He was in +good humour, and said the Duke was quite right in declaring Lord Anglesey +had not his permission to read the letters. It seems the King said the same +thing in the Duke of Cumberland's presence on Monday at dinner, and this +made the Duke so very angry that evening. + +We had a very good division last night on the Retford question. Almost all +the Brunswickers voted with us--none against us. + +In fact the Government is very strong. + +There are disturbances at Manchester, which look rather serious. + + +_May 7._ + +Nothing in the House. + +The meeting respecting the statue to the Duke of Wellington seems to have +finished in detestable taste. Hunt proposing a vote of thanks to Lord +Anglesey and O'Connell, and _Lord Darnley!_ speaking for it. Both these +said the Catholic Bill arose out of Lord Anglesey's Government. Lord +Darnley repeated the same thing to me to-day in the House. I told him the +contrary was the fact. That Lord Anglesey had placed the carrying of the +question in peril--that without his recall it could hardly have been +carried. + +There have been serious disturbances at Manchester. The bakers' shops have +been broken open and robbed, and money extorted by fear. This arises out of +real distress; but it seems, as might be expected, that notorious thieves +lead on the mobs. + + +_May 8._ + +The disturbances at Manchester have more the character of robbery than of +riot. Baker's shops have been broken open and pillaged, and money has been +extorted. + +At Rochdale an attack was made on the military. They behaved with extreme +forbearance; but at last fired, and killed and wounded many. + + +_May 9._ + +Dined at the Trinity House. Hardinge, whom I met there, told me Wood had +been asked by Lord Mansfield to go to the Pitt dinner on the 28th. Wood +said he did not know whether the Ministers would go or not. Lord Mansfield +said, 'Why, you must know, it is understood that as soon as Parliament is +up the Government will be changed. At this dinner we shall make such a +display of Protestant force as will enable the King to take us as his +Ministers.' + +It is surprising to me that any able man as Lord Mansfield is should be so +deluded by the lies of the Duke of Cumberland. The country is not agitated, +it is not dissatisfied. It would repudiate, as an act of the basest +treachery, such conduct towards a Government which had been permitted to +carry a great measure, and which was displaced solely on grounds of +personal pique. + +Manchester and its neighbourhood more quiet. + +Had some conversation with Peel about the next member for the direction. He +inclines to Marryatt. Hardinge reported a communication from E. Ellice, who +canvasses for his brother, Russell Ellice. E. Ellice offers some votes in +the House of Commons if we will support his brother. + +I believe E. Ellice would be a good man, but the brother is a nonentity. I +said we must strike at the mass and not at individuals. We must gain the +city by assisting a fit man on public grounds. Peel agreed in this +sentiment. I am sure it is the only wise course for any Government to +pursue. + + +_Monday, May 11._ + +The King has got the habit of taking large doses of laudanum. He sent for +the Chancellor yesterday, as usual, at two o'clock. When he got to the +palace the King had taken a large dose of laudanum and was asleep. The +Chancellor was told he would not wake for two or three hours, and would +then be in a state of excessive irritation, so that he might just as well +not see him. + + +_May 12._ + +The East Retford question was last night deferred till next session, so we +may, I think, finish all our business by about June 10; that is really +allowing full time. + +O'Connell published yesterday an argument on his right to sit in the House +of Commons in the shape of a letter to the members. At first Lord Grey +thought it unanswerable (as founded on the provisions of the Relief Bill); +but at night he told me he had looked into the Bill and found it certainly +excluded him. A large portion of the letter is quite absurd, that in which +he assumes a right to have his claim decided in a court of law. Parliament +alone is by common law the court in which the privileges of its own members +can be decided. + + +_May 12._ + +House. Lord Lansdowne put a pompously worded question as to our intentions +with respect to the course of proceeding on Indian affairs. + +I answered simply that we were as sensible as he was of the extreme +importance of the question. That for my own part my mind was never absent +from it, and that I had not been many days in office before I took measures +for procuring the most extensive information, which would be laid before +the House at the proper time. That the Government was desirous of forming +its own opinion on the fullest information and with the greatest +consideration; and that we wished the House to have the same opportunities. +That I was not then prepared to inform him in what precise form we should +propose that the enquiry should be made. + +The Chancellor introduced the Bill for appointing a new Equity Judge, and +separating the Equity Jurisdiction from the Court of Exchequer. The latter +object, by-the-bye, is not to be accomplished immediately, but it is part +of the plan opened. He soothed Lord Eldon by high compliments to his +judicial administration and to the correctness of his judgments. The wonder +of the day is that Lord Eldon should have lived to hear a Chancellor so +expose the errors of the Court of Chancery as they were exposed by Lord +Lyndhurst to-day. + + +_May 13._ + +Recorder's report. The King not well. He has a slight stricture, of which +he makes a great deal, and a bad cold. He seemed somnolent; but I have seen +him worse. + +Before the Council there was a chapter of the Garter. The Duke of Richmond +was elected. The knights wore their ordinary dress under the robe, which +was short, and had no hats. The procession was formed by Garter. The +Chancellor and Prelate of the Order and the Dean were present. It looked +rather like a splendid funeral. The Duke of Cumberland took a great deal +upon him. + +Cabinet dinner at Vesey Fitzgerald's at Somerset House. + +Much talk about Indian matters. Both Peel and Fitzgerald seem to be for +Free Trade, and _unreasonable_ towards the Company. + + +_May 15._ + +In the House of Commons yesterday the motion for a Committee on East Indian +affairs was negatived without a division, but promised for _early_ next +session, and papers promised immediately. + + +_May 16._ + +Chairs at 11. We spoke of the Charter. They rather dislike the notion of +using the King's name, and I fear Mr. Elphinstone and all the Indians will +give their evidence against the change. I may be outvoted, but I shall not +be convinced. [Footnote: This change was effected in 1858.] + + +_May 17._ + +Nothing political, except a grand dinner at the Duke of Norfolk's, given to +the Duke of Wellington, which was very fine and very dull. + +The Duke told me he had read the Persian papers. The Russians had brought +it on themselves. + + +_May 19._ + +In the House of Commons last night O'Connell was heard at the bar. The +debate seems to have been temperate. It was decided on a discussion, 190 to +116, that he must take the Oath of Supremacy. + +At the office had some conversation with Mr. Leach as to the plan of +governing India in the King's name--the Directors being made ex officio +Commissioners for the affairs of India. He seems to have some prejudices +against the plan, but he adduced no real objections. I have begged him to +put on paper all the objections which occurred to him. + +Wrote a long letter to Lord W. Bentinck on all subjects connected with the +renewal of the Charter, and the general government of India. + +Dined at the Freemasons' Hall with the Society for Promoting Christian +Knowledge. There were present 200 persons. I thought they would be very +hostile to a Minister. However, when my name was mentioned by the Bishop of +Durham, as a steward, there was much cheering. The Bishop of London, who +was in the chair, begged me to return thanks for the stewards, which I did. +I spoke of course of the wish entertained by the Ministers that a Society +might prosper the interests of which were so much connected with those of +the Established Church--of their determination in their several departments +to further its objects. It was the duty of us all as Christians, but more +peculiarly that of the Ministers, to advance objects intimately connected +with the individual happiness of the people and with the stability of the +State. I said something too of the intrinsic strength of the Protestant +Church--of its rising in proportion to the difficulties which might +surround it, to the dangers--if dangers there were (the Primate had spoken +of them)--of its security in the zeal and ability of its ministers, and in +the purity of its doctrines. + +On the whole I did well. I was loudly cheered--indeed, so much interrupted +as to be enabled to think what I should say next. + +Indian business in the morning--Coal Committee. + + +_May 20._ + +Dined at the London Tavern with the Directors, at what is called a family +dinner, to meet Mr. Elphinstone, the late Governor of Bombay. He has been +thirty-three years absent from England, having left it at fifteen. He is +one of the most distinguished servants the Company has ever had. He seems +to be a quiet, mild, temperate man. I had some conversation with him, and +have fixed that he should come to the Indian Board on Tuesday. I wish to +have his opinion as to the expediency of governing India in the King's +name. + +The Duke told Lord Bathurst and me the King had been very angry with him +for going to the Duke of Norfolk's dinner, and now openly expressed his +wish to get rid of his Ministers. The Duke wrote to the King and told him +it really was not a subject he thought it necessary to speak to him about, +that he dined with everybody and asked everybody to dinner, that had he +known beforehand who were to dine with the Duke of Norfolk, which he did +not, he could not have objected to any one of them. That the King himself +had dined with the Duke of Norfolk. That most of the persons invited were +either in his Majesty's service, or had been. + +It seems the king desired it might be intimated to the Duke that he was +much displeased at the dinner, and that he and Cumberland damned us all. + +I told the Duke and Lord Bathurst what occurred at the dinner yesterday, +with which they were much gratified. + + +_May 21._ + +Went to the Cabinet room at 2. Read papers, by which it seems that the +Russian army is very little stronger than at the commencement of the last +campaign, and that its materials are not so good. It has as yet no medical +staff. The resources of the principalities are exhausted; the cattle of the +peasants have been put in requisition; the ordinary cultivation of the land +has been neglected. The river is worse than last year. There are reports of +the successes of the Turks near Varna, and of that place being in danger. + +The recruiting of the Turkish army goes on well. + +House of Lords. The Chancellor's Bill, which creates a new Chancery judge. +Opposition from Lord Eldon, Lord Redesdale, and Lord Holland, all saying +they wished to see the whole plan before they agree to a part. Lord +Tenterden approved of the making of the new judge, but wished his functions +had been better defined. + +The Duke of Cumberland said the Non-contents had it; but he said it too +late, and his people did not wish to divide. + +Lord Londonderry would have voted against us. I fear he is half mad. The +House seems to treat him so. + +The Chancellor told me the King did many things personally uncivil to the +Duke. He did not ask him to dinner to meet the Duke of Orleans. He wishes +to force the Duke to offer his resignation. This he is much too prudent to +do upon a mere personal pique. + +The King, our master, is the weakest man in England. He hates the Duke of +Cumberland. He wishes his death. He is relieved when he is away; but he is +afraid of him, and crouches to him. + +In reality the King never was better satisfied than with his present +Ministers. He knows they will not flinch--that he is safe in their hands. + + +_May 22._ + +In the House Lord Melville presented the petition of the City of London +praying, if the House persisted in ordering the production of their +accounts of property other than of a public nature, to be heard at the bar +by counsel. He moved that this petition should be considered on Tuesday. It +being expected that on Monday these very accounts would be produced in the +committee, and thus the order of the House rendered unnecessary. In this we +were beaten too. Indeed, our management under Lord Melville as Admiral does +not answer. + +We shall certainly lose the London Bridge Approaches Bill. + +Dined at Lord Hill's. A party chiefly military. + + +_May 24._ + +Cabinet at Peel's at 11 P.M. + +The arrangements determined upon. Lord E. Somerset to have Sir W. Clinton's +office, and Trench Mr. Singleton's. Lord Rosslyn the Privy Seal. Lord +Chandos was proposed, I should rather say suggested, but rejected +immediately, as not of sufficient calibre for the Cabinet. Besides, his +elevation for the purpose of holding the Privy Seal would offend the +peerage, and be an insult to his father. It would not gain us the +Brunswickers, and we should have the Whigs hostile. It would be saying to +them, 'You shall never come in.' + +Rosslyn's appointment will be most useful. He will be of value in the +Cabinet and invaluable in the House. His accession will break the Whigs, he +is so popular with everybody. + +This is to be proposed to the King to-morrow. It is thought he will take no +step without asking the Duke of Cumberland. He may refuse altogether. Then +we go out. The legal arrangements cannot proceed, because Best [Footnote: +Afterwards Lord Wynford.] communicated with the Duke of Cumberland and +refused a peerage as the _condition_ of resignation. Alexander would go if +he could have his peerage and a pension. Leach will not go unless he is to +have a peerage and a pension of 7,000£ a year, a thing impossible. + + +_May 25._ + +Cabinet at 3. Waited a long time for the Duke. He came smiling and +victorious. The King said he would manage Best. To Rosslyn he made some +objection, and suggested Lord Dudley or Melbourne. This was referred to and +rejected by such of the Cabinet as could be on a sudden collected at the +Foreign Office. I was not there. I should certainly have rejected both, +although very willing to have Dudley. The other would never have done. With +Lord E. Somerset and Trench the King was well pleased. As the Duke left the +room the King said, 'Come, you must acknowledge I have behaved well to +you.' This he said frankly and good-humouredly. The Duke said, 'I assure +your Majesty I am very sensible of it, and I feel very grateful to you.' + +Having thus established ourselves as a Government we were going to break +our necks by attempting to pass the Chancellor's Bill, which the House of +Commons does not like. However, after a talk, it was resolved to give it +up. + +It seems the Tories have deserted us again. We are much in want of winter +quarters. + +In the House we had the City of London petition. I took a more active part +than usual in the conversation. + +Lord Rosslyn, having just lost his son, is gone to Tunbridge Wells, and the +offer of the Privy Seal will be postponed till after to-morrow, when the +King is to see Best at two, and it is hoped the Duke may be able to tell +Rosslyn that Scarlett is to be Attorney-General. + + +_May 26._ + +The King sent Knighton for Chief Justice Best, and desired him not to tell +the Duke of Cumberland; Best was sent for. So Best went, and accepted the +terms offered. Thus we shall get Scarlett, and the King and the Duke be +separated a little. + +Yesterday the Duke of Wellington did his business with the King while the +Duke of Cumberland was hearing a clause in the House of Lords. The +Chancellor, knowing how the Duke of Wellington was occupied, kept the Duke +of Cumberland as long as he could. + + +_May 27._ + +Committee on London Bridge. Lord Londonderry, who came from the review in +his uniform just covered by a frock coat, spoke against time on a +collateral point for an hour and a half, and disgusted the Committee. + + +_May 28._ + +London Bridge Committee. Lord Londonderry a little better than before, but +not much. He is running down his character altogether. He has now formed an +alliance with the Duke of Cumberland, and through him made his peace with +the King. The Duke of Cumberland wishes to be reconciled to the Duke of +Wellington. In the House of Commons there is a small Ultra-Tory party, not +fifty. In our House I doubt whether there are twenty. + + +_May 30._ + +Chairs. Lord W. Bentinck seems to be so ill as to make it doubtful whether +he can remain in India should he recover. The letter is dated January 27. +He was then in danger. The vessel did not leave Calcutta till the 30th. The +news then was that he was better, and had sat up for six hours. It was a +_coup de soleil_. + +London Bridge Committee. + +The Duke showed me a letter from Lord Rosslyn, accepting most cordially the +Privy Seal. + +I suppose we shall have a Council on Monday, or on some early day next +week, for me to give it up. + + +_June 1._ + +To the Cabinet room. + +There is a report that Varna [Footnote: Varna was in the hands of the +Russians, having been taken in the previous campaign.] is _cernée_ by +40,000 men, Bazardjik taken, the Russians running from Karasan, and from +6,000 to 8,000 Russians, who had been thrown over the Danube at Hirsova, +driven into it at Czernavoda by the garrison of Silistria. [Footnote: These +reports seem to have been unfounded. Soon after this date the decisive +battle of Kouleftcha opened to the Russians the road to Adrianople.] +Clanwilliam wrote me he thought the Duke attached some credit to this last +rumour. + +News from Calcutta of February 1 states that Lord William Bentinck was then +out of danger. Lady William, who was going to set off to join him, had +determined to expect him at Calcutta. + +Lord Rosslyn's appointment is in the newspapers to-day. The 'Times' highly +delighted. + + +_June 2._ + +London Bridge Approaches Committee. Lord Londonderry very anxious to have +an adjournment over the Derby; however, he must attend to 'the last +concern.' + +House. Anatomy Bill put off till Friday. The Bishops, Lord Malmesbury, and +many others very hostile to it. + +It seems certain that the Russians have recrossed the Danube. I am inclined +to think they have been beaten. + + +_June 3._ + +The Bishop of Oxford is dead; a great Grecian is to succeed him. + +The King is in excellent humour. The Duke of Cumberland rather going down. + +We had some talk about the Anatomy Bill. The Duke is afraid of passing it. +Indeed, it is not a Government measure. Probably it will be withdrawn for +the year. The Bishops are very hostile to it. + + +_June 4._ + +London Bridge Committee from eleven till four. We made great progress in +our evidence, and, indeed, nearly proved our case. From four to five we had +a very painful discussion in consequence of some words which passed between +Lord Durham and Lord Beresford. We succeeded at last in settling the +difference. + +Lord Beresford, having no good word at his disposal, said he did not second +the _evil deeds_ or _improprieties_ of noble lords. He really meant +_irregularities_, and irregularities only as a member of the Committee. +Lord Grey was present and much distressed. The Duke of Wellington's +authority induced both to become amenable to the wish of the Committee. + + +_June 5._ + +Anatomy Bill. Some talk; but a general agreement suggested by the +Archbishop of Canterbury, that the Bill should be read a second time, and +not proceeded with this session. The Duke of Wellington expressed his +general approbation of the principle, but thought postponement desirable. +He pledged himself to _cooperate_ in bringing in a Bill on the same +principle, and having the same objects, next year; but did not pledge +himself to bring it in himself. + + +_June 7._ + +Cabinet at half-past three. First question: whether we should extend the +time for putting an end altogether to the Brazilian slave trade from March +13 to September 13, 1830, for the equivalent of obtaining for ever the +right to seize ships fitted up for the slave trade, whether they had slaves +on board or not. The Brazilians have been encouraged by their Government to +interpret the treaty as permitting the return of any vessels quitting the +Brazils on slave expeditions before March 13. + +Dr. Lushington, who was consulted by Aberdeen, seemed to think it was worth +while to obtain the concession, but still seemed to think that by extending +the time, we should permit the transportation of a very large number of +slaves, of whom many might be destroyed by ill-treatment, and that it was +hardly justifiable with a view to a distant advantage, to sacrifice +immediately and certainly a great number of persons. + +This prevailed--the real fact being that Peel does not like awkward +questions in the House of Commons. + +So the treaty remains as it is, and both parties will interpret it as they +please. There will be many disputes, for the interpretation is very +different. + + +_June 8._ + +Received a private letter from Colonel Macdonald at Tabriz, with copies of +letters received by him from a gentleman he had sent to Teheran on hearing +of the massacre of the Russian mission; and from another gentleman, +travelling unofficially, who first heard the report between Tabriz and +Kamsin. + +These accounts only confirm what we had already heard of the arrogance and +violence of the Russians. They deserved their fate. + +Colonel Macdonald says that General Paskewitz cannot dispose of more than +25,000, or, at most, 30,000 men, although he has a nominal force of 110,000 +men under his command. + +Colonel Macdonald says there has been no serious resistance on the part of +the Turks, except at Akhalsik. + +He has done what he can to dissuade them from war with the Russians; but I +think the universal feeling of the people will propel them. + +The insurrection at Teheran appears to have been instigated by the Mollahs +and the women, but it was evidently national, or it must have failed. + + +_June 10._ + +Council. Lord Winford kissed hands. He walked in with great difficulty on +two crutches, which he placed behind him and so leant back upon. The King +had a chair brought for him, and had him wheeled out. The man who pushed +his chair very nearly shipwrecked him at the door. + +The Attorney-General (Scarlett), [Footnote: Afterwards Lord Abinger.] the +Chief Justice of the Common Pleas (Tindal), and the Solicitor-General +(Sugden), [Footnote: Afterwards Lord St. Leonards. Lord Chancellor 1862. ] +all kissed hands. The Chief Justice of the Common Pleas was sworn in as +Privy Councillor. Lord Rosslyn was sworn in as Privy Councillor and Privy +Seal. The King did not address a word to me, who gave up the seal, or to +Rosslyn, who received it. + +House. Nothing of moment. + +Dinner at Lord Bathurst's. Lord Rosslyn dined here. + +Aberdeen read a paper lately received from the Russians, in which they +concede all we ask about blockades, &c., except as to the Gulf of Enos. The +Duke says he shall bring Lièven to the point about this, and generally +about their views. He feels the Government is stronger now than it was-- +that the country is stronger, and we may insist more. He says the question +is, 'Shall we permit the ruin of the Turkish Empire?' I have long felt that +to be the case, and to that I answer 'No.' + +We had some conversation as to the charter. The Duke seems rather inclined +to continue the _name_ of the Company. I am for the _name_ of the King. + + +_June 11._ + +The world has had imposed upon it a story of the Chancellor's _selling_ his +Church preferment. The 'Age' is to bring forward its charges on Sunday +next. This is an arrow from the Cumberland quiver. + +I mentioned Lord Clare's wish to look forward to the Government of Bombay +or Madras to the Duke last night, and he did not by any means receive the +proposition unfavourably. I told Clare so to-day. + + +_June 13._ + +Gaisford has refused the Bishopric of Oxford--wisely, for he was only a +Grecian and had good preferment. He is a rough man too. I am glad he has +refused it. I do not think mere Grecians good bishops. + +Lord Clare told me Glengall was to be the new Irish peer. + + +_June 15._ + +Committee as usual. Lord Londonderry more insane than ever. The Duke said +he had never seen anything more painful. + +We made hardly any progress. The victory will belong to the _survivors_, +and I do not think Lord Durham will be one of them. + +House. Lord Londonderry made a foolish speech, and the Duke an excellent +one, very severe upon him, and defending the City. If we do not get the +City by this Committee the City is impregnable. + +Hardinge told me Lord Grey seemed out of humour. I do not think he is in +good humour. + + +_June 16._ + +At last some hope of a compromise respecting London Bridge. + + +_June 17._ + +The eternal Committee is, I trust, at an end. The agents have come to a +compromise, and if the Common Council should confirm the terms, as I +conclude they will, the thing will be at an end. We shall then have +Parliament up by Monday or Tuesday next. + +Cabinet dinner at Lord Melville's. The Duke was astonished at Lord W. +Bentinck's strong and sudden step of transferring the Supreme Government +_pro tempore_ to Meerut. He said he always expected some wild measure from +Lord W. Meerut was in too exposed a situation. + +Twenty thousand Afghan horse might ride in upon the seat of government if +placed in the north-west provinces. It is astonishing how much the Duke is +prejudiced by his old Indian feelings. Whatever _is_ he thinks best. Meerut +is ill and absurdly chosen, but Calcutta is certainly the worst chosen seat +of government. + +We are to have a Cabinet on Saturday for the King's speech. On Monday or +Tuesday Parliament will be up. On Wednesday we dine at the India House, and +on the Monday following, the 29th, will be the fish dinner. + + +_June 18._ + +Called to compliment the Duke on the anniversary of Waterloo. Left with him +Lord W. Bentinck's minute and despatch on transferring the Supreme +Government Departments and all _pro tempore_ to Meerut, and a proposed +letter, censuring the Governor for having done this without previous +sanction, and directing the members of Council and the Departments to +return. + +The Duke objects to any removal of the seat of government to the upper +provinces. It would there be exposed to the sudden inroads of cavalry. In +India a cloud of cavalry rises like a squall in the Mediterranean. At +Calcutta the Government, protected by the rivers, is safe, and always +accessible from England. + + +_June 19._ + +Rode to town. Met Rosslyn. He told me Lord Clanrickarde [Footnote: Lord +Clanrickarde was son-in-law of Mr. Canning.] intended to make some +observations on foreign policy this evening. + +Had some conversation with the Duke. He doubted whether the Supreme +Government _could_ leave Calcutta and preserve its powers. I told him of +the newspaper report of to-day that leases for sixty years were to be given +to indigo planters, and this without any authority from home. He seems to +have suspected from the first that Lord W. would do some monstrous thing, +and certainly he does seem to be emancipating himself. + +House. Lord Clanrickarde made his little speech. Aberdeen his. Then Lord +Holland, and then the Duke. Afterwards Goderich. Lord Holland talked as +usual very vaguely. No notice had been given, and few people knew there was +anything to be done. So ends the House for this year. + + +_June 20, 1829._ + +Cabinet. King's speech. Some time occupied in wording it, but no material +alterations. Aberdeen's the worst part. The King is made to _auspicate_ and +to pray, but not to trust that the Franchise Bill and the Relief Bill will +be productive of good. + +The Chancellor has prosecuted the 'Morning Journal' for a libel accusing +him of having taken money for Sugden's appointment as Solicitor-General. I +heard him tell Lord Bathurst, with reference to another calumny against +him, that he had fortunately preserved through his secretary the grounds on +which he had given every living he had disposed of. + + +_June 21._ + +Had a visit from Loch. He wishes the despatch to Lord William to be worded +more gently, as he thinks Lord William _meant_ well. This shall be done. + + +_June 22._ + +Wrote draft paragraphs to the effect above stated to Lord W. Bentinck, and +added a paragraph giving the Duke's reasoning against the removal of the +Government from Calcutta to the north-west provinces. + +I had some conversation in the House with Lord Lauderdale on China trade, +&c. He seems friendly to the Company and to the Government. + +Went to the House at 4. Found a good many peers there. By mere mistake a +Bill, slightly and necessarily amended by the Lords, was not sent down to +the Commons, although directions to that effect were given, and it by +accident was placed amongst the Bills ready for the Royal assent. So it +received the Royal assent. It became necessary to pass a Bill to make this +Bill valid in law. Lord Shaftesbury thought our House ought to inform the +Commons we had discovered the error; but the Speaker, [Footnote: C. Manners +Sutton, afterwards Lord Canterbury.] to make a flourish, insisted on +announcing it first to the House of Commons. All the steps to be taken were +settled between the Speaker, Lord Shaftesbury, and Courtenay. When I went +down I found it had not been settled that anything should be done first by +us. I suggested that Lord Shaftesbury should acquaint the House with the +circumstance, and that we should appoint a Committee to inquire before the +message from the Commons came up. This was done. + +We ordered a message to be sent, but before our messengers left the House +we heard the Commons would not receive a message, so I moved that the order +we had just made should be rescinded, and we had a second conference. The +Commons were well satisfied with our reply. The last sentence had been, +'The Lords hope the Commons will be satisfied with this explanation.' As we +in the first paragraph expressed our desire to preserve a good +understanding between the two Houses, and in the second one regret that +this mistake had taken place, I thought it was going too far to express _a +hope_ only that our explanation would be satisfactory. + +We inserted 'the Lords _doubt not_,' instead of 'the Lords _hope_.' + +At night received a letter from the Duke of Wellington, saying he thought +we might get Courtenay to resign at once and get in Lord Chandos. I am to +see him at ten to-morrow on the subject. + + +_June 23, 1829._ + +Wrote early to the Chairs and begged them to come to me immediately. Sent +Loch the Duke's note and told him why Lord Chandos's being brought in was +of so much importance. Saw the Duke at 10. The King was very much out of +humour yesterday. He wanted to make Nash a baronet. The Duke refused. The +King then went upon his Speech, which he did not like and had altered. He +left out the specific mention of the Relief and Franchise Bill, and there +he was right, and he converted the prayer that the measure might +tranquillise Ireland, &c., into a _hope_ that it would--thus making it a +little stronger, but that he did not know. + +The Duke of Cumberland, on hearing of Castlereagh's appointment, said, +'Whoever ratted he would not,' alluding to Lord Londonderry, who has been +nibbling at the Cumberland faction. However, Lord Londonderry is much +annoyed at Castlereagh's taking office. He neither likes the expense of an +election for Downshire, nor losing a vote he thought he could dispose of. + +Hardinge will not sit again for Durham. Without Hardinge Lord Londonderry +will have trouble enough there. + +The King was much out of humour during the Chapter of the Garter, and said +everything was done wrong. + +Saw the Chairs. They had just got a letter from Sir John Malcolm, resigning +from December 1, 1830. This would have been in any case a long time for +Courtenay to wait out of office; but they said the idea of his being +proposed had got wind, and several of the Directors were very adverse. +Neither of the Chairs likes him, and if they supported him they would do it +very reluctantly. As Loch goes out of office in April, and we cannot tell +who will be deputy, and six new Directors come in, there really are not the +means of saying to Courtenay, 'You are sure of your election,' and without +this he could not be asked to resign. + +I took the Chairs to the Duke. He received them very cordially, told them I +had stated the circumstances to him, and he gave up the point. + +We then talked of the legality of the removal of the Supreme Government +from Calcutta. On looking into the acts it seems very doubtful whether any +act done by the Governor-General in Council away from Calcutta would be +valid unless it were one of the acts the Governor-General might do of his +own authority. For instance, 'a regulation' issued by the Governor-General +in Council at Meerut would not be valid, because the Governor-General alone +could not issue one. + +The Duke said Lord William did everything with the best intentions; but he +was a _wrong-headed man_, and if he went wrong he would continue in the +wrong line. Other men might go wrong and find it out, and go back; but if +he went wrong he would either not find it out, or, if he did, he would not +go back. + + +_June 24._ + +Sat as Commissioner to prorogue Parliament. The King's alteration in the +Speech certainly made it better and stronger. He now expresses his _sincere +hope_ the measures of the session will produce tranquillity, &c. People +thought the Speech rather short and jejune. + +Dined at the 'Albion' with the Directors. The dinner was given to Lord +Dalhousie. There were there the Duke, the Chancellor, Peel, Sir J. Murray, +Lord Rosslyn and Goulburn, the Speaker, the Attorney General, Courtenay, +Ashley, and Bankes; Duke of Buccleuch, Lord Camden, Lord Montagu, Lord +Hill, Sir Herbert Taylor, Sir Byam Martin, Sir A. Dickson, Colonel Houston, +Lord Dalhousie, and Sir Sidney Beckwith, and their aides-de-camp; a great +many Directors, and in all rather more than 100 people. + +The Duke, in returning thanks, spoke of the cordiality and good +understanding existing between the Directors and the Government, _which was +never more necessary to the Company than now_. + +I said the good understanding would always exist while such men as Loch +were in the chair, and while I was at the Board of Control. I paid a high +compliment to Loch, and then congratulated them on the appointments of the +two Generals. Their mildness of manner, their benevolence of character, and +the goodness of their natures would obtain for them the affectionate +devotion of a grateful soldiery, and, educated in a school of continued +victories, they were the fittest leaders of an army which had never met an +enemy it had not subdued. I ended by saying I was sure they would devote +themselves to the maintenance under all circumstances, not only of the +efficiency, but of an object which they would pursue with equal interest-- +_of the happiness and well-being of the native army of India_. I spoke +rather well, was attentively heard, and well received. I sat by the Duke of +Buccleuch. We had a good deal of conversation. He seems a fine young man. +Lord Rosslyn complained he could never see a draft till it was a month old, +and that there had been no new despatches placed in the boxes since he came +into office. I told him no one complained more of the same thing than +Aberdeen did when Dudley was in office, and I believe all Foreign +Secretaries had a shyness about showing their drafts till they were sent +off and unalterable. + + +_June 25._ + +At the office found a letter with enclosures from Colonel Macdonald, dated +Tabriz April 20. What he has been doing in Persia I do not know. + +I have written to him to call upon me on Saturday. + +Called on the Duke to tell him the substance--which is, that the Turks have +already 30,000 men and sixty pieces of cannon at Erzeroum. That a +dispossessed Pacha is in arms at Akiska. That the Russians have reinforced +the garrisons of Natshiran and Abbasabad, and have withdrawn all their +troops to the left bank of the Araxes, with the exception of those who +garrison Bayazid. The plague seems rife at Erivan. The Russians about Count +Paskewitz abuse the English very much. + + +_June 27._ + +The Chairs told me Lord W. Bentinck had extended to all persons the benefit +of the regulation as to coffee planters, _omitting, however_, all the +restrictive clauses. They think very seriously of this, and very justly. +The Calcutta newspapers consider the principle of colonisation to be +conceded. + +We must abrogate this 'Regulation' without loss of time. I went to the Duke +to tell him of it. He said Lord W. Bentinck was not to be trusted, and we +should be obliged to recall him. He is gone down in a steamboat to Penang. + +No news of much importance at the Cabinet room, except that Lord +Heytesbury's despatches confirm the account of the sickness of the Russian +army. + +The Turks seem to have given the Russians a great smash at Eski Arnaut. + + +_June 30._ + +A battle near Schumla between the Russians and Turks. The Turks were +besieging Pravadi. Diebitsch marched from Silistria and moved upon their +communications with Schumla. The Turks seem to have been surprised. They +fought gallantly, however, and seem to have caused the Russians great loss. + +Saw Arbuthnot. He came to the India Board to speak about his friend, +Russell Ellice, whom he wishes to make a Director. We afterwards talked of +the House and the Government. I think all will turn out well. We have six +months before us, but certainly at present we are weak in the House of +Commons, though I believe gathering strength in the country, and already +very strong there. If we play the great game, striking at the mass, we must +succeed. It would never do to go picking up individuals. We must do our +best for the country, and we shall have it with us. The worst of it is, the +King is the most faithless of men, and Cumberland is at work. + +The Duke asked Hardinge the other day what he thought of the Government. He +said he thought that by losing Canningites and Brunswickers it was fifty +weaker than Lord Liverpool's, and these fifty go the other way, making a +difference of one hundred on a division. Lord Camden thought if the +Brunswickers would not come in we must get a few Whigs--Abercromby, Sir +James Graham, the Althorpe people. Stanley would come for anything good, +and Brougham too. + +Arbuthnot asked me if I thought Lord Rosslyn would be cordial with us. I +said Yes. His letter of acceptance was most cordial, and with the Lords he +was on excellent terms. The only danger would be if Peel and the Commoners +were shy. + +Lord Grey, I said, I did not think in very good humour, but he would differ +on foreign politics rather than on questions of a domestic nature. The Duke +will not be coquetting with him, because he says very honestly he should be +exciting expectations in Lord Grey which, while the King lives, he does not +think he can gratify. + +Saw Mr. Elphinstone by appointment. I wished to have his opinion with +regard to the new settlement of Indian Government, which may take place on +the expiration of the present Charter. He seemed to think that the +Administration of the Government in the King's name would be agreeable to +the Civil and Military Services, and to people in England. He doubted +whether, as regarded the princes of India, it would signify much, as they +now pretty well understood us. He doubted whether the orders of Government +here would be better obeyed. He thought there might be an advantage in +keeping the King's authority in reserve, to be used only on grand +occasions. He confessed, however, that 'having been educated, and having +lived under the existing system, he was not best qualified to propose to +another. He had his prejudices.' He thought the best mode of arriving at +the truth would be by taking the opinions of practical Indians as to +reforms and alterations suggested by theoretical men. + +I asked him to consider the expediency of dividing the territory as now +into three unequal Presidencies, of giving to the Governor-General the +labour of superintending the Administration in detail of the Bengal +Presidency--of having Members of Council. I told him there were many minor +points of detail discoverable only by those employed at home, which +required and must receive amendment. Such, for instance, is the +interpretation given to the Act of Parliament, by which a _regulation_ must +be sanctioned or rejected _in extenso,_ there being no power to alter a +word, or to reject part and take the rest. + +Mr. Elphinstone seems to dread a long peace in India. We hold everything +together by the Native Army, and we cannot retain that unless we retain the +affections of the European officers. In the present state of our finances +this is difficult. + + +_July 1._ + +At half-past five received a letter from the Chairman, and the draft +relative to the removal of the Governor from Calcutta. The Court wished to +have it back to-day. That was impossible; but they have omitted words I +inserted in the _précis,_ and must restore, declaring that had the removal +been legal, still the Members of Council would have been ordered back. I +have now been obliged to give reasons for this addition, and the reasons +will be so much worse, as matters of record, that I have suggested to the +Chairman he had better substitute a draft containing the words. + +I think we must detain the _Pallas_ that it may take out both letters--this +and the one relating to the leases which is not yet prepared, or we must +have an overland dispatch. + +Delay is one of the inconveniences attending the present system of Indian +Government. I told the Chairman in my private note that if we allowed Lord +W. Bentinck to emancipate himself in this manner we should really be +abandoning all real control over the Government of India. I see clearly +there is a Bentinck party in the Court. + + +_July 2._ + +Saw Hardinge. We had some conversation upon the subject of the Government. +He seems more alarmed than I am. I trust to the King's fears and the Duke's +fortune; besides, we have the country. + +Hardinge told me the King was very much out of humour. The admission of +Lord Rosslyn had not answered. None followed. Lord Durham, Calthorpe, and +others left Lord Lansdowne to coalesce with Lord Grey. Hardinge wished me +to try Herries again, with the view of opening the Mint by making him +Chancellor of the Exchequer in India; but I told him Herries said his +domestic circumstances made it impossible, and the Duke did not seem to +like it at all. + +Herries thinks Lord Durham would be glad to be Minister at Naples; for my +part I am sure nothing will win Lord Grey but a place for Lord Grey +himself, and _that_, in the present state of the King's mind, the Duke is +not in a condition to offer. + + +_July 4._ + +Cabinet at half-past three. + +The Duke read a list of the several points to be considered before the next +Session. I cannot recollect half of them. East India Charter; Bank Charter; +Usury Laws; East Retford; Duties on Sugar; Duties on Tobacco; Canada; West +Indies; Education in Ireland; Irish and English Churches; Poor in Ireland; +Public Works; Commission on Ecclesiastical Courts; Reform of English +Courts; Reform of Welsh Judicature; Reform of Courts of Equity; Scotch Law +of Entail; Salaries of Scotch Judges--_increase_; Salaries of English +Judges--_reduction_; Grand Juries, Ireland; Militia Laws; Stamp Duties, +&c., &c. + +The only talk we had was about Irish Poor, and Public Works in Ireland. The +feeling seemed against anything like Poor Laws, and against Public Works +too. This is mine. The first productive of mischief, the second useless. + +Undoubtedly it is a great hardship that the English parish should have the +burden of Irish poor, but on the other hand in many cases the payers of +poor's rates in these parishes have derived advantage from Irish labour. + +Fitzgerald, Peel, and Goulburn are to look into this subject, and all +connected with Ireland. + +Fitzgerald, Peel, Lord Rosslyn, and, I think, either Herries or Goulburn +seemed to think the opposition to the continuance of the China monopoly +would be much greater than we expected. Fitzgerald seemed desirous the +question of commerce should be reserved, and that of Government decided. I +told him the two were inseparably connected. + + +_July 6._ + +Wrote to Lord W. Bentinck telling him I much regretted the having been +obliged to send the two letters, relative to the removal of the Government, +and the leases--told him the Duke coincided in opinion with the Court. + +I then expressed my surprise that the Local Government did not obey better. +Said they seemed to forget the orders of the Directors were the King's +orders transmitted through the channel of the Court and the Board. I added +I should endeavour to introduce into every branch of Indian Government the +subordination and the improvements now established in the King's +service--depended on his co-operation, &c. I sent the letter to the Duke +to ask him if I should send it. + + +_July 7._ + +At quarter to six a messenger arrived from the Duke, to whom I sent +yesterday my letter to Lord W. asking if I should send it? The Duke desires +to see the despatches to which it refers. I have accordingly begged Jones +to send them to him. I shall however be in town early myself to-morrow. + +I told the Duke in my note I should stay in town till late to-morrow to +sign the letter as to the six regiments if they passed it. I am glad to +have an excuse for not going to Windsor to the Recorder's Report. + + +_July 8._ + +Office at 2. Wilson absent, so I could not transact any military business. +Carried the letters relative to the leases and the six regiments to the +Duke. He said mine about the regiments was _very good indeed_. + +The Emperor of Russia seems to have laid himself out most ably at Berlin to +captivate the King, and the army, and the people. + +Seymour's despatches are useful. He mentions _small_ things, which show the +character of men. + +The Emperor does not disguise his desire of peace. He wants no _garanties +matérielles_ at the Bosphorus for safe passage. He asks the principle of a +pecuniary indemnity, but does not seem disposed to contest the details. +Bernstorff observed truly, we could not get out of the Greek Treaty without +the help of Russia, and Russia wanted us to get out of the way. + +The Sultan begins to affect European manners. Calls upon ladies and talks +about education! Dines with a merchant! After all, considering his +education and his _entourage_, Sultan Mahmoud is the most remarkable man in +Europe. + + +_July 9._ + +Office at 2. Met Herries. Told him I should send him a statement of our +Indian loans, and place Leach at his disposal. We could then talk them +over, and see whether we could effect any financial operation. My idea is +that by offering some little higher interest in. India we might induce the +holders of the remittable loan to give up that privilege of receiving the +interest in England if resident here. + +Saw Major Cunningham. He looks more than forty, well, certainly, but I +should doubt his doing much hard work. He does not think himself a good +person to command Irregulars. His Rohillas were almost in as good order as +Regulars. + +He told me Lieutenant-Colonel Skinner was a man of large landed property. +He had raised his corps very much from his own estate and neighbourhood, +and was a sort of feudal chieftain. He has been educated like a native, +though the son of a Colonel in the Company's service. + +Saw Sir Murray Maxwell. [Footnote: He had commanded the 'Alceste,' which +took out Lord Amherst as Ambassador to China twelve years before.] It +seemed to me Sir Murray wanted to be sent with a frigate to try to open a +commercial communication with Pekin. He thinks even Japan might be induced +to trade. The instant the Chinese found the ship was gone and Lord Amherst +meant to return by land they would have nothing to say to him. They +probably took him for a spy. + +Sir Murray thinks the Chinese might be led to give a port to the northward. + +He describes the Spanish population of Manilla as being very small--the +native population large. It is but four days' sail, with a good breeze, +from Manilla to Canton. Always a favourable wind. The harbour magnificent. + +I think the whole object of his visit was to get a ship, and a sort of half +embassy. + + +_July 10._ + +Received a letter from Lord Clare, who saw the Duke yesterday. He says the +Duke was very kind and told him he should get all the information he could +before the Committee of next year. I shall most willingly assist him. + + +_July 11._ + +Cabinet. Talked of Ireland. The disposition to outrage seems increasing. +The Duke said we were responsible for the success of the measure of this +year, and we must put down the armed meetings. Warburton must be ordered to +do so. The Duke said emphatically if we do not preserve the peace of +Ireland we shall not be a Government. Peel is to write immediately. He +thinks the first appearance of a determination to put down these meetings +will have the effect of crushing them. We spoke of Poor Laws, Education, +and Grand Juries. Lord F. Leveson _despairs_ as to the two first. Upon both +the Government will form its opinion. I am glad to see that the more the +question of Poor Laws is considered the more the introduction of them +appears unadvisable, _or of any approach to them_. I have ever held this +opinion. + +In Cabinet we again, having done so many weeks ago, considered whether any +extension of time should be given to the Brazilians for the termination of +their traffic in slaves. + +Aberdeen seemed very indulgently inclined towards the slave dealers--not so +Peel and Fitzgerald. They seemed first of all to think it would be an +awkward Parliamentary case, and Peel protested against our becoming +responsible, as we should, for the horrible consequences which might attend +the continuance of the trade for six months. The Chancellor thought a +vessel leaving the coast of Africa, that is, engaging in the slave trade, +at such a period as would afford a reasonable probability of her arriving +on March 13, should be safe. I think February 13 was, after much desultory +discussion, fixed as the day after which no vessel should leave the coast +of Africa. + +The Brazilians had offered as an equivalent for six months an agreement +that in future vessels fitted for the slave trade, even if they had no +slaves on board, should be seizable. It seemed to be the opinion, a little +exaggerated, I think, that no prospect of future prevention of slave- +trading could justify us in permitting for an instant the immediate benefit +we had within our grasp. + + +_July 12._ + +The great day in Ireland; but I hope its happening on Sunday may break its +effect. The orders for vigorous interposition, determined upon on Saturday, +will have been of no use in preventing collision to-day, or even to-morrow, +should the anniversary be postponed. + +The Duke of Cumberland goes to Hanover, but he returns in October, and old +Eldon meets him then in London. They had a regular Cabinet to decide +whether he should go or not. + +Read the court-martial of Lieutenant Lewis, of the Bombay Artillery, who +struck an officer in the presence of his wife. The Chairs wish to restore +him. It is impossible. There is an end of all moral and gentlemanlike +feeling if it be not understood that a man's person is sacred in the +presence of his wife. We presume a wife to have feeling, and a man to +respect it. _The blow_ alone would have been a good cause of dismissal. + +Had a letter from the Bishop of Calcutta, who, on offering to execute +episcopal functions at the Cape, was told by Hay, of the Colonial Office, +that the cape was not in his Patent, and he could no do so. This is a +mistake. He can exercise episcopal functions, but not episcopal +jurisdictions. + +Had a letter from Mr. Joliffe, of Merstham, [Footnote: The seat of the +Joliffe family, near Reigate, in Surrey.] proposing steam-boat navigation +to India. An application from Salisbury for a letter of recommendation to +Lord W. Bentinck, in favour of Mr. Chester. Told him this was not a good +time to ask a favour of Lord William, and it would be better to send the +recommendation with the man, who does not sail till October. + + +_July 15, 1829._ + +Office. Found a letter from Loch, suggesting the irregularity of my sending +for his officers, and communicating with them on the subject of despatches +to be sent to the Indian Government, and expressing a hope that nothing +would occur to interrupt the harmony which existed between us. + +I said in reply that I have expressed a wish to see Colonel Salmond, and +afterwards to see Colonel Farant, merely from my desire to expedite +business, and to do it well. That it was mentioned in conversation with +Colonel Salmond and Mr. Wilson on Monday, that there was no irregularity in +that course, and that I immediately determined to desist from it. That I +believed I had so expressed myself at the time to Colonel Salmond. + +I added that I could assure him I would not willingly, by endeavouring to +extend the limits assigned by Parliament to the power of the Board, or by +my manner of exercising that power, interrupt the harmony which so happily +existed between the court and me. + +Went to the Foreign Office. I fear the defeat of the Turks near Shumla was +decisive; but still we have only Russian accounts, and they do _so lie_! It +seems certain the Russians took the opportunity of opening a negotiation. +The carelessness of the Turks in not keeping a good look-out towards +Silistria seems unaccountable, and they dawdled sadly before Pravady. The +new Vizier is very inferior to old Hussein Pacha, whose caution would have +avoided this catastrophe. + +Dined with the East India volunteers. The officers of the regiment are all +clerks in the Company's service. The non-commissioned officers and privates +serve in their warehouses. + +There are now 600 men. During the war they had three regiments, each 800 +strong--all their own servants. + +When my health was drunk I spoke of the Duke of Wellington's natural +fondness for India, of the high terms in which he always mentioned the +gallantry of the Indian army, and the purity of the Civil Service. I said +the Ministers were animated by his example, &c. + +The Speaker told me he thought Mr. Stanley [Footnote: A curious instance of +the failure of political prophecies, even by men of judgment and +experience. Seventeen years later he was leader of a party, and twenty- +three years afterwards Prime Minister.] would never rise higher than he was +now. It had been a curious Session--all men endeavouring to avoid +committing themselves. + + +_July 16._ + +Loch showed me two letters of Sir J. Malcolm, in which he deprecates the +sending of more writers, and says _numbers_ may be diminished, but not +_salaries_, especially in the higher ranks; and if writers are sent they +must be provided for. I believe he is right. I had already suggested the +non-appointment of writers this year, and the Chairs seemed to acquiesce-- +indeed, to have thought of it themselves. + +Recorder's Report. Before the report Madame de Cayla, the Duchess D'Escars, +&c., were presented to the King. I had some conversation with Rosslyn and +Herries as to the Indian Question. Herries seemed to be afraid of the House +of Commons. Rosslyn a little, too, of public opinion as to the opening of +the China trade. They both seemed rather hostile to the continuance of the +present system. I said I considered it to be a settled point that the +patronage of India should be separated from the Government. The necessity +of making that separation led to one great difficulty. The necessity of +remitting home in goods 3,200,000£ led to another difficulty, and to making +the Government of India, wherever it might be placed, _mercantile_. The +East India Company would not, and could not, without the monopoly carry on +the concern. + +Neither Herries nor Rosslyn seemed to admit the necessary separation of the +patronage of India from the Government. + +I said that, if it might not be separated, it would be easy to make a +better and a cheaper government. I can see that Peel, Fitzgerald, Herries, +Rosslyn--perhaps Sir G. Murray--will be against the Company. + +The Duke said it was clear to him that the remittances must be made in +goods, and could not be made by bills. He is for the monopoly. + +In a few days the papers will be printed. A copy will then be furnished to +each member of the Government, and I shall receive their observations. + +The Recorder's Report was a very heavy one. All the cases bad, and seven +ordered for execution. + +The King seemed very well. + +Stratford Canning and Lord Strangford were at the Court, to be presented on +their return. + +Before the report we read the last Irish papers. The Duke of Northumberland +and Lord F. Leveson seem to think rather favourably of the condition of +Ireland. The belief of Peel and Goulburn, and, I believe, of the Duke, is +that _one_ example would settle all. + +Lord F. Leveson says that the Brunswickers are encouraged _from St. +James's_ to expect that the Relief Bill will be repealed. Many wish for an +explosion, the Catholics less than the Protestants. + + +_July 19._ + +Hardinge and Wood dined with me. Hardinge says the Duke of Cumberland has +determined not to leave England, but to send for the Duchess and his son. +The Duchess of Gloucester did not before, and will not now, receive the +Duchess of Cumberland. Old Eldon wants a guarantee that no more Whigs will +be admitted. I believe he would be satisfied with none but his own +admission. + +Hardinge seems to think we may not have a majority when Parliament meets. I +think he is wrong. I trust to the Duke's fortune and to 'the being a +Government,' which is much, and to the others not being able to form a +Government, which is more. + + +_July 22._ + +Had a letter from Loch. He does not like the disbanding of the six +regiments, but he says he brings it before the Court again on Monday, +having promised every possible information. + +Read some of Colonel Tod's 'Rajastan.' I had rather see Rajastan or +Rajpootana than any part of India. It would really be interesting. Colonel +Tod seems to be an enthusiast about the country and the people. He was +there apparently at least sixteen years. The story of the beautiful +Princess of Oudeypore [Footnote: Krishna Komari. She was poisoned by her +father to avoid the hostilities of the rival princes who demanded her hand. +The father was still living when Colonel Tod wrote. The House of Oudeypore +was the only native reigning family who disdained to intermarry even with +the Emperors of Delhi. See Tod's _Rajasthan_, i. 066.] in Tod's book and +Sir J. Malcolm's is the most romantic and the most interesting I know. That +family of Oudeypore or Mewar seems to be the most ancient in the world. It +far surpasses the Bourbons and the House of Hapsburg. + + +_July 23._ + +Chairs at eleven. Told them of the danger in which they were, from the +feeling of the mercantile districts and of the country; that we could not +look Parliament in the face without having done all in our power to effect +reductions in a deficit of 800,000£ a year; that without a commanding case +no Government, however strong, could venture to propose a renewal of the +monopoly. + +They were obliged to me for my information. I advised them to turn their +attention immediately to all the great points. + +On the subject of the six regiments the Court differ from the view I took. +Loch gave me a long statement of facts, which I must read attentively, and +then communicate with the Duke. + +They are so enamoured of old habits that they hesitate about desiring their +Indian Governments and the subordinate correspondents of these Governments +to place upon the back of their voluminous letters a _précis_ of their +substance! + +After the Chairs were gone I saw Bankes and Leach, and while they were with +me Sir Archibald Campbell called. I saw him immediately. He is a fat, +rather intelligent-looking man, well mannered, and sensible. I talked to +him of the idea of exchanging Tenasserim. [Footnote: The furthest province +of the British territory towards Siam, extending along the coast south of +Pegu, and lately conquered from the Burmese Empire.] He did not like giving +up his conquest. I gave him one secret letter, and he will make his +observations upon it. + +He left Lord William at the mouth of the Hooghly. They had found out the +removal of the Government was contrary to law. They had intended to be +itinerant for a year or two. + +It is only in the Bengal army that the officers are old. There they rise by +seniority. In the Madras army they are made from fitness. + +The Madras army, though most gallant, was quite unequal, from deficiency of +physical strength, to face the Burmese. The Burmese soldiers brought +fourteen days' provisions. All men are liable to be called upon. They never +had more than 120,000 in the field. + +The English army took 2,000 cannon, and it was believed the Burmese had +2,500 left. + +Sir A. Campbell says there have been 60,000 refugees from Ava--all now +settled in Tenasserim. I had thought there had never been more than 10,000, +and that some, about half, had returned. + +Upon the whole, he seems enamoured of his conquests, but he did not adduce +any good reason against exchanging it. + +At the Cabinet room. Saw Lord Rosslyn there, as I used to be last year, +_désoeuvré_ and bored, as all Privy Seals will be. He seemed dissatisfied +with the state of affairs in Ireland and in England. At Manchester there is +a fear of a turn-out of some more cotton-spinners. Every thing depends upon +the harvest. + +The negotiations with the Turks came to nothing. The Grand Vizier's answer +to Diebitch is excellent. + +The sickness amongst the Russian troops continues, and Diebitch has not +more than 40,000 men, even with Roth's corps. + +The Ambassadors have been very well received at Constantinople. All are in +good humour there, notwithstanding the losses near Shumla. + +The Emperor does not go to the army. + +Lord Heytesbury represents Russia as being the least formidable of the +great Powers for the purpose of offensive operations, and seems to think +she contains many elements of convulsion. + +Metternich is trying to cajole the Russians by pretended fears of +revolutionary principles. + +They talk of a King in Columbia, and the French are intriguing to place a +French prince on the throne, after Bolivar. + + +_July 25, 1829._ + +Cabinet room. The Ambassadors seem to have been received most cordially at +Constantinople. We know no more of the Grand Vizier's losses. That he +experienced a complete defeat there can be no doubt. + +In Columbia, the French seem rather inclined to place, after Bolivar, a +Prince of the House of Orleans on the throne, and it does not seem unlikely +that the Columbians may consider it their best arrangement. + +The Emperor of Russia seems to be desirous of Peru, and the King of Prussia +has, at his request, sent the Baron von Müffling as his Minister to the +Porte to mediate. + +The Irish accounts are very bad. Lord F. Leveson seems now to think very +seriously of the state of things. Doherty is come back much alarmed from +Barris, where he has been with Blackie on a special commission. + + +_July 28._ + +I recommended to the attention of the Chairs the establishment of steam +communication with India by the Red Sea. + + +_July 29._ + +Read _précis_ relative to Kotah. + +These _précis_ will make me thoroughly acquainted with the history and +circumstances of the Rajpoot States, which are by far more interesting than +others. + +There is a looseness and a vulgarity in the East India House writing, the +literature of clerks which is quite disgusting. Our clerks write better +than theirs, but they do not write concisely and correctly. + + +_July 30._ + +Read Lord Heytesbury's letters. He is very Russian. They have certainly got +the plague at Odessa, and in all the stations of the Russian army. + +Met Peel at the Cabinet room. He said Ireland was in rather a better state. +He agreed with me in thinking the Brunswickers were the cause of all the +mischief. He believed the King had begged the Duke of Cumberland to stay, +and that the Duchess was certainly coming over. They wish to attack the +Ministry through the side of Ireland--to make a civil war rather than not +turn out a Government. + +He had written to the Duke suggesting that we ought to have a Cabinet +respecting Ireland, and he thought the Duke would come to town on his +letter. + + +_August 1._ + +Had from Sir G. Murray papers relative to the Canada question, upon which +he wishes to have the opinion of the Cabinet to-morrow. The immediate +question is whether a Bill passed by the Colonial Legislature for altering +the state of the representation shall be confirmed by the Crown. + +The state of Canada is such that I am convinced we ought in prudence to +place the revenue collected under the 14th Geo. II. at the disposal of the +Chambers, retaining, as they are willing to retain, a fixed salary for the +Government judges, independent of the annual vote. + + +_Sunday, August 2._ + +Cabinet at 4. Irish question. Lord F. Leveson seems to be much alarmed. He +wants to use the Bill of this year for the suppression of an expected +meeting at Derry, which meeting is to be unarmed, sing songs, drink toasts, +make speeches, and petition for a change of Ministers. + +It was considered that the powers entrusted to Government by the Bill for +the suppression of the Roman Catholic Association were never intended to be +exercised for the putting down of such a meeting as that intended to be +held at Derry. If the Brunswickers there come out of their houses and have +a procession _causing fear_ and threatening the peace, the common law can +put them down. Care will be taken to have troops enough at Derry. + +Lord F. Leveson likewise asks whether he shall proclaim martial law! Peel +very properly asks him what martial law is. In fact it is the absence of +all law--and can only be endured when a country is on the eve of rebellion +or actually in rebellion. [Footnote: This was exactly the description given +of it by Lord Beaconsfield with reference to Jamaica in 1866.] + +It seems to me that Lord Francis is unequal to his situation. I wish we had +Hardinge there. He would never go wrong. + +Herries told me he thought, after reading the papers I had sent him, that +there was more of care for the Company than he expected. + +Peel has written a very good letter to Lord F. Gower, telling him that the +first thing they must do is to establish an _efficient police_, to be paid +for by Ireland--and of which the officers must be appointed by Government. + + +_August 3._ + +Saw Hardinge. He has perfected a very excellent system in Ireland by which +all the 30,000 pensioners are divided into districts, in each of which is a +chief constable who pays them. If they move from one district to another +they have a ticket, so that the residence and the movements of all are +known. Of 30,000 about 10,000 are fit for duty. Blank orders are ready at +the Castle, directing the march of these men upon five central points, +where they would be incorporated with the regiments, so that in a few days +the army could be reinforced by 10,000 men. There are others who are not +very capable of doing anything but mischief if against us. These would be +ordered to the garrisons. + +I wish Hardinge was in Ireland instead of Lord Francis. + + +_August 6._ + +Chairs at 11. + +Astell does not seem to like my letters relative to the delay in answering +despatches from India and in communicating events in India; and respecting +the amount of military stores sent to India, and the expediency of +enquiring whether their amount could not be diminished. Loch did not say +anything. It was an attempt at bullying on Astell's part, which I resisted, +and successfully. + + +_August 10._ + +The Russians appear to have passed the defiles on the northern side of the +Balkans, and almost without loss. There is, I conclude, a force near +Bourgas, but all that is to be hoped is that the Turks will be wise enough +not to fight. It was an unlucky appointment, that of the Grand Vizier. Old +Hussein never would have committed his fault. + +R. Gordon has been magnificently received at Constantinople. + +Polignac has been made Prime Minister of France. De Rigny is made Minister +of Marine. The Government is Tory, and I should think very favourable to +English alliance, not Greek, and certainly not Russian. If it should be +able to stand, it must be good for us. Received letters from Colonel +Macdonald from Tabriz. He says the Russians at Tiflis talk as if they were +going to war with us. + + +_August 11._ + +Received Persian despatches. The Persians will pay no more. They wanted to +go to war. No one would go as Envoy to Petersburg but an _attaché_. They +all thought they should be beheaded. Macdonald seems to have kept them +quiet. + +Cabinet room. Met Lord Melville. Read Gordon's letters from Constantinople. +The Turks have not above 20,000 men there. They are not disposed to yield +at all. Gordon thinks if we declared we would fix in any manner the limits +of Greece, and maintain them, the Porte would not quarrel with us, and +would rather do anything than yield the point of honour by acknowledging +the independence of the Greeks. + +The Russians mean to pass the Balkans with 60,000 men and march on +Adrianople. They send a large force by sea to Sizeboli to turn Bourgas. + +Lord Francis Leveson holds out the apprehension of a long religious contest +in Ireland. [Footnote: Unhappily, like other pessimists, he seems to have +judged Ireland correctly.] I believe he looks only at the surface and +judges from first appearances. + + +_August 12._ + +A victory gained by Paskewitz over the Seraskier, whom he has taken +prisoner, with thirty-one pieces of cannon, &c., near Erzeroum--that is, +three days after the battle, Paskewitz, still in pursuit, was within forty +miles of Erzeroum. + +Wrote two letters to the Duke--one on the subject of Sir J. P. Grant, who +has closed the Courts at Bombay because the Government would not execute an +unlawful process, and the other respecting Persian affairs, giving the +substance of the despatches which I enclosed. + +We have a Cabinet to-morrow at 12 on Turkish affairs. I would not allow the +Russians to advance any further. I would send one from our own body, +_incognito,_ to Paris to talk to Polignac and endeavour to get him to join +us in an act of vigorous intervention which would give character to his +Government and save Constantinople. I would pass the English and French +fleets through the Dardanelles, and give Russia a leaf out of the Greek +Treaty. But I do not expect that this will be Aberdeen's course. + +Drummond, whom I saw, said the Duke was delighted with the account of the +Jaghirdars of the Kistna. Granville is gone to Ireland. + +The Duke was gone to Windsor. It is the King's birthday. + + +_August 13._ + +When the Cabinet was assembled the Duke said we were not to consider the +state of things at Constantinople, and what we should do. He thought the +Russians would get to Constantinople, and into it. If they did he thought +there was an end of the Ottoman Empire. He was doubtful whether, after the +innovations introduced, the Turks would cordially support Mahmoud, +[Footnote: Sultan Mahmoud, as is well known, remodelled the whole internal +organisation of the Turkish Empire. He was denounced as the Giaour Sultan +by old-fashioned Turks.] and already there were insurrections of the +Greeks. It was just what he predicted in his letter to La Ferronays, and +what Lord Dudley afterwards said in a letter to Lièven; the success of the +Russians was the dissolution of an Empire which could not be reconstituted. +It was too late to interfere by force, even if we had been disposed to do +so alone. + +He thought France, if we did nothing, would be quiet--if we did anything, +she would take the other line. Polignac was a more able man than people +supposed, and he would adhere to the course he adopted. We might endeavour, +at any rate, to ascertain his feelings and intentions. + +As to the Greek question we must have a conference, and consider the +suggestions of the Ambassadors, namely, that whatever we chose to make +Greece, should be declared independent, and guaranteed. Both the Duke and +Aberdeen thought France and Russia would both take the proposition into +consideration. The former as to _limits_, the latter for delay. France had +already told us that, provided we could agree upon the limits, she was +inclined to adopt the suggestion of the Ambassadors. + +We asked whether the permanent occupation of Constantinople by Russia was +to be submitted to? The answer was, _No_, to be opposed by war. It seemed +to me and to Fitzgerald we had better endeavour to prevent, at a small +expense, even if alone, a measure we could only retrieve if it took place +at an enormous expense, if at all, and which would in all probability +effect the ruin of the Turkish Empire. I did not think affairs quite so +desperate. I thought the Russians might get to Adrianople, but not to +Constantinople, and that they could not maintain themselves at Adrianople +without the command of the sea. We had six ships at the mouth of the +Dardanelles, and these with the Turkish Fleet would open the Black Sea. + +I was for passing our ships up to Constantinople and placing them at the +disposal of the Ambassador, for from hence we cannot give orders adapted to +circumstances. It was replied _that_ would be war. If war were to be +declared we should do as much mischief as possible, and go to Cronstadt, +not to the Black Sea. We should have our ships beyond the Bosphorus when +Russia occupied the Dardanelles, and shut us in. This would make us +ridiculous. + +As the object is not to do mischief to Russia, but to save the Turkish +Empire, I should say that measure was to be effected at the Bosphorus, for +Constantinople, once taken, and the Ottoman Power annihilated, it would be +of no use to distress Russia. + +Fitzgerald seemed to be of my opinion that, however desperate the chance, +we should do all we could to save Constantinople, and at any risk. + +It was determined that our fleet in the Mediterranean should be reinforced +by three or four line-of-battle ships, on the principle that wherever any +Power had a large force, we should have one--not a very wise principle, it +seems to me, if we are never to use force. I interceded for a few powerful +steamers, with 68 pound carronades, and I think Lord Melville seemed +inclined to acquiesce. + +Questions are to be put to Polignac to ascertain what he would do in +certain events. I said he never would open himself to Lord Stuart. It was +then suggested by the Duke that Aberdeen could write a private letter. This +will, I believe, be done. I said to Fitzgerald, who was next to me, +'Neither letter nor Stuart will get anything out of Polignac. One of +ourselves should go to Paris as an individual, see Polignac, and return +before the Conference.' + +I suggested Rosslyn, as he had nothing to do. Fitzgerald said he could go +and return in a week, and seemed to wish to do so. However, nothing was +said openly; and with all the means of success in our hands, for, I think, +Polignac _might_ be brought into our views, we shall lose all by not using +proper instruments; just as we have lost the Greek question by persisting +in keeping Stratford Canning. + +We had a good deal of conversation as to the limits of Greece. The Duke was +for adhering to the Morea. It was _really_ the best line. It was what we +had guaranteed. We had told the Turks we did not mean to go beyond it. + +Aberdeen has always had a little private hankering after Athens, though he +ridicules it. He had no scruple about annexing Athens, although not yet +taken. I said I thought Polignac would be disposed to hold our language to +Russia, if we would make some concession on the subject of Greece, and +enable him to settle that question with _éclat_. He would then be supported +by France in any strong language he might hold, and would establish himself +by the experiment of his first fortnight of office. + +However, the Cabinet seems disposed to look at accessories, not at +principles, at the minor objects rather than at _the one great object_, +which is inducing France to act with us to prevent the occupation of +Constantinople or to force its evacuation. Instead of yielding upon points +of minor importance, in order to carry the question, we are to insist now +on the minor points-the evacuation of the Morea by the French, and then, I +fear we shall weaken Polignac's Government, and lose our object. + +Our foreign policy has certainly been, most unsuccessful. We have succeeded +in nothing. + +The communication to be made to Polignac is to be made to him +confidentially, and he is to know it is not to be made to Austria. It is +considered that in any case Austria would support France and England if +they acted together, and any indication Austria might give of moving alone +would bring down Prussia upon her. This line, I think, well considered and +prudent. + +It seemed to be thought that, if the Turkish Empire should be _dissolved_, +Austria might be inclined to share the spoils and be quiet; but if it were +only _weakened_, she would feel she suffered. + +It seemed to be admitted by all that we ought to have taken a decided step +long ago. That we were too late, and that we were inexcusable. + +I said a year ago Aberdeen would ruin us--he would gradually let us down, +not by any flagrant error, but by being always under the mark. The Duke, +occupied as he is as Prime Minister, wanted an efficient secretary for +Foreign Affairs, and he could not have had a worse. + +Peel seems to think Ireland stands much better since the proclamation +respecting the attack made by the Ribbonmen upon the Orangemen in +Fermanagh. He seems to think the Irish Government ready enough when things +are brought to their notice, but that they do not read or attend to the +reports made to them. + + +_August 19._ + +I am inclined to think from what Colonel Hodgson says that leather might be +made in India as well as here. They have the hide of the buffalo. They want +the _tanning_, and some one must be sent from this country to teach them. +He told me of a Mr. Cotton who was long at Tanjore, where the iron is, and +I have written to him. + + +_August 22._ + +The Russians have taken Erzeroum, and have quite dispersed the Turkish army +in Asia. Every success of theirs in that quarter makes my heart bleed. I +consider it a victory gained over me, as Asia is _mine_. + + +_August 28._ + +The 'Courier' of last night throws doubts on the reported victory of +Kirkhilissa. The Sultan is said to be now ready to treat. The plague is in +the Russian army, and in the country before them. Had a long conversation +with Hardinge on Indian affairs. + + +_August 29._ + +Read a letter from Mr. Cartwright, the Consul at Constantinople, dated the +9th. The loss of Erzeroum is to be attributed to the Janizaries. In all +Asia they seem to be rising. The Russians are not expected to advance till +they are joined by 15,000 men, coming by sea. Thus our fleet would have +saved Constantinople. + +Cabinet at half-past three. Before the Cabinet read Lord Heytesbury's and +Mr. Gordon's despatches. Lord Heytesbury seems to be a mere Russian. + + +_August 31._ + +Mr. Gordon describes the Turkish Empire as falling to pieces. The national +enthusiasm and religious feeling of the people seem to be gone. The Sultan +is unpopular. The populace of Adrianople desires the advance of the +Russians, so scandalous has been the conduct of the Asiatics. The Pacha of +Egypt gives no assistance, and thinks the weakness of the Porte constitutes +his strength. The people of Trebizond have invited Count Paskewitz. +Erzeroum was lost by the treachery of the Janizaries. + +The Sultan has acceded to the Treaty of London. This accession is +qualified, but not in such a manner as to preclude negotiation. He has +consented to treat with Russia, to give freedom to the navigation of the +Black Sea, and to observe the Treaty of Akerman--but he stipulates for the +integrity of the Ottoman dominions in Europe and Asia. He has not, however, +sent Plenipotentiaries. + +General Muffling, the Prussian, is arrived at Constantinople. He reports +the moderate views of the Emperor Nicholas, and states them. + +The French Government, from the information it derived from its Minister at +Berlin, has instructed Count Guilleminot to declare to the Turks the terms +on which Russia will make peace. Russia requires the execution of the +Treaty of Akerman--indemnity--(but moderate) for the expenses of the war +and the losses sustained by her commerce, for which indemnity, as it seems, +she is willing to take Anapa. + +She requires the free navigation of the Dardanelles for all nations. This +cession to be secured by treaty, not by territorial occupation. + +The terms of the Turks are not very dissimilar; but as Count Diebitch has +orders to advance till preliminaries are signed, a catastrophe may take +place still. + +Mr. Gordon managed to get a paper into the Sultan's own hands, which may +have led in some measure to this result. He naturally gave credit to the +information contained in the Despatches of Count Guilleminot, but the +French Government have no authority for their opinion as to the terms on +which Russia will make peace. No communication to that effect has been made +officially to them. + +The French and Russian Ministers at the Conference said they could not act +on Mr. Gordon's letter, which is as yet uncorroborated by Count +Guilleminot. They could not yet act as if Turkey had acceded to the Treaty +of London. + +The Russians would now declare the independence of Greece within the Gulfs +of Volo and Arta, and they wanted Aberdeen to take that instead of the +treaty. He thought he could get them to declare the independence of Greece +_within the Morea_--that they would be satisfied with that, and that, if +they would, we had better secure that for the Turks now, than run the risk +of the event of war and of the extension which might be given to the terms +which might be forced upon them under the Treaty of London. + +However, even admitting that the Russians would be content with the +independence of Greece within the Morea (with Attica, [Footnote: Attica was +still held by the Turks, having been reconquered after its first occupation +by the Greeks.] by-the-bye), it was the opinion of the Duke and of every +one (but Aberdeen) that it would neither be generous nor honourable to +force upon the Turks in their distress terms which _they_, attaching much +value to the _suzeraineté_, might think less favourable than what they +might obtain under the Treaty of London, and that we should be drawing +ourselves into the embarrassment of what would be practically a new treaty +at the moment that we were beginning to entertain hopes of getting out of +that which had so long harassed us. + +Upon the whole, I think the aspect of Eastern affairs is better than it has +been since we have been a Government. + +Diebitch is said to have 35,000 men, and a reserve of 40,000. I doubt the +reserve being so strong. The 15,000 from Sebastopol have joined. + +Paskewitz is made Grand Cross of St. George. + +Diebitch will be so, of course. + +The King, Peel said, is very blind. He has lost the sight of one eye. The +Duke said when he was at Windsor last, the King was particularly civil to +him, and Peel and the Duke were both of opinion that the King would be most +cordial with the Government if the Duke of Cumberland were away, and was +now more so than could be expected under his influence. + +Aberdeen seems to have written the letter to Stuart, and Stuart to have +communicated it to Prince Polignac. Stuart's idea is that Polignac has had +too much to do in fixing himself to think much of foreign politics. He +expressed himself, however, disposed to consult with England as to the +measures which should be adopted if Russia should break her engagements. + +Several representations have been made to France for the withdrawing of the +French troops from the Morea--but hitherto without effect. These troops +keep the country quiet, and enable the whole force of the Greek State to +act offensively. Thus, assisted by French and Russian money, the Greeks +have acquired possession of everything within the Gulfs of Volo and Arta, +except the Island of Negropont. + + +_September 1, 1829._ + +Read with attention a paper of Courtney's on Leach's observations. Wrote +some memoranda upon it, which I shall send with it to the Duke, when I have +got from Shepheard a statement of the benefit derived by the territory from +the fixed rate of exchange. It is a valuable paper. I have written to thank +him for it, and to ask him to give me the result of his considerations on +the mode of transferring the Government of India from the Company to the +King, without materially increasing the patronage of the Crown; and +likewise the view he takes of the alterations it would be desirable to +introduce, if the Company should continue to govern India, in the powers of +the Board of Control and in its relations with the Court. + + +_September 3._ + +The Directors are much afraid of the Russians. So am I, and the Russians +begin to threaten us. They hint that they have open to them the route to +Bagdad, and they announce the presence in Petersburg of an Afghan Chief, +and of Ambassadors from Runjeet Singh. + +I feel confident we shall have to fight the Russians on the Indus, and I +have long had a presentiment that I should meet them there, and gain a +great battle. All dreams, but I have had them a long time. + +I have some idea of a secret letter to Bombay, directing the Government to +take possession of the Island of Karak, [Footnote: A small island in the +Persian Gulf to the north-west of Bushire.] and of any other tenable point +to seal the Euphrates, in the event of the Russians moving down. + +Loch wants to dethrone Runjeet Singh! + + +_September 4, 1829._ + +Saw Colonel Willoughby Cotton, who commanded _en second_ in Ava. He has +lately visited, as Adjutant-General of King's troops, all the stations of +the army in Bengal. He says no army can be in finer order. Lord Combermere +has weeded all the old men. The regiments manoeuvre beautifully. + +Lord C. wishes to have two King's regiments cantoned under the Himalaya +Mountains, where the climate is as good as in England. + +Runjeet Singh has conquered Cabul and Cashmere. He has French officers at +the head of his infantry and cavalry, and about five others. His artillery +he keeps under his own family. He has of regular troops 30,000 infantry, +and 10,000 cavalry, about eighty guns. All these easily assembled near the +capital. + +He is old, and when he dies his two sons are likely to quarrel and call us +in. + +The two ex-Kings of Cabul are living at Ludeana on pensions. Zemaun Shah, +the blind King, and his brother, who was King in Mr. Elphinstone's time. + +Colonel Cotton speaks most highly of the Madras troops. They are more +disposable than the Bengal troops, more free from prejudice of caste. + +He regrets the reduction of the bodyguard which conducted itself nobly in +Ava. I like a guard, and I would have an infantry as well as a cavalry +guard, to be formed by picked men. + +Colonel Willoughby Cotton says Colonel Skinner is about 55. His son is a +merchant, and goes every year into Cashmere for shawls. Skinner has still +about 1,300 men, and is quartered not far from Delhi. His people fire the +matchlock over the arm at full gallop, and with correct aim. They strike a +tent-peg out of the ground with their lances. + + +_September 5._ + +Received an answer from the Duke. He thinks the question of the six +regiments begins to be serious, as the Court throw upon the Government the +responsibility of running the risk of a mutiny in the army--desires to see +the paper, which I have sent him, and says it must go to the Cabinet. + +I feel satisfied I am right. If the Cabinet give in to the Court, they +weaken my hands so much that I shall be unable to effect any great reform. +They make the Directors the real Ministers of India, and almost emancipate +the Indian Government. So I told the Duke in my letter. + + +_September 7._ + +Office. Saw Sir A. Campbell. He came to offer himself for a command in +India. I spoke to him of his papers respecting war with the Burmese. He +says large boats carrying 100 men could go up to Aeng, the troops need not +land at Ramree. He was never an advocate for a diversion at Rangoon, and +thinks they make too much fuss about the frontier of Munnipore. + +Saw a Mr. Cotton, for a long time collector of Tanjore. He is against +introducing the Ryotwaree settlement into that country, and by his account +it seems very ill adapted to it, for according to him the Murassidars are +there really proprietors, and with them the settlement is now made for the +village. + +I sent for him to tell me about the iron I had understood to be in the +neighbourhood of Tanjore; but there is none, it is at Satara. He seems a +sensible man, and I must see him again. + +The Turks seem to have endeavoured to back out of their accession to the +Treaty of London, or rather to clog it with insuperable objections. But Mr. +Gordon has brought them back again, and on August 12 all was right, but no +Plenipotentiaries sent. The Russians were said to be moving on Adrianople. +They had not above 35,000 men. There is a very bad account from Smyrna of +the state of the population in Asia. In fact the Duke of Wellington's +prediction is fulfilled. The Turkish Empire is breaking to pieces. By Lord +Heytesbury's account the Russians are very desirous of peace, and very +apprehensive that a popular tumult may put an end to the Sultan. It is +impossible to see the end of the calamities which would occur, complicated +as they would be, if such an event as the dissolution of the Turkish Empire +took place. + +The new French Ministry is changing the municipalities. They hope to +succeed at the next elections. Lord Stuart considers M. de la Bourdonnaye +as the real head. + +Polignac very prudently rests on his oars as to Greece, and properly +observes it is idle to make protocols here when the march of events may +have altogether changed the state of things before the protocols arrive. + + +_September 8._ + +Office at 11. Went to the Duke. He read to me a long letter he had written +on the question of the six regiments, in which he entered at length into +the state of the Indian army such as he knows it to be, and concludes in +favour of a revision of the line I had adopted with his approbation. He +said the Government of India was wrong--every line of the proposed letter +abstractedly right; but there was to be considered the expediency of +writing it. + +I have written a letter to Lord W. Bentinck, stating confidentially the +grounds of the change of opinion as to the disbanding of the six extra +regiments. I added, 'However, such an event will not happen in your time, +nor I hope in mine,' or something to that effect. + + +_September 11._ + +Chairs at 11. Read to them the Duke's letter on the six regiments. Told +them I had written a private letter to Lord William to relieve his mind +from the censure intended for former Governments (a very small portion of +which is chargeable on him), and to caution him against similar errors. +Gave them the alteration I had intended to make in the draft respecting +pensions granted to King's soldiers enlisted into their army. They will +consider it. + + +_September 14._ + +Read the papers containing the correspondence with the local Governments +respecting the provision of stores in India. It is hardly credible, yet it +is true, that till within these few years the Medical Board indented upon +England for drugs which were produced in India! From Madras as late at 1827 +they indented for file handles and blacksmiths' tongs! From Bombay in 1826 +for wooden canteens and triangles! It is evident the local Governments have +never displayed any energy. + + +_September 16._ + +Received from the Duke his ideas on the subject of a campaign against Ava. +He would hold the great Dagon Temple at Rangoon, but only for the purpose +of having vessels in the river to co-operate with the army. + + +_September 17._ + +To-day has been an idle day. I have done nothing; but I have taken +exercise, and so acquired _health_, without which I cannot do business. + + +_September 20._ + +Met Mr. Conyngham of the Foreign Office. He told me the Turks were ready to +make the required concessions. Of the disposition of the Russians nothing +seems known. R. Gordon has of his own authority ordered up Sir Pulteney +Malcolm from Vourla to the Dardanelles. I suppose to carry away Englishmen +and their property in the event of an insurrection or of some terrible +catastrophe at Constantinople. + +Lord Stuart, as I suspected, gives no opinion as to the probable result of +the political contest in France. + +I had a letter from the Duke respecting half-Batta. + + +_September 24._ + +Cabinet room. Read all the letters from Petersburg, Paris, Berlin, and +Constantinople during the last fortnight, and the despatches sent during +the last month. + +R. Gordon seems to have done very well. He and Guilleminot have acted +cordially together, and when they had induced the Porte to consent to make +peace on the terms prescribed by the Russians, Gordon managed very +prudently to get General Muffling to send his secretary to the Russian +head-quarters with the Turkish Plenipotentiaries. Muffling would have gone +with them to the Reis Effendi had he been well enough; as it was, he sent +his secretary, who afterwards went to the Russian head-quarters and was +thus enabled to state distinctly what had passed in the conference held +with the Effendi. I think it very possible that without the intervention of +the Prussian Minister, who was known to be acquainted with the feelings of +the Emperor, General Diebitch would not have agreed to an armistice. The +armistice seems to have been made on August 29. We know of it from Seymour +at Berlin. + +Polignac seems excellently well disposed. He would act cordially with us if +he dared. At present he is obliged to cover all he does under the +instructions given to Guilleminot by his predecessor under a different +state of things, before the great Russian successes. He talks of a Congress +of the Powers interested, and of a joint declaration if Russia should not +adhere to her promise. + +Russia may be kept to her promises by the fear of a revolutionary movement +in France. The French Opposition desire the success of the Russians, the +dissolution of the Turkish Empire, and the occupation of the Dardanelles by +the Emperor Nicholas, because they know that such events would lead to a +_sotto sopra_ in Europe, a general scramble in which they would get the +Rhine as their boundary. Generally, I have no doubt, young France wishes +for confusion. + +Austria is alarmed and would do nothing. The Prussians hold that the +existence of the Ottoman Empire is not essential to the balance of power +(that is, some of them do), and they would be glad to see Austria and +Russia divide Turkey, Prussia having her compensation in Germany. However, +Muffling, going rather beyond his instructions, has been made to do good. + +I think all things tend to the preservation of peace if there should be no +explosion at Constantinople or in France. The Ottoman Empire seems, +however, to be falling to pieces. The Government has been so oppressive +that the people will not fight for it. The Sultan has but 4,000 troops, and +it is said the appearance of 10,000 Russians would lead to the capture of +Constantinople. + +Diebitch seems to dread the catastrophe which might ensue, and the +ambassadors have placed before him in strong terms the fatal consequences +of an explosion at Constantinople. + +I must say R. Gordon has done ably and well. + +The rascally Russians have been intriguing with our Ionian subjects, and +Aberdeen has written a very strong letter to Lord Heytesbury on the +subject. + +Polignac, desirous as he is of withdrawing the French troops altogether +from the Morea, is at present afraid of doing so. + +Aberdeen told me things were not going on well here. The King has quite +lost the sight of one eye, and the sight of the other is indistinct. It +gives him pain, too, and the fear of blindness makes him nervous. The Duke +of Cumberland is always about him, as mischievous as ever, but pretending +not to be hostile. + +The Duke of Wellington gives the King up as a bad job. He sees him very +seldom. At first he liked seeing him and setting things to rights; but he +says he found what he did one day was undone the next, and he is in +despair. The King has no constancy. There is no depending upon him from one +day to another. + +Aberdeen says the accession of Rosslyn has not produced the effect we +anticipated--that Lord Grey is very hostile. What we shall do for a +majority next session I know not, but I think we shall stand, [Footnote: +This might have been but for the events on the Continent in the year +following, which formed a new starting-point in the politics of a large +part of Europe.] although we shall not, I fear, be a strong Government. The +Catholic Relief Bill has destroyed our unity and the spirit of party. It +has likewise destroyed that of the Opposition, who have no longer any +rallying point. Thus the formation of a strong Government is difficult. The +Brunswickers cannot form one, and the King cannot be persuaded to make one +out of the Opposition. Indeed, that the Duke of Cumberland would never +advise. The Brunswickers will endeavour to make terms with us as a body--to +make martyrs of some of the old Protestants, particularly of the Duke and +Peel, and placing themselves at the head to go on as well as they could +with the rest of us. This will not do. + + +_September 26._ + +The Chairs, or rather the Court, somewhat impertinently object to the +addition I made to a recent draft, recommending an enquiry by practical and +scientific men as to the powers India may possess of producing many +articles of stores now sent from England. They say this is liable to +misconstruction, and then misconstrue it themselves. They suppose these +practical men, not being servants of the Company, to sit in judgment upon +the proceedings of the military Board. I have corrected their intentional +misconstruction, and have acquiesced in the substitution of a draft they +propose to send instead, which will, I hope, practically effect my object, +and therefore I have said we are willing our object should be attained in +the manner most agreeable to the Court of Directors. + +It is very lucky I had just sent them my letter about stores. It will +appear to be written subsequently to theirs. They think to humbug and to +bully me. They will find both difficult. + + +_September 30._ + +Read the collection respecting the health of the King's troops. It is +incredible to me that so many things should remain to be done--nothing +seems to have been done that ought to have been done. I fear our finances +make the building of new barracks impossible at present. We could not build +proper barracks for all the European troops in India much under a million. +Still much may be done for their health. + + +_October 5._ + +Arrived in London at 3. To the Cabinet room, where I found Lord Bathurst, +come up to town for Seymour Bathurst's [Footnote: Hon. Seymour Bathurst, +fourth son of third Earl Bathurst, married October 6, 1829, Julia, daughter +of John Peter Hankey, Esq.] marriage, and afterwards Fitzgerald came in. + +Fitzgerald was a fortnight in Ireland, and gives a bad account of it. + +A letter from Metternich says peace was actually signed. Sir E. Gordon's +despatches give every reason to expect it soon would be. The peace cannot +last. I am inclined to think it would have been better for the Russians to +have occupied Constantinople, and for the Ottoman Empire to have been +overthrown that we might have known at once where we were, than to have had +such a peace as this. It is practically present occupation (for a year) of +_more_ than they now hold, for they are to have the fortresses ceded to +them. They exact 750,000£ for the pretended losses of their merchants, and +five millions for themselves. The indemnity to the merchants to be paid by +three instalments. On the payment of the first, Adrianople and a few places +on the coast to be given up. On the payment of the second everything to the +Balkan, and on the third Bulgaria. These payments occupy a year. + +The five millions are to be paid in ten years, or sooner if the Turks can +manage it. The Principalities to be occupied till the payment. The Turks to +confirm the Government established during the ten years, and not to impose +any taxes for two years more. + +All the fortresses on the left bank to be destroyed. None of the islands to +belong to Turkey. No Turk to enter the principalities. The princes to be +for life. All payments _in kind_ from the Principalities to cease, and +instead the Turks and the princes to _agree upon a compensation_! It is +unnecessary to go through the other articles relative to the +Principalities. The treaty contains a real cession of them to Russia. + +The terms as to the navigation of merchantmen, their not being searched in +a Turkish port, the refusal of acquiescence in the demands of the Russian +Minister where any injury is pretended to have been done to a Russian, to +be _just ground for reprisal_, &c., are of a nature intolerable to an +independent Power, and not to be carried into execution. + +On the side of Asia everything is ceded that can enable Russia to attack +either Turkey or Persia with advantage. + +The terms imposed with regard to indemnities are extravagant and altogether +contrary to all the Emperor's promises. He has not deceived us; but he has +lied to us most foully. Sir R. Gordon seems to have done all that could be +done. Perhaps he has saved Constantinople from conflagration, and the +Empire from dissolution. He has managed to settle the Greek question, +Turkey consenting to everything the allies may determine under the protocol +of March 22. Sir R. Gordon has taken upon himself to order up the English +ships, and Guilleminot has ordered up the French ships, but they were still +at Smyrna when the dispatch came away. These ships, it is hoped, may be +some check on the Russians, and ostensibly they only go up to +Constantinople to save Christians. However, if the Russians advance they +will probably lead the Turks to fight. Gordon and Guilleminot have very +properly told the Sultan they will remain by him in any case. + +The Turks declare the terms are, as regards payment, such as they have +really no means of complying with. The allies will make representations to +Petersburg to obtain a relaxation of these conditions. + +In the meantime, while this was doing at Constantinople, Lord Heytesbury +was asking Nesselrode what the terms he intended to propose were, and +Nesselrode would not tell him. Lord Heytesbury's despatch and Gordon's are +both dated on September 10. The 12th was to be the day of signature. Lord +Stuart by Aberdeen's directions has been pressing Polignac very hard to +withdraw the French troops from the Morea, and Polignac has been obliged to +plead the weakness of his Government, and to put off Lord Stuart by +referring it to the Conference. I should say from what the papers show of +Polignac that he will not stand. I do not know what his antagonists may be, +but he is evidently not a powerful man. + +A Liberal told Fitzgerald their object was now in France to make the King +of the Netherlands King of France, and give Holland to Prussia, taking +Belgium and everything to the Rhine to themselves. + +I should say things looked ill everywhere, and unless we can make the +Emperor of Russia fear a convulsion in France, and determine to recede from +some of his stipulations with Turkey to satisfy the rest of Europe, we +shall have war, and war under the most unfavourable circumstances--that is, +if Austria be not as pusillanimous as she may be weak, for she ought never +to consent to the establishment of the Russians on the Danube. + +The only line for the Turks to pursue is to promise everything; to +endeavour to perform everything, and to withdraw to Asia, leaving the rest +of Europe to settle who shall have Constantinople. _Now_ they could not do +that, as they are too weak; but six months hence they may. + +We dine with the Duke on Wednesday--and shall then, I suppose, determine +what we are to do. + + +_October 7._ + +Cabinet at 3. All present except Lord Melville. + +Aberdeen read a paper he had written before the peace was known, the object +of which was to show that the Ottoman Empire was dissolved, and that it +could not be reconstituted; that our views with regard to Greece should now +change with circumstances, and that we should endeavour to make it a +substantive state. To Turkey it could no longer signify whether Greece had +a more extended or more limited line of frontier, and our desire should be +to place a fit man upon the throne. France is willing to propose in the +Conference that to Turkey should be offered the alternative of a Greece +with extended limits under Suzeraineté, &c., according to the Protocol of +March 22, or a Greece with narrower limits, entirely independent. + +The Duke said we must first have satisfaction for the insertion of the +Article in the treaty of peace which bound Turkey to the Protocol of March +22; Russia, as a party to the Treaty of London, having no right to settle +that treaty herself. Next, we should insist on an armistice between the +Greeks and Turks. + +We must recollect that Turkey had bound herself to acquiesce in the +decision of the Conference upon the Greek Treaty--that is, to defer to our +mediation. Could we, as mediators, propose to Turkey to cede Attica, +Negropont, and other possessions she now holds? and would we willingly +bring the frontiers of the Greek state into contact with our Ionian +Islands? + +If Greece were to have a sovereign, Prince Philip of Hesse Homburg would be +the best man for us--Austria would prefer him. France admitted that the +wishes of Austria ought to be consulted. + +France, however, rather wished for Prince Charles of Bavaria. Russia for a +Duke of Saxe-Weimar. + +Aberdeen seemed to think there would be no great difficulty in carrying our +point, and having Prince Philip of Hesse Homburg. + +Peel said he thought we could not allow a treaty such as that signed by +Turkey to pass without a remonstrance on our part. We referred to a letter +of Dudley's, and to Aberdeen's recent instruction to Lord Heytesbury, and +likewise to the various declarations of moderation put forth by the Emperor +Nicholas. Several ways were started of expressing our opinion--a sort of +circular to the Powers which signed the Treaty of the Congress--a +declaration to Parliament. + +The Duke suggested a remonstrance to the Emperor Nicholas to be +communicated in the first instance only to Russia. + +This seems likely to be adopted, but we are to have another Cabinet to- +morrow. + +In whatever we do we must endeavour to keep Austria out of the scrape, for +there is nothing the Russians would like so much as the opportunity of +marching to Vienna. + +Not only it would be romantic for us alone to go to war to maintain the +balance of power, but it would, in this case, be absurd indeed, for, if our +armies had driven the Russians out of Turkey, we could not reconstitute the +Turkish Empire. It is dissolved in its own weakness. + +Great dissatisfaction was expressed, and justly, at the conduct of Lord +Heytesbury, who has been humbugged by the Russians all along. + +The King has run up a bill of 4,000£ for clothes in six months. All the +offices of the Household, except the Chamberlain's, which has 1,900£ in +hand, are falling into arrear, and if there should be an arrear upon the +whole civil list, it must come before Parliament. + +Fitzgerald gives a very bad account of trade generally. + +The King does not like us better than he did, and the Duke of Cumberland +means to keep his son in England, and educate him here, taking the 6,000£ a +year. He wants to drive the Government to make him Viceroy of Hanover. + +The Cabinet dined with the Duke. + + +_October 8._ + +Cabinet at 3. A great deal of conversation of which the result was that a +remonstrance should be made to Russia on the subject of the terms of the +peace. This remonstrance will temperately but strongly, more by statement +of facts than by observations, show that the peace is not such as the +Emperor had given us reason to expect he would require, and that it in +reality threatens the existence of the Turkish Empire; that the destruction +of that Empire would seriously affect the peace of Europe by changing the +relative position of the several States. + +Aberdeen wants a guarantee of the territorial possessions of Turkey, not of +its Government. [Footnote: It is observable that this guarantee seems to +have said nothing of the internal system of government, and so far to have +been unconditional. It would therefore have gone considerably beyond the +Anglo-Turkish Convention of 1878. It would also have applied to Europe as +well as Asia. It is a commentary on the statement of Mr. Gladstone, in +later days a colleague of Lord Aberdeen, that no statesman whom he had +known in former times would ever have listened to the idea of such an +engagement.] I think no one seems much inclined to agree with him. Such a +guarantee would impose obligations without conferring rights upon us. It +would be a guarantee which would give rise to infinite complications, and +which would embarrass us very much. + +Without a guarantee we may succeed in bringing the great States to an +understanding that the distribution of the Turkish territories, in the +event of the falling to pieces of that State, must be a subject for the +decision of a Congress. + +Austria has expressed herself very frankly. She is ready to do anything. +She sees the danger and desires to know our view of it. The real view of +France does not seem to be very different; but there is no dependence to be +placed upon a Government trembling for its life. Prussia will be satisfied +with the peace. Her sovereign is very weak, and the Prussians think their +interest is served by the progress of Russia in a direction contrary to +them, and in which she menaces Austria. + +The smuggling case is said to tell against Lord Stuart. He writes +unintelligibly, and the French will not trust him--so I shall not be sorry +if we can get rid of him. + +With Lord Heytesbury we are all dissatisfied, and have been from the +beginning. There is a Council on Monday, and we have a Cabinet on Sunday at +3, when we are to hear Aberdeen's letter, and may probably have the Treaty. + +There seems a determination to effect an armistice by force if the +Conference will not order it in Greece. + +We have nine good ships there. The Russians seven bad ones, and the French +two. + +Before the Conference can proceed the 10th Article of the Treaty of Peace +must be declared _non avenu_--that which obliges the Porte to accept the +Protocol of March 22--all negotiation upon that Protocol having been +committed by Russia to the French and English Ambassadors, and it having +been expressly reserved to the Porte by us, that her objections should be +fairly weighed. + +The French have taken advantage of the peace to order their troops home +from the Morea. + + +_October 9._ + +Read many of the Protocols of the early Conferences after the Russian, +declaration of war. I shall to-morrow read these again carefully and sketch +_my_ State paper. + +If I was in opposition I should describe the details relative to the +Principalities, as showing the moderation of the thief who would stipulate +that men should sleep with their doors open, till they have ransomed +themselves by paying their uttermost farthing. + + +_October 10._ + +Received a letter from Sir J. Malcolm. He seems pleased with the secret +dispatches relative to Persia and the Pacha of Bagdad. He seems upon the +whole very much gratified, and very grateful. + +He strongly presses the appointment of an Indian as his successor, and +mentions Sir Ch. Metcalfe and Jenkins. He likewise mentions a Mr. Chaplin, +of whom I never heard. I take Jenkins to be a cleverer man than Sir Ch. +Metcalfe, [Footnote: Afterwards Lord Metcalfe.] who rather disappoints me. + +Had three letters by Petersburg from Colonel McDonald, the last dated in +August. The Persians, thoroughly alarmed, are doing all they can to satisfy +the Emperor Nicholas by punishing the persons engaged in the massacre of +the Russian mission; but they had an insurrection to quell on banishing the +High Priest, who was at the head of all. As they conclude all the bad +characters had a hand in it they mean to take the opportunity of punishing +them. Paskewitz is said to have from 20,000 to 22,000 men--to have +sustained no loss in the late engagements, but to suffer from the plague. +At Erzeroum the Mahometans are not only satisfied, but well pleased. The +Government of a Russian general is better than that of a Turkish Pasha. + +The Prince Abbas Mirza is at last doing something towards making an army. +Major Hart, alone, however, keeps it together. The troops are as yet ill- +armed, but they have their pay. McDonald thinks the King not likely to live +long. He wants a cypher. + + +_October 11, Sunday._ + +Came up from Worthing to a Cabinet. Before we met read the last letters +from Lord Heytesbury, which show a degree of infatuation respecting the +Russians, which is quite wonderful. + +Before we began to talk Rothschild called out the Duke of Wellington, and +offered at once all the money to pay the Russian Indemnity. He said he only +wanted the guarantee of England! + +If the Russians remained in the Principalities there would be a general +war. + +Irvine, an English loan jobber, saw the Duke yesterday with the same offer. + +The joke is that Rothschild is to pay the money for the Turks, and to be +made King of Jerusalem. + +Aberdeen began by begging we would first settle the Greek question. He +brought a paper the Russians were willing to deliver in containing a sort +of apology for the 10th Article, and declaring that it by no means +interfered with the powers of the Conference. We took a great deal of time +in considering whether we should not suggest some alteration in this +paper--some is to be proposed--not very essential. + +We had a long discussion as to the name of the new State. At last it seemed +to be thought 'Sovereign Prince of Greece' was the best. Aberdeen thinks +he shall have little difficulty about the Prince. The Russians agree to the +description given; but I dare say they imagine we mean to describe a +different man. I suspect they think we want to give them Leopold. + +Aberdeen read a letter he proposed sending to Lord Stuart, the purport of +which was that we wanted to know what he meant to do towards redeeming +France from the responsibility she had incurred and made us incur by giving +instructions to Count Guilleminot, stating the terms of peace and the +moderation of the Emperor--instructions which misled our Ambassador, and +induced the two Ambassadors to give assurances to the Porte which events +proved to be unfounded. + +The letter, I think, likewise desired him to enquire in what form our joint +representations as to the amount of the indemnity were to be made. To these +the Ambassadors have pledged the two Cabinets. + +There was a great deal more in the letter which is to be left out. It went +into the details of the treaty, or rather of its effects. + +The offer is to be made to the Turks of an independent Greece, from the +Gulf of Volo to Missolonghi, or of a Greece under Suzeraineté, with +Negropont, and the line from Volo to the Gulf of Arta. + +I think we are all agreed that at the commencement of the war it was our +interest to take as little as possible from Turkey--that now it is our +interest to make Greece a substantive State, which may hereafter receive +the _débris_ of the Ottoman Empire. [Footnote: This may explain the +apparently illiberal views of many of the Cabinet as to the Greek +boundaries. They saw the difficulty of any halting place outside the +Isthmus of Corinth, short of a wider boundary even than that ultimately +adopted.] + +As to the really important matter, the remonstrance to Russia, nothing was +done. Nothing is, I conclude, written, and Aberdeen does not like Cabinet +criticism, nor do I think the Cabinet at all agreed as to what should be +said. Dudley's letters used to occupy us for days, and certainly they were +the better for it--although we lost a good deal of time occasionally. + +Aberdeen said he would send it to me. I think I shall write an _esquisse_ +myself. We are to have no more Cabinets for some time. The Chancellor +wishes to have the remaining fortnight of his holidays uninterrupted. + + +_October 12._ + +Went to town at quarter-past one. To the Foreign Office. The treaty arrived +last night. Lord Aberdeen took it with him to Windsor. It differs +materially from the _projet_. The Articles respecting indemnity are +_relégués_ to a separate transaction. The payment of 100,000 ducats is to +lead to the evacuation of Adrianople; 400,000 form the next payment, then +500,000, and 500,000, making the sum originally demanded for individual +losses; but, as I understand Mr. Backhouse, eighteen months must elapse +before Turkey can be evacuated to the Danube. I had much conversation with +him as to other points. On looking into the Act of the Congress I find the +Powers adhering to it may be considered as binding themselves not to +_disturb_ the territorial arrangements that Act establishes; but they are +not bound to _maintain_ them. Thus if France appropriated to herself Spain, +she would violate the treaty, but no Power signing the treaty would be +obliged, by virtue of that Act, to make war upon France for doing so. + +That the general treaty contains no guarantee is evident from the specific +guarantee of the cessions made by Saxony to Prussia, which would have been +unnecessary if the spirit of the treaty had been that of existent +guarantee. + + +_October 13._ + +Cabinet room. Found Lord Rosslyn there. Read the treaty. + +The King was very well yesterday. The Recorder's Report was so long that +half was deferred. + +The last dispatches from Persia, which arrived on Friday, were opened at +the Foreign Office, and read by everybody. Aberdeen sent them to the Duke, +who has probably taken them to Walmer in his carriage. The Chairs sent for +them, and could not get them. I must put a stop to this. I have written to +Lord Heytesbury to beg he will in future forward letters to their address. + +Wrote a 'proposed draft' to Lord Heytesbury, directing him, if he should +have reason to think the Russians intend to exact further concession from +Persia, to intimate that such an attempt will be considered by his Majesty +as unfriendly to himself as an Asiatic Power. I doubt my getting the Duke +to agree to the sending of this despatch; but I shall try. + + +_October 14._ + +Carried my proposed letter to Lord Heytesbury to Aberdeen, who agrees to +send it with a trifling alteration, at least one not very important. Read +to him my proposed letter to Lord Heytesbury on the Peace of Adrianople. He +seemed to approve of great part of it. He has done nothing at his yet, and +seems to think there is no hurry! + +We shall stand very ill in Parliament if we have nothing to show. I think +mine is a good _cadre_ of a letter, but that specific instructions should +be given to Lord Heytesbury as to what he shall endeavour to obtain in a +separate despatch. + +Read my drafts to Lord Rosslyn after dinner. He seemed to think the view I +took was the right, and that much of what I had written was very good, but +that it might be shortened. So I think. + + +_October 15._ + +Henry copied the draft to Lord Heytesbury, for the Duke, to whom I sent it +with a letter. + +Showed the Chairs the draft to Lord Heytesbury on Persia. They were much +pleased with it. So was old Jones. Sent it to the Duke. In little doubt his +approving it. + +Received from the Duke the Persian despatches which I gave to the Chairs. +The Duke had not read them. + +Received from him a letter on the subject of half-Batta. He says as an +officer he should have thought there was a compromise in 1801. That it +should be looked into as a question of economy. That above all things in +dealing with an army you must _be just_. + +The Duke thinks the publication of the letter of Lord Combermere's +secretary indiscreet and _wicked_, and is very angry with Lord Combermere. + +A letter will be written to the Government on the subject, directing +enquiry. + + +_October 19, Sunday._ + +Read McDonald's despatches from Persia, and sent them to the Duke, with a +letter suggesting the heads of a letter to the Envoy. + +The Russians have given up one of the two crores due, and allow five years +for paying the other. They mean, therefore, to rule Persia _by influence_. +However, there is a good Mahometan and Anti-Russian feeling beyond the +Euphrates, and if mischief happens, it is our fault. + +Received a letter from Hardinge respecting half-Batta. He is for standing +firm and giving some general boon, as an addition to marching money, to the +whole army. That is my idea. I am sure it is the safest course. + +Wrote to Loch, suggesting it, and at the same time advised him to answer +the paragraphs respecting half-Batta, and not give misrepresentations too +much head. + + +_October 20._ + +Two letters from the Duke, written very hastily. It is evident he did not +like my making a sketch of a letter to Lord Heytesbury, and that he does +not like any difference of opinion as to the Batta question. + +On the first point I still think I was right. He mentions some ideas of +Russia ordering Diebitch across the Balkan, and even the Danube, of her +giving up the Principalities, &c. In short he says all we know is that +there is a peace--we do not know what it is--and it would be ridiculous to +remonstrate against we know not what. + +My draft was written before these reports were spread; and I only, from +anxiety to have the despatch well written and soon, sketched what I thought +would do. + +As to the reports, I have told Aberdeen I cannot believe Russia has on a +sudden ceased to be ambitious, or to use perfidy as a mode of accomplishing +ambitious ends. She may give out she will make these changes--she may make +some--but her object is to prevent all combination on the part of Austria, +France, and England. If we do not remonstrate against what is signed, we +shall lose all credit, if that which is executed should be comparatively +favourable, and we shall incur great blame if no relaxation takes place. A +remonstrance might be so worded as to do no harm to Turkey or to Europe, +and to do good to us. + +The Duke's other letter was on the Batta question, upon which he does not +like contradiction, yet I think his course would lead to continued demands +on the part of all the armies. I have told him I shall be in town to see +the Chairs on Saturday, and will try to see him on Friday, and, if he +wishes, bring the Chairs to him on Saturday. + + +_October 21._ + +Received a long confused letter from Fitzgerald upon my project of a draft +to Lord Heytesbury. He was at Sudborn, [Footnote: Seat of Lord Hertford, in +Suffolk] where the Duke was. The Duke was not so much inclined to think the +Russians would make any considerable concessions as Aberdeen, but he +thought, and had made Fitzgerald think, it would be premature to +remonstrate. I have written to Fitzgerald and told him my opinion more at +length than I told Aberdeen yesterday. + + +_October 23._ + +Cabinet room. Read the despatches from Petersburg and Paris. All the hints +of the Emperor of Russia's intention of not retaining his army in Turkey +come through Paris, Nesselrode having on September 29 spoken thus +specifically to the Duke de Mortemart, and merely talked about taking less +money and making some change in the guarantees to Lord Heytesbury. I did +not see Aberdeen, who was engaged with the Spanish Minister. + +I do not depart from my original idea that Russia does all this to gain +time, and with as much perfidy as she has shown throughout. + +Polignac would take a loyal view if he durst. + +I cannot see the Duke till Monday, as he does not return to London till +Sunday evening. + +I saw Hardinge and had a long talk with him about Batta, &c. + + +_October 24._ + +Chairs at 11. + +The Chairs say the Court have the matter entirely in their hands as to +Batta. They wish to have the opinion of the Cabinet, and to be governed by +that. I have written to the Duke to tell him so. + +I am glad there is to be a Cabinet, because I think a Cabinet will take a +more popular view of the question than the Duke, and, as I think, a juster +view. I am for standing firm. + +The Duke's letter on Persian affairs arrived while I was with the Chairs. I +read it to them. The Duke suggests that McDonald should raise his escort in +Persia--an excellent idea. He objects to Major Hart having an assignment of +land. He thinks Willock may be recalled. The officers not; but if the +prince will pay them, so much the better. I think the Duke may be right as +to the assignments of land. Upon all the other points I entirely agree with +him. Read last night a letter of Lushington's, or rather a minute, which +shows he is determined to remain. + +Cabinet room. Cunningham came in and showed me a draft of Aberdeen's to our +Minister in Spain on the recognition by Spain of Don Miguel--finding +excuses for Spain, and saying we cannot do it. What I saw was the +_brouillon_ which had been sent to the Duke. It had his observations in +pencil, and it seems Aberdeen sends all his proposed despatches to him and +alters them at his suggestion. Certainly Aberdeen, left to himself, would +be a very incautious writer. + + +_October 26._ + +Office early. Saw Captain Hanchett on the subject of the navigation of the +Red Sea. He was there two years and a half. He says in going in you should +make Aden and wait there for a wind. Water can be had there. Avoid Mocha, +where the anchorage is dangerous and the water bad, and go to the Island of +Cameran, then straight up in mid channel. All the dangers are visible, and +in the mid channel there are none. Cosseir a good little harbour, the +danger is going up to Suez; but that easy for a steamer. He worked with +topgallant sails against the north-west monsoon. There is a breeze along +shore at all times. The danger has been occasioned by the timid sailing of +the Arabs, who always hug the shore, and anchor at night. + + +_October 27._ + +I omitted yesterday to mention that at the Foreign Office I saw some +despatches just received from Sir R. Gordon. I think the date of the first +was October 2. He had the day before at last got the Turks to ratify the +treaty, but it seems there was a hitch, and until the ratification the +officers did not set off to stop hostilities in Asia. A Pasha had advanced +on Philippopoli and General Geismar on Sophia. Diebitch threatened to +advance on Constantinople. However, the day after he wrote his threatening +letter he must have received the ratifications. The Sultan is very anxious +to get the Egyptian fleet to Constantinople, probably as a pledge for the +allegiance of the Pasha, and to show his greatest vassal obeys him. The +Turks say it is the moral effect of the presence of the fleet on their own +subjects that they want, that they have no idea of not acting faithfully. +Sir R. Gordon assures me they mean to preserve the peace and must. + +He has written the representation the Turkish ambassador is to present to +the Emperor. It would be a good remonstrance for us, but it is not a good +one for the Turks. It is very well written, but it is quite European in its +style, and the Russians will at once know, as I did, the author. + +The Turks intended to send a splendid embassy to Petersburg, and Halil +Pasha, once the slave of the Seraskier, now the Sultan's son-in-law, was to +have been the ambassador. He is their least officer. However, Diebitch +tells them they must not send it till they have the Emperor's consent. The +Turks have ready the first 100,000 ducats, to get the Russians out of +Adrianople. + +I should say from these despatches that things do not look peaceful. + + +_October 28._ + +Had a letter yesterday from Mr. Elphinstone on Nazarre. It appears to be a +fine on descents, &c., of Jaghire lands. I think his opinion will be +different from Sir J. Malcolm's--the latter wishing to make the Jaghires +hereditary, or rather to give a fee simple interest to the actual +proprietor. Mr. Elphinstone, on the contrary, thinking they should be +resumed on death without heirs. + + +_October 29._ + +Read a work just published by Colonel de Lacy Evans, on the practicability +of a Russian invasion of India. The route would be first to China, across a +desert from the shores of the Caspian--from China by water up the Oxus, to +within 550 miles of Attock. The great difficulty is between the end of the +river, and the southern side of the Hindoo Koosh. This difficulty, however, +has been often surmounted, and the road is constantly travelled by +caravans. + +I think it is clear that the invasion of India could not be attempted till +the third year; but when should we begin to take precautions? A Government +wholly Asiatic would not be still if the Russians took possession of China; +but ours, chained by European politics, would hardly move if they entered +Cabul. + +We ought to have full information as to Cabul, Bokhara, and China. + +My letter of last year directed the attaining of information; but I dare +say nothing has been done. + + +_October 30._ + +Received a Memorial from Mr. Fullerton, asking some remuneration beyond his +salary for past services. He has a claim _if we were rich_. I think he +should have 10,000 dollars. I dare say he thinks 20,000. Thoughtless +extravagance is the destruction of generosity and even of justice. + +Upon the subject of the invasion of India my idea is that the thing is not +only practicable, but easy, unless we determine to act as an Asiatic Power. +On the acquisition of Khiva by the Russians we should occupy Lahore and +Cabul.[Footnote: It may be remembered that Lord Ellenborough strongly +disapproved of any occupation of Afghanistan, or interference with its +internal affairs, in 1840-42. At that time Russia had not advanced to +Khiva. It is clear that he would not have held the same opinion as to our +policy towards Afghanistan after the events of 1873-74.] It is not on the +Indus that an enemy is to be met. If we do not meet him in Cabul, at the +foot of the Hindoo Koosh, or in its passes, we had better remain in the +Sutlege. If the Russians once occupy Cabul they may remain there with the +Indus in their front, till they have organised insurrection in our rear, +and completely equipped their army. I fear there are passes from Balkh upon +Peshawur. If these could be closed and the enemy poured upon Cabul we +should know where to meet him. Now we, being at Cabul, might be cut off +from its resources by the descent of the enemy upon Peshawur. + +There is some road from Roondorg through Cashmere, but I do not fear that. +The road an enemy would choose would be that by the Valley of the Cachgu. + +We know nothing of these passes, nothing of the country beyond them, +nothing of the course of the Indus--but we should have full information so +as to be able to crush an advancing enemy, by making the whole country +hostile, which money would do. + +To meet an invasion we must raise every regiment to 1,000 men. + + 168 Regiments + 360 " + ----- + 1,008 + 504 + ------ + 60,480 Men, besides Artillery. + 4,000 King's Inf. raised to 1,000 each Reg. + 1,000 Do. four Regiments of Cavalry. + 4,000 Four new Regiments. + 2,000 Two new Cavalry. + Besides King's Artillery. + ------ + 71,480 + +Besides the increase which would take place in the Irregular Corps, +particularly in Skinner's. + +A smaller increase than this would not be sufficient; for we should require +20,000 men at Delhi, 20,000 in Lahore, and 60,000 in Cabul. I speak of +enrolled, not effectives--but with these augmentations the Regular Army +would only be + + 148,000 N.I. + 24,000 King's. + ------- + 172,000 + 20,000 Native Cavalry. + 6,000 King's. + ------- + 198,000 + +The out provisional battalions, local corps, &c., of 198,000, I do not +think above 100,000 could possibly be disposable, and there would not be +70,000 effectives. The Artillery must be very numerous. I omitted the +Company's English Regiments, about 3,000 men. + +Of all nations the Russians are the least adapted for an enterprise of this +nature. They have neither medical staff nor commissariat, and the men are +without resource. A French army would be the best. I doubt the possibility +of Russia bringing more than 20,000 men to Cabul, and these could not +descend the mountains till the third year, if Cabul was occupied. What I +fear is an occupation of Khiva unknown to us. No preparation on our part-- +no marching forward--so that in three or four months from leaving Khiva the +enemy might be at Cabul. I am sure we can defeat the enterprise. We ought +to defeat it before the enemy reaches the Indus. If 20,000 Russians should +reach the Indus, it will be a sharp fight. + + +_November 1, 1829._ + +A letter from the Duke. He returned the papers I sent him. He has doubts as +to the expediency of making the Commissary-General of Stores I proposed; +but he seems to have supposed I wished to do away with the Military Board. +I have explained what I meant. + +He approves of my suggestions as to correspondence, but thinks every paper +must be sent home, and the collections formed here. I have explained that I +always intended every paper should be sent home, and I have told him that I +had the opinion of the clerks I consulted that the collections might be +framed in India, with a saving of time, and without diminishing the check +on the local Governments. + + +_November 4._ + +Received from Aberdeen his draft of a remonstrance to Russia, which, it +seems, must be sent at last. He has already shown it to the Duke and Peel. + +There is no great substantive objection to it; but it is not very carefully +written. I shall send it to him tomorrow with many proposed alterations. In +the second box came Gaily [Footnote: H. Gaily Knight. Best known for his +works on the Normans in Sicily, and Ecclesiastical Architecture in Italy.] +Knight's letter to Aberdeen; which is a poor, flimsy production. A +peacock's feather in the hilt of a Drawcansir's sword. + + +_November 5._ + +Altered, not only verbally, but substantially, Aberdeen's paper, and sent +it to him. + +Cabinet room. Read a Memorandum by Lord Heytesbury, of a conversation he +has had with the Emperor of Russia. The Emperor expects the early downfall +of the Porte--and a Revolution in France. Asks if another march to Paris +would be possible? Lord Heytesbury saw Nesselrode afterwards and told him +what the Emperor had said. Nesselrode said the Emperor always saw things +_en noir_. He had a different opinion. He did not think the Porte in +immediate danger, nor did he expect a French Revolution. + +The other guarantees they talk of are further cessions in Asia, +specifically Batoum, or the occupation of Varna, or Silistria, instead of +the Principalities. The latter is worse, and the Turks will probably +consent to neither. They do not value the Principalities, and they know +Europe does.[Footnote: The Principalities, as commanding the lower course +of the Danube, were all important to Austria especially. Thus, occupation +by Russia, while it would have been felt as a menace to Central Europe, +would have left Turkey a compact state beyond the Danube.] + + +_November 6._ + +Saw Aberdeen. He is always gloomy about _divisions_. He is afraid of an +attack on Foreign Policy. He thinks the two parties will unite in that. He +hears there has been some approximation between Lord Grey [Footnote: Lord +Grey had been separated from the bulk of the Whig party since their +junction with Canning in 1827.] and Lord Holland. At the same time it is +said there is a notion of bringing in Lord Grey. I suspect this report to +have been fabricated by the Ultra-Tories to annoy the King. + +He thinks the Duke is annoyed, more particularly at the King's not treating +him well, and at his Government not being well supported. + +In fact, however, it is a Government which will not fall, for the King +hates the Whigs; the people do not regard them. He may like the Tories, but +he knows they cannot make a Government, and the Duke's Administration has +four-fifths of the country. + +Received a letter from the Duke, telling me he had settled Colonel +McDonald's knighthood, and asking me if I should be ready to talk about +India on the 13th. I said about Batta certainly; about India I had rather +talk first to Lord Melville and him. + +Wrote to the Duchess of Kent telling her a Bengal cavalry cadetship was at +her disposal for the son of Colonel Harvey. + +There is a very interesting letter from an English officer at Adrianople +with respect to the state of the Russian army. It has suffered and suffers +most dreadfully. + +I told Aberdeen if I had seen the account of the conversation between Lord +Heytesbury and the Emperor Nicholas before I read his proposed letter, I +should have suggested that much stress should have been laid upon the +effect the downfall of Turkey would have upon affairs in France. + +Polignac seems confident he can stand. He thinks he has the Chambers. The +French behave ill in the settlement of the Greek business, and object +altogether to our man, Prince Philip of Hesse Homburg. They equally object +to Prince Frederick of Orange, and to Prince Leopold, whom Russia would +have had willingly. I wonder Aberdeen did not laugh when he was proposed. +They want to settle the thing without a Prince. I suppose they want a +Frenchman. + +Aberdeen is for settling Greece as a Power into whose lap the broken parts +of Turkey may fall. He gives up Euboea. That is, the surrender of Euboea is +to be proposed to the Porte, with a frontier limited in other respects, +instead of the protocol of March 22. + +The Turks who have left the Morea have no indemnity. The Turks who are in +the other parts of the new Greece remain. It is altogether a wonderful +business. These anti-revolutionary States combining to revolutionise a +rebellious province of an unoffending ally! + + +_November 11._ + +It seems the French do not like the idea of giving to the Turks the option +of an independent State with smaller limits, or of a State under +Suzeraineté with extended limits, contrary to the treaty, and sending at +the same time secret instructions to the Ambassadors to insist upon the +_entire_ independence of the new Greek State. The French seem likewise to +have been offended at the protocol having been settled between Russia and +us, before they were called in to give their opinion. No wonder. Certainly +our diplomacy has not succeeded. We have failed in all our objects. + + +_November 13._ + +Cabinet. I was first called upon to say my say upon the general Indian +question. I observed that the present prospective deficiency was one +million a year. That until we could ascertain whether that deficiency could +be diminished or done away with we were really not ourselves prepared to +come to a decision upon the future government of India; nor would +Parliament endure that the China trade should be closed upon the country +for twenty years more without first inquiring whether it was necessary. The +first question was, 'Can we make such a reduction of expenditure, or effect +such an increase in income as to enable the Government of India to go on +without any assistance direct or indirect from England?' If it can, then we +have the China trade in our hands. If it cannot, we have to decide whether +the necessary assistance shall be found by means of a continuance of the +monopoly or in some other manner. + +I stated the increase of two millions in six years in the civil charges of +Bengal; that the Court had issued the strongest instructions, and the local +Government seemed to have a real intention to curtail expenditure. That I +had done something, and should do all I could, investigating every item. +Peel suggested a commission. I said that had occurred to me last year. The +Duke, however, objected to a commission as really superseding the Governor- +General and being the Government. Another objection certainly is the delay. +Difficulties would be thrown in its way, and we should at last be obliged +to decide without its final report, having thrown away our time here in +waiting for it. + +I mentioned that the character of the local Government was 'disrespect and +disobedience.' That nothing but a long continuance of strict rule could +bring India into real subjection. It was this disobedience which was the +chief source of increased expenditure. It arose in a great measure from the +unequal hand which had been held over them--the indulgence of the Court of +Directors--and the great delays in the communication with India arising out +of the system of correspondence. I had endeavoured to remedy that, and +hoped to get an answer to letters within the year. It was now two years and +a half. I had likewise endeavoured to make arrangements for steam +communication by the Red Sea. I hoped to be able to send a letter to Bombay +in sixty days. + +The Cabinet seemed generally to acquiesce in the expediency of only having +a Committee this year. + +At first they all seemed to think the continuance of the government in the +Company a matter of course. I told them that even with the China trade the +Government could not now go on without great reductions of expenditure, and +that I hoped the Cabinet would not come to a hasty decision upon a question +involving so many important political and financial considerations. The +present system was not one of great expense, but it was one involving great +delay--and delay was expense, and not only expense but abandonment of +authority. It was in this point of view that I hoped the Cabinet would look +at the question when it came before them. + +I mean to go quietly to work; but I mean, if I can, to substitute the +King's government for that of the Company. [Footnote: This was not carried +out till 1858, after the great mutiny.] I am sure that in doing so I shall +confer a great benefit upon India and effect the measure which is most +likely to retain for England the possession of India. + +We afterwards spoke of the Batta question. I read Lord Wellesley's letter, +and stated the opinions of Sir J. Malcolm, Sir Archibald Campbell, and Sir +J. Nicholls. + +I stated that it seemed the feeling in the army was excited more by the +apprehension of further reductions than by the establishment of the half- +Batta stations; that if concessions were made to the Bengal army, the other +armies would be discontented and further demands would be made. + +The Duke said, as a soldier, and having been in India at the time, he must +say he thought the orders of 1828 [Footnote: Orders issued by Lord William +Bentinck, abolishing full batta or the larger scale of allowances to the +military at stations where half-batta only had been recognised, before the +Act of the Bengal Government allowing full batta in consideration of +officers providing themselves with quarters.--See Thornton's _British +India_, pp. 221-25.] a breach of faith--but these having been issued, he +thought we must stand to them. The general opinion was that as nothing +could be said or done till the arrival of despatches, there could be no +necessity for deciding. + +I mentioned my Supreme Court Bill, which will be ready immediately. + +I hope to save--ultimately 60,000 pounds a year in the Supreme Courts. + + £ + £1,000 on each Judge..... 9,000 + 1 Judge at Calcutta...... 5,000 + 1 Judge at M. and B...... 8,000 + Recorder's Court......... 8,000 + Fees at Calcutta........ 30,000 + ------ + £60,000 + +Ireland is put off till Monday, that we may all read the papers. We dine +with the Duke to-morrow. + +The French oppose all the people we name for the Greek coronet. They have +named Prince Charles of Bavaria, and the second son of the King of Bavaria +with a regency till he is of age! However, this folly they did not press. + +We first named Prince Philip of Hesse Homburg, whom the French would not +hear of. Then Leopold! They did not like him. Prince Emilius of Hesse +Darmstadt was thought of. The French have suggested Prince John of Saxony, +second son of the King, a fine young man, about 28, but unknown. His elder +brother too may soon succeed to the throne, and he has no children. +Otherwise there is no objection to this Prince. + +It seems to me they are running after trifles. Russia adheres to us as to +the Prince, or rather remains neutral, thinking I have no doubt that France +and England will quarrel about the feather. + +The secret instruction which it was proposed to give to the Ambassadors is +now abandoned, France having objected. They were to have been ordered to +_insist_ upon Turkey taking one of two things of which she was to have +ostensibly the pure option. Now they are only clearly to intimate their +_wish_. However, it seems Russia will take a million of ducats less if +Turkey will make Greece independent. That is, she will give up a claim to +what she cannot get in order to effect that she has no right to ask. + +The French Government have, by giving new rates of pension, got 1,600 old +officers out of the army, and filled important stations with friends of +their own. They think they shall stand. + +I forgot to mention the Archduke Maximilian of Modena as one of the persons +talked of for Greece. It seems uncertain whether any one of these Princes +would take the coronet. + + +_November 14, Saturday._ + +Cabinet room. Rosslyn and afterwards Lord Bathurst there. Read the Irish +papers, that is, Lord Francis Leveson's private letters to Peel and Peel's +to him, with a letter from Peel to Leslie Foster, asking his opinion as to +education and Maynooth, and Foster's reply. The latter is important. He +thinks the political and religious hostility of the two parties is +subsiding. The chiefs alone keep it up. The adherents are gradually falling +off. To open the questions of education, &c., now, would be to open closing +wounds, nor would anything be accomplished. The priests would resist +everything proposed, and the Protestants would not be satisfied. The +Kildare Street Society, however defective, does a great deal of good, more +than could be expected from any new system we could carry at this moment. + +As to Maynooth, to withdraw the grant would not diminish the funds, while +it would increase the bad feeling. + +The increased prevalence of outrage, arising more from a disorganised state +of society than from politics or religion, and the _assassination_ plan, +must be met by an extensive police, directed by stipendiary magistrates; +and the expense of this police, and the indemnity to sufferers must be paid +by the barony in which the outrage takes place. + +All Peel's letters are very sensible. Lord Francis Leveson's are in an odd +style, rather affected occasionally, and his ideas are almost always such +as require to be overruled. He is a forward boy; but I see nothing of the +statesman in him. We ought to have had Hardinge there. + +Dined at the Duke's. A man of the name of Ashe is writing letters to the +Duke of Cumberland threatening his life if he does not give up a book in +MS. + +This book of Ashe's is a romance detailing all sorts of scandals of the +Royal Family, and of horrors of the Duke of Cumberland. The book is +actually in the possession of the Duke of Wellington. + +The King's violence, when there was an idea of Denman's [Footnote: The King +always resented an offensive quotation of Denman's as counsel during the +Queen's trial.] appearing for the Recorder, was greater, the Duke says, +than what he showed during the Catholic question. + +Lady Conyngham has been and is very ill. There is no idea of the Court +going to Brighton. + + +_November 16._ + +Cabinet. France, Austria, and England to ask Don Pedro distinctly what he +means to do. We certainly cannot go on as we are with Portugal for ever. +Aberdeen fears France may acknowledge Miguel first, and thus take our place +with Portugal. + +The Duke says if we can keep Spain on good terms with Portugal, and with +ourselves, the connection of France and Portugal does not signify, and we +are much better off than with Portugal against Spain and France. This is +true. + +A long talk about Ashe, who has written a libel on the Duke of Cumberland, +which the Duke gave to the Duke of Wellington. Ashe wants it back, and +threatens if he has it not returned to him; but in a letter, and in such +terms that the Attorney-General does not think him liable to prosecution. +He might be held to bail, perhaps, but that would bring out the case. It +was decided to do nothing, but to take precautions against his doing +mischief. The Duke of Cumberland has been cautioned. + +The Insurrection Act seems to be popular with Fitzgerald. Peel says it is +bad in principle, and has the effect of placing the higher classes in +hostility against the lower. The decision seemed to be to have a powerful +police--stipendiary magistrates--frequent trials--constables appointed by +Government--counties paying for additional police. + +Peel suggests the division of Ireland into smaller districts, and the +acquiring a personal knowledge of individuals, and making the districts +responsible. + +I believe the country is too populous, and the population too wicked, for +this plan to succeed. + +The murderers will be brought in from a distance. + +The state of demoralisation in which the country is is dreadful. Murders +are held to be of no account. + + +_November 17._ + +Read, as I came down to Worthing, Colonel McDonald's last despatches, and +his private letter, which I received last night. Sent them to the Duke, and +asked whether under the circumstances we should let Abbas Murza have some +thousand stand of arms, Colonel McDonald doing his best to secure ultimate +repayment. + +The Persian cavalry raised by the Russians in their newly conquered +territories seem to have fought as well as any troops in their service. +Colonel McDonald says it is from a disciplined Persian army alone, +commanded by Russian officers, that he dreads the invasion of India. A +European force would be wasted by the climate. The Pasha of Suleimania had +too European a taste, and wanted to make regular soldiers without pay or +clothing. So his soldiers turned him out, and made his brother Pacha. + +Colonel McDonald describes all that side of Turkey as going _au devant du +conquérant_. Such has been the wretchedness of their government. + + +_Worthing, November 18, 1829._ + +At 11 P.M. received a letter from the Duke of Wellington by a messenger, +telling me he regretted I had not met Lord Melville and him before the +Cabinet, and proposing, as he and Lord Melville both wished to go out of +town on Friday, that I should meet them either to-morrow, after 2, or on +Friday morning. + +I wrote to say I would be with him at 3 to-morrow. + + +_November 19._ + + +Met the Duke and Lord Melville. + +After conversation on topics connected with the subject we came to the +point, which was that the Duke wished both to preserve the monopoly and the +Company as administrators of Indian affairs. + +The Duke is much swayed by early recollections. He is besides very desirous +of having the City of London in his hands. + +I admitted that the great and solid objection to placing the government of +India directly in the hands of the Crown was the consequent increase of +Parliamentary business, already too extensive to be well performed. + +As to the China trade, if the Government of India can be conducted without +the assistance derived from it, I saw no reason for its continuance; but I +had rather continue the monopoly than lose the Company as a trading Company +to China, for I thought the trade might be greatly endangered were their +commerce to cease. I said that the continuance of the system of carrying on +the government through the instrumentality of the Company was not +inconsistent with giving to it the efficiency, the vigour, and the celerity +of the King's Government. + +Lord Melville admitted the cumbrousness of the present system. + +The Duke seemed to have no objection to alterations in details, provided +the principle were adhered to. + +Both to-day and in the Cabinet on Friday last I was surprised by Lord +Melville's inertness. + +The Duke wishes Leach's paper to be 'the case to be proved.' This may be +done, and yet the necessary improvements introduced. + +Met Seymour, who had been with the Duke. He is just come from Berlin. He +seemed to say that the great success of the war was wholly unexpected by +the Emperor. + + +_November 20._ + +Wrote to Hylton Jolliffe to beg he would turn his attention to the subject +of steam navigation to India by the Red Sea, as a private speculation. + + +_November 21._ + +Read a letter from Sir G. Murray. It seems the Duke, Lord Melville, and Sir +George are to meet soon to consider whether some alteration should not be +made in the rules of the Order of the Bath. I suggested that it might be an +improvement to make civilians eligible to the lower grades of the Order. It +might occasionally be very convenient to make a man a K.C.B. for civil +service. + + +_Sunday, November 22._ + +Told Bankes what the Duke wished respecting the Charter; but I likewise +told him it had not yet been so determined in Cabinet, and that there was +no objection to our making the Government more rapid and vigorous, and less +like the Tullietudlem coach. I desired him to consider this _confidential_ +to himself and the Commissioners. + + +_November 25._ + +Received a note from Bankes announcing that the Duke had accepted his +retirement from the office of secretary, and had consented to make him an +extra commissioner. + +This has long been an idea of Bankes's, of which I never could see rational +ground. Indeed, he seems to acknowledge it is not his own idea, but that of +others, that on his return to the Government he should not have returned to +the same office. In fact it is the influence of the Duke of Cumberland, and +it is evident from the endeavour to detach Bankes from the Government now +that the Brunswickers still have hopes. It is like giving notice to Lot and +his family before the fall of fire and brimstone. + +Bankes's letter is full of kind and grateful expressions towards me. +Indeed, we have always been on very friendly and confidential terms. I have +expressed my regret at his resolution. I told him I think he acts upon +mistaken views, and I assure him that in whatever position he may stand +towards the Board, it will afford me much pleasure and advantage to remain +on the same terms with him. + +The Duke will be angry, and I do not think Bankes will soon get an office +again. + + +_December 2._ + +Read for an hour at the Cabinet room. There is a curious account of a +conversation between De Rigny and an Austrian friend at Smyrna. De Rigny +thinks very ill of the Government, and of the state of France. He too wants +the Rhine! He judges truly enough of the results of the treaty. 'England, +Austria, and France will talk, but nothing will be done.' He says Russia +was very foolish not to go on. She might have dared anything. However, the +army seems to have suffered severely. They acknowledge the loss of 130,000 +men in the two campaigns. + +Diebitch has partly evacuated Adrianople, leaving there, however, 6,000 +sick and a battalion. The plague spreads in the Principalities, and they do +not know how to get the troops out of Turkey. + +Zuylen de Neyvelt and others give a very bad account of the state of +Constantinople. They say the Turkish Empire _cannot_ hold together. + +I do not like Lord Stuart's account of the state of the French Ministry. +They will bring in Villele, who is an able man, and he may save them; but +theirs is a desperate game. + +The French seem to be disposed to go along with us in negotiating with the +Emperor of Brazil [Footnote: _i.e._ with the Emperor Don Pedro, father of +the ultimately successful candidate for the Portuguese throne, Donna Maria +de Gloria.] for the recognition of Miguel. There would be a stipulation for +amnesty, &c. + + +_December 3._ + +The Chairs talked of Lord William Bentinck. They are very much out of +humour with him and heartily wish he was at home. He has neither written +privately nor publicly, except upon trifling matters, for five months. He +has declared his opinion in favour of colonisation. He is very unpopular. +On the subject of Sir W. Rumbold he and Sir Ch. Metcalfe are very hostile, +taking extreme views on the different sides. This hostility upon one +subject will lead to difference upon others. The Government is not +respected--and certainly there has been no moment when it was of more +importance that the head of the Government should be respected than when it +is necessary to effect a great economical reform. They describe the feeling +at Madras as being still worse. There they did not think the governor an +_honest man_. + +The Chairs expect a letter from Macdonald to the Secret Committee with +copies of his last despatches which I have already received through +Petersburg, so they are unwilling to accept a communication of them from +me. The letter, permitting Abbas Murza to purchase 12,000 stand of arms and +to pay for them by instalments, will therefore go without any reference to +the last despatches received. + +Saw Aberdeen. He agrees with me in feeling much apprehension on the state +of France as well as of Turkey. He seems, however, to think more of the +state of parties here, and does not like the looks of the Duke of +Cumberland (who was nearly dying last week) and of the King. It seems the +King, although very well satisfied with measures of a public nature, is +annoyed at not carrying some small jobs. + +There was a great party at Woburn lately, and the world of course say there +is an approximation to the Grey party. Aberdeen thinks the Woburn party +showed good wishes, and Lord Grey, it is said, does not mean to come up to +town. However, he is said to think he has been slighted, whereas the Duke +of Wellington _cannot_ do anything for him in the hostile state of the +King's mind. + +I told Aberdeen confidentially of Bankes's going out, which is an +indication, no doubt, of continued hostility on the part of the Duke of +Cumberland. + +Saw Hardinge. Talked on various public subjects, and then told him of the +probability that in three months Lord W. Bentinck would be recalled. I +asked him whether he could be induced to go as Governor-General. He +rejected the idea at first as unsuited to his rank in the army. I said we +could make him Captain-General. He seemed to think it was a great field for +a man who wished to obtain great fame, and if he was unmarried he would not +be disinclined to go, but I should think domestic considerations would +prevent him. I wish we had him as secretary in Ireland, but he is wanted +_everywhere_. He is so useful. He would be _most useful_ in Ireland. + +Saw the Duke. I told him what the Chairs had said. He said he always +thought Lord William would not succeed. Who could we get to replace him? He +had always thought it did not signify as long as we had _one_ man in India; +but we must have _one_. I told him that, seeing the difficulty of +selection, I had thought it right to tell him what was likely to happen. I +should not be much surprised if he thought of Lord Tweddale, whom he +thought of for Ireland. I do not know him at all. + + +_December 6._ + +Read Sir W. Rumbold's letters, and the minutes in Council on the Hyderabad +case. Sir W. is a cunning, clever man. Sir Ch. Metcalfe shows too much +prejudice against Sir W. Rumbold; but he was at Hyderabad at the time, and +he may be right. I suspect it was a disgraceful business. + + +_December 9._ + +Loch has got a cadetship for me. Colonel Baillie lends it. He postpones a +nomination till next year in order to oblige me. I have thanked Loch, and +begged him to thank Colonel Baillie. + +Wrote to Lady Belfast to tell her Mr. Verner had his cadetship. Begged her +to make his family and friends understand thoroughly that this was a +private favour I had led her to expect long before the discussion of the +Catholic question. + +Wrote to Lord Hertford and enclosed an extract from my letter to Lady +Belfast. + +Read a letter from Sir J. Malcolm, who is again troubled by Sir J. P. +Grant. He enclosed a letter of his upon the subject to Lord W. Bentinck. +The concluding paragraph of this letter refers to a letter from Lord +William of June 18, at which time the spirit of the Bengal army continued +bad. + +Read a letter from Jones, who will set himself to work about the navigation +of the Indus. He says a Mr. Walter Hamilton speaks of the river being +navigable for vessels of 200 tons to Lahore, and that from Lahore to the +mouth of the river, 700 miles, is only a voyage of twelve days. And no +British flag has ever floated upon the waters of this river! Please God it +shall, and in triumph, to the source of all its tributary streams. + + +_December 11._ + +Read a letter from Lord Bathurst respecting the recall of Sir J. P. Grant. +He had imagined I had said he had resigned. He seems surprised I should +have supposed it possible a judge should be recalled without a formal +meeting of the Privy Council. I reminded him of Sir T. Claridge's case, not +half so strong as that of Sir J. P. Grant. + + +_December 12._ + +Read Fraser's travels. + + +_December 13._ + +A letter from Sir J. Malcolm, by which it seems that my letter to him of +February 21 has been copied and become public: much to his annoyance. +[Footnote: This was the letter with the expression about a wild elephant +between two tame ones which afterwards attracted so much criticism. It was +intended as a private letter to Sir J. Malcolm, but by a mistake of one of +his secretaries was copied as an official communication.] + +He sends me his letter to Lord W. Bentinck upon the subject. It seems by +this letter, which adverts to other topics, that the spirit in Bengal is +very bad--that Lord W. has hitherto done nothing to check it, and that with +the press in his power he has allowed it to be more licentious than it ever +was before. + + +_December 14._ + +Found at Roehampton a letter from the Duke enclosing one addressed by Mrs. +Hastings to the King, applying for a pension. The King recommends it to the +consideration of the Court of Directors. I doubt the Court venturing to +propose any pension to the Court of Proprietors. + +I had another letter from the Duke enclosing a letter to him from Sir J. +Malcolm and a copy of Sir J. Malcolm's letter to Lord W. Bentinck, +respecting the unauthorised publication of my private letter--the same I +received yesterday. Sir J. Malcolm speaks of an intended deputation from +the Bengal army to England, which Lord William was determined not to allow; +but Sir J. Malcolm seems to think that Lord William by his conduct at first +brought on much of what has taken place. He has relaxed the reins of +Government too much. I am satisfied that, without a change of form and +name, it will be very difficult to regain the strength the Government has +lost in India. + +I shall see the Duke if I can to-morrow and suggest the appointment of Sir +J. Malcolm as provisional successor to Lord William. Sir J. Malcolm's +sentiments are known, and his nomination would show the feeling of the +Government here. It would be a hint to Lord William that we could replace +him at once and make him do his duty. It would, in the event of anything +happening to Lord William, guard against the mischiefs of an interregnum, +which is always a time of weakness and of job. + + +_December 15._ + +The Duke gone to the Deepdene. Wrote to him to say I would not fail to +bring the question of Mrs. Hastings's pension before the Chairs; but I +enclosed a memorandum showing all that had been done for old Hastings, and +reminded the Duke that the Court could not grant above 200£ a year without +the sanction of two Courts of Proprietors. + +Cabinet room. Lord Heytesbury seems to have shown Nesselrode the protocol +about November 25. The Count was greatly agitated, and put himself into a +furious passion. Asked the use of it? Perhaps it would be difficult to say. +Supposed it was intended for Parliament--which is very true. Said it would +lead to a reply we should not like--create a paper war, prevent the two +Courts from remaining upon the friendly terms he had hoped were +re-established. The more angry he is, the more right I think we must +feel we were to send it. + +There is a good paper of Aberdeen's to Sir R. Gordon, in which he considers +the Turkish Empire as falling, and our interest as being to raise Greece, +that that State may be the heir of the Ottoman Power. With this view he +considers it to be of primary importance that the Government of new Greece +should not be revolutionary, and the Prince a good one. + +There is another good paper defending England against an accusation of +Metternich that we should have spoken in a firmer tone to Russia at an +earlier period. The King seems much taken with these papers, and writes +great encomiums upon them. + +By Lord Stuart's account it appears probable that Villele will come in. The +Government mean to avoid all questions upon which it is possible to have a +difference of opinion, and to bring forward only measures of clear and +undeniable utility. They think that, if their opponents should endeavour to +throw out these measures, the Chambers will support Government. + +France coincides with us entirely as to the Portuguese question; but +wishes, and she is right, that questions more specific had been put to the +Emperor Pedro. The intention seems to be to acknowledge Miguel on +conditions, when Pedro admits he can do nothing. + + +_December 16._ + +Read Lord Ashley's memorandum on the judicial administration of India. I +wrote a note on returning it in which I said he seemed to have taken great +pains to collect the opinions which had been given by different persons +upon the subject. Mine had been expressed by me in a letter to Sir J. +Malcolm on August 7, in which I declared my general concurrence in the +views entertained by him and intimated by him in his minute, giving an +account of his tour in the southern Mahratta country. I had added that I +was satisfied the more we could avail ourselves of the services of the +natives in the fiscal and judicial administration the better, and that all +good government must rest upon the village system. I told Sir J. Malcolm I +had come to my office without any preconceived opinions, that I had kept +out of the way of prejudiced men, and had allowed opinions to form +themselves gradually in my own mind as I acquired more knowledge from pure +sources. I could not, if I had written this passage on purpose, have had +one more suited to my purpose. It showed Ashley I was not _prejudiced_, +that my opinions were formed before I read his memorandum, and that I had +formed them by abstaining from the course he has pursued--for he allows all +sorts of persons to come and talk to him, and to inoculate him with their +notions. + +I afterwards said that he would see by Sir Thomas Munro's memorandum of +December 31, 1824, that he thought we had succeeded better in the judicial +than in the fiscal administration of India, and in the criminal better than +in the civil branch of the judicial government. This I said to show I had +read Sir T. Munro's memorandum, which he did not give me credit for having +done; and that it was not so much to the judicial as to the revenue branch +that he should have directed his attention, with a view to improvements-- +the field being greater. + +I then said I did not doubt that there were capable natives to be found, +but I did doubt that they would be selected, for that the European servants +had disappointed me. The natives were better than I expected, &c., &c. + +Saw the Duke. Suggested to him Sir J. Malcolm's being made provisional +successor to Lord W. Bentinck for the reasons I have mentioned. He thought +well of the suggestion; but said we must consider it, and mention it in +Cabinet, as Lord William was a great card, and we must not do anything to +offend unnecessarily him and his connection. The objection occurred to him +that had occurred to me, that Sir J. Malcolm would die if he went to +Calcutta. I hope he would not go there, that he would remain in the upper +provinces. But I look to the effect of the nomination upon the conduct of +people in India, and that of Lord William himself, more than to his actual +succession. + +The Duke then said we must look not to India only, but to all Asia, and +asked me if I had read Evans's book. I told him I had; that in forty-eight +hours after I read it I had sent a copy to Macdonald and another to +Malcolm. I told him all the views I had with regard to the navigation of +the Indus and the opening of a trade with Cabul and Bokhara. He said our +minds appeared to have been travelling the same way. We must have good +information of what the Russians might be doing there. I reminded him I had +desired the Government a year ago to obtain information as to all the +countries between the Caspian and the Indus, and I intended now to give a +more particular direction. He said Macdonald should have his eye upon the +Caspian, and information as to those countries would be best obtained +through natives. I reminded him that that had been the suggestion in my +letter of last year. The Duke's opinion is that it is a question of +_expense only_. That if the Russians got 20,000 or 30,000 men into Cabul we +could beat them; but that by hanging upon us there they could put us to an +enormous expense in military preparation, and in quelling insurrections. +They could not move in that direction without views hostile to us, and by +threatening us there they would think to embarrass us in Europe. I proposed +that in the event of the Russians moving in that direction we should permit +the Government of India to act as an Asiatic Power. By money at least, he +allowed, without further orders, not to move in advance without +instructions. But the Duke is ready to take up the question here in Europe, +if the Russians move towards India with views of evident hostility. + +He approves of a message going at once with orders to Macdonald. + + +_December 18._ + +Chairs. They will consider favourably Mrs. Hastings's case; but she must +address her representation to them. + +I told them of my suggestion of making Malcolm provisional successor to +Lord William, and the reasons for it. They seemed to like the idea; but the +same objection occurred to them which had occurred to the Duke and to me-- +that if Malcolm went to Calcutta he would die. I said I did not want him to +go. I did not look to his going. I looked to the moral effect of the +appointment upon Lord William and upon all their servants in India. They +want to get some political man of high rank and talents and determined +character to go. They are heartily sick of Lord William. Whom they want to +send I do not know. + +I told them of my conversation with the Duke and went over the same ground. +They acquiesced in all I said. We shall have the missions to Scinde and to +Lahore, and the commercial venture up the Indus, and the instruction to +Macdonald. In short, all I want. + +Despatches are at hand from Lord William, dated May 1, in triplicate, and +without the minutes which are referred to as containing the sentiments of +the Government. These despatches merely refer the subject to the +consideration of the Court. + +One Jones, it seems, has written almost all the memorials, and is +considered a rebel more than a Radical. + +We had a little conversation respecting the future Government of India. I +told them it must be a strong Government, and I doubted whether in its +present form it could secure obedience in India. It required more of +appearance. They seemed to feel that. Astell acknowledged there was nothing +imposing in the name of 'the Company,' and that the present Government was +fallen into contempt. + +I told them I was satisfied that the patronage and the appeals should +always remain where they were. I paid them a high compliment, which they +justly deserve, upon the fairness of their conduct in deciding upon the +claims of their servants. + +They feel their Government is weak in its last year; but that the Ministers +could not do otherwise than have a committee. + + +_December 18._ + +Wrote a letter to the Duke, which he may send to the King, stating the +result of my communication to the Chairs respecting Mrs. Hastings. + +Requested information as to the trade of the Caspian, that carried on by +the caravans to Bokhara, and the general condition of that country, +desiring likewise that means might be taken to keep us constantly informed +of any movements made by the Russians towards the Sea of Aral, and of any +attempt to make establishments on the east coast of the Caspian. + +Wrote to the Duke to tell him what was done and how entirely the Chairs +entered into his views. + + +_December 19._ + +Wrote to Loch to suggest that he should send Meyendorff's and Mouravief's +books to Macdonald. + +Read a clever pamphlet on the China trade, and in coming down to Worthing +all the papers Hardinge sent me relative to the new pension regulations. + + +_December 20._ + +Read Meyendorff's 'Tour in Bokhara.' It contains all the information I want +as to the commerce between Bokhara and Russia. We can easily supply Bokhara +with many things the Russians now furnish, and with all Indian goods +cheaper by the Indus than the Ganges; but what the Bokharians are to send +us in return I do not well see, except turquoises, lapis lazuli, and the +ducats they receive from Russia. We may get shawls cheaper by navigating +the Indus. + + +_December 21._ + +Read the memorandum the Chairs gave me respecting the application of steam +navigation to the internal and external communications of India. It has +been prepared carefully and ably, and is very interesting. It suggests the +navigation of the Euphrates to Balis or Bir by steam, and thence the +passage by Aleppo to Latakia or Scanderoon. It likewise suggests that it +might be more expeditious to cross the desert from Suez to Lake Menzaleh, +or direct to the sea. + + +_December 22._ + +Wrote to Lord Hill, telling him of Sir G. Walker's dangerous illness, and +intimating the importance, under the present circumstances of Madras, of +having not only a good soldier as Commander-in-Chief, but a man possessed +of good civil qualities. + +Sent a copy of this letter to the Duke. + + +_December 25._ + +Read a memorandum of Jones on the last mission to Lahore, and a very long +secret despatch in 1811 upon the subject of Runjeet Singh's attempt to +establish himself on the left bank of the Sutlege, and his retreat in +consequence of remonstrances and military demonstration on the part of the +British Government. + + +_December 26._ + +Called by appointment on Lady Macdonald, who came here to speak to me about +Sir J. Macdonald's salary and position at Tabriz. She says that after the +letter he wrote, representing the inexpediency of Sir H. Willock's +remaining as his first assistant and the non-existence of any necessity for +two assistants, if the Bengal Government do not recall Willock Sir J. +Macdonald cannot remain. She has likewise a good deal to say respecting the +salary. I think 9,000£ a year a proper salary. The Ambassador at +Constantinople has 8,000£ and a house; but Constantinople is on the sea, +and the charge of bringing European goods to Tabriz through Russia is so +considerable that 1,000£ a year ought to be added for the charge. + + +_December 29._ + +Received three letters from Lord W. Bentinck, of July 6 and 8 and August 2. +In that of the 6th he speaks of my private letter to Sir J. Malcolm, +published in the 'Calcutta Newspaper.' In that of the 8th he sends it to +me, the names being altered, and all between brackets being interpolated, +and in fact in the light of comment. In that of August 2 he speaks of the +temper of the army, &c., and all public subjects. I have sent the three +letters to the Duke. + +I was glad to have my letter. I can defend every word in it. It contains +the simile of the elephants, which I am sorry for, as I fear those +described _as tame_ may be foolish enough to endeavour to show they are not +so by affecting a degree of vivacity beyond their nature; but still I can +defend it. + +Lord William describes his position as not agreeable, having to effect the +odious work of reduction. [Footnote: Besides the burning question of 'Half- +Batta,' Lord W. Bentinck's administration was regarded as hostile in spirit +to that of his predecessors, and so disliked by those who had served under +them, especially by the military.] He says that in India no man thinks of +anything but MONEY, that the local government has incurred great odium by +carrying into effect the orders of the home authorities. He recommends Sir +Charles Metcalfe as a man standing by Malcolm's side, and fit for the +government of Bombay. I a little fear Sir Charles Metcalfe. He is rather +too vehement. I doubt whether he would be a safe man. I am quite sure +Courtney would be a very unfit man. The Governor of Bombay ought to be an +Indian, but who is there? + +Lord William represents the Burmese Government as a barbarian Government. +He says they have sacrificed all who assisted us, and that the difficulty +in retroceding the Tenasserim provinces would be to know what to do with +the 35,000 people who have sought our protection. + +This report makes the wisdom of our recent policy yet clearer than it +appeared before. + + +_December 31._ + +Read twenty papers on the opium treaties and management in Central India. +The Supreme Government have decided upon no longer limiting the extent of +cultivation in Malwa, and upon permitting the free transit of the drug. +This was expedient because undoubtedly our restrictions led to the most +hostile feelings on the part both of princes and people, to the injury of +the traders, to violent and offensive interference on our part in the +internal policy of foreign States, and to smuggling protected by large +bodies of armed men. The smugglers would soon have been Pindarries. This +system began only in 1825. It was forced upon the small States, and not +upon that of Gwalior, so that smuggling defeated the object. + + +_January 2, 1830._ + +Received from the Duke a note to say the publication of my private letter +to Sir J. Malcolm did not signify one pin's head, and it _will have_ done +good in India. + +Wrote a long letter to Lord William Bentinck. I pressed upon him the +necessity of making the home and the local authorities draw together. I +told him he was suffering not for his obedience but for the disobedience of +his predecessors. Assured him of support, lamented the _ungentlemanlike_ +tone of society evidenced by the insult of the commanding officers to him, +and by the publication of my private letter. I spoke in high terms of +Lieut. W. Hislop's report on the opium arrangements (which on reflection I +thought better than writing a letter to him), and I likewise spoke highly +of Mr. Scott, the Commissioner in Assam. Acknowledged the Government could +not have done otherwise than give up the opium treaties; but foretold a +large falling off in the opium revenue from over-cultivation in Malwa. + + +_January 3._ + +A letter from Clare on East Indian matters which I answered at length. Sent +Prendergast's pamphlet to Jones. + +Read reports on the Delhi and Firuz Shah's canal, by which it appears my +plan of joining the Sutlege and Jumna is not visionary. It has been done. +The canal can still be traced. Delhi seems in distant times to have been +like Milan, in the midst of canals. The grand canal sent a branch through +the palace. The water has been again turned in the same channel. When the +water flowed into Delhi on the opening of the canal on May 30, 1820, the +people went out to meet it and threw flowers into the stream. In those +countries nothing can be done without water, and with water, and such a +sun, anything. + + +_January 4, 1830._ + +Head Eraser's journey and finished it. It is very interesting, and shows +how completely the Persian monarchy is falling to pieces. + + +_January 5._ + +Saw Wrangham. There is no news. The affairs of the Netherlands, he says, +look rather better, and Polignac is very stout and says he is very strong. +It seems great complaints are made of Lord Stuart, who gives little +information, and what little he does give is incorrect. + + +_January 6._ + +Vesey Fitzgerald will certainly not be able to attend the House this year. +His physicians say he would die in five minutes if he got up to speak. I +heard G. Dawson tell the Duke to-day. I rather suspect G. Dawson would like +Vesey's place. + +The Duke has been much occupied with the Greek question. I have not yet +read any papers at the Foreign Office. He spoke to me of Bankes's going +out, which he regretted. + +He had had some conversation last year at Belvoir with Lord Graham upon +Indian affairs, and had been quite surprised to find how much he knew. He +had thought he only knew how to comb his hair. The Duke thinks of Horace +Twiss for secretary. He had thought of Mr. Wortley, Lord Wharncliffe's son, +a very clever young man, but he wanted a _made_ man, not one to learn. I +shall suggest Ashley's taking Horace Twiss's place, and Lord Graham being +First Commissioner. This will force him to come forward. Then Wortley might +be Second Commissioner. Horace Twiss is a clever man, but rather vulgar. +However, he is a lawyer and a very good speaker, and will do very well. + + +_January 7._ + +I told the Chairs my views as to an alteration in the Supreme Court Bill. +They seemed to approve if the thing could be done. I had afterwards some +conversation with the Chancellor upon this subject. He admitted the force +of my reasoning, but desired to have a memorandum about it, which indeed +will be convenient to me as well as to him. It should state all the new +circumstances since the establishment of the Supreme Court which render its +existence less necessary than it was, and more inapplicable than ever to +the condition of India. + +At the Duke's dinner I told the Duke and Rosslyn the substance of Lord +William's letters. The Duke said the act [Footnote: In combining to oppose +the Half-Batta orders. See Thornton's _British India_, vol. v.] of the +officers was mutiny. + +The King is ill. He has lost a good deal of blood. + + +_January 8._ + +The King quite well again. In the morning began and nearly finished a +memorandum on the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court for the Chancellor. + +Cabinet at 2. Conversation respecting the abolition of the Welsh +judgeships, and the addition of a judge to the Courts of King's Bench and +Common Pleas, or Exchequer. The two new judges would be Circuit Judges of +Wales. The Welsh gentlemen seem to be favourable to the change. The +attornies, who are numerous and powerful, very hostile. The Chancellor +introduces again his Bill of last Session. The Equity is to be separated +from the Common Law Jurisdiction of the Court of Exchequer. The subject was +only talked of, and decision deferred till Sunday next. + +We then talked of Ireland. The Grand Jury Presentment Bill is not yet +prepared. The plan for a police is to place the nominations in the hands of +the Lord-Lieutenant. To send stipendiary magistrates when and where they +are wanted. + +Peel's suggestions went much further; but Lord F. Gower seems to me to be +only a clever boy. He has as yet proposed _nothing_ worthy of adoption, and +he has often been near the commission of errors from which he has been +saved only by Peel's advice. + +He wished to establish stipendiary magistrates in every county, the effect +of which would have been to disgust all the gentlemen magistrates, and to +lead them to the abandonment of their duty. He wished too to unite in all +cases the inspectorships of police with the office of stipendiary +magistrate, to avoid collision; but the duties of inspector are of a mere +ministerial and inferior character, and would not agree well with those of +a magistrate. + +I must read to-morrow all the late protocols and despatches. The Russians +and French have agreed to make Leopold Prince of Greece, but the King +cannot endure the idea. Aberdeen thinks he has made a great conquest in +carrying the point of Leopold's election. I confess I cannot understand the +great advantage we derive from it. What an extraordinary scene! Those +monarchical states, the most adverse to revolution, combine to assist the +rebellion of a people against its sovereign, a rebellion commenced by +murder and continued by treachery, stained with every crime that ever +disgraced human nature! [Footnote: The massacres by the Greeks at +Tripolitza and Athens, the latter in direct breach of a capitulation, had, +according to a not unfavourable historian, cast a dark stain on the Greek +cause and diminished the interest felt for it in foreign countries. +(Alison, _Hist. Europe_, 1815-52, iii. 150.)] They destroy the fleet of an +unoffending Power in a time of profound peace in his own port. They thus +facilitate the attack of an enemy, and in the extreme peril of the defeated +sovereign they increase their demands in order to form a substantive State +out of the ruins of his Empire. They then elect a Prince unknown to the +people over whom he is to reign, and support him by equal assistance in +ships and money! Those monarchical states set up a revolutionary government +and maintain it in coparcenary! It was reserved for these times to witness +such contradictions. I do not think any one is very well satisfied with +them but Aberdeen. He is charmed. + + +_Sunday, January 10._ + +Cabinet. Conversation first as to an intended publication by Mr. Stapleton +of a 'Life of Canning,' in which he means to insert the substance, if not +the copies, of public papers relating to transactions not yet terminated. +He has had it intimated to him that he will do so at his peril. He holds an +office under the Government during pleasure. I said he had no right over +private letters relating to public subjects which only came to the +knowledge of the writer by his official situation. He should be told it was +a high breach of public confidence, and he should be displaced if he was +guilty of it. He will have a hint, but I fear not one sufficiently strong. +It is Lady Canning who thinks she can injure the Duke of Wellington, and so +publishes these papers. Stapleton is her editor. She demanded from Aberdeen +official letters of Canning's, and actually threatened him with a suit in +Chancery if he did not give them up. The Duke says he has copies of all +Canning's letters, and he shall publish if they do. [Footnote: Augustus +Granville Stapleton had been private secretary to Canning, and published +about 1830-31 _The Political Life of George Canning_, and nearly thirty +years later, _George Canning and his Times_. The latter work contains much +correspondence the publication of which might have been objected to at the +earlier date.] + +We had Scarlett and afterwards Bosanquet in upon the Welsh Judicature +question. It was at last decided that the Equity Jurisdiction of the Courts +of Great Session should be sent to the Court of Exchequer, that power +should be taken to the King of directing the circuits to be held where he +pleased, and that the two new judges of the English Courts should do the +duty of the Welsh circuits. The proceedings to be assimilated to those of +the English Courts. + +The saving by the reduction of the Welsh judges, after allowing for their +pensions, will leave an ample fund for the compensation of the officers +reduced. + +I read Lord Stuart de Rothesay's last despatches and Lord Heytesbury's. +There seems to me to be great over-confidence in their strength on the part +of the French Ministers. I cannot help thinking they will fall. Villele +will have nothing to do with the Government under this House of deputies, +which declared his administration _deplorable_. He seems to stipulate for +their dissolution. + +Halil Pacha takes to Petersburg fine presents for the Emperor and Empress, +and other presents he is to distribute 'selon son gré et en son nom' which +are enough to bribe all the ladies in Europe. There is a list of them +extending over seven pages. + +It seems to be doubtful whether the French have not been endeavouring to +induce Mehemet Ali to revenge their quarrel with Algiers by marching along +the whole coast of Africa. The French are much out of humour with their +Algerine follies, and heartily tired of their expensive gasconade. + +Mehemet Ali does not seem much inclined to send _his_ fleet to +Constantinople, although he has honour enough to send the Sultan's. + +The Russians have launched two large ships (120 and 74), and they have +bought a double-banked frigate built in the United States. + + +_Monday, January 11._ + +At the Cabinet room, where I met Sir George Murray; read the letters +relative to the alterations in the judicial system of Scotland. + +Read a letter from Loch, allowing me to show to the Cabinet Lord William's +letters. He wished them to be read, not shown, or rather not circulated; +but it is contrary to all rule, so I left them to-day on the Cabinet table. + +The Duke told me yesterday he felt no concession could now be made, +although it was a mighty foolish thing to have had a quarrel about. + +Got home at 5, dressed, and was going to business, when I found a note from +Drummond, desiring me to call on the Duke as soon as I could. I ordered the +carriage and went. Found the Chancellor there. + +It seems there is a great hitch about Prince Leopold's nomination as Prince +Sovereign of Greece. The French have now proposed it. We desire it. Russia +acquiesces. We have always declared we did not care who was Prince +Sovereign of Greece, but we were resolved never to acknowledge as such a +man in whom we had not confidence. Some time ago the King of Prussia +applied through the Grand Duke of Mecklenburgh to the King for his vote in +favour of Prince Charles of Mecklenburgh, the brother of the late Queen of +Prussia and of the Duchess of Cumberland. This application was made through +the Duke of Cumberland to the King, and the King returned an answer through +the Duke of Cumberland. What this answer was is not known; but the King +having mentioned the circumstance to Aberdeen, and he to the Duke, +Aberdeen, by the Duke's desire, wrote through Sir Brook Taylor to the King +of Prussia, and civilly put him off. This letter of course the King saw, +and approved. The Duchess of Cumberland complains the answer of Aberdeen +was very different from that given through the Duke of Cumberland by the +King, and says it is an _intrigue_. + +The King has been put up to this, and tells Aberdeen he knows his own +ground--that the people of England will not bear that 50,000£ a year shall +be paid by them to the Prince of Greece. He does not care whether Leopold +goes or no, but he is determined he shall leave his annuity behind him. + +The articles in the 'Standard' and other papers, a few days ago, are +supposed to have had reference to this then intended rupture. Aberdeen goes +to the King to-morrow, and the Duke having seen all the Cabinet, Aberdeen +will, if it should be necessary, declare their concurrent opinion. The Duke +thinks the King will yield to Aberdeen; to avoid seeing him--if he is +obliged to go down, he will declare distinctly to the King that his Majesty +had better name whatever Minister he may wish to give his confidence to; +but that to whatever Minister he may choose to have, he ought to give his +confidence. + +Certainly nothing can have been more scandalous than the King's conduct to +the Duke. He has never given his Government the fair support. Say what the +Duke will, he of Cumberland is believed. + +The Duke had a note about the King the other day from Lady Conyngham, +written only to tell him the Duke of Cumberland had been four hours with +His Majesty. + +That Prince Leopold will make an efficient King of Greece I do not believe; +but he is not likely to be hostile to England. Prince Charles of +Mecklenburgh, named by Prussia, would be really Russian, and the tool of +States not friendly to us. + +Prince Leopold hopes, if he goes to Greece, that Government will purchase +the lands he has bought, for which he has given 40,000£ or 50,000£. + +Determined to have my letter respecting the acquisition of information in +Central Asia and the navigation of the Indus sent to the Chairs _to- +morrow_, that _it may_ be sent, and be on record as _mine_, in the event of +His Majesty turning me out the next day, as he will very possibly do. + + +_January 12._ + +Henry [Footnote: The Honourable H. S, Law, Lord Ellenborough's brother.] +copied for transmission the letter in the Secret Department, and I took +care it should be sent to the India House in the course of the day, that if +I should be out to-morrow, I may have the credit of having originated a +measure which, if effected, will be of incalculable value. + +Cabinet at 2. Aberdeen was gone to the King at Windsor. It seemed to be +expected he would do nothing, and that the Duke would be obliged to go down +to-morrow--the Duke thinks he shall succeed--and no one seems to dread a +_turn out_. I am not quite so sure. The mischief is that these _sécousses_ +make a weak Government. + +I found in the box of drafts the letter to Sir Brook Taylor respecting Duke +Charles of Mecklenburgh, which the King says he never saw or sanctioned. It +bears his initials and approval, which have been traced out in ink over his +pencil. + +The Duke of Cumberland wants, if it be but for a week, a friendly +administration that he may get out of the Exchequer 30,000£ set apart for +the annuity for his son's education, but to which he is not legally +entitled, his son having been educated abroad. It is out of revenge for a +hostile cheer, and to get this money, to which Lord Eldon and Lord Wynford +have told him he has no right, that he is endeavouring to overthrow the +Government. + + +_January 13._ + +After I came home read the minutes of the Governor-General and Council on +the college at Calcutta. There is nothing so important as to preserve young +men, who are to govern an Empire, from idleness, dissipation, and debt. +This must be done. The Governor-General's own superintendence may effect +much. The suspension of the incompetent may do more; but while the habits +of expense are given at Hayleybury, and continued by their residence +without any control in the midst of a dissipated capital, nothing will +reform the system. + +Cabinet dinner at Aberdeen's. He was an hour and a half with the King +yesterday. The King was much agitated in dressing himself for the +interview. The man who shaved thought he should have cut him twenty times. +He had taken 100 drops of laudanum to prepare himself for the interview. + +Aberdeen says it is a _real_ quarrel-not a plot to get rid of us--the King +thoroughly hates Prince Leopold, and he has been made to think the +Ministers have slighted him in this matter. The Duke goes down to him to- +morrow. He can show the King that Leopold was first mentioned by France-- +that he was made acquainted with the proposal or rather suggestion made by +France to Leopold on November 9, that he was then told we could not hear of +it till our candidates, Prince John of Saxony and Ferdinand of Orange, were +disposed of. The subject was again mentioned on November 24. + +In point of fact the earliest day on which it could have been made known to +the King that France had distinctly proposed Leopold was Monday, and he was +told on the Tuesday. + +The King seems to have been violently agitated. He said sneeringly to +Aberdeen, '_If I may be allowed to ask, is Prince Leopold to be married to +a daughter of the Duke of Orleans?_' [Footnote: This marriage took place in +August 1832, when Prince Leopold had become King of the Belgians, and the +Duke of Orleans King of the French.] Aberdeen said he had seen it in the +newspaper and knew nothing more of it. The King alluded to the possibility +of Government going out, admitted the inconvenience just before the meeting +of Parliament, but said he was immovable. Leopold might go to the devil, +but he should not carry English money out of the country. In the morning, +talking to the Duchess of Gloucester, he said, 'If they want a Prince of my +family, they might have had the Duke of Gloucester,' upon which the Duchess +burst out a-laughing. + + +The King seems thoroughly out of humour. He says 'Things seem going on very +ill in India. Do not you mean to recall Lord William?' He had been made +very angry in the morning by the 'Times' calling upon him to pay his +brother's debts, and this morning the 'Morning Journal' places in +juxtaposition the paragraphs in the 'Times,' and those for which it was +lately prosecuted. + +Lady Conyngham is bored to death, and talks and really thinks of removing. +She was to make a grand attack on the King to-day. I suppose she finds the +Duchess of Cumberland gaining influence. Her note to the Duke the other +day, to tell him the Duke of Cumberland had been four hours with the King, +was intended to put him upon his guard. + +The Duke does not mean to resign to-morrow, but to request, if he should +not succeed (which Aberdeen thinks he will not do), that the King will +allow the Cabinet to put their opinions in writing-which the King cannot +refuse. We shall then meet on Friday and decide what we shall do. + +The Chancellor took me aside and said it would be a foolish thing to go out +about Leopold. So it would; but if we allow ourselves to be beaten in this, +we may be beaten round the whole circle of public questions. + +When the Duke has proved the proposition was not made by us, that it came +from France, the King will say, 'Well, if you did not think it worth while +to propose him, why should you not reject him? Why adhere to him?' + +I feel very indifferent about the result. + +Dr. Seymour, Fitzgerald's physician, represents him as very ill indeed, and +in _danger_ if he does any business; but Peel, who saw him to-day, thinks +that much exaggerated. + + +_January 14._ + +Chairs at 11. I asked them to find out when Rothschild sold out his Indian +stock. It seems (by a note I received in the evening) that he began on +October 15, and at different times sold out 42,000£ stock. I sent the +Chairman's note to Goulburn. + +About ten received the promised circular from the Duke. He was an hour and +a half with the King, when he was obliged to leave him in consequence of +his being unwell--and the King afterwards sent to desire he would come +again on Saturday. + +For the first hour the King was in a state of irritated and contemptuous +indignation. However, the Duke thinks he brought him to feel he had nothing +to complain of in the conduct of his Government. He finished by getting +into better temper and a good tone; but the Duke thinks he should have +brought away his assent if he had been with him another hour. The Duke +wishes to hear the opinion of the Cabinet upon some points, and we meet at +two to-morrow. + + +_January 15._ + +The Duke gave the Cabinet an account of his interview with the King. The +King was with Munster and the Duke of Cumberland when he went; but the Duke +was admitted in about forty minutes, which time he passed with the Lady +Conyngham, who told him he must expect a storm. + +The King was in bed, looking very ill. He said, 'Well, what is your +business?' and seemed at first most indignant. The Duke, however, corrected +his misapprehensions--showed him the dates, and proved that he had known +from the first that it was probable Leopold would be proposed by France. +The proposition was made by us to Prince Frederick of Orange on November +13, his final answer received on August 11 (there may be a slight error in +these dates, as I write from memory). In the meantime the King of France +had about November 29, when Leopold took leave of him, told him he would +propose him. This was known here immediately, and Leopold distinctly told +he could not be heard of till our own candidate was disposed of. The +regular proposal of Leopold did not arrive here till January 1, and was +communicated to the King with the _projet_ of a protocol, for it was no +more, on the 9th. + +It was still only a proposition, and the Government now come to advise the +King to consent to it. + +The Duke showed the King that there had been ten candidates in all:-- + +Prince Philip of Hesse Homburgh, Prince John of Saxony, Prince Frederick of +Orange, Prince Charles of Bavaria, Prince Otho of Bavaria, the Archduke +Maximilian, Prince Paul of Wurtemburgh, Prince Leopold, Prince Emilius of +Hesse Darmstadt, and Prince Charles of Mecklenburgh. + +The seven first either declined or were rejected. Prince Emilius of Hesse +Darmstadt was an aide-de-camp of Bonaparte, and the King would not have +him, and with regard to the last, Prince Charles of Mecklenburgh, the Duke +showed the King he was much more nearly connected with Prussia, and so with +Russia, than with England. The King admitted this, and seemed to have been +brought into good humour, when he became so ill that he was obliged to beg +the Duke to leave him, and soon after sent him word he would see him in two +days. The Duke says he was really unwell, and in fact was taking physic all +the time he was with him. + +The Duke showed the King that _he alone_ had not the power of nomination. +He had one voice out of three, and there were ten candidates. + +'At any rate,' said the King, 'Claremont reverts to the Crown.' The Duke, +fearing he might wish to give it to the Duke of Cumberland, or somebody, +asked the Chancellor to-day to look at the Act of Parliament and tell us +what becomes of Claremont in the event of Leopold's being made King of +Greece. The Chancellor looked and thought Claremont would certainly remain +to Leopold, and if he died or gave it up go, not to the Crown, that is, not +to the King, but, by specific enactment, become a portion of the revenue +under the Woods and Forests. Of course Leopold will give up Claremont, +which is in fact a source of expense. The Duke said Leopold would be at +least innocuous, and he might be of use. The King asked how we could be +such fools as to think he would be of any use. + +While the Duke was with the King the Duke of Cumberland was with Lady +Conyngham, and told her, amongst other things, that the 'Times' was the +Duke of Wellington's paper. + +The 'Morning Journal' is _his_ paper, and uses the expressions he puts into +the King's mouth. + +Aberdeen says Leopold is quite aware of all he will have to go through. + +He has written to Lord Stuart to ascertain whether there is any truth in +the report of his being engaged to the daughter of the Duke of Orleans. + +I cannot help thinking that is so, and that the French proposition +originates in that. + + +_January 16._ + +Read last night a very interesting report by Captain Wade of his mission to +Runjeet Singh in 1827. + +Received a box from the Duke with a circular note saying the King is not +well enough to see him before Tuesday. He has seen no one since he saw the +Duke, and the Duke hears he was not mistaken in his judgment of the effect +he thought he had produced upon the King's mind; so I suppose this matter, +which looked threatening at first, may be considered as settled, although +not yet formally terminated. + +The King will, I dare say, make another plunge when he finds Claremont will +not be at his personal disposal, as he seems to have imagined. + + +_January 19._ + +Read all day Sir Thomas Munro's Life, which contains a great deal of +interesting and valuable information. He was a very great man. + +Talked to Hardinge of various matters. He was at Stowe when Lord Chandos in +the middle of the night received a note from his father, communicating one +from Sir. W. Fremantle, which informed him that the King was going to turn +us all to the right about. Lord Chandos said to Hardinge he would never +belong to a Government of which the Duke of Wellington was not a member. + + +_January 19._ + +Read the rest of the 'Life of Sir Thomas Munro,' a most valuable book. I +believe there are no books so really useful as the lives of great and good +men. + +On my arrival in town, found a note from Hardinge, who thinks the despatch +as to watching the Russians and navigating the Indus quite perfect. + +The Duke went to-day to Windsor. About eight he sent round a box containing +a note, saying that the King consented to Prince Leopold's being King of +Greece. So for the present, at least, we are safe again. I never had much +apprehension. + + +_January 20._ + +Cabinet dinner. Lord Bathurst not there. We had very little talk upon +public matters. The Duke had a bad cold. The opinion seemed to be that the +press of the session would be upon domestic matters, for the reduction of +establishments and taxation. + +The King wrote to the Duke and _grumpily acceded_ to Leopold's appointment. +Leopold is very _uppish_ upon the subject. He was at Cobham to-day and +yesterday. + +I am to see Peel on Sunday at half-past one on Indian matters. + + +_January 22._ + +At one, Privy Council to consider the petition of the E. I. C. for the +recall of Sir J. P. Grant. The Lord President, Lord Chief Baron, and Lord +Chief Justice of Common Pleas present. The committee reported that they did +not consider themselves warranted at present in advising Sir J. P. Grant's +removal, but they thought it right he should be directed to proceed home +that the several matters objected to him might be investigated. + +I took the opportunity of the presence of two judges to get a legal opinion +as to Sir J. Malcolm's conduct in resisting the service of the Habeas +Corpus _ad testificandum_. + +I took the opportunity likewise of laying before the two judges the change +of circumstances since the institution of the Supreme Court, and the +present reasons for making their jurisdiction without the limits of the +Presidency the exception and not the rule. + +The judges seemed to enter into my view. The Lord Chief Baron suggested +that there might be a previous enquiry before the Country Court, which +might for that purpose be a sort of grand jury. [Footnote: _I.e._ when the +case was to be transferred to the Supreme Court.] + +Lord Hill showed me a letter from Sir F. Watson addressed to Sir B. Taylor, +as the King's first aide-de-camp, and directing him as such, by the King's +command, to intimate to Lord Hill the pleasure it would give His Majesty to +know that Lord Hill had given Captain Scarlett, the son of the Attorney- +General, an opportunity of purchasing a majority. Captain Scarlett is a +very young captain--and Lord Hill feels the thing asked cannot be done. He +was going to see the Duke of Wellington about it. Not very long ago the +King gave away a regiment without asking Lord Hill--however, that was +settled; but it is clear that, unless Lord Hill is allowed to exercise the +fair patronage of his office, he will resign. + + +_January 26._ + +Cabinet. It seems the French have acceded to the proposals of the Pasha of +Egypt, and finding 50,000 men would be required to take Algiers, prefer his +operating with 40,000 of his own. He pretends to have made arrangements +which will secure an easy conquest, and promises to place Tunis, Tripoli, +and Algiers under regular governments, nominally under the Sultan, whose +consent he reckons upon, and capable of preserving the relations of peace +with other Mediterranean Powers. + +The Pasha's army is commanded by French officers, and the annexation of +these States to Egypt would be their practical annexation to France. When +his army is disseminated along the coast of Africa, I might realise my +dream of taking Egypt from India. + +We considered the proposed order in Council relative to the slave +regulations of the King's own ceded colonies. The Duke was evidently not +well, and he was rather out of humour. We were three hours and a half in +Cabinet. He made various objections to the proposed regulations. He +impressed upon us the danger of tampering with the rights of property. We +were doing that with property of an _odious_ character, which we should not +do in England. He pressed the effect in the West Indies and the example +everywhere. He seemed to complain that the regulations were different from +those agreed to in the summer. Sir G. Murray was very quiet. He is a very +sensible man, but he is overawed by the Duke, having been under him so +long. + +Poor old Tierney is dead, for which I am very sorry. He was a very good +friend of mine. + + +_January 27._ + +Cabinet at four. There can be no Council to-morrow, as Greville has the +gout and Buller is in Cornwall. + +There is to be an intimation sent to the Pasha to the effect that we +_disapprove_ of the proposed attempt to conquer Tripoli, Tunis, and +Algiers. France is to be told the same. I wished conditional orders to be +given to the Fleet, and that the Pasha should be told orders had been +given. It being doubtful whether French vessels might not convoy the +Egyptian fleet and transports, I thought we had better now consider what we +should do in that event; that we had better not threaten without +determining to execute our threat, and that we should consider how we +should deal with the French ships if we stopped the Egyptian--in short not +take a first step which might make a second necessary, without knowing in +our own minds what that second step should be. The Duke thinks the French +will back out when they know our _disapprobation_, and that at any rate the +Pasha would. I rather doubt this of either of them. + +The French say they have a sort of quarrel with Tripoli, but none with +Tunis, and they enter into a scheme for conquering both as stepping-stones +to Algiers. Tunis in their hands would be more dangerous than Algiers. + +Hardinge told me he had had a long conversation with Peel the other day on +the state of the country. He thought Peel seemed to have apprehensions, and +to think that if the King, through some intrigue of the Brunswickers, got +rid of the Duke, things would go very ill indeed; that the authority of the +Duke alone kept things quiet. England is in a bad state, because the +country gentlemen have ill-paid rents; but Scotland and Ireland do very +well, and the trade of the country is not depressed. + +Cabinet dinner at the Chancellor's. The Duke of Montrose there, as it was +to have been a dinner for the sheriffs. I told the Duke of my notion of +altering the law of succession to property in India, and enabling all +existing proprietors to leave their estates as they please. + + +_January 28._ + +The 'Times' publishes my letter to Malcolm to-day, with comments. + +Upon the whole I am glad the letter has been published. I think no one can +read it without seeing I am actuated only by public views, and that I am +determined to do my duty. + +The editor of the 'Courier' called at the Indian Board and saw Bankes, and +asked whether he should say anything. Bankes said he would see me before he +gave an answer. I do not care about the publication, and the letter will +defend itself. + + +_January 29._ + +Chairs have received very bad accounts of the temper of the Madras army, +which has no cause of complaint. Lord W. Bentinck has been at last obliged +to lay his hand upon the press, and, as might have been expected, is much +more abused than if he had done so at first. The Radicals had begun to +consider him one of themselves, and so think him a traitor when he refuses +to go any further with them. + +I went to the Duke and told him what they said. He is, as usual, sanguine, +and thinks it will blow over. + +I told the Duke I thought he had better look out for a Governor-General, +for it might be necessary to recall Lord W. Bentinck. The objection to +making Malcolm provisional successor is that he would stay till he died in +order to be Governor-General one day. Otherwise his provisional appointment +would strengthen the local Government very much. + +At the Cabinet they had all read my letter in the 'Times,' except the +Chancellor. I told him to read it. + +Peel was indignant at the publication. Lord Rosslyn said Joseph Hume had +had the letter some time in his possession, and must have sent it to the +'Times.' + +Peel said it was a very good letter. I said I was not ashamed of it. + +They all laughed very much at the simile of the elephants. + +Cabinet. Much discussion as to the terms of the speech. Aberdeen's part was +very ill done indeed. It underwent much alteration and was improved. That +regarding distress and remedies was postponed. There is no remedy, and it +is best to say so. + +In the meantime the export of almost all manufactures is increased largely +in quantity, but the value is diminished. Still this proves continued and +increased employment, although at low wages. This is a state of things in +which we cannot try to make corn dearer or wool either. Nothing but the +extreme cheapness of our manufactures makes their export possible. + +Aberdeen read his letter to Consul Barker respecting the. Pasha's designs. +The last paragraph, which intimated that the Pasha's persistence 'would too +probably lead to our decided opposition,' was omitted. It was thought that +the recommendation, 'to weigh well the serious consequences of a measure +highly objectionable to us, and to which other Powers could not but be +unfavourable,' was thought sufficient to stop the Pasha. + +If the first words had stood, we must have used the same to France, and the +threat might have led to collision. In any case the Pasha would have +communicated the expressions to France. + +The Duke and the Chancellor were to see Leopold to-morrow. + +Another Cabinet to-morrow at four for going on with the Speech. + + +_January 30._ + +Hardinge called. He told me all was not settled as to Lord Chandos having +the Mint. He referred to the Duke of Buckingham, [Footnote: He had, as +appears from the Wellington correspondence, pressed for years his claims to +a seat in the Cabinet, with an importunity to which the Duke of Wellington +expressed his objection. His large parliamentary interest, which almost +made him the chief of a party of his own, made him appear entitled to +expect it.] who would rather have it himself, with a seat in the Cabinet. + +Lord MountCharles goes out to annoy his father, and force him to give him a +larger allowance, unaccompanied by the condition of constant attendance in +the House of Commons. + +Read the Duke of Northumberland's letter to Peel on the state of Ireland. +The Duke represents the Catholic Relief Bill as having produced none of the +evils anticipated by its opposers, if it has not produced all the benefits +expected by its supporters--as having upon the whole worked better than +could have been expected in so short a time and under such circumstances. + +The disturbances he thinks confined to the counties of Tipperary, Clare, +and Roscommon; in the first produced by too high rents; in the second by +late collision and the want of proper management on the part of the +gentlemen; in the last by attempts to convert the Catholics, and the zeal +of new converts. The Catholic Union is dissolved. The great body of the +Catholics have abstained from the ostentation of triumph. + + +_Monday, February 1._ + +Bankes called this morning, but I did not see him. He saw Henry. He came to +say he was out, and S. Wortley in his place. When he understood Lord +Chandos did not take the Mint, he went to the Duke and offered to remain, +thinking his going out, with Lord Chandos's declining to come in, might, +taken together, embarrass the Government. However, the arrangement was +already made. + +Read Lushington's minute on the Neilgherry hills. He wants to make an +English colony there. If he had, every man would make some excuse, desert +his duty in the hot months, and go to the Neilgherry hills. + +Read the first volume of Gamba's 'Travels in South Russia.' He was Consul +of France, but writes like a Russian. He talks of restoring the commercial +communication with Asia by the Phasis, Caspian, and Oxus. All this is +absurd. Unless indeed the Russians, after occupying China, turn the Oxus +into its old course, and thus enable themselves to carry goods by water +carriage to the foot of the Himalaya, or rather within 250 miles of Cabul. + + +_February 5._ + +Received last night a note from the Duke asking me, if I could, to have a +Cabinet to-day on Batta. If I could not, to send Peel the letters of +Malcolm, &c. + +I determined to have the Cabinet. Peel had not read till the day before +yesterday the Batta papers, and, although inclining to the opinion that the +present orders must be maintained, he thinks it, as it is, a serious +question for the Government to decide after the minutes of Lord William +Bentinck and the members of council, with the apprehension of a mutiny as +the possible result of our standing firm. I said if we gave way the other +armies would bring forward their demands--that it was a question, not only +between the Home Authorities and the army, but the Home Authorities and the +Local Government which had for sixteen years resisted the orders sent to +them. + +The Duke cautioned the Cabinet as to the character of the Indian army, +which he said was a _mercenary army_, retained in obedience by nothing but +the wish to return to England; but he thought after what had taken place we +must resist, and adhere to our present orders. Peel wished all the members +of the Cabinet to read the minutes before they decided, and there is to be +a Cabinet on Sunday. + +It was determined that if a question should be asked to-night, Peel should +say 'the orders had not been countermanded.' Peel observed very justly on +the state of things which seemed to exist in India. An army sending such +memorials to the Government, and the members of the Government writing +pamphlets against each other. In point of fact, years will be required to +restore a proper tone to the Government of India. + +I mentioned to the Duke the mission of two Russian Poles to India and +Manilla, and that I suspected Russia of a wish to purchase Manilla. Neither +the Duke nor Aberdeen seemed to think the Spaniards would or could sell the +Philippines. However, Aberdeen will write to the man at Madrid to find out +whether any proposal to that effect has been made by the Russian +Government. + +The members of the House of Commons consider their majority last night +fortunate. The House is very loose. In the majority and minority were the +most opposite parties. O'Connell went out with Sadler. The Brunswickers are +in high glee, and have sent for their valiant champion, Falmouth. In our +House they made a poor show. + +Prince Leopold is not by any means disposed to take Greece without Candia, +and it was thought, from Lord Lansdowne's speech, he and others had advised +him to take this line. Aberdeen is very much embarrassed to find a +substitute. + + +_February 6._ + +Spring-Rice asked Bankes in the House last night whether the letter to Sir +J. Malcolm published as mine was mine. Bankes said that I had no copy of +it, and therefore could not say it was correctly given. It was a private +letter. Brougham, and Mackintosh, and that ass, M. A. Taylor, spoke in +reprobation of it. Mackintosh most unfairly and disingenuously pretended to +understand I endeavoured to get off by saying it was a private letter, and +said it would be an extenuation of my offence if I would disavow the +sentiments contained in it. What must he be himself to suppose I would +disavow what I had written! Upon the whole, the tone taken by Peel and +Bankes, but more especially by Peel, was too apologetical. I shall be +obliged to go to the House on Monday to have a question put to me by Lord +Lansdowne. I shall distinctly declare he may consider the letter as mine, +and that I am ready to defend every line of it. Wrote to Lord Wellesley to +offer to put his name upon the Committee on East India affairs if he would +attend. He declines on account of ill-health. + +Received a note from Peel begging me to have the Chairs to meet him on the +appointment of the committee. I sent to the Chairman, and he came and met +Peel; but Astell was out of the way. We are to meet at half-past one to- +morrow. Peel did not seem to have looked much into the subject, which the +Chairman observed. + +Saw Bankes. He is not certain of succeeding now to the secretaryship of the +Admiralty, but he expects it ultimately. He thinks the Duke of Buckingham +had nothing to do with Lord Chandos's rejection of the Mint: but does not +know how it went off. He thought that Lord Chandos had accepted, and the +Duke seems to have thought so too. + +A very good account from Ireland. The country gradually and quietly coming +round. + + +_Sunday, February 7._ + +Cabinet. First, Batta. The Duke gave his decided opinion in favour of +adhering to the present order. After some conversation, but no opposition, +the Cabinet acquiesced unanimously in that decision, which has been mine +from the first. + +I had a moment's conversation with Peel about the letter to Sir J. Malcolm, +and told him I would defend every word of it, elephants and all. + +Then we had a good deal of discussion respecting the policy to be pursued +with regard to Cuba, against which the Mexicans are preparing to organise a +slave insurrection, for which purpose they have sent a Minister to Hayti. +It seems to be generally believed that Canning, about the year 1823, issued +a sort of prohibition to the Mexican and Columbian States to attack Cuba, +but no trace can be found in the Foreign Office of any such prohibition. + +Sir R. Wilson means to ask a question upon the subject to-morrow. He says, +if you prohibit the Mexicans and Columbians from attacking Cuba, you should +prohibit the Spaniards from attacking them--which is fair--in fact the +expedition of Barradas was undertaken before we knew anything about it, and +if we had wished we could not have interfered. + +The question as to what answer should be given to Sir R. Wilson, and what +policy pursued, was deferred till to-morrow. + +In the meantime it appears that Mr. Robertson, who is at Mexico, +remonstrated strongly with M. de Bocaregna, respecting the objects of the +embassy to Hayti, and he was told by Aberdeen that he did quite right, and +that not only ourselves but other states might view with disapprobation an +attempt to excite a warfare of an uncivilised character in Cuba. + +The French have assembled 35,000 men to attack Algiers. They promise not to +keep it. [Footnote: This promise was repudiated by the Government of July.] +They intimate their intention of assisting Mehemet Ali with a fleet; but in +the meantime they are satisfied at Constantinople that Mehemet Ali will not +move. + +Aberdeen told Laval that we had informed the Pasha of Egypt that we should +view with disapprobation his attack upon Tunis and Tripoli without the +consent of the Sultan. Laval begged this might be repeated to him three +times. + +Much conversation as to the state of the House of Commons. The Tories are +most radical. Sir R. Vyvyan told Holmes or Planta his object was to reduce +the Government majorities as much as possible, and to make the Government +as contemptible as possible. Sir E. Knatchbull leads about twenty-three. I +think the probability is that, unless we make some coalition with the +Whigs, we shall go to the ground between the two parties, [Footnote: This +eventually occurred on the Civil List question after the accession of +William IV.] both uniting against us upon some point (upon my letter to Sir +J. Malcolm as likely as any other). + +I took home Sir George Murray. He expressed his surprise the Duke should +cling to the hope of reclaiming the ultra-Tories, whom he would not get, +and who were not worth having. + +I confess I think he carries it on too long, although I am not surprised he +should have wished it at first. + +Prince Leopold has given no reply to Aberdeen's letter, or to the offer of +the ambassadors. + +Lord Holland gives notice to-morrow of a motion about Greece, and Lord +Melbourne moves for some papers respecting Portugal. + +Lord Melville gives notice for me of the committee on East Indian Affairs, +and I am not to go down till Tuesday, that we may have out the letter to +Malcolm and other Indian matters all at once. + + +_February 8._ + +Wrote a memorandum for Peel and Bankes to this effect: 'That I had neither +copy nor recollection of the letter; but that I had no doubt the letter +published as mine was substantially correct. It was a confidential +exposition of the motives which induced me to recommend two judges to the +King. [Footnote: It was suggested that with these colleagues Sir J. Grant +would be like a wild elephant between two tame ones. Alluding to the method +of taming captured elephants in India.] It was never intended to be +published, nor did I expect it would be. The expressions, therefore, were +unadvised, but the sentiments were and are mine, deliberately formed upon +full consideration of the official documents before me. + +Cabinet. It appears on looking into papers of 1825 and 1826 that so far +from our having prohibited Mexico and Columbia from making any attack upon +Cuba, we uniformly abstained from doing anything of the kind. The Americans +declared they could not see with indifference any state other than Spain in +possession of Cuba, and further their disposition to interpose their power +should war be conducted in Cuba in a _devastating_ manner, and with a view +to the excitement of a servile war. + +We offered to guarantee Cuba to Spain in 1823 if she would negotiate with +the colonies with a view to their recognition. + +Subsequently we were willing to enter into a tripartite guarantee of Cuba +to Spain with the United States and France. + +The United States seemed not unwilling, but France held back. + +Peel is to say there was no record of any prohibition, but that the United +States declared so, and it was possible Mr. Canning may have intimated a +similar disposition on our part. This is to keep open to us the faculty of +interfering if we please. + +The Duke thinks my letter does not signify one pin. The simile of the +elephants evidently means no more than that an indiscreet judge was placed +between two discreet ones. + +The Duke told me he had offered a Lordship of the Treasury to Ashley, who +had declined it. He then told him to make himself master of the Batta +question. Ashley said he had not seen the papers. He said, let him see the +papers. I told him I had sent them the moment I got them to him, and he had +desired me to send them to the Cabinet room, which I did. When they were +taken from the Cabinet room they went to the India Board, and Ashley might +have seen them. I had never kept any papers from him. We then talked about +the speech to be made in moving the committee. The Duke seems inclined to +have little said. Peel seems disposed to say little; but he knows little. I +think they are wrong. I am sure it is necessary to correct the erroneous +notions which have been propagated with respect to the trade. They will +otherwise acquire so great a head it will be impossible to beat them back. + +However, this we are to talk over with Peel tomorrow. + +General King, who voted against the address on Thursday, is turned out by +the King himself; the Duke having only mentioned the fact. I dare say the +King may be alarmed by the spirit shown by the House of Commons. + +The suicide of . . . . on account of his wife's seduction by the Duke of +Cumberland, will drive the Duke of Cumberland out of the field. + + +_February 9._ + +Called on the Duke. He advised a very narrowed statement in moving for the +committee. I rather doubt his judgment upon this point. I fear the opinion +of the country will become settled, and that when the strength of our case +is brought forward it will be found unequal to the driving back of the +stream. However, I made a speech as he desired. Lord Lansdowne said a few +words. + +Lord Durham then questioned me as to the authenticity of my letter to Sir +J. Malcolm. I acknowledged it was substantially correct, and declared I +could not have entertained any other sentiments without a dereliction of +duty. He expressed disapprobation, considering the letter as evincing a +determination to control the independence of judges. The Duke replied--then +Lord Melville--then Lord Holland--I last. I declared that, as my father's +son, I was the last man capable of harbouring a thought against the +independence of judges; but I would resist their usurpation, more +especially when they usurped powers withheld from them by Parliament as +dangerous to the peace of India and to the stability of the British power. + +I said India could not bear the collision of the Supreme Court and the +Local Government. If we did not support the Government we should lose +India. + +I was determined to maintain the integrity, the dignity, the authority, and +the unapproachable power of the Local Government, and especially to support +a man who, at that distance from England, acting in the faithful discharge +of his public duty, incurred the highest responsibility and the greatest +personal risk in defence of what he considered essential to the stability +of the British power in India. I believe I did well. They all told me I +should hear no more of it. + + +_February 10._ + +Saw Bankes. He says the House of Commons is loose indeed; but he thinks +Ministers will have a majority on the East Retford business. The worst of +it is that those who ought to be the friends of Government will not stay +out a debate. Last night Peel and Goulburn were left with a decided +minority, but the House was counted out. + +Saw Hardinge. He seems to think there is no great danger, and he thinks the +House is in so loose a state that the accession of an individual or two +would not draw others; that Brougham may be quieted, and that the others do +not much signify. + +In the meantime Abercromby has been made Chief Baron of Scotland. Another +Whig gone. A very valuable intimation to those who remain. + +Lord Lansdowne brings in Zachary Macaulay, son of the old saint. [Footnote: +The late Lord Macaulay. He is erroneously described by his father's +Christian name.] They say a very clever man indeed, at least as a writer. + +Hardinge told me the Duke told Mrs. Arbuthnot I spoke very well last night. +At dinner the Chancellor and Sir George Murray congratulated me on what had +taken place. + +After the Cabinet dinner, much talk and nothing settled. The motion of Sir +J. Graham will, I think, be amended--and easily. There is a disposition, +very properly, not to give Portuguese papers. As to the Lord Holland's +motion on Friday no decision is come to. + +Gave the Duke the petition of the Bengal half-castes. + +Mr. Jenkins, who was for many years resident at Nagpore, called upon me and +offered himself as successor to Sir J. Malcolm. He said the Chairs were +disposed to him, if the Government had no objection. I said I was aware of +the services he had rendered, but that there were many distinguished +servants of the Company, and likewise persons of ability who had not been +in India, whose several qualifications must be considered. It was further a +point upon which I must of course communicate with the Duke of Wellington. +The man is a person of dry cold manner, not prepossessing. + +I am disposed to think Mr. Chaplin the best Indian for the situation. + + +_February 11._ + +I think Polignac's Ministry must fall, and really, as regards himself, I +cannot feel regret, as he is the greatest liar that has exercised +diplomatist functions for a long time. I had thought better of him. If +their expedition ever sails for Algiers they will find what it costs to +send an expedition over sea. I think, however, they will succeed, and, if +they do, they will keep Algiers. + +Sir R. Gordon entertains a very different opinion from that expressed by +Aberdeen as to the future fate of the Ottoman Empire. He thinks the events +of the late war prove little, and that the Sultan has learnt a lesson which +will induce him to treat his rayas better--that the war once over, all men +will return to their duty. However, he gives no good reasons for his +opinion. He states very fairly the difficulty of his own position. He says +he has hitherto believed it was the intention of his Government to support +Turkey. He has therefore had influence, because where he has advised +concession the Turks have understood we meant it should not be hurtful to +them--but now, how can he advise the Turks to yield to what is asked, when +he knows the Government think that the more is taken from Turkey, the more +is saved from Russia? Sir R. Gordon says his colleagues are by no means of +opinion that the Ottoman Empire is falling, and that France allows their +officers to go in numbers to serve with the Turkish troops. + +Received a letter from Sir J. Macdonald in which he tells me the Turkish +Asiatic provinces are falling away from the Sultan. + +He encloses a letter from a Mr. Sterling, giving a very interesting account +of his journey by Meshed and near Balkh to Cabul. He took a new road to the +north of the Paropamisan ridge. In Cabul he experienced no difficulty. + + +_February 12._ + +House. Lord Holland's motion of a resolution that the House would not be +satisfied with any plan for the pacification and settlement of Greece, +which did not secure to that state the means of independence by sea and +land, and leave the Greeks free to have their own Constitution. His +information was most inaccurate. Yet on this he founded his distrust of the +Government. Notwithstanding this distrust he was neither with them nor +against them, nor did he wish to turn them out. He made an indifferent +speech. Aberdeen a fair one ill delivered. The Duke spoke admirably. The +brains were beaten out of the motion. No division. Goderich and Clanricarde +and Melbourne spoke; Lord Melbourne poorly. + +On the East Retford [Footnote: It will be remembered that this question had +led to the resignation of Huskinsson and his friends.] question last night +we had a majority of twenty-seven in a House of 226 members--the high +Tories voting with Government. + +Bankes has now the offer of a Lordship of the Admiralty till Croker can be +got rid of; but he will not go. Castlereagh will have the Treasury +Lordship--that is, 600£ a year more for having been careless. + + +_February 13._ + +After seeing the Chairs spoke to the Duke about the Bombay succession. He +asked what I meant to do with Elphinstone? I considered he had left India +altogether. The Duke thought he must return--that he would go to Bombay +again with the expectation of afterwards going to Madras. I think the Duke +has an idea of making him Governor-General. I mentioned Mr. Chaplin. The +Duke mentioned Mr. Jenkins, of whom he thought highly. He had done well at +Nagpore, and he had had some correspondence with him when in India which +gave him a good opinion of him. The Duke spoke of Mr. Russell, but thought +he had been mixed up with the Hyderabad transactions. I then mentioned +Clare. The Duke thought him better than any of the others mentioned. That +it was a great thing to have a man of rank; he must be well supported; he +had not a very strong mind. However, on the whole he seemed better than the +others, and I am to propose him. + +I am very glad to have Clare. I have a great respect and regard for him-- +but I have a little hesitation as to his fitness. He will, however, be a +most zealous and honourable servant of the public, and his good manners +will keep people in good humour and in order. + +Leopold has sent in his answer. I have not seen it yet. He accepts on +conditions. + +The debate last night in the Commons is considered very favourable. +Dawson's amendment was adopted--and Planta and Holmes say the temper of +the country gentlemen is much improved. They are quite in spirits again. + +A hint of Peel's, but a hint that the Government did not fear an appeal to +the country, seems to have had a good effect. + + +_February 14._ + +Cabinet. On Thursday Peel, in opening the Compensation Bill, will detail +the various legal reforms. + +He is disposed to diminish gradually the number of crimes for which the +punishment of death is awarded. The Duke seemed reluctant and so did +others. However, the Chancellor did not object. + +My father considered that where a man could not protect his own property +the law ought to protect it for him by higher penalties. However, now it +seems a man must protect his own property, and punishments are to be +proportioned more to the extent of the moral offence than to the necessity +for preventing crime. + +Then we considered Leopold's answer. The man accepts provided-- + +1. There is a guarantee of the new State. + +2. That the frontier is slightly altered. + +3. That the three powers protect the present insurgents in Samos and +Candia. + +4. That a loan of 1,500,000£ is guaranteed. + +5. That he may have troops furnished to him. + +6. He stipulates that the Greeks should have the power of declining him, +_le soussigné_, as their Prince. + +A guarantee there will probably be, and therefore the alteration of +boundaries, which Leopold knew could not be listened to, is in fact +unnecessary. + +Each power separately and individually may use its good offices with the +Porte for the protection of the Greeks in Samos and Candia, and indeed, +under the agreement as to an amnesty, each would be bound to do so; but no +triple agreement will be entered into, the object being to get out of the +Treaty of July 6. + +Aberdeen seemed disposed to allow 1,000 men of each of the three Powers to +go to Greece. This would continue the triple action, and as these troops +would go, not against any external enemy, but against Greeks, the measure +would be somewhat in contradiction to the declaration the other night that +the Greeks and their Prince might make what Government they pleased. After +some conversation it seemed the general opinion that it would be better to +pay the cost of the troops than to have our own there, and in fact the same +money would enable Greece to have twice the number of Germans or Swiss that +she could have of British. This I thought. But I suggested that Greece +could not want a large sum down. A sum might be required for outfit, but +then an annual sum. Peel proposed the whole loan guaranteed should be +700,000£, of which 100,000£ to be paid down as outfit, and then 100,000£ a +year for six years at 5 per cent; the three Powers guaranteeing each a +third part of the interest. It is better to guarantee the loan, then to pay +money down. The loan, they say, can be made at three. Aberdeen says the +Greeks give a most flourishing exposé of their future finances, and he +thinks they will become a rich State, and the Powers be exposed to no +danger of being called upon for the payment of the interest. I think he +begins to love his Greek progeny. + +The Duke only desired we would get out of the treaty. I suggested the +inexpediency of our joining in the guarantee. A guarantee gave no right of +intervention we should not otherwise possess, and it obliged us to +interfere when we might not desire to do so. However, I fear there will be +a guarantee. + + +_February 16._ + +Cabinet. There seems to be little doubt that the Emperor Pedro means to +direct an expedition from Rio against Portugal, Terceira being the point of +_rassemblement_. This is a practical answer to the question recently put by +us conjointly with France and Austria as to the intentions of the Emperor, +and therefore we are at liberty to act as if a specific answer had been +received. It seems Austria will be very unwilling to recognise Don Miguel; +France not. + +The object of recognising him is to prevent a revolutionary war in Portugal +and the entrance of Spanish troops into Portugal to oppose it. + +Whenever Miguel is recognised, I think Lord Rosslyn will be made Master- +General of the Ordnance, Lord Beresford going to Portugal as Minister, and +then the Privy Seal will be disposable. I dare say the Duke, out of good +nature, will offer it to Lord Westmoreland. + +Aberdeen read the remonstrance he proposed sending to Spain against the +proposed expedition to Mexico. + +Leopold met the Plenipotentiaries, and Aberdeen thinks he would have +acceded, but he evidently required the sanction of another person. The +French Ambassador used very strong language, telling him his Court would be +very much hurt indeed at finding him make these difficulties after all that +had passed, &c. + +Peel told me he was disposed to grant the motion for any correspondence +between the Board of Control or any member of it, &c., with a direct +negative. To move the previous question was an admission of some error. I +was telling him the circumstances when it was necessary to attend to +Aberdeen's business. I must tell him to-morrow. + + +_February 17._ + +At the Cabinet dinner at Lord Melville's, talked to Peel and gave him a +copy of the report of the Privy Council and of my letter to Sir J. Grant. +He is disposed to take a high tone, and thinks men will follow him better +when he does than when he temporises. I am sure they will. + +He says he would reduce everything so low as not to be beat upon +establishments. If he is beat upon unimportant questions he does not care, +and will not go out. They will not get a majority for stopping supplies, +and if they can agree upon motions, he is prepared to play the game of '83 +[Footnote: Alluding to Pitt's course at the beginning of his first +Ministry. He retained office a whole Session in spite of the motions +carried against him, and in the general election of 1784 obtained an +overwhelming majority.] with them. I am sure he is right. + + +_February 18._ + +House. First a question from Lord Holland whether the orders to the Admiral +respecting Greek slaves, &c., would, after the settlement of Greece, apply +to Candiot Greeks. Then Lord Melbourne's motion for Portuguese papers. He +did not speak well--but very bitterly. Goderich spoke pathetically against +the Terceira affair--Lord Wharncliffe well with us--Lansdowne wide and +loose--the Duke very excellent--Aberdeen worse than usual, and very +imprudent, abusing Miguel and making awkward admissions. + +It was quite established that Canning had nothing to say to the Portuguese +Constitution, and I think we shall hear no more of Terceira. Fifty-two to +twenty-one--no proxies. + + +_February 19._ + +Cabinet. Leopold's answer. He wants troops and money. After long talk it +was resolved the French troops might stay a year, till he could raise +others, and money should be given. + + +_February 20, 1830._ + +In riding with Lord Rosslyn had a long conversation with him upon Indian +matters. He had just been reading the despatches from Lord Stuart and Lord +Heytesbury upon these subjects. I told him I had anticipated all Lord H. +suggested and had done, I really thought, all that could be done. I am to +send him the secret letter. He thinks, as I do, that Aberdeen is in a great +hurry to get rid of the Greek question, and disposed to incur future +embarrassments to avoid present inconvenience. + +Lord Rosslyn does not much like the division of last night, but I believe +it was a good one. + + +_February 21._ + +This morning looked through the finance accounts of the three years, ending +1819, and the three ending 1828, with a view to comparing the state of the +country with what it was before Peel's Bill. The increased consumption is +astonishing. The increase of British tonnage and in the number of seamen +since 1819 is equal to the whole tonnage and to all the seamen in the +foreign trade with Great Britain, although that is increased nearly in the +same proportion with our own. + +The increased consumption of tea and coffee is 50 per cent. The number of +pounds in 1819 being about 30,000,000 of pounds, and now 45,000,000 pounds. + +The import of foreign raw produce is much increased--of that produce which +competes with the landed produce of England. + +Hardinge called. He thinks the Government quite safe now. Indeed, he never +had much apprehension. He regrets Sir James Graham's divergence from the +road which leads to office. He thinks he came up to London intending well; +but that he thought under present circumstances he could be a more +considerable man out of office than he would be in a subordinate situation. + +The Duke of Northumberland says the salary of the Lord-Lieutenant may well +be reduced to 20,000£ a year. + + +_February 24._ + +Lord Rosslyn, who called upon me at the office, thinks I may go a little +too far in my directions with regard to Russian spies, that is, in a public +despatch. I had directed that if it appeared danger was likely to arise +from their return to Europe or from their passage into any Asiatic country, +their persons should be placed under restraint, and in all cases their +papers and letters got possession of. He suggests that this might be +mentioned in a private letter, or left to the discretion of the Local +Governments. + +We had a long conversation on Lord Stanhope's motion for to-morrow, when +Whigs and Tories are to combine to beat us. + +The division last night in the House of Commons on Lord J. Russell's motion +for giving two members to Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds, was not +satisfactory. There were 140 for it, and only 188 against it. The Tories +stayed away. + + +_February 25._ + +House at 4 and until 2. Lord Stanhope's motion for a Committee of the whole +House on the internal state of the country. He made a weak speech, because +to get votes he abstained from stating the cause of distress, which in his +opinion is currency, or any remedy. Goderich and Lansdowne made good +speeches. Rosebery not a bad one, though as usual pompous. All suggesting +some remedies--all for reducing taxation, but against a Committee of the +House. Lord Radnor made a good vulgar speech. King spoke better than usual. +He proposed, but afterwards withdrew, an amendment for a Committee +upstairs. The Duke, who alone spoke on our side, did not speak well, and +some of his statements were hazardous. Lords Darnley and Bute declared +there was no distress near them. + +We divided well. There being but fifteen present for Lord Stanhope's +motion, and ten proxies. + + +_February 26._ + +Chairs at 11. Went over with them the letter on Batta. + +Lord Wharncliffe intends on Tuesday to propose examining the Chairman of +the East Indian Company. + + +_February 27._ + +Wrote a note to Loch to tell him of Lord Wharncliffe's intention. He does +not like the idea at all, and wishes to see me before the Committee sits. I +have named Monday at eleven. I told him my feeling was against his being +examined, as I thought it unfair; besides, he was not the best witness. I +told Lord Wharncliffe he should examine Lord Amherst. + +At the Cabinet room I attempted to read the papers respecting Irish +education. My opinion is that it would be better to let the matter rest for +the present; the agitation of it may revive animosities, and if any good be +attainable, it may be attained at a more favourable period than the +present. I rather doubt whether it might not be yet more safely left to the +people themselves, as education in England and in Scotland. + + +_March 1._ + +Cabinet. We were to have talked about Irish education, but more important +matters intervened. There is a motion on Friday of Mr. Davenport's for a +Committee on the internal state of the country. Peel thinks there will be a +union of parties in favour of it. He feels it must be opposed. Some of the +friends of Government have said they must vote for it. He proposes that +Goulburn should to-morrow give notice of his intention of explaining his +views as to taxation on Monday week. Peel thinks that he can procure an +adjournment of the debate till after Goulburn's exposé. + +Goulburn suggests taking off the whole of the beer tax, and remitting the +hop duty for this year, as well as remodelling it. He likewise proposes +lowering the duties on East and West India sugar, the former from 37_s_. to +25_s_., and the latter from 27_s_. to 20_s_. + +As the revenue is decreasing, these reductions cannot be taken from it. +There must be a commutation. This he proposes to be a modified property +tax, to apply to landed property, all fixed property, and the funds as well +as all offices, but not to the profits of trade. + + +_March 2._ + +There seems to have been some incivility last night on the part of Sir +Charles Burrell and Sir E. Knatchbull against me, with reference to my +opposition to the Duke of Richmond's motion on the wool question last year. + + +_March 3._ + +Peel's. Met Bankes, Graham, and Ashley. It was, after talk, agreed that the +papers asked should be refused, unless in the course of the debate it +should appear that the granting of Grant's petition and the report of the +Privy Council would improve the division. I expect a regular attack upon +myself from all quarters. I would give a year of the House of Lords to be +there to throw grape-shot amongst the small lawyers. + +Cabinet room. Read despatches relating to the expedition to Algiers, which +is certainly going. + +Cabinet dinner at Peel's. The affair of the vacated offices becomes +serious, for it seems certain that it is necessary to take the declaration +again upon any new patent, and the Board of Admiralty should have taken the +declaration as well as Castlereagh--the Board of Control as well as me. + +The Chancellor continues to have no objection to reducing the salaries of +the Supreme Court Judges. + + +_March 5._ + +Chairs at 11. I got rid of them as soon as I could, as I wished to go to +the Committee. + +Loch showed me a letter from Lord William Bentinck, by which it appears +that the officers of the Cawnpore division of the army wished to have a +general meeting for the election of delegates to England. Sir J. +Whittingham forwarded their request to Lord Combermere, highly disapproving +of it. Lord Combermere directed the Adjutant-General to write a letter +coinciding with Sir J. Whittingham's opinions, and adding that he would be +the advocate of the army both in India and in England. Lord William +(Bentinck) is going up the country with the _Government_ and wishes to take +Lord Dalhousie with him. He expects very uncivil treatment, and says the +discontent is deep-seated. The same account is received from other +quarters. + +The debate was adjourned last night. R. Grant made a speech in a moderate +tone, but disingenuous. Lord Ashley spoke good stuff apparently, but Henry +says he could not hear him. Lord Graham was unembarrassed and did well; but +the 'Times' hardly gives him ten words. + +I sent a note to Peel to-day observing upon the disingenuousness of Grant's +speech. He told me he had been reading the papers, and saw it was no +question of judicial independence, but of judicial aggression, and he +thought the tone of the Governor who was in the right much better than that +of the Judge who was in the wrong. So I hope he will make a good speech. + + +_March 6._ + +Read letters from Sir J. Macdonald. They came by Constantinople. The only +news they contain is that the Russians certainly have the intention of +conquering Khiva and Bokhara. This comes from Chasanes Murza. I told the +Duke, who seems disposed to make it an European question. + +I showed the Duke a most atrocious libel on royalty which has been +published in the 'Calcutta Gazette.' If the King saw it he would recall +Lord William by the Sign Manual. A letter must be written immediately in +the press. It is in such a state that our Government cannot stand if it be +permitted to go on uncontrolled. + +I asked the Duke as to taxation. He said he thought it could be done +without income tax. To lay on income tax would be to weaken ourselves in +the opinion of all foreign Powers. Besides, it would prevent our reducing +the Four per Cents. + +He calculated the loss of the beer duty at 3,500,000£. and, marine +insurance, cider, remission of hop duty, &c., would make the loss +4,500,000£. + +To meet this he expected + + £ + Surplus of last year 1,700,000 + Additional from general improvement 400,000 + Additional malt by reducing beer duties 500,000 + Increased duty on spirits 500,000 + Reducing Four per Cents 750,000 + Savings 1,400,000 + Ireland, soap, &c. 450,000 + Stamps 200,000 + --------- + 5,900,000 + 4,500,000 + --------- + 1,400,000 + +There may have been more; but he spoke, and I write from memory. + +I told him I thought that with a diminished duty on beer and an increased +duty on spirits he could not expect an increase of 500,000£ on spirits. He +admitted that was the weak point. He said he was sure we could not carry an +income tax while we had a million surplus. If we have a good harvest, I +have no doubt the increase on malt will be great; but I apprehend there +must be a repayment of beer duties, and if there should be, the loss will +be enormous. + + +_March 8._ + +Sent Mr. Elphinstone a letter giving an account of the travels to the North +of the Paropamisan range into Cabul. + +The Duke said we really must look out for a new Governor-General. I +suggested Hardinge. He said Hardinge had not as yet station enough in the +opinion of the public, in the army, or in Parliament. He wished him to be +Secretary in Ireland. It would have been much better if he had gone there +instead of Lord F. Gower, and Lord P. to the War Office. To be sure, then +we should not have had the reductions Hardinge had effected. He had, as I +knew, always wished Hardinge to go to Ireland. + +I observed that Hardinge was rising every day in public estimation, which +the Duke acknowledged, and I added that I was sure none would do the duty +better, for he had firmness and habits of business. The Duke seems to think +of Elphinstone. He said he was a very clever man. I told him I had been an +hour and a half with Elphinstone last night. I told the Duke all my notions +respecting individual responsibility, members of Council, &c., and that I +had begged Elphinstone to think of them. The Duke seemed generally to +approve of them. It seems Lord Wellesley never would go to Council. I do +not wonder at it; but the Duke used to tell him he was Governor-General _in +Council_--that he ought always to go there. + + +_March 10._ + +Dined with the Duke. Cabinet dinner. Only the Peers there. The others +detained by Lord Palmerston's motion on Portugal, on which there was a +majority of two to one, 150 odd to 70 something. Huskisson made a very bad +dull speech. We talked about a successor to the Speaker. They seem to think +he will not resign now, as he would not get a good pension in the present +temper of the House. + +The candidates are Sir J. Beckett, Littleton, G. Bankes, Wynn of course. I +mentioned Frankland Lewis as a good man, which he would be. I dare say the +Chairs will think he should be elected unanimously. + +It seems there must be a Bill of Indemnity for not taking the declaration, +two Bishops, Chester and Oxford, not having taken it. The Duke finds he has +at Dover, as Lord Warden. + +We had some little conversation about the income tax, which the Duke is +very hostile to, and I am glad we shall not have it. + + +_March 11._ + +The Russians have at last sent their reply to our expostulatory note. I +have not had time to read it. Lord Heytesbury calculates that the last war +cost them 12,000,000£, but they endeavour to conceal the amount. + +Peel told me the House was quite excited against the Bombay judges, and +that the division fairly represented its real opinion. + + +_March 12._ + +There was but one black ball in the election of Lord Clare, and the Chairs +think that was put in by mistake; no one objected. + + +_March 13._ + +Read Sir H. Parnell's pamphlet on taxation. + +Cabinet room at two. I had only got half through the Russian answer when +the Cabinet met for the subject of taxation. + +I rather expected to find that the Duke had had communications with +Goulburn, and that the idea of a property tax was given up. However, that +seemed not to be the case. It was determined the whole beer duty should be +given up in any case. + + £ + The expected revenue is 50,250,000 + The expected expenditure 47,930,000 + ---------- + Surplus 2,320,000 + Add by reduction of Four per Cents 777,000 + By 1_s_. 6_d_. on British, + and 2_d_. on Irish and Scotch Spirits 400,000 + By stamps in Ireland 220,000 + 3,717,000 + Deduct beer tax, £3,200,000, but the loss to + the revenue from the probable increase of malt, + calculated at 2,500,000 + ---------- + 1,217,000 + Probable increase of revenue 450,000 + ---------- + Sinking fund 1,667,000 + +The conversion of stock into annuities is proceeding at the rate of +1,000,000 pounds a month, and the increased annual charge already is +250,000 pounds. Certainly to this extent the estimated three millions of +surplus might be fairly reduced; but to reduce the surplus to 1,200,000 +pounds or 1,600,000 pounds would be an entire abandonment of the system +adopted by the Finance Committee and the Government. + +It seemed to me that the members of the House of Commons were all in favour +of the income tax; all the Peers against it. The Duke was strongly against +it. He apprehended the reduction of establishments, and particularly the +pressure of the tax on men of 1,200 pounds a year, and under. + +If I imposed the income tax, I would make it the means of a thorough +reconciliation between the higher and lower classes. In this manner only +would it be effectual and make a strong Government. + +I object greatly to Goulburn's deductions from the old income tax. He +excepts _occupiers_; that is, as regards land occupiers, quite right; but +he excepts manufacturing capital and capital engaged in commerce. Now, why +should the man who has 100,000 pounds in a manufactory, and makes 10 per +cent, on that sum, pay nothing, while the man who invests his 100,000 +pounds in the funds gets only 3 1/2 per cent, and pays 5 per cent, out of +that reduced profit? The man who has a manufacturing or _commercial +capital_ is a _saving man_. He can afford to pay something to the State, +and why should he not? So the lawyer who may be making 10,000 pounds a +year is to pay nothing. If he takes 5,500£. a year and becomes a judge, he +pays 137 pounds 10 shillings. Yet his interest is still for life. + +In all this there seems to me unfairness. + +If the tax be imposed as it is proposed, it will be very difficult to +include afterwards the classes now exempted. It will be impossible to take +off the tax, and whenever a tax is unpopular, those upon whom it presses +will say, 'Take it off. It is only adding 1/4 or 1/2 per cent. to the +income tax.' + +A real property tax is the fairest of all taxes--but an income tax is the +most unfair even when it affects all income; but when it affects the income +of some who have a life interest, and not the income of others in the same +situation, it is most unfair indeed. + +It is quite erroneous to suppose that those who pay an income tax are the +only persons who suffer from it. The reduction of establishments, the +diminished consumption, the increased economy in every article of +expenditure on the part of those affected by it have necessarily the effect +of reducing the wages of labour. The labourer may buy some things cheaper, +but he has less wherewith to buy. + + +_Sunday, March 14._ + +Saw Hardinge at two. Told him how we stood as to the question of taxation. +He said he thought the income tax would be popular, but agreed with me in +thinking it should be established on strictly just principles. + +Cabinet at three. Goulburn read a new statement showing the surplus this +year, if we reduced beer and leather, and next year too. The surplus this +year is about 2 millions. Next year about 1,500,000£. + +The income tax reaches the funds, and the Irish, and the parsimonious, and +the rich--so far it is good, but it likewise reaches the man of 100£ a +year. It tends to diminution of establishments, to diminished demand for +labour. To create an alteration in demand generally. + +It was proposed to exempt professions and trades. This was unjust, and it +would have led to an entire separation and hostility between the landed +proprietors and the united body of labourers and manufacturers. + +These last would have joined on all occasions in urging a further and still +a further increase of income tax, and would never have consented to a tax +on consumption. The income tax would finally absorb all other taxes. + +Another great objection to the income tax now is that it would have the +effect of perilling the reduction of the 3 per cents. + +The Duke, Rosslyn, and I were decidedly against income tax. Lord Bathurst +and Lord Melville, as well as the Chancellor, less decidedly so, but still +in favour of abiding by the reduction of the beer and leather tax. Aberdeen +said nothing, neither did Sir G. Murray, so they were understood to go with +the majority. + +Goulburn acknowledged the discussion had to a great extent changed his +opinion, and that he was not then prepared to propose the tax. + +Herries seemed much in its favour; but more, as it seemed to me, because he +wished to maintain a large surplus according to the decision of the Finance +Committee than for any good reason. Peel was decidedly for a property tax. +He wished to reach such men as Baring, his father, Rothschild, and others, +as well as absentees and Ireland. He thought too it was expedient to +reconcile the lower with the higher classes, and to diminish the burthen of +taxation on the poor man. I accede to the principle; but I doubt whether +taxes on consumption do really press more heavily on the poor man than an +income tax. What he has to look to is not the actual price of the article +he wants, but the proportion which his wages bear to that price. It matters +little to him what the price of candles may be, if he has not money +wherewith to purchase them. That system of taxation is best for the poor +man which most tends to increase the funds for the employment of labour; +and every disturbance in the system, every alteration of demand, does +intrinsic mischief. + +After this matter was decided, Peel behaving most fairly, and declaring he +would support the decision of the Cabinet whatever it might be, and that in +this case the decision of the Treasury was to be principally looked to, we +talked of Queen Donna Maria, in whose name Don Pedro has established a +Regency in Terceira. + +I read Leopold's letter to Lord Aberdeen, in which he refers to his letter +of February 11, for the statement of his views in taking the Greek coronet, +saying that he only acceded from courtesy, and as a matter of form, to the +protocol, and further urging some alteration in the frontier. He has made +an application for a joint guarantee by the three Powers of a loan of +60,000,000 paras, or 2,400,000£. Now we only agreed to guarantee 50,000£ a +year, and that for troops. Nothing will be said upon this point till he has +withdrawn his letter. He seems to be Aberdeen's pet. I do not think, had +the Greeks searched Europe, they could have found a man whose character was +more congenial to their own. + + +_March 17._ + +Leopold has withdrawn his obnoxious letter. + + +_March 18._ + +House at five. Debate on the Duke of Richmond's motion for a select +Committee on the state of the labouring classes, and the effect of taxation +upon the productive powers of industry. + +A most dull debate, till Lord Holland spoke. I answered him. Lord Lansdowne +next, then the Duke. I spoke, showing the impracticability of the +Committee. I however showed up Committees rather too much. This Lord +Lansdowne took hold of, not very fairly, but he did it well. + +We had in the House 69; they 39. + +With proxies we had 140 to 61. My uncle voted in the minority, and so did +Coplestone. Dudley, Lord Malmesbury, Lord Gower, voted with us. + +The Whigs, Brunswickers, and Canningites were in the minority. The Duke of +Cumberland was there. + +I find we have some recruits--in proxies Lord Lauderdale, Duke of Bedford, +Downshire, Lord Wilton; and Lord Jersey sits behind us. He has now Lord +Lauderdale's proxy. All this is consequent upon Lord Rosslyn's accession. +Lord Grey has now no one left. No one expressed a wish to turn out the +Ministers. + + +_March 19._ + +It seems that in the House of Commons Huskisson made a friendly speech, +finding he can do no harm, and Lord Althorp a very friendly one. In short, +everybody seems to be of opinion that the worst thing that could be done +would be to turn out the Government. + +Peel says, and so does Herries, that the House is in favour of an income +tax. That what we have determined upon is the best for this year, but that +next year there must be an income tax. + +Cabinet. Leopold wants more money. It was agreed he should have 70,000 +pounds a year loan guaranteed to him for seven years, instead of 50,000 +pounds. + +The holders of 4 per cents. are to have the option of 100 pounds stock 3 +1/2, or 70 pounds stock 5 per cents. Trustees may only convert into the 3 +1/2 per cents. + + +_March 20._ + +Chairs at 11. They have made some alterations in the letter to the Indian +Government respecting their conduct, and have praised Lord William for his +_perseverance_, &c. This is contrary to the Duke's view and to mine. I +shall see whether I can allow their amendments. + +I find they have likewise altered much in the letter relative to Batta. + + +_March 23._ + +The Duke, Lord Bathurst, and Rosslyn went away at 2 to the Cabinet, where +they decided against the Jew Relief Bill. The bishops have intimated that +they must unanimously oppose it. + +Debate on Lord Clanricarde's motion on the eternal Terceira question. The +Duke spoke very well. The House was flat. The division with proxies 126 to +31, 4 to 1. We have now of Whig proxies Bedford, Lauderdale, Wilton, +Downshire, Belhaven, Meldrum, and Lord Jersey. + + +_March 24._ + +Cabinet dinner at Sir J. Murray's. Considered what course should be adopted +upon P. Thompson's motion for a committee to revise taxation. Peel still +hankers after the property tax, and rather unwillingly opposes this motion. +However, it will be done on the ground that the remission of such a +question to a committee would derange, by existing apprehensions and hopes, +the whole industry of the country. In fact it would likewise vest the +Government in the committee. Peel, Planta, and Holmes all think the +division will be close. I do not apprehend that, if the debate be well +conducted. + +Had a long conversation with the Duke upon Indian matters. The +recollections of his youth are strong upon him, and he still clings to the +old forms. + + +_March 25._ + +Read some evidence before the Commons on the China trade. + +Committee. Examined Mr. Elphinstone. He gave very good evidence. + +House. A flat discussion on the Kentish petition. + + +_March 26._ + +We had two to one last night. The House not very full. It seemed by no +means the wish of the House to have a property tax; quite the contrary. + +Mr. Elphinstone re-examined by Lord Lansdowne and others. He gave a very +good evidence, and quite knocked up colonisation. + + +_Monday, March 29, 1830._ + +Office at 2. Looked over regulations, &c., relative to the half-castes and +considered their question. Came to a decided opinion against their +admissibility to offices which can be held by natives. + +When Lord Carlisle presented the petition I said very little, expressed +compassion for their situation, and a wish to relieve it in any manner +consistent with the conservation of our empire and the well-being of the +great body of the native population. I said what they asked was not +equality of rights, but privilege. + +Lord King's resolutions on the Corn Laws. A dull debate which lasted till +nine--no division. The Duke did not speak well, and it was unnecessary for +him to speak at all. + + +_March 30._ + +Committee. Examined Mr. Chaplin, who gave a very good evidence. He is +decidedly against the employment of half-castes. + +I told the Duke at the Committee that I had written to the King immediately +on Clare's appointment, and afterwards to Sir F. Watson, when I sent the +warrant and had got no answer. The Duke said he would enquire about it. He +thought he should have spoken to the King _before_. However, he would +settle it. + + +_March 31._ + +Committee at 1. Examined Mr. Ricketts, the half-caste, when Lord Carlisle +had examined him in chief. Mr. Ricketts did not seem to know much about the +law. It was odd enough to observe him looking round to me after every +answer. + +We had afterwards Mr. Baker, a strong contrast indeed with Mr. Ricketts. He +gave very curious evidence relative to the trade of the Arabs of Malabar +with Scinde, the Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea. + + +_April 2._ + +Cabinet. Question whether the French should be allowed to hire 9,000 tons +of transports now in the river for the expedition against Algiers. The Duke +was strongly against it. The French had behaved so ill to us, concealing +their objects from us, and revealing them to other Courts, besides +intriguing with the Pasha of Egypt. + +Aberdeen was for giving the permission. He thought the French would +consider it quite a hostile measure if we refused permission. However, +permission will not be given. + +Leopold is still negotiating about the money, and it seems doubtful whether +he will not resign at last. + + +_April 3._ + +The Company have got into an awkward scrape. It seems they have not made +out their account of the prime cost of their tea as merchants do, that they +have charged all losses whether from fixed rate of exchange or other +causes, whereas merchants in general state prime cost on a calculation of +the price in the place where the article is purchased, the other +calculations going in diminution of profit. + +I begin to think the maintenance of the monopoly will be impossible. I have +long thought it very inexpedient. It would leave a sullen, settled feeling +of discontent in the minds of the manufacturers and merchants of England. + + +_April 6._ + +Wrote to the Duke to tell him I had not yet received the Duke of +Devonshire's memorandum respecting Sir W. Rumbold, and that in the meantime +I was getting into as small a compass as possible the information he +desired. + +I added that the liberation of the Nizam changed our position with respect +to Sir W. Rumbold, and I should be glad to speak to him about it. + +I reminded him of Lord Clare's appointment, not yet approved by the King. + + +_April 8._ + +Cabinet at 2. The Committee on the Bank Charter to be taken out of +Huskisson's hands. + +The King was not well yesterday. The Duke recollected Clare's appointment, +and thinks I shall have the warrant in a day or two. + + +_April 9._ + +Wrote to Wrangham, begging him to send me the Cabinet box I desired the +Cabinet messenger to take to my house yesterday. I think it contained the +papers relative to Russian projects against India. + +I have been so unwell the last two days I have been unable to do any public +business. + + +_April 12._ + +Had some conversation with Hardinge. He thinks the Duke will not remain in +office above a year more, and that Peel will then be Minister, and that +Peel looks forward to that now. I said I feared he would be a very Radical +Minister. + +Hardinge thinks Sir G. Murray would be very well satisfied to be Master- +General, that he feels the Colonial Office is above him. I doubt, however, +if he would like leaving it. If Peel was Minister he would have all the +Ministers he could in the House of Commons. + +From what Hardinge heard from Croker I am inclined to think that foolish +fellow and others imagine they could go on without Peel. + +I do not think it impossible we may have a dissolution of Parliament if +there should be a good harvest. + + +_April 12._ + +Sent the letter and list of Russian papers about China to the Duke. Wrote +to Aberdeen and told him so. Observed at the same time that I should be +very glad to make some arrangement with the Portuguese for excluding opium +from their Indian ports; but I feared the present state of our relations +with Portugal was not favourable for our doing so. + + +_April 13._ + +Found in London the papers I had sent to the Duke. He says he is sorry he +has read them. He had thought better of Sir Ch. Metcalfe. The only one of +the four who writes _common sense_ is Elphinstone. + + +_April 15._ + +The King was apparently very ill indeed yesterday. + +Received a medal struck for the native troops engaged in the Burmese war +from Loch, and another to be transmitted to the King. + + +_April 16._ + +Saw Hardinge, who called upon me at R. + +The King has really been very ill, but certainly not worse than the +bulletin made him. + +Sir H. Halford does not go down to-day, nor will there be any more +bulletins. + +Hardinge seems to be dissatisfied with Peel, who he says is cold and never +encourages any one. All this is very true. + +I think Hardinge rather looks to the Colonial Office. He thinks Sir G. +Murray does not do the business well, and that he would be perfectly +satisfied with the Ordnance. Hardinge does not like Ireland, yet, I think, +he will find he goes to Ireland. The Duke certainly wishes it. + +The Duke of Clarence is very fond of Hardinge, and tells him all he means +to do when he is 'King William.' This seems much confined at present to +changes in uniforms. He means to make the Blues _red_, and to have gold +lace for all the Line, and silver lace for all the Militia. + + +_April 17._ + +Saw Sir A. Campbell at 1. He came about his claim upon the Company. I told +him I transacted all business of that nature in writing. I gave him +information as to the proposal of the Chairs, which is to give him staff +allowances for a year, instead of Batta, by which he would gain about +15,850 R., or about 1,580£. What he wants is about 25,000£, or the +difference between that and the value of his pension of 1,000£ a year--that +is, 15,000£. + +Went to the Foreign Office. No news there or at the Treasury of the King. +The report is that he is better. + +Read there for an hour and a half. + +Polignac offers, if it were desired, to sign a Convention upon the +principles laid down in Aberdeen's despatch as to Algiers. + +He seems out of humour altogether with Leopold; Villele seems to have no +great disposition to come in, although his friends have. He says the +Opposition will in any case have 180 votes in the new Chamber. + +Spain will withdraw her Minister and have only a Chargé d'Affaires at +Lisbon if Don Miguel will not grant the amnesty. + +France does not remonstrate against the abolition of the Salic Law in +Spain, as she precluded herself by treaty from the succession. The law was +otherwise in the old Spanish monarchy. [Footnote: The Salic law was +introduced by Philip V. of Spain, the first Bourbon king, whose own claim +was through his mother, daughter of Louis XIV., who had renounced the +succession.] The abrogation of the Salic law is directed against Don +Carlos, &c., and the King naturally wishes his own child to succeed, be the +child male or female. + +Saw Mr. Downie on the part of Mr. Chippendale, the man who was removed by +the Sign Manual from the service of the India Company. The Court and the +Bengal Government did not view his offence in the same light. The poor man +is ruined, but the feelings of humanity must not interfere with the +interests of the public service. His removal was a good hint to the whole +body of civil servants, and did good. + + +_April 18._ + +Brought Lord Clare home after church, and showed him my letter to Mr. +Elphinstone respecting the chiefs of Kattywar and the Guicowar. Talked over +the policy to be pursued with regard to them. + +He is to leave England in September, and means to go to Marseilles. + + +_April 19._ + +Lord William seems to have been much gratified by my letters in May and +June affording the pledges of my support and the assurances of my +confidence. Afterwards, however, he received my letter of July, intimating +censure for the relaxations of the rules restricting the residence of +Europeans, and a difference of opinion as to the Government leaving +Calcutta. His letters are in a very good tone and temper. + +I sent all the letters to the Duke. + + +_April 20._ + +Drove to the Foreign Office and saw Aberdeen. Went to enquire how the King +really was, for the bulletin of yesterday says his difficulty of breathing +continues. Aberdeen said the King really was not so ill as the bulletin +represented him to be. There was no present danger. The Duke thinks he +understands the King's case exactly, and says he has no water on the chest, +as is reported, but is _rather fat_. It is said the seat of pain is the +prostate gland. The people about him are seriously alarmed. + +Advised Hardinge, who dined with me, to come forward on the Terceira +question, which he seems inclined to do. Peel will be much obliged to him. +I told him I thought the strong position was this: 'We are at liberty to +prevent that which, if we permitted, would be a cause of war.' I think I +shall write a memorandum for him. + + +_April 21._ + +Wrote to Astell to ask if he would buy the Russian China papers. I told him +at the same time that a Russian ship was going at the charge of the Russian +Government to India, Swan River, and China as a commercial feeler. + +Cabinet at 2. The King is rather better, but in a precarious state. The +embarrassment in his breathing comes on in spasms. His digestion is good, +and they think there is no water. The Duke will urge him to have regular +bulletins published. He goes down tomorrow. He has not seen him since this +day week. The King is in excellent humour with everybody, and never was +more kind to the Duke. + +There has been a short difference between the King and Peel. The King +having sent a pardon to Ireland for a Mr. Comyn, who burnt his house to +defraud his landlord, &c., Peel insisted, and the man will be hanged; the +Lord Lieutenant having taken upon himself to give a reprieve only, and not +to promulgate the pardon. + +The Duke described the King as a bold man, afraid of nothing if his +Ministers would stand by him, and certainly neither afraid of pain or of +death. I did not think this of the King. In general he has been supposed to +be a coward. + +In Cabinet it was decided to authorise and advise the Lord Lieutenant to +put into execution the law for suppressing the association against that +which O'Connell is now endeavouring to organise, and at the same time to +give silk gowns to Shiel and two or three other Roman Catholic barristers, +omitting O'Connell. However, this last measure will be mentioned to the +King, although a King's letter is not required. + +We had afterwards a talk, and a long one, about Algiers. + +Prince Polignac sent a despatch to the Duc de Laval, giving explanations +satisfactory upon the whole, but mixed up with matter accusatory of us. Of +this despatch the Duc de Laval was not authorised to give a copy. We want a +written declaration of their views, none other being official. They are +afraid of their Chambers, and of giving a pledge to England different from +that which they have given to other Powers, and with which other Powers +have been satisfied. Peel thinks they will promise to abstain from +permanent occupation, and exact an amount of indemnity so large, with +occupation as a security, as to make that occupation permanent. If they got +possession of Algiers, I do not believe they will ever give it up--say +what they may. + +Peel objected to me saying what declaration would satisfy us, as in the +event of their deceiving us, or quibbling, it would then seem to be our +folly which had led to it. + +All seem to view the comparative statement of the prices of teas in the +same light that I do, as fatal to the monopoly. + + +_April 23._ + +Rode to the Treasury to enquire after the King; but there were so many +waiting to see the Duke I did not wait. The King is rather better. + + +_April 24._ + +A letter from Lady Macdonald enclosing one from the Nain Muhan to herself, +very complimentary and really pretty. She is to be at Tabriz in October. + +The King has had two good nights. + +Peel's letters to the Lord Lieutenant respecting the suppression of the new +Association and the appointment of Catholic King's Counsel was circulated. + + +_Sunday, April 25._ + +Read Aberdeen's and the Duke's speeches on the Terceira question, and +afterwards wrote a memorandum for Hardinge's use, bringing into a short +compass all the strong points of the case. + +Mr. Sullivan called upon me after church, and told me his son remained in +India. It is very extraordinary that he should be glad of this, as he must +be without the hope of ever seeing him. + + +_April 26._ + +Cabinet at 3. The King has had another good night. He has, however, had +another attack. His pulse is in a weak state. He seems oppressed by fat. He +is become alarmed about himself, which much increases danger in such a +complaint. Consequently all the _entourage_ is alarmed too. + +The drawing-room and levee are to be postponed _sine die_. Trade and +agriculture are both flourishing. The only embarrassment arises out of the +uncertainty as to the King's health. + +Leopold is to have a loan of sixty millions, guaranteed in equal portions +by the three Powers. The loan to have a sinking fund of 3 per cent, to be +paid in equal portions in eight years. The guarantee is to Leopold and his +descendants, being sovereigns of Greece. + +Thus he has obtained almost all he asked, and what he most wanted, the +money. + +Peel seems to think the King's death by no means improbable. If it should +take place, Parliament would adjourn till after the funeral, and then be +dissolved. + +In the House Lord Durham, in presenting a petition against the East Indian +monopoly, said he gathered from what had fallen from His Majesty's +Ministers that they were determined to maintain it. + +I said, 'I cannot admit that anything which has fallen from me, or, in my +presence, from any of my noble colleagues, can justify the noble lord in +assuming that His Majesty's Government have formed any determined opinion +upon the subject.' + + +_April 27._ + +House. East Retford case. The Duke showed me a letter from Halford which +gives a very alarming account of the King. He went on much the same till +half-past three this morning, when Halford was sent for and remained till +half-past eight. The embarrassment of breathing was considerable. The King +was rather better at half-past ten, when the bulletin was dated. Halford +says he can tell more than he can write. He does write that there is +_water_, and it is evident the King is very much alarmed. + +From the letter I should say he could not live many weeks. + +In the House Lord Strangford told me that Sir W. Seymour [Footnote: +Recently appointed a judge at Bombay.] was dead. He died in December--a +short time after the birth of his son. + +Really the mortality amongst judges is awful. + + +_April 28._ + +Went to Guildhall to be present at the trial of Serjeant Kearney for the +assault on Astell. I was not called as a witness. The man was very +intemperate indeed, and abused Astell very much. He spoke of my kind +interference, &c., but made a mistake in imagining that I had advocated +with the Chairs the loan he asked of 250£. I came away as soon as the +Recorder began to sum up. It was curious to see how justice was +administered. The Recorder, an old twaddle, who talked half the time with +the accused, and allowed him to make speeches instead of putting questions, +and Sir C. Hunter, Sir J. Shaw, and another alderman! + +Went to the office at 3. Loch, with whom I had some conversation at +Guildhall, told me he had heard the explanation Melville intended to give +of the matter of prime cost, and he thought it satisfactory. Wortley said +Arbuthnot by no means thought it satisfactory, but was to put the +questions. Wortley said Arbuthnot told him the Duke had read the evidence +and was himself satisfied the monopoly could not be maintained. + +Cabinet dinner at Lord Bathurst's. The Duke was at Windsor this morning. He +did not see the King because the King refused to see the Duke of +Cumberland, and begged the Duke would not see him unless it was very +pressing, that the rebuff to the Duke of Cumberland might be less. +Accordingly, the Duke sent in on paper what he had to say, and he got two +signatures, although they were given very reluctantly. The King says it is +_unkind_ in those about him to urge him to sign, as they know how +distressing it is to him. In fact _yesterday_ it would have been death to +move his arm. We are to meet on Friday to consider what shall be done. Some +means must be devised of getting signatures, for his state may last some +months. He was ill for four hours yesterday evening. Halford was with him +all the time, and held his hand. Halford says he is sure the King would +have died had he not been there. He was nearly dead as it was. However, +after this attack, which began at half-past two, he had a solid dinner and +slept well, and this morning he woke much relieved, but _with a dropsy_-- +that is, an external dropsy, the water being between the skin. Knighton +thinks some must be upon the chest; but the two others are inclined to +think not. He may live days, weeks, or even months; but I doubt his living +weeks. On Sunday he saw the women, and on Monday too. He was then alarmed +about himself. Now he mistakes water for gout, although his legs are +swelled to double their usual size. The physicians do not undeceive him. +However, the public will find it out. He has not read the newspapers for +two days _He_ is much relieved by the effusion of water. + +It seems the medical men when they read the first bulletin said, 'It must +end in water.' + +Lord Rosslyn has looked into the Acts, &c., and finds there is no +difficulty at all about the money vote on the Bills. They all went on at +the accession of the present King. + +The Duke was requested by the physicians and the people about the King not +to mention Shiel's proposed appointment; to make it, if he thought it +essential, but to spare the King all discussion. Of course, as it is +thought the King would be agitated, the Duke has neither mentioned it nor +done it. + +There was in circulation a letter from the Duke of Northumberland +expressing his extreme satisfaction at the decision of the Government with +respect to the putting down of the new associations, and likewise with +respect to the making of the Catholic silk gowns. + +The bulletins are to be now shown at St. James's; a lord and groom-in- +waiting will be there. + +Received a letter from Sir J. Dewar [Footnote: Chief Justice of Bombay and +a colleague of Sir W. Seymour. They were the two judges referred to in the +letter to Sir J. Malcolm.] to inform me of the death of Sir W. Seymour. He +died more of the fear of dying than of fever. His apprehension for Lady +Seymour affected him very much. She was confined the day he was taken ill. + + +_April 29._ + +Halford thinks worse of the King. There have been other attacks of +embarrassment of breathing. I do not myself think he will live a fortnight. + +There was an excellent division on Terceira about 2-1/2 to 1. Hardinge was +not wanted. + + +_April 30._ + +Cabinet. The King very ill yesterday. The least exertion brings on an +attack. Halford thinks he has water in the abdomen and chest. He had some +sleep, and was better in the morning when they issued the bulletin, which +says his symptoms were alleviated. However, the bulletin so little +corresponds with his real state that they think he saw it. It seems to be +now more an affair of days than of weeks. It may happen at any moment. + +Peel suggested the possible case of both Kings dying before an Act +appointing a regent, and we may be called upon to provide for it. The +Duchess of Clarence would be Queen Regent. + +We talked about a Bill for enabling the King to give authority for the +affixing of the Sign Manual. + +To avoid delay and the examination of physicians Rosslyn proposed that, if +the King would sign it, there should be a message. + +It will be arranged that there shall be two Ministers present-one to +countersign, the other to affix the stamp. + +The Attorney- and Solicitor-General were called in. They evidently thought +the King's mind was gone as well as his head, for they proposed a +delegation of the Royal authority. + +Planta called upon me to ask more particulars as to the office of Signer of +the Writs. It seems it comes in lucky time to oblige Lord Chandos, who has +long wanted something for a Mr. Wentworth, and nothing could have happened +more conveniently for the Government. + + +_May 1._ + +Met Lord Rosslyn, who told me he and Lord Bathurst met every committee day +Lord Londonderry and Lord Durham on the Coal Committee. Sometimes they +could not get a fifth, and then they adjourned joyfully. Both Lord +Londonderry and Lord Durham continued most wrong-headed upon the question. + + +_May 2._ + +I rode as fast as I could to town as soon as church was over (for the Duke +had wished to see me before he went to church, thinking I was in town), and +in Brompton met Lord Rosslyn, who told me there was no Cabinet, and that +the Duke had found the King better than he expected. + +Rode at once to Apsley House. The Duke was gone out, having left word he +should be back soon if I came. I waited an hour. When he returned he told +me he had no idea I was out of town, or he would not have written. Lord +Combermere had asked to see him, which he could not refuse. + +The Duke said that on Friday the King was much better. The miracle which +the physicians had said could alone save him seemed accomplished. Great +quantities of ether-quantities much greater than are usually given-had +apparently restored him, and all were in good spirits, when, feeling +himself much better, he drank a great deal and was actually sick! Thence +the indifferent night of Friday. On Saturday he was better again, and when +the Duke saw him, seemingly very well, quite alive--in very good humour +with everybody, and quite without nervousness. However, he passed a bad +night, as the bulletin says, probably in consequence of having drunk again. +Sir H. Halford was quite in tears on Saturday, not more on account of the +King's state than on account of his own professional disappointment. He had +thought on the Friday that he had accomplished a miracle. They have treated +the King as if he had been a hospital patient, and have _épuisé'd_ the +resources of art boldly applied to his case. + +The King did not express the least apprehension to the Duke; but to the +women he speaks of his danger, and as if he was a dying man. The Duke +thinks he does this to try and vex Lady Conyngham. + +The thing most surprising to me is the Duke's opinion of the King's firm +courage. He said he had seen him not only now, but before, when he was +considered not to have twenty-four hours of life in him, yet he, knowing +his situation, was perfectly firm. + +Before the Duke came I had some talk with Holmes, whom I met with Drummond. +Holmes said they could finish the session by the end of July if they acted +with that view. I fear it will last much longer if the King lives, and if +he dies, that we shall have a six weeks' session in August and September. +Holmes said he did not think the King's illness by any means diminished the +strength of Government. He thought the friends of Government were rather +more disposed to come down, and he could on any great question get 300. + +He had gone round on Wednesday to the reporters, and had told them they +would never have a holiday if they reported speeches on a Wednesday, so +they did not, and they will not. This will put an end to all speechifying +on holidays. + + +_May 3._ + +Cabinet. Saw a letter from Halford to the Duke. The King was 'in a most +distressing, not to say alarming, state' from eight to-day evening to half- +past three. He cannot get sleep. Halford says it was 'a gigantic struggle.' + +The Duke saw Lord Combermere to-day, having received the letters I sent him +before the interview. The Duke told him the Government were parties to the +disapprobation expressed by the Court of Directors. + +Lord C. threw the whole blame upon Lord W. Bentinck. He had carried the +order into execution without communication with him, 'and had told the army +if they objected to it, they might memorialise.' + +This _I do not believe_. + +Lord C. said the army was not in a state approaching to mutiny, and never +had been. + +He had not said it was in his minutes (but he did in a letter); as to the +minutes of the other members of Council, he was not responsible for them. +They were civilians. Besides, Lord W. wished to go up the country. He had +received in July a letter telling him he was not to go except in a case of +emergency, then the Government was not to move from Calcutta, and he +endeavoured in his minute and the others in theirs to make an apparent case +of emergency that they might move. + +As to the last point there is an anachronism, as the orders not to leave +Calcutta _as a Government_ arrived after the minutes were recorded. + +The Duke told Lord Combermere that all the orders for reduction of +expenditure having proved inefficacious, it was necessary for the +Government here to take reduction into their hands, and it was very natural +and obvious to enforce an order twice repeated and already obeyed at the +other presidencies. + +When the army assumed the tone which appeared in the memorials, it was +impossible for the Government to do otherwise than insist upon the +enforcement of the order. They had expected from him that his whole +influence would have been used to strengthen the Government and to prevent +any ebullition of feeling on the part of the army. Lord Combermere left the +Duke very angry. If the King had been well he would have joined Lord +Anglesey. As it is, I expect he will oppose the Government. Lord Hill saw +him for a few minutes, and had only some unimportant conversation with him. +He told Lord Hill he had made thirteen or fourteen lacs. He made seven lacs +by prize money at Bhurtpore. + +The French have not yet given a written explanation as to Algiers. Their +army is said to be in very fine order. + +Leopold seems to have insinuated that our yielding on the subject of the +loan was sudden and late, &c. Aberdeen understood him to allude to the +King's illness, and to impute our concession to the wish to get him out of +the way. He took no notice of it, and treated the thing as settled. + +Preparations have been made for the event of the King's death. + +Peel has been obliged to leave London, as his father is dying. + + +_May 4._ + +Committee. No witnesses. Walked with Lords Bathurst and Rosslyn to the +Duke's. The bulletin is good. The King had some sleep and is better. +Halford's account, too, is better. The King slept six hours, but the water +was so much increased about the legs that they have made punctures to draw +it off. Upon the whole the account leads one to suppose the thing will be +protracted. + +In the House of Commons last night, Goulburn was obliged to withdraw the +vote of 100,000£. for Windsor Castle and refer it to a Committee upstairs. +The expectation of a dissolution is acting powerfully on votes, and he +would have been beaten. The Duke approved entirely of his having withdrawn +the motion. + +The continuance of the King in this state would be highly inconvenient +indeed. There would be no possibility of carrying on the money business in +the House of Commons. + +In the House of Lords we had a motion from Lord MountCashel for an address +for a commission to enquire into the abuses of the English and Irish +Church. No one thought it worth while to reply to him. + + +_May 5._ + +Read and altered a letter relative to the new arrangement of civil +allowances. + +Elphinstone approved generally of what I proposed--which is. + +1. To depose every chief who shall harbour banditti. + +2. To oblige them to give up refugee criminals under the same penalty. + +3. To engage as many as possible to abandon their heritable jurisdictions. + +4. To remit the arrears. + +5. To form a local corps in which the chiefs and their relations should be +officers (with only two or three Europeans) to maintain order. This corps +to be a sort of bodyguard to the Resident. The robbers to be admitted as +privates. + +6. Troops to be brought if necessary from Cutch. + +7. Every measure to be adopted to encourage the growth of cotton. + +These things I shall throw into a letter, which, however, will not be sent +till Clare goes out. + +We talked of native education. I read to E. my alterations of the letter of +last July relative to his plans for education, with which he seemed +satisfied. + +He seems generally to approve of my views upon that subject, particularly +of uniting the English with the native classes at the several colleges, and +teaching the natives useful knowledge. + +They should be examined in the regulations of the company. + +Office, but first saw Hardinge, who seems full of the Duke of Clarence, +with whom he is high in favour, as having, urged by Wood, had several +things done for the young FitzClarences. + +He said the Duke thought the King might live four months. + +Cabinet dinner at the Chancellor's. The Duke saw the King, who looked very +well, and seemed cheerful and in good humour. + +He was very ill yesterday. Black in the face, and the ends of his fingers +black. They think he will go off suddenly in one of these attacks. + +Little water came from one leg, and they will scarify it again. + +O'Reilly, who probably performed the operation of scarifying, and who must +know the state of the King, whom he saw daily, declared positively +yesterday to Lord Maryborough, and with a face of surprise, that there was +no water. + +The Duke of C. saw the King on Sunday, and was at Windsor and probably saw +him to-day. + +The Duke of Sussex has lent the King an easy chair, and affectionate +messages have passed between them. + +The Bishop of Chichester is now at Windsor, the Lord and Groom and Equerry +in waiting, two physicians, besides O'Reilly and Sir Wathen Waller and +Knighton. + +When they told the King they must make a puncture in about four hours, he +desired it might be made at once if it was necessary. + +The Duke told the King he had told Sir H. Halford he would always find him +intrepid--with which the King was much pleased. + +He said when he saw a thing was necessary he always made up his mind to it. + +Wortley told me the Household betted the King would be at Ascot. + +By-the-bye, Wortley did very well last night in not allowing Wynne to lead +him into a speech on the half-castes. He spoke very officially and +properly. I complimented him upon it. In fact it is an act of forbearance +in any man, but especially in a young man, to throw away a speech. + +Precedents have been looked into, and every necessary step is known, should +the King die. + +The Duke will immediately go in uniform to the Duke of Clarence and advise +him to come to his house in town. + +A sketch of the speech will be prepared, but kings like making the +declaration to the Privy Council themselves, as it is the only thing they +can do without advice. + +Peel's father died on the 3rd. + + +_May 6._ + +Left my card with Lord Combermere, who called yesterday. + +The bulletin states the King to have been better yesterday, but to have had +a bad night. + +The private letter to the Duke says he passed the night wretchedly, and +with much inquietude. They find it necessary to make further punctures, and +have sent for Brodie. + +The King spoke to Halford for some time with much composure and piety as to +his situation. + +Lord Bathurst looked into the precedents in Queen Anne's reign, and at the +declarations of several kings on their first meeting their Privy Council. + +House. A good and useful speech from Lord Goderich on the funded and +expended debt. He showed that the receipt from taxes was about the same as +in 1816, although 9 millions had been taken off, and that the interest of +the National Debt would, in 1831, be reduced 44 millions below its amount +in 1816. + +Cabinet at half-past ten at Aberdeen's. A letter from Leopold, endeavouring +to throw upon us the blame of delay for two months, and treating +acquiescence in his terms of loan as a _sine quâ non_. Now the terms we +propose are not _exactly_ the same, as we make a payment by annual +instalments a part of it, and I expect he will break off at last; but he +will wait till the King is actually dead. + + +_May 7._ + +A very good account of the King. He has passed twenty-four hours with +mitigated symptoms. + +Dined with Sir J. Murray. I must next year have an Indian dinner. + + +_May 9._ + +Read as I went to town to Cabinet, and returned in the carriage Cabell's +memorandum on the Hyderabad transactions. + +The Duke read the letter he had received from Sir H. Halford. It gave a bad +account of the King. Yesterday was a day 'of embarrassment and distress,' +and he is swollen notwithstanding the punctures made by Brodie. He is +anxious about himself, and must know his danger, yet he talks of the +necessity of having a new dining-room at the Cottage ready by Ascot. + +We had much conversation respecting the law asserting his power of +disposing of his property by will. + +The Chancellor was not there. He went to Windsor. + +The other matters considered were merely the mode of dealing with several +questions to be brought on next week. It seems to be clear that no +dependence whatever can be placed in the House of Commons. Every man will +vote for his constituents. + +No answer has been received from Prince Leopold. + +My apprehension is that the King cannot live ten days. + +Lord Londonderry went to Windsor yesterday and saw the physician. He had a +dinner afterwards at his villa, and told every one, the Lièvens being +there, that the King was much worse than he had ever been. This was untrue, +for the Duke left Windsor after Lord L., and when he left the Castle the +King certainly was not worse, but rather better. I have no doubt Lord L. +managed to tell Wood, [Footnote: Lord Londonderry's brother-in-law, having +married Lady Caroline Stewart, also sister-in-law of Lord Ellenborough.] +and Wood would tell the Duke of Clarence, who would think he was ill-used +and deceived. + + +_May 10._ + +The Duke will read the Hyderabad memorandum as he goes down to Windsor on +Wednesday. + +I told him of the alteration in the treaty with Nagpore. + +The Chancellor was at Windsor yesterday. He did not see the King. The +physicians seemed to think it could not last a week. He is greatly swollen, +and generally. + +Lord Bathurst went to Windsor to-day. His account was a little better, but +his expectation did not go beyond a fortnight. In the meantime the +physicians are afraid of telling the King of his danger. + +Sir W. Knighton sat up with him last night, and was much alarmed by one of +the attacks, not having seen one before. However, he did not call Sir H. +Halford. + +The probability is that the new Parliament will meet in the last week in +July. + +The Speaker says the House of Commons is like a school two days before the +holidays. They do not know what mischief to be at. + +Lord Rosslyn seems to think all sorts of intrigues are going on, and has +some little doubt as to the Duke of Clarence. I have none. + +House. E. Retford again. Wrote to Lord Holland when I came home to call his +attention to the Hickson Nullity of Marriage Bill. I cannot take a part; +but he must do so if he wishes to preserve his grandfather's clause. + + +_May 11._ + +Heard from Lord Holland, who is fully alive to the consequences of the +Bill. He thinks I am right not to take a part. + +There was an indigo-planter before the Committee to-day. It seems, as I +supposed, to be just as unnecessary for indigo-manufacturers to be indigo- +growers as it is for maltsters to be great farmers. This man took out no +capital and he had no licence; yet he was permitted to reside and take a +lease, and the agency houses lent him money at 10 and 12 per cent. + +The judge, Sir T. Strange, was a sensible man. He deprecated the +introduction of English law into the provinces. + +The King is getting weaker, which the physicians dread more than his +spasms. It is thought he can hardly last a week. + +Read the memorandum on Hyderabad a second time, and sent it with the +proposed letter and alterations to the Duke. + +Prepared materials for Lord Stanhope's motion about shipping on Thursday. + + +_May 12._ + +Cabinet dinner at Lord Rosslyn's. + +The Duke saw the King to-day. He said there was a decided alteration since +Wednesday last. He was now in appearance an invalid, but not a dying man. +His body is very much swollen. They took several quarts of water from his +feet yesterday. He is good-humoured and alive. His eyes as brilliant as +ever. His voice a little affected. His colour dark and sodden. + +The Duke thinks he may die at any time; but may live a fortnight or ten +days--Knighton thinks so too. The other physicians think worse of him. + +He called for the 'Racing Calendar' yesterday. They were afraid he would +call for the newspaper. + +Knighton found he was not aware there were now any bulletins. + +Knighton proposed to him the taking the sacrament, as he did not take it at +Easter. He said he would think about it, but to be better before he took +it. His taking it now might lead to the publishing of more bulletins. + +He continues to take the greatest interest in the improvements at the +lodge. + +After dinner we talked only of the things necessary to be done on a demise. + +Lord B. seemed to say we _could not_ have the Duchess of Clarence as +Regent, because there was no precedent. I trust this will be got over. + +Leopold has written an unsatisfactory answer to the last letter about the +loan. However, he goes. + +The Porte has acquiesced in the arrangements of the protocol, so Leopold is +Prince Sovereign of Greece. + +The Duke read Cabell's memorandum to-day. He thinks Cabell proposes doing +more than should be done. He has a strong feeling as to the scandalous +nature of the whole transaction. Lieutenant-Colonel Arabin has been +infesting the Chancellor upon the subject. + + +_May 13._ + +Dined at four. Rode to the office and back, and to the House. + +Prepared for Lord Stanhope's motion for returns on shipping, &c. + +The Duke had a great deal of information, and answered Lord Stanhope. I +spoke, however, afterwards, as I had some new facts. Then E. Retford till +nine. + +Read letters from Sir John Macdonald and a paper he enclosed from +'Blackwood's Magazine' in 1827 on the invasion of India by the Russians. + + +_May 14._ + +Colonel Briggs called. He is a clever man. He will prepare for me a +memorandum on the composition of the native army. He seems equally +conversant with revenue, judicial, and military matters. + +House. E. Retford as usual. The King is much relieved by the draining of +the water from the punctures; but the wounds gave him much annoyance last +night. The fear is they may lead to mortification. Lord Rosslyn and I go +down on Sunday to Windsor to enquire. + + +_May 15._ + +Astell has sent to Lord Combermere the letter lately despatched to India in +which the conduct of the several members of Government is commented upon as +regards the Batta question. Lord Combermere only asked, as far as I +recollect, to know upon what grounds his conduct has been censured. I told +Astell to tell him the censure rested entirely on official documents with +which he must be acquainted. The Duke was very angry with Astell, when I +told him of it after the Cabinet, and expects a question in the House of +Lords. + +I told Astell the letter ought not to have been given. It reveals what has +been done with regard to the Batta question, and the news may possibly +reach India through the press before the Government obtain it. + +Cabinet at half-past four. Not only have the Turks acceded to the +arrangement for Greece, but the Greeks have done so too. Leopold adheres to +his memorandum of March, and wants the power of drawing as much as he +pleases of the loan at any time. + +He will be invited to meet the Plenipotentiaries or to send a person to +meet them to discuss this point. The people about him say he means to break +off. If he should, Peel thinks we could not do it upon a better point, and +he is right. + +The King is decidedly better. The Duke saw him to day. He was looking more +healthy. He has had some refreshing sleep. He is more likely to live than +to die. The only danger is from mortification in consequence of the +punctures; but his constitution is so good that in all probability he will +avoid this danger. This wonderful recovery quite changes our position. In +all public business we must now calculate upon his living--at least till +the end of the Session. + +Lord Morpeth is to make a motion for the repeal of the Banishment Clause in +the last Libel Act. To the repeal of that clause, which is inoperative +against the common libeller, we have no objection, and the Attorney-General +is pledged to it; but the House of Lords would not like, and the King would +not endure, the repeal of that provision without the substitution of some +other security. That proposed by the Attorney-General is the requiring +security to the amount of 500L. from two sureties that the editor shall pay +_fines_ on account of libels. This is reasonable, and would to some extent +prevent the putting up, as is now done, men or women of straw as editors, +who have no means of paying fines. The other proposal of the Attorney- +General, that the types should be seizable to whomever they may belong, is +objectionable and would hardly be carried. Peel is very sorry the question +is stirred at the present moment. The press is generally with us or +quiescent, and the 'Morning Journal,' [Footnote: It had been obliged to pay +heavy damages for a libel on the Duke of Wellington.] a paper instituted to +oppose the Government, has within these few days been given up altogether +from the want of support. Certainly this is not the moment at which it is +desirable to appear to commence an attack upon the Press--and the Attorney- +General can do nothing that will not be suspected by them. + +The Duke has written a memorandum on the Hyderabad affair. + + +_May 16._ + +Read the Duke's memorandum; he mistakes the law. However, I cannot write +notes upon his memorandum without the Act of Parliament. The King had an +indifferent night, but still feels better. I only met Lord Bathurst, who +told me so. He had not seen the private letter. + +Had a long conversation with Lady C. Wood at Lord Camden's about the +Clarences. It seems there has been a great deal of hope excited in the +Spencers. + +They expect Lord Holland to be made Minister, and their son Bob or Lord +Darnley to be first Lord of the Admiralty!--_Nous verrons_. + +It seems the Duchess of Clarence and the Duchess of Kent were and are great +friends, and the Duchess of Clarence is very fond of the young Princess. + + +_Monday, May 17._ + +At eleven set off with Lord Rosslyn for Windsor. We drove to the visitor's +entrance. After a time Sir A. Barnard came. Lord Rosslyn said we did not +presume to ask to see the King, but we were anxious to know how His Majesty +was, and to present our humble duty to him. + +Sir A. asked if we would see Knighton? Lord Rosslyn said it would be very +satisfactory. However, no Knighton came, but a message through Sir A. +Barnard that Sir Wm. Knighton had gone in to the King and had mentioned we +were there, and His Majesty had expressed himself very sensible of our kind +attention. This I conclude is Knighton's own message, and that the King +will never hear we have been. Sir A. Barnard seemed in excellent spirits +about the King. He had a good night, and is certainly much better. He talks +of being able to go to Ascot and to stand up in the carriage, though he +could not go up into the stand. + +We met the Bishop of Chichester going back to town. I suppose he thinks he +shall not be wanted. + +Rode down to the House. East Retford. + +The Duke's private account of the King is excellent. + + +_May 18._ + +Committee. Examined Colonel Briggs, who gave very good evidence indeed. +Ordered the attendance of six witnesses for Tuesday, whom we shall +endeavour to despatch, and that will enable everybody to go to Epsom on +Thursday and Friday. + +The King much better. All his symptoms alleviated. + +To-morrow the Duke will get from him his signature to the message for a +_stamper_. There are to be three signatures of Ministers, that is, of Privy +Councillors, to authorise the stamper, who is to be nominated by the King +to affix the royal stamp to instruments in the King's presence. + +By the account from Marseilles, it appears that there are 11 sail of the +line and 28 frigates in the French expedition, in all 97 sails--about 350 +transports, carrying 75,000 tons. There will be 30,500 infantry, besides a +very complete equipment of artillery, &c., 75 battering guns, 4,000 horses. +The Luke of Angoulême's (the Dauphin's) visit has delayed the expedition +four days. They will probably be on the sea _to-day_. + +Rosslyn was talking yesterday of the _danger_ from this expedition, and the +annexation of Algiers to France. I do not fear it--we can, if we manage +well, make it very costly by bringing forward the people of Tunis and +Morocco, not near the coast, but almost from the desert. We must take care +to secure Tunis, and then the French will be no gainers by their move. + +Lord Londonderry made a very foolish speech about foreign policy in putting +off his motion, which stood for the 25th. Aberdeen promised the Greek +papers on _Monday next_. + + +_May 19._ + +The Duke saw the King to-day and found him looking better than he did at +the last Council. + +The drain from the legs is now very small. He was annoyed last night by +them and sent for Halford, who sent off for Brodie; but there was nothing +of importance. They cannot yet say that he will not ultimately die of this +complaint. Knighton thinks he will be an invalid all his life. Tierney says +they cannot tell for a week whether there is any mischief remaining about +the chest. The Duke wished to speak to him about the stamp; but he made an +excuse about his legs requiring some dressing, and the Duke, seeing he did +not choose to talk about business, went away. + +It seems clear that Leopold means to abdicate. + +The Attorney-General has made his libel preventive measure a poor weak +inoperative thing, ridiculous, and unconciliating. + +The French Chambers are dissolved as a _coup de théâtre_ on the sailing of +the expedition, and they are to meet on August 3, by which time they expect +to hear of its success. + +A union of parties is expected on the Greek affair. I am not sorry for it. +The Huskissonians and Whigs are drawing nearer together. The Tories, on the +other hand, are rather approximating to us--so that by the beginning of +next Session men will be at last in their right places. + + +_May 21._ + +The King had a bad night. The private letter gave a bad account. He has +been _drinking again_, very irritable, _intolerably_ so. Halford says, +would neither sit in a chair nor lie in a bed, &c. Halford at last held +strong language, and I believe told him his life depended on his obeying +his physician. + +I am very much disappointed indeed at this. I hoped he was really getting +better and would live. + +Aberdeen is to allow the instalments of the loan guaranteed to Leopold to +be paid in four instead of eight years if he can keep him to his +principality by doing so. + +The French were off on the 18th. There is a partial change in their +Ministry. + + +_May 23._ + +Rode to the Cabinet at three from Roehampton. The bulletin is that the King +had had embarrassments in his breathing. + +The Duke waited two and a half hours before he saw him yesterday. The King +signed the two messages, and then said 'the Duke has just caught me in +time!' and in an instant there was a gurgling in his throat. He seized +Knighton's arm. The Duke ran for Halford, went out into the gallery where +he did not find him, then into another room where he was. Halford +immediately took a bottle from the table and gave the King something which +seemed to relieve him. + +The Duke thinks the King was in pain three or four seconds; but it was a +minute and a half before he was relieved. He then did not speak; but made a +motion with his hand for the Duke to go. + +He had just before been talking of going to Ascot and then to Aix-la- +Chapelle. + +The King was perfectly satisfied with the proposed arrangement for the +stamp. + +He asked the news, was told Leopold was behaving very ill, and agreed. + +As to Algiers he was told the note of the French Minister was +unsatisfactory, and that it was under consideration whether a note should +not be presented. He thought it right. + +The Duke's opinion is that if the King should be seized with one of those +attacks when no one was with him, he would die. + +The opinion of Halford and the others is that the disorder is mortal; but +he may live six weeks or two months. + +The punctures are healed. They are afraid of opening them again for fear of +mortification, and can only proceed by medicines. + +The King's state seems distressing. He can neither remain quiet in his +chair or in his bed. He is in a state of constant restlessness. + +The Duke of Cumberland was there to-day, but the King had desired he might +not see him. + +Leopold has declined. He sent a note to that effect on Friday night at +twelve o'clock--very well written, not by himself. Aberdeen thinks +Palmerston wrote it. He takes popular ground, and cannot impose himself +upon _a reluctant people_. The fact is Friday's bulletin wrote his letter. + +The Duke thinks he will be shown up. The papers presented to-morrow will be +no more than it was before intended to present; but Aberdeen will announce +the _evasion_ of the sovereign, and say that that circumstance will render +necessary the production of other papers which will be presented as soon as +they can be printed. The whole discussion will turn upon Leopold's conduct. + +Aberdeen will be in the position of the manager of a country theatre who, +just as the curtain is about to be drawn up, is obliged to come forward and +announce that the amateur gentleman who had solicited the part of Macbeth, +who had attended all the rehearsals, and whose only difficulty, which was +about money, seemed to be in a fair way of adjustment, had unexpectedly +intimated his intention to withdraw in a printed address to the galleries. + +Forsooth there should have been an appeal to the people of Greece on the +subject of their Government! An appeal to the people of Newgate on the +subject of the new police! [Footnote: This sentiment, however severe, +represents the feeling about the Greeks of many Englishmen at that time, +and especially of those who, as in the case of naval officers employed in +Greek waters, had seen much of them during the war. Their struggle for +independence was undoubtedly disgraced, not only by cruelty, but by a +treachery and disregard of faith which, though perhaps attributable to past +subjection and oppression, was peculiarly odious to English observers. Lord +Ellenborough adopted this view.] + +By a letter of C. Capo d'Istria's, dated 25 M., April 6, written +immediately after his receipt of one from Leopold (after his acceptance), +it appears that Leopold had intimated his intention to change his religion. +He must have had about forty-eight hours to consider the point. + +Lord Melville had heard that Leopold had consulted Lord Grey and Lord +Lansdowne without acquainting one that he had seen the other. + + +_May 24._ + +Rode to the office at four to receive the manufacturers. Mr. Crawford was +there, Finlay being ill. I told them of my plans as to the Indus. I +directed their attention to the point of bringing out in evidence the +effect the stoppage in China had upon the general trade of the East. I +again desired them to show, if they could, why British manufactures did not +go to China by the country trade. + +Met Aberdeen. Told him I thought, on consideration, that a reply to Leopold +would lead to an answer from him, to which the Plenipotentiaries could not +reply without entering into an undignified discussion with Palmerston, who +would be the real controversialist. + +There should be an answer, but it should be addressed to the Residents, and +what could not be addressed to them might be stated in Parliament, that is, +all relating to letters, conversations, &c. + +I dare say Leopold will publish to-morrow. It is unlucky the French have +troops in the Morea. If they had not, I should be disposed to leave the +Greeks to settle their affairs as they pleased, giving them no money. They +would soon become reasonable. + +The bulletin had 'The King had a sleepless night.' + +House at five. The message and address. The Opposition made no objection to +the address, which was carried _nemine dissentiente_. Lord Grey seems to +expect a delegation of the royal authority. I told Lord Holland I thought +he would be satisfied. + +Then Aberdeen presented the Greek papers, and, having explained their +contents, stated the change of circumstances since Friday night. He +represented Leopold as having made preliminary objections on other points, +but none on any but money since February 20, when he accepted. Within these +few days other grounds have been taken, and the abdication is on these +other grounds. + +There was much movement amongst the Opposition. Aberdeen was accused of +unfairness. Lord Durham opened the fire, and I prevented Aberdeen from +answering him. The others--Darnley, Lord Londonderry, and Lord Winchelsea, +all for Leopold. In short there is a general union of all those who prefer +the rising to the setting sun. We shall have a personal debate. + +We went into E. Retford. I sat by the Chancellor, and worked the Bill for +the King's relief. + +In the House of Commons little was said upon these points. Aberdeen did +well. He can make a biting speech as well as any one, and in a quiet way. + + +_May 25._ + +The King passed yesterday uncomfortably. He was a little relieved by +medicines during the night. Water is forming again. + +House. The Chancellor explained very well the objects and details of the +King's Relief [Footnote: Relieving him from the necessity of constant +signatures.] Bill. The only objections made were to reading it to-morrow, +and it was conceded that it should be read on Thursday--to its duration, +and it was conceded that should last a month. Lord Grey, I hear, says it is +too complicated, that it would have been better to appoint a Custos Regni. +I hope he will say that on Thursday. + +There is but little hope of the King's living till the Bill is passed. + + +_May 26._ + +Hardinge, whom I met in the Park, told me Sir J. Graham informed him there +was to be an opposition _à l'outrance_. That Lord Anglesey was to be +Minister Lord Grey would serve with him. Palmerston was to be made a great +man of. Huskisson to have nothing but revenge. The Duke of Richmond was to +be had at all events. All this is childish. + +House. I expected nothing but the Chancellor's Bill, and went at half-past +five, expecting to find Eldon in the midst of his speech; but I found Lord +Durham talking about Greece, and soon engaged in the talk myself. Lord Grey +was decidedly in opposition. I called the attention of the House to this, +that our conduct was to be judged of by the papers on the table--the +resignation of Leopold was not alleged to have taken place in consequence +of any act of the Government. If noble Lords chose to put on one side the +conduct of the Government, and to make this a mere personal question as to +the conduct of Leopold we were prepared to enter into the discussion. In +speaking of Leopold I said he 'was connected with this country by some of +its dearest recollections.' + +Cabinet dinner. The King's digestion is affected now; but otherwise he is +well. He has had many attacks of embarrassed breathing; but none serious. +The Duke of Clarence was in the room with him (the Duke of W. being +present) for a quarter of an hour today. The King talked of his own danger. +He said, 'God's will be done. I have injured no man.' This he often +repeated. He said, speaking of his own danger to the Duke of Clarence, 'it +will all rest on you then.' He was in very good humour, very angry, +however, with Leopold--his anger brought on a slight spasm. + +He afterwards talked of going to Ascot, and told the Duke to manage that he +might be able to go to Aix-la-Chapelle. + +He is much pleased with the conduct of both Houses about his Signature +Bill. After dinner Aberdeen read His proposed answer to Leopold to be +addressed to the Residents with a copy of Leopold's letter. It was full of +admissions, many of which Peel noticed. Aberdeen was going to meet Laval +about it. I objected to sending a copy of the letter to Leopold, as that +would as much lead to a reply as if they answered him directly. This the +Cabinet seemed to feel; and if there is a letter to the Residents it will +be printed with the other papers only, and not communicated. + + +_May 27._ + +Privy Council at one. The Archbishop of Canterbury ordered to frame a +prayer for the King's recovery. + +Cabinet. King's Signature Bill amended. Then Aberdeen read a letter from +the Residents in Greece giving an account of all that took place from the +notification of the protocol to the Senate to their adhesion. Unfortunately +this letter was not sent to Leopold as it ought to have been, when he on +the 15th sent Capo d'Istria's letter to Aberdeen, and it is thought we +cannot publish it. It shows that the adhesion was entire. + +No answer to his letter is to be published. We are to wait till we can have +a protocol. Laval would not sign any joint letter to the Residents. Being +so near he prefers waiting for the orders of his Court. + +House. King's Signature Bill passed, with some amendments. It is to last +till the end of the Session. + +The King's command is to be signified by _word of mouth_, a very +inconvenient mode to a sick man. + +East Retford for a House. + +All Columbia is at war again. The Mexicans are urging the Haytians to land +5,000 men in Cuba. Peel fears war will begin there by the Americans taking +Texas. + +Fitzgerald writes from Paris that he thinks the French will not retain +Algiers. That an energetic demand on our part would have drawn from +Polignac a distinct disavowal of the intention. That he does not think the +channel (Lord Stuart) a good one. + +I think Fitzgerald would not at all dislike being made Ambassador at Paris. + +It seems there is a very sore feeling indeed excited by de Peyronnet's +appointment. He thinks the only safety of the Government is in throwing +themselves upon the ultra-Royalists. + +The King is a little better. His stomach begins to bear a little light food +again. + + +_May 28._ The account of the King not good. + +Cabinet. Found them talking about Scotch boroughs. Aberdeen presented the +papers relative to Leopold in the House. Some conversation as to the +correctness in point of form of presenting them printed. The rule is to +present papers written by the King's command, and to have them printed for +the immediate use of the House. + +The Commons passed the King's Signature Bill without a word. + +I thought it necessary to determine at once who should be the new judge at +Bombay, and upon full consideration thought Awdry the best man. The +Chancellor had no objection, and I immediately wrote to Awdry to tell him I +should advise the King to appoint him. + + +_May 29._ + +Before the Cabinet met Hardinge and walked some time up and down Downing +Street with him. He told me the Duke had proposed an exchange between him +and Lord F. Leveson. Hardinge declined; however, he was at last induced to +acquiesce. There cannot be a better thing for him, for the Government, and +for Ireland, than his going there. I have always told him so. We may now be +satisfied things will go on well there. Lord F. Leveson is a mere boy, and +quite unequal to the situation. Hardinge will do admirably and be very +popular. So will she. They will like an Irishwoman. + + +_June 1._ + +The King had a quiet night. In other respects he is much the same. + + +_June 2._ + +Employed all the morning on the Greek papers. Cabinet dinner at Peel's. The +King rather better. They have opened punctures above the knees. 400 papers +were stamped. Lord Farnborough was the stamper. The King was perfectly +alive to all that was going on. + +A steamboat has made the passage from Bombay to Suez in a month and two +days, leaving Bombay on March 20 and reaching Suez on April 22. The letters +arrived here on May 31. The steamboat was detained ten days for coals. +There was no steam conveyance from Alexandria to Malta, so we may reckon +upon gaining fourteen days at least upon this passage. Besides, the steam +vessel was probably a bad one. + + +_June 3._ + +House. Aberdeen, in reply to a question of Lord Londonderry's, promised all +the protocols of Paris! A most voluminous mass of dull twaddle. The House +postponed Miss Hickson's divorce case to Lord Salisbury and East Retford. +We had only 18 to 69! The Duke seemed very angry, and I heard him speaking +to Lord Bathurst of some peer who went out without voting, whose conduct +seemed to make him very indignant. + + +_June 4._ + +House. All seems quiet again. Nothing more said about Leopold. There was to +be a meeting to-day at Lord Lansdowne's which the Duke of Newcastle was +expected to attend. Palmerston was at the last. [Footnote: The conjunction +of these names indicated an alliance of Whigs, Canningites, and Tories +irritated by the Roman Catholic Bill.] Rosslyn does not know whether Lord +Grey was. + +The King not going on well by the bulletin; worse by the private account, +which, however, I did not see. He has lost his appetite and grows weaker. + +The Duke has not yet read my Nagpore letter; but he will to-morrow. He +seems to agree with me in general views upon the subject of our policy +towards the native States. + + +_June 5._ + +Chairs at 11. They are dissatisfied with Malcolm for sending a steam vessel +into the Red Sea, because he had no important intelligence to communicate! +I shall never make these people feel they are at the head of a _State!_ + +The bulletin to-day is very alarming. The Duke had not returned at half- +past 4; but soon after he was seen coming into town looking very +melancholy. The Duchess of Gloucester arrived an hour later. I thought the +Duke had stayed to be there at the King's death. Knighton sent up to +Goulburn to desire a warrant might be sent down to be stamped conveying the +King's fines, &c., belonging to the Privy Purse. + +Goulburn very properly refused to send the warrant till he had seen the +Duke. This looks as if they did not expect 24 hours. + +He was as ill as possible when Aberdeen saw him yesterday for a few +minutes. + +A Cabinet is summoned for half-past 3 to-morrow. + +All is still again in the House of Commons, as well as with us. They have +found the Leopold line will not do. + + +_June 6._ + +Cabinet at half-past 3. They all say Scarlett did ill. He did not fight +gallantly, and he fought without judgment. + +The Duke said he thought the King was _really_ suffering yesterday; but +from several circumstances he thought he would live three or four weeks. +The physicians said eight days. He was better than when Aberdeen saw him on +Friday. No stamping was done. Peel went down to-day. It was hoped some +papers would be stamped. Peel had not returned when the Cabinet separated +at 5. + +Aberdeen brought forward the question of a Bill it is thought necessary to +introduce in consequence of slave-dealing by Brazilian subjects having now +become piracy. + +Goulburn seems to be unable to fix any time for the conclusion of the +Session in the event of a demise. I fear it will be necessary to sit a long +time to get the necessary votes. There are no less than fifty subjects +unvoted. + + +_June 7._ + +House. In going down met Goulburn, who said the account of the King was +very bad. Halford had suggested it would be better for the Duke to go down; +which he did. Peel thought the King very much changed indeed in the week +which had elapsed since he last saw him. + + +_June 8._ + +Cabinet at 3. The diplomatic expenses were carried only by 18, and the +abolition of the punishment of death for forgery was carried by 13. This is +a very serious state of things; with such a Parliament there is no +depending upon the carrying of any measure, and Peel is quite disgusted. As +to the Forgery Bill it will be difficult to find juries to convict when a +majority has decided against the punishment of death. I am satisfied that +the property of many will be exposed to much danger by the abolition of the +punishment of death. + +One Ashe who has libelled the Duke of Cumberland, or written a threatening +letter, will be prosecuted as if he had done the same thing against any +private individual. + +The Fee Bill will be altered in the Committee (which out of delicacy is +indefinitely postponed) and the commissioners continued by endorsement. +This is a very ingenious device, saving all the difficulty of dealing with +patent offices and of sharing the present fees. + +Lord Combermere has written a letter to the Duke explaining and defending +his conduct. This is a trouble brought upon us by Astell. He has written +rather an impertinent answer to my letter respecting the 600£ for the +Russian papers, or rather some one has written it for him and he has only +signed it. + +I find Mr. Archibald Campbell, who applied yesterday to me for an +assistant-surgeoncy, is Campbell of Blytheswood, a good voter and a great +friend of Lord Melville's, and others. I have given him the surgeoncy. I +told Planta, who is much pleased. + +The Duke was sent for because the physicians intended to acquaint the King +with his danger. + +He was restless yesterday. The bulletin says he passed a very distressing +day. He walked across the room, however, and will probably last some days. + +In the House, East Retford till 8, when I came away. + + +_June 9._ + +A better bulletin. Office before 12. Settled with Wortley the 'reasons' for +abolishing the College. [Footnote: Haileybury.] + +At 3 Sir P. Freeling came. Went with him and Wortley to Lord Melville's. +There will be no difficulty in getting the steam vessel to Alexandria. + +Read Colonel Macdonald's Journal for January, February, and to March 10. It +is not so interesting as the last portion, or rather not so entertaining. +These make no doubt from the account of Khosroo Murza and of the others who +went to Petersburg, that the conquest of India by the route of Khiva and +Bokhara is the favourite object of the Russians, and the whole people seem +animated by hatred of England. + +Cabinet dinner _chez moi_. The Duke did not see the King to-day; the Dukes +of Clarence and Cumberland being there, whom he did not wish to see. The +King is better. There is coagulated lymph in his legs, one thigh, Tierney +thinks, is a little swelled. He has had no embarrassment of breathing for +thirty-six hours, and slept yesterday as soundly as a child. + +The man who was with the Queen and the Duke of York when they died is with +the King now. When the King was sleeping yesterday Knighton said to him, +'This is not the sleep of death!' The other answered, 'Lord, sir! he will +not die!' They think the King has never thought himself in danger, not even +when they told him he was. He seemed flurried, however, or they thought so, +for a moment, and then they endeavoured to unsay; but the King, who was +quite firm, said, 'No, no! I understand what you think. Call in the Bishop +and let him read prayers.' + +Last night he was talking a great deal to Knighton, and was as amusing as +ever. In constitution and in mind he is certainly a wonderful man. I have +no doubt that the feeling that he is always in representation makes him +behave in the face of death as a man would on the field of battle. + + +_June 10._ + +The King passed a restless night. He is weaker than he has been yet. + +East Retford. Salisbury concluded his case. + + +_June 11._ + +House. I expected to get away immediately; but Lord Londonderry made a +motion for papers, which led to a discussion of an hour and a half. He was +put down entirely by Aberdeen, who really, with a bad manner, said very +good things. At last Lord Londonderry chose to say the Contents had it and +did not divide, so that the motion was negatived _nemine contradicente_. +Most scandalously many went out, not voting against the motion after +Aberdeen had declared it would be injurious to the public service to give +the Papers. + +The King rather better, but weaker. + + +_June 12._ + +Chairs. They did not come till half-past 11. I began to think they had +taken huff and did not mean to come at all, as I had taken no notice of +Astell's letter. However, they came. They do not much like my Nagpore +letter, which it seems is contrary to the line of policy laid down by the +Court and approved of by Wynne. I told them I took the responsibility upon +myself. They were ministerial only. My opinion was confirmed by that of +Jenkins and of the Duke. + +Met at dinner, at Hardinge's, Arbuthnot, with whom I had some conversation +about the Report he is writing on the China Evidence. He is to show it to +me. The Duke saw the King, who is much better. The King said he would defer +taking the sacrament till he was well; but he takes it to-morrow as a +_convalescent_. + + +_June 13._ + +Cabinet at half-past 3. First considered the line to be adopted on the +Forgery Bill, which seems to be to allow it to pass unaltered, throwing the +whole responsibility on the House of Commons; but Peel is to see the +bankers and merchants that he may ascertain what their opinions are now the +Bill has passed the Commons abolishing the punishment of death for forgery. +Peel's idea is that no conviction would be obtained. + +I believe the French and the Russians are so alarmed by the effect produced +in France by the continued exhibition of democratic violence in Greece and +successful rebellion, that they would be disposed to enter into our views +with respect to the nomination of a prince rather than leave the question +open; but that they will procrastinate if they find we will unite with them +in giving money which may keep Greece in a state of tranquillity. As to +Capo d'Istria, he first wished to prevent the nomination of any prince and +to keep the government to himself. When he found that would not do, he +endeavoured to frighten Leopold into subserviency; but if he finds he can +get money without having a prince, he will frighten other princes and +remain there himself. + +It is like paying money in consequence of a threatening letter. If it is +done once there is no stopping. + +I said I believed the dissolution of the Acarnanian army, happen as it +might, would be better than its maintenance, and that the state of anarchy +into which it was pretended Greece would fall if it had not money, would be +a better foundation of improvement than the state of military thraldom in +which it is now held. + +Peel proposed that Dawkins should be instructed under circumstances of +imminent danger to advance money not exceeding 20,000£, and this would be +the best way of doing it. The Duke has great repugnance to giving anything, +and objects to doing what might be considered an unconstitutional act. He +hopes Aberdeen will be able to persuade the other Powers to give 30,000£ +each, leaving us out of the subscription. + +The thing was left undetermined. I suggested that it was by no means +impossible a question might be asked by some 'friend of Greece' whether we +intended to give or had given money in consequence of Capo d'Istria's +representations, and then what we had done would come out. In fact if the +King was well the matter would be brought before Parliament. + +His illness creates great embarrassment. It is doubtful whether the +Government can command majorities on questions on which a defeat under +ordinary circumstances would lead them to resign; but it is known that now +they cannot resign and cannot dissolve, and the Opposition has no other +effect than that of interfering with the conduct of public business. + +A powerful man would place this strongly before the country and bring the +House to a sense of its duty. + +The Duke showed me the letter he had written to Lord Combermere in reply to +his, upon my Memorandum. It is _excellent_. + +There is to be a great fight upon sugar. Charles Grant makes a proposition, +and Goulburn proposes to modify his original proposition by suggesting the +addition of 6_d_. a gallon to Scotch and Irish spirits and to rum, thus +leaving the proportional burthen nearly the same. In addition to this he +proposes lowering the duty on the inferior kinds of sugar. + +The French Expedition was in Palma Bay on May 31, awaiting the arrival of +the last division, which was expected the next day. + + +_June 15._ + +The King much better. He has been in good spirits about himself, and has +expectorated, which is thought a good sign. + +In the House of Commons Goulburn's altered plans seem to have succeeded +with all parties as far as first impression goes. + + +_June 16._ + +At the Cabinet dinner spoke to Lord Melville and Goulburn about the +embarrassments of the civil servants. Both are very much indisposed to +grant the papers asked for by Hume on the subject. I shall write to +Arbuthnot to do what he can to prevent their being given. + +The Duke got a number of papers stamped--indeed all the arrears, about 400. +The King paid more attention to them than he ever did while he was well. He +recollected everything. + +The Duke did not think him so well as when he last saw him. The physicians +do not like this catarrh. The Duke thought his hand was hotter than usual, +that he was larger, and that altogether he was not so well. His judgment +has hitherto been so correct that I attach much importance to it. + +Peel spoke after dinner with much _ennui_ of his position in the House of +Commons. He complained that it really was not worth a man's while to be +there for so many hours every night. The sacrifice was too great. He said +the Radicals had brought the House into such a state that no man could do +business but themselves. He seemed not well, and thoroughly out of humour. + +We had some discussion about the Forgery Bill. We are to see the Governor +and deputy-governor of the Bank, &c. The Duke is much indisposed to +acquiesce in the Commons' amendment. + +Peel thinks that after the vote of the House of Commons no verdicts will be +obtained; but may not a contrary vote of the House of Lords turn public +opinion into its former course? I think it may. + + +_June 17._ + +In French newspaper a bad report of the French fleet, which is very much +dispersed. One division was in sight of the shore on May 30 when it came on +to blow, and they ran to Majorca. The other divisions will have gone to the +rendezvous on the African shore, where they will have met no men-of-war and +much bad weather. The star of Napoleon is set. + +Lord Combermere has written another letter to the Duke, in which he +acknowledges his error as to the compact in 1796 and 1801, and says he was +led into it by Col. Fagan. He restates all he before said on the other +points, and still wishes his letter to go to the King. + +The King seems to have had a good night. I did not hear the private +account. + + +_June 18._ + +Received last night from Astell a letter in which he speaks of an intended +address of his respecting the Nagpore letter. I have told him he has +already privately told me his opinion--that the Act of Parliament has made +no provision for a representation on the part of the Secret Committee if +they disagree with the Board, and I cannot receive any such representation +officially. I have further told him that I think any more delay will be +injurious to the public service. + +Wrote a letter to Runjeet Singh to go with the horses. Showed it to Lord +Amherst, Clare, and Auckland. Lord Amherst and Clare were delighted with +it. Showed it to the Duke, who approved. Saw the Duke. + +The King alarmed the princesses yesterday, but the Duke of Clarence did not +think him so ill. I saw the Duke of Clarence's letter to the Duke of W. +Halford thinks the expectoration is an additional evil. + + +_June 19._ + +At 11 Privy Council to hear the appeal of Elphinstone (that is, East India +Company) against Ameerchund Bidruchund, a case of booty. Remained till +half-past two, when I was obliged to come away, having a dinner at +Roehampton. Indeed I do not think that upon a point affecting the revenues +of India I ought to vote as a judge. + +Brougham ridiculed the Directors who sat there in a mass, nine of them. +Fergusson spoke of "the Court." Brougham said he was not surprised he +should make that mistake seeing such an array of directors. Brougham put it +_ad verecundiam_ to the directors whether they would vote upon a question +in which they were directly interested, and in which they had already +appeared by Counsel. + +They were and will be very sulky. They will stay away and decline +supporting Government. + +The bulletin is bad. + +Two most impertinent letters from Lord Arbuthnot and Mr. Arbuthnot asking +for, or rather _demanding_, cadetships. They will find I am not to be +bullied. + + +_June 21._ + +The King expectorated blood yesterday. He is failing in strength, and now +certainly dying. + +Read a memorandum of Wilson's on a proposed remodelling of the army. It is +founded on my idea of bringing it into the form it formerly had, with fewer +European officers and more native officers, in higher ranks. He proposes +having two more European Non-Commissioned officers, a Subadar Major, and +another Subadar, and several minor things. + + +_June 22._ + +Cabinet. The Duke thought the character of the Government would be affected +if we gave up the Forgery Bill in the Lords, not in consequence of any +change of opinion, but of a majority of 13 in the House of Commons. I am +satisfied the law, as it is, ought to be maintained. In the House Lord +Lansdowne made a speech on moving the second reading, and Lord Winchelsea +and the Duke of Richmond said they should vote for the Bill as it was-- +none, however, taking religious objections, Lord Lansdowne throwing out +that he would consent to make the bill temporary. The Chancellor made a +very good speech, expressing his general objections to the Bill as it +stands, and reserving his reasons for the Committee. + +The King is rather worse and weaker. + +In the House of Commons last night a mine was sprung and all parties, Whigs +and Tories, East and West Indians, united by a trick on the sugar duties. +However, we had a majority. + + +_June 23._ + +It seems Peel and Herries and even Goulburn himself rather doubts whether +the sugar arrangement will work, and Peel has some doubt as to his +majority. Altogether he is very much out of humour, or rather _ennuyé_, and +a very little would induce him to give up. + +Cabinet dinner. The Duke saw the King and some stamping took place. The +King was much worse than on Saturday. The expectoration is matter from the +lungs. Knighton says that if they can keep the bowels right he may live a +month. Halford says if he was an ordinary man he should think he would not +live three days. Tierney says his pulse almost failed while he was asleep +this morning, and he thought he would have died. The Duke says he thinks +more with Knighton than the others. + +The King was perfectly alive to all the business done. He talks of going to +the Cottage still. + +Much talk at the Cabinet dinner as to what should be done as to +dissolution; but all depends on the time of the King's death, and the state +of public business then. + +Peel, Herries, and all seem to think the Low Party gains, and will gain +strength. Hume, on Whitbread's retirement, is to come in for Middlesex. + + +_June 24._ + +House. Galway Franchise Bill read second time Counsel were to have been +heard; but the petitioners declined having them. I fear we shall have a +sharp debate about it to-morrow, and Lord Grey be directly opposed to the +Duke, and the worst of it is I do not believe our case is very good. + +Hardinge and Wortley both say we are in a great scrape with these sugar +duties, and Ireland, which was all with us, is hostile again on account of +the spirit and stamp duties. + +Walked as far as Mrs. Arbuthnot's with the Duke. He told me his view of the +Galway Franchise Bill, and is very certain of his case. He feels Goulburn +has satisfied no one with his sugar duties. + +The King seems much worse by the bulletin; but the private account was not +much so. He was said to be worse when Lord Hill left Windsor. I really +believe that we are so bothered with sugar duties and other things that an +immediate demise and immediate dissolution would be best for us, and for +the country. + + +_June 25._ + +Went to the Duke about the Galway Bill before the House met. The Duke spoke +very well and made a very good case. Lord Grey well, but the Chancellor +demolished his speech, and placed the question on such good grounds that it +was useless to speak afterwards; nor was there much subsequent debate. The +Duke of Buckingham made a speech against us, in which he mistook every +point, and gave me a great disposition to follow him; but I knew if I did I +should have a whole hornet's nest upon me, and I wished to keep Durham and +Radnor in check, or answer them. Had I spoken the debate would have lasted +three hours more. As it was we got away by nine. On the division we had 62 +to 47. Not brilliant. Our case was excellent. I had feared it would be +indifferent. The Chancellor had got it up admirably. Lord Londonderry, the +Dukes of Newcastle and Richmond, Calthorpe, all the Canningites, of course +voted against us. Dudley was in the House at one time, but he did not vote +against us, nor has he once since he went out. + +The King much weaker. + + +_June 26._ + +At half-past eight this morning I received a Cabinet box containing the +bulletin signed by Halford and Tierney of the King's death, and Halford's +private letter to the Duke of Wellington. The letter stated that the King +had slept for about two hours and woke a little before three. Soon +afterwards, Sir W. Waller only being in the room, he suddenly put his hand +to his breast, and said, 'Good God, what is the matter? This is death?' He +then sent for Halford. He and the others came, and so soon afterwards as I +have said, he expired without the least struggle or pain. + +Peel summoned a Cabinet at half-past ten. We met and talked of very little +but in what dress we should go to the Council, which was to be at twelve. +It was agreed we should go in black, shoes and stockings, but not full +dress. However, after I left the room the Duke arrived, and said the King +[Footnote: The Duke of Clarence now became William IV] intended to appear +in uniform, so the Duke, Lord Bathurst, Rosslyn, and Sir J. Murray, who +were there, put on their uniforms. The group at the Council was most +motley. Lords Grey, Lansdowne, Spencer, Tankerville, Sir J. Warrender, and +some others being in black full dress. Lord Camden and some more in +uniform, which several sent for after they arrived, as Salisbury and +Hardinge. The mass, however, in plain black, some in colours. The Royal +Dukes came in full dress. + +We waited a long time before the Council, almost two hours, a time occupied +in audiences. + +The Duke of Cumberland got the King to send for Lord Eldon, who went in for +a minute only. The Duke of Cumberland received his gold stick, and seemed +very active. The Duke of Wellington, Lord Bathurst, Rosslyn, the +Chancellor, and Sir R. Peel went in together, and personally acquainted the +King with the late King's death. The King said he might not have an +opportunity of seeing that day the rest of his late Majesty's confidential +servants; but he told those present that all had his confidence, and that +they would receive his _entire, cordial, and determined support_. He told +the Chancellor in a private audience not only the same thing, but that if +at any time he should hear reports of his ceasing to place confidence in +his Government, they were not to be believed. If he had any fault to find +he would at once tell them. + +When the Duke and the others came out from the King we all went to the +ball-room, where we began to sign the proclamation, and a few, the Royal +Dukes and others, had signed, when we were called to the Privy Council +Room, where the King soon arrived, attended by the household of the late +King. He took his seat, and read his declaration. He read it with much +feeling, and it was well imagined, and will have a good effect. The Lord +President entreated it might be printed. + +I should have mentioned that before the King came in the Council made the +usual orders, with the addition of an order for defacing the late King's +stamps, which was accordingly done by the clerk of the Council. + +When the declaration had been read the King took the Scotch oath in the +usual form, the Lord-President reading it to him, and the King holding up +his right hand. + +He then said it was a satisfaction to him to find such a Privy Council, and +requested them all to take the oath. + +This the Royal Dukes did first, then the Speaker, that he might go to the +House of Commons. Then the Archbishop and the Chancellor together, then the +Dukes, with the Lord President and Privy Seal, then the Marquises, then +others according to their rank. When all had taken the Privy Councillor's +oath the Lord Chancellor took his, and the Clerk of the Council was sworn +by the Lord President. The King then retired, and the Council ordered as +usual respecting the disposal of the late King's body. + +After the swearing in we signed the Proclamation. Some remained to alter +the Liturgy. Queen Adelaide is to be prayed for, and the rest of the Royal +family. + +The Duke of Norfolk was there as Earl Marshal. He observed he was the only +person there who was not a Privy Councillor, and expressed a wish to be +one. The Duke mentioned it to the King, who readily assented. He observed +there had been no Duke of Norfolk a member of the Privy Council since the +time of James II., and that that Duke of Norfolk was a Protestant. The Duke +of Norfolk, however, will consider the oath before he takes it. He would +have taken the Earl Marshal's oath to-day, but it was not there. + +We met in Cabinet at 4. + +The only innovations I yet hear of are in the dress of regiments. The King +intends, as he told Lord Farnborough, to live at Windsor. He intends to +have a battalion of the Guards at Edinburgh, and a regiment of the Line at +Windsor. + +I went in, by some misdirection, the wrong way, and found Wood and Sir Ch. +Pole waiting for the King. Wood, whom I met near the Horse Guards, as I was +riding down to the Cabinet, told me the King had rehearsed his declaration +to him, Sir Ch. Pole, and Lord Errol, before he went into the Privy +Council. + +There was no grief in the room in which we waited. It was like an ordinary +_levée_. + +The Chancellor went down to the House between the Cabinet and the Council, +and took the oaths. + +The Lord Steward was sent for by Peel, and only arrived a quarter before +four at the House of Commons. + +Lord Holland, Grey, and others seemed to think the Proclamation ought to +have been made to-day, and I think it might have been just as well. + +The Duke of Wellington was much cheered by the people. The Duke was called +out of the Cabinet to see Halford, but we had a long conversation as to the +course to be pursued with respect to the Parliament, and especially with +respect to the Regency question. + +The House must sit next week, as the sugar duties expire on Saturday next, +and Goulburn seems disposed to propose a Bill for the continuance of the +present duties for a time; to take money on account for miscellaneous +services; to throw over the judicial Bills and end the session at once. + +The stumbling block is the Regency question--whether it should be brought +forward now, and if brought forward, who shall be Regent. + +Peel seems to think we can hardly avoid bringing it on; as the session +would have lasted two months in the event of the late King's living, why +should it not now, when the reason for Parliament sitting is so much +greater? And what would be the situation of the country if the King should +die, leaving a minor Queen? + +Peel suggested appointing the Queen Regent for a year. I said, depend upon +it, when the King once has her as Regent he will never consent to change +her, and if you appoint her for a year you appoint her for the whole time. + +He afterwards suggested her appointment for a year after the King's death +on account of the probability of her pregnancy. To this I objected, the +state of distraction in which the country would be placed during that year. +It is impossible consistently with the constitution to have an Executive, +of which the existence shall be dependent on the good pleasure of +Parliament. + +Peel then suggested the giving to the King the power of naming either the +Queen, the Duchess of Kent, or any member of the Royal family. The +objection to this is that he ought to name one of the two first--that we +got no security against a bad nomination, which we ought to do. + +The views we ought to have are these: to give all possible strength to the +monarchy. This we do not, if we permit a frequent change of the Executive; +if we diminish the power of the Crown while in the hands of a Regency. We +want to give stability to the Government, and this can only be given by +making the Queen Regent. If we do that we provide, as far as human wisdom +can, for a stable Government of seven years. + +We can in no case _name_ any other person than the Queen, because she may +become pregnant, and in that event it would be monstrous to make the +Duchess of Kent Regent. All we can do, then, is to give the King the option +of choosing the Queen or the Duchess of Kent. He will name the Queen, and +she will be the best. + +It has been observed that all Kings of England die either on Saturdays or +Sundays. + + +_June 27._ + +Came up to a Cabinet at half-past three. We had a great deal of +conversation as to the course to be pursued. The Chancellor said that in +the event of a minor succeeding to the throne, all the minor's acts would +be valid, and under the responsibility of ministers the Great Seal might be +put in the minor's name by the minor's sign manual to an Act creating a +Regency. + +It was determined to take the opinion of the Attorney- and Solicitor- +General upon this point. + +On the supposition that the law is as the Chancellor states, we considered +what should be done. All turns upon our being able to get a temporary Act +for the sugar duties, and if we cannot get that we are _really_ no longer a +Government. It was determined to carry through the Beer Bill and Beer Duty +Bill, to throw over Stamps in Ireland, and carry Spirits. To take a sum of +800,000£ on account of miscellaneous estimates, and 250,000£ on account of +the civil list. + +These last points were decided at a Cabinet at Sir R. Peel's, which +assembled at eleven, and sat till near one; at which the Attorney- and +Solicitor-General delivered their opinion, in conformity with that of the +Chancellor as to the legal competency of a minor sovereign. + +The Attorney-General reminded us that if the King died before the new +Parliament assembled, the old Parliament would revive. + +Peel talked a good deal of the Regency. He is much in favour of making the +Queen Regent for a year after the King's death, to provide for the possible +pregnancy. It seems the principle of all Regencies has been to make the +guardian of the person Regent. It is curious that the case should never +have been provided for of a Queen being left pregnant of an heir apparent, +and that it should never have occurred. The difficulty would be infinite. + +I consider the death of the King to have been one of the fortunate events +which have often saved the Duke of Wellington. I really do not know how we +could have gone on, had he lived two months. + +The King wishes to make Lord Combermere a Privy Councillor, thinking all +gold sticks have been so. We find he is misinformed, and the Duke means to +show him the list of gold-sticks not Privy Councillors, and at the same +time to tell him how Lord Combermere stands, having within these few months +been censured by the Government. The Duke will show the King the +correspondence which passed lately, and leave it to him to decide. There +would be no objection to making him a Privy Councillor some months or a +year hence. + +Brougham made a violent speech against Lord Conyngham for not being in +readiness to swear in the House of Commons. + + +_June 28._ + +Went to St. James's at eleven. The Household, the Royal family, and the +Ministers only were there. The King was dressed in plain black. He went to +a large window looking into the courtyard, and stood forward. There were +but few people there at first, the Horse Guards and the Heralds. The King's +band played God Save the King, and those who were there cheered, upon which +numbers of people came round from before the Palace and filled the +courtyard. They then cheered well. + +As the King passed through the line we formed for him to go to the window +he came up to me and said he must begin by chiding me for not coming to him +yesterday. In fact he had forgot I was a Cabinet Minister, and he therefore +would see me to-day. I said 'it was my first and I hoped it would be my +last fault.' After the Proclamation he sent for the Duke of Wellington, and +when the Duke left him, for me. He asked about China. I told him how we +stood there. That there was an interruption which would probably prevent +the arrival of any ships this year; that orders had been given for a double +investment next year. I said the state of affairs generally was by no means +satisfactory. The King said he was afraid Lord W. Bentinck had not been +doing well. I said I feared he had let down the dignity of his office, and +had when he first went there run after popularity too much, and allowed the +press to get ahead. It would now be very difficult to check it. I added +that he went to make great reductions and had made some. That that had +rendered him unpopular. He was honest and well-meaning. The King said he +should go down to Bushey soon, and as I was living near he would have me +over at eleven o'clock some morning, and give me some hours to make him +acquainted with the state of India. I told him of the secret letter to the +Bengal Government about the Nagpore Treaty, and the principles laid down, +of which he highly approved. He then expressed apprehension of Russia. I +told him all that had been done upon that subject, and of the present to +Runjeet Singh, and the navigation of the Indus, with all which he seemed +much pleased. I said I would send him the secret letters, and get together +information that would bring the whole state of India before him as +concisely as possible. As I was led to mention Sir J. Macdonald, I asked a +coat for him, and the King granted it, thinking it very proper. + +The Duke attends the opening of the King's will at 12. + +The late King died, as was thought, of fatness about the heart. The dropsy +was gone. + +Cabinet. We had none at St. James's, but there was a council. The Duke of +Norfolk attended to be sworn in as a Privy Councillor. We found, on +reference to the Act of last session, that he must have taken the oath +within three months before his receiving any office of trust or profit. So, +on my proposal, the Petty Bag was sent for, and the Chancellor held a court +of Chancery in the ball-room, where the Duke took the oath. He was +afterwards sworn in, as were the Duke of Bedford, Sir S. Canning, Sir J. +Mackintosh, Lord Bexley, and two or three others who were not in time +yesterday. There were a good many orders in council, but of no moment. + +There was the usual proclamation against vice and immorality. + +The King did very well. He was very gracious to all who approached him, and +had something to say to every one. He took little notice of Sir. J. +Mackintosh. + +Lord Bathurst had to change a sheriff. The King, when he heard the name of +the new one (sheriff of Suffolk, I think), said, _'He is a Whig.'_ Lord +Bathurst said, 'He is a very good man, I believe, Sir, and is recommended +by the Duke of Grafton.' 'Oh!' said the King, 'I do not mean to say it is +wrong; only remember, _he is a Whig_.' + +After the council we went to Peel's, but we remained but a short time, the +Duke going to the House and Peel too before 4. In our House not a word was +said. In the Commons Brougham, who seems, as Frankland Lewis told me, half +frantic, made rather an apologetic speech for his attack upon the Lord +Steward, but again hinted at intentional disrespect towards the House of +Commons, not on the part of Ministers in that House, but of persons +elsewhere. He reminded Peel that whatever accession of strength Ministers +might have recently obtained, they could not carry on the Government +without the confidence of the House of Commons. + +His speech was very mysterious, and hardly any one understood it. Some +thought he alluded to the accession of Lord Grey to the Government; that +must have rested upon foolish rumour. He alluded, I conclude, to the King's +support, now well known. What symptoms of disrespect for the House of +Commons he may have discovered I know not. Probably he chooses to imagine +them, to produce an effect. + +He is evidently mad with disappointment. He could not well be wooed in such +a temper, even if he were to be wooed at all. + +After the House I rode to leave my name at the Princess Augusta's, and +forgot the Duke of Cumberland, who lives close by; then I went to the Duke +of Gloucester's, where I met F. Lewis, who told me of Brougham's speech and +so on. I went with Wood to the Princess Sophia of Gloucester's. He told me +all the King said of the late King's error in not frankly supporting his +Government, and of his own determination to do so. He had been long in the +habit of saying, 'the Queen is not with child.' There had been a report to +that effect. Rode to the Duchess of Kent's and Duke of Sussex's. Met Lord +Graham, Mr. and Mrs. Arbuthnot, and the Chancellor. Rode on with the +Chancellor to Kensington. As we were coming away from the Palace we heard +the trampling of horses behind us, and turning round, saw the King coming +full tilt with his lancers; we had but just time to wheel round and salute +His Majesty, who seemed much amused at seeing two of his Ministers amongst +all the little children who were running by his carriage, and the +Chancellor, so lately in all the gravity of his official robes, mounted on +a little white New Forest pony of Lady Lyndhurst's. I rode on to +Roehampton, dined there, and rode back. + +At 10 a Cabinet at Peel's. We framed the message. Peel was very flat. The +measure of immediate dissolution is one he does not half approve. He wished +to settle the Regency question. He has been put out of humour by having his +opinions upon that point not at once acquiesced in. He sees all the +difficulties of our position, and does not meet them with energy and +_elan_. He certainly is not an agreeable person to transact business with, +but he is a very able man. + +The accounts from Ireland are very bad. The potatoes are exhausted at +Limerick, Tralee, and other places, and the new crop will not come in till +August. At Limerick some stores have been forced, and the troops attacked +with stones. + +At Tralee there was a subscription of 450£ for the purchase of potatoes; +300£ was expended, and the Mayor of Tralee and other _gentlemen_ bought +some of these potatoes, which were offered at a reduced price to the +people, for _seed_! Can any country be tranquil in which resident gentlemen +can do such things? A discretionary power has been given to the Lord +Lieutenant to expend 3000£ in food, should it become necessary, without +further reference. + +About 180 peers have taken the oaths. I fear we shall be beaten upon the +Forgery Bill; we have a very narrow margin indeed, not above six or eight +without bishops. It is supposed the bishops will stay away. I fear those +will stay away who would, if present, vote with us, and all who are against +will come. If this should be the case we must be defeated. + +The King was perfectly reasonable about Lord Combermere. The Duke showed +His Majesty the letters which had passed, and the King said he should not +think of it. He told Peel and Lord Melville he wished the Royal Academy to +remain open till after the King's funeral, that he might see the +exhibition, and said Peel should attend him when he went. This Peel thinks +very foolish, and his disposition seems to be to turn the King into +ridicule, and to throw the suspicion of insanity upon all his acts. This is +the _tactique_ of the Whigs. The King takes the Sacrament on Sunday, and +has desired the two English and one Irish archbishop to attend. This they +call 'an indication.' + + +_June 29._ + +At half-past ten went to Lord Rosslyn's, to arrange with him the Lords' +Address. Went with him to Peel's, to show it to him. He was reading when we +went in, and hardly looked up. He heard the Address which I read, and +approved of it; but he hardly took any notice of us or of it. He seemed +really ill, and quite broken down. + +Called on Hardinge. We had some conversation respecting the state of the +Government. His idea is that the strength of the Government in the House of +Commons is much injured by Peel's being in a subordinate situation to the +Duke. That if he was Chancellor of the Exchequer and First Lord of the +Treasury, things would go on better, the Duke taking a secretaryship of +State. This would do very well in the House of Commons, but very ill in the +Cabinet. He is for getting Mr. Stanley, and suggests (or Rosslyn did, or +both, for having talked to both on the same subject I may confound them) +that Lord F. Leveson should be made a peer. I think that a good idea. He is +of no use in the Commons, and his peerage would open a place which Mr. +Stanley could fill. + +Rosslyn thinks Aberdeen's notions upon foreign politics have, together with +his assumption of independence which is of recent date, made the Duke +rather sore, and that he would not be sorry to have another Secretary of +State for Foreign Affairs. Lord Rosslyn wants to have Lord Grey in, and +says he would as soon be First Lord of the Admiralty as Foreign Secretary. +Rosslyn would, I think, like to go to Ireland as Lord Lieutenant. He would +willingly give up the Privy Seal to Aberdeen. He thinks Sir G. Murray would +make an excellent Governor General. I fear he would be too indolent. He +said he knew, if there was a vacancy, the Duke would be glad to make him +Master General. + +I had said I believed Lord Beresford would go to Portugal as Minister, if +Miguel would be on good terms with us. It seems Goulburn would be glad to +be Speaker. That would open a proper office for Herries, and his offices +might be divided, Lord Althorpe having the Board of Trade. + +I really think some arrangement must be made to give us strength in the +House of Commons. Saw the Duke at two. He approved of the address. Rosslyn, +was with him. I told him how ill Peel seemed. He said he would go to see +him. + +House. The Duke moved the Address. He gave a character of the late King as +one of the most accomplished, able, and remarkable men of the age. I saw +Lord Grey smile a little, but the House generally was grave and formal. +Lord Grey assented to the Address, but _laissait entrevoir_ that he should +be hostile to the Address to-morrow, hinting at the Regency. The same thing +was done in the Commons. + +The Duke told me the late King had three disorders which must have proved +fatal, and he died of bursting a blood-vessel in the stomach. He had a +concretion as large as an orange in his bladder, his liver was diseased, +and his heart was ossified. Water there was not much, and all proceeding +from the interruption of circulation about the heart. I read the report, +signed by Halford, Tierney, Brodie, and A. Cooper. + +We had East Retford again. Lord Londonderry, whom Lord Durham puts forward +as his tool, moved an adjournment. The question was postponed till Friday. +Afterwards the Duke of Buckingham, when most peers had gone away, moved the +same thing, and then Lord Londonderry twice. We had majorities but gave it +up at last. The Chancellor is heartily tired of the whole thing. The Duke +went away while Lord Londonderry was explaining in answer to his speech, to +the noble Lord's great annoyance. + +I rode home with the Duke, who spoke of Lord Londonderry as a madman. He +said Peel had not taken a sufficiently high line. He did not like the +position he stood in in the House of Commons. The Duke said no Government +was ever beaten by its enemies, but many have been by their friends. + +The King was very amenable and good-natured to-day. + + +_June 30._ + +Occupied all the morning in looking at the precedents in the case of +regency. There are two modern contradictory precedents, 24 Geo. II. and 5 +Geo. III., and no experience of either, nor has there been a minority since +Edward VI. in 1547. + +It is clear the sovereign is sovereign whatever be his age, and the Act +appointing a regent must have his assent. Whatever has at any time been +done, has been done or sanctioned by Parliament. Parliament cannot +supersede the Royal authority. + +It is remarkable that Parliament in 1811 made provision for the care of the +King's person in case of his death; but none for the care of the kingdom in +the event of the Regent's death, although the Princess Charlotte was but +fifteen. + +House at 5. The Duke moved the Address in a very short speech, not +adverting to the regency. Lord Grey followed and declared his opinion of +the incapacity of Government as exhibited in their measures during the last +five months. Goderich said 'nothing had been done,' and was for going on +with the business. Lord Harrowby wished a short Regency Bill to be passed, +giving the regency to the Queen for six weeks, to provide for the case of +pregnancy. The Chancellor made a speech, not long, admitting the law to be +as stated, that is, that the sovereign immediately on accession possessed +all Royal power. Eldon spoke against us, and treated the question of a King +_en venire sa mere_ with jocularity. I followed, and observed gravely upon +his jocularity on such a subject; then stated my view of the question, and +expressed my regret and surprise at Lord Grey's declaration, added I was +happy to know at last where we were, who were our friends and who were our +enemies. + +Then got up the Duke of Richmond, totally misrepresenting what I had said +as to Lord Eldon and Lord Grey, and endeavouring to make them appear as +personal attacks to which no gentleman could submit. Lord Londonderry +followed in the same tone. (After the Duke of Richmond I explained that I +had not attributed improper motives to Lord Grey, nor attacked Lord Eldon's +character.) We had afterwards Lord Lansdowne, Lord Harewood giving his +first vote for the Government after the Catholic Question, and _that_ +because it was the first measure of the new King. A foolish reason, but I +dare say many voted on the same ground. Lord Wharncliffe spoke against us, +Lords Bute and Wicklow and the Duke of Buckingham for us, Lord Radnor +shortly against. The Duke replied. Then Lord Grey spoke, and observed, of +course, upon what I had said, but not angrily, and I made an explanation +which was satisfactory, and set us quite right again. He had imagined me to +say he owed a debt of gratitude to the Government for the measure of last +session. I said he had expressed gratitude, but we had not claimed it, +because we only did our duty. In the lobby during the debate Lord Jersey +told me he was afraid Lord Grey might have misunderstood the meaning of +what I said about gratitude, and begged me to set him right immediately if +it was so. + +We had 100 to 54. A very good division. We went, at ten, to Goulburn's to +dinner, and expected soon to see the members of the House of Commons, and +to hear of as good a division there as in the Lords, but after an hour we +heard the division had only been 185 to 139. This made us a little flat, +and Lord Bathurst drank no more champagne. + +I intentionally committed the Government thoroughly with the Whigs, for +after Lord Grey's declaration it was idle to expect a vote from them, and +our people were pleased, as I knew they would be. The Duke of Bedford and +Lord Jersey voted with us. So did Dudley. + +I shall have work enough now, as they have ten or twelve speakers, and we +but three. + + +_July 1._ + +Looked over the debates on the Forgery Bill this morning. Committee at one. +Examined a manufacturer of camlets and bombazines from Norwich. House. +Forgery Bill. The Chancellor made an admirable speech, Lord Lansdowne +followed him, then Lords Wynford, Tenterden, and Eldon all against the +bill. We divided 77 to 20. The Duke was delighted, he said, '_How very +right we were._' So said the Chancellor. Peel would have given it up. Now, +I think one large majority will set public opinion right again. The +Chancellor said all that was contained in Peel's two speeches and much +more. Peel and Brougham were under the throne. + +Lord Bathurst, with whom I walked home from the House at three, when we +talked of Goulburn's becoming Speaker, suggested Hardinge as Chancellor of +the Exchequer. He would be an excellent one. + +I met Goulburn in the Park this morning. He did not seem much pleased with +the House last night. I see there were strong words indeed in the second +debate, Brougham talking of the _parasites_ of the Duke of Wellington. Peel +asked whether he presumed to call him a parasite? There was great +confusion, and it ended by Peel's making an explanation for Brougham, in +which Brougham acquiesced. Several members, amongst the rest, I hear, +Castlereagh, were going to call Brougham out. + +In the House Lord Bathurst told me Wortley had stayed away from the +division last night, and had sent in his resignation. Soon after I received +a note from Wortley telling me so, expressing great regret that he could +not vote for a course of measures which excluded a Regency Bill. His regret +was increased by my kindness and encouragement. I have sent his letter to +the Duke, having shown it to Lord Bathurst in the House. I wrote an answer +to say I felt great regret at his not being able to adopt our line, and +expressing my personal regret at losing him, and my acknowledgments for the +assistance I had derived from him. + +His father and father-in-law both voted against us last night. He says in +his note he has taken his line entirely on his own view. + +I had some talk with Dudley in the lobby of the House. I began by saying he +had acted very handsomely by us. He said he was friendly to the Government, +and above all things unfriendly to Lord Grey and the Duke of Newcastle. The +motion of last night he called pure faction. + +Salisbury told me he stayed away to-night not liking to vote against us, on +account of yesterday's declaration of war. The Duke of Gordon told me he +was much pleased with me last night. I do not, however, think I spoke as +well as usual. + +Bankes I had some talk with. He said the Duke of Cumberland was hostile to +the Duchess of Kent and Leopold. He would prefer the Queen as Regent. He +had been much with the King for the last six weeks, and there was a good +understanding between them. Bankes asked if I had left my name with him. I +told him I had, and I believed all the rest had. By some mistake of a +servant the summons to the Privy Council did not reach the Duke of +Cumberland till the day after the accession, and he was very angry. It had +been sent to Kew. He is satisfied now. Goulburn has hit upon a _mezzo +termine_ which answers for the present session. He has reduced the duty on +West Indian sugar to 24,9., and on East Indian sugar to 32s. The duty on +other sugar to be 63s. I did not fail to tell Dudley and Bankes in what +strong terms the King had expressed his determination to support the +Government. They were both 'colpiti.' Dudley had had no idea terms so +strong had been used. He comes to the Council to be sworn in on Saturday. + + +_July 2._ + +Chairs at eleven. They have sent a representation on the subject of the +Kattywar draft, impugning, as I understand, for I have not yet read it, the +power of the Board to give orders in the Secret Department which do not +require secresy. + +I told the Chairs distinctly that I intended to take upon the King's +Government the whole responsibility of the foreign policy of India. + +I saw Wortley, who thanked me very much indeed for my note of yesterday +evening. He was much distressed, and evidently regrets extremely that he +has tendered his resignation. He adheres, however, to his opinion that the +Regency question should have been settled at least provisionally before +Parliament separated. He was going to see Peel and afterwards the Duke. + +He told me the Government could not be conducted in the House of Commons +unless some more Ministers would speak-that there must be a change. + +I called at Hardinge's. He told me the same thing, and that he had talked +about it to the Duke yesterday and made him promise to place the +ministerial seats in the House of Commons at Peel's disposal. Hardinge is +for having Edward Stanley. He spoke of Wilmot Horton, but he is not of +Cabinet calibre. I think Hardinge is disposed to displace Murray rather +than either of the others. He talked again of making Peel First Lord of the +Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Duke Secretary of State +for Foreign Affairs--Aberdeen going to Ireland. Aberdeen would not go +there, I think. I told Hardinge Lord Bathurst had suggested him as +Chancellor of the Exchequer. He would not hear of it. + +It seems Brougham was almost drunk the other night. Hardinge and several +others were getting up to question him when Peel stopped them. He pulled +Hardinge down by the coat. Hardinge says Peel managed admirably. + +In the House spoke to the Chancellor and Lord Bathurst, and told them I had +heard we must have an addition of strength to the Treasury Bench. They both +said they believed so too. Lord Bathurst again mentioned Hardinge. + +Spoke to the Duke about Wortley. He said he had written a kind note to him, +and told him he had been too hasty. He should have spoken to some of the +Ministers first. The Duke evidently intends the thing to blow over. + +Spoke to Lord Wharncliffe about the same thing. He said he would neither +have voted nor have spoken against Government on Wednesday if he had had an +idea of Wortley's resigning, because it gave the appearance of concert, and +there really was none. He did not know of the letters till after they had +been written. I said Lord Harrowby's taking the same line, both voting and +speaking, gave the appearance of concert. He said he thought Wortley +altogether wrong. That a young man, having joined a Government, had no +right, for a difference on a single point, to resign. If he differed upon a +system of policy it was another thing. I said I thought it would be allowed +to blow over. He afterwards talked to the Duke, and I have no doubt Wortley +will remain. + +Lord Bathurst says W. Horton is a gentleman. I doubted it. He rather wishes +to have Wilmot in office. But the person to be got is Mr. Stanley. + +We had a discussion on a motion of Lord Londonderry's whether we should +proceed with East Retford or not. I followed Lord Grey and spoke very +quietly but, I think, reasonably, for going on. I said if we were obliged +to postpone any measure, the last we should postpone should be one deeply +interesting to the House of Commons and affecting their privileges. + +I think we did all Peel could require. We had 45 to 13. I remained till +eight, but I could stay no longer. + +Lord Londonderry attacked me again, and said instead of planting a dagger +in the side of Lord Grey I should have applied a _healing plaster!_ His +comparative civility to the Government to-day was to conciliate their +support to Sir R. Gresley for Durham. + +The Duke told Hardinge yesterday I was always ready. I was a little too +lively, but I was of great use. + + +_July 3._ + +The King has done two popular things. He has allowed a passage to be made +from Waterloo Place into the Park, and he has dismissed all the late King's +French cooks! He will have no foreigners about him. + +The foreign Ministers were all introduced to him to-day. He was very +gracious, Aberdeen said, but he did not choose his topics quite so well as +the late King, who had much tact and grace, neither does the King speak +French well. + +Lord Combermere came and had an audience to present a picture of the King +of Delhi, painted by an Indian artist. It seemed not ill done, and had the +appearance of an ordinary picture, but when placed against the light was a +transparency. Lord Combermere did not remain long with the King, and when +he came out he seemed annoyed. He remained some time, and the Duke was +afraid he remained to be sworn in, in consequence of some incautious +promise of the King. It was arranged that Buller, who had a list of the +Privy Councillors, should turn him out with the rest who were not so, when +the Council began. However, he went away a little before. + +The Duke of Montrose has resigned, and the King has placed the office at +the disposal of the Duke of Wellington. + +Peel seems to think Lord Graham is dissatisfied and unfriendly. It seems he +has been heard complaining of vacillation, &c., on the part of the +Government, and does not attend well. + +The Queen has named Lady Wellesley and Mrs. Berkeley Paget as two Ladies of +the Bed-chamber. Valletort is to be in some high situation about the Queen. +Lord Errol, her Master of the Horse. + +I conclude Lord Conyngham will resign, but it is not known. + +The Duke goes to Windsor to-morrow respecting the late King's papers, the +Duke of Cumberland having meditated an _enlèvement_. + +Peel thinks Brougham really rather mad, and would not be surprised to hear +he was confined. Last year he was melancholy, and his friends and _he +himself_ feared he might commit suicide. Now he is in an excited state. +Peel speaks of him as a most wonderful man in ability. + +It seems that last night the leaders came down to make an attack, but the +followers, not having been consulted, would not support. R. Gordon came +over to Herries and said he should vote with Government. Hume, who in the +morning had sent to ask Planta whether Government intended to oppose him +for Middlesex (a question Planta was desired not to answer till the end of +next week), was very civil, and disposed to let business pass. It is not +impossible that the House of Commons may have done their business by this +day week. + +I am to look at the Beer Bill, and have already begun to read the Commons' +debates upon it. + + +_July 4._ + +Read all the debates on the Beer Bill, made notes, and considered the +subject. The Queen seems to have selected her maids of honour from the +neighbourhood of Bushey. This is amiable and very right. + + +_July 5._ + +I proposed to Wortley, as Edward Stanley was an acquaintance of his, to +give him a hint not to commit himself against the Government just now; but +he says he does not know Stanley intimately enough. + +I asked him whether he did not find the Duke of Wellington very kind. He +really had the kindest heart of any man I ever knew. When I looked up I saw +the tears in his eyes. + +Clare told me he heard all the Whigs in our House, except Lord Lansdowne, +were determined to push us _à l'outrance_; but Lord Lansdowne thought the +Duke must endeavour to strengthen himself during the vacation. He could not +do it now, as it would be a confession of weakness; but he thought he would +do it before Parliament met. However, the others would not hear him. + +There was a meeting at Lord Althorpe's yesterday, but I have not heard the +result. + +Talked to Clare about the affairs of Kattywar, and promised to give him +precise instructions before he left England. + +He will remain at Bombay, I think. He tells his mother three years, but he +will remain till he has made some money and done something worth going +there to do. He has got Elphinstone to make a list of the civil servants +_with their characters_. + +The King took the sacrament yesterday with the Royal Family, and afterwards +received the bishops and the judges. He made long speeches to both. Thirty +minutes to the first, and twenty to the second. + +Polignac seems quite firm, although certain he shall be in a minority of 1 +to 2 or 3. It is expected he will _evade_, and that Villele may be able to +go on with the new Chamber. + +No news from Algiers. 15,000 men are assembled at Toulon as a reserve. + + +_July 6._ + +Cabinet. Peel said the Lord Advocate would resign if we did not pass the +Scotch Judicature Bill, so we must struggle through with it. The Welsh +Judicature Bill is to be passed too. This will keep us sitting some time. +The Commons will have finished on Friday. + +House. We had the second reading of the Beer Bill. I said a few words to +show the inaccuracy of one of Lord Malmesbury's conclusions; but I must +speak in detail in the Committee. + + +_July 7._ + +Last night we had 247 to 93, a great division. The Tories in general voting +with us. + +Looked over again all the papers relative to the Beer Bill. + +In my way back from Roehampton met Lord Ravensworth, who told me the King +had the gout, and that he had given the Guelphic ribbon to his three sons- +in-law. He likewise told me what I knew before, that the Duke of Montrose +had resigned. + +I told him of the dismissal of the French cooks, which horrified him. + +Cabinet dinner at Herries's. All the House of Commons pleased with their +division. They got three county members to speak for others. The Whigs did +not like the motion, and were unwilling to divide. Robert Grant divided the +House. The King was delighted with the division. + +He came to town to-day, almost for nothing, and received the Duke and +others. He sent for Lord Rosslyn and told, him he had made his regiment the +Queen's Own. + +He has changed the uniform of the navy, which is to be blue with red cuffs +and facings. He wore the uniform so to-day. + +Aberdeen introduced Prince William of Prussia. The King desired him to +stay, and said he should never receive foreigners except in his presence, +and never but in his naval uniform. He should wear the military uniform now +and then, but as little as possible. + +All the cavalry are to be in red. + +No news from Algiers. The Duke thinks they must be rather in want of +provisions. The French are all in a state of sentiment, as Bourmont's +second son has been dangerously wounded. Certainly the way in which it is +mentioned in the dispatch is good, and indeed Bourmont, a very clever man, +and first under fire with his four sons, will soon be popular with an army. + +Polignac seems to be insensible rather than bold. He thinks all will go on +well still. + +The present intention is that we should all be in gala at the funeral, with +black scarfs, &c. + +I have asked several to dine at Roehampton and go from thence. + +The Queen is to be present, I suppose, in the King's pew. The King is +certainly to be chief mourner. + +We had a great deal of talk after dinner about elections. I fear they have +not been attended to in time. It is hoped Seaford will be conquered from +Lord Seaford, and that the two Grants will be thrown out. We have nobody +for Surrey and nobody for Middlesex. + + +_July 8._ + +House. Answered the Duke of Richmond on the sale of Beer Bill. The Duke +seemed very well satisfied, and the House was very attentive and cheered +frequently. We had on a division 60 to 15. + + +_July 9._ + +Lord Radnor made some observations upon the continuing of the Irish Arms +Bill without explaining the reason, the Bill having been introduced in +troublesome times and expiring at the end of this Session. Lord Grey +supported him. It is clear Lord Durham and Lord Radnor evidently intend to +make us look about us and not do work in a slovenly manner. I cannot find +fault with them. + +Lord Durham moved the printing of the Appropriation List, which was +negatived without a division, as unusual; but I dare say he will ask +questions as to some of the items. + + +_July 10._ + +As I was coming home from the office I called on Hardinge. He considers the +division to have been invaluable to us here and even to France. Certainly +the French funds rose when it was known the present King held the same +course as his predecessor. Hardinge thinks many men are disposed to support +the Duke's Government under the idea that all sorts of calamities would +attend the weak Government which must succeed it. He thinks Palmerston the +best man to have in Goulburn's place, Goulburn going to the Speakership. He +thinks W. Horton would be better than Frankland Lewis as his successor at +the War Office, it being necessary in either case to get Lord F. Leveson +into the House of Lords. Fitzgerald has written to Hardinge, and seems +eager about politics. I wish he was well and could come into office again. + +I do not know that the Duke or anybody would have any objection to +Palmerston coming in by himself; but I doubt Huskisson's ever being in +office again while the Duke lives. Neither will the Grants come in--indeed +it is to be hoped they will both be turned out of their seats. + + +_July 12._ + +Office. Backhouse brought the account of Sir J. Macdonald's expected death; +the date, May 12. Sir Henry Willock will take charge of the mission _ad +interim_. He may be a sensible man, but the loss of Macdonald is severe. I +do not know how we shall replace him. + +Cabinet at 2. The business was the eternal slave question--what answer +should be given to Brougham to-morrow. He is expected to propose some +pledge of proceeding _legislatively_ in the next session as to the +admission of slave evidence and other points. A Bill has been prepared +making slave evidence admissible, and it would probably have been +introduced but for the early termination of the session. However, there +seems to be great reluctance to embark in a contest with the Colonial +legislatures. The foolish resolutions moved by Canning are deeply +regretted. I was the only man who objected to them, when, two years after +they had been found of no avail, it was proposed that the Lords should +concur in them. Peel objects to any pledge on the part of Parliament, more +particularly on the eve of a dissolution. It is thought that _by paying +from our funds_ for an improved judicature in the West Indies we may induce +the colonies to acquiesce in the admission of slave evidence, although +imposed by the interposition of Parliament. I doubt it, and if we pass a +law to which the colonies are adverse, which they will regard as being _no +law_, how are we to execute it? We may make judges and pay them, but we +must procure submission to those judges, and further, we must make +_jurymen_. + +All these difficulties I foresaw when the Lords adopted the Commons' +resolution; but I suppose Canning forced it upon Lord Bathurst and the +Cabinet. + +House at 5. Debate on the Scotch Judicature Bill. Lord Wynford made a +miserable speech, which proved he knew nothing about the subject. The +Chancellor was very angry with him, and once interrupted him improperly. +The debate was dull, and there was no division. + + +_July 13._ + +Went to St. James's at half-past one. A few Privy Councillors were there to +be sworn in, amongst the rest the Duke of Hamilton. + +The Duke of Wellington had to talk over the King about giving a lodge in +Bushey Park to one of the FitzClarences for his life, and about gazetting +the Queen's household. He found the King very reasonable indeed. + +The King means to give his Ministers a grand dinner. He intends asking the +Speaker and the two Gold Sticks, but _not_ the _third_, the Duke of +Cumberland. + +The Duke of Buckingham is Lord Steward. A bad appointment. The office of +Lord Chamberlain was offered by the Duke of Wellington to the Duke of +Bedford, Lord Rosslyn going to make the offer. The Duke of Bedford was much +gratified, but declined on the ground of his health. The office was then +offered to Lord Jersey, who accepted willingly. + +House. The Chancellor made an excellent speech on the Welsh Judicature +Bill, and it was read a second time without a further word. The Forgery +Bill passed with a motion of Lord Holland's _pro formâ_ that he might +protest. + +We had Sir Jonah Barrington for a short time. He is very roguish and sly. + +There are no particulars yet of the capture of Algiers, except that the +fleet co-operated. + +The French seem to have been highly delighted. + + +_July 15._ + +Sir G. Murray, Goulburn, and Herries came down to Roehampton at four to +dinner. At five we set off for Windsor. The day was beautiful, and all the +world made it a holiday. Carriages of all sorts and hackney coaches were on +the road all the morning to Richmond. I never saw so many persons there, +and chiefly of the class of shopkeepers. London was quite empty, but the +Park quite covered with the people. It seemed to be a day of general +recreation. + +Arrived at Windsor at a quarter after seven. There were a few Lancers along +the road from Frogmore, where the King and Queen were, but no crowd. Near +the town there were a great many waggons. We turned to the right at the end +of the Long Walk and drove through the park to the great gate of the +Castle. Within the court were Horse and Foot Guards. We entered at the +visitors' entrance, and went to St. George's Hall, where we all assembled. +A great many were already come. They began forming the procession at half- +past seven, and it was all formed so as to move before nine. I walked with +Lord Hill. There were ten or twelve barons, a number of judges, six or +eight bishops, and upon the whole a fair representation of the peerage and +the Privy Council. There was a double line of Life Guardsmen within the +castle, without Foot Guards, and the Blues in the chapel. We did not see +the body as we passed. A screen of black concealed the room in which it lay +in state. I imagine the King was in the room. As we returned it was open. + +It struck nine as we came to the Round Tower. A rocket was fired as soon as +the body moved, to give notice to Linden for the firing of the minute guns. +The bands of the several regiments played the Dead March in Saul, &c., as +the procession passed. The Foot Guards stood close together with arms +reversed, every fifth man having a flambeau. The platform was, in most +places, open on both sides. There was a good deal of air, but the night was +warm. Had there been rain, or had it been cold, some must have died. There +were but few people on the right of the platform in the inner court, but in +the outer court there was a dense mass of people, and all the roofs were +covered. There was hardly a whisper. All the people seemed very decent in +their dress, and their conduct was perfect. The procession entered at the +great door of the chapel and turned to the left, went down to the end of +the aisle and then turned, facing the door of the inner chapel. In the +space we thus went round were the Eton boys. In the chapel there were some +persons on the right of the altar. I could not well see who they were, as +there was a sort of haze, but they were all in uniform. With this exception +the chapel was empty. We were all placed as we entered in the seats and +stalls. The body was drawn upon a carriage. It was too heavy to be carried. +The King had a vast number of attendants, such as equerries, &c. Half of +them captains in the navy. The attendants pressed rather too close upon +him. He was in black with the collars of all the orders. He nodded +occasionally as he recognised people; but when his countenance was still he +looked very grave. He is become very like his father. The assistant +mourners, who were Lords Goderich, Sidmouth, Granville, Grantham, Carlisle, +and some others, had no seats and stood during the service. The last who +entered were the Guard, the colours preceding. These came half way into the +aisle, the colours depressed. The colonels of the battalions and the +general, Sir H. Vivian, came in with their caps on and swords drawn, and +stood to the right and left of the King, but not near him. The banners were +depressed on the two sides of the grave. Over the grave was a black canopy, +on the top of which was an enormous crown. The music was good. The service +was very ill-read by the Dean Hobart, and the Garter could not make himself +heard when he recited the King's titles. Lord Jersey walked as Lord +Chamberlain, Lord Conyngham as Steward. He broke his staff into the grave. +Lord Cholmondeley was there as Lord Great Chamberlain, and sat on the left +of the aisle in a stall opposite the passage. On the other side was the +Earl Marshal. When all was over the King went out by the small door on the +left near the King's closet, and so by the cloister to the platform. As +soon as he appeared the Guard received him with presented arms and God Save +the King. We all returned by the way we came. There was tea in St. George's +Hall but we went on, and finding Goulburn's servant, followed him to the +carriage, which was on the other side of the entrance gate, and so got away +even before the King. We were at Roehampton by half-past one. The whole +procession lasted about two hours and a half or rather less--that is, from +the first move to the end. + +It was very well arranged. Pohlman, our Deputy Black Rod, who is a Herald, +was the acting person, and did his duty admirably. There was no +interruption, no confusion, but everything managed as if we had been +drilled and did the same thing every day. And so King George IV. is gone to +his grave with all the pomp of royalty, and splendid the pageant was; but +it was considered a mere pageant even by his household, who had lived so +intimately with him for years. There was no regret. A coronation could +hardly be gayer; but the procession was gravely done and decently. + +The magnificence of the castle aided the spectacle and made royalty appear +almost as imposing in death as at the moment when the Crown was assumed in +the Abbey. + +We had supper and they all went to London. + +Huskisson and Palmerston were there. Huskisson very sulky and sour. +Palmerston very cordial, as if he thought he might come in, I should be +glad if he did. + +It seems the Duke of Buckingham hints that he must have something more than +the stewardship for his seven votes. No one likes his appointment, and we +all feel as if an alliance with the Grenville party would bring us ill- +luck. + + +_July 16._ + +House. Administration of Justice Bill. A great many amendments made by Lord +Tenterden. We struck out a clause by which Le Blanc would have been obliged +to sit to tax costs every day in the year. Lord Eldon said the Bill as it +was originally drawn was more like a string of resolutions at the London +Tavern than an Act of Parliament. + +The Attorney-General was very angry indeed at the alterations made in the +Bill, and threatened to throw it over in the House of Commons. + +Nothing said about the Libel law; but Lord Holland is to say something on +the third reading. Sir Jonah's case. W. Goady spoke. He spoke so slow, it +was like a banker paying in sixpences to gain time. He was so dull I went +away for fear of falling asleep. The Duke stayed and slept. + +The Duke remained at Windsor all night. I met him as he was coming down to +the office to-day. He said he had remained to see the King and give up to +him the late King's snuff-boxes, &c., which were all in a great box. + +Lord Wharncliffe told me he thought Duncombe, Bethel, Lord Morpeth, and +Ramsden would come in for Yorkshire. Afterwards we heard Brougham was to +stand. It will have a very bad effect if Hume and Brougham come in for +great counties. Yet I dare say they will. + +Wortley goes down to stand for some Scotch boroughs, which will lead to the +County of Forfar. + +Long Wellesley has been arrested by Gosling the Banker for 4,000£, on which +it was found that he had but 3,000£ in the books in the Bank, so he +remained in durance for the other 1,000£ till he found five people, each +willing to be bound for 200£. This disposes of him for Essex. He had given +out that he had 30,000£. An express has been sent off to a Mr. Lloyd, the +son-in-law of the old Eliab Harvey, to stand for Essex. I know the man. He +was at Ryde in 1813, and at Cowes in 1826. His daughters are rather pretty +girls. I suggested Tower, who would have done very well for Essex. + + +_July 17._ + +St. James's at 2. The Lord Mayor and Aldermen first came up with their +address, then the same with the Common Council. The King received the +addresses, which were very loyal, on the throne. He read the answers very +well. The Ministers stood on his left and the household on his right. About +seven gentlemen pensioners were on each side from the door to the foot of +the throne. The Lord Mayor, &c., were introduced by the Lord Chamberlain. +It was well done, and is rather an imposing ceremony. + +Cabinet. First a question as to what should be done about Ashe, the man who +wrote a libel on the Duke of Cumberland, which he sent to him and now +reclaims. He has written many letters indicative of an intention to +assassinate, and is now come up from Carlisle on foot, and has been walking +opposite the Duke's house for three hours, having first written another +letter of a threatening nature. + +Lord Wynford wrote to Peel on the Duke of Cumberland's part; but the Duke +will not exhibit articles of the peace. Colonel Peter gave Ashe 5_s_. and +he went away. + +The question was what could be done with him? I suggested that, as in the +case of an expected duel, a magistrate on mere information that a breach of +the peace was apprehended would take persons into custody and hold them to +bail; so here the same thing might be done, one of the letters distinctly +threatening a breach of the peace. This would secure the man till it could +be discovered whether there was legal ground to indict him for the letters. +This will be done. + +We then came to the consideration of the East Retford question. All the +press were for giving up the Bill. I took some part in the discussion. +However, Peel was so strongly for the Lords going as the Commons had done, +and for preventing the appearance of disunion in the Cabinet, that his +wishes were acceded to, and we support the Bill. The Duke _thinks_ it will +be thrown out, and I _hope_ it will. It will be very difficult to make a +speech in favour of the Bill which will not commit us to a bad precedent. +However, I shall try. Peel was very obstinate and disagreeable. In fact the +interfering with the existing franchise never was made a Cabinet question. +The giving the franchise to Bassetlaw [Footnote: The Hundred of Bassetlaw, +forming the existing borough of East Retford.] rather than to Birmingham +was, and it was because after an agreement that we should all vote for +Bassetlaw, Huskisson voted for Birmingham and then resigned, that the +separation took place. + +These questions never were made Government questions before, and it is much +better they should not be. + +Peel thinks he will not be able to oppose reform in general if we do not +show a disposition to punish individual cases of corruption. + +I did not get away till seven, and then went to Hardinge's to bring him +down to Wilderness. [Footnote: Seat of Lord Camden, near Sevenoaks.] He +told me the Speaker had been with the Duke and did not resign just now. +There had been a question whether he should not; but it was thought we +might be damaged at the elections if we made any change now. The Duke asked +Hardinge what he thought as to taking Huskisson and Palmerston back again? +Hardinge declared against having Huskisson, but recommended Palmerston. I +dare say as soon as the elections are over something will be done, and that +Palmerston will be offered the Chancellorship of the Exchequer. + +Peel once wanted Edward Stanley, but it seems he has wavered a good deal. +Unless his manner should change it would be impossible to go on with him as +Minister; but I trust in God we shall never lose the Duke. + + +_July 19._ + +Received at nine a card from Lord Bathurst informing me that the Queen +would be in Downing Street at ten. Went in plain clothes as I was desired. +Found the Queen was to be there to see the Guards, whom the King was to +inspect. The Ministers were invited and the connections of the Bathursts. +We were presented to the Queen, and kissed her hand. After the parade, +which the King attended on foot, he joined the party, and they had +breakfast. However, before that I went away. At one again at St. James's. +The two Universities came up with addresses to the King and Queen. Oxford +first. They very properly put their doctors first. The address was read by +the Vice-Chancellor, and then, after the Queen's reply, the doctors and +proctors, and a few others who formed the deputation, kissed the King's +hand. As the Queen has no separate apartment the King retired, the Queen +entered with her household and ladies, and then the same ceremony was gone +through, the Ministers remaining on the left behind the ladies. The Queen +read pretty well. She was obliged to rise each time to give her hand to be +kissed. Cambridge came afterwards with the Duke of Gloucester and all the +Peers, who belonged to the University, in their gowns at the head. This +destroyed the character of the collegiate body. However, those only were +presented who were presented of the Oxford deputation. The King went beyond +his written speech to the men of Cambridge, and put us in a fright. +However, it was good-humoured, and of no great harm--a sort of joke. + +I came away as I had business. Afterwards there was a Council, and the +Lords Lieutenant were admitted to take the oaths. + +House. East Retford. The Chancellor made a capital speech, and we had a +better division than case, 29 to 7. Lord Durham spoke temperately and well. +Lord Grey well too. We had Wynford with us. There is no explaining that +man. The Duke of Cumberland voted against us, and Eldon spoke. + +At St. James's. Lord Westmoreland told me that yesterday at a great dinner +the King gave his household he gave as a toast, 'The land we live in, and +let those who don't like it leave it.' + +This and many other things show his feelings towards the Duke of +Cumberland. + +The King reviews a regiment every morning this week. He has been on +horseback within these six weeks, but he has a rupture, and is now rather +afraid of riding. He is going to change the uniforms of the Lords +Lieutenant. + +We expect to prorogue on Friday and dissolve on Saturday. + + +_July 20._ + +Then East Retford. Lord Wharncliffe moved a resolution with the view of +giving the franchise to Birmingham instead of the Hundred. Dudley spoke for +Birmingham and well. I spoke shortly. I guarded myself against being +considered as pledged to any other measure, intending to decide all +measures according to the special circumstances of the case. + +The Duke was not so cautious as I was, and spoke strongly against giving +the franchise to great towns. [Footnote: No one expected it to occur in two +years' time.] Lord Holland said to the Chancellor, 'He will live to see it +done.' I think I may, and therefore was cautious. + +We had 39 to 16. + +So ends the business of this Session. + + +_July 21._ + +Went at ten to the Duke of Wellington's, where the King and Queen were to +breakfast after an inspection of the 2nd Life Guards. The day was beautiful +and the people in excellent humour. The King first went with the Queen to +the Regent's Park barracks, and then to the Knightsbridge barracks. When +they came to the Duke's the King went to the window and was well cheered. +They then called for the Queen, who went to the window and was very well +received indeed. + +Yesterday evening the King walked out alone into St. James's Street. He +found Watson Taylor and took his arm. The mob pressed upon him so much that +Watson Taylor's shoes were trodden down at heel. While the King was alone +an Irish woman came out of an alley and kissed him. This and a lecture from +the Duke have cured him of walking out alone. At least he has promised not +to do so again. + +House at 2. Aberdeen says the King spoke very well to the foreign Ministers +to-day. There was an extraordinary number of naval officers, and the +fullest _levée_ I ever saw. The King recognised very cordially all his old +friends. He was very gracious indeed to Elphinstone, whom he saw for the +first time. He was imprudent enough to make a sort of speech to the West +Indian deputation, and pledged himself warmly to support their interests. +This I saw. After I was gone I hear Astell and Campbell came up with the +address of the East India Company, and that he spoke in similar terms to +them. This the foolish Astell will publish everywhere. + +The Duke says he goes away when the King begins to speak. I really covered +my face when he began to speak about the Catholics to the deputation from +Cambridge. What he said to them, which was no more than an indifferent +joke, has been variously misrepresented and not at all understood. It must +have been imperfectly heard. + +The King is angry with the Duke of Gloucester for slurring over a part of +the address from Cambridge, which was very loyal, and for not kissing his +hand. He has reason to complain of this. The Duke of Gloucester kissed the +Queen's hand with marked devotion. + +The Duke of Sussex has been already infusing poison into the King's ear and +talking of invasions of the property of the Church. This the King told +Peel. Those who observed the Duke of Sussex at the levee thought he seemed +very triumphant, and received his Whig friends with a smile which said, 'We +shall do them yet.' + +He was invested with the Thistle to-day. The King asked all the knights +presented to drink a bottle of claret with him in October. + +Blomberg was up with an address. The King said, 'You and I know each other +of old. You need not be presented. By-the-bye, you may as well dine with me +to-day.' + +The King made an extemporaneous reply to the address of the Canons of +Windsor the day after the funeral. They begged to have a copy. He +endeavoured to recollect it for them, and sent it to Peel. Peel found some +curious historical inaccuracies. + +The Duke of Wellington thinks we shall gradually bring the King round, and +induce him to move more quietly. To thwart him directly would have a bad +effect; but he may be led. In the meantime he is very well in health. + +The King has promised to dine with Leopold, who has asked the Duke, but not +Aberdeen. The Duke thinks the King should not dine with him now. The two +other Powers having manifested the greatest dissatisfaction with Leopold's +conduct, and we having intimated it in the House, it would be incongruous +and injurious for the King to dine with him. Leopold has written one if not +two letters complaining of the conduct of the Allied Powers. + +We went to the House for fear Lord Durham should play us a trick, and it is +perhaps fortunate we did, for he was there and made a protesting speech, +which was followed by one from Westmoreland on the East Retford Bill. +However, we had a majority in the House, and there was no division. + + +_July 22._ + +Rode to town. Cabinet. Considered the King's Speech. Peel had introduced a +plagiarism from the first speech of the old King, 'Born and educated in +this country, I glory in the name of Briton.' However, the whole sentence +would not do, and it was omitted. I assisted in working the sentences into +form, and breaking them up into short ones. Went away to dress for the +Council, thinking the whole settled. Council at three. First the deputies +of the two Houses carried up the joint address respecting Sir Jonah +Barrington. Then the King being alone, and saying he was ready for his +Ministers--none being there but me--I went in, and first asked him to allow +Clare to wear the uniform the late King gave him. This led to a long talk +about uniforms for Indian Governors, and I had some little difficulty to +carry my coat without having a general consideration of the whole question +of Governor's uniforms. I then told the King of the approaching death of +Sir J. Macdonald. He asked whom we proposed sending in his place? I told +him it did not entirely depend upon the King's Ministers, but that I +thought, if we recommended a very fit man, we should get the Chairs to name +him. + +The King said, 'You heard what I said to the East India Company yesterday?' +I had not, but I bowed, and he added, 'I told them they should not be +unfairly dealt with. There is a run on them, and the notions of people are +very much exaggerated with regard to the question.' + +I said the question would require and receive the most mature consideration +from his Ministers before they ventured to offer any advice to his Majesty +upon the course to be pursued. + +The King said in about ten or twelve days he should be able to give me a +day or two for Indian matters. + +I thought I had given time to the others to arrive, and rose. I should +mention that he spoke of Algiers, and said he suspected there was an +understanding about it between the Russians and the French. + +I said I did not entertain much fear of the French having Algiers. With a +little money we could raise Morocco on one side and Tunis on the other, and +harass them from the interior, and while we took care they had not Tunis, +Algiers was comparatively unimportant. With Tunis, Malta, and Corfu we +should hold our hands across the Mediterranean. + +I went out and found them come. The Duke went in. The King gives up dining +with Leopold. He gave it up the moment the objections to it were mentioned +to him. + +The speech was, I found, much improved after I went away. The King said he +thought nothing could be better, and indeed it is a very good speech. He +said he thought the reference to the Catholic question was unavoidable, as +it was the great measure of the Parliament; and it was particularly proper +that he should refer to it as he had voted for it, really thinking that the +Church would be more secure by means of Catholic admission than by their +exclusion. + +I thought the King seemed a little tired. Well he might be. He had been at +an inspection of troops, the Grenadier Guards and the Lancers, from ten to +one, and the day was very hot. He inspected the troops on foot. + +The Duke of Wellington passed the King at the head of his regiment, and +Lord Rosslyn at the head of his. Lord Rosslyn is delighted with the +opportunities of wearing his uniform, and playing the general officer +again. + + +_July 24._ + +Council at 11. Parliament dissolved. The seals were delivered to the +Secretaries and to Goulburn. Herries kissed hands. + +Sir G. Clark becomes Under-Secretary to the Home Department. W. Peel goes +to the Treasury. Charles Ross comes into Clark's place. Macnaughten goes +out. + + +_July 26._ + +Dined at St. James's. The King of Wurtemburg, the Ministers, Foreign +Ministers, Household, and Knights of the Garter there, in all 80. After +dinner the King made a speech which made his Ministers' hearts fail within +them. However, we were _quitte pour la peur_. He only spoke of his love of +peace. The only thing painful was that he should speak at all, and before +his servants, like a chairman of a public meeting. + +At the Duke of Wellington's on Sunday he made a speech, praising very much +the Duke, and declaring his entire confidence in him. This was before the +Foreign Ministers. The speech was a little warlike, I believe. The Duke's +reply very short indeed, and peaceful. The King should recollect that what +he speaks is as important as what is written in a State Paper. + + +_July 28._ + +Levée. Before it a Council, _standing_, in the King's closet, for swearing +in Privy Councillors. Sir R. Wilson was presented on his restoration to the +army, and holding the King's hand in his expressed his gratitude. + +The King made an energetic reply, and then there was a short rejoinder from +Sir R. Wilson. I could not hear what was said. We afterwards shook hands +cordially with Sir R. Wilson, whose restoration pleases everybody. + +The French Government have dissolved the Chamber without allowing it to +assemble; have placed the press under restriction, and altered the mode of +electing deputies, so as, as far as I can understand, to give to _les plus +imposis_ the power of electing a majority. + +No letter has been received by any Foreign Minister or by us. The whole was +kept a profound secret. The report to the King respecting the press, which +is made the foundation of the Ordonnance, is a long violent declamation, +very weakly written indeed. [Footnote: These were the celebrated Ordinances +which cost Charles X. his crown.] + + +_July 28._ + +Cabinet at half-past three. I was rather late, and found them considering +what should be said by Lord Stuart at Paris, respecting the late violent +measures of the French Government. They had decided that Lord Stuart, if +Prince Polignac endeavoured to draw from him in conversation his opinion, +should say he was directed to offer none. They seemed inclined to tell him, +if Prince Polignac required his opinion by offering an explanation, to say +we considered the measure adopted was in violation of the Charter. At my +suggestion, if Polignac asked his opinion more formally and offered no +explanation, he was directed to request the explanation might be in +writing, and he would transmit it to his Court, or it might be made through +the French Ambassador here. The French Ambassador, however, knowing nothing +of what was doing, left England on Monday, and would meet the news on his +road to Paris. + +At six o'clock on Tuesday evening a row was going on, and a Guardsman had +been killed. This was resistance when the police broke the types, &c., of a +press which would go on. The idea is, that the Chamber of Deputies will +meet, considering the dissolution to be illegal. + +Matuschevitz openly inveighs against the measure. It is doubtful whether +Metternich did not advise it. He sent a long paper from Johannisberg, +giving his views on the present position of the French Government. + +The King of Wurtemburg had an interview of two hours with the Duke of +Wellington yesterday. He is very anxious on the subject of France. He says +the people of Wurtemburg will cry out that a similar measure is intended +against them--that everywhere the two extreme parties will be placed in +collision. Bulow thinks the same. The Duke advised the King of Wurtemburg +to avoid Paris on his return; but the King has some _emplettes_ to make, +and goes there. The Duke advised him then, if he must go for his +_emplettes_, to stay only a day. He said he would not stay above five or +six! Thus is every consideration of real importance sacrificed to motives +of private fancy and convenience! + +Lea informed Aberdeen that a vessel was fitting out in the Thames with +Spanish refugees and arms to endeavour to raise an insurrection in Spain. +After some time they found the vessel, and to-day she was detained. She had +sixty-nine men, and about 150 stand of arms on board. They sank the printed +proclamations which were picked up. Torrijos and Valdes were to be the +leaders. Torrijos was to join below the revenue vessels. Some of the men +had 10£ each, given to them by the Spanish Committee, to aid their voyage +to Rio. There is some doubt under what law they are to be indicted, and the +Attorney and Solicitor-General are out of town. + +Received a letter from Lord Heytesbury, enclosing one he had received from +Captain Campbell, announcing the death of Sir J. Macdonald. + + +_July 29._ + +The Duke told me he had seen Rothschild that morning, who had recent +intelligence from Paris. The Guards were faithful, but the 53rd Regiment, +which was at the Hôtel de Ville, had joined the people, and so had +individual soldiers of other regiments. The people and the National Guards +were arming. The Chambers had assembled. The King was not at Paris. He was +nought to be at Compiègne. + +The Duke thought Henry had better not go to Paris, that one party or the +other would soon attack the English. + +Called on Elphinstone. Offered him Persia. He was much obliged, but said +nothing would induce him ever to go to Asia again. + +Spoke to him of Monteith. He knows him, and a little doubted his +discretion. He promised to find him, and send him to the Duke if he was in +town; but he thought he was at Algiers. Spoke to him of Jenkins and Briggs. +He says Jenkins is the abler man. + +Saw Lord Essex and Lord Clinton. They had heard the Duke of Orleans was +proclaimed Regent. + + +_July 31._ + +Went to town early. Called at the Duke's to hear the news. None had arrived +since yesterday morning. The Duke said he considered the King dethroned, +and we should soon have to consider whether we should acknowledge the new +Government. I observed that our course must depend very much upon the +manner in which the French effected their Revolution. The King had put +himself decidedly in the wrong, and if they make their Revolution as we +made ours in 1688, there was no reason why we should not acknowledge the +new Government, be it what it might. The Duke said the foreigners were +already coming to know what we thought and meant to do. We should have them +all in our train, and provided we took a reasonable course on the question +of Algiers, and others which might arise, we should do very well. The +mischief was that this event would place the two parties in presence on +every occasion, and every trifling difference would resolve itself into one +of Liberal and anti-Liberal. I said I feared whatever party predominated, +even if the King regained his power, France would be precipitated into a +war, for no party would be able to maintain itself in quiet times. The Duke +said the King's Government was becoming very dangerous. It had, as was +shown in the case of Algiers, and their discussions with us, no more +morality than that of Buonaparte, and it had the favour of European Powers +as an ancient dynasty, while it was prepared to act upon the principles of +a new one. Now, under a Government of Revolutionary origin, all their Acts +would be viewed with disfavour and suspicion. + +The Duke spoke very strongly against Canning's policy, in admitting France +to the Triple Alliance [Footnote: By the Treaty of London with reference to +Greece.] and thus bringing her into a prominent station in Europe again. +She would naturally have risen again in good time. The time should not have +been anticipated by us. + +The Duke agreed with me in thinking the Government here would be +strengthened by what was occurring in France. + +I lamented Brougham's success in Yorkshire, and viewed with some +apprehension the increased power it would give him. He said Yorkshire was +quite radicalised by having four members. No gentleman could bear the +expense--the middle classes had it all to themselves. + +At a quarter to four I called at the Treasury and found Rothschild had +received intelligence down to the 29th, at 4 P.M. Drummond showed me the +Duke's letter to Peel which contained this account:--That there was +fighting all Wednesday, the 28th, and Thursday, till 3 P.M. There had been +a terrible massacre, but the troops got the worst of it. The people were +led by the students of the Ecole de Droit, and of the Ecole Polytechnique. +The 53rd Regiment, which it was said yesterday had joined the people, had +in fact surrendered. The people had armed themselves at the Arsenal. On the +night of the 28th the Guards retook the Hôtel de Ville, but were driven out +again, and retired to the Louvre. The firing did not cease at the Tuileries +till past 3 P.M. The people pillaged it when the troops retreated, and the +tri-coloured flag was hoisted there, and on the column in the Place +Vendôme. The Ministers escaped by subterraneous passages from the +Tuileries, and were with the King, who had a great many troops about him at +St. Cloud. La Fayette commanded the National Guard, and was a member of the +Provisional Government. Generals Gerard, Lafitte, and Casimir Perrier were +the others. C. Perrier was deputed to the King at St. Cloud. + +No couriers were allowed to leave Paris. These letters were sent by private +servants to the first stage. + +I told all this to Henry, but he goes. So do many others. There were thirty +people applying for passports when he went for his. On the other hand many +English come away. + + +_August 2._ + +There is a great deal of information in the 'Times.' The result is, that +the King's offer to change his Ministers and to recall the Ordonnances was +not accepted, and the Duke of Orleans accepted the office of Lieutenant- +General of the kingdom. His address is quite in the spirit of the +Revolution. + +The Guards are disorganised and desert. + +The Swiss only are said to remain with the King, who it is thought is gone +to Nantes. + +Lord Stuart says if the Royalists do not resist, the French will invade +Belgium in three months. The Deputies, at first in very small numbers, not +more than thirty, nor at any time much above sixty, seem to have been +irresolute. They were decided by others, and indeed the whole seems to have +been done by the people. There is no appearance of previous concert. If +there were leaders, they were the boys of the Ecole de Droit and the Ecole +Polytechnique. Polignac seems to have been firm after the beginning of the +fight, and when Lafitte and others went to Marmont at the Tuileries, in the +middle of the tumult, he declared concession impossible. + +The Guards at St. Cloud told the King they would protect him, but would not +advance again to Paris. General [blank] seems to have had 6,000 men at +Versailles, but the people would not admit him. At Rouen there was great +ferment, and forty pieces of cannon were sent by the people to the +assistance of Paris. The troops seem to have been ordered upon Paris from +all quarters. The total loss of life is estimated at 5,000. + +The people were becoming impatient, and cried _Vive la République! Vive +Napoleon II._! This, it is said, determined the Duke of Orleans to accept: +and the Deputies offered, because they feared the establishment of a +Republic would be the signal of general war. + +I do not hear of the pillage of private houses. The churches have been +pillaged and the palaces ransacked. The priests thought fit to fire from +the Archbishop's palace, which led to the death of many and to the pillage +of the palace. + +The Duke said they had done everything in the most offensive way, re- +establishing the tri-coloured flag, &c. They seem determined to force the +Revolution down the throat of Europe. He spoke of the Duke of Orleans' +address. I said I supposed he was obliged for his own safety to throw +himself at once into the Revolution. The more natural thing would have been +for the French to have sent for young Napoleon. The Duke said he heard +young Napoleon was getting hold of French pamphlets, &c. + +The Duke of Orleans asked Lord Stuart's advice as to accepting the Crown. +Lord Stuart reminded him of his oath, and told him the Powers of Europe +which restored the Bourbons could never recognise him. + +On consideration I think we should endeavour to induce the Powers which +signed the Treaty of Vienna to declare that they are determined to maintain +the territorial arrangements made by that treaty; but that they will not +interfere with the internal Government of France. + +I think this declaration, made at once, would perhaps prevent any attempt +on the part of the French to make war for the frontier of the Rhine. + +The elections go well for us, except Canterbury, where Lord Fordwich has +beat our man, Henry B. Baring, the husband of Lady Augusta. + + +_August 3._ + +The accounts from Paris state that the Due de Mortemar, who had been +appointed Minister by Charles X. himself, saw it was too late, and that the +only chance for the House of Bourbon was in the placing the Duke of Orleans +in the office of Lieut.-General. + +This he proposed himself to the Duke of Orleans, who wrote to the King, and +in accepting the office said his conduct would show with what views he did +it. Then he issued a tri-colour proclamation! Lord Stuart says this was +done at the last possible moment. The proclamation was received with cries +of _Vive la Republique! Vive Napoleon II._! However, these cries ceased, +and it was hoped things would go on quietly. Sebastiani and B. Constant +expressed hopes that in a few months men's minds would be tranquillised, +and things placed on a regular footing It seems that the King is at +Trianon, with about 4,000 guards. He talked of resigning to the Dauphin, if +he had not already done so. It will probably be too late, and the Dauphin +is supposed, I believe very justly, to be implicated in all that has +passed. + +Lord Stuart states the loss of the troops at 3,000. That of the people at +6,000. Of course these calculations are very vague, and probably +exaggerated. It would appear as if there had been more preparation on the +part of the insurgents than was imagined. The decisive measure, that of the +Bank refusing discounts, was of course suggested by Lafitte. The Royalists +are much in want of money. They left forty-two millions in their caisses, +and 150 millions at the Bank! Bourmont was to leave Algiers on the 25th. +Probably he was called home to be present at the crisis. + +The King's troops still remaining in force at St. Cloud, the barricades are +continued. + +Everybody seems to think the military force was as ill-managed as +everything else. Marmont acted _mollement_. + +We have been beaten at Canterbury, and what is worse at Norwich, where a +brother of Peel's has been driven out by Robert Grant, the most decided +enemy of the Government. No one declares himself the opponent of +Government, and as such asks support; but our candidates do not succeed at +popular elections. + + +_August 4._ + +To London early. The King of France is supposed to be gone towards +Cherbourg. We fear he will come here. The Duke said the King seemed +disposed to receive him, and reminded the King that the Pretender had been +three times ordered out of Paris on the representations of this country. I +was glad to find a very general feeling that the King of France could not +be permitted to remain if intrigues were allowed by him. That he could have +no more than a refuge. Peel seemed to feel this most strongly. The Duke +seemed to think there had been previous concert on the part of the +_patriots_. + +The King is violent against the Duke of Orleans. + +Our Duke of Orleans, as I call him, the Duke of Sussex, sticks close to the +King whenever he appears. + +The Duke of Cumberland has resigned the Blues in a huff because they are +placed under the Commander-in-Chief. However, he wore the uniform to-day at +the levée. + +We have a Cabinet to-morrow at 4, on Civil List and Regency. Indeed we know +not how soon we may meet Parliament. Perhaps on September 15. + +The Queen received the address of the London clergy. She had her whole +_état major_. + + +_August 5._ + +At four Cabinet. Talk about the Civil List. There are pensions to the +amount of about 7,000£ a year which the present King will pay, and he will +pay 6,000£ a year to Mrs. Fitzherbert, her charge on Brighton. She had +10,000£ a year before. Many pensions are struck off, one of 500£ to Sir J. +Lake, many others, to jockies, &c. + +It seems the late King borrowed 50,000£ for himself and as much for the +Duke of York, on the revenues of Hanover, which sums have been paid off. + +The King of France abdicated, and so did the Dauphin, in favour of the Duc +de Bordeaux, in a letter addressed by them to the Duke of Orleans, in which +his Lieut.-Generalship was treated as emanating from the King. The Duke of +Orleans in his speech to the Chambers announced the abdications, but did +not say they were in favour of Henry V. Hence the people of Paris, hearing +the King made difficulties, supposed he had receded from his original +promise--whereas he only said his original promise was conditional, _and +had not_ been fairly made known. Be this as it may, 35,000 men set off for +Rambouillet to take him, 10,000 were sent afterwards by the Duke of Orleans +to protect him, and he has 7,000 at Rambouillet, chiefly cavalry and +artillery, for the same purpose. I think there must be a smash. + +Stuart and Pozzo went to the Duke of Orleans to represent the personal +danger of the King, and to desire that measures might be taken to preserve +his life. The Duke is represented as having been _très ému_, and as having +said that his character depended upon the preservation of the King's life, +and the measures I mentioned were immediately taken. + +Chateaubriand and Hyde de Neuville are for the Due de Bordeaux. + +Stuart has, I know not why, counselled the Duc de Bordeaux's friends to be +quiet. + +The Duke of Wellington thinks there is Radicalism in everything-that the +Lieut.-General will have no power. + +The King went in grand state through the City to the Tower. He had six +carriages and six. At the Tower the Duke gave him a breakfast. He then went +on to Greenwich by water, and returned to London by land. He was very well +received. + + +_August 6._ + +At the dinner we had the Ministers, Household, and Trinity House. Chairman +and deputy-Chairman of the East India Company, Governor and deputy-Governor +of the Bank, Lord Mayor, and Ward and Thompson, members for the City. The +King made speeches and gave toasts as if he was Duke of Clarence at the +Trinity House. He alarmed and pained us, but he did less mischief than I +should have expected; and as all the people present were real friends, he +only let down the dignity of the Crown. + +He gave the healths of the Ministers, and afterwards of the Duke of +Wellington. Some things he said very well. The Duke answered very well. + +There is so much good feeling about the King that his errors of taste are +pardoned. He will improve, and wear his robes more gracefully. + + +_August 7._ + +Cabinet. Determined that the principle of the Regency Bill should be that +the mother of the Sovereign should be Regent. The Regent to have unlimited +power. If any limitation, it should only be placed upon the creation of +Peers, and a Council of Regency should exist only for that purpose. + +We separated till the 23rd. + + +_August 9._ + +In coming down to Sandgate read James's and Cabell's memoranda on the +progress of the British Government in India, and our foreign relations. + +As I was coming out of Maidstone met the candidates coming in. Sir E. +Knatchbull in a cocked hat, attended by thirty or forty gentlemen in black, +all covered with dust, preceded by about six blue flags, and followed by +some carriages with ugly women. Then came T. Law Hodges (why _Law_ I do not +know), with many light blue flags, and some low people--few gentlemen. The +numbers, however, of the Hodges colours and people were greater than that +of the Knatchbull squad. Not a cheer for either. The whole thing flat and +ridiculous--worthy of Hogarth. There were some people collected in +Maidstone, but not so many as on a market day--there were none on the +roads. + +By the 'Times' I see the Chamber has modified the Charter, and has +proclaimed the Duke of Orleans King of the French; at least has offered him +the Crown on the condition of his acceptance of the modified Charter. + +The Chamber of Peers is put by. It is only advised to _eliminate_ the last +seventy-six peers. + + +_August 10._ + +Briscoe comes in for Surrey, to the exclusion of Jolliffe, our friend. +Certainly the popular elections have all been unfavourable to us. In fact +the Tories have not yet recovered their good-humour, and the Government has +some furious enemies, and no warm friends. I do not think we can go on +without an accession of speaking strength. Our measures must be modified to +meet the circumstances of the times, and so far I have no fear. + + +_August 13._ + +Cabinet room. Read Lord Stuart's despatches. There is little in them that +is not in the newspapers. He says the Revolution has been brought about by +small proprietors acting under the influence of bankers and lawyers. The +troops have shown no great popular feeling. Many have taken the opportunity +of going home. + +The new King's oath-taking was flatly received. As long as he can keep La +Fayette with him he is master of Paris. + +Lord Stuart seems to have behaved prudently in merely acknowledging the +receipt of the communication from Marshal Jourdan of his being appointed +foreign secretary. The Neapolitan Ambassador wished to have a note +generally agreed upon. All the Ambassadors say they are so sure England +will judge rightly, that they will, without instructions, follow in our +wake. + +La Fayette has originated the idea of a mission of deputies of the National +Guard to London to thank the English people for their sympathy. Lord Stuart +hopes the King will induce La Fayette to give up this mischievous and +foolish scheme. + + +_August 18._ + +Lord J. Russell is not returned for Bedford. He lost it by one vote. He has +published a good address, and is evidently very indignant. + +Brougham has had questions put to him by Martin Bree, which he has answered +satisfactorily to the venereal doctor. It would have been good fun had they +fought. + +The only merit of the French Revolution seems to be that it has not been +vindictive. If they are wise they will not touch the lives of the +Ministers. The new King calls his eldest son Duke of Orleans. All the +daughters are to be Princesses of Orleans, distinguished by their Christian +names. + +This is like Henry IV.'s policy in reserving the Duchy of Lancaster. He +wishes to be able to make room for Henry V. He has given up his property to +his eldest son's little children, and would probably, if he were displaced, +emigrate quietly, as he has often done before, and leave his children in +possession. + +When Brougham accused the Duke of Wellington of advising Polignac, the +whole meeting of his own friends expressed dissent. It is incredible that +he should be so foolish as to believe such a thing, or as to attempt to +make others believe it. + + +_August 19._ + +I see by the 'Sun' that the ex-King of France is arrived at Portsmouth. I +am very sorry for it, although he will not be received by the King, and +will probably sail immediately. He may require refitting, for I dare say he +brought off little from Rambouillet. His packets are accompanied by two +French vessels of war, and all the French vessels at Spithead hoisted the +tri-coloured flag when he was known to be there. + + +_August 20._ + +It seems the Royal party have landed at Cowes. + + +_August 23._ + +Went to the Cabinet room to read despatches. Lord Stuart represents the +Government as by no means settled; anxious to remain at peace, and to +prevent revolution, but not secure. Things which are essential the new King +is obliged to ask humbly of La Fayette, who is now really Sovereign. + +La Fayette wanted to dissolve the Chamber. The King rightly thought that to +do so now would be to make a Convention. [Footnote: I.e. as in 1792.] + +Some persons are gone off to bring Napoleon II., but the Austrians will +stop them on the way. + +The Prussians on the first intelligence of the events at Paris sent orders +to their Minister to come away, but he was directed not to do so without +concert with his colleagues. They met, and agreed to recommend him to stay. +The disposition of Metternich and Nesselrode, who met at Toplitz or +Carlsbad, I forget which, was the same and reasonable--to leave France to +settle her own affairs quietly, and only to interfere if she invaded the +peace of other States. + +The Duke has left a memorandum on the Cabinet table showing clearly from +treaties that this is not a case in which we are bound to interfere. We +engaged to support a constitutional monarch against revolutionary +movements, but the monarch having violated the constitution has broken the +condition. France may still form a part of the Congress of Europe, in +'Union or _Pacific Concert_,' with the four great Powers. The treaty of +offensive alliance between those Powers is dormant, while France remains +under a constitutional King. + +The Duke properly thinks that the sooner, after having taken a decent time +for deliberation, we can recognise the Duke of Orleans, the better for him +and for us. + +He expects at no distant period war, as the consequence of these events, +and I fear he may be right. It will arise by the imitation of the Spaniards +and Portuguese, and the ambitious sympathy of the French. + +It is evident that Russia means to indulge France with Algiers. + + +_August 23._ + +Received a letter from the Duke respecting Rajpootana. He thinks the +cession of territory will only lead to new demands on our part, and advises +that, unless it should be necessary to give some instruction, the letter +should not be sent. He thinks, too, that as no brevet has been given to +King's officers in Ava, none can be given to those of the Company. I am to +see him tomorrow upon these points. + +Cabinet at 3. Showed Herries the answer I proposed sending, respecting the +Interest Bills, of which he entirely approved. + +Peel was not at the Cabinet. + +Read the Duke of Orleans' letter to the King, which is proper. He says he +laments and wishes he could have prevented the fall of the eldest branch of +his family. He _devoted_ himself to prevent misfortunes which would have +endangered the peace of Europe. He avows pacific intentions. + +The King is to receive General Baudrand, who brought the letter in the +Levee, which will be before the Council on Wednesday. + +The King of the French will be acknowledged. A letter will be written to +our Ministers with the great powers stating our reasons for doing so. This +will be read to the Foreign Ministers here. + +I suggested that it might be as well to make the letter substantially the +Duke's Memorandum, and particularly to remind France that the Quadruple +Alliance still existed. We shall have the drafts of the letter tomorrow. + +Parliament to be prorogued to October 26. + +To-morrow the Brazilians will acknowledge Miguel as the Regent, if he will +marry Maria da Gloria. Then came some absurd conditions. However, the thing +is to be considered to-morrow. Aberdeen's idea is that there is no doing +anything with Don Pedro, and that we must acknowledge Don Miguel as soon as +he will grant an amnesty. + +We were to have a Council on Wednesday for the prorogation. The King will +not much like this, as he wanted to go to Ascot, but he may have it as +early as he likes, and he ought to receive General Baudrand soon. We may +have the Council at 10, and he may be at Ascot in excellent time. + + +_August 24._ + +The Council is at 1. At 1 I went to the Duke. Told him of my recent letters +to the Chairs. He said we must not make bankrupts of the Company, if we +would use them hereafter. I said it was my duty to state the case of the +public, as the Board were guardians of the territorial revenue. + +A letter from Count Moltke, requesting to see me. I have appointed to- +morrow at 3. + +Cabinet at 3. Aberdeen read the proposed letter from the King to King Louis +Philippe. With a few trifling alterations it was adopted. + +The Duke called on Marmont to-day, and received from him a military account +of the affair at Paris. Marmont said he knew nothing of the Ordonnances, +and disapproved of them. He was at the King's levée on the Tuesday, and was +told there were _quelques inquiétudes_ at Paris, and to take the command of +the troops. He found only 7,000 men. Polignac, forgetting any were _en +congé_, thought there were 12,000. He occupied the Places de l'Hôtel de +Ville, de la Bastille, de Victoire, and de Vendôme in sufficient force. His +troops were not attacked. He withdrew them at night, and reoccupied the +Posts in the morning. Then the attack began. The troops maintained +themselves, but he found it necessary to withdraw them to the Louvre, the +Tuileries, the Pont Neuf, and the Place de Vendôme. In the Louvre he had +two battalions of Swiss; two battalions of the Line in the Place de +Vendôme; the Guards in the Tuileries. He kept open his communication with +the country by posts at all the avenues leading to the garden of the +Tuileries and the Bois de Boulogne, Champs Elysées, &c. The battalion at +the Place de la Bastille could not retreat by the straight road, and was +obliged to march all round Paris, crossing the river at the bridge nearest +Charenton, and coming to the Tuileries by the Faubourg. + +The two battalions in the Place de Vendôme went over to the people. He then +sent one battalion from the Louvre to the grille of the Tuileries garden, +opposite the Rue de Rivoli, and so protected his flank. On Thursday he had +lost 1,800 men, killed and wounded; and 1,200 _égarés_--besides the two +battalions; but he had received a reinforcement of 3,000 men. The troops +were _extenués de fatigue_. When Lafitte and the others came to him he told +him he could not order the fire to cease. He was attacked. + +If the fire of the people ceased, his troops would not fire. He fairly told +the King it was not _une commotion_, nor even _une insurrection_, but _une +Révolution_. There were not above thirty or forty people behind the +barriers, but all the windows were occupied by armed men. He counselled +concession, but Polignac would not hear of it. He said Polignac was +_l'homme le plus présomptueux_ he had ever seen. + +When the Louvre was attacked the Swiss ran out towards the Tuileries and +carried with them a battalion he had in the Place de Carrousel, as well as +two guns he had with him. The rush was such he could hardly get upon his +horse, and the men ran so fast that a person he sent after them on +horseback found them almost at the extremity of the Tuileries garden. +However, some returned to protect the retreat of about sixty men whom he +had got together to defend the grille at the Arc de Triomphe in the Place +de Carrousel. They were just enabled to retreat. + +Marmont is violent against the Swiss, who were, he says, retained in the +French service by higher pay and privileges for _this very thing_, and yet +they ran away in this shameful manner. + +Marmont means to go to Italy for a year. After that he hopes he can return +to France. He has no wish to emigrate. + +If the account in Lord Stuart's report be correct, France is in a +deplorable state. In many parts of the country no taxes are paid, and the +Republican party has not lost hope. + +The conditions of what Don Pedro considers a conciliatory arrangement are +entirely inadmissible. They are founded upon the marriage of Donna Maria da +Gloria, and England, France, and Austria are to guarantee her against any +_injure_ she may receive from her husband. Certainly we may safely say +these terms are inadmissible, and so break off all negotiations with Don +Pedro, who, since these terms were proposed by him, has recognised the +independent Regency of Terceira. By-the-bye, one of his terms is the +payment, by Portugal, of all the expenses incurred by himself for Donna +Maria. + +It seems the draft of a decree of amnesty has been sent to Lisbon, and if +Miguel will pass that decree we are to recognise him. + +The Chancellor and others seemed to think this was an awkward time, and we +had better wait a little. I think so too. However, undoubtedly our early +recognition of Miguel might lead to the prevention of a Portuguese +Revolution. + +There was much conversation respecting the Bank Charter. It seemed to be +the general opinion that Government should take it upon itself to arrange +terms with the Bank, which terms will be prohibition to any other Bank to +issue notes within twenty-five miles of London. This being granted, the +Bank will do the public business for 100,000£ a year less. The whole +question of country banking, whether it is to be with limited or unlimited +responsibility, a limited or an unlimited number of partners, is to be left +open to Parliament. + +I suggested that the most important question was the revision of taxation. +My view now is that we must take off some of the taxes which press most on +the poorer classes, and have an income tax. I dislike an income tax as much +as any one. To me it is a very oppressive tax, but I believe it may become +necessary. + +Walked to the corner of Hyde Park with Lord Rosslyn. Had some conversation +with him respecting the changes necessary in the Government before we meet +Parliament. He says Lord Althorpe will not come in without Lord Grey, and +he is not sure Lord Grey would not stipulate for Lord Durham. The latter is +out of the question on account of his temper. I do not think the Government +could go on with the Duke and Lord Grey. Of the Huskissonians, Palmerston +is the only one. To E. Stanley there is no objection. + + +_August 26._ + +At 3 Count Moltke came to the office. He had two Danish claims to speak +about. + +Dinner at the Albion for Clare. There were present of the Ministers, Peel, +Rosslyn, Goulburn, Herries; then Lord F. Leveson, Calcraft, the Solicitor- +General, W. Peel, Lord G. Somerset, Planta, Gen. Macdonald, Col. Fitz- +Clarence, Lord Tenterden. Of Clare's friends Glengall, Agar Ellis, Sneyd, +Lord Templeton, besides H. Vyner, and Upton, who go with him. + +I spoke feebly, not being well; besides, I did not think it in good taste +to make a great speech; but to leave Clare's the first speech of the day. +Peel made a very good speech; but too much of it. Clare really spoke very +feelingly and well. He spoke a little too much of his gratitude to the +Court. + +I had some conversation with Loch. I was as well received as I expected, +and better, considering the run that has been made at me. The Duke went off +to Walmer Castle, very wisely, for he wants sea air; but Clare would have +been more pleased had he been present, and the Directors too. The +Ministers' healths were well received. + + +_August 28._ + +Received from Elphinstone his remarks upon the proposed letter to Bombay, +respecting native education, of which he generally approves. He strongly +urges the sending out of European professors, young men, acquainted with +English literature, to learn the language there, and teach the natives. I +have sent the extract from his letter to Astell, suggesting that the +Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Dublin, and Edinburgh should each name +those from whom should be selected the necessary number. I have observed +that the object of native education is of such importance that the state of +the finances must not prevent its accomplishment. + + +_August 30._ + +Wrote a very long letter to Hardinge on the present position of the +Government and our policy. I gave my opinion that any accession of men +which destroyed the unity of the Duke's Government would do harm. That we +must meet our difficulties by measures. That the first was a revision of +taxation, that no men we could get would add moral strength to the +Government, and the Whigs would not support unless they had half the +Government. That the question of Reform could not be made an open question. +It was best for the country that parties should be decidedly separated. It +might then choose which it preferred, and men would be obliged to take a +side. We had better be out with character than in with a detachment of the +enemy, in possession of a gate. Still TALK we must have, and we want a +financier. I said of myself that I cared little about office. I should +without reluctance acquiesce in retirement if the Duke could fill my office +more advantageously, and I believe Rosslyn would do. I thought Rosslyn +would like Ireland or Paris. + +I do not think it improbable Hardinge may send this letter to the Duke. + + +_August 31._ + +An insurrection at Brussels, the houses of the Ministers burnt. The troops +fired and killed many. They, not being 1,500, retired to the park, and +formed before the palace. An evening paper I got at Ashford says the +nobility had joined the people, and the troops had acceded on condition of +keeping their arms, and guarding the palace. If this Revolution takes the +line of union with France, war is almost inevitable. It may be only for a +more popular form of Government, but what the people of the Netherlands +desire is annexation to a great State. They are ashamed of being Dutch. + +Most fortunately all our manufacturers are in full employment, and the +harvest is abundant. The peace and constitution of England have depended +upon fine weather. + +Clare, from whom I heard to-day, tells me Lord Wellesley assures him there +is to be a Revolution in Spain, and named the day. The nobles are supposed +to be at the head of it. This may all be true, for our Ministers never find +anything out; but my apprehension is that there will be a low, ill- +supported revolutionary movement. + +Received a letter from Lady Londonderry. She first wishes me to obtain, if +I can, Ward's exchange to a better climate. This I have told her I have +already endeavoured to do; but that I have no expectation of Aberdeen's +doing it. + +Lady L. says her brother was two hours with the Duke, and as long with Lord +Grey. The latter would have acted a second part, but the Duke would not +admit him. I have told her I think she must have misunderstood Lord +Camden's account, and that she may be assured it is not the Duke's +character to fear an equal. + +I sent her letter to Hardinge, and asked him if he knew anything of the +affair. I cannot imagine when it can have taken place. Lord Camden was an +odd person to employ. He knows so little of Lord Grey. Rosslyn would have +been the natural envoy if it proceded from the Duke; but I think it must +have been a volunteer of Lord Camden's. + + +_September 2._ + +Read the papers relative to the Danish claims. Canning seems to have +decided one case, that of the Danish East India Company, hastily. However, +we cannot undo a decision of a Secretary of State. + +The other case, that of the private individuals at Tranquebar, has been +determined in their favour. + + +_September 3._ + +Had a long conversation with Herries, with whom I rode for a long time, +respecting affairs, both here and abroad. He is rather downcast. However, +he thinks this Belgian insurrection will be put down. Rothschild has +exported 800,000£ in silver and 400,000£ in gold to meet his bills when +they become due--diffident of having anything paid to himself. + + +_September 5._ + +Cabinet room. Found Lord Rosslyn there. He told me the substance of a +report I did not see of Col. Jones, who was sent by the Duke to the +Netherlands, and is returned. He says the Prince of Orange is with 1,600 +men in the park and palace at Brussels; 5,000 men are close at hand under +Prince Frederick of Orange, at Vilvorde, and two bodies of 10,000 each are +marching upon the same point. The troops at the palace have twelve guns. +All the troops show a good disposition. + +The first deputation from Brussels was rather insolent. They were treated +accordingly, and told to return without cockades, &c. They did so, and the +Prince agreed to go into Brussels without troops. There was a great crowd, +and for a moment he was separated from the staff and the Garde Bourgeoise, +and alone in the midst of the people. He leapt his horse over a barrier and +so got back. A Commission of very respectable men has been appointed to +investigate grievances. So the thing will rest till the meeting of the +States on September 13. + +There is a letter from Lord Heytesbury giving an account of his +conversations with the Emperor of Russia. The Emperor is violent against +the Bourbons; says very correctly that his treaties only oblige him to +maintain a constitutional King. Still he may recognise, but shall always +consider the Duke of Orleans as a usurper. + +Prussia seems very prudent; disposed to recognise, but to state the +condition of peace--that the territorial possessions of 1815 shall be +maintained. Austria seems to be less prudent. Metternich sent to Bernstorff +the answer he intended to give, which required a declaration of not having +any intention to interfere in the affairs of France, but required a pledge +as to the observance of the Treaty of 1815 before recognition. Bernstorff +very prudently advised Austria to recognise unconditionally. + +The Spaniards seem to have been in great consternation at first. + +The Minister (Addington) thinks the King and Queen are so popular, and the +public interest is so much directed to the Queen's approaching +accouchement, that no revolutionary movement of importance is likely to +take place. He deprecates, however, the commencement of any such movement, +because he thinks it would enable the Apostolical Party [Footnote: The name +given in Spain and Portugal to the Absolutist and Clerical Party.] to +induce the King to dismiss his present quiet Ministers, and have recourse +to measures of rigour, which would infallibly ruin the dynasty. Spain, and +indeed all the Powers, seem to look for instruction to England, and there +can be no doubt that all will recognise and all be quiet. Salmon, when he +communicated to the King the events in France, said, 'Your Majesty sees how +dangerous over-zeal is in a Minister. No one could be more devoted to the +Royal Family than Prince Polignac.' + +The King said, 'I see it.' + +However, notwithstanding this, they say he is so weak that he may adopt a +violent course. + +Nothing can be more correct than the conduct of M. Molé, the French +Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. He is most anxious to preserve +peace in Europe, the new King's Government in France, and himself in +office. He is much alarmed by the events in Belgium, and wished our +Minister to join the French Minister at Brussels in recommending some +concession to the King of the Netherlands. The Duke has, as Rosslyn told +me, written a memorandum to serve as the basis of Aberdeen's dispatch, very +civil indeed to Molé, very much satisfied with the disposition evinced by +the French Government, but, in our ignorance of the real state of things, +declining to advise the King of the Netherlands. + +It is very amusing to see the French Government most _liberally_ permitting +the Bonaparte family to return to France, and most _prudently_ sending +circulars to all the Ministers of the Powers which signed the protocols of +1815, urging them in the name of that treaty not to allow the members of +the Bonaparte family to leave their present residences. + +It seems this is very necessary; for although their partisans can do little +without their presence, they might do much with it. + +Martignac has got together sixty members of the Chamber of Deputies who +will act _en masse_ for royalty. + +There is no military force to keep people in order, and the National Guard +does not like doing so. In fact the Revolution is not over. Things may go +on as they are, but we have as yet no security. The French seem heartily +sick of Algiers. It costs a great deal of money. Tropical products will not +grow there. The climate does not suit the French troops, who have besides a +most extraordinary _maladie de pays._ They must send 15,000 men more there +to maintain it, as now they have no more than the town. They are willing to +give it up to the Sultan if he will renounce tribute, &c. + +I never considered the acquisition of importance to France. I always felt +we might vex the French to death by the use of a little money which would +at any time have brought forward all the Arabs from the desert. The port +will only hold a few vessels. + +The Emperor of Russia proposes to cut the Greek question short by proposing +the crown at once, without the intervention of France, to Prince Frederick +of Orange, and if he should refuse, then to Prince Charles of Bavaria, who +we know will accept. + +I should say from all I have read to-day that if France should make an +aggressive movement all Europe would be united against her as in 1813; but +if she remain quiet within her own frontier no Power will wish to molest +her. + +It is satisfactory to observe the increased prudence and reasonableness of +the great States; their general union, and the deference which in the hour +of danger they all show to the opinion of England. + +There are some apprehensions, I hear, of riots at Manchester. There is no +cause for them. All men can get work. I would put them down with a strong +hand. + + +_September 6._ + +Saw at the office Colonel Monteith. + +The King of Persia has about six millions sterling left in his treasury in +gold and silver, besides jewels unsaleable on account of their high price, +but which might be estimated at four millions more. + +There will be a civil war on the death of the Shah. + +Abbas Mirza might succeed if he had energy, but he is the weakest man on +earth. Probably all the Rajahs will be put down and some new dynasty +established. + +The chiefs are not likely to serve the Russians at any time. The Persians +are fine men and make excellent soldiers, bearing heat and cold, but not +wet and damp. Officers there are none. + +The Russians lose 10,000 men a year in Georgia and Caucasus, and it costs +them about 500,000£ a year. They have never conquered the country. + +The cession lately obtained from Turkey has enabled the Russians to put +down the robbers who lived in Abkasia; [Footnote: The country at the +western end of the Caucasus.] but it is of no value for purposes of +offensive war--of some for defence. + +It is cheaper in the proportion of 100 to 220 to send goods to Tabriz by +Trebizond than by the Persian Gulf. + +The Imaum of Muscat carries on a large trade in opium between the Red Sea +and China. He carries British manufactures to the Indus, and trades +extensively with Cochin China, where sugar is half the price it is in +India. + +The officers of the Crown Prince's army all speak Turkish. It is more +important to have at the head of it a man of energy than one conversant +with Persian. + +His rank should be increased, as now he is made to rank below the last +member of the Mission. + +The disturbed state of Persia has driven much trade to the Indus which was +carried on by the Euphrates. + +Persia may now be considered not as a monarchy, but a Federative State, all +the King's sons being independent Princes. + +Colonel Monteith was at Algiers--the only Englishman in the army. There may +have been twenty foreigners in all. He had letters of introduction and got +there in a transport, taking his chance of being sent back. He was with the +intendant of the army, and at the siege was attached to a division. +Bourmont offered to receive him in his family. Bourmont was hated and +despised. He seemed to take very little trouble about the army, and to +leave everything to the generals of division. On the 19th, the day of the +battle, he lost 600 men by not advancing sooner. The moment he advanced the +enemy fled. The loss was 2,200 men in all, yet fifty were never to be seen +dead and wounded together. The loss was by skirmishing at long shots along +the whole of the line. This sometimes lasted all day, and the troops, being +young, were too foolhardy. The Arabs are a miserable race, half naked. +Everything beyond Algiers seems a desert. For eight miles round Algiers the +cultivation is beautiful, and the villas more numerous than near any town +he ever saw. A profusion of water. The town, miserable in the extreme, +inhabited by Moors and the descendants of Turks, about 50,000. The port is +formed by one pier which hardly protects two or three frigates. There is no +safety in the bay. + +There were 3,000 Turkish soldiers in Algiers, and about 7,000 in the +country. These kept order. Now they are sent away the French may colonise +extensively, but they cannot keep the country with the present inhabitants. + +The Dey had ten millions sterling in gold and silver, a treasure which had +been accumulating since the time of Barbarossa. [Footnote: A famous corsair +of the sixteenth century.] He claimed 400,000£ as his own, and was allowed +to carry it away. The French enquired about the jewels of the Regency. The +Dey said there were no jewels but those which belonged to his wives, and +_la galanterie Française_ would respect them as private property. So they +did. + +There was a magazine containing 250,000£ of things in the trinket line. +There were 150 ornamental daggers, all the presents of European princes, +&c. Colonel Monteith saw one officer coolly put into his pocket a watch set +in diamonds, which had evidently been given by a King of England, worth, he +supposed, 2,000£. + +General Lavardo pillaged more openly than any one. He had thirty soldiers +employed in carrying off his pillage. + +The affair at Belida was accidental. Bourmont went out with 1,600 men and +invited the chiefs to meet him. They were coming peaceably; but some Arabs +saw the French artillerymen taking their horses down to water without their +guns, and they could not help attempting to steal. The artillerymen beat +them off; but the firing having begun was soon converted into a battle. +Bourmont beat them off, but thought it expedient to retreat. + +The beach was particularly favourable for landing. The weather fine, and +there was plenty of time to prepare. + +The thing best done was by General Valagi, who in eighteen hours raised a +continued work of a mile and a half. He had 1,600 sappers and miners. +Colonel Monteith is in admiration of this entrenchment, which was +beautifully finished, and was capable of resisting 30,000 regular troops. + +The Arabs are miserably mounted. The Dey's two best horses were not worth +30l. each. + +Duperre he thought a man willing to do all, but quite overpowered by the +management of 100 ships of war and 500 transports. His reports are all +lies. Bourmont's are nearest the truth. The ships, with the exception of +those which were in the Levant, were not in good order. There seemed to be +no discipline. + +The army never wanted either water or provisions. Water was within three +feet of the surface everywhere. In the gardens on the side of the hills +towards Algiers the water was found at the depth of twenty feet. + +Nothing could be more perfect than the equipment of the army. They +calculated the cost of the expedition at four millions. + +I see by the newspapers that the Prince of Orange yielded the point of the +colours to the deputation from Brussels. He seems to have conceded a great +deal, but to have acted with great personal courage and decision. It is +expected that the Commission he appointed have asked for the separation of +Holland from Belgium, and the establishment of a Federal union only; two +countries under one King with distinct legislatures, armies, &c. The great +towns are quiet. Holland ready to march upon Brussels. + +I shall not be satisfied unless some of the Bruxellois are hanged for +pillage. + +The answers of the King seem to have been firm and judicious. + +It is impossible not to admire the constancy of the troops, who bivouacked +for eight days in the park. + +The French Government seems too weak or too timid to prevent outrage in +Paris. The printers' devils will have no machinery for printing! It is +entertaining to see those who make all revolutions suffer by them. + + +_September 7._ + +Saw Greville at the Treasury. He told me he had got from Lord Chesterfield +that Palmerston had no objection to come in. Lord Melbourne had; but they +required the sacrifice of Aberdeen, Bathurst, and Arbuthnot. There must be +some mistake about this condition. I told Greville if he could get a _fact_ +to communicate it to the Duke. + +It is feared the Prince of Orange is gone away to the Hague. He promised +Colonel Jones he would be firm. + + +_September 8._ + +The Prince of Orange certainly went to the Hague. He was received there +enthusiastically. The proposition he takes is for Federal union. I fear he +must submit to some modification of that, or encounter real opposition and +civil war. + + +_September 9._ + +Hardinge gives me rather an indifferent account of Ireland. Great animosity +still existing between the Catholics and Protestants in the _lower_ ranks; +in the higher, peace. A revolutionary disposition raised in the middle +classes by the example of Prance. Great dissatisfaction in consequence of +the proposed taxation of last session. + +He told the Duke, and so did Arbuthnot, that he might dispose of their +offices if he wanted them. He seems to think Peel is tired and anxious to +withdraw--annoyed at the idea of being unpopular, an idea the defeat of his +brothers has given him. This makes him less energetic than he should be +with respect to the measures necessary to strengthen himself in the House +of Commons. + + +_September 10._ + +It seems the desire of separation is general in the Netherlands. It is the +result of national prejudice and vanity. The Dutch seem just as violent the +other way, and the deputies were rather in danger at Rotterdam. The +separation will probably defeat the objects of the great Powers in 1814, +for it is idle to expect such terms of Federal union as will enable the two +States to act cordially together. + + +_September 11._ + +By withdrawing his troops from the palace, and going to the Hague, the +Prince of Orange has ruined his cause. He has appeared to give it up. + + +_September 13._ + +Read on my way to London the intelligence obtained by Lord Heytesbury +relative to the Russian trade with Tartary and on the Caspian. It is very +full and satisfactory. + +The 'Times' has a sensible article on the state of France; the want of +materials to form a constitutional monarchy, the growing dissatisfaction +that _more_ is not done in a revolutionary sense, and the irresponsible +power of a deliberative army of 800,000 men. + +Ghent and Antwerp seem to cling to the connection between Holland and +Belgium, and I begin to hope that if France is tranquil the Bruxellois and +Liègeois may grow tired and become reasonable. Men cannot play at +barricades long when no one attacks them. + + +_September 14._ + +House of Lords. I had to wait half an hour for the seals, which were +carelessly carried off by Lady Lyndhurst in her carriage. + +Talked to Rosslyn. He told me Aberdeen was led to expect another revolution +in France. The paper they were going to prosecute was an _affiche_ calling +upon the French people to overthrow _l'aristocratie bourgeoise_, which was +as bad as the other, and to divide the lands. + +In the Netherlands the people and their leaders are divided, and if Antwerp +and Ghent, &c., remain firm, it signifies little what Brussels does. +Brussels will be brought into terms by distress. + +Rosslyn thinks some of the Whigs as well as of the Tories will be alarmed +by events on the Continent and support Government. + +He hears of no negotiations for accessions. + +The people of Brunswick, very justly provoked, have turned the Duke +[Footnote: This was the eccentric Duke who died a few years ago at Geneva, +bequeathing his whole property to the city, who have erected a monument to +him.] out of the town and burnt his palace. He escaped with ten Hussars. He +deserves his fate. I believe he is mad. He is a complete _vaurien._ + +When Parliament is prorogued, as to-day, the peers are without their robes. +The Chancellor was in his legal dress. The Commons appear without a summons +by their clerks, and the Chancellor merely desires the proclamation to be +read. However, as it is held, _improperly,_ to be the first day of the +sitting of Parliament, the return of the Scotch peers is laid on the table. +All this is sanctioned by precedent, but contrary to reason. + + +_September 20, 1830._ + +Wrote a long letter to Hardinge upon the political consequences of +Huskisson's death, [Footnote: He was killed, as is well known, at the +opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.] urging the introduction +of Palmerston and Stanley. The latter to Vent the junction of the Whig +aristocracy with the Radicals. + +I am sure, if measures are not taken immediately, we shall have all the +Huskissonians, Whigs and Ultra-Tories (the last are insane), united against +us. + +Received from Sir J. Malcolm a letter with some enclosures about suttees. +He has reluctantly and fearfully abolished suttee, making it culpable +homicide to assist, and murder to force the victim. He has done it, I +think, wisely by a repeal of a clause in one regulation and an amendment. +Thus not putting it vainly forward as Lord William did in a pompous +document. + +He has abolished the Military Board, I believe, very wisely; but there may +be a difficulty with the Duke, if I cannot do it without talking to him +about it. I believe Sir J. Malcolm is quite right, and that there would +have been no hope of preserving a system of real economy had the Military +Board been permitted to remain. + +I am curious to see his measure of checks on expenditure, that if it be +good it may be adopted at the other Presidencies. + +Received some letters from Lord W. Bentinck. Lord Dalhousie has been very +ill, and the command of the army would fall, Lord William says, into the +weakest hands, if anything happened to him. + +The spirit of the army was becoming better, I gather from Lord William's +letter, but it required much attention. I have been thinking all day of +what measures may be adopted for improving it. + + +_September 21._ + +Office. Read to Cabell my memorandum on the alterations which might be +introduced into the army, which I wrote hurriedly this morning. He was long +in the military department, and can be of much use. Cabinet room. I think +the result of Lord Stuart's dispatches is that the moderate party are +gaining strength. I should say the facts we see in the newspapers lead to a +different conclusion. + +The Ministers and the old leading members of the Chamber of Deputies act +manfully against the crowd. Their declarations of intention are +satisfactory. I really believe they mean to act honestly if they can. + +Austria seems to have hesitated about the acknowledgment of the King of the +French after the receipt of a dispatch from Petersburg, and Metternich, who +seems to be growing weak, wavered after he had received General Belliard +very cordially. + +Prussia, that is _the King,_ hesitated about signing the letter to Louis +Philippe when he heard of the doubts of Austria. The result, however, is +that all _entrainés_ by us will acknowledge; the Emperor of Russia, who was +the most reluctant, having determined to do so if the others did. I should +say there is this satisfactory conclusion to be drawn from what we have +seen, that if France showed a disposition to aggrandise herself all Europe +would be against her. + +The object of the French Government is to place France exactly in the +position in which she stood a fortnight before the ordonnances--that is, +Talleyrand's wish, and he has _rédigé_ his own instructions. + +Read Aberdeen's letter, dated the 17th, stating the necessity of +maintaining cordial intercourse with and between Spain and Portugal, and +intimating that on the promulgation of an amnesty according to the terms +recently communicated England will resume diplomatic relations with Miguel, +but not otherwise. + +Spain seems to be sensible. There was a movement of folly about Royalist +volunteers which was put down, and the Government seems by no means +disposed to give way to Absolutists. If the Queen should have a son Spain +will probably be tranquil. + +Talleyrand pretends the French will be reasonable about Algiers. I do not +wish them to be so. I believe they could not have made a worse purchase. +They will find the possession very expensive. Their troops will hate it, +they will have nothing beyond their outposts, and it is no port. + +My first opinion is strengthened, that they could not be worse than if they +were left as they are. + + +_September 24._ + +The populace and the burghers at Brussels have quarrelled, and fought a +little. It seems the Liberals and the Catholics, [Footnote: They have +formed the two opposing parties in the Belgian Chambers since the country +became an independent State. They had temporarily united against Protestant +Holland.] as the others are called, have been long diverging. The deputies +and men of property, excepting M. de Stassart, have become alarmed. The +Prince de Ligne and D'Aremberg and others have left Brussels. On the 21st, +probably the 20th, in the evening a proclamation was published at Antwerp +by Prince Frederick of Orange, noticing the excesses of the populace, and +announcing that the troops would relieve the burgher guard. This must have +been done in concert with the influential persons of the town who are +alarmed for their property. The Liégeois are very violent. They will be +expelled from Brussels. No more can get there, as the road is interrupted. + +The Dutch have but 20,000 men, of whom the Belgians are as three to five. +The Belgians had begun to desert, but they did not join the Bruxellois in +any numbers. The hanging of some of the Brussels mob would have an +excellent effect. + +The Government of France seems to become weaker, and to permit things which +discredit it. + +A night or two ago some _ouvriers_ insisted on going into the King's +bedroom, after he was gone to sleep, woke him, and made him make a speech +sitting up in his bed. Twelve departments have united against indirect +taxes, and few pay those which are direct. Meanwhile, the Algerine treasure +has been pillaged by the officers of the army, and ships clearing for +Toulon go elsewhere to land it. They want a loan, while the fallen +Government would have had a surplus. They will find the raising of a loan +difficult. The French are displeased by the coldness of Austria and +Prussia, and by the marching of Austrian and Prussian troops. + +The King of Saxony has resigned, or rather he has associated his nephew +with himself as Co-Regent; the brother waiving his claim to the throne. + +The Landgrave of Hesse Cassel was met by a deputation requiring him to do a +number of public acts, and amongst the rest the dismissal of all +mistresses. It seems the Electoral Prince has one to whom he is going to be +married. + +The Duke of Brunswick lately galloped off _lui Troisième_ while his palace +was burning! + +These are odd times! + +However, here people seem to be inclined to be quiet. Even the Common +Council have by a large majority decided against congratulating or noticing +the French people. + + +_September 26._ + +Brandreth told me there was a report of the Belgian troops having entered +Brussels, and of a great massacre. There will be news to-morrow as the wind +is down. + + +_September 27._ + +No direct news from Brussels yet. There has been fighting for two days, and +it was known at Antwerp that the first regiment that entered was nearly +destroyed. It seems the invitation of one section was a ruse. + +There are to be no Cabinets for eight or ten days, the Civil List not being +prepared. When we do meet we are not to separate. + +There seems to be every expectation of a new Ministry in Paris, and in the +revolutionary sense. + +I saw Aberdeen. He rather expects it. + +Read the report of the Commission appointed to form the articles of +accusation against the Ministers. It is a party speech, with little points +and prettinesses, affecting moderation, and full of rancour. It is a nation +which has no idea of justice. + + +_September 28._ + +Cabinet room. Dispatches of the 24th and 25th from Sir Ch. Bagot; but none +from Mr. Cartwright. When Sir Ch. Bagot wrote last thirty hours had elapsed +without official intelligence, although the distance is only thirteen +hours. It was known there had been hard fighting, that it was necessary to +take in succession every house in the Rue Neuve Royale, that the troops +were in possession of the upper part of the town, and a proposition had +been made by the lower town for a cessation of hostilities, after which +they had recommenced. + +It is evident the resistance has been most serious. 20,000 French are in +the town, and these probably direct the defence. All clubs, and councils of +all sorts, had ceased to have power two days before the attack. There has +been perfect anarchy. The troops behaved admirably. They were much +exasperated. No assistance had been sent by the country. + +Aberdeen is confident the King's troops have been driven out, because no +official accounts were sent. The Duke, and all the military men, say the +non-arrival of dispatches proves nothing but that the affair was not over. +During an engagement a general can think of nothing but victory. The +importance of the result is incalculable. + +At Paris the National Guard have dispersed a meeting of lookers on, who +were led by curiosity to crowd about a riding school in which the Society +of Les Amis du Peuple met the day after they were denounced by Guizot in +the Chamber as agitating France. Two officers of the National Guard entered +the riding school, and warned the meeting of the danger they were bringing +upon public tranquillity. On the representation of the second they +adjourned. + +At dinner at Lord Rosslyn's the Duke said the French Government could not +go on as it was. The chief of the National Guard necessarily commanded +everything. The National Guard might become janissaries. I think the +Government may go on as it is _in form,_ but it will vary _in substance_ +from day to day. Management, a little good fortune, and a few examples of +determination may make it a fair Government; a single error may produce +anarchy. + +The Duke gave an excellent account of the feeling at Liverpool, Manchester, +and Birmingham. At Manchester it was better than at Birmingham, but there +they received very coldly Tennyson's speech about giving them members, and +at last put an end to it by striking their glasses with their knives, which +made such a ringing that Tennyson was obliged to sit down. He deserved this +for his bad taste. + +The Duke was astonished by the machinery. Those who have witnessed the +improvements of late years expect progressive improvements so great that +they say a man who laid out 100,000£ now in the best machinery would, if he +refused to adopt the new improvements they anticipate, be without profit in +five years and be ruined in ten. + +The rapidity of motion is so great in the steam carriages that even the +Duke with his quick eyes could not see the figures on the posts which mark +the distance at every quarter of a mile, and when two steam carriages +crossed no face could be seen. [Footnote: This was on the Manchester and +Liverpool Railway, then just opened, and describes the first impression +made by railway travelling.] It was like the whizzing of a cannon ball. The +cold is great, and they must have some defence against the wind, through +which they pass so rapidly. + +A new canal without locks, which brings coals to Birmingham in two hours, +which by the old canal required nine, is more magnificent even than the +railroad, splendid as that is. The railroad cost a million. For several +days after it was opened the proprietors made 250£ a day. + +The King has the gout. The Duke goes to Brighton to-morrow. We dine with +him on Thursday. Cabinets will not begin till next week. + + +_September 29._ + +No news in the newspaper from Brussels. No dispatches from Sir Ch. Bagot or +Mr. Cartwright arrived at the office; but a gentleman who left Brussels at +five on Sunday reports that they were then fighting in the town, but the +troops had the worst of it. + +The Consul at Ostend reports that the King's troops evacuated Brussels on +Sunday night; that reinforcements from the country were pouring into +Brussels; that there had been an attempt at insurrection at Ostend, which +was put down for the time by the Governor, who killed two and wounded six; +that eleven or twelve men had marched in from Bruges, which was in +possession of the Bourgeois; that Ghent was expected to rise, and in a few +days all Belgium would be separated from the King. + +A son of Holmes of the Treasury arrived at the Foreign Office at four, and +said he had left Ostend at three yesterday, when there was a report that +the Dutch had made another attack and had recaptured the park. + +It seems they never had more than the park. They had to take, and did take, +the Rue Royale. They were more thoroughly masters of the Place Royale. They +planted guns against the town, which were answered by guns from the rebels. +At five on Sunday the latter were gradually advancing, and picking off the +troops in the park. + +The first day some rockets were fired and eighteen houses burnt; but Prince +Frederick ordered the discontinuance of this, the only efficacious mode of +attack. + +Lord Blantyre was killed. He was lame and on a sofa, but curiosity led him +to crawl to the window and peep out, when a ball struck him in the +forehead. Lady Blantyre and his children were with him. He was much +esteemed. He was in the Peninsula, and a gallant officer. + +I think the employment of European officers in civil situations under +native princes may be very useful to their subjects; and while we do not +ourselves employ natives in high situations, to force all native princes to +employ them is to make a striking contrast between their Government and +ours, very injurious to ours. + +Jones seemed to hesitate and to think I committed myself. However, I feel +sure of my ground. + +A letter from Lord Cleveland, expressing a wish to have the Vicarage of +Ilchester, and offering an equivalent living in Shropshire, or Cheshire. + +I sent his letter to the Bishop of Bath and Wells, saying I should be much +obliged to him if he could make the arrangement, Lord Cleveland being a +faithful and powerful supporter of Government. + +Told Lord Cleveland I had transmitted his letter with a strong +recommendation. + +I made my letter as agreeable to the Bishop as I could, but I dare say he +will refuse. Very likely he has given away the vicarage. I told Lord +Cleveland I thought it probable. + + +_September 30._ + +The Consul at Antwerp writes a long foolish letter in much alarm. + +Mr. Cartwright's reports are come. He describes a horrible carnage. The +events much as we know them. Sir A. Bagot says his Russian colleague has, +with the consent of the King and the Dutch Ministers, written home to say +Belgium can only be preserved by foreign aid. + +At dinner at the Duke of Wellington's met Talleyrand and Vaudreuil. The +others there were Aberdeen, Goulburn, Herries, Murray, Beresford, Lord F. +Somerset, and Rosslyn. + +Talleyrand is not altered since 1815, except that he speaks thick. He has +not even changed his hairdresser or his tailor. + +Lord Rosslyn showed me a letter from Lady Janet, who was in Brussels during +the fight. She walked about frequently, and was treated with civility by +the armed burghers. A few grape-shot fell into the courtyard, and she +picked up one. She was at the Hotel de Brabant in the Rue Neuve. There was +no pillage, nor any riot. The loss of the people was great. She left the +town on Sunday (I think) with a passport from Count Hoogwoorst, and got +round to Antwerp. + +The troops are said to have lost only 600 men. Prince Frederick is about +two leagues from Brussels, on the road to Louvain, waiting for heavy guns. +This is the report. I suspect he will retreat altogether. + + +_October 1._ + +On consideration thought it would be better to have a secret letter on the +press, authorising the Government to allow their servants to be connected +with the press. To this letter I thought it advisable to add an exhortation +to redoubled zeal on the part of the Company's servants on account of the +unsettled state in which the minds of men must be until it was decided +under what form the future Government of India should be administered, and +I directed the Government to make all thoroughly understand that no +possible change could effect the public debt, or the rights of the natives +or the just expectations of the European servants. My reason for thinking +the officers of Government should be permitted to be concerned in the press +is this, that if none but those who are unconnected with the Government, +and who, according to the existing system, cannot be connected with it, +manage the press, the probability is that everything will be said against +the Government and nothing for it. + +I showed the proposed letter to the Duke. He thought it would be better to +pay people for writing than to employ the Company's servants, and that the +concluding paragraphs would lead the Government to suppose it was quite +decided that the Company should be put an end to. It is wonderful the sort +of prejudice he has in favour of the Company. He thinks that unless +Directors selected writers and cadets we should have an inferior sort of +people in India. I have no objection to the patronage being in a corporate +body, but I am satisfied the present system leads to a degree of delay +which is more mischievous than misdirection. He acknowledges, however, that +the service is much changed. The exhibition made by Courtenay Smith has +produced a strong impression upon his mind. He has done more injury to the +Company in his mind than all the evidence. He still seems unwilling to make +his opinion up against the continuance of the monopoly. It must fall, +however. + +The King wishes to have Sir E. Barnes appointed provisional successor to +Lord Dalhousie. The Duke thinks him a better man than Sir R. O'Callaghan, +who was suggested by Lord F. Somerset. I suggested that it would be +expedient to unite the influence of Governor-General with that of +Commander-in-Chief, and make Lord William Bentinck provisional successor. +The Duke seemed to think Lord William could not execute both duties, and +that it was better to adhere to the general usage of separating the two +offices. It seems that after Lord Hastings' return the Court intimated a +disposition to separate the offices in future. I can do nothing against the +King, the Duke, and the Horse Guards; but I am satisfied it would have been +better to send Sir E. Barnes as second in command to the Governor-General. + +The King (Lord F. Somerset told me) was desirous of doing away with the +Company's European regiments. He could not do a better thing. He has +likewise some notion of bringing the army under himself. The Duke thinks it +must be a _local army,_ and certainly it must. [Footnote: In accordance +with this view Lord Ellenborough opposed the eventual amalgamation of the +Queen's and the Indian army.] I believe it is better to make it an army of +three Presidencies, not one army. My doubt is whether it would not be +advisable to allow exchanges from the King's army to the Company's. +Everything would be beneficial that raised the tone of the Indian army. + +The Duke showed me a draft letter he had written for Aberdeen to Lord +Stuart, informing the French Government that the King of the Netherlands +had required the assistance of his allies to re-establish his authority in +Belgium. That it was as much the interest of France as of other Powers to +put down a revolution not carried on by the higher or the middle, but by +the lowest classes of the people. That we were desirous of concerting with +France, as one of the contracting parties to the Treaty of Vienna, what +course should be now adopted. It could not be supposed the Allies would +forego the advantage of the union of Belgium and Holland for which they had +sacrificed so much. + +This was the substance of the letter. It will not be sent without the +concurrence of the Cabinet, which will be summoned the moment Peel comes to +town, and he is hourly expected. + +I think this letter prudent, inasmuch as whatever may happen it will place +us in the right; but I do not expect that France will do anything against +the rebels, or sanction the doing of anything. + +The Duke considers, as indeed is clear enough, that it is idle to expect +the future submission of Belgium to the King of the Netherlands. It may be +possible to place it under a Prince of the House of Nassau. I do not think +the Duke sees his way; but he expects war. + + +_October 2._ + +Cabinet. Aberdeen's letter to Lord Stuart. It is founded upon the Duke's +memorandum, but much extended _à l'Indienne_. I think none approved of it +but Lord Bathurst. I objected to the statement that the treaty of 1815 +imposed upon us _obligations_. It may give us _rights_, but it imposes no +obligation. Then the principle of non-interference is advanced as just and +wise, but there are peculiar circumstances attending the position of the +Netherlands which make a difference. + +There is an assertion that the troubles in Belgium have been fomented by +French agency, although not assisted by the Government, and a direct +reference is made to the Barrier Treaties. France is requested to concert +with us and the Allies to _suppress_ the anarchy which exists in the Low +Countries. She is at the same time reminded that in no case can the Allies +consent to renounce the security given to them by the Treaty of Paris in +consequence of an insurrection amongst the lower orders at Brussels. Of +this a great deal will be left out. Peel seemed to be rather averse to the +whole tenor of the letter, which looks like an invitation to put down the +insurrection by force. He sketched in a few words a letter which would be +innocuous. + +The Duke's object is to make an effort to induce France to act with us to +settle the Belgian affairs amicably. They cannot be settled _without_ +France, without a war. But is there any hope that the French Government +will venture to give us her _appui_? If they be self-denying enough to +renounce the hopes of annexing Belgium to France, their fears of the +Jacobins will not allow them to do so. My expectation is that they will say +they neither have interfered nor will interfere to dissolve the union +between Holland and Belgium. That they will not interfere in the internal +concerns of other States. + +Some think they will go farther and declare they will not allow other +_Powers_ to do so. I do not expect this. + +Every word of this letter must be well weighed, for every discontented man +in England and in France will criticise its words and its spirit. There is +no writer more unsafe than Aberdeen. + +Rosslyn did not seem to like the letter at all, but he said little. I +whispered to Peel that I wished he would bring a letter to-morrow. _Short_. +It was at last agreed alterations should be made, and we are to meet at one +to-morrow. + +Peel takes the letter home, and will, I trust, cut it down. + +The King Charles X. is in danger of being arrested, of which he naturally +has a great horror, and he desires to be allowed to go to Holyrood House, +where he would be safe. At Lulworth they are afraid of the Due de Bordeaux +being kidnapped. The pretence is the getting masters from Edinburgh for the +children. + +It may be feared that the placing him in a royal residence may look or be +represented as looking like recognition. On the other hand his removal from +the southern coast to Scotland is a renunciation of intrigues with France. + +It would be inconvenient if the King should wish to go to Edinburgh next +year. Charles X. is to be told he cannot stay there after the spring. +However, he will probably live there all his life. + +It would be a revolting sight to see a King imprisoned for debt, and all +gentlemen, all men of feeling, would have cried out _shame_! + +We are right in feeling, but in policy I am not sure. + +Nieuport has fallen as well as Ostend. The Bruxellois are drilling, and +threaten to attack Prince Frederick. Probably Van Holen drills them to keep +them quiet. + +Many people have applied to Falck [Footnote: Dutch Minister.] for passports +for Brussels, going in reality to join the rebels. Today two Irish +labourers asked for passports! Brussels will become the sink of Europe, and +every unquiet spirit will go there. + +The Duke thinks our attempt to make France act in concert with us the only +chance of preserving peace. + +I fear its preservation is almost desperate. One thing is in favour of it, +that all the European States desire it yet more than we do. + +I cautioned them to-day not to take any advanced position from which it +would be difficult and discreditable to retreat. The people would not go in +with us in a war to avert a distant danger, nor indeed for any object not +commercially interesting. + +It came out accidentally in the course of conversation respecting the loan +to the Netherlands that we had lent 20,000£ to the Greeks; the sum to be +repaid by bills to be drawn by our Commissioner whenever the loan we are to +guarantee may be made--that is, we are to be paid out of our own money. + +Of this loan I knew nothing, and my impression is that when it was +earnestly pressed by Aberdeen such objections were stated on the ground of +illegality that the decision was against it. Certainly nothing was decided +in favour of it. I recollect having said I would rather advance a portion +of the money myself than be a party to the transaction. + + +_October 3._ + +Cabinet. The Consul at Ostend announces that nothing remains to the King of +the Netherlands but Antwerp. The troops have everywhere laid down their +arms. On the 1st the Brussels papers announce that orders had been issued +by the provisional Government for arresting all the Dutch officers. + +Peel read first the dispatch written by Aberdeen with the omissions agreed +upon, and then his own substitutions. His is much the best. It speaks of +'composing troubles' instead of 'suppressing anarchy,' avoids all mention +of interference, and altogether is a more prudent paper, touching the +Barrier very slightly. It was understood that Peel's was adopted. + +It is determined to allow the King, Charles X., to go to Holyrood House, +but he will be told there is no furniture, or very little, and that he can +only stay six months, and that no expense can be incurred on his account. +He has admitted no one to an audience, but many have been to Lulworth to +ask for places. + +Talleyrand says they have found an _ébauche_ of Polignac's, telling +Bourmont that his proposal that the money taken at Algiers should be given +to the Legion of Honour could not be complied with, as the King intended to +distribute it amongst his most faithful friends. They pretend they do not +intend to make use of this because there is no proof of its having been +sent; in fact they do not use it because it reflects credit on Bourmont. + +Lord Rosslyn, with whom I walked as far as Pimlico Palace, showed me the +Treasury list of the House of Commons. 311 decided friends and 189 enemies- +that is 500; the remainder, consisting of moderate Tories, violent Tories, +good and bad doubtfuls, as well as Huskissonians (the latter 13), are more +likely to be against us than for us. + +Rosslyn still hankers after a coalition, but reform has made it impossible. +We might have had this time last year Sir J. Graham. We might even now have +Palmerston, [Footnote: It appears from Lord Palmerston's published papers +that this was an error. He had already determined to act with the Whigs, +and not to take office without Lord Grey and Lord Lansdowne. See Ashley's +_Life of Lord Palmerston_, vol. i. p. 211.] but the Duke seems determined +to go on as he is, Peel and all, even Bathurst, seem to have a correct view +of the danger; but I see no flinching. + + +_October 4._ + +Saw the Duke. Suggested that we must soon consider what should be done with +respect to the China trade. If we were to give up the monopoly we had +better do so at once, on the first day of the Session, with a good grace, +and not make ourselves appear to do it with reluctance. The Duke said we +must certainly consider it. Had I talked with the Chairs about it? I said +no. I had thought it best to wait till the Cabinet had come to a decision +as to what should be done. I had privately advised them to turn over in +their minds the plan of the Company going on with the Government slightly +varied, but without monopoly. + +The Duke said he could not make up his mind without hearing first what the +Chairs had to say. I observed that if they, that is Astell, thought the +Government hesitated, they would certainly say they could not go on without +monopoly. However, the Duke seemed to think it was impossible for the +question to come before the Cabinet before we had talked with the Chairs. +So I have asked him and Loch to meet at the Treasury at twelve on Monday. + +I should like to see Tucker and Stuart, but I must do it privately, as I +have no principle to go upon in consulting with individual Directors. + +The Duke seems very reluctant to give up the monopoly, and to have very +exaggerated ideas of the value of the Company's intervention. + +He showed me a letter he had received from Molé, in which he takes a very +moderate view of the Belgian question. Expresses the most earnest desire +for peace, as war would place everywhere the two extreme principles in +conflict. France will not interfere, neither can she suffer others to +interfere, in the internal affairs of the Netherlands. He hopes to be able +to arrange everything amicably. + +A letter the Duke showed me from Rothschild's brother is still more +satisfactory if the view taken in it be correct. He says France will, _with +England and the Allies_, amicably settle the question; but she will not +have to be excluded. + +He mentions Leopold as a probable King of Belgium. + +The Court of Turin [Footnote: The first French Republic had made a similar +non-recognition a plea for seizing Savoy.] seems to be in a great fright +because the French Government took huff at their not recognizing at once. +They were afraid to do so till they heard what the great Powers did. + +M. de la Tour says they can bring 60,000 or 90,000 men into the field, if +Genoa is guarded for them by a fleet; but Genoa would require 14,000 men. +On that place they must retreat. + +The Spaniards seem to be going on well. They mean not to be _empressés_ +with their recognition, but are advised not to be the last. + +There have been insurrections at Hanau, Swerin, and I know not where else. +The Diet intend to vary the law of the Empire and to allow any neighbour, +whose assistance may be asked, to give it at once. + +The Emperor of Russia received General Athalia very graciously, but he +keeps him waiting for his answer. Lieven professes himself well satisfied +with our reasons for immediate recognition. So does Metternich. In fact +they cannot do without us, and if we lead they must follow. + + +_October 5._ + +Cabinet. Goulburn's Civil List. He transfers to the Consolidated Fund all +the salaries heretofore partly paid by the Civil List, and in diplomacy +there is a reduction of 28,000£ a year. + +It is supposed there can be no reduction in the great departments in the +article of tradesmen's bills, or in the Board of Works. + +The King gives up the Droits [Footnote: 'Droits of Admiralty.'] without any +compensation. This is all a loss to the privy purse. + +It seems possible to reduce perspectively many officers in England and in +Ireland who do not really contribute to the state of the crown. This, +however, did not occur to Goulburn but to Peel. + +The account of Liege is very bad indeed. Things there seem going on in the +style of the French Revolution. + +Nothing can be better than the account from France. They will be pleased by +the letter read to them. All they feared was the attempt to exclude them +from all concert in the settlement of Belgium. They think neither the King +nor Prince Frederick can return to Brussels; but the Prince of Orange may, +and this will, I think, be finally settled. + + +_October 6._ + +Council at 2. Talleyrand was presented. He backed to the window and read a +speech in which there were several erasures. He declared the determination +of France to pursue the course so wisely followed by England of non- +interference. He spoke of himself as 'Ministre d'une Royaute votée à +l'unanimité.' + +The King did not much like receiving him, and was a little nervous. To what +Talleyrand said about noninterference the King answered it was a very good +thing, especially when exercised _de bonne foi_. This he said by Aberdeen's +advice. + +I read the King of the Netherlands' letter. He asks distinctly for +_military assistance_. + +Cabinet dinner at the Duke's. The Prince of Orange is gone to Antwerp. This +the Duke thinks the very worst step that could have been taken; the only +mistake the King has made. In fact the King was unwilling, and ever since +the affair of Brussels there has been a coolness between the King and the +Prince. The Duke fears the consequences of the Prince's going, because he +is a man devoted to popularity-vain. The Duke and Talleyrand were talking +about popularity. The Duke said those who loved it never loved it with +moderation. Talleyrand said, 'Il n'y a jamais de modération, où il n'y a +pas de _goût_--et il n'y a pas de gout dans l'amour de la popularité!' The +Duke asked Talleyrand what sort of a man the Duke of Orleans was. 'Un +Prince de l'Ecole normale.' Of the Queen he said, 'Elle est bonne femme, et +surtout grande dame--c'est ce qu'il nous faut.' + +Talleyrand said he had given the King a piece of advice, '_to go to +Neuilly_'--that is, to rescue himself from the vagabond cortége. + +Talleyrand is very well pleased with the letter sent to Paris, and the +foreign Ministers are satisfied. + +The King (our King) seemed to me to be very weary to-day. Aberdeen said he +was a good deal distressed at the state of Europe, and rather anxious. + +Lord and Lady Holland and Rothschild appear to be the only people besides +the Ministers who have called on Talleyrand. Lord Holland is very much with +him. Lord Holland is doing all he can to save the lives of the French +Ministers--for the interest of the French Government, not of the Ministers +themselves. He has written to La Fayette and to the King. + + +_October 7._ + +I forgot on what authority it was mentioned yesterday, but it was mentioned +as a fact that the Liberaux would not have done anything unless they had +been certain of the Duke of Orleans. So afraid were they of a revolution +that they would have submitted to the Ordonnances rather than run the risk +of it. + + +_October 9._ + +At Canterbury heard more particulars of the machine-breaking now going on +in the neighbourhood. Notice is given, and the frames are broken. One +gentleman boasted at market they should not break his, as he had armed men +to protect them. They on the same night set fire to his rickyard. Sir Henry +Oxenden's sons went out to meet them, when they came according to notice to +break Sir Henry's machines. One man spoke for the rest. He acknowledged Sir +Henry seldom or ever used his machine, and that he was the landlord in Kent +who gave most to the poor; but they must do as they were ordered; they +would, however, do as little as they could, and they only sawed off a +shaft. + +The farmers now leave their thrashing machines out in the fields to be +broken. + +The rickyard of one gentleman was set on fire because he committed a man +for machine-breaking. He lost 6,000£, nothing being insured. + +It seems suspicions are entertained that the machine-breakers are not all +of the station they assume. They all wear smock frocks, but their language +is better than their dress. When money was offered them, if they wanted it, +by the Oxendens, they said they did not want money, they obeyed orders. + +It is reported, but this must be an exaggeration, that 500 assembled lately +on a Down near Mr. Brockman's. + +The magistrates have no good evidence against any. Some Bow Street officers +are here. Lord Winchelsea and Sir Edward Knatchbull have been here at every +meeting of the magistrates, although they live eighteen miles off. + +The Provisional Government of Belgium have declared the independence of the +country and the defeazance of the House of Orange. In the meantime the +Prince of Orange is arrived at Antwerp, as Viceroy, with a Belgian Etat +Major Civil. + +It seems probable the Chamber of Deputies will abolish the punishment of +death for political offences, and so save Polignac. + +The levy of 108,000 men will hardly make the French army 240,000 effective, +for it was not full before the Revolution, and numbers have deserted; +besides the disbandment of the Guards, which was 25,000 men. + + +_October 11._ + +Cabinet. Aberdeen read Lord Stuart's account of his interview with Molé. +Molé suggests an immediate conference, and thinks the Prince of Orange may +be made Sovereign of La Belgique. No communication will be held by the +French Government with the Provisional Government of Belgium. They will +communicate through the King. + +It is proposed to have the Conference here. The Ministers of Austria, +Prussia, and Russia have expressed their readiness to acquiesce in anything +proposed by this country. They may inveigh against the diplomacy of +England, but in moments of danger all rally under our wing. + +Molé distinctly admitted that the existence of the present Government of +France depended on its remaining on good terms with England and Prussia, +and the affairs of Belgium gave them an opportunity of showing _la droiture +de leurs principes_, &c.--in short, of gaining a good character. + +It was decided against guaranteeing the sum of 500,000£ the Dutch wish to +raise here. There would be no end to such loans if we once began to assist +the credit of foreign States. Parliament would not approve of the measure. +To the Dutch Government it is important that this Administration should +remain, and likewise that their own credit should not be injured in all +Europe by the confession of weakness which their recourse to us implies. + +To guarantee a loan is to give money, and to do that is to assist one of +the parties to lose the mediatory character, and, in fact, put ourselves +out of the Congress. + +Hardinge can reduce 57,000£ a year in net and on the Civil List, 30,000£ on +the Pension List, and 27,000£ on officers of State. + +We had some talk about details, but Goulburn does not reduce as much as +Hardinge. + +Had some talk with the Duke and Peel respecting the fires in Kent, and the +breaking of frames. Five are in prison. The Duke thinks smugglers are at +the bottom of it. + +There has been alarm at Carlisle. The officers in command of the castle +apprehended an attempt to surprise it and seize the arms. Men had been seen +measuring the wall. Sir J. Graham was alarmed about it. Orders will be +given to provision for thirty days all the places where arms are kept, the +town included, where there are 600,000 stand of arms. In the meantime all +classes are more comfortable in this country than they ever were, and this +alone keeps down insurrection. There are leaders but no troops. + +Hardinge reports that the spirit in Ireland is _disimproved_ since the +events in Belgium. + +There is to be an Anti-Union Society, which, as soon as it meets, will be +put down under the Act. + + +_October 12._ + +At nine went to Apsley House. Met the Chairs. We went in to the Duke. Our +conversation lasted two hours. As they are to send in a _procès verbal_, it +is unnecessary for me to state it. The substance was that, supposing the +monopoly to be taken away, they would administer the Government of India as +heretofore on one of two conditions; either closing their account with the +public and receiving payment in full, or an equivalent annuity for all +their property in India, in which case they would require no guarantee of +the present dividend; or making over all their property, and taking a +perpetual guarantee of the dividend. + +The public to make good in either case all deficiency of Indian revenue, +and in either case the Company to be the agents for the territory, +providing all necessary sums here and receiving repayment at a rate of +exchange to be paid from time to time fairly. + +The Chairs were given to understand that the public being liable to the +making good of Indian deficiency, we should require a strict control over +the whole expenditure _here_, as well as in India. + +They show, especially Campbell, a disposition to leave off trading and +become gentlemen. They were told by the Duke that if they did so we must be +at liberty to revise our arrangement with them. We might as well go to the +Bank as to them, if we were to treat with a body not commercial. + +The Duke seems much pleased with his foreign prospects. + +M. de Choiseul was waiting to see him. I suppose on the affair of Holyrood +House. + +It seems probable that the French will abolish the punishment of death, and +so save Polignac. + + +_October 14._ + +Found at the office several papers giving accounts of Radical meetings in +Lancashire. All the old Radicals are reappearing on the scene. They do not +as yet seem to be attended by any numerous assemblies, never above 200 or +300. + +A letter from a clergyman at Wrotham speaks of burnings near that place, +and of the bad conduct of the people who interfere with the working of the +engines, and seem to rejoice in the destruction. + +Read all the papers relating to the education of the Princess Victoria, who +seems to have been admirably brought up. + +At the Cabinet room read a long and excellent letter of Hardinge's +respecting the state of Ireland. + +The 87th Regiment at Newry, when paraded for church, refused to march +without music, to which it had been accustomed in the south. It had been +discontinued in the north to avoid displeasing the Orangemen. + +The captain sent for the Lieutenant-Colonel Blair, who was at first +disobeyed, but he placed a drum to have a drum-head court martial, and then +they marched. The Duke says it is, and always has been, the worst regiment +in the service. It ran away at Salamanca and exposed him to being taken +prisoner. It has always been unmilitary, and from the same cause, a +disposition to seek popularity on the part of its officers. Hardinge +proposes embarking it at once for the West Indies. The Duke prefers +bringing it to Dublin, where there are other regiments to keep it in order, +and soon sending it to England, and by detachments at no distant period to +Botany Bay. They do not expect there will be any further exhibition of +mutinous spirit. The only mischief of this is the effect at this time. + +There have been apprehensions of an attempt to scale the Pigeon House, and +a full garrison has been ordered into it, with directions to add to its +defences on the seaside so as to protect it from escalade. + +Hardinge can bring twenty guns together in a very short time, at any point +in Dublin. He talks of arming the students in Trinity College in the event +of an explosion. + +They rather expect an explosion about the 18th or 19th, when probably there +will be the first meeting of the new Association. + +This it will be the first object to put down by the Act of 1829. The +meeting to petition for the repeal of the Union will be permitted. + +Hardinge is quite himself on horseback. The only fear is that he should be +too lively. Peel seems to think he is; but it is a great comfort to have +him there instead of Lord Francis Leveson, who was always wrong. + +The King of the Netherlands has called his States at the Hague, the +Constitution requiring them to meet this year in Belgium. He takes +advantage of the provision in the Constitution which permits him to call +the States in Holland in case of war. They fear the loss of Antwerp. The +Prince of Orange thinks things look better. + +The Netherland Ambassador is much annoyed at the refusal of pecuniary +assistance; but, as was expected, the Dutch have got their money, only +paying a little more for it. + +Our depots are only 160 strong. We have hardly a battalion. One or two at +least of those which were going abroad will be retained for a time. + +The Duke of Brunswick does not much like abdicating. The Duke of Wellington +thought he had brought him to make his brother Governor-General for his +life, retaining the succession for his children. However, Aberdeen seems to +have blundered him back again. He is to go to see the King on Saturday. The +King desired he might come early, that he might not be obliged to have him +to dinner, and he desired Aberdeen would remain in the room. + +Pozzo thinks the French Government is gaining strength; but they are very +inefficient in preventing armed men from assembling on the frontiers of +Spain. + +The French have exercised such coldness towards the Belgians that they are +become unpopular. De Potter was French while he had hopes of becoming so. +Now he is a Republican. + +The Austrians will send troops into the Sardinian dominions if there is any +insurrection. [Footnote: They had similarly interfered to put down the +Constitutional movement in Piedmont which followed on the Neapolitan +revolution of 1821.] This by invitation. + + +The Queen of Spain has, it is said, a son. [Footnote: It was a daughter, +afterwards Queen Isabella II., born October 10, 1830. The alteration of the +succession in favour of the female line led to a civil war on Ferdinand +VII.'s death. A son might have secured peace, but probably without a +Constitution.] This event would, it is thought, secure Spain against any +revolutionary movement. + + +_October 15._ + +Called on the Duke. Settled with him the alterations necessary in the +Chairs' memorandum of the conversation on the 12th. He thought we had gone +too far in leading them to expect they should be repaid the money they had +sunk in the territory while they held the Government. + +Received from him the opium letter. He thinks the principle good, but +considers it is not fair to make the Scindians prevent the transit of +opium. We cannot prevent them, for they are independent; but unless we +endeavour to persuade them, and succeed in doing so, we shall lose our +opium revenue. + + +_October 16._ + +Chairs at 11. Head over with them my alterations of their protocol. Astell +did not seem to see the greatness of the variations. Campbell did, and +particularly observed upon the words, 'value of the fixed property in India +which might be adjudged to appertain to the Company in their commercial +capacity.' He wanted an admission of the justice of the claims, leaving +nothing for adjustment but their amount. I said we could not admit claims +without examination, the nature of which we did not yet know. All we could +admit was that the claims were such as should be submitted to examination, +and their validity decided upon just principles. + +Astell wished to go back again and recommence the discussion. I said he +knew I could decide nothing without the Cabinet, and he nothing without the +Court; all he had to do now was to bring the subject before them. + +He asked whether they were distinctly to understand that the Cabinet had +decided upon the termination of the monopoly? I said that the question not +having yet been before the Cabinet I could not give an answer officially; +but when the First Lord of the Treasury and the President of the Board of +Control desired to know what the course of the Court would be in the event +of its being proposed that the Court should administer the Government +without monopoly, I thought it was not difficult to draw an inference. + + +_October 19._ + +Sent to the Duke a memorandum on his letter. Read at the Cabinet room. The +King of the Netherlands is much annoyed at the desertion, as he thinks it, +of his allies. He now proposes a Congress of the Four Powers and _France_ +at Breda or Cleves. He admits France very unwillingly, and by no means +acquiesces in the reasoning in favour of the advance we made. + +Sir Ch. Bagot seems to think the Prince of Orange will be losing the +affection of the Dutch without gaining the Belgians. + +The German Confederation is arming in the neighbourhood of Hanau for the +preservation of the peace. They have put 6,000 or 7,000 men in motion, and +have a reserve of 15,000 or 18,000. + +The excitement against Polignac and Peyronnet increases, and the Ministers +run the hazard of their places by attempting to save them. I fear that is +hopeless. The Spanish Radicals seem to find it would be dangerous to pass +the frontier. + + +_October 20._ + +Office. Cabinet room. The Prince of Orange has written a most offensive +letter to the King of the French, almost insinuating that the troubles in +Belgium are fomented by France, and saying that by a declaration against +the Belgians France would show her good faith, and secure the recognition +of Russia. The French Cabinet is much offended at the silence of the King +of the Netherlands, and Count Molé is going to write to the Dutch Minister +upon the subject. + +Nesselrode seems to see great difficulties in the intervention of France in +the settlement of Belgium--the union of Belgium and Holland having been +made _against_ France. The Russian Minister at the Hague has general +directions to follow the course of England upon all points not provided for +by his instructions. + +There is a great fall in the Funds to-day; partly, it is said, in +consequence of those who desired to keep up the Funds being no longer able +to do so; partly from the general aspect of affairs. My surprise is that +the Funds have not fallen before, and much more. + +Cabinet dinner at the Duke's. Showed the protocol of our Conference with +the Chairs. The heads of the speech were read. Aberdeen's will not do at +all. To my surprise he intended to announce the recognition of Miguel, he +having engaged to do a great act of justice; that is, to publish the +amnesty. He will not do it till a British Minister arrives at Lisbon; that +is, he makes us, whom he has once deceived, dependent upon his word. This +would be a very incautious step on our part. We meet on Friday to consider +the speech in detail. + +We had a good deal of conversation about the Duchess of Kent's allowance, +which is to be much increased. It is proposed to give her 20,000£ a year. +She has now 12,000£ for herself and the Princess, out of which she pays +interest and insurance upon 12,000£ she borrowed on the Duke of Kent's +death for her outfit. + +The King has about thirty people at dinner every day, belonging to the +Household. His expense must be enormous in living. + + +_October 21._ + +Read in the newspaper the King of the Netherlands' speech. It is querulous +and angry. I really thought the Proclamation _extraordinary_ of the Prince +of Orange a forgery; but it is genuine, and he throws off all connection +with Holland, declaring the independence of Belgium, and placing himself +practically at the head of the Rebellion! + +On Monday night at a dance at the Lodge, Hardinge saw accidentally in an +evening newspaper, shown to him for another purpose, the advertisement of +the Anti-Union Association, and by seven o'clock the next morning the Lord +Lieutenant's Proclamation prohibiting it was placarded in the streets. This +is decision. There was no riot. Persons in general were satisfied the act +was right. O'Connell is alarmed. The Duke of Leinster is ready to sign a +declaration in favour of the Union. All is safe in Ireland with Hardinge's +promptitude. I wish he could remain and not come over to Parliament. + + +_October 22._ + +Saw Campbell, who was very nervous and anxious, and I at night wrote a +letter to Lord Hill in favour of his son--more, I admit, from a father's +feelings than from a conviction of being right. + +It seems the Lord Lieutenant not having been near Dublin when the +Proclamation was issued by Hardinge, he must have had a blank Proclamation +in his pocket, and have issued it without the opinion of the law officers. +He has good debatable Parliamentary grounds of defence; but he has trodden +upon the margin of the law. Not the worse for that in these times, when it +is most important that every one should see the Government are vigilant and +determined. + +Valdez, who entered Spain with a few hundred men, has been smashed at once. + +At the Cabinet we had a long discussion respecting the Regency question. +Aberdeen started the objection that the proposed measure was destructive of +the principle that the King could not die. On the other hand it was +contended that we maintained that principle. We made a Regent for _a King_. +We acknowledged _a King_; but we deferred taking the oath of allegiance +till we knew who he was. The difficulties attending the _unkinging_ of a +Sovereign on the birth of a Prince nearer to the present King seem greater +than any attending the measure proposed. It was ultimately determined that +the Chancellor should consult the judges and the law officers. + + +_October 23._ + +Cabinet. Twenty-six magistrates at Canterbury sentenced to three days' +imprisonment threshing machine breakers, who pleaded guilty! Such has been +the terror struck into them! Sir E. Knatchbull was in the chair. + +We went through the speech--not deciding absolutely upon the words; but +generally upon the substance. + +Then arose a conversation as to the Regency which, in this last hour, is +thought a point of importance. The Chancellor seems alarmed and unwilling +to move the suspension of the rights of the presumptive heir until the non- +existence of an heir apparent be ascertained, without the opinion of the +judges. It is admitted there is no written opinion to guide us. The analogy +of property is in favour of the heir presumptive; that of peerage in favour +of the heir apparent _in utero_. + + +_October 24._ + +Cabinet at 4. Read two letters from Hardinge. By his account all the men of +property will support the Government and the Union. + +The press is coming round--_bought_. A Mr. Conway, an able writer, is +furious against O'Connell, and, upon the whole, the Press is on our side. +Hardinge dilates with delight upon his military preparations and plans of +defence, and seemingly will be disappointed if he cannot put them into +execution. + +The Belgian Ministers resigned after the Prince of Orange's Proclamation. +He is left without advisers. He has endeavoured to get Sir Charles Bagot to +join him, and Grasioff. He sends for Cartwright. He seems much embarrassed. +In fact he is in heart a Belgian, and would sacrifice everything to be King +of Belgium. He never knew the Dutch, and not unnaturally likes the Belgians +better. They are indignant at his conduct in Holland, and with reason. He +seems to intend to rule the Dutch by means of the Belgians. This he cannot +do. + +The Duke of Wellington always thought him a silly fellow. + +The Provisional Government is going to send some mission here. + +We had a long talk about the Regency. Really it does us little credit to +begin now, within ten days of the meeting of Parliament, to consider that +question seriously. + +The Chief Justices will be asked whether, supposing the Queen to be +pregnant at the death of the King, the next living heir would succeed? How +in the event of the birth of a child the _de facto_ Sovereign is to be put +aside? And what should be done if the Queen only may be with child? The +difficulty consists in the oath of allegiance, which must be altered and +made conditional. But what a curious position the Queen Victoria would be +placed in, if a baby were to oust her after eight months of reign! + +I think the course adopted will be this--to make an oath of allegiance +conditional, saving the rights of a child to be born; to appoint the Regent +who would be named for the Princess Victoria, with the provision that on +the birth of a child the child's mother shall be Regent. + + +_October 25._ + +Cabinet at 4. Peel read letters he had received from Mr. Foster, the +magistrate of Manchester, Mr. Hulton, of Hulton, and a manufacturer whose +name I forget. They all give an alarming account of the state of +Manchester. The colliers have turned out in some districts, and where they +have turned out the mills are necessarily stopped. This has thrown numbers +out of employment. These colliers can earn 10_s_. a day; that is, as much +as many clergymen. The spinners can earn 5_s_. a day. Yet they turn out. + +This seems to be a manoeuvre like that of Lafitte when he refused to +discount bills. To stop the supply of coal is to throw all mills out of +work, and every one out of employment. The question is, Shall the masters +resist? If they do, there will be an early collision. If they do not, they +may defer it, but not long. Concession was counselled six weeks ago, on the +ground that, after the events in Belgium and in France, collision was +dangerous; and this even by bold men. It seems there are 3,000 infantry, 3 +guns, and about 600 or 800 cavalry near Manchester. Perhaps some howitzers +may be sent, but more force there is not. Peel at the Cabinet wrote a +letter to Mr. Taylor, saying that under ordinary circumstances he should +have counselled resistance or rather non-concession; but now it was a +doubtful question whether a collision at Manchester would not lead to +collision in many other places, and was our force sufficient? He was +desired to see Mr. Hulton, Sir E. Bouverie, and others, and to consider +what could be done, particularly whether Volunteer Corps could be formed. +The delegates who went to Mr. Chappell seem to be amenable to the law and +get-at-able. This will be done. + +The law officers came in and were asked as to the power of the Crown to +permit the formation of Volunteer Corps. They were desired to consider the +point. By the Act of 1794 there seems to be no doubt about it. + +Hardinge is arrived. He has been calling out O'Connell. I am sorry for it, +for O'Connell had declared he would not fight. O'Connell had called him the +Duke's aide-de-camp. So far it does good, that it lowers O'Connell still +more, and destroys the value of anything he might say against Hardinge. + + +_October 26._ + +Called on Hardinge. He says the accounts from Manchester to-day are worse. +In the House Lord Hill showed me a letter (from Sir E. Bouverie, I think), +giving a very alarming account--30,000 out of work, and apprehension of +early collision. + +Parliament opened. Took the oaths. Office. Lord Dalhousie was so ill on +June 4 that I have no idea of his being now Commander-in-Chief in India. + +Received a summons to a Cabinet at four _precisely_, and went to the +Foreign Office; but nobody came. I think it must have been summoned to meet +at Peel's house. The times are so critical that I should be sorry to lose a +Cabinet. I could not find out that any summonses had been sent from the +Foreign Office. There was a crowd of people in Downing Street, who had, I +dare say, followed the Duke from the House of Lords. There were a good many +about the House. All quite quiet. + + +_October 27._ + +_Levée_ at two. Addresses from the Church of Scotland, and the Lord Mayor +and Corporation of Dublin. Dr. Chalmers was with the Church of Scotland. +The Recorder of Dublin, Mr. Shaw, who is member for Dublin, made a speech +before he read the address--a thing quite unprecedented, and which might be +very inconvenient. The speech itself was innocent. The _levée_ by no means +full. + +Peel had an audience of the King, and in half an hour the King slept twenty +minutes. He says he never knew any man so much altered in three months. His +somnolency increases. He slept during an interview with Aberdeen yesterday. +When the Duke saw him he was alive enough. + +Cabinet. Prince at the Chancellor's. Some conversation respecting the +burnings in Kent. Peel thinks they were effected by a chemical process, by +some substance deposited hours before, and igniting when the perpetrators +are far off. The persons who met Lord Winchilsea expressed detestation of +the burnings, and went away to break threshing machines, but a man who +committed persons for breaking threshing machines had his ricks burnt; +another suffered the same thing who defended his threshing machines. I +believe the two offences to be committed by the same persons. The +magistrates are supine and terror-struck; but they have no police, no +military. Sir E. Knatchbull doubts whether they would arm as yeomen. Peel +does not seem to me to view with sufficient alarm the effect these burnings +will produce upon men's minds, and the example of impunity. Nothing was +said about Manchester. All seemed to think less seriously of our dangers +than they did some days back. + +The law officers mean to give in their report on the case put to them to- +morrow. They will say it is not provided for. The Chancellor has the judges +at dinner on Friday, and he will then obtain theirs. + + +_October 28._ + +Captain Harvey of the 4th Dragoons called by the King's desire to say the +King of Persia told him when he was at Teheran that he was hurt at not +receiving a letter from the King. I told Captain Harvey the King had +announced his accession to the Shah of Persia as he had to other +sovereigns. Captain Harvey was interpreter to his regiment. It seemed to me +that he rather wished to command the Persian troops. He is brother to the +tutor to Prince George of Cambridge. He is a very gentlemanlike man. + +The French insist on having the conferences respecting the settlement of +Belgium at Paris, if there are to be any regular conferences. They cannot +permit Talleyrand to act for them. The French would be jealous of him, &c. +We had wished to have the conferences here for the very reason that we +thought Talleyrand would do his utmost to have the credit of preserving +peace. I see there will be no Congress. The French think that, if they +stand still, the fruit will fall into their mouths. The folly of the Prince +of Orange will ruin his party in Belgium. The ambition of the Belgians will +induce them to attempt to form a separate State, which after much disorder +will be found impracticable; and as they will not become Dutch, they _will_ +become French. Then we shall have a war, and present forbearance only +postpones it. All the Volunteers who are acting in Belgium are French. All +the forces in the field are commanded by Frenchmen. French money is +employed. The French are really now carrying on the war covertly. + +Russia is paralysed by the devastating progress of the cholera morbus which +has reached Moscow. The Emperor is gone to Moscow to establish order and +obedience, for the civil and military authorities are quarrelling, and the +troops are unwilling to form the cordon. All cordons I believe to be +fruitless. It would be as wise to form a cordon against the wind. The +disease advances, however, along the high roads and navigable rivers. It is +the most extraordinary plague we have had. + +Prussia cannot act for fear of disorders at home, and Austria is literally +the only power to which war is possible. The French dare not go to war for +fear of a Republic. + +It seems the French Ministry will be partially changed, the Due de Broglie +and Guizot going out. The Due de Broglie seems to be a pedantic coxcomb. + +I pity the King of the Netherlands, who is a good man. To be hated by two- +thirds of his subjects, betrayed by his foolish son, and abandoned as he +thinks by his allies, must be great trials to him; while, although the +Dutch adore him and really love him, they will not give him money, and I +have a little doubt whether they will fight much. Probably, however, the +fear of pillage will make them do that for themselves. + +Read a very well-written pamphlet in reply to Brougham's two. I suspect the +writer is Philpotts. It is too powerful for an ordinary man, and far beyond +Croker. Neither is it in his style. Brougham has made Ridgway put forth a +letter stating that he never communicated upon the subject of the pamphlet +with Brougham--which is no denial that it is Brougham's. + +It is a good and useful pamphlet, and will teach the Whigs good manners by +showing them they cannot commit aggression with impunity. There is no part +much better done than that in which the falsehood and absurdity are shown +of what was said in the Brougham pamphlets respecting me. To be sure my +champion had a good case. What was said about me rather leads me to think +Lord Durham or T. Moore had a hand in it. + + +_October 29._ + +The letters from Manchester recommend resistance on the part of the +masters--that is, non-concession. This will put the colliers to the +necessity of adopting _force_, and in the defence of property we should +commence the contest, which can only be deferred, with great advantage. Mr. +Foster thinks the views of the Union have been shaken by the increase of +force near Manchester; and that, although there might be much disturbance, +the event would not be doubtful. One committee of the Union has proposed +acquiescence in the masters' terms. + +The accounts from Kent are bad. Peel has offered to send down a magistrate +and police officers, and to go to any expense. + +He was to receive Mr. Hammond, Plumptree, Lord Camden, and others to-day. +Poor Lord Camden, in the meantime, has the lumbago. + + +_October 30._ + +Cabinet. A very bad account of Manchester. No means of raising Volunteer +corps. Little hope of uniting the masters. The operatives triumphant. No +disposition, however, on their part to come to blows, and a confidence on +the part of the magistrates that a fight would be in their favour; but then +they must have _troops_, keep all they have, and get more if possible. + +Mr. Taylor recommends that constables should have the power of arresting +_picketers_ without warrant. + +Went through the speech. It will do very well now. + +Spoke to the Duke about Indian finance, and told him the result. He wished +to see all the papers, which were not yet quite ready. In the meantime +nothing is to be done, and we are to appoint the Committee. + +The Attorney and Solicitor-General deprecate the prosecution of a libel +transmitted for their opinion, and say they think it unadvisable to +prosecute without the sanction of Parliament! What this means I do not +know, unless it means that they are cowed. + +There is an infamous article in the _Times_ to-day, against the conduct of +the farmers and country gentlemen, and there are worse in the _Morning +Chronicle_. + +Had some conversation after dinner at St. James's with Frankland Lewis. He +longs for the Grants. I told him it would not do, and what sort of a man +Charles Grant was. Frankland Lewis does not seem to like his office, but he +says he shall bring it into order if he remains there, and make it a Privy +Councillor's office without drudgery. He and, indeed, all seem to wish they +were better and more boldly led in the House of Commons. All we want is +that. + + +_October 31._ + +Cabinet. On Monday the 25th the Prince of Orange left Antwerp. He embarked, +and intended to go to see his father, and then to come to England! On the +26th General Mellinot marched in and went on to Breda, with 5,000 men. On +the 27th (there having been a parley on the 26th), the populace attempted +to seize the arsenal. The citadel fired. The, town was on fire when Mr. +Cartwright came away, and is nearly destroyed. + +At Maidstone two or three ringleaders were seized very gallantly by the +magistrates, and carried off to the gaol by the cavalry at a canter. +However, there are but thirty-four troopers there. So four troops have been +sent from Windsor, a depot from some other place, and two guns from +Woolwich. All this was rendered necessary by an intended meeting on +Penenden Heath to-morrow. March, the Solicitor of the Treasury, is gone +down. + +There was much conversation about the state of the Press, and a resolution +taken to prosecute, notwithstanding the unwillingness of the law officers. +Scarlet appears to be quite cowed by opposition and the Press. + +This Press may be bought, but we have no money. Five-sixths of the Foreign +Secret Service money are preoccupied by permanent old charges--the Secret +Service money of the Treasury is preoccupied in the same way. + +There is a small sum of droits which may be turned over to the Privy Purse, +and then by the King to the Government, but it is not more than 3,000£. It +is thought that perhaps some of the pensions on the Secret Service money of +the Treasury may be turned over to the Foreign Office. The Treasury money +is the only money applicable to the purchase of newspapers. + +We twaddled a great deal over the speech. It was proposed by Peel to insert +a paragraph referring to the disturbed state of the country. He will write +it, and we shall consider it in a Cabinet at St. James's to-morrow at one, +before the Council. + +Lord Bathurst is more alarmed than any one; but Peel is a good deal alarmed +too. + +There is _danger_, for there are many to attack and few ready to risk +anything in defence. It was otherwise in 1793. + +The Duke thinks that with every disposition to do mischief there is no +conspiracy, or we should have heard of it. + + +_November 1._ + +Cabinet at St. James's at one. The Lord-Lieutenant has prohibited, by +Proclamation, the meeting of the Volunteer Society. Very properly and +consistently. It was a much more dangerous society than the other. He is a +firm man, not to be turned from the course he thinks right. + +O'Connell has not been spoken to in the clubs he has entered. At Brookes's +they turned their backs upon him. + +There was no meeting at Maidstone. Probably they had intimation of the +movements of troops. Lord Beresford told me there were 3,000 artillerymen +at Woolwich, enough to serve guns for an army. + +Went through the speech again. Aberdeen is the most obstinate man I ever +saw, about the mere _words_ of his part of the speech. We lost half an hour +at least in talking about words to-day. Peel read his concluding sentence, +which is very good. He laments the outrages, and the attempt to disturb the +concord between portions of the empire whose union is essential to their +mutual strength and happiness, declares the King's determination to exert +the powers confided to him by the Law and the Constitution for the +punishment of sedition, and ends by expressing a firm reliance on the +loyalty of the great body of the people. + +As far as I could judge by the King's countenance when the speech was read, +he acquiesced, and thought it right, but was pained at being obliged to +hold such language. + +I had prepared a paragraph to be used in case it had been thought right to +say anything about India. For my own part I thought it better not. We could +not produce a measure this year, and it would hardly be fair by the Court +to declare to Parliament that we thought the monopoly must be put an end to +without having previously acquainted them with our determination. The Duke +said he had seen nothing yet to satisfy him that the revenues of India +could meet the expenditure without the China trade. I think his reluctance +increases to put an end to the present system. My disposition to terminate +the existence of the Company increases the more I see of them. + + +_November 2_ + +House at five. Lord Bute made a very long, heavy speech. Lord Monson a very +little one, not bad. The stuff would do; but he has neither stature nor +voice. + +We then had Lord Winchilsea, Lord Camden, Duke of Leinster, and Lord +Farnham. Lord Winchilsea right in tone, but desiring inquiry into +agricultural distress. This, too, was the burden of a mouthy speech made by +the Duke of Richmond, whom I had nearly forgotten. Lord Farnham spoke, as +he always does, well. He deprecated the dissolution of the Union, but +desired relief for Ireland. This, too, was desired by the Duke of Leinster, +who spoke very firmly, as all did, against agitators. + +Lord Grey said it was a moment of great _danger_ and _importance_. +Fortitude, caution, and wisdom were required. He spoke strongly against the +dissolution of the Union, and against the disturbers of the public peace +everywhere. He used the words of the speech, _grief_ and _indignation_. He +joined in the determination to put down sedition by law. Rejoiced no new +laws were asked for. Approved of the prompt recognition of King Louis +Philippe; lamented the _necessity_ of the French Revolution. Said 'all +Revolutions were in themselves evils,' although they might produce eventual +good. Expressed his hope, for the honour of France and for the interests of +Liberty, that they would not sully a Revolution hitherto unstained by a +single act of vengeance. This part of his speech was very well worded and +spoken. He objected to the terms in which the passage respecting the +Netherlands was worded, as seeming to cast all the blame upon the Belgians, +and so to make our mediation less effectual. He likewise objected to the +making the Portuguese Amnesty a seeming condition of the recognition of +Miguel. Of the recognition itself he did not complain, as he had so long +been King _de facto_. These objections were fair. + +Lord Farnham having suggested the necessity of preparing for war, Lord Grey +said the preparation should be by gaining the hearts of our own people--and +he advocated, but very temperately, Reform. He did not, however, allow that +there was any abstract right to a particular mode of constituting a +Legislature. The right of the people was to a _good Government_, and to +whatever form of Legislative Assembly might seem best to secure that +Government. + +His speech was good, and temperate, as well as firm. The Duke of Wellington +followed him. He declared his intention to oppose Reform. He said we were +not bound to interfere for the maintenance of the Amnesty further than by +advice and remonstrance, not by war. + +I should mention that Lord Grey seemed pleased by the abandonment of the +droits. He was not very well, and at times was almost unable to proceed. + +Upon the whole the tone of the debate was very good, and will do good. + + +_November 3._ + +Office at eleven to see Col. Houston. + +Upon the whole the debate in the Commons was satisfactory. Peel was very +much cheered. O'Connell spoke well, and was heard in perfect silence. +Brougham made an ordinary speech; theme a bad one, violent. + +There was much row in the streets yesterday; but all occasioned by attacks +upon the police, and attempts to rescue pickpockets. The Guards were called +out rather hastily. Colonel Rowan who commands the police has begged they +may be left to themselves. They are quite strong enough. + +Cabinet dinner at Lord Rosslyn's. No House of Commons people there. The +Prince of Orange is come. He has written to the King, and is to see him to- +morrow. It seems there are 7,500 men in the citadel of Antwerp, which can +only hold 2,000, and has provisions only for two months. The forts of Lillo +and Liefkenshoek are ill-garrisoned; so is Breda, and so is Bergen-op-zoom. +The Dutch have not 4,000 men in the field near Breda. The question is, +whether the evacuation of the citadel of Antwerp would not be advisable for +the purpose of getting out the 7,500 men. It seems that if Flushing be +held, the Scheld is of no use. The Conference respecting Belgian affairs +meets to-morrow, Talleyrand being sole representative of France. The first +object will be to establish an armistice. + +After dinner we had some conversation respecting the debate in the Commons +of last night. Peel is disgusted at not being supported by the three +Cabinet Ministers present, who knew the whole subject which had been so +often discussed in Cabinet--yet not one of them rose to answer Brougham. +The Duke is very angry with them, and says he shall take an opportunity of +advising Peel in their presence never to rise till Brougham has spoken, let +others be abused as they may. If the three mutes will not speak, it is +clear they will not remain in very long. + +I consider a debate to be a battle, in which the chief should be able to +put every man into the fight, as he would every battalion, with a view to +the ultimate object; he himself being the reserve. + + +_November 4._ + +It seems Sir G. Murray did speak last night, but he went further than he +intended on Reform, and so rather damaged our position as a Government. + +Office. Saw Mr. Sullivan. He seems a sensible, liberal man. His evidence +would be a death-blow to the government of the Company. He says the cotton +of Coimbatore is carried to Tinnevelly and thence to Madras by country +boats, where it is taken up by the China ships. It might be sent directly +to the sea on the Malabar coast, the distance being 300 miles. There is no +obstruction to the cultivation. The country is under a Ryotwar settlement. +The unequal demand of the Company is very injurious. Their great demand at +some periods encourages cultivation and raises prices exorbitantly--the +next year there is no demand at all. They now purchase by contract. The +contracts are too large for the native merchants, and fall, as jobs, into +the hands of Europeans. Sufficient notice is not given of the contract. The +native merchants have from one lac to one and a half. + +Great injury is sustained by the tobacco monopoly. The Company's officers +sell it as retailers. The Government is, as I always thought, practically +in the hands of the natives. They require European co-operation, but if +they combine against their European superior he can do nothing. House at +five. Lord Winchilsea made a violent tirade against the Administration, +without any motion before the House. The Duke made a few observations on +the point of order very quietly, and we rose. + + +_November 5._ + +St. James's at half-past one. The clergy of the Province of Canterbury were +there, with their address on the accession. They were not expected, and +there were no gentlemen pensioners. However, they delivered their address +to the King on the throne, and a very good address it was. Peel had to +write the answer in a hurry. + +Recorder's report. One man left for execution for a street robbery +accompanied with violence. + +The Recorder gave but a bad account of the disposition of the City. The +Chancellor seems a good deal alarmed, and so does Peel. Every precaution is +taken, but I cannot help fearing there is a conspiracy of which we know +nothing. Aberdeen suspects connection with France. + +We are to inquire into the circumstances of the fires in Normandy, which +seem very much to resemble ours. We have had one near Godstone, and another +at Fair-lawn, in Kent; the sufferers unoffending persons. The object seems +to be to spread general terror. It is clear that they are effected by the +discharge of some chemical preparation, which ignites after a time. No +watching has any effect. Fires take place where no one has approached. + +Goulburn told me he thought Sir G. Murray had said much more than he +intended, purely from want of habit of speaking; still he had done much +injury. + +The new French Ministry is formed, and Lafitte is at its head. He pretends +to have the same views as the late Ministry; but it is impossible to +suppose the French can resist the offer of Belgium. We shall have no war if +we can preserve internal peace and the integrity of the Constitution. + + +_November 6._ + +A letter from Hardinge, who seems to think we stand ill, not for want of +numbers, but of speakers. Astell told me the Duke's declaration against +Reform had injured him in the City. + +Saw Wortley, and had a long conversation with him respecting the state of +the Government. He thinks we cannot go on. The Duke's declaration against +Reform has made it impossible for any to join him, and upon the question of +Reform it is doubtful if we should have numbers enough. + +We talked over possible Governments on the supposition that Lord Grey was +at the head, and that Peel remained in. In walking away I was overtaken in +Downing Street by Lord Graham, who had been waiting to speak to me on the +same subject. He seems to think our fall not so immediately necessary as +Wortley does. I then called on Hardinge, who had been with the Duke this +morning. Hardinge had candidly told the Duke that if he had a minority on +Reform, or a small majority, he would advise him to resign; and previously +to tell the King in what a situation he stood. If he had a good majority he +might perhaps get some to join; but if not, the position of the Government +would be as bad in February, or worse, than it was now. The Duke said he +thought things might do still. He had a number of young men who depended +upon him. He would take care to give the King timely notice. The King had +behaved very well to him. Indeed I know the Duke feels very strongly how +admirably and how kindly the King has behaved. + +Lord Maryborough had been to Hardinge to express his fears for the Duke's +life, and the Duke has received many letters informing him there is a +conspiracy to assassinate him on Tuesday, as he goes to Guildhall. + +Hardinge said every precaution should be taken, but he begged Lord +Maryborough not to tell the Duke his apprehensions. Hardinge, however, has +the same; and fears there may be an attempt that day to make London a scene +of barricades like Paris and Brussels. Troops will be disposed at intervals +in bodies of half battalions, with provisions, and there will be 1,000 +cavalry. Two guns will be ready with the marines at the obelisk, and two in +the park. Hardinge observed to the Duke that he knew he had bolts inside to +the doors of the carnage, and added, 'I shall take pocket pistols!' The +Duke said, 'Oh! I shall have pistols in the carriage.' Hardinge asked the +Duke to take him, which he does. Arbuthnot goes with the Duke, too. I wish +I could manage to follow him in my carriage. I shall buy a brace of double- +barrelled pocket pistols on Monday. Hardinge showed me his. + +The Duke has made himself very obnoxious by declaring his resolution to +oppose Reform, which in fact, however, he did not do in such terms as has +been said. + +Hardinge told me there was a proposal to Palmerston and others in the +summer, and they at once started the difficulty of Reform, which put an end +to the negotiation. If I thought Reform would tranquillise the country I +should be quite satisfied with a change of Ministers which would produce +internal contentment, but that I do not expect. + +I shall take care to have records in the office to show the line I was +prepared to take on the East Indian Monopoly, and the steps already taken. +I shall likewise leave a memorandum upon the alterations I propose in the +army. + + +_November 7, Sunday._ + +All the morning occupied with a letter on the Salt question. At half-past +two rode to the Cabinet robin. The Cabinet was to meet at three. We did +not, however, all assemble till four, the Duke having been with Peel at the +Home Office. + +Before the Duke came we had all been talking of the Lord Mayor's Day, and +the manner in which we should go into the City and return, and the +precautions taken against riot. + +The Duke and Peel came together, and it was evident from the first words +the Duke spoke that he and Peel had made up their minds to put off the +King's visit to the City. The Chancellor seemed almost to take fire at the +idea of this, but the Duke very quietly begged him to hear the letters +before he decided. The Duke then read various letters he had received, all +warning him against going, as there was a plot to assassinate him, and +raise a tumult. One of them was from Pearson, a Radical attorney. There was +one from a coachmaker, saying he was satisfied, from what his men told him, +there was such a design, and offering to come with eighteen of his people +and guard the Duke. There was another offer, in a letter not read, to the +same effect. There was an examination of a man who serves a Radical +printer, and who formerly lived with Cobbett, which showed the intention to +exist of attacking the Duke. The impression seemed to be general that the +attempt would be made. There was a letter from the Lord Mayor elect +(Alderman Key) to the Duke, telling him there was an intention amongst +disaffected persons to excite tumult and confusion, and to attack him; that +he could not be in safety without a guard, and a strong one; and that if an +attack was made _in one quarter_ the civil force would not be sufficient. + +The Duke said he would not go. Peel, who had received many letters +informing him of the intention to assassinate him, said if he went he would +go privately, and come away privately. He observed that if our force, the +disposition of which was mentioned, and was admirable, succeeded in putting +down a riot along the line of the procession, he could not answer for the +security of life or property in other parts of the town. We had information +that the Duke's house would be attacked while he was in the City, and it +was to be feared that fires might take place to exercise terror and create +a diversion. + +The feeling in the Duke's mind was that we should not be justified in +giving an occasion for the shedding of blood, by means of a crowd of our +own making. The consequences of the collision would be incalculable, and +might affect all parts of England. + +The consequences of putting off the King's visit were not lost sight of; +the effect it would produce on the Funds, and on public confidence--all +that would be said against the Government as weighing down the King by its +unpopularity. + +The letter it was proposed to send was written, and the Duke and Peel went +with it to the King at a little before seven. + +While they were gone the feeling of the Cabinet underwent a change. Lord +Bathurst first observed that it would put an end to the Government, and +carry Reform. The Chancellor was most unwilling to postpone the King's +visit. It would be said we did it for our sakes only, and sacrificed him. +Lord Bathurst thought the King would take the advice, but be very angry, +and get rid of us. + +There would be a violent storm in Parliament, and the mobs would come to +our houses. All these feelings rested upon the supposition that the +procession could return without a tumult, but the letter had been written +on the supposition _that it could not_; which was the correct one. The Duke +and Peel came back and told us the King had thought the advice quite right, +and had behaved as well as possible. The tears were in his eyes while the +Lord Mayor's letter was read. He said he had already determined in his own +mind to bring the Duke and Peel back in his own carriage. The Duke thought +the King had rather expected the advice, and that his mind was relieved by +it. + +We knew the Queen was much alarmed; but it had been said that the King +would not hear of there being any danger. + +The account of the King's manner of receiving the advice seemed to +tranquillise those who had before been dissatisfied with the resolution +which had been come to. We then went to the Home Office, where we found +Alderman Thompson, Mr. Oldham (the Chairman of the Entertainment +Committee), Lord Hill, Lord F. Somerset, Sir W. Gordon, General Macdonald, +and Mr. Phillips. There were two City men I did not know. + +The Duke told them the course we had determined to adopt. Alderman Thompson +said he anticipated the decision--that it could not be announced in more +proper terms. There would be disappointment undoubtedly, but he thought +people in general would be satisfied with the reasons. He was almost in +tears, and indeed all were much affected--the _cause_ of the measure being +the apprehended danger to the Duke. + +Just as the letter was going off Alderman Thompson observed that although +he had no doubt the letter from the Lord Mayor elect was written by his +authority, as it was in a handwriting in which a letter had been received +from him by the Entertainment Committee, yet it was not in the Lord Mayor +elect's handwriting, nor was it dated or signed by him as the other letter +was. It was immediately determined that it must be ascertained whether the +Lord Mayor elect had authorised the sending of the letter before Peel's +letter to the Lord Mayor was delivered. + +Many began to think there was a hoax, and certainly the forgery of one +letter would have thrown suspicion upon all the rest. + +We were to meet at half-past ten. In going down at half-past ten I called +upon Hardinge, who was in his dressing-gown. His servant gone to bed. He +did not seem at all surprised. + +Went on to the Cabinet room. Found every word of the letter was in the +Lord Mayor elect's own handwriting. + +Mr. Phillips, Sir R. Binnie, and Col. Rowan came in, and Lord F. Somerset, +and Sir W. Gordon. The artillerymen and marines, of whom there were to have +been 500, with two guns, at the Obelisk, are not to be moved up. All the +other troops are to remain, and every precaution to be taken, as an attempt +to create disturbance may be expected on Tuesday. + +After we had disposed of this matter we spoke a little of Civil List and +Regency. Notice is to be given to-morrow of the two bills, _as if we were +still a Government_, but I now think nothing but general alarm can enable +us to weather the question of Reform. + + +_November 8._ + +The letter to the Lord Mayor is in the _Times_, and the measure is +temperately approved of. + +At the same time the result of the Conference on the affairs of Belgium is +announced--namely, the declaration that there must be an armistice. This +will, I trust, give more solid expectations of peace than men have +entertained since the King's Speech. The opening of the West India ports to +American ships is likewise announced. Both the measures are well-timed. + +Rode down to the Horse Guards. Overtaken by the Duke, who said he heard +that people were delighted with the measure of postponing the King's visit +to the City. However, whether they _would say so_ was another thing. He +spoke with much feeling of the King's kindness. He said he had behaved as +well as possible. + +Some boys hooted, but in general people took off their hats. + +Dodd, the coachmaker, told me the people in his neighbourhood were almost +all well-disposed. There were very few Radicals. Colonel Jones had told him +he could get very few people to attend his meetings, and none who were +respectable. + +Met Hardinge. He considers it to be the end of the Government. We met Lord +Hill, who lamented the measure, but concluded it was necessary. Went to the +office, where I saw Wortley. He thought it a sad business, and fatal to the +Government. He said London had been full of reports yesterday. Wynne was +talked of for the India Board. + +Hardinge's idea (as well as the reports) was that Leach would be +Chancellor, and Brougham Master of the Rolls. + +All the world was much amused by the Chancellor's giving a dinner to Lord +Grey, Brougham, Lord Lansdowne, and others. They themselves must have been +much amused, and the Chancellor's not getting to dinner till a quarter past +eight, and going away at a quarter-past ten, must have satisfied them that +something was in the wind. + +Desired Jones to make out the appointment of Leach's son to a clerkship +immediately, and signed it in the course of the evening. + +House at five. It was very full. Every Whig who is above ground and some +who are half under it were present. After an hour of talk about everything +but the only thing men were thinking of, the Duke of Richmond outed with it +in an offensive manner, and he is the last man who should have done so. The +Duke made his explanation very well. Lord Grey afterwards spoke in a very +bad temper, with personal civility, however, to the Duke. The Duke replied, +which prevented my speaking at all. Lord Grey had spoken 'of measures +tending to bring this country into the situation in which France was the +time of the late Revolution;' words which should have been taken up, but +the Duke's rising after him prevented it. + +Upon the whole I think the measure is considered right, and people are very +glad; indeed, the danger is no longer hanging over their heads. I hear that +in the Commons Peel did admirably, and that he was cheered by the whole +House when a Colonel Davies _sneered_ at the letter from the Lord Mayor to +the Duke. Brougham made as mischievous a speech as he could. + +The Chancellor gave notice of the Regency Bill for Friday. + +I do not think our friends see our danger, and they will never forgive us +if we go out of office without absolute necessity. + + +_November 9._ + +Looked into the Salt question in the morning. Cabinet at two. There was +last night a meeting at the Rotunda; about 2,000 people within, and 3,000 +or 4,000 without. About half-past ten they dispersed, and from 200 to 600 +ran down to Westminster, first going to the House, which was up, and then +to Downing Street. The police licked them well, and sent them off. They +came so quick that a man who headed them, and brought information to the +Home Office, where Peel and the Duke were, could not, by hard running, get +in advance above a minute, and they had passed the Horse Guards before the +Duke, who went there by the back way from the Home Office, had got into the +courtyard. He was going out at the door when the porter told him the mob +was passing. One man was taken, in whose pocket was found his will, leaving +his body to form a rampart against the troops, &c. + +It was determined to endeavour to induce the mob to disperse as soon as the +Rotunda was full, and then to read the Riot Act as soon as the law +justified it, and to disperse them by police. There will be common +constables there besides. Mr. Chambers will be there; and if he sends for +assistance to the Horse Guards, two bodies of fifty each, each headed by a +magistrate, will go over Westminster Bridge, one by Stamford Street, the +other by the Blackfriars Road, to the Rotunda. + +There will be about 300 or 400 new police there. I suggested to Chambers +the having a boat ready to take a note to the Horse Guards, as his +messenger might be impeded in the streets. Persons are flocking in from +Brixton and Deptford, and by the Kentish roads. + +Mr. Chambers represents the mob as very cowardly. + +There are two shorthand writers at the Rotunda. The speeches are not very +seditious. + +The _Times_ is turning against us, and I hear the Press is worse than it +was--none of the newspapers fighting our measure well. + +After the Duke was gone there was a little said about Reform. Many +defections announced--the Staffords, young Hope, Lord Talbot, the Clives +very unwilling to vote against it, thinking the public feeling so strong. I +suggested that neither the Duke nor Peel had gone further than to say that +no proposition had yet been made which seemed to them to be safe, and that +we might perhaps agree to a Committee to inquire into the state of the +Representation, and afterwards defeat the specific measures. Peel said he +thought the terms of the motion did not signify. It was 'Reform, or no +Reform!' He never would undertake the question of Reform. Lord Bathurst, of +course, was against me, and generally they were; but they had, before my +suggestion, said, 'Had we not better, then, consider what we shall do?' +Afterwards they said nothing. + +Peel and the Duke both think the measure generally approved, and Peel is +satisfied with the House of Commons. Goulburn, on the other hand, thinks +the general feeling is against us. + +House. Nothing said. There was a crowd at the door, and much hooting. I had +to drive my horse through it. While we were in the House the mob was +removed by the police. Not knowing this, Clanwilliam and I came home in the +Duke's carriage. There was no mob till we passed Bridge Street, where there +were a good many people who recognised the carriage, and followed it +hooting. They ran into Downing Street, and we passed on through the Horse +Guards. I was glad to find a Grenadier at the Duke's. Clanwilliam said he +had ten or twelve there. + +Altered the Bill respecting the fees of officers in the Superior Courts, +and sent it with a letter to Lawford, appointing eleven on Thursday for +seeing him at the office. + + +_November 10._ + +Office. Wrote a placard and showed it to Peel, who will have it printed. +The tide is turning. Carlisle began to abuse the Duke last night, and found +it would not do. Some cried out, 'He gained the Battle of Waterloo!' and +Carlisle was obliged to begin to praise him. He then tried to abuse the new +police, but that would not do, and he was obliged to praise them too. + +There was a good deal of rioting in different parts of the town. The City +Police was inefficient, and at Temple Bar rascals were masters for some +time. The new police, however, gave them a terrible licking opposite +Southampton Street, and not far from Northumberland House. They got licked, +too, in Piccadilly--and the whole was put down by the Civil Power. + +The military were so arranged that, had they been called for, they would +have enveloped the rioters. The thing may be considered as nearly put down, +and the Government strengthened by it. + +The Funds have risen to-day, and are as high as before the postponement of +the King's visit--indeed higher. So much for Lord Clanricarde's speech. + +Cabinet dinner at the Duke's. The King is anxious about the duration of his +Government. He would concede on the subject of Reform, although he is +against it. Peel told him he thought that by opposing all Reform in the +first instance the Government would be able to make better terms +afterwards. The King said either course had its conveniences and +inconveniences. He did not decide between them; but he evidently inclines +to concession. + +It seems the Queen _now_ declares herself much disappointed at not going to +Guildhall, and the Fitzclarence family are turning against the Government, +wishing, as the Duke says, to be Dukes and Duchesses, which is impossible. + +On Tuesday night 4,000 troops could have been collected in St. James's Park +in ten minutes. There were 2,000 police near Whitehall as a grand reserve. +The Lord Mayor wrote to Peel acknowledging the total inefficiency of the +City Police. The contrast between the City and Westminster was most +striking. + +The Press is turning against us. Like cats, they are leaving the falling +house. + +In the House of Commons this evening there was an almost unanimous shout +when Peel admitted that the new Bishop of Exeter was to hold the living of +Stanhope _in commendam_. It seems all unite upon that question, which is an +unlucky one, although the interference of Parliament is quite irregular. + +There was much talk about the Regency question after dinner, and I left +them talking still at half-past eleven. + +On Friday the Chancellor should open the question to the House, and we are +not prepared, having called Parliament together for this specific purpose! + +We have neglected the Press too much. The Duke relies upon the support of +'respectable people,' and despises the rabble; but the rabble read +newspapers, and gradually carry along with them the 'respectable people' +they outnumber. + +I do not think the being out of office for a Session would be of any +ultimate disadvantage to me. I am sure I should enjoy better health, and I +should have much more to do in the House. I should be enabled to regain my +proper place. + + +_November 11._ + +Office. Saw Wortley. He says the spirits of our friends are improved, and +those of our foes lowered, the few last days as to Reform. Cabinet at two. +A fire at Melton-Constable. The country round Battle and Hawkhurst almost +in insurrection. Troops sent there The accounts from France good. The +French Government acknowledges the right of the Diet to drive the Belgians +out of the Duchy of Luxembourg, which is a part of the German Empire. They +have instructed Talleyrand to promote the interests of the Prince of +Orange. + +Regency Bill. Decided that the Princess Victoria shall be considered Queen, +and the oath of allegiance taken to her with the reservation of the rights +of any child that might be born. If the child should be born, the Queen +Dowager to be Regent. During the Princess's minority the Duchess of Kent. + +The Duke saw the King to-day, and found him very well satisfied with the +postponement of the dinner, and tranquil. + +House. The Duke of Buckingham told me they had formed their Government, and +expected to be in in a week. They think the Duke will resign after Tuesday. +Lord Grey to be Foreign Secretary. The Duke of Richmond to be First Lord of +the Treasury. Palmerston and Grant Secretaries of State. Lansdowne +President. The Government to be as Tory as possible. The Chancellor to +remain. + +Lothian told me all the best old friends of the Government were against +Philpotts. I told him the reasons why Parliament should not interfere; with +which he was satisfied, and was sorry he had not heard them before. + +Lord Camden spoke to me on the same subject. I wish we could get rid of +Philpotts. He will damage us more than Reform. + +The Funds have risen to 84 3/4; that is, 7 1/2 per cent, in three days. I +believe this is the consequence, not only of the broken heads, but of the +idea that the Duke will be firm and not run away. + +We had a two hours' talk about agriculture; the Duke acquiescing in a +motion of Salisbury's for a Committee on the Poor Laws. + + +_November 12._ + +Wrote a note to Hardinge, suggesting to him the expediency of calling upon +Dr. Philpotts and placing before him the hopelessness of his keeping +Stanhope, the damage to himself of a vote of Parliament, and to the Church +from the example of Parliamentary interference, leading him to propose the +exchange of Stanhope for a living near Exeter, and I mentioned Dr. Barnes. +If this could be managed we should turn evil into good, and avoid the +division we must lose. The Funds rose to 853/4, and then fell to 84 3/4, +being still a rise. In the City they think the Government will stand. + +There have been threatening notices as near as Colnbrook. In Sussex and +Kent things are very bad. I did not, however, see Peel to-day. There was +nothing in the House. + + +_November 13._ + +It seems Peel and Scarlet licked Brougham well yesterday. The temper of the +House is said to have been rather good. Hardinge told me Goulburn made an +indifferent speech. Philpotts has so good a case that he looks confidently +to the result of the debate. We agreed that there was no reason-why the +_congé d'élire_ should not issue. Philpotts himself decides that it should, +happen what may as to Stanhope. + +We had some talk as to the division on the Civil List. Peel is for refusing +a Committee, and the separation of the diplomatic expenditure, and will not +yield because he is weak. I think he is right. The better face we put upon +it, the more votes we shall have. + +Hardinge suggested the placing of Doherty in Arbuthnot's office. Nothing +could be better than that arrangement; but he thought, and I think, the +Duke would not displace Arbuthnot. Arbuthnot knows more about my office +than any one else. Where would they put me? + +We had some conversation respecting the Regency. It was determined to +legislate as _little_ as we could. + + +_November 14._ + +Cabinet at four. Peel is of opinion that the fires are in many cases +perpetrated for stock-jobbing purposes. They are certainly done by persons +from London. + +He said he was satisfied that, whatever might be the division on Reform, +the question was carried. Admiral Sotheron, Lindsay, he thought [blank], +and I think he mentioned another, voted for it. If the county members did, +and it was thrown out by the representatives of Scotch and English +boroughs, it was impossible to stand much longer. He read a paper, +circulated for signatures in the parish of St. Ann, in which the +subscribers declare their readiness to be sworn in as special constables, +and their determination to protect property. At the same time they declare +their opinion that there ought to be a Reform, first in the House of +Commons; but of Church and State. This he considers the commencement of a +Burgher Guard. I cannot understand his reasoning; if he thinks Reform must +be carried, surely it is better to vote a general resolution, and to fight +the details. By objecting to the general resolution we shall probably be +turned out, and have much less power to do good out of office than if we +were in. + +It seems to me that obstinacy, and the fear of being again accused of +ratting, lead to this determination to resist when resistance is, in his +own opinion, fruitless. + +Clive, whom I saw to-day, is for a modified Reform; but he will vote for us +in order to keep the Duke in. + +We had a long conversation about the Regency, and agreed upon the substance +and form of the Bill. Aberdeen wanted again to open the whole question, on +which he has no fixed opinion. He has come round entirely. First he thought +the right was in the presumptive heir; now he thinks it must be in the +child _in utero_. + +It appears certain that at Carlisle the 9th was looked to as the day of +signal to them and to all England. It seems the plan was to attack the +Guildhall and massacre all in it. There would have been a smash, but a most +signal defeat, for there would have been 250 cavalry, and from 700 to 800 +Volunteers there (the East India Volunteers and the Artillery Company), +besides a battalion within reach. + +Sir Claudius Hunter has published in the _Sunday Times_ a denial of the +speeches attributed to him, and a statement of the City force. Their +ordinary force is fifty-four men! With Volunteers, Artillery Company, +Picket men, Firemen, Lumber Troop, &c., they would have had about 2,250. + + +_November 15._ + +House. A very temperate speech of Lord Durham, and a very good one of Lord +Suffield, respecting the new police. Lord Bathurst observed to me they +spoke as if they expected to come in. I mentioned Salisbury's motion for a +Committee which is to be made on Monday next, and Lord Bathurst said 'Shall +we be alive then?' He has a serious apprehension of being out. + +The Chancellor made a most excellent speech in moving the first reading of +the Regency Bill, and was cheered on both sides of the House. It seems as +if the measure would be unanimously approved. Lord Eldon seemed to say he +should advise the Duke of Cumberland to acquiesce in it. + +The ultra Tories were to have a meeting to-day--thirty-eight of them--to +decide what they should do about Reform. Yesterday the report was they +joined us; but the Duke of Richmond will do all he can to make them go +against us, and, if they do, I suppose we shall be obliged to make our +bows. + + +_November 16._ + +Goulburn opposed the submitting the Civil List accounts to a Committee, and +was defeated. We had 204 to 233. Majority against us, 29. Hobhouse asked +Peel whether Ministers would resign, to which he got no answer. Brougham +rose and said Ministers would have time for consideration. + +I suppose this division must be considered to be fatal to us. Henry is +going off to take chambers. He means to apply himself to the Law. He is +rather in a hurry. For my own part I am by no means sorry to be out of +office. I think I shall be better able to regain my proper station in +Opposition than I could have done in office, and the emoluments are of no +value to me now. + +Office. Saw Wortley. He is glad that the division against us has been upon +the Civil List, rather than upon Reform. He thinks we should resign to-day, +and thus throw upon the Whigs the burden of bringing forward Reform as a +Government measure. Probably Brougham would postpone his motion if we +resigned. + +At about half-past three I received a note from Sir Robert Taylor desiring +my immediate attendance at St. James's. I dressed and went, and in a few +moments was admitted to the King. I met Lord Melville coming away. The King +desired me to sit down, and asked me whether I had any expectation of the +division of last night? I said no--I thought that upon any question +connected with the Civil List we should have had a majority; that the +question itself was one of little importance; but, as the Committee had not +been granted before, Sir R. Peel thought it would be a confession of +weakness not to oppose it now, and I thought he was right. The King said it +was probably chosen as a question merely to try strength. + +The King asked me what had taken place between the Government and the +Company. I told his Majesty, and added an outline of the plan I had for the +new military arrangements, of which he seemed highly to approve. I then +said I supposed I must take leave of his Majesty. He said in one sense his +Ministers seemed to think they could not go on. + +I said I could not but express my sentiments, which were I was sure those +of all my colleagues--the sentiments of deep gratitude to his Majesty for +the constant kind and honourable confidence he had placed in us. + +His Majesty said he thought it his duty to give the full support of the +Crown to his Ministers. He had confidence in those he found at his +brother's demise; and since July 26, which was the commencement of our +troubles, he had regarded with admiration that which was most important in +their conduct, their Foreign Policy. He had a feeling of entire +satisfaction with them. + +I said it must likewise be satisfactory to his Majesty to feel that his +late Ministers, fully aware of the real difficulties of the country, would +never be led by any personal or party feelings to do anything which could +be _prejudicial_ to the country, and that whatever might be their +differences in principle from his new Ministers they would ever support his +Majesty's interests. + +The King was much affected, and had the tears in his eyes all the time I +was speaking to him. I then rose and kissed his hand, and he shook hands +with me, and wished me good-bye for the present. I asked for the _entrée_, +which he gave me very good-naturedly. As I came away I met Rosslyn going +in. The three Fitzclarences were in the lower room, seemingly enjoying our +discomfiture. + +House at five. The Duke had already declared that the occurrence which had +taken place elsewhere had induced him to think it his duty to tender his +resignation to the King, and his Majesty had been graciously pleased to +accept it. + +Lord Grosvenor asked a question as to the appointment of a successor to Mr. +Buller, and Lord Bathurst said none had been made. + +It is a sad loss to Wm. Bathurst, who would have been Clerk of the Council +if the Government had lasted three days longer. + +Nothing was said. Lord Grey has been sent for by the King. + +I went through all the protocols on the table, and have left hardly +anything but two unanswered letters to my successor--one respecting the +rate of Exchange between territory and commerce; the other respecting +Hyderabad affairs. + + +_November 19._ + +Office. Saw Cabell, Jones, and Leach. They had all the tears in their eyes. +Old Jones could hardly help bursting altogether into tears. Left directions +with Leach for placing certain papers before my successor, showing the +state of the finances and expenditure prospectively, and the position in +which we were as to the renewal of the Charter. + +Cabell will place the Hyderabad papers before my successor, with my letter +to Astell, and his reply. + +Called on Hardinge, who was not at home. + +I can only leave a memorandum in the office showing the nature and extent +of the military alterations I projected. + +Called on the Duke. He told me Peel came to him in a very nervous state on +Monday night. Arbuthnot and Goulburn were with him. It was clear that the +majority would have been against us if there had been a House of 500. The +Duke sent for the Chancellor, who said as soon as he heard of the division +he thought the game was up--that we could not go on. The Duke went to the +King in the morning, and told him it was better he should resign +immediately, and so force the new Government to bring forward their measure +of Reform. It was better for the country. The King asked the Duke's opinion +of Lord Grey, and whether he had ever had any communication with him. The +Duke said No. The King knew the personal objections the late King had to +Lord Grey, and he could not, although often pressed by Lord Grey's friends, +have any communication with him without either deceiving _him_ or deceiving +the King; and he would not do either. The King asked what sort of a man +Lord Grey was? The Duke said he really did not know. He had the reputation +of being an ill-tempered, violent man; but he knew very little of him. He +had never had any political conversation with him. The King was much +agitated and distressed. + +I told the Duke what passed at my interview with his Majesty yesterday. + +Drummond, Greville, and Sir J. Shelley, whom I saw in the ante-room, +congratulated me on being out, but condoled on Lord Durham's being removed +out of my way. He goes Minister to Naples _vice_ Lord Burghersh, +_dismissed_. It is understood Brougham will not _positively_ take my +office. + +Levée. The Duke of Buckingham told me the King was much out of spirits. He +expressed himself much pleased with his Ministers. + +The King desired Lord Camden to come and see him frequently--every three or +four days. + +The Duke of Newcastle, Lord Falmouth, Sir E. Knatchbull, Sir R. Vyvyan, +will not support the new Government. Having had their revenge they mean to +put their knees in our backs and do all they can to get out the others. +They are sorry for the work they have performed, and regret their vote. +They had intended to stay away on the question of Reform--now they mean to +vote against it. + +Lord Anglesey goes to Ireland; a very bad appointment. The Duke of +Devonshire would have been a very unexceptionable one. + +None of the Whigs or Whig Radicals were at the levée, but a good many +Tories. We were there as usual as Ministers, and those who had business +with the King went in to him as usual. + +I proposed to Herries, Goulburn, Arbuthnot, and others, that we should in +each department prepare a statement of what has been done since the Duke +came into office. This we shall do to-morrow. + +I likewise proposed we should have a large sheet of paper with columns for +the new Ministers, and in each column their pledges with the dates. + +Croker has promised to undertake a newspaper, probably the 'Star.' + +Arbuthnot told us before dinner that as yet no progress had been made by +Lord Grey, except in getting Lord Althorp after much solicitation. Brougham +has again in the House of Commons to-night declared he has nothing to do +with the new Government, and will positively bring on his motion on the +25th. The new Government wish to postpone the question till March, when +they promise to bring in a Bill. + +Lord Lansdowne is said to be much dissatisfied, and the Palmerston party +think they have not enough offered to them. It is evident that Brougham +prefers power to temporary emolument and distinction, and he will be very +dangerous acting at the head of the Whig Radicals. + +The Duke said 300 people had called upon him to-day--amongst the rest Lord +Cleveland, with whom Lord Grey was early this morning, and whom he in vain +endeavoured to induce to go to Ireland. + +William Bankes, whose father did us most mischief on Monday, and who did +not vote with us, came to ask the Chancellor for a living to-day! + +Lord Grey was much agitated when he was with the King, and has expressed +himself as very much struck by the strong terms in which the King declared +his approbation of his late Ministers. + +My fear is that the Whigs will not be able to form a Government. It is of +much importance to the country that their incompetence should be exhibited, +and the fallacy of the grounds upon which they have been attempting to +obtain popular favour. We shall never be strong until it is proved they +cannot form a Government. Again I say my fear is they will be unable to +take the first step. It was considered that we ought to transact all the +ordinary business of our several departments. + + +_November 18._ + +Called on Hardinge. He is out of spirits. Yesterday at the meeting of the +_employés_ Lord G. Somerset asked Peel if he would lead them--to which Peel +gave a damping answer. Hardinge feels that he is capable of business, that +his circumstances require he should exert himself and be in office; and, as +he would not take office without the Duke's acquiescence, he thinks it +rather hard he should be deprived of a Parliamentary leader, and thus of +the means of coming in. + +I told him Peel would be in Opposition in a fortnight, as soon as he +recovered his health and his spirits. There has been a report that the Duke +had declared he would not take office again--which is untrue. + +Office. Saw Jones. Received a letter from the Chairs asking whether I had +given Sir J. P. Grant authority to appeal to my sanction for his remaining +in India, notwithstanding the Order in Council for his return. My answer is +_No_. I add that I imagine the misapprehension arose out of some private +communications from Sir J. P. Grant's friends, of the purport of a +conversation with me which must have been inaccurately reported to him. I +showed my draft reply to Lord Rosslyn, and begged him to show it to Grant's +son. + +The report Hardinge gave me was that Lord Wellesley was to succeed me. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Political Diary 1828-1830, Volume II +by Edward Law (Lord Ellenborough) + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A POLITICAL DIARY *** + +***** This file should be named 10693-8.txt or 10693-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/6/9/10693/ + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Keren Vergon, Robert Fite and PG +Distributed Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Political Diary 1828-1830, Volume II + +Author: Edward Law (Lord Ellenborough) + +Release Date: January 12, 2004 [EBook #10693] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A POLITICAL DIARY *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Keren Vergon, Robert Fite and PG +Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + + + + + +LORD ELLENBOROUGH'S DIARY + +1828-1830 + +VOL. II. + + + A POLITICAL DIARY + 1828-1830 + BY EDWARD LAW + LORD ELLENBOROUGH + + EDITED BY LORD COLCHESTER + +[Illustration: fide et fiducia] + + IN TWO VOLUMES + VOL. II. + + LONDON + RICHARD BENTLEY & SON, NEW BURLINGTON STREET + Publishers in Ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen + 1881 + + + + +DIARY + + +_April 1, 1829._ + +The Duke of Wellington wrote to the King to ask if he had any objection to +raising the galleries. He had none. So we sent for Sir T. Tyrwhit, and had +him at the Cabinet dinner to ask him whether he could fix the galleries by +four to-morrow. He said _No_. So we must do as we can. + +Forty foreigners applied for seats to-day after four o'clock. + +In the House I made the second reading of the Bills an order of the day at +the desire of Lord Malmesbury and Lord Grey. It is more formal so, but the +second reading might have been equally well moved without it. + +Lord Grey said a few words on presenting a petition expressing a hope to be +convinced on the subject of the Franchise Bill, but laying ground for +voting against it. Lord Malmesbury likewise expressed himself against it. +We shall be hard pushed on this Bill. The Duke says we have 122 sure votes +and no more upon it. + +The Bishop of Chester read prayers, his wife having died about ten days +ago. Really some one of the other Bishops might have relieved him. + +Lord Shaftesbury, in the absence of the Chancellor, sat as Speaker. I moved +the bills _pro forma_ for him. + +At the Cabinet dinner at Peel's, Peel said the Bishop of Oxford was ready +to speak at any time, and wished to follow a violent bishop. He may easily +find one. + +We had much talk about our approaching debates. Peel, after the Duke was +gone, regretted his having taken the line of expressing his anxiety to +relieve himself from the obloquy cast upon him, and his having put that +desire forward as his reason for pressing the second reading of the Bill on +Thursday. The Duke having said so, we could not back him out. We might +avoid taking the same ground, but we could not alter it. + +Aberdeen mentioned the case of the Candian blockade. I am sorry to see he +does not communicate beforehand now with the Duke. He never looks forward +to the ultimate consequences of his measures. Now he talks of convoying +English ships to Candia, and telling them they may go there safely, and if +stopped shall be indemnified. But if the English ship finds a Russian off +Candia, and is warned off, yet persists, under the expectation of +indemnity, we should be obliged to pay the indemnity. The Russians, having +given warning, would be justified in taking the vessel. + +So if we give convoy, and the convoy ship persists, we should come to +blows. All these things should be foreseen. Aberdeen thinks Lieven is +ignorant of Heyden's having had any orders. He excuses him as having acted +in the spirit of the treaty, to _avoid the effusion_ of blood! + +One thing is clear; we cannot permit Russia, as a belligerent, to defeat +the objects of the Treaty of London, and yet act with her under that +treaty. + + +_April 2._ + +Second reading Catholic Relief Bill. The Duke made a very bad speech. The +Archbishop of Canterbury drivelled. The Primate of Ireland made a strong +speech, his manner admirable. Both these against. The Bishop of Oxford had +placed himself at our disposal to be used when wanted. We put him into the +debate here, wanting him very much. The first part of his speech was very +indifferent, the latter excellent. Lord Lansdowne spoke better than he has +done for some time, indeed for two years. The Bishop of London against us; +but he made a speech more useful than ten votes, in admirable taste, +looking to the measure as one to be certainly accomplished, &c. The Duke of +Richmond spoke very shortly, but better than he has ever done, in reply. We +adjourned at 1. + +229 members in the House. Room for thirty more; the House not oppressively +hot; numbers of women. The tone of the debate temperate. + + +_April 3._ + +A speech from the Bishop of Durham, full of fallacies and extravagant, but +having its effect. + +The Chancellor spoke admirably, endeavouring to bring up Eldon, but the old +man would not move. He wanted more time to consider his answer, by which he +will not improve it. + +A speech from Goderich, very animated in his way, and very heavy. The House +did not cheer him once. He pressed himself upon it with bad taste. He spoke +upon all the collateral and unimportant points. He swung his arm about like +a boy throwing a stone from a sling. + +Lord Mansfield spoke, sleepily and ill-naturedly. I was exhausted, and +could not have answered him, had he said anything worth answering. + +We adjourned at two till one to-morrow. + + +_April 4._ + +House at 1. A long absurd speech from Lord Guildford, which must have given +much pain to Lady Ch. Lindsay, who sat under the throne, and who must have +been much annoyed at seeing to what her family had fallen. We had then Lord +Lilford, who rested too much on his notes, but who has a good manner. He +drew his points well, and spoke like a man, not like a boy. + +Lord Tenterden was not powerful. Lord Grey spoke better than he has done +since 1827. He made a speech too long, and indeed the last half-hour was of +no use. He beat the brains out of the Coronation Oath, as an obstacle to +Catholic Concession, and read a curious letter of Lord Yestor to Lord +Tweddale, dated April, 1689, before William III. took the Coronation Oath, +in which Lord Tester mentions that it was understood that the king had in +council declared his understanding of the sense of the Coronation Oath-- +that it bound him in his executive capacity, not in his legislative. Lord +Westmoreland made an odd, entertaining from its manner, and really very +good speech. He supported the Bill. + +Lord Eldon, who, after an ineffectual attempt on the part of Lord Redesdale +to speak, followed Lord Grey, made a very weak, inefficient, powerless +speech. He seemed beaten, and in some respects his memory had failed him. + +Lord Plunket drew, with great power, a picture of the state of society in +Ireland as affected by the laws. The whole of his speech was powerful. + +His speech and Lord Grey's were excellent. + +After a few sentences from Lord Farnham we divided. + + Present for 149 + Against 79 + ---- + Majority 68 + Proxies for 70 + Against 33 + ---- + Total Content 217 + Not Content 112 + ---- + Majority 105 + +This will quiet Windsor. The King was to have received a number of +petitions to be presented by peers to-day. The Primate of Ireland was to +have gone, and the Irish Bishops. The latter went. If they had not gone, +the King would have made some excuse for not receiving them. + +The majority must put an end to all agitation in England, and tranquillise +Ireland. Indeed as regards this question Ireland is tranquil. The conduct +of the Catholics has been as excellent as that of the Protestants. Hitherto +the announcement of the measure has produced effects beyond what was +anticipated from its adoption. + +The Duke of Rutland, who was not expected, and indeed every doubtful vote +was with us. + +The Protestants are subdued. + +Lord Grey's speech, but still more Lord Plunket's, will have a greater +effect upon the public mind, than any which have yet been delivered. + +Really it seems like a dream! That I should, if I lived, live to see this I +did expect; but that I should see it so soon, and that I should happen to +be a member of the Government that carried it, I did not expect. I must say +with what delight I view the prospect of having Catholics in Parliament. I +am sure it will do more for the happiness of Ireland, and for the strength +of the Empire, than any measure that could have been adopted. + + +_April 5. _ + +Dined with Lady Sandwich and met the Arbuthnots, with whom I had a long +talk. She told me the Duke wanted to bring in Lord Chandos, by way of +conciliating the Tories. She thought Lord Rosslyn ought to have the Privy +Seal, and that, considering their late conduct, the Whigs should be +preferred to the Tories, whom we should have at any rate. That it was +enough not to punish them by depriving them of their offices. + +In all this I agree. I think if the Duke should go to the Tories and turn +his back upon the Whigs after what has taken place, he will make Opposition +very acrimonious, and our debates very disagreeable. + +I told her if the Privy Seal was to be a Tory, I thought the Duke of +Richmond the best. He is the most popular man in the House of Lords, and a +good debater. The Duke and Lord Bathurst say he is cunning; but as far as I +can judge he acts fairly. + + +_April 6._ + +House. Second reading Franchise Bill. Opposed by the Duke of Richmond, Lord +Malmesbury, Winchelsea, and Clanricarde. Lord Holland spoke in favour of +the Bill as connected with the Relief Bill. The Whigs voted with us. Dudley +spoke in favour, just to separate himself from the Canningites, for whom +Haddington spoke, more reluctant than the Whigs. + +Lord Winchelsea was very mad, wished to expel the bishops, to prevent +translations, equalise their sees, &c. We had 139 to 19. The minority +were--Dukes: Cumberland, Gloucester, Brandon, Richmond, Newcastle; +Marquises--Salisbury, Clanrickarde; Earls--Winchelsea Malmesbury, O'Neil; +Lords--Falmouth, Penrhyn, Boston, Grantley, Glenlyon; Earl Digby, Earl +Romney. + +The Duke goes to Windsor on Saturday to get the King to consent to give the +Royal assent on Thursday, the day before Good Friday. The Duke of +Cumberland has been mischievous at Windsor. The King fancies he is in the +situation of Louis XVI. That he shall run down by Liberalism. The Duke of +Cumberland swears he will turn us out, let who will be Ministers. + + +_April 7._ + +Lord Eldon and others opened afresh the question as to the principle of the +Bill on the first clause. We divided with more than 2 to 1. + +The Bishops and Lord Eldon got into a theological discussion. + +The Chancellor made a strong attack upon Lord Eldon, who really spoke very +childishly. + +We had as many women as ever, but a new set, and some of the prettiest +girls in London--Miss Bagot, Miss Sheridan, and others. + +At Windsor, last Sunday, the Duke of Cumberland spoke very warmly indeed to +Aberdeen about the Duke of Wellington. He said he had sat by us as our +friend, till the King's Ministers joined in the _hoot_ against him. (This +was particularly Lord Bathurst, who shook his head at him and cheered +offensively.) He seems in speaking of the Duke of Wellington to have used +terms hardly to be expected. + +He told the Chancellor to-day that he should, before the Bill passed, +declare he never could again feel confidence in His Majesty's Ministers; +that the country was ruined; and that he should leave it and never return. + +The Chancellor told him he advised him not to make the last promise. I hope +he will make it and keep it. + +I observed him afterwards address the Chancellor very warmly, after he had +attacked Eldon. + +A man of the name of Halcomb has advertised for a meeting on Friday, on the +road to Windsor, to carry petitions to the King. + +April 8. + +Committee on Relief Bill. No division. Several amendments. Those of Lord +Tenterden very silly. + +I said a very few words twice. + +The third reading is fixed for Friday. When the Duke of Cumberland heard +the third reading fixed he left the House like a disappointed fiend. He did +not take his hat off till he had got half-way down. + +Lord Eldon seems quite beaten. + + +_April 9._ + +Lord Eldon went to Windsor to-day with petitions. Yesterday Lord Howe and +three others went. I believe these peers have been: Duke of Newcastle, +Kenyon, Rolle, Howe, O'Neil, Bexley, Winchelsea, Farnham, and six bishops. + +Cabinet at 2. A meeting is advertised for to-morrow, to take place at +Apsley House. Then to proceed to Slough or Salt Hill, or to Eton, to +deliver there a petition to the Duke of Cumberland, who is then to present +it to the King, and the people are to wait for an answer. + +The Duke has written to the King, acquainting him with the plan, and +advising His Majesty to refuse to receive the petition except through the +hands of Mr. Peel. + +Peel is going down to Windsor himself. The Duke writes to-night to tell the +King he is going, and to repeat his advice of this morning as coming from +the Cabinet. + +If the King will not take Peel's advice we go out. + +The Duke thinks the King will yield, and that the meeting will be a +failure. So have I thought from the first. There is no agitation in London. +No feeling, no excitement. The King will know Peel is coming in time to be +able to inform the Duke of Cumberland, and prevent his setting out. + +In the House about nine the Duke received a letter from Sir W. Knighton, +informing him that he had _no doubt_ the King would take his advice +respecting the petitions. Eldon was there, and probably saw the letter. + +House. Got through the report of the Franchise Bill. Third reading fixed +for to-morrow. I had to say a few words. + + +_April 11, 1829._ + +House. A long speech from Lord Eldon, containing no argument, and both flat +and bad. + +Then a speech from Lord Harrowby, long and sensible; but heavily delivered +and not wanted. A long speech from Lord Lansdowne, still less wanted, and +very dull. + +The Duke was obliged to say something civil to the Whigs, but he did it +sparingly, and _contre coeur_. + +We had a majority of 104. The Franchise Bill was likewise read a third +time. + +The mutual congratulations were cordial. The House is in good humour again. +All are glad to get rid of the question. The Duke of Cumberland, Falmouth, +and Winchelsea, perhaps Kenyon, are lost to the Government, but no others. + +Lord Middleton voted with us, having been against on the second reading. +The Duke of Rutland against, having been with us before. + +The Duke of Clarence was absent, being ill. He had fourteen leeches on his +temples. + +The House was full of ladies. Mrs. Fox, Lady Jersey, Lady Pitt and her +daughters, Lady A. Brudenell, Lady Harrowby, Lady G. Wortley, Lord Eldon's +daughters, Lady Glengall, Mrs. and Miss Sheridan, the old Duchess of +Richmond, Lady Manners, Lady Rolle, Lady Haddington, and many others. + +The intended row failed altogether. Only four carriages went down to +Windsor. Halcomb and his two friends saw an equerry. They were told their +petition must be presented through the Secretary of State, and went away +quietly. + +The Duke of Cumberland said he must withdraw his support from the +Government; but he was temperate. In fact he was beaten. + +The Duke of Norfolk was in the House, as happy as man could be. + + +_April 11._ + +Dr. Clarke and H. Fane both spoke of the Chancellor's speech in attack upon +Eldon, as in bad taste and offensive. I shall endeavour to ascertain +whether this is the general opinion. Not having heard Eldon, they cannot +know how very mischievous and disingenuous he was. + + +_April 12._ + +Met the Lievens, Lyndhursts, Sir J. Murray, and others at dinner, at the +Esterhazy's. The King has not yet sent back the commission to pass the +Catholic Bill. + +The Lievens are more shy of me than ever. + +Lord Bathurst seemed to be much pleased with my idea of carrying on the +Government of India in the King's name. He said it should be under a +Secretary of State for India. + +The Chancellor approved highly of my notion of suggesting Herries for the +Government of Bombay, if the directors will not have Courtney. He is +useless to us, and a discredit. Besides, we want his place. + +Had some talk with Vernon at Lady Jersey's. He has the Canning venom about +him still, and said we should still regret having lost Huskisson, &c. + +I said NEVER. He was an able man, but he would never do as a member of a +Cabinet in which he was not chief. The Government would not have lived if +he had continued in. I told him I had become satisfied from my short +experience that a coalition Government could not conduct the affairs of the +country with advantage--especially where the difference was [blank]. + +The Duke of Cumberland is gone to Windsor. If the commission should not +arrive to-night I dare say the Duke of Wellington will go to Windsor early +to-morrow. + +Lady Jersey was very loud in her dispraise of the Duke of Richmond. Every +one who knows him says he is very cunning. There is a mixture of good and +bad taste about him. He is popular, and he would make a good man of +business. + + +_April 13, 1829, Monday._ + +Chairs at 11. Informed them of Sir Sidney Beckwith's appointment to the +command at Bombay. + +Told them my general idea was that it was necessary to fix a Lieutenant- +Governor at Agra. I showed them it could be done without expense. Sir +Charles Metcalfe should be the person appointed, with precise instructions +obliging him to a system of non-interference in the internal concerns of +the Malwa and Rajpoot States. Sir J. Malcolm would have interposed. + +The treaties with the Rajpoot States generally secure their internal +independence. Those with the States of Malwa give us the right, and impose +upon us the duty of supervision. It requires, therefore, a most delicate +hand to bring the whole into one system animated by one spirit. + +I said incidentally to-day, 'I will not sit here to sacrifice India to +England,' a sentiment which escaped me, but which I feel to be correct, not +only socially but politically. + +Ashley came and bored me about a petition of some Hindoos and Mahometans in +Calcutta, who wish to be grand jurors. I told him I could not proceed +hastily in any matter of legislation, and that this was one of much +delicacy. I should speak to Fergusson. + +A Cabinet had been fixed for 3. I concluded it was on account of a delay on +the King's part in giving the Royal assent to the Relief Bill. The Cabinet +was counter-ordered, the Commission having arrived at two. + +The Chancellor had sent a note to the King with the Bills, calling his +attention to them. The King, on sending them back with the Commission +signed, thanked the Chancellor for having called his attention to the +Bills, and said he gave his assent reluctantly. + +The Chancellor had sent a note last night to Watson, the Equerry, desiring +him to remind the King of the Commission. + +So at a few minutes before four to-day the Chancellor, Lord Bathurst, and I +sat as Commissioners to give the Royal assent to the Relief Bill, and about +thirty-nine others. So many had been kept back to force an early decision. +The Indemnity Bill was one of the Bills, and the Militia Lists Bill +another. There were thirteen peers in the House, and seven or eight more +about. Lord Savoy, his son, young Lambton, Lady Petres, and her daughters, +Mrs. Fox, and some other ladies were there--Lady Stanhope. The old Duchess +of Richmond came too late. + +I observed that in passing each other very close the Duke of Wellington and +the Duke of Cumberland took no notice of each other. + +Lord Durham said to me, 'Now the King will turn you all out in revenge as +soon as he can,' to which I assented. He certainly will when he dares. + +The Duke of Norfolk and Mr. Petres were in the House, giving and receiving +congratulations. All parties congratulate the Duke. Falmouth alone still +looks sad and sombre. The Duke of Wellington has a bad cold. He was very +hoarse, and wrapped himself in his cloak as soon as he had done speaking. + + +_April 14._ + +Saw Mr. Fergusson respecting a petition from Hindoos and Mahometans at +Calcutta, praying to be allowed to sit on grand juries. He thinks they +should--as they are allowed to sit on petty juries. If the matter had been +well considered, the privilege they now ask should have been granted before +that they have obtained. + +Mr. Fergusson is, however, rather afraid of allowing them to sit on the +trial of Christians. + +By the newspapers I see that there has been a quarrel at Teheran, between +some of the Russian Ambassador's suite and the populace, which led to an +attack upon the Russian palace, and to the death of the Ambassador and all +his people except two. This is an unfortunate event, as it will give the +Russians a new claim to indemnity, which they will exercise inexorably. +Probably they will insist on the junction of Persia in the attack on +Turkey, as the only satisfaction they can accept. + +It is just possible that the example once given, and the people despairing +of pardon, a rising against the Russians may take place, and something of a +national feeling arise in Persia. But I fear this will not be the case. I +suppose our Minister was at Tabriz. + + +_April 15._ + +The Duke was at Windsor to-day to ask the King's permission to restore the +resigners. The King said he thought the Duke could not do better. He just +mentioned Wetherell's name as if he thought he was to be excepted from the +restoration, but desired to be _certior-factus_. + +The King was cold. The Duke had to wait twenty minutes, the Duke of +Cumberland being with the King. However, I believe this delay may only have +originated in a necessary change of dress on His Majesty's part, as he was +sitting for his picture _in a Highland dress_. The Duke saw a large plaid +bonnet in the room, and he believes the King had still on plaid stockings. +The business of the restoration was finished in ten minutes, when the +conversation flagged, and the Duke was rising to go away. + +However, something more was then said, and the interview in all lasted +twenty minutes. The King said he was delighted with Lord Winchelsea. He was +so gentlemanlike, and spoke _in so low a tone of voice!_ He likewise +thought Lord Farnham very gentlemanlike, and Lord Rolle more violent than +any. + +The Duke had to wait twenty minutes before he could see Lady Conyngham. +They seemed to wish him not to see her. However, he did. She said all would +have been quiet if the Duke of Cumberland had not come over, and all would +be quiet when he went away. The King seemed relieved since the Bill was +passed. + +On his return the Duke sent for George Bankes and offered him his place +again. Bankes asked two or three days to consider. The Duke gave him till +to-morrow. + +It seems he has now a notion that he owed his place not to the Duke but to +some other influence. I think this has been insinuated to him since his +resignation. The fact is otherwise. The King had mentioned Bankes for other +situations, but not for the one he holds. On my return home I found Bankes +had called upon me. + +After dinner we considered whether the prosecution of Lawless for his +conduct at Ballybeg should be persevered in. + +Goulbourn, Peel, Lord Bathurst, Sir G. Murray, and I were for dropping it. +I think the Chancellor inclined the same way. The Duke and the rest, +Aberdeen being absent, were for going on. + +I thought no benefit would be derived from success. Even success would +revive feelings and recollections which are dying away, and which we wish +to be forgotten. If we decline proceeding we can say we did so from the +fear of exciting dormant passions. If we proceed, we shall have no excuse +should we revive the memory of bad times. + +Reference is to be made to Ireland to ascertain the feeling about it there. + +Bankes came at twelve o'clock. He told me he had been with the Duke, and +had received from him the offer of his old office. He had asked permission +to consult one person, whose name he did not mention to the Duke,--it was +the Duke of Cumberland. He had called at the Palace and found the Duke of +Cumberland was at Windsor. He wanted to write to him to ask if he had any +objection to his taking the office again. + +Bankes said he had attended none of the meetings at Lord Chandos's. He had +avoided as much as he could all communication with the Duke of Cumberland. +He had fully determined not to take a part with any new Government which +might be formed, unless it should clearly appear the King had been unfairly +dealt by, or unless there should be an attempt to make peers to carry the +Bill. The Duke of Cumberland had always said that he made him his first +object, and he had reason to think that he had mentioned him to the King, +and had been instrumental in his appointment. The Duke of Cumberland had +desired him to come to him (during the Bill), and had apparently intended +to name some particular office for him, but seeing his coldness had only +sounded him, and had received the answer I have mentioned above. + +The Duke of Cumberland had told him it was an understood thing that all +were to be restored, and that he saw no reason why he should not take his +office again. + +_This was ten days ago._ + +I told him I advised, if he thought it necessary to write to the Duke of +Cumberland at all, that he should merely state his intention to take his +office back again, refer to his conversation with the Duke himself upon the +point, and add _distinctly_ that, taking office, he could no longer have +any communication on political matters with a person who had declared his +hostility to the Government. + +I advised him to send off his own servant on a post-horse at six o'clock +to-morrow morning, with a letter to the effect I have stated to the Duke of +Cumberland, and whether he received an answer or not, to go to the Duke of +Wellington and accept at 12. + +I advised him to tell the Duke the whole state of the case, and all he had +done. + +The Duke of Wellington did not seem by any means well to-day. He was +blooded yesterday. + + +_April 16._ + +Cabinet at 3. It seems Bankes called on the Duke this morning, but he was +engaged. I told him all that passed between Bankes and me last night. If +Bankes should go out the Duke means to offer his place to Sir J. Graham. + +We met upon foreign affairs. Aberdeen read his instructions to Gordon, who +goes to Constantinople. They are unobjectionable. + +We then considered what was to be done in consequence of this second +violation of their word on the part of the Russians in blockading Candia. + +Count Heyden has written two letters to Sir Pulteney Malcolm. In the first +he justifies the blockade of Candia on the ground of its being necessary to +protect the Morea from the Pacha of Egypt; in the second he rests it on the +necessity of blockading the two extremities of Candia for the purpose of +watching Constantinople. + +We cannot permit the Russians to make fools of us in this way--to promise +one thing as parties to the Treaty of London, and to do another as +belligerents. + +After the Cabinet I asked the Duke whether he still wished me to press +Courtney upon the Directors. He said, Yes, he very much wanted his place. I +said it had occurred to me that _Herries_ might take the Governorship of +Bombay. It did not seem to have occurred to him. He said he thought Herries +would not go; but he evidently thought it would be a very good thing if he +would. + +The Duke said he wanted to have the places of Courtney and Sir G. Hill, and +to bring in Lord Chandos and M. Fitzgerald. We mentioned Ashley. I +suggested Ashley's going to the Treasury, and Sir J. Graham taking his +place. This would, I dare say, be done, if we could get the place at the +Treasury. + +I have not as yet heard a surmise as to the new Lord Privy Seal. + +Lord O'Neil has signed the Duke of Richmond's protest against the Franchise +Bill. It is very hostile to the Government, and Lord O'Neil will probably +be put out. + +The Duke of Richmond has been very imprudent. Had he taken a moderate line +he probably might have been Privy Seal. His time is now gone by. + + +_April 17._ + +Went by appointment to see Lady Jersey. Found there Duncannon and Lord +Sefton. Duncannon talked big about O'Connell's power, and in the same sense +in which he talked to Fitzgerald, wishing to induce the Government to let +him take his seat. I said we could not. It depended not on us, but upon the +law. + +Lady Sefton came in afterwards for a few minutes, and Lord Rosslyn. Lady +Jersey talked a great deal about the restoration, and feared the Whigs +would imagine they were never to come in, and would form a violent +opposition. She mentioned Mr. Stanley as being much annoyed, he having made +a laudatory speech in favour of Peel. + +I told her it would have been very harsh to have eliminated those who had +taken office under the idea that the Government was rather against than for +the Catholics, certainly _neutral_, and that it was a little unreasonable +to expect others to be turned out to make way for new friends. + + +_April 18._ + +The Duke thinks he could not offer the Privy Seal to Lord Grey, but he +would be conciliated by having a friend--that is, Rosslyn--in. If we could +get Lord Beresford out, Lord Rosslyn would go to the Ordnance. + +The Duke says the King would make it a point of honour to resist the +introduction of Lord Grey, though in reality he was in communication with +Lord Grey in 1820-21, after the Queen's trial, and then intended to bring +him in and to turn out the then Ministers for the Milan Commission, he +having been himself at the bottom of that Commission. The Duke, the only +member of the Cabinet who was not mixed up with the Milan Commission, +induced the King to give up his idea of making a change. + +Bankes received a letter from the Duke of Cumberland, very long, and +against his acceptance of office; but he begged Bankes to go down to see +him and talk it over. He did so. Bankes told him he would not accept if he +on consideration objected, but he was determined not to join any other +Government. The Duke of Cumberland spoke of himself as having been ill-used +by the Duke of Wellington. This was explained. The conference ended by the +Duke of Cumberland's acquiescing entirely in Bankes's acceptance of office. +Bankes saw the Duke of Wellington and detailed the whole to him. + + +_April 21._ + +Called on Sir H. Hardinge at Richmond. He told me the Duke had at first +great reluctance to have anything to do with the Whigs. By his account he +must have principally contributed to lead the Duke to adopt that view which +he has now of admitting Rosslyn, &c. + + +_April 22._ + +The Duke of Norfolk called, and, not finding me, left a note begging me to +ascertain privately from the Duke of Wellington whether the King would be +pleased if the English Catholics presented an address to him thanking him +for the Relief Bill. + +Received a letter from the Duke of Wellington expressing a decided opinion +against any address from the Roman Catholics. He says, 'Everything has been +done that is possible to efface all distinctions between the King's +subjects on the score of religion, and this with a view to the general +benefit, and not to that of a particular body. I confess I shall think that +this measure has failed in attaining its object if there should be any +general act of a particular body. + +'In respect to the King himself I am certain that the most agreeable thing +to him would be that all should remain quiet. + +'We must have no distinct body of Roman Catholics except in the churches +and in affairs of religion. The less we act inconsistently with the +principle the better.' + +I so entirely agree in opinion with the Duke of Wellington that, having for +my own amusement written an address for the Roman Catholics in the event of +their making any to the King, the first sentence I imagined was this: 'The +Roman Catholics of England approach your Majesty for the last time as a +body distinct from the rest of your Majesty's subjects.' + + +_April 25._ + +I had a good deal of conversation as to the next Director. There are three +city men candidates, but none are good--Lyall, Ellice, and Douglas. + +Of Ellice no one knows anything. He is brother to the Ellice who married +Lord Grey's sister. Lyall is, or was, Chairman of the Committee of +Shipowners. Douglas is brother to Lord Queensbury. They say his is not a +very good house. + + +_April 28._ + +Read the correspondence between the Duke and Lord Anglesey. Then read a +memorandum of the Duke's in reply to one of Hardinge's on the subject of +the discipline of the British army. Hardinge wished to introduce the +Prussian [Footnote: Which did not include capital punishment. See +_Wellington Correspondence_, vol. v. p. 932.] discipline into ours. The +Duke shows that with our discipline we have more men fit for duty in +proportion to our numbers than the Prussians in the proportion of two to +one. That in Prussia the army is everything. There is no other profession. +All are soldiers--the officer lives much with his men--they are always in +masses, always in fertile countries. + +In our service the worst men in the community enter the army. The officers +are gentlemen. They cannot mix with the men. Without discipline our army +would be inferior to others. It is not even now the favourite profession. +There is much jealousy of it. It is not popular with the common people. It +is difficult to find recruits even in times of distress. + +I was in an army, the Duke concludes, which cannot be governed on the +Prussian principle. You cannot treat the English soldier as a man of +honour. + +The Duke had been with the King, who was in very good humour. He had not, +however, got to close quarters with him as to the changes. + + +_April 29._ + +Cabinet at 12. A letter has been received from Lord Heytesbury, from which +it is clear that Russia will very soon resume altogether the exercise of +her belligerent rights in the Mediterranean. + +Nesselrode communicated to him the blockade of Candia. Lord Heytesbury only +observed that 'it was a resumption of belligerent rights.' This Count +Nesselrode did not deny, and he said they could not long remain in the +false position in which they now were in the Mediterranean. + +Count Heyden at the end of January blockaded Candia on pretexts arising out +of the state of Greece. In three weeks from that time he rested his +interception of the Egyptian vessels near Candia on the necessary exercise +of his rights as a belligerent. Lieven, when first spoken to, disavowed +Heyden. He now changes his tone, and it is evident that Russia now for the +second time breaks her word. The French do not behave much better. They +have 6,000 men in the Morea, and mean to keep them there notwithstanding +their engagement to withdraw their troops as soon as the Egyptians were +embarked. To be sure, they say if we insist upon it they will withdraw +them. + +I have always been for getting out of the treaty. We have been dragged +along very unwillingly--we have been subjected to much humiliation. We seem +to me to have gained nothing by all our compliances. We have been led on +from the violation of one principle to that of another. Our position has +discouraged Turkey. We have been made the tools of Russia, and have been +duped with our eyes open. I think the sooner we get out of this false +position the better, and there is no time so favourable for us to hold +strong language as this, when by the settlement of the Catholic question we +are really strengthened, and when all foreign Powers believe we are yet +more strengthened than we are. The Duke is certainly for getting out. He +has long wished it. + +A paper of Peel's was read suggesting the difficulties in which we should +still be placed by our moral obligation towards the Greeks, and by our +reasonable fear that on the principles of the Greek Treaty, to which we +have unfortunately given our adhesion, Russia and France may combine and +make a partition treaty. My expectation is that Russia and France would +soon quarrel, and I think I could before now have made them jealous of each +other, but we have done nothing. + +After much conversation, V. Fitzgerald agreeing with me and the others +saying nothing, it was determined to insist upon the freedom of +communication with Candia under the protocol, to insist upon the Greeks +withdrawing from their advanced position near Prevesa _under the protocol_, +and to insist likewise upon the withdrawing of the French troops from the +Morea, according to the engagement. + +I am not satisfied with this. Every part of our diplomacy has been +unfortunate. We have succeeded in nothing. I predicted if we became engaged +in the war, it would be ultimately on a little point and not upon a great +one. Our diplomacy cannot be defended. It is our weak point. + +House. All the Catholics there. Every good old name in England. + +The Duke of Norfolk is much pleased with the Duke of Wellington's answer to +his enquiry as to the propriety of addressing the King. I am going to send +him the Duke's original letter as a _record_. + +The King certainly received the Protestant peers, and particularly those +who had been at Windsor, with great favour, and so the Bishop of Durham. +The Duke of Cumberland stood at the King's left hand, and quizzed the +people as they passed. He seemed _rayonnant_. + +After dinner I had some conversation with Loch, the Chairman, as to +governing India in the King's name. He does not positively object. I think +I shall be able to carry that point. I consider it to be of the most +essential importance. + + +_April 30._ + +Cabinet at 12. Determined to fund eight millions of Exchequer Bills. No +taxes to be taken off or imposed. We had some conversation as to the East +Retford question. V. Fitzgerald communicated a proposal from Littleton to +propose the adjournment of all discussion upon the subject till next year, +as it is evident nothing can be done this year. Littleton proposed this +because he wished to disappoint the mischievous designs of some people. +(Palmerston particularly.) + +It was determined to adhere to the line taken by the Government last year-- +namely, to that of throwing East Retford into the hundred. The Duke was +decidedly of opinion that whatever we did we should do from ourselves, and +certainly not act in concert with an enemy. The Tories look to our conduct +upon this question as the touchstone. + +Drawing-room. The King, as yesterday, very civil to the Brunswickers and +taking no notice of our friends. He took particular notice of the +Brazilians. Madame de Lieven is endeavouring to form a Government with the +Duke of Cumberland, the Ultra-Tories, the Canningites, and some Whigs. + +The King is very Russian. I believe all this will end in nothing. The +Chancellor thinks they may try to make a change when Parliament is up, and +so have six months before them. They may think of it; but the only object +of such a Government would be _revenge._ They cannot repeal the Relief +Bill, nor do they wish to pursue a different line of policy either at home +or abroad. + +The foreigners think that having settled the Catholic question we are ready +to draw the sword, and find a field of battle wherever we can. This the +Russians are afraid of, and hence arises in some degree their wish to +overthrow the Duke's Government; but the real foundation of all the Russian +intrigues is Madame de Lieven's hatred for the Duke, and her rage at +feeling she has overreached herself. + + +_May 1._ + +Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt was with the King for two hours to-day, the Duke of +Cumberland being in the room and the King in bed. The King is very much out +of humour, and abused everything and everybody. He is very angry at ladies +being admitted to the House of Lords, and particularly at their going in +such numbers the day the Duke of Norfolk took his seat. The Duke of +Cumberland has sworn he will not leave England till he has turned out the +present Ministers. He is the only colonel of the Horse Guards who ever does +duty--Lord Cathcart being absent and Lord Harrington incapable. When he +last got the gold stick from Lord Harrington he swore he would never let it +out of his hands. As gold stick he ordered the gates of the Horse Guards to +be closed the day of the Drawing-room, and thus obliged all the Ministers +who dressed in Downing Street to go all round. + +He told Clanwilliam to-day with great satisfaction that the King never +could again be on good terms with his Ministers. + +No arrangement is yet made with the Master of the Rolls. Everything waits +for the legal promotions. The King will be delighted with Scarlett +[Footnote: Sir James Scarlett, afterwards Lord Abinger.] as Attorney- +General, and the Chancellor tells me Bickersteth is to be Solicitor. I +recollect hearing of him at Cambridge. He is a very clever man and a good +speaker. Tindal is of course to be Master of the Rolls. I am most anxious +to give up the Privy Seal to Rosslyn. + + +_May 3._ + +Cabinet at 2. Decided the Government was to take the same line exactly this +year as to East Retford (that is, as to giving the two members to the +Hundred) that it took last year. However, as it is impossible to get any +Bill through the Lords this year, Peel will be very willing to accede to +any proposition for postponing the whole question till next session. + +On the question of Irish Education and on that of the grant to Maynooth, +the vote will be as before--it being said that the state of the session and +the circumstances of the present period make it advisable that the question +of any change should be deferred. Indeed, Ministers have not had time to +consider it. + +Many of Lord Anglesey's letters to Peel and of Peel's answers were read. We +have a very strong case against him on his letter to Dr. Curtis, which by a +letter from Dr. Curtis to the Duke we know Lord Anglesey directed Dr. +Murray to publish if it could be done with Curtis's consent, and which Dr. +Murray did publish without obtaining such consent. + +Curtis's letter is dated January 2. + +Lord Anglesey wrote to Curtis for the Duke's letter and his answer, and had +them two days before December 23, the date of his letter to Curtis. + +Peel thinks the East Indian Committee should not be refused. It is better +for the East Indian Company that it should be granted than refused. I +entirely coincide with him. + + +_May 4._ + +Coal Committee at 12. Met Lord Bathhurst, with whom I had some conversation +as to the Duke's reading letters in answer to Lord Anglesey. He begged me +to go to the Duke, and try to induce him not to do so. I found the Duke +agreeing with me entirely as to the danger of the president, and disposed +to read only what might be absolutely necessary. + +Lord Anglesey brought forward his motion for 'the letter of recall.' + +The Duke answered him, and so well that even Lord Holland could not say one +word. So the thing ended. + +The Duke had been assured by the King, and within the last fortnight the +King had given the same assurance to Aberdeen, that Lord Anglesey had not +_permission_ to read confidential letters. + +Lord Anglesey stated that he had the King's permission. + +The Duke certainly seemed to contradict him. + +Lord Londonderry threw a note over to me suggesting that the contradiction +was so direct there might be an awkward explanation out of doors unless the +thing were softened down. + +I mentioned this to Lord Bathurst. He thought not. + +However, when he replied, Lord Anglesey treated the contradiction as +absolute, and Lord Bathurst told the Duke he must give some explanation, +which the Duke did, saying he did not mean to accuse Lord Anglesey of +declaring he had the King's permission when he had not, but only that he +had reason to think he had not. In fact, the King, as we always thought, +told the Duke one thing and Lord Anglesey another; and the only result of +the debate is that the King is proved to have told a lie. + +Lord Wharncliffe, who overtook me as I was riding home, considered Lord +Anglesey to be blown out of water. + +At Lady Brownlow's ball I talked with Lord Farnborough, Longford, and +Beresford. All thought the reading of the letters should have been stopped, +and that the Duke did wrong to read anything. We could not stop the reading +of the letters when the King's permission to read them was stated +distinctly by Lord Anglesey. The misery is that we have a lying master. + + +_May 5._ + +I called at the Treasury and saw the Duke. On the subject of what took +place yesterday he said, that having received the King's commands to +declare Lord Anglesey had not his permission to read the letters, he could +not do otherwise than make the observations he did. The gravamen of the +charge against Lord Anglesey as arising out of those letters is that in the +last he declares his intention of using them as public documents; and this +being the ground upon which the King had acquiesced in his being relieved, +for the King to have afterwards permitted the reading of those letters +would have been a withdrawal of confidence from his Ministers. + +I met Lord Ravensworth and talked to him upon the subject. He seemed to be +in a sort of alarm as to what took place yesterday. This is superfluous. +The Duke's explanation that he did not mean to say Lord Anglesey had reason +to think he was permitted to read those letters was quite sufficient. The +Duke added that he had understood the contrary. + +Lord Ravensworth seemed to think his Royal master came the worst off--which +is true. + +He told me the Duke of Cumberland had been abusing every one at Lady +Brownlow's last night, and had declared, as he has before, that he would +not go away till he had us out. + +Lord Anglesey is reported to be very ill to-day. + + +_May 6._ + +Cabinet dinner at Sir G. Murray's. The Duke saw the King to-day. He was in +good humour, and said the Duke was quite right in declaring Lord Anglesey +had not his permission to read the letters. It seems the King said the same +thing in the Duke of Cumberland's presence on Monday at dinner, and this +made the Duke so very angry that evening. + +We had a very good division last night on the Retford question. Almost all +the Brunswickers voted with us--none against us. + +In fact the Government is very strong. + +There are disturbances at Manchester, which look rather serious. + + +_May 7._ + +Nothing in the House. + +The meeting respecting the statue to the Duke of Wellington seems to have +finished in detestable taste. Hunt proposing a vote of thanks to Lord +Anglesey and O'Connell, and _Lord Darnley!_ speaking for it. Both these +said the Catholic Bill arose out of Lord Anglesey's Government. Lord +Darnley repeated the same thing to me to-day in the House. I told him the +contrary was the fact. That Lord Anglesey had placed the carrying of the +question in peril--that without his recall it could hardly have been +carried. + +There have been serious disturbances at Manchester. The bakers' shops have +been broken open and robbed, and money extorted by fear. This arises out of +real distress; but it seems, as might be expected, that notorious thieves +lead on the mobs. + + +_May 8._ + +The disturbances at Manchester have more the character of robbery than of +riot. Baker's shops have been broken open and pillaged, and money has been +extorted. + +At Rochdale an attack was made on the military. They behaved with extreme +forbearance; but at last fired, and killed and wounded many. + + +_May 9._ + +Dined at the Trinity House. Hardinge, whom I met there, told me Wood had +been asked by Lord Mansfield to go to the Pitt dinner on the 28th. Wood +said he did not know whether the Ministers would go or not. Lord Mansfield +said, 'Why, you must know, it is understood that as soon as Parliament is +up the Government will be changed. At this dinner we shall make such a +display of Protestant force as will enable the King to take us as his +Ministers.' + +It is surprising to me that any able man as Lord Mansfield is should be so +deluded by the lies of the Duke of Cumberland. The country is not agitated, +it is not dissatisfied. It would repudiate, as an act of the basest +treachery, such conduct towards a Government which had been permitted to +carry a great measure, and which was displaced solely on grounds of +personal pique. + +Manchester and its neighbourhood more quiet. + +Had some conversation with Peel about the next member for the direction. He +inclines to Marryatt. Hardinge reported a communication from E. Ellice, who +canvasses for his brother, Russell Ellice. E. Ellice offers some votes in +the House of Commons if we will support his brother. + +I believe E. Ellice would be a good man, but the brother is a nonentity. I +said we must strike at the mass and not at individuals. We must gain the +city by assisting a fit man on public grounds. Peel agreed in this +sentiment. I am sure it is the only wise course for any Government to +pursue. + + +_Monday, May 11._ + +The King has got the habit of taking large doses of laudanum. He sent for +the Chancellor yesterday, as usual, at two o'clock. When he got to the +palace the King had taken a large dose of laudanum and was asleep. The +Chancellor was told he would not wake for two or three hours, and would +then be in a state of excessive irritation, so that he might just as well +not see him. + + +_May 12._ + +The East Retford question was last night deferred till next session, so we +may, I think, finish all our business by about June 10; that is really +allowing full time. + +O'Connell published yesterday an argument on his right to sit in the House +of Commons in the shape of a letter to the members. At first Lord Grey +thought it unanswerable (as founded on the provisions of the Relief Bill); +but at night he told me he had looked into the Bill and found it certainly +excluded him. A large portion of the letter is quite absurd, that in which +he assumes a right to have his claim decided in a court of law. Parliament +alone is by common law the court in which the privileges of its own members +can be decided. + + +_May 12._ + +House. Lord Lansdowne put a pompously worded question as to our intentions +with respect to the course of proceeding on Indian affairs. + +I answered simply that we were as sensible as he was of the extreme +importance of the question. That for my own part my mind was never absent +from it, and that I had not been many days in office before I took measures +for procuring the most extensive information, which would be laid before +the House at the proper time. That the Government was desirous of forming +its own opinion on the fullest information and with the greatest +consideration; and that we wished the House to have the same opportunities. +That I was not then prepared to inform him in what precise form we should +propose that the enquiry should be made. + +The Chancellor introduced the Bill for appointing a new Equity Judge, and +separating the Equity Jurisdiction from the Court of Exchequer. The latter +object, by-the-bye, is not to be accomplished immediately, but it is part +of the plan opened. He soothed Lord Eldon by high compliments to his +judicial administration and to the correctness of his judgments. The wonder +of the day is that Lord Eldon should have lived to hear a Chancellor so +expose the errors of the Court of Chancery as they were exposed by Lord +Lyndhurst to-day. + + +_May 13._ + +Recorder's report. The King not well. He has a slight stricture, of which +he makes a great deal, and a bad cold. He seemed somnolent; but I have seen +him worse. + +Before the Council there was a chapter of the Garter. The Duke of Richmond +was elected. The knights wore their ordinary dress under the robe, which +was short, and had no hats. The procession was formed by Garter. The +Chancellor and Prelate of the Order and the Dean were present. It looked +rather like a splendid funeral. The Duke of Cumberland took a great deal +upon him. + +Cabinet dinner at Vesey Fitzgerald's at Somerset House. + +Much talk about Indian matters. Both Peel and Fitzgerald seem to be for +Free Trade, and _unreasonable_ towards the Company. + + +_May 15._ + +In the House of Commons yesterday the motion for a Committee on East Indian +affairs was negatived without a division, but promised for _early_ next +session, and papers promised immediately. + + +_May 16._ + +Chairs at 11. We spoke of the Charter. They rather dislike the notion of +using the King's name, and I fear Mr. Elphinstone and all the Indians will +give their evidence against the change. I may be outvoted, but I shall not +be convinced. [Footnote: This change was effected in 1858.] + + +_May 17._ + +Nothing political, except a grand dinner at the Duke of Norfolk's, given to +the Duke of Wellington, which was very fine and very dull. + +The Duke told me he had read the Persian papers. The Russians had brought +it on themselves. + + +_May 19._ + +In the House of Commons last night O'Connell was heard at the bar. The +debate seems to have been temperate. It was decided on a discussion, 190 to +116, that he must take the Oath of Supremacy. + +At the office had some conversation with Mr. Leach as to the plan of +governing India in the King's name--the Directors being made ex officio +Commissioners for the affairs of India. He seems to have some prejudices +against the plan, but he adduced no real objections. I have begged him to +put on paper all the objections which occurred to him. + +Wrote a long letter to Lord W. Bentinck on all subjects connected with the +renewal of the Charter, and the general government of India. + +Dined at the Freemasons' Hall with the Society for Promoting Christian +Knowledge. There were present 200 persons. I thought they would be very +hostile to a Minister. However, when my name was mentioned by the Bishop of +Durham, as a steward, there was much cheering. The Bishop of London, who +was in the chair, begged me to return thanks for the stewards, which I did. +I spoke of course of the wish entertained by the Ministers that a Society +might prosper the interests of which were so much connected with those of +the Established Church--of their determination in their several departments +to further its objects. It was the duty of us all as Christians, but more +peculiarly that of the Ministers, to advance objects intimately connected +with the individual happiness of the people and with the stability of the +State. I said something too of the intrinsic strength of the Protestant +Church--of its rising in proportion to the difficulties which might +surround it, to the dangers--if dangers there were (the Primate had spoken +of them)--of its security in the zeal and ability of its ministers, and in +the purity of its doctrines. + +On the whole I did well. I was loudly cheered--indeed, so much interrupted +as to be enabled to think what I should say next. + +Indian business in the morning--Coal Committee. + + +_May 20._ + +Dined at the London Tavern with the Directors, at what is called a family +dinner, to meet Mr. Elphinstone, the late Governor of Bombay. He has been +thirty-three years absent from England, having left it at fifteen. He is +one of the most distinguished servants the Company has ever had. He seems +to be a quiet, mild, temperate man. I had some conversation with him, and +have fixed that he should come to the Indian Board on Tuesday. I wish to +have his opinion as to the expediency of governing India in the King's +name. + +The Duke told Lord Bathurst and me the King had been very angry with him +for going to the Duke of Norfolk's dinner, and now openly expressed his +wish to get rid of his Ministers. The Duke wrote to the King and told him +it really was not a subject he thought it necessary to speak to him about, +that he dined with everybody and asked everybody to dinner, that had he +known beforehand who were to dine with the Duke of Norfolk, which he did +not, he could not have objected to any one of them. That the King himself +had dined with the Duke of Norfolk. That most of the persons invited were +either in his Majesty's service, or had been. + +It seems the king desired it might be intimated to the Duke that he was +much displeased at the dinner, and that he and Cumberland damned us all. + +I told the Duke and Lord Bathurst what occurred at the dinner yesterday, +with which they were much gratified. + + +_May 21._ + +Went to the Cabinet room at 2. Read papers, by which it seems that the +Russian army is very little stronger than at the commencement of the last +campaign, and that its materials are not so good. It has as yet no medical +staff. The resources of the principalities are exhausted; the cattle of the +peasants have been put in requisition; the ordinary cultivation of the land +has been neglected. The river is worse than last year. There are reports of +the successes of the Turks near Varna, and of that place being in danger. + +The recruiting of the Turkish army goes on well. + +House of Lords. The Chancellor's Bill, which creates a new Chancery judge. +Opposition from Lord Eldon, Lord Redesdale, and Lord Holland, all saying +they wished to see the whole plan before they agree to a part. Lord +Tenterden approved of the making of the new judge, but wished his functions +had been better defined. + +The Duke of Cumberland said the Non-contents had it; but he said it too +late, and his people did not wish to divide. + +Lord Londonderry would have voted against us. I fear he is half mad. The +House seems to treat him so. + +The Chancellor told me the King did many things personally uncivil to the +Duke. He did not ask him to dinner to meet the Duke of Orleans. He wishes +to force the Duke to offer his resignation. This he is much too prudent to +do upon a mere personal pique. + +The King, our master, is the weakest man in England. He hates the Duke of +Cumberland. He wishes his death. He is relieved when he is away; but he is +afraid of him, and crouches to him. + +In reality the King never was better satisfied than with his present +Ministers. He knows they will not flinch--that he is safe in their hands. + + +_May 22._ + +In the House Lord Melville presented the petition of the City of London +praying, if the House persisted in ordering the production of their +accounts of property other than of a public nature, to be heard at the bar +by counsel. He moved that this petition should be considered on Tuesday. It +being expected that on Monday these very accounts would be produced in the +committee, and thus the order of the House rendered unnecessary. In this we +were beaten too. Indeed, our management under Lord Melville as Admiral does +not answer. + +We shall certainly lose the London Bridge Approaches Bill. + +Dined at Lord Hill's. A party chiefly military. + + +_May 24._ + +Cabinet at Peel's at 11 P.M. + +The arrangements determined upon. Lord E. Somerset to have Sir W. Clinton's +office, and Trench Mr. Singleton's. Lord Rosslyn the Privy Seal. Lord +Chandos was proposed, I should rather say suggested, but rejected +immediately, as not of sufficient calibre for the Cabinet. Besides, his +elevation for the purpose of holding the Privy Seal would offend the +peerage, and be an insult to his father. It would not gain us the +Brunswickers, and we should have the Whigs hostile. It would be saying to +them, 'You shall never come in.' + +Rosslyn's appointment will be most useful. He will be of value in the +Cabinet and invaluable in the House. His accession will break the Whigs, he +is so popular with everybody. + +This is to be proposed to the King to-morrow. It is thought he will take no +step without asking the Duke of Cumberland. He may refuse altogether. Then +we go out. The legal arrangements cannot proceed, because Best [Footnote: +Afterwards Lord Wynford.] communicated with the Duke of Cumberland and +refused a peerage as the _condition_ of resignation. Alexander would go if +he could have his peerage and a pension. Leach will not go unless he is to +have a peerage and a pension of 7,000L a year, a thing impossible. + + +_May 25._ + +Cabinet at 3. Waited a long time for the Duke. He came smiling and +victorious. The King said he would manage Best. To Rosslyn he made some +objection, and suggested Lord Dudley or Melbourne. This was referred to and +rejected by such of the Cabinet as could be on a sudden collected at the +Foreign Office. I was not there. I should certainly have rejected both, +although very willing to have Dudley. The other would never have done. With +Lord E. Somerset and Trench the King was well pleased. As the Duke left the +room the King said, 'Come, you must acknowledge I have behaved well to +you.' This he said frankly and good-humouredly. The Duke said, 'I assure +your Majesty I am very sensible of it, and I feel very grateful to you.' + +Having thus established ourselves as a Government we were going to break +our necks by attempting to pass the Chancellor's Bill, which the House of +Commons does not like. However, after a talk, it was resolved to give it +up. + +It seems the Tories have deserted us again. We are much in want of winter +quarters. + +In the House we had the City of London petition. I took a more active part +than usual in the conversation. + +Lord Rosslyn, having just lost his son, is gone to Tunbridge Wells, and the +offer of the Privy Seal will be postponed till after to-morrow, when the +King is to see Best at two, and it is hoped the Duke may be able to tell +Rosslyn that Scarlett is to be Attorney-General. + + +_May 26._ + +The King sent Knighton for Chief Justice Best, and desired him not to tell +the Duke of Cumberland; Best was sent for. So Best went, and accepted the +terms offered. Thus we shall get Scarlett, and the King and the Duke be +separated a little. + +Yesterday the Duke of Wellington did his business with the King while the +Duke of Cumberland was hearing a clause in the House of Lords. The +Chancellor, knowing how the Duke of Wellington was occupied, kept the Duke +of Cumberland as long as he could. + + +_May 27._ + +Committee on London Bridge. Lord Londonderry, who came from the review in +his uniform just covered by a frock coat, spoke against time on a +collateral point for an hour and a half, and disgusted the Committee. + + +_May 28._ + +London Bridge Committee. Lord Londonderry a little better than before, but +not much. He is running down his character altogether. He has now formed an +alliance with the Duke of Cumberland, and through him made his peace with +the King. The Duke of Cumberland wishes to be reconciled to the Duke of +Wellington. In the House of Commons there is a small Ultra-Tory party, not +fifty. In our House I doubt whether there are twenty. + + +_May 30._ + +Chairs. Lord W. Bentinck seems to be so ill as to make it doubtful whether +he can remain in India should he recover. The letter is dated January 27. +He was then in danger. The vessel did not leave Calcutta till the 30th. The +news then was that he was better, and had sat up for six hours. It was a +_coup de soleil_. + +London Bridge Committee. + +The Duke showed me a letter from Lord Rosslyn, accepting most cordially the +Privy Seal. + +I suppose we shall have a Council on Monday, or on some early day next +week, for me to give it up. + + +_June 1._ + +To the Cabinet room. + +There is a report that Varna [Footnote: Varna was in the hands of the +Russians, having been taken in the previous campaign.] is _cernee_ by +40,000 men, Bazardjik taken, the Russians running from Karasan, and from +6,000 to 8,000 Russians, who had been thrown over the Danube at Hirsova, +driven into it at Czernavoda by the garrison of Silistria. [Footnote: These +reports seem to have been unfounded. Soon after this date the decisive +battle of Kouleftcha opened to the Russians the road to Adrianople.] +Clanwilliam wrote me he thought the Duke attached some credit to this last +rumour. + +News from Calcutta of February 1 states that Lord William Bentinck was then +out of danger. Lady William, who was going to set off to join him, had +determined to expect him at Calcutta. + +Lord Rosslyn's appointment is in the newspapers to-day. The 'Times' highly +delighted. + + +_June 2._ + +London Bridge Approaches Committee. Lord Londonderry very anxious to have +an adjournment over the Derby; however, he must attend to 'the last +concern.' + +House. Anatomy Bill put off till Friday. The Bishops, Lord Malmesbury, and +many others very hostile to it. + +It seems certain that the Russians have recrossed the Danube. I am inclined +to think they have been beaten. + + +_June 3._ + +The Bishop of Oxford is dead; a great Grecian is to succeed him. + +The King is in excellent humour. The Duke of Cumberland rather going down. + +We had some talk about the Anatomy Bill. The Duke is afraid of passing it. +Indeed, it is not a Government measure. Probably it will be withdrawn for +the year. The Bishops are very hostile to it. + + +_June 4._ + +London Bridge Committee from eleven till four. We made great progress in +our evidence, and, indeed, nearly proved our case. From four to five we had +a very painful discussion in consequence of some words which passed between +Lord Durham and Lord Beresford. We succeeded at last in settling the +difference. + +Lord Beresford, having no good word at his disposal, said he did not second +the _evil deeds_ or _improprieties_ of noble lords. He really meant +_irregularities_, and irregularities only as a member of the Committee. +Lord Grey was present and much distressed. The Duke of Wellington's +authority induced both to become amenable to the wish of the Committee. + + +_June 5._ + +Anatomy Bill. Some talk; but a general agreement suggested by the +Archbishop of Canterbury, that the Bill should be read a second time, and +not proceeded with this session. The Duke of Wellington expressed his +general approbation of the principle, but thought postponement desirable. +He pledged himself to _cooperate_ in bringing in a Bill on the same +principle, and having the same objects, next year; but did not pledge +himself to bring it in himself. + + +_June 7._ + +Cabinet at half-past three. First question: whether we should extend the +time for putting an end altogether to the Brazilian slave trade from March +13 to September 13, 1830, for the equivalent of obtaining for ever the +right to seize ships fitted up for the slave trade, whether they had slaves +on board or not. The Brazilians have been encouraged by their Government to +interpret the treaty as permitting the return of any vessels quitting the +Brazils on slave expeditions before March 13. + +Dr. Lushington, who was consulted by Aberdeen, seemed to think it was worth +while to obtain the concession, but still seemed to think that by extending +the time, we should permit the transportation of a very large number of +slaves, of whom many might be destroyed by ill-treatment, and that it was +hardly justifiable with a view to a distant advantage, to sacrifice +immediately and certainly a great number of persons. + +This prevailed--the real fact being that Peel does not like awkward +questions in the House of Commons. + +So the treaty remains as it is, and both parties will interpret it as they +please. There will be many disputes, for the interpretation is very +different. + + +_June 8._ + +Received a private letter from Colonel Macdonald at Tabriz, with copies of +letters received by him from a gentleman he had sent to Teheran on hearing +of the massacre of the Russian mission; and from another gentleman, +travelling unofficially, who first heard the report between Tabriz and +Kamsin. + +These accounts only confirm what we had already heard of the arrogance and +violence of the Russians. They deserved their fate. + +Colonel Macdonald says that General Paskewitz cannot dispose of more than +25,000, or, at most, 30,000 men, although he has a nominal force of 110,000 +men under his command. + +Colonel Macdonald says there has been no serious resistance on the part of +the Turks, except at Akhalsik. + +He has done what he can to dissuade them from war with the Russians; but I +think the universal feeling of the people will propel them. + +The insurrection at Teheran appears to have been instigated by the Mollahs +and the women, but it was evidently national, or it must have failed. + + +_June 10._ + +Council. Lord Winford kissed hands. He walked in with great difficulty on +two crutches, which he placed behind him and so leant back upon. The King +had a chair brought for him, and had him wheeled out. The man who pushed +his chair very nearly shipwrecked him at the door. + +The Attorney-General (Scarlett), [Footnote: Afterwards Lord Abinger.] the +Chief Justice of the Common Pleas (Tindal), and the Solicitor-General +(Sugden), [Footnote: Afterwards Lord St. Leonards. Lord Chancellor 1862. ] +all kissed hands. The Chief Justice of the Common Pleas was sworn in as +Privy Councillor. Lord Rosslyn was sworn in as Privy Councillor and Privy +Seal. The King did not address a word to me, who gave up the seal, or to +Rosslyn, who received it. + +House. Nothing of moment. + +Dinner at Lord Bathurst's. Lord Rosslyn dined here. + +Aberdeen read a paper lately received from the Russians, in which they +concede all we ask about blockades, &c., except as to the Gulf of Enos. The +Duke says he shall bring Lieven to the point about this, and generally +about their views. He feels the Government is stronger now than it was-- +that the country is stronger, and we may insist more. He says the question +is, 'Shall we permit the ruin of the Turkish Empire?' I have long felt that +to be the case, and to that I answer 'No.' + +We had some conversation as to the charter. The Duke seems rather inclined +to continue the _name_ of the Company. I am for the _name_ of the King. + + +_June 11._ + +The world has had imposed upon it a story of the Chancellor's _selling_ his +Church preferment. The 'Age' is to bring forward its charges on Sunday +next. This is an arrow from the Cumberland quiver. + +I mentioned Lord Clare's wish to look forward to the Government of Bombay +or Madras to the Duke last night, and he did not by any means receive the +proposition unfavourably. I told Clare so to-day. + + +_June 13._ + +Gaisford has refused the Bishopric of Oxford--wisely, for he was only a +Grecian and had good preferment. He is a rough man too. I am glad he has +refused it. I do not think mere Grecians good bishops. + +Lord Clare told me Glengall was to be the new Irish peer. + + +_June 15._ + +Committee as usual. Lord Londonderry more insane than ever. The Duke said +he had never seen anything more painful. + +We made hardly any progress. The victory will belong to the _survivors_, +and I do not think Lord Durham will be one of them. + +House. Lord Londonderry made a foolish speech, and the Duke an excellent +one, very severe upon him, and defending the City. If we do not get the +City by this Committee the City is impregnable. + +Hardinge told me Lord Grey seemed out of humour. I do not think he is in +good humour. + + +_June 16._ + +At last some hope of a compromise respecting London Bridge. + + +_June 17._ + +The eternal Committee is, I trust, at an end. The agents have come to a +compromise, and if the Common Council should confirm the terms, as I +conclude they will, the thing will be at an end. We shall then have +Parliament up by Monday or Tuesday next. + +Cabinet dinner at Lord Melville's. The Duke was astonished at Lord W. +Bentinck's strong and sudden step of transferring the Supreme Government +_pro tempore_ to Meerut. He said he always expected some wild measure from +Lord W. Meerut was in too exposed a situation. + +Twenty thousand Afghan horse might ride in upon the seat of government if +placed in the north-west provinces. It is astonishing how much the Duke is +prejudiced by his old Indian feelings. Whatever _is_ he thinks best. Meerut +is ill and absurdly chosen, but Calcutta is certainly the worst chosen seat +of government. + +We are to have a Cabinet on Saturday for the King's speech. On Monday or +Tuesday Parliament will be up. On Wednesday we dine at the India House, and +on the Monday following, the 29th, will be the fish dinner. + + +_June 18._ + +Called to compliment the Duke on the anniversary of Waterloo. Left with him +Lord W. Bentinck's minute and despatch on transferring the Supreme +Government Departments and all _pro tempore_ to Meerut, and a proposed +letter, censuring the Governor for having done this without previous +sanction, and directing the members of Council and the Departments to +return. + +The Duke objects to any removal of the seat of government to the upper +provinces. It would there be exposed to the sudden inroads of cavalry. In +India a cloud of cavalry rises like a squall in the Mediterranean. At +Calcutta the Government, protected by the rivers, is safe, and always +accessible from England. + + +_June 19._ + +Rode to town. Met Rosslyn. He told me Lord Clanrickarde [Footnote: Lord +Clanrickarde was son-in-law of Mr. Canning.] intended to make some +observations on foreign policy this evening. + +Had some conversation with the Duke. He doubted whether the Supreme +Government _could_ leave Calcutta and preserve its powers. I told him of +the newspaper report of to-day that leases for sixty years were to be given +to indigo planters, and this without any authority from home. He seems to +have suspected from the first that Lord W. would do some monstrous thing, +and certainly he does seem to be emancipating himself. + +House. Lord Clanrickarde made his little speech. Aberdeen his. Then Lord +Holland, and then the Duke. Afterwards Goderich. Lord Holland talked as +usual very vaguely. No notice had been given, and few people knew there was +anything to be done. So ends the House for this year. + + +_June 20, 1829._ + +Cabinet. King's speech. Some time occupied in wording it, but no material +alterations. Aberdeen's the worst part. The King is made to _auspicate_ and +to pray, but not to trust that the Franchise Bill and the Relief Bill will +be productive of good. + +The Chancellor has prosecuted the 'Morning Journal' for a libel accusing +him of having taken money for Sugden's appointment as Solicitor-General. I +heard him tell Lord Bathurst, with reference to another calumny against +him, that he had fortunately preserved through his secretary the grounds on +which he had given every living he had disposed of. + + +_June 21._ + +Had a visit from Loch. He wishes the despatch to Lord William to be worded +more gently, as he thinks Lord William _meant_ well. This shall be done. + + +_June 22._ + +Wrote draft paragraphs to the effect above stated to Lord W. Bentinck, and +added a paragraph giving the Duke's reasoning against the removal of the +Government from Calcutta to the north-west provinces. + +I had some conversation in the House with Lord Lauderdale on China trade, +&c. He seems friendly to the Company and to the Government. + +Went to the House at 4. Found a good many peers there. By mere mistake a +Bill, slightly and necessarily amended by the Lords, was not sent down to +the Commons, although directions to that effect were given, and it by +accident was placed amongst the Bills ready for the Royal assent. So it +received the Royal assent. It became necessary to pass a Bill to make this +Bill valid in law. Lord Shaftesbury thought our House ought to inform the +Commons we had discovered the error; but the Speaker, [Footnote: C. Manners +Sutton, afterwards Lord Canterbury.] to make a flourish, insisted on +announcing it first to the House of Commons. All the steps to be taken were +settled between the Speaker, Lord Shaftesbury, and Courtenay. When I went +down I found it had not been settled that anything should be done first by +us. I suggested that Lord Shaftesbury should acquaint the House with the +circumstance, and that we should appoint a Committee to inquire before the +message from the Commons came up. This was done. + +We ordered a message to be sent, but before our messengers left the House +we heard the Commons would not receive a message, so I moved that the order +we had just made should be rescinded, and we had a second conference. The +Commons were well satisfied with our reply. The last sentence had been, +'The Lords hope the Commons will be satisfied with this explanation.' As we +in the first paragraph expressed our desire to preserve a good +understanding between the two Houses, and in the second one regret that +this mistake had taken place, I thought it was going too far to express _a +hope_ only that our explanation would be satisfactory. + +We inserted 'the Lords _doubt not_,' instead of 'the Lords _hope_.' + +At night received a letter from the Duke of Wellington, saying he thought +we might get Courtenay to resign at once and get in Lord Chandos. I am to +see him at ten to-morrow on the subject. + + +_June 23, 1829._ + +Wrote early to the Chairs and begged them to come to me immediately. Sent +Loch the Duke's note and told him why Lord Chandos's being brought in was +of so much importance. Saw the Duke at 10. The King was very much out of +humour yesterday. He wanted to make Nash a baronet. The Duke refused. The +King then went upon his Speech, which he did not like and had altered. He +left out the specific mention of the Relief and Franchise Bill, and there +he was right, and he converted the prayer that the measure might +tranquillise Ireland, &c., into a _hope_ that it would--thus making it a +little stronger, but that he did not know. + +The Duke of Cumberland, on hearing of Castlereagh's appointment, said, +'Whoever ratted he would not,' alluding to Lord Londonderry, who has been +nibbling at the Cumberland faction. However, Lord Londonderry is much +annoyed at Castlereagh's taking office. He neither likes the expense of an +election for Downshire, nor losing a vote he thought he could dispose of. + +Hardinge will not sit again for Durham. Without Hardinge Lord Londonderry +will have trouble enough there. + +The King was much out of humour during the Chapter of the Garter, and said +everything was done wrong. + +Saw the Chairs. They had just got a letter from Sir John Malcolm, resigning +from December 1, 1830. This would have been in any case a long time for +Courtenay to wait out of office; but they said the idea of his being +proposed had got wind, and several of the Directors were very adverse. +Neither of the Chairs likes him, and if they supported him they would do it +very reluctantly. As Loch goes out of office in April, and we cannot tell +who will be deputy, and six new Directors come in, there really are not the +means of saying to Courtenay, 'You are sure of your election,' and without +this he could not be asked to resign. + +I took the Chairs to the Duke. He received them very cordially, told them I +had stated the circumstances to him, and he gave up the point. + +We then talked of the legality of the removal of the Supreme Government +from Calcutta. On looking into the acts it seems very doubtful whether any +act done by the Governor-General in Council away from Calcutta would be +valid unless it were one of the acts the Governor-General might do of his +own authority. For instance, 'a regulation' issued by the Governor-General +in Council at Meerut would not be valid, because the Governor-General alone +could not issue one. + +The Duke said Lord William did everything with the best intentions; but he +was a _wrong-headed man_, and if he went wrong he would continue in the +wrong line. Other men might go wrong and find it out, and go back; but if +he went wrong he would either not find it out, or, if he did, he would not +go back. + + +_June 24._ + +Sat as Commissioner to prorogue Parliament. The King's alteration in the +Speech certainly made it better and stronger. He now expresses his _sincere +hope_ the measures of the session will produce tranquillity, &c. People +thought the Speech rather short and jejune. + +Dined at the 'Albion' with the Directors. The dinner was given to Lord +Dalhousie. There were there the Duke, the Chancellor, Peel, Sir J. Murray, +Lord Rosslyn and Goulburn, the Speaker, the Attorney General, Courtenay, +Ashley, and Bankes; Duke of Buccleuch, Lord Camden, Lord Montagu, Lord +Hill, Sir Herbert Taylor, Sir Byam Martin, Sir A. Dickson, Colonel Houston, +Lord Dalhousie, and Sir Sidney Beckwith, and their aides-de-camp; a great +many Directors, and in all rather more than 100 people. + +The Duke, in returning thanks, spoke of the cordiality and good +understanding existing between the Directors and the Government, _which was +never more necessary to the Company than now_. + +I said the good understanding would always exist while such men as Loch +were in the chair, and while I was at the Board of Control. I paid a high +compliment to Loch, and then congratulated them on the appointments of the +two Generals. Their mildness of manner, their benevolence of character, and +the goodness of their natures would obtain for them the affectionate +devotion of a grateful soldiery, and, educated in a school of continued +victories, they were the fittest leaders of an army which had never met an +enemy it had not subdued. I ended by saying I was sure they would devote +themselves to the maintenance under all circumstances, not only of the +efficiency, but of an object which they would pursue with equal interest-- +_of the happiness and well-being of the native army of India_. I spoke +rather well, was attentively heard, and well received. I sat by the Duke of +Buccleuch. We had a good deal of conversation. He seems a fine young man. +Lord Rosslyn complained he could never see a draft till it was a month old, +and that there had been no new despatches placed in the boxes since he came +into office. I told him no one complained more of the same thing than +Aberdeen did when Dudley was in office, and I believe all Foreign +Secretaries had a shyness about showing their drafts till they were sent +off and unalterable. + + +_June 25._ + +At the office found a letter with enclosures from Colonel Macdonald, dated +Tabriz April 20. What he has been doing in Persia I do not know. + +I have written to him to call upon me on Saturday. + +Called on the Duke to tell him the substance--which is, that the Turks have +already 30,000 men and sixty pieces of cannon at Erzeroum. That a +dispossessed Pacha is in arms at Akiska. That the Russians have reinforced +the garrisons of Natshiran and Abbasabad, and have withdrawn all their +troops to the left bank of the Araxes, with the exception of those who +garrison Bayazid. The plague seems rife at Erivan. The Russians about Count +Paskewitz abuse the English very much. + + +_June 27._ + +The Chairs told me Lord W. Bentinck had extended to all persons the benefit +of the regulation as to coffee planters, _omitting, however_, all the +restrictive clauses. They think very seriously of this, and very justly. +The Calcutta newspapers consider the principle of colonisation to be +conceded. + +We must abrogate this 'Regulation' without loss of time. I went to the Duke +to tell him of it. He said Lord W. Bentinck was not to be trusted, and we +should be obliged to recall him. He is gone down in a steamboat to Penang. + +No news of much importance at the Cabinet room, except that Lord +Heytesbury's despatches confirm the account of the sickness of the Russian +army. + +The Turks seem to have given the Russians a great smash at Eski Arnaut. + + +_June 30._ + +A battle near Schumla between the Russians and Turks. The Turks were +besieging Pravadi. Diebitsch marched from Silistria and moved upon their +communications with Schumla. The Turks seem to have been surprised. They +fought gallantly, however, and seem to have caused the Russians great loss. + +Saw Arbuthnot. He came to the India Board to speak about his friend, +Russell Ellice, whom he wishes to make a Director. We afterwards talked of +the House and the Government. I think all will turn out well. We have six +months before us, but certainly at present we are weak in the House of +Commons, though I believe gathering strength in the country, and already +very strong there. If we play the great game, striking at the mass, we must +succeed. It would never do to go picking up individuals. We must do our +best for the country, and we shall have it with us. The worst of it is, the +King is the most faithless of men, and Cumberland is at work. + +The Duke asked Hardinge the other day what he thought of the Government. He +said he thought that by losing Canningites and Brunswickers it was fifty +weaker than Lord Liverpool's, and these fifty go the other way, making a +difference of one hundred on a division. Lord Camden thought if the +Brunswickers would not come in we must get a few Whigs--Abercromby, Sir +James Graham, the Althorpe people. Stanley would come for anything good, +and Brougham too. + +Arbuthnot asked me if I thought Lord Rosslyn would be cordial with us. I +said Yes. His letter of acceptance was most cordial, and with the Lords he +was on excellent terms. The only danger would be if Peel and the Commoners +were shy. + +Lord Grey, I said, I did not think in very good humour, but he would differ +on foreign politics rather than on questions of a domestic nature. The Duke +will not be coquetting with him, because he says very honestly he should be +exciting expectations in Lord Grey which, while the King lives, he does not +think he can gratify. + +Saw Mr. Elphinstone by appointment. I wished to have his opinion with +regard to the new settlement of Indian Government, which may take place on +the expiration of the present Charter. He seemed to think that the +Administration of the Government in the King's name would be agreeable to +the Civil and Military Services, and to people in England. He doubted +whether, as regarded the princes of India, it would signify much, as they +now pretty well understood us. He doubted whether the orders of Government +here would be better obeyed. He thought there might be an advantage in +keeping the King's authority in reserve, to be used only on grand +occasions. He confessed, however, that 'having been educated, and having +lived under the existing system, he was not best qualified to propose to +another. He had his prejudices.' He thought the best mode of arriving at +the truth would be by taking the opinions of practical Indians as to +reforms and alterations suggested by theoretical men. + +I asked him to consider the expediency of dividing the territory as now +into three unequal Presidencies, of giving to the Governor-General the +labour of superintending the Administration in detail of the Bengal +Presidency--of having Members of Council. I told him there were many minor +points of detail discoverable only by those employed at home, which +required and must receive amendment. Such, for instance, is the +interpretation given to the Act of Parliament, by which a _regulation_ must +be sanctioned or rejected _in extenso,_ there being no power to alter a +word, or to reject part and take the rest. + +Mr. Elphinstone seems to dread a long peace in India. We hold everything +together by the Native Army, and we cannot retain that unless we retain the +affections of the European officers. In the present state of our finances +this is difficult. + + +_July 1._ + +At half-past five received a letter from the Chairman, and the draft +relative to the removal of the Governor from Calcutta. The Court wished to +have it back to-day. That was impossible; but they have omitted words I +inserted in the _precis,_ and must restore, declaring that had the removal +been legal, still the Members of Council would have been ordered back. I +have now been obliged to give reasons for this addition, and the reasons +will be so much worse, as matters of record, that I have suggested to the +Chairman he had better substitute a draft containing the words. + +I think we must detain the _Pallas_ that it may take out both letters--this +and the one relating to the leases which is not yet prepared, or we must +have an overland dispatch. + +Delay is one of the inconveniences attending the present system of Indian +Government. I told the Chairman in my private note that if we allowed Lord +W. Bentinck to emancipate himself in this manner we should really be +abandoning all real control over the Government of India. I see clearly +there is a Bentinck party in the Court. + + +_July 2._ + +Saw Hardinge. We had some conversation upon the subject of the Government. +He seems more alarmed than I am. I trust to the King's fears and the Duke's +fortune; besides, we have the country. + +Hardinge told me the King was very much out of humour. The admission of +Lord Rosslyn had not answered. None followed. Lord Durham, Calthorpe, and +others left Lord Lansdowne to coalesce with Lord Grey. Hardinge wished me +to try Herries again, with the view of opening the Mint by making him +Chancellor of the Exchequer in India; but I told him Herries said his +domestic circumstances made it impossible, and the Duke did not seem to +like it at all. + +Herries thinks Lord Durham would be glad to be Minister at Naples; for my +part I am sure nothing will win Lord Grey but a place for Lord Grey +himself, and _that_, in the present state of the King's mind, the Duke is +not in a condition to offer. + + +_July 4._ + +Cabinet at half-past three. + +The Duke read a list of the several points to be considered before the next +Session. I cannot recollect half of them. East India Charter; Bank Charter; +Usury Laws; East Retford; Duties on Sugar; Duties on Tobacco; Canada; West +Indies; Education in Ireland; Irish and English Churches; Poor in Ireland; +Public Works; Commission on Ecclesiastical Courts; Reform of English +Courts; Reform of Welsh Judicature; Reform of Courts of Equity; Scotch Law +of Entail; Salaries of Scotch Judges--_increase_; Salaries of English +Judges--_reduction_; Grand Juries, Ireland; Militia Laws; Stamp Duties, +&c., &c. + +The only talk we had was about Irish Poor, and Public Works in Ireland. The +feeling seemed against anything like Poor Laws, and against Public Works +too. This is mine. The first productive of mischief, the second useless. + +Undoubtedly it is a great hardship that the English parish should have the +burden of Irish poor, but on the other hand in many cases the payers of +poor's rates in these parishes have derived advantage from Irish labour. + +Fitzgerald, Peel, and Goulburn are to look into this subject, and all +connected with Ireland. + +Fitzgerald, Peel, Lord Rosslyn, and, I think, either Herries or Goulburn +seemed to think the opposition to the continuance of the China monopoly +would be much greater than we expected. Fitzgerald seemed desirous the +question of commerce should be reserved, and that of Government decided. I +told him the two were inseparably connected. + + +_July 6._ + +Wrote to Lord W. Bentinck telling him I much regretted the having been +obliged to send the two letters, relative to the removal of the Government, +and the leases--told him the Duke coincided in opinion with the Court. + +I then expressed my surprise that the Local Government did not obey better. +Said they seemed to forget the orders of the Directors were the King's +orders transmitted through the channel of the Court and the Board. I added +I should endeavour to introduce into every branch of Indian Government the +subordination and the improvements now established in the King's +service--depended on his co-operation, &c. I sent the letter to the Duke +to ask him if I should send it. + + +_July 7._ + +At quarter to six a messenger arrived from the Duke, to whom I sent +yesterday my letter to Lord W. asking if I should send it? The Duke desires +to see the despatches to which it refers. I have accordingly begged Jones +to send them to him. I shall however be in town early myself to-morrow. + +I told the Duke in my note I should stay in town till late to-morrow to +sign the letter as to the six regiments if they passed it. I am glad to +have an excuse for not going to Windsor to the Recorder's Report. + + +_July 8._ + +Office at 2. Wilson absent, so I could not transact any military business. +Carried the letters relative to the leases and the six regiments to the +Duke. He said mine about the regiments was _very good indeed_. + +The Emperor of Russia seems to have laid himself out most ably at Berlin to +captivate the King, and the army, and the people. + +Seymour's despatches are useful. He mentions _small_ things, which show the +character of men. + +The Emperor does not disguise his desire of peace. He wants no _garanties +materielles_ at the Bosphorus for safe passage. He asks the principle of a +pecuniary indemnity, but does not seem disposed to contest the details. +Bernstorff observed truly, we could not get out of the Greek Treaty without +the help of Russia, and Russia wanted us to get out of the way. + +The Sultan begins to affect European manners. Calls upon ladies and talks +about education! Dines with a merchant! After all, considering his +education and his _entourage_, Sultan Mahmoud is the most remarkable man in +Europe. + + +_July 9._ + +Office at 2. Met Herries. Told him I should send him a statement of our +Indian loans, and place Leach at his disposal. We could then talk them +over, and see whether we could effect any financial operation. My idea is +that by offering some little higher interest in. India we might induce the +holders of the remittable loan to give up that privilege of receiving the +interest in England if resident here. + +Saw Major Cunningham. He looks more than forty, well, certainly, but I +should doubt his doing much hard work. He does not think himself a good +person to command Irregulars. His Rohillas were almost in as good order as +Regulars. + +He told me Lieutenant-Colonel Skinner was a man of large landed property. +He had raised his corps very much from his own estate and neighbourhood, +and was a sort of feudal chieftain. He has been educated like a native, +though the son of a Colonel in the Company's service. + +Saw Sir Murray Maxwell. [Footnote: He had commanded the 'Alceste,' which +took out Lord Amherst as Ambassador to China twelve years before.] It +seemed to me Sir Murray wanted to be sent with a frigate to try to open a +commercial communication with Pekin. He thinks even Japan might be induced +to trade. The instant the Chinese found the ship was gone and Lord Amherst +meant to return by land they would have nothing to say to him. They +probably took him for a spy. + +Sir Murray thinks the Chinese might be led to give a port to the northward. + +He describes the Spanish population of Manilla as being very small--the +native population large. It is but four days' sail, with a good breeze, +from Manilla to Canton. Always a favourable wind. The harbour magnificent. + +I think the whole object of his visit was to get a ship, and a sort of half +embassy. + + +_July 10._ + +Received a letter from Lord Clare, who saw the Duke yesterday. He says the +Duke was very kind and told him he should get all the information he could +before the Committee of next year. I shall most willingly assist him. + + +_July 11._ + +Cabinet. Talked of Ireland. The disposition to outrage seems increasing. +The Duke said we were responsible for the success of the measure of this +year, and we must put down the armed meetings. Warburton must be ordered to +do so. The Duke said emphatically if we do not preserve the peace of +Ireland we shall not be a Government. Peel is to write immediately. He +thinks the first appearance of a determination to put down these meetings +will have the effect of crushing them. We spoke of Poor Laws, Education, +and Grand Juries. Lord F. Leveson _despairs_ as to the two first. Upon both +the Government will form its opinion. I am glad to see that the more the +question of Poor Laws is considered the more the introduction of them +appears unadvisable, _or of any approach to them_. I have ever held this +opinion. + +In Cabinet we again, having done so many weeks ago, considered whether any +extension of time should be given to the Brazilians for the termination of +their traffic in slaves. + +Aberdeen seemed very indulgently inclined towards the slave dealers--not so +Peel and Fitzgerald. They seemed first of all to think it would be an +awkward Parliamentary case, and Peel protested against our becoming +responsible, as we should, for the horrible consequences which might attend +the continuance of the trade for six months. The Chancellor thought a +vessel leaving the coast of Africa, that is, engaging in the slave trade, +at such a period as would afford a reasonable probability of her arriving +on March 13, should be safe. I think February 13 was, after much desultory +discussion, fixed as the day after which no vessel should leave the coast +of Africa. + +The Brazilians had offered as an equivalent for six months an agreement +that in future vessels fitted for the slave trade, even if they had no +slaves on board, should be seizable. It seemed to be the opinion, a little +exaggerated, I think, that no prospect of future prevention of slave- +trading could justify us in permitting for an instant the immediate benefit +we had within our grasp. + + +_July 12._ + +The great day in Ireland; but I hope its happening on Sunday may break its +effect. The orders for vigorous interposition, determined upon on Saturday, +will have been of no use in preventing collision to-day, or even to-morrow, +should the anniversary be postponed. + +The Duke of Cumberland goes to Hanover, but he returns in October, and old +Eldon meets him then in London. They had a regular Cabinet to decide +whether he should go or not. + +Read the court-martial of Lieutenant Lewis, of the Bombay Artillery, who +struck an officer in the presence of his wife. The Chairs wish to restore +him. It is impossible. There is an end of all moral and gentlemanlike +feeling if it be not understood that a man's person is sacred in the +presence of his wife. We presume a wife to have feeling, and a man to +respect it. _The blow_ alone would have been a good cause of dismissal. + +Had a letter from the Bishop of Calcutta, who, on offering to execute +episcopal functions at the Cape, was told by Hay, of the Colonial Office, +that the cape was not in his Patent, and he could no do so. This is a +mistake. He can exercise episcopal functions, but not episcopal +jurisdictions. + +Had a letter from Mr. Joliffe, of Merstham, [Footnote: The seat of the +Joliffe family, near Reigate, in Surrey.] proposing steam-boat navigation +to India. An application from Salisbury for a letter of recommendation to +Lord W. Bentinck, in favour of Mr. Chester. Told him this was not a good +time to ask a favour of Lord William, and it would be better to send the +recommendation with the man, who does not sail till October. + + +_July 15, 1829._ + +Office. Found a letter from Loch, suggesting the irregularity of my sending +for his officers, and communicating with them on the subject of despatches +to be sent to the Indian Government, and expressing a hope that nothing +would occur to interrupt the harmony which existed between us. + +I said in reply that I have expressed a wish to see Colonel Salmond, and +afterwards to see Colonel Farant, merely from my desire to expedite +business, and to do it well. That it was mentioned in conversation with +Colonel Salmond and Mr. Wilson on Monday, that there was no irregularity in +that course, and that I immediately determined to desist from it. That I +believed I had so expressed myself at the time to Colonel Salmond. + +I added that I could assure him I would not willingly, by endeavouring to +extend the limits assigned by Parliament to the power of the Board, or by +my manner of exercising that power, interrupt the harmony which so happily +existed between the court and me. + +Went to the Foreign Office. I fear the defeat of the Turks near Shumla was +decisive; but still we have only Russian accounts, and they do _so lie_! It +seems certain the Russians took the opportunity of opening a negotiation. +The carelessness of the Turks in not keeping a good look-out towards +Silistria seems unaccountable, and they dawdled sadly before Pravady. The +new Vizier is very inferior to old Hussein Pacha, whose caution would have +avoided this catastrophe. + +Dined with the East India volunteers. The officers of the regiment are all +clerks in the Company's service. The non-commissioned officers and privates +serve in their warehouses. + +There are now 600 men. During the war they had three regiments, each 800 +strong--all their own servants. + +When my health was drunk I spoke of the Duke of Wellington's natural +fondness for India, of the high terms in which he always mentioned the +gallantry of the Indian army, and the purity of the Civil Service. I said +the Ministers were animated by his example, &c. + +The Speaker told me he thought Mr. Stanley [Footnote: A curious instance of +the failure of political prophecies, even by men of judgment and +experience. Seventeen years later he was leader of a party, and twenty- +three years afterwards Prime Minister.] would never rise higher than he was +now. It had been a curious Session--all men endeavouring to avoid +committing themselves. + + +_July 16._ + +Loch showed me two letters of Sir J. Malcolm, in which he deprecates the +sending of more writers, and says _numbers_ may be diminished, but not +_salaries_, especially in the higher ranks; and if writers are sent they +must be provided for. I believe he is right. I had already suggested the +non-appointment of writers this year, and the Chairs seemed to acquiesce-- +indeed, to have thought of it themselves. + +Recorder's Report. Before the report Madame de Cayla, the Duchess D'Escars, +&c., were presented to the King. I had some conversation with Rosslyn and +Herries as to the Indian Question. Herries seemed to be afraid of the House +of Commons. Rosslyn a little, too, of public opinion as to the opening of +the China trade. They both seemed rather hostile to the continuance of the +present system. I said I considered it to be a settled point that the +patronage of India should be separated from the Government. The necessity +of making that separation led to one great difficulty. The necessity of +remitting home in goods 3,200,000L led to another difficulty, and to making +the Government of India, wherever it might be placed, _mercantile_. The +East India Company would not, and could not, without the monopoly carry on +the concern. + +Neither Herries nor Rosslyn seemed to admit the necessary separation of the +patronage of India from the Government. + +I said that, if it might not be separated, it would be easy to make a +better and a cheaper government. I can see that Peel, Fitzgerald, Herries, +Rosslyn--perhaps Sir G. Murray--will be against the Company. + +The Duke said it was clear to him that the remittances must be made in +goods, and could not be made by bills. He is for the monopoly. + +In a few days the papers will be printed. A copy will then be furnished to +each member of the Government, and I shall receive their observations. + +The Recorder's Report was a very heavy one. All the cases bad, and seven +ordered for execution. + +The King seemed very well. + +Stratford Canning and Lord Strangford were at the Court, to be presented on +their return. + +Before the report we read the last Irish papers. The Duke of Northumberland +and Lord F. Leveson seem to think rather favourably of the condition of +Ireland. The belief of Peel and Goulburn, and, I believe, of the Duke, is +that _one_ example would settle all. + +Lord F. Leveson says that the Brunswickers are encouraged _from St. +James's_ to expect that the Relief Bill will be repealed. Many wish for an +explosion, the Catholics less than the Protestants. + + +_July 19._ + +Hardinge and Wood dined with me. Hardinge says the Duke of Cumberland has +determined not to leave England, but to send for the Duchess and his son. +The Duchess of Gloucester did not before, and will not now, receive the +Duchess of Cumberland. Old Eldon wants a guarantee that no more Whigs will +be admitted. I believe he would be satisfied with none but his own +admission. + +Hardinge seems to think we may not have a majority when Parliament meets. I +think he is wrong. I trust to the Duke's fortune and to 'the being a +Government,' which is much, and to the others not being able to form a +Government, which is more. + + +_July 22._ + +Had a letter from Loch. He does not like the disbanding of the six +regiments, but he says he brings it before the Court again on Monday, +having promised every possible information. + +Read some of Colonel Tod's 'Rajastan.' I had rather see Rajastan or +Rajpootana than any part of India. It would really be interesting. Colonel +Tod seems to be an enthusiast about the country and the people. He was +there apparently at least sixteen years. The story of the beautiful +Princess of Oudeypore [Footnote: Krishna Komari. She was poisoned by her +father to avoid the hostilities of the rival princes who demanded her hand. +The father was still living when Colonel Tod wrote. The House of Oudeypore +was the only native reigning family who disdained to intermarry even with +the Emperors of Delhi. See Tod's _Rajasthan_, i. 066.] in Tod's book and +Sir J. Malcolm's is the most romantic and the most interesting I know. That +family of Oudeypore or Mewar seems to be the most ancient in the world. It +far surpasses the Bourbons and the House of Hapsburg. + + +_July 23._ + +Chairs at eleven. Told them of the danger in which they were, from the +feeling of the mercantile districts and of the country; that we could not +look Parliament in the face without having done all in our power to effect +reductions in a deficit of 800,000L a year; that without a commanding case +no Government, however strong, could venture to propose a renewal of the +monopoly. + +They were obliged to me for my information. I advised them to turn their +attention immediately to all the great points. + +On the subject of the six regiments the Court differ from the view I took. +Loch gave me a long statement of facts, which I must read attentively, and +then communicate with the Duke. + +They are so enamoured of old habits that they hesitate about desiring their +Indian Governments and the subordinate correspondents of these Governments +to place upon the back of their voluminous letters a _precis_ of their +substance! + +After the Chairs were gone I saw Bankes and Leach, and while they were with +me Sir Archibald Campbell called. I saw him immediately. He is a fat, +rather intelligent-looking man, well mannered, and sensible. I talked to +him of the idea of exchanging Tenasserim. [Footnote: The furthest province +of the British territory towards Siam, extending along the coast south of +Pegu, and lately conquered from the Burmese Empire.] He did not like giving +up his conquest. I gave him one secret letter, and he will make his +observations upon it. + +He left Lord William at the mouth of the Hooghly. They had found out the +removal of the Government was contrary to law. They had intended to be +itinerant for a year or two. + +It is only in the Bengal army that the officers are old. There they rise by +seniority. In the Madras army they are made from fitness. + +The Madras army, though most gallant, was quite unequal, from deficiency of +physical strength, to face the Burmese. The Burmese soldiers brought +fourteen days' provisions. All men are liable to be called upon. They never +had more than 120,000 in the field. + +The English army took 2,000 cannon, and it was believed the Burmese had +2,500 left. + +Sir A. Campbell says there have been 60,000 refugees from Ava--all now +settled in Tenasserim. I had thought there had never been more than 10,000, +and that some, about half, had returned. + +Upon the whole, he seems enamoured of his conquests, but he did not adduce +any good reason against exchanging it. + +At the Cabinet room. Saw Lord Rosslyn there, as I used to be last year, +_desoeuvre_ and bored, as all Privy Seals will be. He seemed dissatisfied +with the state of affairs in Ireland and in England. At Manchester there is +a fear of a turn-out of some more cotton-spinners. Every thing depends upon +the harvest. + +The negotiations with the Turks came to nothing. The Grand Vizier's answer +to Diebitch is excellent. + +The sickness amongst the Russian troops continues, and Diebitch has not +more than 40,000 men, even with Roth's corps. + +The Ambassadors have been very well received at Constantinople. All are in +good humour there, notwithstanding the losses near Shumla. + +The Emperor does not go to the army. + +Lord Heytesbury represents Russia as being the least formidable of the +great Powers for the purpose of offensive operations, and seems to think +she contains many elements of convulsion. + +Metternich is trying to cajole the Russians by pretended fears of +revolutionary principles. + +They talk of a King in Columbia, and the French are intriguing to place a +French prince on the throne, after Bolivar. + + +_July 25, 1829._ + +Cabinet room. The Ambassadors seem to have been received most cordially at +Constantinople. We know no more of the Grand Vizier's losses. That he +experienced a complete defeat there can be no doubt. + +In Columbia, the French seem rather inclined to place, after Bolivar, a +Prince of the House of Orleans on the throne, and it does not seem unlikely +that the Columbians may consider it their best arrangement. + +The Emperor of Russia seems to be desirous of Peru, and the King of Prussia +has, at his request, sent the Baron von Mueffling as his Minister to the +Porte to mediate. + +The Irish accounts are very bad. Lord F. Leveson seems now to think very +seriously of the state of things. Doherty is come back much alarmed from +Barris, where he has been with Blackie on a special commission. + + +_July 28._ + +I recommended to the attention of the Chairs the establishment of steam +communication with India by the Red Sea. + + +_July 29._ + +Read _precis_ relative to Kotah. + +These _precis_ will make me thoroughly acquainted with the history and +circumstances of the Rajpoot States, which are by far more interesting than +others. + +There is a looseness and a vulgarity in the East India House writing, the +literature of clerks which is quite disgusting. Our clerks write better +than theirs, but they do not write concisely and correctly. + + +_July 30._ + +Read Lord Heytesbury's letters. He is very Russian. They have certainly got +the plague at Odessa, and in all the stations of the Russian army. + +Met Peel at the Cabinet room. He said Ireland was in rather a better state. +He agreed with me in thinking the Brunswickers were the cause of all the +mischief. He believed the King had begged the Duke of Cumberland to stay, +and that the Duchess was certainly coming over. They wish to attack the +Ministry through the side of Ireland--to make a civil war rather than not +turn out a Government. + +He had written to the Duke suggesting that we ought to have a Cabinet +respecting Ireland, and he thought the Duke would come to town on his +letter. + + +_August 1._ + +Had from Sir G. Murray papers relative to the Canada question, upon which +he wishes to have the opinion of the Cabinet to-morrow. The immediate +question is whether a Bill passed by the Colonial Legislature for altering +the state of the representation shall be confirmed by the Crown. + +The state of Canada is such that I am convinced we ought in prudence to +place the revenue collected under the 14th Geo. II. at the disposal of the +Chambers, retaining, as they are willing to retain, a fixed salary for the +Government judges, independent of the annual vote. + + +_Sunday, August 2._ + +Cabinet at 4. Irish question. Lord F. Leveson seems to be much alarmed. He +wants to use the Bill of this year for the suppression of an expected +meeting at Derry, which meeting is to be unarmed, sing songs, drink toasts, +make speeches, and petition for a change of Ministers. + +It was considered that the powers entrusted to Government by the Bill for +the suppression of the Roman Catholic Association were never intended to be +exercised for the putting down of such a meeting as that intended to be +held at Derry. If the Brunswickers there come out of their houses and have +a procession _causing fear_ and threatening the peace, the common law can +put them down. Care will be taken to have troops enough at Derry. + +Lord F. Leveson likewise asks whether he shall proclaim martial law! Peel +very properly asks him what martial law is. In fact it is the absence of +all law--and can only be endured when a country is on the eve of rebellion +or actually in rebellion. [Footnote: This was exactly the description given +of it by Lord Beaconsfield with reference to Jamaica in 1866.] + +It seems to me that Lord Francis is unequal to his situation. I wish we had +Hardinge there. He would never go wrong. + +Herries told me he thought, after reading the papers I had sent him, that +there was more of care for the Company than he expected. + +Peel has written a very good letter to Lord F. Gower, telling him that the +first thing they must do is to establish an _efficient police_, to be paid +for by Ireland--and of which the officers must be appointed by Government. + + +_August 3._ + +Saw Hardinge. He has perfected a very excellent system in Ireland by which +all the 30,000 pensioners are divided into districts, in each of which is a +chief constable who pays them. If they move from one district to another +they have a ticket, so that the residence and the movements of all are +known. Of 30,000 about 10,000 are fit for duty. Blank orders are ready at +the Castle, directing the march of these men upon five central points, +where they would be incorporated with the regiments, so that in a few days +the army could be reinforced by 10,000 men. There are others who are not +very capable of doing anything but mischief if against us. These would be +ordered to the garrisons. + +I wish Hardinge was in Ireland instead of Lord Francis. + + +_August 6._ + +Chairs at 11. + +Astell does not seem to like my letters relative to the delay in answering +despatches from India and in communicating events in India; and respecting +the amount of military stores sent to India, and the expediency of +enquiring whether their amount could not be diminished. Loch did not say +anything. It was an attempt at bullying on Astell's part, which I resisted, +and successfully. + + +_August 10._ + +The Russians appear to have passed the defiles on the northern side of the +Balkans, and almost without loss. There is, I conclude, a force near +Bourgas, but all that is to be hoped is that the Turks will be wise enough +not to fight. It was an unlucky appointment, that of the Grand Vizier. Old +Hussein never would have committed his fault. + +R. Gordon has been magnificently received at Constantinople. + +Polignac has been made Prime Minister of France. De Rigny is made Minister +of Marine. The Government is Tory, and I should think very favourable to +English alliance, not Greek, and certainly not Russian. If it should be +able to stand, it must be good for us. Received letters from Colonel +Macdonald from Tabriz. He says the Russians at Tiflis talk as if they were +going to war with us. + + +_August 11._ + +Received Persian despatches. The Persians will pay no more. They wanted to +go to war. No one would go as Envoy to Petersburg but an _attache_. They +all thought they should be beheaded. Macdonald seems to have kept them +quiet. + +Cabinet room. Met Lord Melville. Read Gordon's letters from Constantinople. +The Turks have not above 20,000 men there. They are not disposed to yield +at all. Gordon thinks if we declared we would fix in any manner the limits +of Greece, and maintain them, the Porte would not quarrel with us, and +would rather do anything than yield the point of honour by acknowledging +the independence of the Greeks. + +The Russians mean to pass the Balkans with 60,000 men and march on +Adrianople. They send a large force by sea to Sizeboli to turn Bourgas. + +Lord Francis Leveson holds out the apprehension of a long religious contest +in Ireland. [Footnote: Unhappily, like other pessimists, he seems to have +judged Ireland correctly.] I believe he looks only at the surface and +judges from first appearances. + + +_August 12._ + +A victory gained by Paskewitz over the Seraskier, whom he has taken +prisoner, with thirty-one pieces of cannon, &c., near Erzeroum--that is, +three days after the battle, Paskewitz, still in pursuit, was within forty +miles of Erzeroum. + +Wrote two letters to the Duke--one on the subject of Sir J. P. Grant, who +has closed the Courts at Bombay because the Government would not execute an +unlawful process, and the other respecting Persian affairs, giving the +substance of the despatches which I enclosed. + +We have a Cabinet to-morrow at 12 on Turkish affairs. I would not allow the +Russians to advance any further. I would send one from our own body, +_incognito,_ to Paris to talk to Polignac and endeavour to get him to join +us in an act of vigorous intervention which would give character to his +Government and save Constantinople. I would pass the English and French +fleets through the Dardanelles, and give Russia a leaf out of the Greek +Treaty. But I do not expect that this will be Aberdeen's course. + +Drummond, whom I saw, said the Duke was delighted with the account of the +Jaghirdars of the Kistna. Granville is gone to Ireland. + +The Duke was gone to Windsor. It is the King's birthday. + + +_August 13._ + +When the Cabinet was assembled the Duke said we were not to consider the +state of things at Constantinople, and what we should do. He thought the +Russians would get to Constantinople, and into it. If they did he thought +there was an end of the Ottoman Empire. He was doubtful whether, after the +innovations introduced, the Turks would cordially support Mahmoud, +[Footnote: Sultan Mahmoud, as is well known, remodelled the whole internal +organisation of the Turkish Empire. He was denounced as the Giaour Sultan +by old-fashioned Turks.] and already there were insurrections of the +Greeks. It was just what he predicted in his letter to La Ferronays, and +what Lord Dudley afterwards said in a letter to Lieven; the success of the +Russians was the dissolution of an Empire which could not be reconstituted. +It was too late to interfere by force, even if we had been disposed to do +so alone. + +He thought France, if we did nothing, would be quiet--if we did anything, +she would take the other line. Polignac was a more able man than people +supposed, and he would adhere to the course he adopted. We might endeavour, +at any rate, to ascertain his feelings and intentions. + +As to the Greek question we must have a conference, and consider the +suggestions of the Ambassadors, namely, that whatever we chose to make +Greece, should be declared independent, and guaranteed. Both the Duke and +Aberdeen thought France and Russia would both take the proposition into +consideration. The former as to _limits_, the latter for delay. France had +already told us that, provided we could agree upon the limits, she was +inclined to adopt the suggestion of the Ambassadors. + +We asked whether the permanent occupation of Constantinople by Russia was +to be submitted to? The answer was, _No_, to be opposed by war. It seemed +to me and to Fitzgerald we had better endeavour to prevent, at a small +expense, even if alone, a measure we could only retrieve if it took place +at an enormous expense, if at all, and which would in all probability +effect the ruin of the Turkish Empire. I did not think affairs quite so +desperate. I thought the Russians might get to Adrianople, but not to +Constantinople, and that they could not maintain themselves at Adrianople +without the command of the sea. We had six ships at the mouth of the +Dardanelles, and these with the Turkish Fleet would open the Black Sea. + +I was for passing our ships up to Constantinople and placing them at the +disposal of the Ambassador, for from hence we cannot give orders adapted to +circumstances. It was replied _that_ would be war. If war were to be +declared we should do as much mischief as possible, and go to Cronstadt, +not to the Black Sea. We should have our ships beyond the Bosphorus when +Russia occupied the Dardanelles, and shut us in. This would make us +ridiculous. + +As the object is not to do mischief to Russia, but to save the Turkish +Empire, I should say that measure was to be effected at the Bosphorus, for +Constantinople, once taken, and the Ottoman Power annihilated, it would be +of no use to distress Russia. + +Fitzgerald seemed to be of my opinion that, however desperate the chance, +we should do all we could to save Constantinople, and at any risk. + +It was determined that our fleet in the Mediterranean should be reinforced +by three or four line-of-battle ships, on the principle that wherever any +Power had a large force, we should have one--not a very wise principle, it +seems to me, if we are never to use force. I interceded for a few powerful +steamers, with 68 pound carronades, and I think Lord Melville seemed +inclined to acquiesce. + +Questions are to be put to Polignac to ascertain what he would do in +certain events. I said he never would open himself to Lord Stuart. It was +then suggested by the Duke that Aberdeen could write a private letter. This +will, I believe, be done. I said to Fitzgerald, who was next to me, +'Neither letter nor Stuart will get anything out of Polignac. One of +ourselves should go to Paris as an individual, see Polignac, and return +before the Conference.' + +I suggested Rosslyn, as he had nothing to do. Fitzgerald said he could go +and return in a week, and seemed to wish to do so. However, nothing was +said openly; and with all the means of success in our hands, for, I think, +Polignac _might_ be brought into our views, we shall lose all by not using +proper instruments; just as we have lost the Greek question by persisting +in keeping Stratford Canning. + +We had a good deal of conversation as to the limits of Greece. The Duke was +for adhering to the Morea. It was _really_ the best line. It was what we +had guaranteed. We had told the Turks we did not mean to go beyond it. + +Aberdeen has always had a little private hankering after Athens, though he +ridicules it. He had no scruple about annexing Athens, although not yet +taken. I said I thought Polignac would be disposed to hold our language to +Russia, if we would make some concession on the subject of Greece, and +enable him to settle that question with _eclat_. He would then be supported +by France in any strong language he might hold, and would establish himself +by the experiment of his first fortnight of office. + +However, the Cabinet seems disposed to look at accessories, not at +principles, at the minor objects rather than at _the one great object_, +which is inducing France to act with us to prevent the occupation of +Constantinople or to force its evacuation. Instead of yielding upon points +of minor importance, in order to carry the question, we are to insist now +on the minor points-the evacuation of the Morea by the French, and then, I +fear we shall weaken Polignac's Government, and lose our object. + +Our foreign policy has certainly been, most unsuccessful. We have succeeded +in nothing. + +The communication to be made to Polignac is to be made to him +confidentially, and he is to know it is not to be made to Austria. It is +considered that in any case Austria would support France and England if +they acted together, and any indication Austria might give of moving alone +would bring down Prussia upon her. This line, I think, well considered and +prudent. + +It seemed to be thought that, if the Turkish Empire should be _dissolved_, +Austria might be inclined to share the spoils and be quiet; but if it were +only _weakened_, she would feel she suffered. + +It seemed to be admitted by all that we ought to have taken a decided step +long ago. That we were too late, and that we were inexcusable. + +I said a year ago Aberdeen would ruin us--he would gradually let us down, +not by any flagrant error, but by being always under the mark. The Duke, +occupied as he is as Prime Minister, wanted an efficient secretary for +Foreign Affairs, and he could not have had a worse. + +Peel seems to think Ireland stands much better since the proclamation +respecting the attack made by the Ribbonmen upon the Orangemen in +Fermanagh. He seems to think the Irish Government ready enough when things +are brought to their notice, but that they do not read or attend to the +reports made to them. + + +_August 19._ + +I am inclined to think from what Colonel Hodgson says that leather might be +made in India as well as here. They have the hide of the buffalo. They want +the _tanning_, and some one must be sent from this country to teach them. +He told me of a Mr. Cotton who was long at Tanjore, where the iron is, and +I have written to him. + + +_August 22._ + +The Russians have taken Erzeroum, and have quite dispersed the Turkish army +in Asia. Every success of theirs in that quarter makes my heart bleed. I +consider it a victory gained over me, as Asia is _mine_. + + +_August 28._ + +The 'Courier' of last night throws doubts on the reported victory of +Kirkhilissa. The Sultan is said to be now ready to treat. The plague is in +the Russian army, and in the country before them. Had a long conversation +with Hardinge on Indian affairs. + + +_August 29._ + +Read a letter from Mr. Cartwright, the Consul at Constantinople, dated the +9th. The loss of Erzeroum is to be attributed to the Janizaries. In all +Asia they seem to be rising. The Russians are not expected to advance till +they are joined by 15,000 men, coming by sea. Thus our fleet would have +saved Constantinople. + +Cabinet at half-past three. Before the Cabinet read Lord Heytesbury's and +Mr. Gordon's despatches. Lord Heytesbury seems to be a mere Russian. + + +_August 31._ + +Mr. Gordon describes the Turkish Empire as falling to pieces. The national +enthusiasm and religious feeling of the people seem to be gone. The Sultan +is unpopular. The populace of Adrianople desires the advance of the +Russians, so scandalous has been the conduct of the Asiatics. The Pacha of +Egypt gives no assistance, and thinks the weakness of the Porte constitutes +his strength. The people of Trebizond have invited Count Paskewitz. +Erzeroum was lost by the treachery of the Janizaries. + +The Sultan has acceded to the Treaty of London. This accession is +qualified, but not in such a manner as to preclude negotiation. He has +consented to treat with Russia, to give freedom to the navigation of the +Black Sea, and to observe the Treaty of Akerman--but he stipulates for the +integrity of the Ottoman dominions in Europe and Asia. He has not, however, +sent Plenipotentiaries. + +General Muffling, the Prussian, is arrived at Constantinople. He reports +the moderate views of the Emperor Nicholas, and states them. + +The French Government, from the information it derived from its Minister at +Berlin, has instructed Count Guilleminot to declare to the Turks the terms +on which Russia will make peace. Russia requires the execution of the +Treaty of Akerman--indemnity--(but moderate) for the expenses of the war +and the losses sustained by her commerce, for which indemnity, as it seems, +she is willing to take Anapa. + +She requires the free navigation of the Dardanelles for all nations. This +cession to be secured by treaty, not by territorial occupation. + +The terms of the Turks are not very dissimilar; but as Count Diebitch has +orders to advance till preliminaries are signed, a catastrophe may take +place still. + +Mr. Gordon managed to get a paper into the Sultan's own hands, which may +have led in some measure to this result. He naturally gave credit to the +information contained in the Despatches of Count Guilleminot, but the +French Government have no authority for their opinion as to the terms on +which Russia will make peace. No communication to that effect has been made +officially to them. + +The French and Russian Ministers at the Conference said they could not act +on Mr. Gordon's letter, which is as yet uncorroborated by Count +Guilleminot. They could not yet act as if Turkey had acceded to the Treaty +of London. + +The Russians would now declare the independence of Greece within the Gulfs +of Volo and Arta, and they wanted Aberdeen to take that instead of the +treaty. He thought he could get them to declare the independence of Greece +_within the Morea_--that they would be satisfied with that, and that, if +they would, we had better secure that for the Turks now, than run the risk +of the event of war and of the extension which might be given to the terms +which might be forced upon them under the Treaty of London. + +However, even admitting that the Russians would be content with the +independence of Greece within the Morea (with Attica, [Footnote: Attica was +still held by the Turks, having been reconquered after its first occupation +by the Greeks.] by-the-bye), it was the opinion of the Duke and of every +one (but Aberdeen) that it would neither be generous nor honourable to +force upon the Turks in their distress terms which _they_, attaching much +value to the _suzerainete_, might think less favourable than what they +might obtain under the Treaty of London, and that we should be drawing +ourselves into the embarrassment of what would be practically a new treaty +at the moment that we were beginning to entertain hopes of getting out of +that which had so long harassed us. + +Upon the whole, I think the aspect of Eastern affairs is better than it has +been since we have been a Government. + +Diebitch is said to have 35,000 men, and a reserve of 40,000. I doubt the +reserve being so strong. The 15,000 from Sebastopol have joined. + +Paskewitz is made Grand Cross of St. George. + +Diebitch will be so, of course. + +The King, Peel said, is very blind. He has lost the sight of one eye. The +Duke said when he was at Windsor last, the King was particularly civil to +him, and Peel and the Duke were both of opinion that the King would be most +cordial with the Government if the Duke of Cumberland were away, and was +now more so than could be expected under his influence. + +Aberdeen seems to have written the letter to Stuart, and Stuart to have +communicated it to Prince Polignac. Stuart's idea is that Polignac has had +too much to do in fixing himself to think much of foreign politics. He +expressed himself, however, disposed to consult with England as to the +measures which should be adopted if Russia should break her engagements. + +Several representations have been made to France for the withdrawing of the +French troops from the Morea--but hitherto without effect. These troops +keep the country quiet, and enable the whole force of the Greek State to +act offensively. Thus, assisted by French and Russian money, the Greeks +have acquired possession of everything within the Gulfs of Volo and Arta, +except the Island of Negropont. + + +_September 1, 1829._ + +Read with attention a paper of Courtney's on Leach's observations. Wrote +some memoranda upon it, which I shall send with it to the Duke, when I have +got from Shepheard a statement of the benefit derived by the territory from +the fixed rate of exchange. It is a valuable paper. I have written to thank +him for it, and to ask him to give me the result of his considerations on +the mode of transferring the Government of India from the Company to the +King, without materially increasing the patronage of the Crown; and +likewise the view he takes of the alterations it would be desirable to +introduce, if the Company should continue to govern India, in the powers of +the Board of Control and in its relations with the Court. + + +_September 3._ + +The Directors are much afraid of the Russians. So am I, and the Russians +begin to threaten us. They hint that they have open to them the route to +Bagdad, and they announce the presence in Petersburg of an Afghan Chief, +and of Ambassadors from Runjeet Singh. + +I feel confident we shall have to fight the Russians on the Indus, and I +have long had a presentiment that I should meet them there, and gain a +great battle. All dreams, but I have had them a long time. + +I have some idea of a secret letter to Bombay, directing the Government to +take possession of the Island of Karak, [Footnote: A small island in the +Persian Gulf to the north-west of Bushire.] and of any other tenable point +to seal the Euphrates, in the event of the Russians moving down. + +Loch wants to dethrone Runjeet Singh! + + +_September 4, 1829._ + +Saw Colonel Willoughby Cotton, who commanded _en second_ in Ava. He has +lately visited, as Adjutant-General of King's troops, all the stations of +the army in Bengal. He says no army can be in finer order. Lord Combermere +has weeded all the old men. The regiments manoeuvre beautifully. + +Lord C. wishes to have two King's regiments cantoned under the Himalaya +Mountains, where the climate is as good as in England. + +Runjeet Singh has conquered Cabul and Cashmere. He has French officers at +the head of his infantry and cavalry, and about five others. His artillery +he keeps under his own family. He has of regular troops 30,000 infantry, +and 10,000 cavalry, about eighty guns. All these easily assembled near the +capital. + +He is old, and when he dies his two sons are likely to quarrel and call us +in. + +The two ex-Kings of Cabul are living at Ludeana on pensions. Zemaun Shah, +the blind King, and his brother, who was King in Mr. Elphinstone's time. + +Colonel Cotton speaks most highly of the Madras troops. They are more +disposable than the Bengal troops, more free from prejudice of caste. + +He regrets the reduction of the bodyguard which conducted itself nobly in +Ava. I like a guard, and I would have an infantry as well as a cavalry +guard, to be formed by picked men. + +Colonel Willoughby Cotton says Colonel Skinner is about 55. His son is a +merchant, and goes every year into Cashmere for shawls. Skinner has still +about 1,300 men, and is quartered not far from Delhi. His people fire the +matchlock over the arm at full gallop, and with correct aim. They strike a +tent-peg out of the ground with their lances. + + +_September 5._ + +Received an answer from the Duke. He thinks the question of the six +regiments begins to be serious, as the Court throw upon the Government the +responsibility of running the risk of a mutiny in the army--desires to see +the paper, which I have sent him, and says it must go to the Cabinet. + +I feel satisfied I am right. If the Cabinet give in to the Court, they +weaken my hands so much that I shall be unable to effect any great reform. +They make the Directors the real Ministers of India, and almost emancipate +the Indian Government. So I told the Duke in my letter. + + +_September 7._ + +Office. Saw Sir A. Campbell. He came to offer himself for a command in +India. I spoke to him of his papers respecting war with the Burmese. He +says large boats carrying 100 men could go up to Aeng, the troops need not +land at Ramree. He was never an advocate for a diversion at Rangoon, and +thinks they make too much fuss about the frontier of Munnipore. + +Saw a Mr. Cotton, for a long time collector of Tanjore. He is against +introducing the Ryotwaree settlement into that country, and by his account +it seems very ill adapted to it, for according to him the Murassidars are +there really proprietors, and with them the settlement is now made for the +village. + +I sent for him to tell me about the iron I had understood to be in the +neighbourhood of Tanjore; but there is none, it is at Satara. He seems a +sensible man, and I must see him again. + +The Turks seem to have endeavoured to back out of their accession to the +Treaty of London, or rather to clog it with insuperable objections. But Mr. +Gordon has brought them back again, and on August 12 all was right, but no +Plenipotentiaries sent. The Russians were said to be moving on Adrianople. +They had not above 35,000 men. There is a very bad account from Smyrna of +the state of the population in Asia. In fact the Duke of Wellington's +prediction is fulfilled. The Turkish Empire is breaking to pieces. By Lord +Heytesbury's account the Russians are very desirous of peace, and very +apprehensive that a popular tumult may put an end to the Sultan. It is +impossible to see the end of the calamities which would occur, complicated +as they would be, if such an event as the dissolution of the Turkish Empire +took place. + +The new French Ministry is changing the municipalities. They hope to +succeed at the next elections. Lord Stuart considers M. de la Bourdonnaye +as the real head. + +Polignac very prudently rests on his oars as to Greece, and properly +observes it is idle to make protocols here when the march of events may +have altogether changed the state of things before the protocols arrive. + + +_September 8._ + +Office at 11. Went to the Duke. He read to me a long letter he had written +on the question of the six regiments, in which he entered at length into +the state of the Indian army such as he knows it to be, and concludes in +favour of a revision of the line I had adopted with his approbation. He +said the Government of India was wrong--every line of the proposed letter +abstractedly right; but there was to be considered the expediency of +writing it. + +I have written a letter to Lord W. Bentinck, stating confidentially the +grounds of the change of opinion as to the disbanding of the six extra +regiments. I added, 'However, such an event will not happen in your time, +nor I hope in mine,' or something to that effect. + + +_September 11._ + +Chairs at 11. Read to them the Duke's letter on the six regiments. Told +them I had written a private letter to Lord William to relieve his mind +from the censure intended for former Governments (a very small portion of +which is chargeable on him), and to caution him against similar errors. +Gave them the alteration I had intended to make in the draft respecting +pensions granted to King's soldiers enlisted into their army. They will +consider it. + + +_September 14._ + +Read the papers containing the correspondence with the local Governments +respecting the provision of stores in India. It is hardly credible, yet it +is true, that till within these few years the Medical Board indented upon +England for drugs which were produced in India! From Madras as late at 1827 +they indented for file handles and blacksmiths' tongs! From Bombay in 1826 +for wooden canteens and triangles! It is evident the local Governments have +never displayed any energy. + + +_September 16._ + +Received from the Duke his ideas on the subject of a campaign against Ava. +He would hold the great Dagon Temple at Rangoon, but only for the purpose +of having vessels in the river to co-operate with the army. + + +_September 17._ + +To-day has been an idle day. I have done nothing; but I have taken +exercise, and so acquired _health_, without which I cannot do business. + + +_September 20._ + +Met Mr. Conyngham of the Foreign Office. He told me the Turks were ready to +make the required concessions. Of the disposition of the Russians nothing +seems known. R. Gordon has of his own authority ordered up Sir Pulteney +Malcolm from Vourla to the Dardanelles. I suppose to carry away Englishmen +and their property in the event of an insurrection or of some terrible +catastrophe at Constantinople. + +Lord Stuart, as I suspected, gives no opinion as to the probable result of +the political contest in France. + +I had a letter from the Duke respecting half-Batta. + + +_September 24._ + +Cabinet room. Read all the letters from Petersburg, Paris, Berlin, and +Constantinople during the last fortnight, and the despatches sent during +the last month. + +R. Gordon seems to have done very well. He and Guilleminot have acted +cordially together, and when they had induced the Porte to consent to make +peace on the terms prescribed by the Russians, Gordon managed very +prudently to get General Muffling to send his secretary to the Russian +head-quarters with the Turkish Plenipotentiaries. Muffling would have gone +with them to the Reis Effendi had he been well enough; as it was, he sent +his secretary, who afterwards went to the Russian head-quarters and was +thus enabled to state distinctly what had passed in the conference held +with the Effendi. I think it very possible that without the intervention of +the Prussian Minister, who was known to be acquainted with the feelings of +the Emperor, General Diebitch would not have agreed to an armistice. The +armistice seems to have been made on August 29. We know of it from Seymour +at Berlin. + +Polignac seems excellently well disposed. He would act cordially with us if +he dared. At present he is obliged to cover all he does under the +instructions given to Guilleminot by his predecessor under a different +state of things, before the great Russian successes. He talks of a Congress +of the Powers interested, and of a joint declaration if Russia should not +adhere to her promise. + +Russia may be kept to her promises by the fear of a revolutionary movement +in France. The French Opposition desire the success of the Russians, the +dissolution of the Turkish Empire, and the occupation of the Dardanelles by +the Emperor Nicholas, because they know that such events would lead to a +_sotto sopra_ in Europe, a general scramble in which they would get the +Rhine as their boundary. Generally, I have no doubt, young France wishes +for confusion. + +Austria is alarmed and would do nothing. The Prussians hold that the +existence of the Ottoman Empire is not essential to the balance of power +(that is, some of them do), and they would be glad to see Austria and +Russia divide Turkey, Prussia having her compensation in Germany. However, +Muffling, going rather beyond his instructions, has been made to do good. + +I think all things tend to the preservation of peace if there should be no +explosion at Constantinople or in France. The Ottoman Empire seems, +however, to be falling to pieces. The Government has been so oppressive +that the people will not fight for it. The Sultan has but 4,000 troops, and +it is said the appearance of 10,000 Russians would lead to the capture of +Constantinople. + +Diebitch seems to dread the catastrophe which might ensue, and the +ambassadors have placed before him in strong terms the fatal consequences +of an explosion at Constantinople. + +I must say R. Gordon has done ably and well. + +The rascally Russians have been intriguing with our Ionian subjects, and +Aberdeen has written a very strong letter to Lord Heytesbury on the +subject. + +Polignac, desirous as he is of withdrawing the French troops altogether +from the Morea, is at present afraid of doing so. + +Aberdeen told me things were not going on well here. The King has quite +lost the sight of one eye, and the sight of the other is indistinct. It +gives him pain, too, and the fear of blindness makes him nervous. The Duke +of Cumberland is always about him, as mischievous as ever, but pretending +not to be hostile. + +The Duke of Wellington gives the King up as a bad job. He sees him very +seldom. At first he liked seeing him and setting things to rights; but he +says he found what he did one day was undone the next, and he is in +despair. The King has no constancy. There is no depending upon him from one +day to another. + +Aberdeen says the accession of Rosslyn has not produced the effect we +anticipated--that Lord Grey is very hostile. What we shall do for a +majority next session I know not, but I think we shall stand, [Footnote: +This might have been but for the events on the Continent in the year +following, which formed a new starting-point in the politics of a large +part of Europe.] although we shall not, I fear, be a strong Government. The +Catholic Relief Bill has destroyed our unity and the spirit of party. It +has likewise destroyed that of the Opposition, who have no longer any +rallying point. Thus the formation of a strong Government is difficult. The +Brunswickers cannot form one, and the King cannot be persuaded to make one +out of the Opposition. Indeed, that the Duke of Cumberland would never +advise. The Brunswickers will endeavour to make terms with us as a body--to +make martyrs of some of the old Protestants, particularly of the Duke and +Peel, and placing themselves at the head to go on as well as they could +with the rest of us. This will not do. + + +_September 26._ + +The Chairs, or rather the Court, somewhat impertinently object to the +addition I made to a recent draft, recommending an enquiry by practical and +scientific men as to the powers India may possess of producing many +articles of stores now sent from England. They say this is liable to +misconstruction, and then misconstrue it themselves. They suppose these +practical men, not being servants of the Company, to sit in judgment upon +the proceedings of the military Board. I have corrected their intentional +misconstruction, and have acquiesced in the substitution of a draft they +propose to send instead, which will, I hope, practically effect my object, +and therefore I have said we are willing our object should be attained in +the manner most agreeable to the Court of Directors. + +It is very lucky I had just sent them my letter about stores. It will +appear to be written subsequently to theirs. They think to humbug and to +bully me. They will find both difficult. + + +_September 30._ + +Read the collection respecting the health of the King's troops. It is +incredible to me that so many things should remain to be done--nothing +seems to have been done that ought to have been done. I fear our finances +make the building of new barracks impossible at present. We could not build +proper barracks for all the European troops in India much under a million. +Still much may be done for their health. + + +_October 5._ + +Arrived in London at 3. To the Cabinet room, where I found Lord Bathurst, +come up to town for Seymour Bathurst's [Footnote: Hon. Seymour Bathurst, +fourth son of third Earl Bathurst, married October 6, 1829, Julia, daughter +of John Peter Hankey, Esq.] marriage, and afterwards Fitzgerald came in. + +Fitzgerald was a fortnight in Ireland, and gives a bad account of it. + +A letter from Metternich says peace was actually signed. Sir E. Gordon's +despatches give every reason to expect it soon would be. The peace cannot +last. I am inclined to think it would have been better for the Russians to +have occupied Constantinople, and for the Ottoman Empire to have been +overthrown that we might have known at once where we were, than to have had +such a peace as this. It is practically present occupation (for a year) of +_more_ than they now hold, for they are to have the fortresses ceded to +them. They exact 750,000L for the pretended losses of their merchants, and +five millions for themselves. The indemnity to the merchants to be paid by +three instalments. On the payment of the first, Adrianople and a few places +on the coast to be given up. On the payment of the second everything to the +Balkan, and on the third Bulgaria. These payments occupy a year. + +The five millions are to be paid in ten years, or sooner if the Turks can +manage it. The Principalities to be occupied till the payment. The Turks to +confirm the Government established during the ten years, and not to impose +any taxes for two years more. + +All the fortresses on the left bank to be destroyed. None of the islands to +belong to Turkey. No Turk to enter the principalities. The princes to be +for life. All payments _in kind_ from the Principalities to cease, and +instead the Turks and the princes to _agree upon a compensation_! It is +unnecessary to go through the other articles relative to the +Principalities. The treaty contains a real cession of them to Russia. + +The terms as to the navigation of merchantmen, their not being searched in +a Turkish port, the refusal of acquiescence in the demands of the Russian +Minister where any injury is pretended to have been done to a Russian, to +be _just ground for reprisal_, &c., are of a nature intolerable to an +independent Power, and not to be carried into execution. + +On the side of Asia everything is ceded that can enable Russia to attack +either Turkey or Persia with advantage. + +The terms imposed with regard to indemnities are extravagant and altogether +contrary to all the Emperor's promises. He has not deceived us; but he has +lied to us most foully. Sir R. Gordon seems to have done all that could be +done. Perhaps he has saved Constantinople from conflagration, and the +Empire from dissolution. He has managed to settle the Greek question, +Turkey consenting to everything the allies may determine under the protocol +of March 22. Sir R. Gordon has taken upon himself to order up the English +ships, and Guilleminot has ordered up the French ships, but they were still +at Smyrna when the dispatch came away. These ships, it is hoped, may be +some check on the Russians, and ostensibly they only go up to +Constantinople to save Christians. However, if the Russians advance they +will probably lead the Turks to fight. Gordon and Guilleminot have very +properly told the Sultan they will remain by him in any case. + +The Turks declare the terms are, as regards payment, such as they have +really no means of complying with. The allies will make representations to +Petersburg to obtain a relaxation of these conditions. + +In the meantime, while this was doing at Constantinople, Lord Heytesbury +was asking Nesselrode what the terms he intended to propose were, and +Nesselrode would not tell him. Lord Heytesbury's despatch and Gordon's are +both dated on September 10. The 12th was to be the day of signature. Lord +Stuart by Aberdeen's directions has been pressing Polignac very hard to +withdraw the French troops from the Morea, and Polignac has been obliged to +plead the weakness of his Government, and to put off Lord Stuart by +referring it to the Conference. I should say from what the papers show of +Polignac that he will not stand. I do not know what his antagonists may be, +but he is evidently not a powerful man. + +A Liberal told Fitzgerald their object was now in France to make the King +of the Netherlands King of France, and give Holland to Prussia, taking +Belgium and everything to the Rhine to themselves. + +I should say things looked ill everywhere, and unless we can make the +Emperor of Russia fear a convulsion in France, and determine to recede from +some of his stipulations with Turkey to satisfy the rest of Europe, we +shall have war, and war under the most unfavourable circumstances--that is, +if Austria be not as pusillanimous as she may be weak, for she ought never +to consent to the establishment of the Russians on the Danube. + +The only line for the Turks to pursue is to promise everything; to +endeavour to perform everything, and to withdraw to Asia, leaving the rest +of Europe to settle who shall have Constantinople. _Now_ they could not do +that, as they are too weak; but six months hence they may. + +We dine with the Duke on Wednesday--and shall then, I suppose, determine +what we are to do. + + +_October 7._ + +Cabinet at 3. All present except Lord Melville. + +Aberdeen read a paper he had written before the peace was known, the object +of which was to show that the Ottoman Empire was dissolved, and that it +could not be reconstituted; that our views with regard to Greece should now +change with circumstances, and that we should endeavour to make it a +substantive state. To Turkey it could no longer signify whether Greece had +a more extended or more limited line of frontier, and our desire should be +to place a fit man upon the throne. France is willing to propose in the +Conference that to Turkey should be offered the alternative of a Greece +with extended limits under Suzerainete, &c., according to the Protocol of +March 22, or a Greece with narrower limits, entirely independent. + +The Duke said we must first have satisfaction for the insertion of the +Article in the treaty of peace which bound Turkey to the Protocol of March +22; Russia, as a party to the Treaty of London, having no right to settle +that treaty herself. Next, we should insist on an armistice between the +Greeks and Turks. + +We must recollect that Turkey had bound herself to acquiesce in the +decision of the Conference upon the Greek Treaty--that is, to defer to our +mediation. Could we, as mediators, propose to Turkey to cede Attica, +Negropont, and other possessions she now holds? and would we willingly +bring the frontiers of the Greek state into contact with our Ionian +Islands? + +If Greece were to have a sovereign, Prince Philip of Hesse Homburg would be +the best man for us--Austria would prefer him. France admitted that the +wishes of Austria ought to be consulted. + +France, however, rather wished for Prince Charles of Bavaria. Russia for a +Duke of Saxe-Weimar. + +Aberdeen seemed to think there would be no great difficulty in carrying our +point, and having Prince Philip of Hesse Homburg. + +Peel said he thought we could not allow a treaty such as that signed by +Turkey to pass without a remonstrance on our part. We referred to a letter +of Dudley's, and to Aberdeen's recent instruction to Lord Heytesbury, and +likewise to the various declarations of moderation put forth by the Emperor +Nicholas. Several ways were started of expressing our opinion--a sort of +circular to the Powers which signed the Treaty of the Congress--a +declaration to Parliament. + +The Duke suggested a remonstrance to the Emperor Nicholas to be +communicated in the first instance only to Russia. + +This seems likely to be adopted, but we are to have another Cabinet to- +morrow. + +In whatever we do we must endeavour to keep Austria out of the scrape, for +there is nothing the Russians would like so much as the opportunity of +marching to Vienna. + +Not only it would be romantic for us alone to go to war to maintain the +balance of power, but it would, in this case, be absurd indeed, for, if our +armies had driven the Russians out of Turkey, we could not reconstitute the +Turkish Empire. It is dissolved in its own weakness. + +Great dissatisfaction was expressed, and justly, at the conduct of Lord +Heytesbury, who has been humbugged by the Russians all along. + +The King has run up a bill of 4,000L for clothes in six months. All the +offices of the Household, except the Chamberlain's, which has 1,900L in +hand, are falling into arrear, and if there should be an arrear upon the +whole civil list, it must come before Parliament. + +Fitzgerald gives a very bad account of trade generally. + +The King does not like us better than he did, and the Duke of Cumberland +means to keep his son in England, and educate him here, taking the 6,000L a +year. He wants to drive the Government to make him Viceroy of Hanover. + +The Cabinet dined with the Duke. + + +_October 8._ + +Cabinet at 3. A great deal of conversation of which the result was that a +remonstrance should be made to Russia on the subject of the terms of the +peace. This remonstrance will temperately but strongly, more by statement +of facts than by observations, show that the peace is not such as the +Emperor had given us reason to expect he would require, and that it in +reality threatens the existence of the Turkish Empire; that the destruction +of that Empire would seriously affect the peace of Europe by changing the +relative position of the several States. + +Aberdeen wants a guarantee of the territorial possessions of Turkey, not of +its Government. [Footnote: It is observable that this guarantee seems to +have said nothing of the internal system of government, and so far to have +been unconditional. It would therefore have gone considerably beyond the +Anglo-Turkish Convention of 1878. It would also have applied to Europe as +well as Asia. It is a commentary on the statement of Mr. Gladstone, in +later days a colleague of Lord Aberdeen, that no statesman whom he had +known in former times would ever have listened to the idea of such an +engagement.] I think no one seems much inclined to agree with him. Such a +guarantee would impose obligations without conferring rights upon us. It +would be a guarantee which would give rise to infinite complications, and +which would embarrass us very much. + +Without a guarantee we may succeed in bringing the great States to an +understanding that the distribution of the Turkish territories, in the +event of the falling to pieces of that State, must be a subject for the +decision of a Congress. + +Austria has expressed herself very frankly. She is ready to do anything. +She sees the danger and desires to know our view of it. The real view of +France does not seem to be very different; but there is no dependence to be +placed upon a Government trembling for its life. Prussia will be satisfied +with the peace. Her sovereign is very weak, and the Prussians think their +interest is served by the progress of Russia in a direction contrary to +them, and in which she menaces Austria. + +The smuggling case is said to tell against Lord Stuart. He writes +unintelligibly, and the French will not trust him--so I shall not be sorry +if we can get rid of him. + +With Lord Heytesbury we are all dissatisfied, and have been from the +beginning. There is a Council on Monday, and we have a Cabinet on Sunday at +3, when we are to hear Aberdeen's letter, and may probably have the Treaty. + +There seems a determination to effect an armistice by force if the +Conference will not order it in Greece. + +We have nine good ships there. The Russians seven bad ones, and the French +two. + +Before the Conference can proceed the 10th Article of the Treaty of Peace +must be declared _non avenu_--that which obliges the Porte to accept the +Protocol of March 22--all negotiation upon that Protocol having been +committed by Russia to the French and English Ambassadors, and it having +been expressly reserved to the Porte by us, that her objections should be +fairly weighed. + +The French have taken advantage of the peace to order their troops home +from the Morea. + + +_October 9._ + +Read many of the Protocols of the early Conferences after the Russian, +declaration of war. I shall to-morrow read these again carefully and sketch +_my_ State paper. + +If I was in opposition I should describe the details relative to the +Principalities, as showing the moderation of the thief who would stipulate +that men should sleep with their doors open, till they have ransomed +themselves by paying their uttermost farthing. + + +_October 10._ + +Received a letter from Sir J. Malcolm. He seems pleased with the secret +dispatches relative to Persia and the Pacha of Bagdad. He seems upon the +whole very much gratified, and very grateful. + +He strongly presses the appointment of an Indian as his successor, and +mentions Sir Ch. Metcalfe and Jenkins. He likewise mentions a Mr. Chaplin, +of whom I never heard. I take Jenkins to be a cleverer man than Sir Ch. +Metcalfe, [Footnote: Afterwards Lord Metcalfe.] who rather disappoints me. + +Had three letters by Petersburg from Colonel McDonald, the last dated in +August. The Persians, thoroughly alarmed, are doing all they can to satisfy +the Emperor Nicholas by punishing the persons engaged in the massacre of +the Russian mission; but they had an insurrection to quell on banishing the +High Priest, who was at the head of all. As they conclude all the bad +characters had a hand in it they mean to take the opportunity of punishing +them. Paskewitz is said to have from 20,000 to 22,000 men--to have +sustained no loss in the late engagements, but to suffer from the plague. +At Erzeroum the Mahometans are not only satisfied, but well pleased. The +Government of a Russian general is better than that of a Turkish Pasha. + +The Prince Abbas Mirza is at last doing something towards making an army. +Major Hart, alone, however, keeps it together. The troops are as yet ill- +armed, but they have their pay. McDonald thinks the King not likely to live +long. He wants a cypher. + + +_October 11, Sunday._ + +Came up from Worthing to a Cabinet. Before we met read the last letters +from Lord Heytesbury, which show a degree of infatuation respecting the +Russians, which is quite wonderful. + +Before we began to talk Rothschild called out the Duke of Wellington, and +offered at once all the money to pay the Russian Indemnity. He said he only +wanted the guarantee of England! + +If the Russians remained in the Principalities there would be a general +war. + +Irvine, an English loan jobber, saw the Duke yesterday with the same offer. + +The joke is that Rothschild is to pay the money for the Turks, and to be +made King of Jerusalem. + +Aberdeen began by begging we would first settle the Greek question. He +brought a paper the Russians were willing to deliver in containing a sort +of apology for the 10th Article, and declaring that it by no means +interfered with the powers of the Conference. We took a great deal of time +in considering whether we should not suggest some alteration in this +paper--some is to be proposed--not very essential. + +We had a long discussion as to the name of the new State. At last it seemed +to be thought 'Sovereign Prince of Greece' was the best. Aberdeen thinks +he shall have little difficulty about the Prince. The Russians agree to the +description given; but I dare say they imagine we mean to describe a +different man. I suspect they think we want to give them Leopold. + +Aberdeen read a letter he proposed sending to Lord Stuart, the purport of +which was that we wanted to know what he meant to do towards redeeming +France from the responsibility she had incurred and made us incur by giving +instructions to Count Guilleminot, stating the terms of peace and the +moderation of the Emperor--instructions which misled our Ambassador, and +induced the two Ambassadors to give assurances to the Porte which events +proved to be unfounded. + +The letter, I think, likewise desired him to enquire in what form our joint +representations as to the amount of the indemnity were to be made. To these +the Ambassadors have pledged the two Cabinets. + +There was a great deal more in the letter which is to be left out. It went +into the details of the treaty, or rather of its effects. + +The offer is to be made to the Turks of an independent Greece, from the +Gulf of Volo to Missolonghi, or of a Greece under Suzerainete, with +Negropont, and the line from Volo to the Gulf of Arta. + +I think we are all agreed that at the commencement of the war it was our +interest to take as little as possible from Turkey--that now it is our +interest to make Greece a substantive State, which may hereafter receive +the _debris_ of the Ottoman Empire. [Footnote: This may explain the +apparently illiberal views of many of the Cabinet as to the Greek +boundaries. They saw the difficulty of any halting place outside the +Isthmus of Corinth, short of a wider boundary even than that ultimately +adopted.] + +As to the really important matter, the remonstrance to Russia, nothing was +done. Nothing is, I conclude, written, and Aberdeen does not like Cabinet +criticism, nor do I think the Cabinet at all agreed as to what should be +said. Dudley's letters used to occupy us for days, and certainly they were +the better for it--although we lost a good deal of time occasionally. + +Aberdeen said he would send it to me. I think I shall write an _esquisse_ +myself. We are to have no more Cabinets for some time. The Chancellor +wishes to have the remaining fortnight of his holidays uninterrupted. + + +_October 12._ + +Went to town at quarter-past one. To the Foreign Office. The treaty arrived +last night. Lord Aberdeen took it with him to Windsor. It differs +materially from the _projet_. The Articles respecting indemnity are +_relegues_ to a separate transaction. The payment of 100,000 ducats is to +lead to the evacuation of Adrianople; 400,000 form the next payment, then +500,000, and 500,000, making the sum originally demanded for individual +losses; but, as I understand Mr. Backhouse, eighteen months must elapse +before Turkey can be evacuated to the Danube. I had much conversation with +him as to other points. On looking into the Act of the Congress I find the +Powers adhering to it may be considered as binding themselves not to +_disturb_ the territorial arrangements that Act establishes; but they are +not bound to _maintain_ them. Thus if France appropriated to herself Spain, +she would violate the treaty, but no Power signing the treaty would be +obliged, by virtue of that Act, to make war upon France for doing so. + +That the general treaty contains no guarantee is evident from the specific +guarantee of the cessions made by Saxony to Prussia, which would have been +unnecessary if the spirit of the treaty had been that of existent +guarantee. + + +_October 13._ + +Cabinet room. Found Lord Rosslyn there. Read the treaty. + +The King was very well yesterday. The Recorder's Report was so long that +half was deferred. + +The last dispatches from Persia, which arrived on Friday, were opened at +the Foreign Office, and read by everybody. Aberdeen sent them to the Duke, +who has probably taken them to Walmer in his carriage. The Chairs sent for +them, and could not get them. I must put a stop to this. I have written to +Lord Heytesbury to beg he will in future forward letters to their address. + +Wrote a 'proposed draft' to Lord Heytesbury, directing him, if he should +have reason to think the Russians intend to exact further concession from +Persia, to intimate that such an attempt will be considered by his Majesty +as unfriendly to himself as an Asiatic Power. I doubt my getting the Duke +to agree to the sending of this despatch; but I shall try. + + +_October 14._ + +Carried my proposed letter to Lord Heytesbury to Aberdeen, who agrees to +send it with a trifling alteration, at least one not very important. Read +to him my proposed letter to Lord Heytesbury on the Peace of Adrianople. He +seemed to approve of great part of it. He has done nothing at his yet, and +seems to think there is no hurry! + +We shall stand very ill in Parliament if we have nothing to show. I think +mine is a good _cadre_ of a letter, but that specific instructions should +be given to Lord Heytesbury as to what he shall endeavour to obtain in a +separate despatch. + +Read my drafts to Lord Rosslyn after dinner. He seemed to think the view I +took was the right, and that much of what I had written was very good, but +that it might be shortened. So I think. + + +_October 15._ + +Henry copied the draft to Lord Heytesbury, for the Duke, to whom I sent it +with a letter. + +Showed the Chairs the draft to Lord Heytesbury on Persia. They were much +pleased with it. So was old Jones. Sent it to the Duke. In little doubt his +approving it. + +Received from the Duke the Persian despatches which I gave to the Chairs. +The Duke had not read them. + +Received from him a letter on the subject of half-Batta. He says as an +officer he should have thought there was a compromise in 1801. That it +should be looked into as a question of economy. That above all things in +dealing with an army you must _be just_. + +The Duke thinks the publication of the letter of Lord Combermere's +secretary indiscreet and _wicked_, and is very angry with Lord Combermere. + +A letter will be written to the Government on the subject, directing +enquiry. + + +_October 19, Sunday._ + +Read McDonald's despatches from Persia, and sent them to the Duke, with a +letter suggesting the heads of a letter to the Envoy. + +The Russians have given up one of the two crores due, and allow five years +for paying the other. They mean, therefore, to rule Persia _by influence_. +However, there is a good Mahometan and Anti-Russian feeling beyond the +Euphrates, and if mischief happens, it is our fault. + +Received a letter from Hardinge respecting half-Batta. He is for standing +firm and giving some general boon, as an addition to marching money, to the +whole army. That is my idea. I am sure it is the safest course. + +Wrote to Loch, suggesting it, and at the same time advised him to answer +the paragraphs respecting half-Batta, and not give misrepresentations too +much head. + + +_October 20._ + +Two letters from the Duke, written very hastily. It is evident he did not +like my making a sketch of a letter to Lord Heytesbury, and that he does +not like any difference of opinion as to the Batta question. + +On the first point I still think I was right. He mentions some ideas of +Russia ordering Diebitch across the Balkan, and even the Danube, of her +giving up the Principalities, &c. In short he says all we know is that +there is a peace--we do not know what it is--and it would be ridiculous to +remonstrate against we know not what. + +My draft was written before these reports were spread; and I only, from +anxiety to have the despatch well written and soon, sketched what I thought +would do. + +As to the reports, I have told Aberdeen I cannot believe Russia has on a +sudden ceased to be ambitious, or to use perfidy as a mode of accomplishing +ambitious ends. She may give out she will make these changes--she may make +some--but her object is to prevent all combination on the part of Austria, +France, and England. If we do not remonstrate against what is signed, we +shall lose all credit, if that which is executed should be comparatively +favourable, and we shall incur great blame if no relaxation takes place. A +remonstrance might be so worded as to do no harm to Turkey or to Europe, +and to do good to us. + +The Duke's other letter was on the Batta question, upon which he does not +like contradiction, yet I think his course would lead to continued demands +on the part of all the armies. I have told him I shall be in town to see +the Chairs on Saturday, and will try to see him on Friday, and, if he +wishes, bring the Chairs to him on Saturday. + + +_October 21._ + +Received a long confused letter from Fitzgerald upon my project of a draft +to Lord Heytesbury. He was at Sudborn, [Footnote: Seat of Lord Hertford, in +Suffolk] where the Duke was. The Duke was not so much inclined to think the +Russians would make any considerable concessions as Aberdeen, but he +thought, and had made Fitzgerald think, it would be premature to +remonstrate. I have written to Fitzgerald and told him my opinion more at +length than I told Aberdeen yesterday. + + +_October 23._ + +Cabinet room. Read the despatches from Petersburg and Paris. All the hints +of the Emperor of Russia's intention of not retaining his army in Turkey +come through Paris, Nesselrode having on September 29 spoken thus +specifically to the Duke de Mortemart, and merely talked about taking less +money and making some change in the guarantees to Lord Heytesbury. I did +not see Aberdeen, who was engaged with the Spanish Minister. + +I do not depart from my original idea that Russia does all this to gain +time, and with as much perfidy as she has shown throughout. + +Polignac would take a loyal view if he durst. + +I cannot see the Duke till Monday, as he does not return to London till +Sunday evening. + +I saw Hardinge and had a long talk with him about Batta, &c. + + +_October 24._ + +Chairs at 11. + +The Chairs say the Court have the matter entirely in their hands as to +Batta. They wish to have the opinion of the Cabinet, and to be governed by +that. I have written to the Duke to tell him so. + +I am glad there is to be a Cabinet, because I think a Cabinet will take a +more popular view of the question than the Duke, and, as I think, a juster +view. I am for standing firm. + +The Duke's letter on Persian affairs arrived while I was with the Chairs. I +read it to them. The Duke suggests that McDonald should raise his escort in +Persia--an excellent idea. He objects to Major Hart having an assignment of +land. He thinks Willock may be recalled. The officers not; but if the +prince will pay them, so much the better. I think the Duke may be right as +to the assignments of land. Upon all the other points I entirely agree with +him. Read last night a letter of Lushington's, or rather a minute, which +shows he is determined to remain. + +Cabinet room. Cunningham came in and showed me a draft of Aberdeen's to our +Minister in Spain on the recognition by Spain of Don Miguel--finding +excuses for Spain, and saying we cannot do it. What I saw was the +_brouillon_ which had been sent to the Duke. It had his observations in +pencil, and it seems Aberdeen sends all his proposed despatches to him and +alters them at his suggestion. Certainly Aberdeen, left to himself, would +be a very incautious writer. + + +_October 26._ + +Office early. Saw Captain Hanchett on the subject of the navigation of the +Red Sea. He was there two years and a half. He says in going in you should +make Aden and wait there for a wind. Water can be had there. Avoid Mocha, +where the anchorage is dangerous and the water bad, and go to the Island of +Cameran, then straight up in mid channel. All the dangers are visible, and +in the mid channel there are none. Cosseir a good little harbour, the +danger is going up to Suez; but that easy for a steamer. He worked with +topgallant sails against the north-west monsoon. There is a breeze along +shore at all times. The danger has been occasioned by the timid sailing of +the Arabs, who always hug the shore, and anchor at night. + + +_October 27._ + +I omitted yesterday to mention that at the Foreign Office I saw some +despatches just received from Sir R. Gordon. I think the date of the first +was October 2. He had the day before at last got the Turks to ratify the +treaty, but it seems there was a hitch, and until the ratification the +officers did not set off to stop hostilities in Asia. A Pasha had advanced +on Philippopoli and General Geismar on Sophia. Diebitch threatened to +advance on Constantinople. However, the day after he wrote his threatening +letter he must have received the ratifications. The Sultan is very anxious +to get the Egyptian fleet to Constantinople, probably as a pledge for the +allegiance of the Pasha, and to show his greatest vassal obeys him. The +Turks say it is the moral effect of the presence of the fleet on their own +subjects that they want, that they have no idea of not acting faithfully. +Sir R. Gordon assures me they mean to preserve the peace and must. + +He has written the representation the Turkish ambassador is to present to +the Emperor. It would be a good remonstrance for us, but it is not a good +one for the Turks. It is very well written, but it is quite European in its +style, and the Russians will at once know, as I did, the author. + +The Turks intended to send a splendid embassy to Petersburg, and Halil +Pasha, once the slave of the Seraskier, now the Sultan's son-in-law, was to +have been the ambassador. He is their least officer. However, Diebitch +tells them they must not send it till they have the Emperor's consent. The +Turks have ready the first 100,000 ducats, to get the Russians out of +Adrianople. + +I should say from these despatches that things do not look peaceful. + + +_October 28._ + +Had a letter yesterday from Mr. Elphinstone on Nazarre. It appears to be a +fine on descents, &c., of Jaghire lands. I think his opinion will be +different from Sir J. Malcolm's--the latter wishing to make the Jaghires +hereditary, or rather to give a fee simple interest to the actual +proprietor. Mr. Elphinstone, on the contrary, thinking they should be +resumed on death without heirs. + + +_October 29._ + +Read a work just published by Colonel de Lacy Evans, on the practicability +of a Russian invasion of India. The route would be first to China, across a +desert from the shores of the Caspian--from China by water up the Oxus, to +within 550 miles of Attock. The great difficulty is between the end of the +river, and the southern side of the Hindoo Koosh. This difficulty, however, +has been often surmounted, and the road is constantly travelled by +caravans. + +I think it is clear that the invasion of India could not be attempted till +the third year; but when should we begin to take precautions? A Government +wholly Asiatic would not be still if the Russians took possession of China; +but ours, chained by European politics, would hardly move if they entered +Cabul. + +We ought to have full information as to Cabul, Bokhara, and China. + +My letter of last year directed the attaining of information; but I dare +say nothing has been done. + + +_October 30._ + +Received a Memorial from Mr. Fullerton, asking some remuneration beyond his +salary for past services. He has a claim _if we were rich_. I think he +should have 10,000 dollars. I dare say he thinks 20,000. Thoughtless +extravagance is the destruction of generosity and even of justice. + +Upon the subject of the invasion of India my idea is that the thing is not +only practicable, but easy, unless we determine to act as an Asiatic Power. +On the acquisition of Khiva by the Russians we should occupy Lahore and +Cabul.[Footnote: It may be remembered that Lord Ellenborough strongly +disapproved of any occupation of Afghanistan, or interference with its +internal affairs, in 1840-42. At that time Russia had not advanced to +Khiva. It is clear that he would not have held the same opinion as to our +policy towards Afghanistan after the events of 1873-74.] It is not on the +Indus that an enemy is to be met. If we do not meet him in Cabul, at the +foot of the Hindoo Koosh, or in its passes, we had better remain in the +Sutlege. If the Russians once occupy Cabul they may remain there with the +Indus in their front, till they have organised insurrection in our rear, +and completely equipped their army. I fear there are passes from Balkh upon +Peshawur. If these could be closed and the enemy poured upon Cabul we +should know where to meet him. Now we, being at Cabul, might be cut off +from its resources by the descent of the enemy upon Peshawur. + +There is some road from Roondorg through Cashmere, but I do not fear that. +The road an enemy would choose would be that by the Valley of the Cachgu. + +We know nothing of these passes, nothing of the country beyond them, +nothing of the course of the Indus--but we should have full information so +as to be able to crush an advancing enemy, by making the whole country +hostile, which money would do. + +To meet an invasion we must raise every regiment to 1,000 men. + + 168 Regiments + 360 " + ----- + 1,008 + 504 + ------ + 60,480 Men, besides Artillery. + 4,000 King's Inf. raised to 1,000 each Reg. + 1,000 Do. four Regiments of Cavalry. + 4,000 Four new Regiments. + 2,000 Two new Cavalry. + Besides King's Artillery. + ------ + 71,480 + +Besides the increase which would take place in the Irregular Corps, +particularly in Skinner's. + +A smaller increase than this would not be sufficient; for we should require +20,000 men at Delhi, 20,000 in Lahore, and 60,000 in Cabul. I speak of +enrolled, not effectives--but with these augmentations the Regular Army +would only be + + 148,000 N.I. + 24,000 King's. + ------- + 172,000 + 20,000 Native Cavalry. + 6,000 King's. + ------- + 198,000 + +The out provisional battalions, local corps, &c., of 198,000, I do not +think above 100,000 could possibly be disposable, and there would not be +70,000 effectives. The Artillery must be very numerous. I omitted the +Company's English Regiments, about 3,000 men. + +Of all nations the Russians are the least adapted for an enterprise of this +nature. They have neither medical staff nor commissariat, and the men are +without resource. A French army would be the best. I doubt the possibility +of Russia bringing more than 20,000 men to Cabul, and these could not +descend the mountains till the third year, if Cabul was occupied. What I +fear is an occupation of Khiva unknown to us. No preparation on our part-- +no marching forward--so that in three or four months from leaving Khiva the +enemy might be at Cabul. I am sure we can defeat the enterprise. We ought +to defeat it before the enemy reaches the Indus. If 20,000 Russians should +reach the Indus, it will be a sharp fight. + + +_November 1, 1829._ + +A letter from the Duke. He returned the papers I sent him. He has doubts as +to the expediency of making the Commissary-General of Stores I proposed; +but he seems to have supposed I wished to do away with the Military Board. +I have explained what I meant. + +He approves of my suggestions as to correspondence, but thinks every paper +must be sent home, and the collections formed here. I have explained that I +always intended every paper should be sent home, and I have told him that I +had the opinion of the clerks I consulted that the collections might be +framed in India, with a saving of time, and without diminishing the check +on the local Governments. + + +_November 4._ + +Received from Aberdeen his draft of a remonstrance to Russia, which, it +seems, must be sent at last. He has already shown it to the Duke and Peel. + +There is no great substantive objection to it; but it is not very carefully +written. I shall send it to him tomorrow with many proposed alterations. In +the second box came Gaily [Footnote: H. Gaily Knight. Best known for his +works on the Normans in Sicily, and Ecclesiastical Architecture in Italy.] +Knight's letter to Aberdeen; which is a poor, flimsy production. A +peacock's feather in the hilt of a Drawcansir's sword. + + +_November 5._ + +Altered, not only verbally, but substantially, Aberdeen's paper, and sent +it to him. + +Cabinet room. Read a Memorandum by Lord Heytesbury, of a conversation he +has had with the Emperor of Russia. The Emperor expects the early downfall +of the Porte--and a Revolution in France. Asks if another march to Paris +would be possible? Lord Heytesbury saw Nesselrode afterwards and told him +what the Emperor had said. Nesselrode said the Emperor always saw things +_en noir_. He had a different opinion. He did not think the Porte in +immediate danger, nor did he expect a French Revolution. + +The other guarantees they talk of are further cessions in Asia, +specifically Batoum, or the occupation of Varna, or Silistria, instead of +the Principalities. The latter is worse, and the Turks will probably +consent to neither. They do not value the Principalities, and they know +Europe does.[Footnote: The Principalities, as commanding the lower course +of the Danube, were all important to Austria especially. Thus, occupation +by Russia, while it would have been felt as a menace to Central Europe, +would have left Turkey a compact state beyond the Danube.] + + +_November 6._ + +Saw Aberdeen. He is always gloomy about _divisions_. He is afraid of an +attack on Foreign Policy. He thinks the two parties will unite in that. He +hears there has been some approximation between Lord Grey [Footnote: Lord +Grey had been separated from the bulk of the Whig party since their +junction with Canning in 1827.] and Lord Holland. At the same time it is +said there is a notion of bringing in Lord Grey. I suspect this report to +have been fabricated by the Ultra-Tories to annoy the King. + +He thinks the Duke is annoyed, more particularly at the King's not treating +him well, and at his Government not being well supported. + +In fact, however, it is a Government which will not fall, for the King +hates the Whigs; the people do not regard them. He may like the Tories, but +he knows they cannot make a Government, and the Duke's Administration has +four-fifths of the country. + +Received a letter from the Duke, telling me he had settled Colonel +McDonald's knighthood, and asking me if I should be ready to talk about +India on the 13th. I said about Batta certainly; about India I had rather +talk first to Lord Melville and him. + +Wrote to the Duchess of Kent telling her a Bengal cavalry cadetship was at +her disposal for the son of Colonel Harvey. + +There is a very interesting letter from an English officer at Adrianople +with respect to the state of the Russian army. It has suffered and suffers +most dreadfully. + +I told Aberdeen if I had seen the account of the conversation between Lord +Heytesbury and the Emperor Nicholas before I read his proposed letter, I +should have suggested that much stress should have been laid upon the +effect the downfall of Turkey would have upon affairs in France. + +Polignac seems confident he can stand. He thinks he has the Chambers. The +French behave ill in the settlement of the Greek business, and object +altogether to our man, Prince Philip of Hesse Homburg. They equally object +to Prince Frederick of Orange, and to Prince Leopold, whom Russia would +have had willingly. I wonder Aberdeen did not laugh when he was proposed. +They want to settle the thing without a Prince. I suppose they want a +Frenchman. + +Aberdeen is for settling Greece as a Power into whose lap the broken parts +of Turkey may fall. He gives up Euboea. That is, the surrender of Euboea is +to be proposed to the Porte, with a frontier limited in other respects, +instead of the protocol of March 22. + +The Turks who have left the Morea have no indemnity. The Turks who are in +the other parts of the new Greece remain. It is altogether a wonderful +business. These anti-revolutionary States combining to revolutionise a +rebellious province of an unoffending ally! + + +_November 11._ + +It seems the French do not like the idea of giving to the Turks the option +of an independent State with smaller limits, or of a State under +Suzerainete with extended limits, contrary to the treaty, and sending at +the same time secret instructions to the Ambassadors to insist upon the +_entire_ independence of the new Greek State. The French seem likewise to +have been offended at the protocol having been settled between Russia and +us, before they were called in to give their opinion. No wonder. Certainly +our diplomacy has not succeeded. We have failed in all our objects. + + +_November 13._ + +Cabinet. I was first called upon to say my say upon the general Indian +question. I observed that the present prospective deficiency was one +million a year. That until we could ascertain whether that deficiency could +be diminished or done away with we were really not ourselves prepared to +come to a decision upon the future government of India; nor would +Parliament endure that the China trade should be closed upon the country +for twenty years more without first inquiring whether it was necessary. The +first question was, 'Can we make such a reduction of expenditure, or effect +such an increase in income as to enable the Government of India to go on +without any assistance direct or indirect from England?' If it can, then we +have the China trade in our hands. If it cannot, we have to decide whether +the necessary assistance shall be found by means of a continuance of the +monopoly or in some other manner. + +I stated the increase of two millions in six years in the civil charges of +Bengal; that the Court had issued the strongest instructions, and the local +Government seemed to have a real intention to curtail expenditure. That I +had done something, and should do all I could, investigating every item. +Peel suggested a commission. I said that had occurred to me last year. The +Duke, however, objected to a commission as really superseding the Governor- +General and being the Government. Another objection certainly is the delay. +Difficulties would be thrown in its way, and we should at last be obliged +to decide without its final report, having thrown away our time here in +waiting for it. + +I mentioned that the character of the local Government was 'disrespect and +disobedience.' That nothing but a long continuance of strict rule could +bring India into real subjection. It was this disobedience which was the +chief source of increased expenditure. It arose in a great measure from the +unequal hand which had been held over them--the indulgence of the Court of +Directors--and the great delays in the communication with India arising out +of the system of correspondence. I had endeavoured to remedy that, and +hoped to get an answer to letters within the year. It was now two years and +a half. I had likewise endeavoured to make arrangements for steam +communication by the Red Sea. I hoped to be able to send a letter to Bombay +in sixty days. + +The Cabinet seemed generally to acquiesce in the expediency of only having +a Committee this year. + +At first they all seemed to think the continuance of the government in the +Company a matter of course. I told them that even with the China trade the +Government could not now go on without great reductions of expenditure, and +that I hoped the Cabinet would not come to a hasty decision upon a question +involving so many important political and financial considerations. The +present system was not one of great expense, but it was one involving great +delay--and delay was expense, and not only expense but abandonment of +authority. It was in this point of view that I hoped the Cabinet would look +at the question when it came before them. + +I mean to go quietly to work; but I mean, if I can, to substitute the +King's government for that of the Company. [Footnote: This was not carried +out till 1858, after the great mutiny.] I am sure that in doing so I shall +confer a great benefit upon India and effect the measure which is most +likely to retain for England the possession of India. + +We afterwards spoke of the Batta question. I read Lord Wellesley's letter, +and stated the opinions of Sir J. Malcolm, Sir Archibald Campbell, and Sir +J. Nicholls. + +I stated that it seemed the feeling in the army was excited more by the +apprehension of further reductions than by the establishment of the half- +Batta stations; that if concessions were made to the Bengal army, the other +armies would be discontented and further demands would be made. + +The Duke said, as a soldier, and having been in India at the time, he must +say he thought the orders of 1828 [Footnote: Orders issued by Lord William +Bentinck, abolishing full batta or the larger scale of allowances to the +military at stations where half-batta only had been recognised, before the +Act of the Bengal Government allowing full batta in consideration of +officers providing themselves with quarters.--See Thornton's _British +India_, pp. 221-25.] a breach of faith--but these having been issued, he +thought we must stand to them. The general opinion was that as nothing +could be said or done till the arrival of despatches, there could be no +necessity for deciding. + +I mentioned my Supreme Court Bill, which will be ready immediately. + +I hope to save--ultimately 60,000 pounds a year in the Supreme Courts. + + L + L1,000 on each Judge..... 9,000 + 1 Judge at Calcutta...... 5,000 + 1 Judge at M. and B...... 8,000 + Recorder's Court......... 8,000 + Fees at Calcutta........ 30,000 + ------ + L60,000 + +Ireland is put off till Monday, that we may all read the papers. We dine +with the Duke to-morrow. + +The French oppose all the people we name for the Greek coronet. They have +named Prince Charles of Bavaria, and the second son of the King of Bavaria +with a regency till he is of age! However, this folly they did not press. + +We first named Prince Philip of Hesse Homburg, whom the French would not +hear of. Then Leopold! They did not like him. Prince Emilius of Hesse +Darmstadt was thought of. The French have suggested Prince John of Saxony, +second son of the King, a fine young man, about 28, but unknown. His elder +brother too may soon succeed to the throne, and he has no children. +Otherwise there is no objection to this Prince. + +It seems to me they are running after trifles. Russia adheres to us as to +the Prince, or rather remains neutral, thinking I have no doubt that France +and England will quarrel about the feather. + +The secret instruction which it was proposed to give to the Ambassadors is +now abandoned, France having objected. They were to have been ordered to +_insist_ upon Turkey taking one of two things of which she was to have +ostensibly the pure option. Now they are only clearly to intimate their +_wish_. However, it seems Russia will take a million of ducats less if +Turkey will make Greece independent. That is, she will give up a claim to +what she cannot get in order to effect that she has no right to ask. + +The French Government have, by giving new rates of pension, got 1,600 old +officers out of the army, and filled important stations with friends of +their own. They think they shall stand. + +I forgot to mention the Archduke Maximilian of Modena as one of the persons +talked of for Greece. It seems uncertain whether any one of these Princes +would take the coronet. + + +_November 14, Saturday._ + +Cabinet room. Rosslyn and afterwards Lord Bathurst there. Read the Irish +papers, that is, Lord Francis Leveson's private letters to Peel and Peel's +to him, with a letter from Peel to Leslie Foster, asking his opinion as to +education and Maynooth, and Foster's reply. The latter is important. He +thinks the political and religious hostility of the two parties is +subsiding. The chiefs alone keep it up. The adherents are gradually falling +off. To open the questions of education, &c., now, would be to open closing +wounds, nor would anything be accomplished. The priests would resist +everything proposed, and the Protestants would not be satisfied. The +Kildare Street Society, however defective, does a great deal of good, more +than could be expected from any new system we could carry at this moment. + +As to Maynooth, to withdraw the grant would not diminish the funds, while +it would increase the bad feeling. + +The increased prevalence of outrage, arising more from a disorganised state +of society than from politics or religion, and the _assassination_ plan, +must be met by an extensive police, directed by stipendiary magistrates; +and the expense of this police, and the indemnity to sufferers must be paid +by the barony in which the outrage takes place. + +All Peel's letters are very sensible. Lord Francis Leveson's are in an odd +style, rather affected occasionally, and his ideas are almost always such +as require to be overruled. He is a forward boy; but I see nothing of the +statesman in him. We ought to have had Hardinge there. + +Dined at the Duke's. A man of the name of Ashe is writing letters to the +Duke of Cumberland threatening his life if he does not give up a book in +MS. + +This book of Ashe's is a romance detailing all sorts of scandals of the +Royal Family, and of horrors of the Duke of Cumberland. The book is +actually in the possession of the Duke of Wellington. + +The King's violence, when there was an idea of Denman's [Footnote: The King +always resented an offensive quotation of Denman's as counsel during the +Queen's trial.] appearing for the Recorder, was greater, the Duke says, +than what he showed during the Catholic question. + +Lady Conyngham has been and is very ill. There is no idea of the Court +going to Brighton. + + +_November 16._ + +Cabinet. France, Austria, and England to ask Don Pedro distinctly what he +means to do. We certainly cannot go on as we are with Portugal for ever. +Aberdeen fears France may acknowledge Miguel first, and thus take our place +with Portugal. + +The Duke says if we can keep Spain on good terms with Portugal, and with +ourselves, the connection of France and Portugal does not signify, and we +are much better off than with Portugal against Spain and France. This is +true. + +A long talk about Ashe, who has written a libel on the Duke of Cumberland, +which the Duke gave to the Duke of Wellington. Ashe wants it back, and +threatens if he has it not returned to him; but in a letter, and in such +terms that the Attorney-General does not think him liable to prosecution. +He might be held to bail, perhaps, but that would bring out the case. It +was decided to do nothing, but to take precautions against his doing +mischief. The Duke of Cumberland has been cautioned. + +The Insurrection Act seems to be popular with Fitzgerald. Peel says it is +bad in principle, and has the effect of placing the higher classes in +hostility against the lower. The decision seemed to be to have a powerful +police--stipendiary magistrates--frequent trials--constables appointed by +Government--counties paying for additional police. + +Peel suggests the division of Ireland into smaller districts, and the +acquiring a personal knowledge of individuals, and making the districts +responsible. + +I believe the country is too populous, and the population too wicked, for +this plan to succeed. + +The murderers will be brought in from a distance. + +The state of demoralisation in which the country is is dreadful. Murders +are held to be of no account. + + +_November 17._ + +Read, as I came down to Worthing, Colonel McDonald's last despatches, and +his private letter, which I received last night. Sent them to the Duke, and +asked whether under the circumstances we should let Abbas Murza have some +thousand stand of arms, Colonel McDonald doing his best to secure ultimate +repayment. + +The Persian cavalry raised by the Russians in their newly conquered +territories seem to have fought as well as any troops in their service. +Colonel McDonald says it is from a disciplined Persian army alone, +commanded by Russian officers, that he dreads the invasion of India. A +European force would be wasted by the climate. The Pasha of Suleimania had +too European a taste, and wanted to make regular soldiers without pay or +clothing. So his soldiers turned him out, and made his brother Pacha. + +Colonel McDonald describes all that side of Turkey as going _au devant du +conquerant_. Such has been the wretchedness of their government. + + +_Worthing, November 18, 1829._ + +At 11 P.M. received a letter from the Duke of Wellington by a messenger, +telling me he regretted I had not met Lord Melville and him before the +Cabinet, and proposing, as he and Lord Melville both wished to go out of +town on Friday, that I should meet them either to-morrow, after 2, or on +Friday morning. + +I wrote to say I would be with him at 3 to-morrow. + + +_November 19._ + + +Met the Duke and Lord Melville. + +After conversation on topics connected with the subject we came to the +point, which was that the Duke wished both to preserve the monopoly and the +Company as administrators of Indian affairs. + +The Duke is much swayed by early recollections. He is besides very desirous +of having the City of London in his hands. + +I admitted that the great and solid objection to placing the government of +India directly in the hands of the Crown was the consequent increase of +Parliamentary business, already too extensive to be well performed. + +As to the China trade, if the Government of India can be conducted without +the assistance derived from it, I saw no reason for its continuance; but I +had rather continue the monopoly than lose the Company as a trading Company +to China, for I thought the trade might be greatly endangered were their +commerce to cease. I said that the continuance of the system of carrying on +the government through the instrumentality of the Company was not +inconsistent with giving to it the efficiency, the vigour, and the celerity +of the King's Government. + +Lord Melville admitted the cumbrousness of the present system. + +The Duke seemed to have no objection to alterations in details, provided +the principle were adhered to. + +Both to-day and in the Cabinet on Friday last I was surprised by Lord +Melville's inertness. + +The Duke wishes Leach's paper to be 'the case to be proved.' This may be +done, and yet the necessary improvements introduced. + +Met Seymour, who had been with the Duke. He is just come from Berlin. He +seemed to say that the great success of the war was wholly unexpected by +the Emperor. + + +_November 20._ + +Wrote to Hylton Jolliffe to beg he would turn his attention to the subject +of steam navigation to India by the Red Sea, as a private speculation. + + +_November 21._ + +Read a letter from Sir G. Murray. It seems the Duke, Lord Melville, and Sir +George are to meet soon to consider whether some alteration should not be +made in the rules of the Order of the Bath. I suggested that it might be an +improvement to make civilians eligible to the lower grades of the Order. It +might occasionally be very convenient to make a man a K.C.B. for civil +service. + + +_Sunday, November 22._ + +Told Bankes what the Duke wished respecting the Charter; but I likewise +told him it had not yet been so determined in Cabinet, and that there was +no objection to our making the Government more rapid and vigorous, and less +like the Tullietudlem coach. I desired him to consider this _confidential_ +to himself and the Commissioners. + + +_November 25._ + +Received a note from Bankes announcing that the Duke had accepted his +retirement from the office of secretary, and had consented to make him an +extra commissioner. + +This has long been an idea of Bankes's, of which I never could see rational +ground. Indeed, he seems to acknowledge it is not his own idea, but that of +others, that on his return to the Government he should not have returned to +the same office. In fact it is the influence of the Duke of Cumberland, and +it is evident from the endeavour to detach Bankes from the Government now +that the Brunswickers still have hopes. It is like giving notice to Lot and +his family before the fall of fire and brimstone. + +Bankes's letter is full of kind and grateful expressions towards me. +Indeed, we have always been on very friendly and confidential terms. I have +expressed my regret at his resolution. I told him I think he acts upon +mistaken views, and I assure him that in whatever position he may stand +towards the Board, it will afford me much pleasure and advantage to remain +on the same terms with him. + +The Duke will be angry, and I do not think Bankes will soon get an office +again. + + +_December 2._ + +Read for an hour at the Cabinet room. There is a curious account of a +conversation between De Rigny and an Austrian friend at Smyrna. De Rigny +thinks very ill of the Government, and of the state of France. He too wants +the Rhine! He judges truly enough of the results of the treaty. 'England, +Austria, and France will talk, but nothing will be done.' He says Russia +was very foolish not to go on. She might have dared anything. However, the +army seems to have suffered severely. They acknowledge the loss of 130,000 +men in the two campaigns. + +Diebitch has partly evacuated Adrianople, leaving there, however, 6,000 +sick and a battalion. The plague spreads in the Principalities, and they do +not know how to get the troops out of Turkey. + +Zuylen de Neyvelt and others give a very bad account of the state of +Constantinople. They say the Turkish Empire _cannot_ hold together. + +I do not like Lord Stuart's account of the state of the French Ministry. +They will bring in Villele, who is an able man, and he may save them; but +theirs is a desperate game. + +The French seem to be disposed to go along with us in negotiating with the +Emperor of Brazil [Footnote: _i.e._ with the Emperor Don Pedro, father of +the ultimately successful candidate for the Portuguese throne, Donna Maria +de Gloria.] for the recognition of Miguel. There would be a stipulation for +amnesty, &c. + + +_December 3._ + +The Chairs talked of Lord William Bentinck. They are very much out of +humour with him and heartily wish he was at home. He has neither written +privately nor publicly, except upon trifling matters, for five months. He +has declared his opinion in favour of colonisation. He is very unpopular. +On the subject of Sir W. Rumbold he and Sir Ch. Metcalfe are very hostile, +taking extreme views on the different sides. This hostility upon one +subject will lead to difference upon others. The Government is not +respected--and certainly there has been no moment when it was of more +importance that the head of the Government should be respected than when it +is necessary to effect a great economical reform. They describe the feeling +at Madras as being still worse. There they did not think the governor an +_honest man_. + +The Chairs expect a letter from Macdonald to the Secret Committee with +copies of his last despatches which I have already received through +Petersburg, so they are unwilling to accept a communication of them from +me. The letter, permitting Abbas Murza to purchase 12,000 stand of arms and +to pay for them by instalments, will therefore go without any reference to +the last despatches received. + +Saw Aberdeen. He agrees with me in feeling much apprehension on the state +of France as well as of Turkey. He seems, however, to think more of the +state of parties here, and does not like the looks of the Duke of +Cumberland (who was nearly dying last week) and of the King. It seems the +King, although very well satisfied with measures of a public nature, is +annoyed at not carrying some small jobs. + +There was a great party at Woburn lately, and the world of course say there +is an approximation to the Grey party. Aberdeen thinks the Woburn party +showed good wishes, and Lord Grey, it is said, does not mean to come up to +town. However, he is said to think he has been slighted, whereas the Duke +of Wellington _cannot_ do anything for him in the hostile state of the +King's mind. + +I told Aberdeen confidentially of Bankes's going out, which is an +indication, no doubt, of continued hostility on the part of the Duke of +Cumberland. + +Saw Hardinge. Talked on various public subjects, and then told him of the +probability that in three months Lord W. Bentinck would be recalled. I +asked him whether he could be induced to go as Governor-General. He +rejected the idea at first as unsuited to his rank in the army. I said we +could make him Captain-General. He seemed to think it was a great field for +a man who wished to obtain great fame, and if he was unmarried he would not +be disinclined to go, but I should think domestic considerations would +prevent him. I wish we had him as secretary in Ireland, but he is wanted +_everywhere_. He is so useful. He would be _most useful_ in Ireland. + +Saw the Duke. I told him what the Chairs had said. He said he always +thought Lord William would not succeed. Who could we get to replace him? He +had always thought it did not signify as long as we had _one_ man in India; +but we must have _one_. I told him that, seeing the difficulty of +selection, I had thought it right to tell him what was likely to happen. I +should not be much surprised if he thought of Lord Tweddale, whom he +thought of for Ireland. I do not know him at all. + + +_December 6._ + +Read Sir W. Rumbold's letters, and the minutes in Council on the Hyderabad +case. Sir W. is a cunning, clever man. Sir Ch. Metcalfe shows too much +prejudice against Sir W. Rumbold; but he was at Hyderabad at the time, and +he may be right. I suspect it was a disgraceful business. + + +_December 9._ + +Loch has got a cadetship for me. Colonel Baillie lends it. He postpones a +nomination till next year in order to oblige me. I have thanked Loch, and +begged him to thank Colonel Baillie. + +Wrote to Lady Belfast to tell her Mr. Verner had his cadetship. Begged her +to make his family and friends understand thoroughly that this was a +private favour I had led her to expect long before the discussion of the +Catholic question. + +Wrote to Lord Hertford and enclosed an extract from my letter to Lady +Belfast. + +Read a letter from Sir J. Malcolm, who is again troubled by Sir J. P. +Grant. He enclosed a letter of his upon the subject to Lord W. Bentinck. +The concluding paragraph of this letter refers to a letter from Lord +William of June 18, at which time the spirit of the Bengal army continued +bad. + +Read a letter from Jones, who will set himself to work about the navigation +of the Indus. He says a Mr. Walter Hamilton speaks of the river being +navigable for vessels of 200 tons to Lahore, and that from Lahore to the +mouth of the river, 700 miles, is only a voyage of twelve days. And no +British flag has ever floated upon the waters of this river! Please God it +shall, and in triumph, to the source of all its tributary streams. + + +_December 11._ + +Read a letter from Lord Bathurst respecting the recall of Sir J. P. Grant. +He had imagined I had said he had resigned. He seems surprised I should +have supposed it possible a judge should be recalled without a formal +meeting of the Privy Council. I reminded him of Sir T. Claridge's case, not +half so strong as that of Sir J. P. Grant. + + +_December 12._ + +Read Fraser's travels. + + +_December 13._ + +A letter from Sir J. Malcolm, by which it seems that my letter to him of +February 21 has been copied and become public: much to his annoyance. +[Footnote: This was the letter with the expression about a wild elephant +between two tame ones which afterwards attracted so much criticism. It was +intended as a private letter to Sir J. Malcolm, but by a mistake of one of +his secretaries was copied as an official communication.] + +He sends me his letter to Lord W. Bentinck upon the subject. It seems by +this letter, which adverts to other topics, that the spirit in Bengal is +very bad--that Lord W. has hitherto done nothing to check it, and that with +the press in his power he has allowed it to be more licentious than it ever +was before. + + +_December 14._ + +Found at Roehampton a letter from the Duke enclosing one addressed by Mrs. +Hastings to the King, applying for a pension. The King recommends it to the +consideration of the Court of Directors. I doubt the Court venturing to +propose any pension to the Court of Proprietors. + +I had another letter from the Duke enclosing a letter to him from Sir J. +Malcolm and a copy of Sir J. Malcolm's letter to Lord W. Bentinck, +respecting the unauthorised publication of my private letter--the same I +received yesterday. Sir J. Malcolm speaks of an intended deputation from +the Bengal army to England, which Lord William was determined not to allow; +but Sir J. Malcolm seems to think that Lord William by his conduct at first +brought on much of what has taken place. He has relaxed the reins of +Government too much. I am satisfied that, without a change of form and +name, it will be very difficult to regain the strength the Government has +lost in India. + +I shall see the Duke if I can to-morrow and suggest the appointment of Sir +J. Malcolm as provisional successor to Lord William. Sir J. Malcolm's +sentiments are known, and his nomination would show the feeling of the +Government here. It would be a hint to Lord William that we could replace +him at once and make him do his duty. It would, in the event of anything +happening to Lord William, guard against the mischiefs of an interregnum, +which is always a time of weakness and of job. + + +_December 15._ + +The Duke gone to the Deepdene. Wrote to him to say I would not fail to +bring the question of Mrs. Hastings's pension before the Chairs; but I +enclosed a memorandum showing all that had been done for old Hastings, and +reminded the Duke that the Court could not grant above 200L a year without +the sanction of two Courts of Proprietors. + +Cabinet room. Lord Heytesbury seems to have shown Nesselrode the protocol +about November 25. The Count was greatly agitated, and put himself into a +furious passion. Asked the use of it? Perhaps it would be difficult to say. +Supposed it was intended for Parliament--which is very true. Said it would +lead to a reply we should not like--create a paper war, prevent the two +Courts from remaining upon the friendly terms he had hoped were +re-established. The more angry he is, the more right I think we must +feel we were to send it. + +There is a good paper of Aberdeen's to Sir R. Gordon, in which he considers +the Turkish Empire as falling, and our interest as being to raise Greece, +that that State may be the heir of the Ottoman Power. With this view he +considers it to be of primary importance that the Government of new Greece +should not be revolutionary, and the Prince a good one. + +There is another good paper defending England against an accusation of +Metternich that we should have spoken in a firmer tone to Russia at an +earlier period. The King seems much taken with these papers, and writes +great encomiums upon them. + +By Lord Stuart's account it appears probable that Villele will come in. The +Government mean to avoid all questions upon which it is possible to have a +difference of opinion, and to bring forward only measures of clear and +undeniable utility. They think that, if their opponents should endeavour to +throw out these measures, the Chambers will support Government. + +France coincides with us entirely as to the Portuguese question; but +wishes, and she is right, that questions more specific had been put to the +Emperor Pedro. The intention seems to be to acknowledge Miguel on +conditions, when Pedro admits he can do nothing. + + +_December 16._ + +Read Lord Ashley's memorandum on the judicial administration of India. I +wrote a note on returning it in which I said he seemed to have taken great +pains to collect the opinions which had been given by different persons +upon the subject. Mine had been expressed by me in a letter to Sir J. +Malcolm on August 7, in which I declared my general concurrence in the +views entertained by him and intimated by him in his minute, giving an +account of his tour in the southern Mahratta country. I had added that I +was satisfied the more we could avail ourselves of the services of the +natives in the fiscal and judicial administration the better, and that all +good government must rest upon the village system. I told Sir J. Malcolm I +had come to my office without any preconceived opinions, that I had kept +out of the way of prejudiced men, and had allowed opinions to form +themselves gradually in my own mind as I acquired more knowledge from pure +sources. I could not, if I had written this passage on purpose, have had +one more suited to my purpose. It showed Ashley I was not _prejudiced_, +that my opinions were formed before I read his memorandum, and that I had +formed them by abstaining from the course he has pursued--for he allows all +sorts of persons to come and talk to him, and to inoculate him with their +notions. + +I afterwards said that he would see by Sir Thomas Munro's memorandum of +December 31, 1824, that he thought we had succeeded better in the judicial +than in the fiscal administration of India, and in the criminal better than +in the civil branch of the judicial government. This I said to show I had +read Sir T. Munro's memorandum, which he did not give me credit for having +done; and that it was not so much to the judicial as to the revenue branch +that he should have directed his attention, with a view to improvements-- +the field being greater. + +I then said I did not doubt that there were capable natives to be found, +but I did doubt that they would be selected, for that the European servants +had disappointed me. The natives were better than I expected, &c., &c. + +Saw the Duke. Suggested to him Sir J. Malcolm's being made provisional +successor to Lord W. Bentinck for the reasons I have mentioned. He thought +well of the suggestion; but said we must consider it, and mention it in +Cabinet, as Lord William was a great card, and we must not do anything to +offend unnecessarily him and his connection. The objection occurred to him +that had occurred to me, that Sir J. Malcolm would die if he went to +Calcutta. I hope he would not go there, that he would remain in the upper +provinces. But I look to the effect of the nomination upon the conduct of +people in India, and that of Lord William himself, more than to his actual +succession. + +The Duke then said we must look not to India only, but to all Asia, and +asked me if I had read Evans's book. I told him I had; that in forty-eight +hours after I read it I had sent a copy to Macdonald and another to +Malcolm. I told him all the views I had with regard to the navigation of +the Indus and the opening of a trade with Cabul and Bokhara. He said our +minds appeared to have been travelling the same way. We must have good +information of what the Russians might be doing there. I reminded him I had +desired the Government a year ago to obtain information as to all the +countries between the Caspian and the Indus, and I intended now to give a +more particular direction. He said Macdonald should have his eye upon the +Caspian, and information as to those countries would be best obtained +through natives. I reminded him that that had been the suggestion in my +letter of last year. The Duke's opinion is that it is a question of +_expense only_. That if the Russians got 20,000 or 30,000 men into Cabul we +could beat them; but that by hanging upon us there they could put us to an +enormous expense in military preparation, and in quelling insurrections. +They could not move in that direction without views hostile to us, and by +threatening us there they would think to embarrass us in Europe. I proposed +that in the event of the Russians moving in that direction we should permit +the Government of India to act as an Asiatic Power. By money at least, he +allowed, without further orders, not to move in advance without +instructions. But the Duke is ready to take up the question here in Europe, +if the Russians move towards India with views of evident hostility. + +He approves of a message going at once with orders to Macdonald. + + +_December 18._ + +Chairs. They will consider favourably Mrs. Hastings's case; but she must +address her representation to them. + +I told them of my suggestion of making Malcolm provisional successor to +Lord William, and the reasons for it. They seemed to like the idea; but the +same objection occurred to them which had occurred to the Duke and to me-- +that if Malcolm went to Calcutta he would die. I said I did not want him to +go. I did not look to his going. I looked to the moral effect of the +appointment upon Lord William and upon all their servants in India. They +want to get some political man of high rank and talents and determined +character to go. They are heartily sick of Lord William. Whom they want to +send I do not know. + +I told them of my conversation with the Duke and went over the same ground. +They acquiesced in all I said. We shall have the missions to Scinde and to +Lahore, and the commercial venture up the Indus, and the instruction to +Macdonald. In short, all I want. + +Despatches are at hand from Lord William, dated May 1, in triplicate, and +without the minutes which are referred to as containing the sentiments of +the Government. These despatches merely refer the subject to the +consideration of the Court. + +One Jones, it seems, has written almost all the memorials, and is +considered a rebel more than a Radical. + +We had a little conversation respecting the future Government of India. I +told them it must be a strong Government, and I doubted whether in its +present form it could secure obedience in India. It required more of +appearance. They seemed to feel that. Astell acknowledged there was nothing +imposing in the name of 'the Company,' and that the present Government was +fallen into contempt. + +I told them I was satisfied that the patronage and the appeals should +always remain where they were. I paid them a high compliment, which they +justly deserve, upon the fairness of their conduct in deciding upon the +claims of their servants. + +They feel their Government is weak in its last year; but that the Ministers +could not do otherwise than have a committee. + + +_December 18._ + +Wrote a letter to the Duke, which he may send to the King, stating the +result of my communication to the Chairs respecting Mrs. Hastings. + +Requested information as to the trade of the Caspian, that carried on by +the caravans to Bokhara, and the general condition of that country, +desiring likewise that means might be taken to keep us constantly informed +of any movements made by the Russians towards the Sea of Aral, and of any +attempt to make establishments on the east coast of the Caspian. + +Wrote to the Duke to tell him what was done and how entirely the Chairs +entered into his views. + + +_December 19._ + +Wrote to Loch to suggest that he should send Meyendorff's and Mouravief's +books to Macdonald. + +Read a clever pamphlet on the China trade, and in coming down to Worthing +all the papers Hardinge sent me relative to the new pension regulations. + + +_December 20._ + +Read Meyendorff's 'Tour in Bokhara.' It contains all the information I want +as to the commerce between Bokhara and Russia. We can easily supply Bokhara +with many things the Russians now furnish, and with all Indian goods +cheaper by the Indus than the Ganges; but what the Bokharians are to send +us in return I do not well see, except turquoises, lapis lazuli, and the +ducats they receive from Russia. We may get shawls cheaper by navigating +the Indus. + + +_December 21._ + +Read the memorandum the Chairs gave me respecting the application of steam +navigation to the internal and external communications of India. It has +been prepared carefully and ably, and is very interesting. It suggests the +navigation of the Euphrates to Balis or Bir by steam, and thence the +passage by Aleppo to Latakia or Scanderoon. It likewise suggests that it +might be more expeditious to cross the desert from Suez to Lake Menzaleh, +or direct to the sea. + + +_December 22._ + +Wrote to Lord Hill, telling him of Sir G. Walker's dangerous illness, and +intimating the importance, under the present circumstances of Madras, of +having not only a good soldier as Commander-in-Chief, but a man possessed +of good civil qualities. + +Sent a copy of this letter to the Duke. + + +_December 25._ + +Read a memorandum of Jones on the last mission to Lahore, and a very long +secret despatch in 1811 upon the subject of Runjeet Singh's attempt to +establish himself on the left bank of the Sutlege, and his retreat in +consequence of remonstrances and military demonstration on the part of the +British Government. + + +_December 26._ + +Called by appointment on Lady Macdonald, who came here to speak to me about +Sir J. Macdonald's salary and position at Tabriz. She says that after the +letter he wrote, representing the inexpediency of Sir H. Willock's +remaining as his first assistant and the non-existence of any necessity for +two assistants, if the Bengal Government do not recall Willock Sir J. +Macdonald cannot remain. She has likewise a good deal to say respecting the +salary. I think 9,000L a year a proper salary. The Ambassador at +Constantinople has 8,000L and a house; but Constantinople is on the sea, +and the charge of bringing European goods to Tabriz through Russia is so +considerable that 1,000L a year ought to be added for the charge. + + +_December 29._ + +Received three letters from Lord W. Bentinck, of July 6 and 8 and August 2. +In that of the 6th he speaks of my private letter to Sir J. Malcolm, +published in the 'Calcutta Newspaper.' In that of the 8th he sends it to +me, the names being altered, and all between brackets being interpolated, +and in fact in the light of comment. In that of August 2 he speaks of the +temper of the army, &c., and all public subjects. I have sent the three +letters to the Duke. + +I was glad to have my letter. I can defend every word in it. It contains +the simile of the elephants, which I am sorry for, as I fear those +described _as tame_ may be foolish enough to endeavour to show they are not +so by affecting a degree of vivacity beyond their nature; but still I can +defend it. + +Lord William describes his position as not agreeable, having to effect the +odious work of reduction. [Footnote: Besides the burning question of 'Half- +Batta,' Lord W. Bentinck's administration was regarded as hostile in spirit +to that of his predecessors, and so disliked by those who had served under +them, especially by the military.] He says that in India no man thinks of +anything but MONEY, that the local government has incurred great odium by +carrying into effect the orders of the home authorities. He recommends Sir +Charles Metcalfe as a man standing by Malcolm's side, and fit for the +government of Bombay. I a little fear Sir Charles Metcalfe. He is rather +too vehement. I doubt whether he would be a safe man. I am quite sure +Courtney would be a very unfit man. The Governor of Bombay ought to be an +Indian, but who is there? + +Lord William represents the Burmese Government as a barbarian Government. +He says they have sacrificed all who assisted us, and that the difficulty +in retroceding the Tenasserim provinces would be to know what to do with +the 35,000 people who have sought our protection. + +This report makes the wisdom of our recent policy yet clearer than it +appeared before. + + +_December 31._ + +Read twenty papers on the opium treaties and management in Central India. +The Supreme Government have decided upon no longer limiting the extent of +cultivation in Malwa, and upon permitting the free transit of the drug. +This was expedient because undoubtedly our restrictions led to the most +hostile feelings on the part both of princes and people, to the injury of +the traders, to violent and offensive interference on our part in the +internal policy of foreign States, and to smuggling protected by large +bodies of armed men. The smugglers would soon have been Pindarries. This +system began only in 1825. It was forced upon the small States, and not +upon that of Gwalior, so that smuggling defeated the object. + + +_January 2, 1830._ + +Received from the Duke a note to say the publication of my private letter +to Sir J. Malcolm did not signify one pin's head, and it _will have_ done +good in India. + +Wrote a long letter to Lord William Bentinck. I pressed upon him the +necessity of making the home and the local authorities draw together. I +told him he was suffering not for his obedience but for the disobedience of +his predecessors. Assured him of support, lamented the _ungentlemanlike_ +tone of society evidenced by the insult of the commanding officers to him, +and by the publication of my private letter. I spoke in high terms of +Lieut. W. Hislop's report on the opium arrangements (which on reflection I +thought better than writing a letter to him), and I likewise spoke highly +of Mr. Scott, the Commissioner in Assam. Acknowledged the Government could +not have done otherwise than give up the opium treaties; but foretold a +large falling off in the opium revenue from over-cultivation in Malwa. + + +_January 3._ + +A letter from Clare on East Indian matters which I answered at length. Sent +Prendergast's pamphlet to Jones. + +Read reports on the Delhi and Firuz Shah's canal, by which it appears my +plan of joining the Sutlege and Jumna is not visionary. It has been done. +The canal can still be traced. Delhi seems in distant times to have been +like Milan, in the midst of canals. The grand canal sent a branch through +the palace. The water has been again turned in the same channel. When the +water flowed into Delhi on the opening of the canal on May 30, 1820, the +people went out to meet it and threw flowers into the stream. In those +countries nothing can be done without water, and with water, and such a +sun, anything. + + +_January 4, 1830._ + +Head Eraser's journey and finished it. It is very interesting, and shows +how completely the Persian monarchy is falling to pieces. + + +_January 5._ + +Saw Wrangham. There is no news. The affairs of the Netherlands, he says, +look rather better, and Polignac is very stout and says he is very strong. +It seems great complaints are made of Lord Stuart, who gives little +information, and what little he does give is incorrect. + + +_January 6._ + +Vesey Fitzgerald will certainly not be able to attend the House this year. +His physicians say he would die in five minutes if he got up to speak. I +heard G. Dawson tell the Duke to-day. I rather suspect G. Dawson would like +Vesey's place. + +The Duke has been much occupied with the Greek question. I have not yet +read any papers at the Foreign Office. He spoke to me of Bankes's going +out, which he regretted. + +He had had some conversation last year at Belvoir with Lord Graham upon +Indian affairs, and had been quite surprised to find how much he knew. He +had thought he only knew how to comb his hair. The Duke thinks of Horace +Twiss for secretary. He had thought of Mr. Wortley, Lord Wharncliffe's son, +a very clever young man, but he wanted a _made_ man, not one to learn. I +shall suggest Ashley's taking Horace Twiss's place, and Lord Graham being +First Commissioner. This will force him to come forward. Then Wortley might +be Second Commissioner. Horace Twiss is a clever man, but rather vulgar. +However, he is a lawyer and a very good speaker, and will do very well. + + +_January 7._ + +I told the Chairs my views as to an alteration in the Supreme Court Bill. +They seemed to approve if the thing could be done. I had afterwards some +conversation with the Chancellor upon this subject. He admitted the force +of my reasoning, but desired to have a memorandum about it, which indeed +will be convenient to me as well as to him. It should state all the new +circumstances since the establishment of the Supreme Court which render its +existence less necessary than it was, and more inapplicable than ever to +the condition of India. + +At the Duke's dinner I told the Duke and Rosslyn the substance of Lord +William's letters. The Duke said the act [Footnote: In combining to oppose +the Half-Batta orders. See Thornton's _British India_, vol. v.] of the +officers was mutiny. + +The King is ill. He has lost a good deal of blood. + + +_January 8._ + +The King quite well again. In the morning began and nearly finished a +memorandum on the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court for the Chancellor. + +Cabinet at 2. Conversation respecting the abolition of the Welsh +judgeships, and the addition of a judge to the Courts of King's Bench and +Common Pleas, or Exchequer. The two new judges would be Circuit Judges of +Wales. The Welsh gentlemen seem to be favourable to the change. The +attornies, who are numerous and powerful, very hostile. The Chancellor +introduces again his Bill of last Session. The Equity is to be separated +from the Common Law Jurisdiction of the Court of Exchequer. The subject was +only talked of, and decision deferred till Sunday next. + +We then talked of Ireland. The Grand Jury Presentment Bill is not yet +prepared. The plan for a police is to place the nominations in the hands of +the Lord-Lieutenant. To send stipendiary magistrates when and where they +are wanted. + +Peel's suggestions went much further; but Lord F. Gower seems to me to be +only a clever boy. He has as yet proposed _nothing_ worthy of adoption, and +he has often been near the commission of errors from which he has been +saved only by Peel's advice. + +He wished to establish stipendiary magistrates in every county, the effect +of which would have been to disgust all the gentlemen magistrates, and to +lead them to the abandonment of their duty. He wished too to unite in all +cases the inspectorships of police with the office of stipendiary +magistrate, to avoid collision; but the duties of inspector are of a mere +ministerial and inferior character, and would not agree well with those of +a magistrate. + +I must read to-morrow all the late protocols and despatches. The Russians +and French have agreed to make Leopold Prince of Greece, but the King +cannot endure the idea. Aberdeen thinks he has made a great conquest in +carrying the point of Leopold's election. I confess I cannot understand the +great advantage we derive from it. What an extraordinary scene! Those +monarchical states, the most adverse to revolution, combine to assist the +rebellion of a people against its sovereign, a rebellion commenced by +murder and continued by treachery, stained with every crime that ever +disgraced human nature! [Footnote: The massacres by the Greeks at +Tripolitza and Athens, the latter in direct breach of a capitulation, had, +according to a not unfavourable historian, cast a dark stain on the Greek +cause and diminished the interest felt for it in foreign countries. +(Alison, _Hist. Europe_, 1815-52, iii. 150.)] They destroy the fleet of an +unoffending Power in a time of profound peace in his own port. They thus +facilitate the attack of an enemy, and in the extreme peril of the defeated +sovereign they increase their demands in order to form a substantive State +out of the ruins of his Empire. They then elect a Prince unknown to the +people over whom he is to reign, and support him by equal assistance in +ships and money! Those monarchical states set up a revolutionary government +and maintain it in coparcenary! It was reserved for these times to witness +such contradictions. I do not think any one is very well satisfied with +them but Aberdeen. He is charmed. + + +_Sunday, January 10._ + +Cabinet. Conversation first as to an intended publication by Mr. Stapleton +of a 'Life of Canning,' in which he means to insert the substance, if not +the copies, of public papers relating to transactions not yet terminated. +He has had it intimated to him that he will do so at his peril. He holds an +office under the Government during pleasure. I said he had no right over +private letters relating to public subjects which only came to the +knowledge of the writer by his official situation. He should be told it was +a high breach of public confidence, and he should be displaced if he was +guilty of it. He will have a hint, but I fear not one sufficiently strong. +It is Lady Canning who thinks she can injure the Duke of Wellington, and so +publishes these papers. Stapleton is her editor. She demanded from Aberdeen +official letters of Canning's, and actually threatened him with a suit in +Chancery if he did not give them up. The Duke says he has copies of all +Canning's letters, and he shall publish if they do. [Footnote: Augustus +Granville Stapleton had been private secretary to Canning, and published +about 1830-31 _The Political Life of George Canning_, and nearly thirty +years later, _George Canning and his Times_. The latter work contains much +correspondence the publication of which might have been objected to at the +earlier date.] + +We had Scarlett and afterwards Bosanquet in upon the Welsh Judicature +question. It was at last decided that the Equity Jurisdiction of the Courts +of Great Session should be sent to the Court of Exchequer, that power +should be taken to the King of directing the circuits to be held where he +pleased, and that the two new judges of the English Courts should do the +duty of the Welsh circuits. The proceedings to be assimilated to those of +the English Courts. + +The saving by the reduction of the Welsh judges, after allowing for their +pensions, will leave an ample fund for the compensation of the officers +reduced. + +I read Lord Stuart de Rothesay's last despatches and Lord Heytesbury's. +There seems to me to be great over-confidence in their strength on the part +of the French Ministers. I cannot help thinking they will fall. Villele +will have nothing to do with the Government under this House of deputies, +which declared his administration _deplorable_. He seems to stipulate for +their dissolution. + +Halil Pacha takes to Petersburg fine presents for the Emperor and Empress, +and other presents he is to distribute 'selon son gre et en son nom' which +are enough to bribe all the ladies in Europe. There is a list of them +extending over seven pages. + +It seems to be doubtful whether the French have not been endeavouring to +induce Mehemet Ali to revenge their quarrel with Algiers by marching along +the whole coast of Africa. The French are much out of humour with their +Algerine follies, and heartily tired of their expensive gasconade. + +Mehemet Ali does not seem much inclined to send _his_ fleet to +Constantinople, although he has honour enough to send the Sultan's. + +The Russians have launched two large ships (120 and 74), and they have +bought a double-banked frigate built in the United States. + + +_Monday, January 11._ + +At the Cabinet room, where I met Sir George Murray; read the letters +relative to the alterations in the judicial system of Scotland. + +Read a letter from Loch, allowing me to show to the Cabinet Lord William's +letters. He wished them to be read, not shown, or rather not circulated; +but it is contrary to all rule, so I left them to-day on the Cabinet table. + +The Duke told me yesterday he felt no concession could now be made, +although it was a mighty foolish thing to have had a quarrel about. + +Got home at 5, dressed, and was going to business, when I found a note from +Drummond, desiring me to call on the Duke as soon as I could. I ordered the +carriage and went. Found the Chancellor there. + +It seems there is a great hitch about Prince Leopold's nomination as Prince +Sovereign of Greece. The French have now proposed it. We desire it. Russia +acquiesces. We have always declared we did not care who was Prince +Sovereign of Greece, but we were resolved never to acknowledge as such a +man in whom we had not confidence. Some time ago the King of Prussia +applied through the Grand Duke of Mecklenburgh to the King for his vote in +favour of Prince Charles of Mecklenburgh, the brother of the late Queen of +Prussia and of the Duchess of Cumberland. This application was made through +the Duke of Cumberland to the King, and the King returned an answer through +the Duke of Cumberland. What this answer was is not known; but the King +having mentioned the circumstance to Aberdeen, and he to the Duke, +Aberdeen, by the Duke's desire, wrote through Sir Brook Taylor to the King +of Prussia, and civilly put him off. This letter of course the King saw, +and approved. The Duchess of Cumberland complains the answer of Aberdeen +was very different from that given through the Duke of Cumberland by the +King, and says it is an _intrigue_. + +The King has been put up to this, and tells Aberdeen he knows his own +ground--that the people of England will not bear that 50,000L a year shall +be paid by them to the Prince of Greece. He does not care whether Leopold +goes or no, but he is determined he shall leave his annuity behind him. + +The articles in the 'Standard' and other papers, a few days ago, are +supposed to have had reference to this then intended rupture. Aberdeen goes +to the King to-morrow, and the Duke having seen all the Cabinet, Aberdeen +will, if it should be necessary, declare their concurrent opinion. The Duke +thinks the King will yield to Aberdeen; to avoid seeing him--if he is +obliged to go down, he will declare distinctly to the King that his Majesty +had better name whatever Minister he may wish to give his confidence to; +but that to whatever Minister he may choose to have, he ought to give his +confidence. + +Certainly nothing can have been more scandalous than the King's conduct to +the Duke. He has never given his Government the fair support. Say what the +Duke will, he of Cumberland is believed. + +The Duke had a note about the King the other day from Lady Conyngham, +written only to tell him the Duke of Cumberland had been four hours with +His Majesty. + +That Prince Leopold will make an efficient King of Greece I do not believe; +but he is not likely to be hostile to England. Prince Charles of +Mecklenburgh, named by Prussia, would be really Russian, and the tool of +States not friendly to us. + +Prince Leopold hopes, if he goes to Greece, that Government will purchase +the lands he has bought, for which he has given 40,000L or 50,000L. + +Determined to have my letter respecting the acquisition of information in +Central Asia and the navigation of the Indus sent to the Chairs _to- +morrow_, that _it may_ be sent, and be on record as _mine_, in the event of +His Majesty turning me out the next day, as he will very possibly do. + + +_January 12._ + +Henry [Footnote: The Honourable H. S, Law, Lord Ellenborough's brother.] +copied for transmission the letter in the Secret Department, and I took +care it should be sent to the India House in the course of the day, that if +I should be out to-morrow, I may have the credit of having originated a +measure which, if effected, will be of incalculable value. + +Cabinet at 2. Aberdeen was gone to the King at Windsor. It seemed to be +expected he would do nothing, and that the Duke would be obliged to go down +to-morrow--the Duke thinks he shall succeed--and no one seems to dread a +_turn out_. I am not quite so sure. The mischief is that these _secousses_ +make a weak Government. + +I found in the box of drafts the letter to Sir Brook Taylor respecting Duke +Charles of Mecklenburgh, which the King says he never saw or sanctioned. It +bears his initials and approval, which have been traced out in ink over his +pencil. + +The Duke of Cumberland wants, if it be but for a week, a friendly +administration that he may get out of the Exchequer 30,000L set apart for +the annuity for his son's education, but to which he is not legally +entitled, his son having been educated abroad. It is out of revenge for a +hostile cheer, and to get this money, to which Lord Eldon and Lord Wynford +have told him he has no right, that he is endeavouring to overthrow the +Government. + + +_January 13._ + +After I came home read the minutes of the Governor-General and Council on +the college at Calcutta. There is nothing so important as to preserve young +men, who are to govern an Empire, from idleness, dissipation, and debt. +This must be done. The Governor-General's own superintendence may effect +much. The suspension of the incompetent may do more; but while the habits +of expense are given at Hayleybury, and continued by their residence +without any control in the midst of a dissipated capital, nothing will +reform the system. + +Cabinet dinner at Aberdeen's. He was an hour and a half with the King +yesterday. The King was much agitated in dressing himself for the +interview. The man who shaved thought he should have cut him twenty times. +He had taken 100 drops of laudanum to prepare himself for the interview. + +Aberdeen says it is a _real_ quarrel-not a plot to get rid of us--the King +thoroughly hates Prince Leopold, and he has been made to think the +Ministers have slighted him in this matter. The Duke goes down to him to- +morrow. He can show the King that Leopold was first mentioned by France-- +that he was made acquainted with the proposal or rather suggestion made by +France to Leopold on November 9, that he was then told we could not hear of +it till our candidates, Prince John of Saxony and Ferdinand of Orange, were +disposed of. The subject was again mentioned on November 24. + +In point of fact the earliest day on which it could have been made known to +the King that France had distinctly proposed Leopold was Monday, and he was +told on the Tuesday. + +The King seems to have been violently agitated. He said sneeringly to +Aberdeen, '_If I may be allowed to ask, is Prince Leopold to be married to +a daughter of the Duke of Orleans?_' [Footnote: This marriage took place in +August 1832, when Prince Leopold had become King of the Belgians, and the +Duke of Orleans King of the French.] Aberdeen said he had seen it in the +newspaper and knew nothing more of it. The King alluded to the possibility +of Government going out, admitted the inconvenience just before the meeting +of Parliament, but said he was immovable. Leopold might go to the devil, +but he should not carry English money out of the country. In the morning, +talking to the Duchess of Gloucester, he said, 'If they want a Prince of my +family, they might have had the Duke of Gloucester,' upon which the Duchess +burst out a-laughing. + + +The King seems thoroughly out of humour. He says 'Things seem going on very +ill in India. Do not you mean to recall Lord William?' He had been made +very angry in the morning by the 'Times' calling upon him to pay his +brother's debts, and this morning the 'Morning Journal' places in +juxtaposition the paragraphs in the 'Times,' and those for which it was +lately prosecuted. + +Lady Conyngham is bored to death, and talks and really thinks of removing. +She was to make a grand attack on the King to-day. I suppose she finds the +Duchess of Cumberland gaining influence. Her note to the Duke the other +day, to tell him the Duke of Cumberland had been four hours with the King, +was intended to put him upon his guard. + +The Duke does not mean to resign to-morrow, but to request, if he should +not succeed (which Aberdeen thinks he will not do), that the King will +allow the Cabinet to put their opinions in writing-which the King cannot +refuse. We shall then meet on Friday and decide what we shall do. + +The Chancellor took me aside and said it would be a foolish thing to go out +about Leopold. So it would; but if we allow ourselves to be beaten in this, +we may be beaten round the whole circle of public questions. + +When the Duke has proved the proposition was not made by us, that it came +from France, the King will say, 'Well, if you did not think it worth while +to propose him, why should you not reject him? Why adhere to him?' + +I feel very indifferent about the result. + +Dr. Seymour, Fitzgerald's physician, represents him as very ill indeed, and +in _danger_ if he does any business; but Peel, who saw him to-day, thinks +that much exaggerated. + + +_January 14._ + +Chairs at 11. I asked them to find out when Rothschild sold out his Indian +stock. It seems (by a note I received in the evening) that he began on +October 15, and at different times sold out 42,000L stock. I sent the +Chairman's note to Goulburn. + +About ten received the promised circular from the Duke. He was an hour and +a half with the King, when he was obliged to leave him in consequence of +his being unwell--and the King afterwards sent to desire he would come +again on Saturday. + +For the first hour the King was in a state of irritated and contemptuous +indignation. However, the Duke thinks he brought him to feel he had nothing +to complain of in the conduct of his Government. He finished by getting +into better temper and a good tone; but the Duke thinks he should have +brought away his assent if he had been with him another hour. The Duke +wishes to hear the opinion of the Cabinet upon some points, and we meet at +two to-morrow. + + +_January 15._ + +The Duke gave the Cabinet an account of his interview with the King. The +King was with Munster and the Duke of Cumberland when he went; but the Duke +was admitted in about forty minutes, which time he passed with the Lady +Conyngham, who told him he must expect a storm. + +The King was in bed, looking very ill. He said, 'Well, what is your +business?' and seemed at first most indignant. The Duke, however, corrected +his misapprehensions--showed him the dates, and proved that he had known +from the first that it was probable Leopold would be proposed by France. +The proposition was made by us to Prince Frederick of Orange on November +13, his final answer received on August 11 (there may be a slight error in +these dates, as I write from memory). In the meantime the King of France +had about November 29, when Leopold took leave of him, told him he would +propose him. This was known here immediately, and Leopold distinctly told +he could not be heard of till our own candidate was disposed of. The +regular proposal of Leopold did not arrive here till January 1, and was +communicated to the King with the _projet_ of a protocol, for it was no +more, on the 9th. + +It was still only a proposition, and the Government now come to advise the +King to consent to it. + +The Duke showed the King that there had been ten candidates in all:-- + +Prince Philip of Hesse Homburgh, Prince John of Saxony, Prince Frederick of +Orange, Prince Charles of Bavaria, Prince Otho of Bavaria, the Archduke +Maximilian, Prince Paul of Wurtemburgh, Prince Leopold, Prince Emilius of +Hesse Darmstadt, and Prince Charles of Mecklenburgh. + +The seven first either declined or were rejected. Prince Emilius of Hesse +Darmstadt was an aide-de-camp of Bonaparte, and the King would not have +him, and with regard to the last, Prince Charles of Mecklenburgh, the Duke +showed the King he was much more nearly connected with Prussia, and so with +Russia, than with England. The King admitted this, and seemed to have been +brought into good humour, when he became so ill that he was obliged to beg +the Duke to leave him, and soon after sent him word he would see him in two +days. The Duke says he was really unwell, and in fact was taking physic all +the time he was with him. + +The Duke showed the King that _he alone_ had not the power of nomination. +He had one voice out of three, and there were ten candidates. + +'At any rate,' said the King, 'Claremont reverts to the Crown.' The Duke, +fearing he might wish to give it to the Duke of Cumberland, or somebody, +asked the Chancellor to-day to look at the Act of Parliament and tell us +what becomes of Claremont in the event of Leopold's being made King of +Greece. The Chancellor looked and thought Claremont would certainly remain +to Leopold, and if he died or gave it up go, not to the Crown, that is, not +to the King, but, by specific enactment, become a portion of the revenue +under the Woods and Forests. Of course Leopold will give up Claremont, +which is in fact a source of expense. The Duke said Leopold would be at +least innocuous, and he might be of use. The King asked how we could be +such fools as to think he would be of any use. + +While the Duke was with the King the Duke of Cumberland was with Lady +Conyngham, and told her, amongst other things, that the 'Times' was the +Duke of Wellington's paper. + +The 'Morning Journal' is _his_ paper, and uses the expressions he puts into +the King's mouth. + +Aberdeen says Leopold is quite aware of all he will have to go through. + +He has written to Lord Stuart to ascertain whether there is any truth in +the report of his being engaged to the daughter of the Duke of Orleans. + +I cannot help thinking that is so, and that the French proposition +originates in that. + + +_January 16._ + +Read last night a very interesting report by Captain Wade of his mission to +Runjeet Singh in 1827. + +Received a box from the Duke with a circular note saying the King is not +well enough to see him before Tuesday. He has seen no one since he saw the +Duke, and the Duke hears he was not mistaken in his judgment of the effect +he thought he had produced upon the King's mind; so I suppose this matter, +which looked threatening at first, may be considered as settled, although +not yet formally terminated. + +The King will, I dare say, make another plunge when he finds Claremont will +not be at his personal disposal, as he seems to have imagined. + + +_January 19._ + +Read all day Sir Thomas Munro's Life, which contains a great deal of +interesting and valuable information. He was a very great man. + +Talked to Hardinge of various matters. He was at Stowe when Lord Chandos in +the middle of the night received a note from his father, communicating one +from Sir. W. Fremantle, which informed him that the King was going to turn +us all to the right about. Lord Chandos said to Hardinge he would never +belong to a Government of which the Duke of Wellington was not a member. + + +_January 19._ + +Read the rest of the 'Life of Sir Thomas Munro,' a most valuable book. I +believe there are no books so really useful as the lives of great and good +men. + +On my arrival in town, found a note from Hardinge, who thinks the despatch +as to watching the Russians and navigating the Indus quite perfect. + +The Duke went to-day to Windsor. About eight he sent round a box containing +a note, saying that the King consented to Prince Leopold's being King of +Greece. So for the present, at least, we are safe again. I never had much +apprehension. + + +_January 20._ + +Cabinet dinner. Lord Bathurst not there. We had very little talk upon +public matters. The Duke had a bad cold. The opinion seemed to be that the +press of the session would be upon domestic matters, for the reduction of +establishments and taxation. + +The King wrote to the Duke and _grumpily acceded_ to Leopold's appointment. +Leopold is very _uppish_ upon the subject. He was at Cobham to-day and +yesterday. + +I am to see Peel on Sunday at half-past one on Indian matters. + + +_January 22._ + +At one, Privy Council to consider the petition of the E. I. C. for the +recall of Sir J. P. Grant. The Lord President, Lord Chief Baron, and Lord +Chief Justice of Common Pleas present. The committee reported that they did +not consider themselves warranted at present in advising Sir J. P. Grant's +removal, but they thought it right he should be directed to proceed home +that the several matters objected to him might be investigated. + +I took the opportunity of the presence of two judges to get a legal opinion +as to Sir J. Malcolm's conduct in resisting the service of the Habeas +Corpus _ad testificandum_. + +I took the opportunity likewise of laying before the two judges the change +of circumstances since the institution of the Supreme Court, and the +present reasons for making their jurisdiction without the limits of the +Presidency the exception and not the rule. + +The judges seemed to enter into my view. The Lord Chief Baron suggested +that there might be a previous enquiry before the Country Court, which +might for that purpose be a sort of grand jury. [Footnote: _I.e._ when the +case was to be transferred to the Supreme Court.] + +Lord Hill showed me a letter from Sir F. Watson addressed to Sir B. Taylor, +as the King's first aide-de-camp, and directing him as such, by the King's +command, to intimate to Lord Hill the pleasure it would give His Majesty to +know that Lord Hill had given Captain Scarlett, the son of the Attorney- +General, an opportunity of purchasing a majority. Captain Scarlett is a +very young captain--and Lord Hill feels the thing asked cannot be done. He +was going to see the Duke of Wellington about it. Not very long ago the +King gave away a regiment without asking Lord Hill--however, that was +settled; but it is clear that, unless Lord Hill is allowed to exercise the +fair patronage of his office, he will resign. + + +_January 26._ + +Cabinet. It seems the French have acceded to the proposals of the Pasha of +Egypt, and finding 50,000 men would be required to take Algiers, prefer his +operating with 40,000 of his own. He pretends to have made arrangements +which will secure an easy conquest, and promises to place Tunis, Tripoli, +and Algiers under regular governments, nominally under the Sultan, whose +consent he reckons upon, and capable of preserving the relations of peace +with other Mediterranean Powers. + +The Pasha's army is commanded by French officers, and the annexation of +these States to Egypt would be their practical annexation to France. When +his army is disseminated along the coast of Africa, I might realise my +dream of taking Egypt from India. + +We considered the proposed order in Council relative to the slave +regulations of the King's own ceded colonies. The Duke was evidently not +well, and he was rather out of humour. We were three hours and a half in +Cabinet. He made various objections to the proposed regulations. He +impressed upon us the danger of tampering with the rights of property. We +were doing that with property of an _odious_ character, which we should not +do in England. He pressed the effect in the West Indies and the example +everywhere. He seemed to complain that the regulations were different from +those agreed to in the summer. Sir G. Murray was very quiet. He is a very +sensible man, but he is overawed by the Duke, having been under him so +long. + +Poor old Tierney is dead, for which I am very sorry. He was a very good +friend of mine. + + +_January 27._ + +Cabinet at four. There can be no Council to-morrow, as Greville has the +gout and Buller is in Cornwall. + +There is to be an intimation sent to the Pasha to the effect that we +_disapprove_ of the proposed attempt to conquer Tripoli, Tunis, and +Algiers. France is to be told the same. I wished conditional orders to be +given to the Fleet, and that the Pasha should be told orders had been +given. It being doubtful whether French vessels might not convoy the +Egyptian fleet and transports, I thought we had better now consider what we +should do in that event; that we had better not threaten without +determining to execute our threat, and that we should consider how we +should deal with the French ships if we stopped the Egyptian--in short not +take a first step which might make a second necessary, without knowing in +our own minds what that second step should be. The Duke thinks the French +will back out when they know our _disapprobation_, and that at any rate the +Pasha would. I rather doubt this of either of them. + +The French say they have a sort of quarrel with Tripoli, but none with +Tunis, and they enter into a scheme for conquering both as stepping-stones +to Algiers. Tunis in their hands would be more dangerous than Algiers. + +Hardinge told me he had had a long conversation with Peel the other day on +the state of the country. He thought Peel seemed to have apprehensions, and +to think that if the King, through some intrigue of the Brunswickers, got +rid of the Duke, things would go very ill indeed; that the authority of the +Duke alone kept things quiet. England is in a bad state, because the +country gentlemen have ill-paid rents; but Scotland and Ireland do very +well, and the trade of the country is not depressed. + +Cabinet dinner at the Chancellor's. The Duke of Montrose there, as it was +to have been a dinner for the sheriffs. I told the Duke of my notion of +altering the law of succession to property in India, and enabling all +existing proprietors to leave their estates as they please. + + +_January 28._ + +The 'Times' publishes my letter to Malcolm to-day, with comments. + +Upon the whole I am glad the letter has been published. I think no one can +read it without seeing I am actuated only by public views, and that I am +determined to do my duty. + +The editor of the 'Courier' called at the Indian Board and saw Bankes, and +asked whether he should say anything. Bankes said he would see me before he +gave an answer. I do not care about the publication, and the letter will +defend itself. + + +_January 29._ + +Chairs have received very bad accounts of the temper of the Madras army, +which has no cause of complaint. Lord W. Bentinck has been at last obliged +to lay his hand upon the press, and, as might have been expected, is much +more abused than if he had done so at first. The Radicals had begun to +consider him one of themselves, and so think him a traitor when he refuses +to go any further with them. + +I went to the Duke and told him what they said. He is, as usual, sanguine, +and thinks it will blow over. + +I told the Duke I thought he had better look out for a Governor-General, +for it might be necessary to recall Lord W. Bentinck. The objection to +making Malcolm provisional successor is that he would stay till he died in +order to be Governor-General one day. Otherwise his provisional appointment +would strengthen the local Government very much. + +At the Cabinet they had all read my letter in the 'Times,' except the +Chancellor. I told him to read it. + +Peel was indignant at the publication. Lord Rosslyn said Joseph Hume had +had the letter some time in his possession, and must have sent it to the +'Times.' + +Peel said it was a very good letter. I said I was not ashamed of it. + +They all laughed very much at the simile of the elephants. + +Cabinet. Much discussion as to the terms of the speech. Aberdeen's part was +very ill done indeed. It underwent much alteration and was improved. That +regarding distress and remedies was postponed. There is no remedy, and it +is best to say so. + +In the meantime the export of almost all manufactures is increased largely +in quantity, but the value is diminished. Still this proves continued and +increased employment, although at low wages. This is a state of things in +which we cannot try to make corn dearer or wool either. Nothing but the +extreme cheapness of our manufactures makes their export possible. + +Aberdeen read his letter to Consul Barker respecting the. Pasha's designs. +The last paragraph, which intimated that the Pasha's persistence 'would too +probably lead to our decided opposition,' was omitted. It was thought that +the recommendation, 'to weigh well the serious consequences of a measure +highly objectionable to us, and to which other Powers could not but be +unfavourable,' was thought sufficient to stop the Pasha. + +If the first words had stood, we must have used the same to France, and the +threat might have led to collision. In any case the Pasha would have +communicated the expressions to France. + +The Duke and the Chancellor were to see Leopold to-morrow. + +Another Cabinet to-morrow at four for going on with the Speech. + + +_January 30._ + +Hardinge called. He told me all was not settled as to Lord Chandos having +the Mint. He referred to the Duke of Buckingham, [Footnote: He had, as +appears from the Wellington correspondence, pressed for years his claims to +a seat in the Cabinet, with an importunity to which the Duke of Wellington +expressed his objection. His large parliamentary interest, which almost +made him the chief of a party of his own, made him appear entitled to +expect it.] who would rather have it himself, with a seat in the Cabinet. + +Lord MountCharles goes out to annoy his father, and force him to give him a +larger allowance, unaccompanied by the condition of constant attendance in +the House of Commons. + +Read the Duke of Northumberland's letter to Peel on the state of Ireland. +The Duke represents the Catholic Relief Bill as having produced none of the +evils anticipated by its opposers, if it has not produced all the benefits +expected by its supporters--as having upon the whole worked better than +could have been expected in so short a time and under such circumstances. + +The disturbances he thinks confined to the counties of Tipperary, Clare, +and Roscommon; in the first produced by too high rents; in the second by +late collision and the want of proper management on the part of the +gentlemen; in the last by attempts to convert the Catholics, and the zeal +of new converts. The Catholic Union is dissolved. The great body of the +Catholics have abstained from the ostentation of triumph. + + +_Monday, February 1._ + +Bankes called this morning, but I did not see him. He saw Henry. He came to +say he was out, and S. Wortley in his place. When he understood Lord +Chandos did not take the Mint, he went to the Duke and offered to remain, +thinking his going out, with Lord Chandos's declining to come in, might, +taken together, embarrass the Government. However, the arrangement was +already made. + +Read Lushington's minute on the Neilgherry hills. He wants to make an +English colony there. If he had, every man would make some excuse, desert +his duty in the hot months, and go to the Neilgherry hills. + +Read the first volume of Gamba's 'Travels in South Russia.' He was Consul +of France, but writes like a Russian. He talks of restoring the commercial +communication with Asia by the Phasis, Caspian, and Oxus. All this is +absurd. Unless indeed the Russians, after occupying China, turn the Oxus +into its old course, and thus enable themselves to carry goods by water +carriage to the foot of the Himalaya, or rather within 250 miles of Cabul. + + +_February 5._ + +Received last night a note from the Duke asking me, if I could, to have a +Cabinet to-day on Batta. If I could not, to send Peel the letters of +Malcolm, &c. + +I determined to have the Cabinet. Peel had not read till the day before +yesterday the Batta papers, and, although inclining to the opinion that the +present orders must be maintained, he thinks it, as it is, a serious +question for the Government to decide after the minutes of Lord William +Bentinck and the members of council, with the apprehension of a mutiny as +the possible result of our standing firm. I said if we gave way the other +armies would bring forward their demands--that it was a question, not only +between the Home Authorities and the army, but the Home Authorities and the +Local Government which had for sixteen years resisted the orders sent to +them. + +The Duke cautioned the Cabinet as to the character of the Indian army, +which he said was a _mercenary army_, retained in obedience by nothing but +the wish to return to England; but he thought after what had taken place we +must resist, and adhere to our present orders. Peel wished all the members +of the Cabinet to read the minutes before they decided, and there is to be +a Cabinet on Sunday. + +It was determined that if a question should be asked to-night, Peel should +say 'the orders had not been countermanded.' Peel observed very justly on +the state of things which seemed to exist in India. An army sending such +memorials to the Government, and the members of the Government writing +pamphlets against each other. In point of fact, years will be required to +restore a proper tone to the Government of India. + +I mentioned to the Duke the mission of two Russian Poles to India and +Manilla, and that I suspected Russia of a wish to purchase Manilla. Neither +the Duke nor Aberdeen seemed to think the Spaniards would or could sell the +Philippines. However, Aberdeen will write to the man at Madrid to find out +whether any proposal to that effect has been made by the Russian +Government. + +The members of the House of Commons consider their majority last night +fortunate. The House is very loose. In the majority and minority were the +most opposite parties. O'Connell went out with Sadler. The Brunswickers are +in high glee, and have sent for their valiant champion, Falmouth. In our +House they made a poor show. + +Prince Leopold is not by any means disposed to take Greece without Candia, +and it was thought, from Lord Lansdowne's speech, he and others had advised +him to take this line. Aberdeen is very much embarrassed to find a +substitute. + + +_February 6._ + +Spring-Rice asked Bankes in the House last night whether the letter to Sir +J. Malcolm published as mine was mine. Bankes said that I had no copy of +it, and therefore could not say it was correctly given. It was a private +letter. Brougham, and Mackintosh, and that ass, M. A. Taylor, spoke in +reprobation of it. Mackintosh most unfairly and disingenuously pretended to +understand I endeavoured to get off by saying it was a private letter, and +said it would be an extenuation of my offence if I would disavow the +sentiments contained in it. What must he be himself to suppose I would +disavow what I had written! Upon the whole, the tone taken by Peel and +Bankes, but more especially by Peel, was too apologetical. I shall be +obliged to go to the House on Monday to have a question put to me by Lord +Lansdowne. I shall distinctly declare he may consider the letter as mine, +and that I am ready to defend every line of it. Wrote to Lord Wellesley to +offer to put his name upon the Committee on East India affairs if he would +attend. He declines on account of ill-health. + +Received a note from Peel begging me to have the Chairs to meet him on the +appointment of the committee. I sent to the Chairman, and he came and met +Peel; but Astell was out of the way. We are to meet at half-past one to- +morrow. Peel did not seem to have looked much into the subject, which the +Chairman observed. + +Saw Bankes. He is not certain of succeeding now to the secretaryship of the +Admiralty, but he expects it ultimately. He thinks the Duke of Buckingham +had nothing to do with Lord Chandos's rejection of the Mint: but does not +know how it went off. He thought that Lord Chandos had accepted, and the +Duke seems to have thought so too. + +A very good account from Ireland. The country gradually and quietly coming +round. + + +_Sunday, February 7._ + +Cabinet. First, Batta. The Duke gave his decided opinion in favour of +adhering to the present order. After some conversation, but no opposition, +the Cabinet acquiesced unanimously in that decision, which has been mine +from the first. + +I had a moment's conversation with Peel about the letter to Sir J. Malcolm, +and told him I would defend every word of it, elephants and all. + +Then we had a good deal of discussion respecting the policy to be pursued +with regard to Cuba, against which the Mexicans are preparing to organise a +slave insurrection, for which purpose they have sent a Minister to Hayti. +It seems to be generally believed that Canning, about the year 1823, issued +a sort of prohibition to the Mexican and Columbian States to attack Cuba, +but no trace can be found in the Foreign Office of any such prohibition. + +Sir R. Wilson means to ask a question upon the subject to-morrow. He says, +if you prohibit the Mexicans and Columbians from attacking Cuba, you should +prohibit the Spaniards from attacking them--which is fair--in fact the +expedition of Barradas was undertaken before we knew anything about it, and +if we had wished we could not have interfered. + +The question as to what answer should be given to Sir R. Wilson, and what +policy pursued, was deferred till to-morrow. + +In the meantime it appears that Mr. Robertson, who is at Mexico, +remonstrated strongly with M. de Bocaregna, respecting the objects of the +embassy to Hayti, and he was told by Aberdeen that he did quite right, and +that not only ourselves but other states might view with disapprobation an +attempt to excite a warfare of an uncivilised character in Cuba. + +The French have assembled 35,000 men to attack Algiers. They promise not to +keep it. [Footnote: This promise was repudiated by the Government of July.] +They intimate their intention of assisting Mehemet Ali with a fleet; but in +the meantime they are satisfied at Constantinople that Mehemet Ali will not +move. + +Aberdeen told Laval that we had informed the Pasha of Egypt that we should +view with disapprobation his attack upon Tunis and Tripoli without the +consent of the Sultan. Laval begged this might be repeated to him three +times. + +Much conversation as to the state of the House of Commons. The Tories are +most radical. Sir R. Vyvyan told Holmes or Planta his object was to reduce +the Government majorities as much as possible, and to make the Government +as contemptible as possible. Sir E. Knatchbull leads about twenty-three. I +think the probability is that, unless we make some coalition with the +Whigs, we shall go to the ground between the two parties, [Footnote: This +eventually occurred on the Civil List question after the accession of +William IV.] both uniting against us upon some point (upon my letter to Sir +J. Malcolm as likely as any other). + +I took home Sir George Murray. He expressed his surprise the Duke should +cling to the hope of reclaiming the ultra-Tories, whom he would not get, +and who were not worth having. + +I confess I think he carries it on too long, although I am not surprised he +should have wished it at first. + +Prince Leopold has given no reply to Aberdeen's letter, or to the offer of +the ambassadors. + +Lord Holland gives notice to-morrow of a motion about Greece, and Lord +Melbourne moves for some papers respecting Portugal. + +Lord Melville gives notice for me of the committee on East Indian Affairs, +and I am not to go down till Tuesday, that we may have out the letter to +Malcolm and other Indian matters all at once. + + +_February 8._ + +Wrote a memorandum for Peel and Bankes to this effect: 'That I had neither +copy nor recollection of the letter; but that I had no doubt the letter +published as mine was substantially correct. It was a confidential +exposition of the motives which induced me to recommend two judges to the +King. [Footnote: It was suggested that with these colleagues Sir J. Grant +would be like a wild elephant between two tame ones. Alluding to the method +of taming captured elephants in India.] It was never intended to be +published, nor did I expect it would be. The expressions, therefore, were +unadvised, but the sentiments were and are mine, deliberately formed upon +full consideration of the official documents before me. + +Cabinet. It appears on looking into papers of 1825 and 1826 that so far +from our having prohibited Mexico and Columbia from making any attack upon +Cuba, we uniformly abstained from doing anything of the kind. The Americans +declared they could not see with indifference any state other than Spain in +possession of Cuba, and further their disposition to interpose their power +should war be conducted in Cuba in a _devastating_ manner, and with a view +to the excitement of a servile war. + +We offered to guarantee Cuba to Spain in 1823 if she would negotiate with +the colonies with a view to their recognition. + +Subsequently we were willing to enter into a tripartite guarantee of Cuba +to Spain with the United States and France. + +The United States seemed not unwilling, but France held back. + +Peel is to say there was no record of any prohibition, but that the United +States declared so, and it was possible Mr. Canning may have intimated a +similar disposition on our part. This is to keep open to us the faculty of +interfering if we please. + +The Duke thinks my letter does not signify one pin. The simile of the +elephants evidently means no more than that an indiscreet judge was placed +between two discreet ones. + +The Duke told me he had offered a Lordship of the Treasury to Ashley, who +had declined it. He then told him to make himself master of the Batta +question. Ashley said he had not seen the papers. He said, let him see the +papers. I told him I had sent them the moment I got them to him, and he had +desired me to send them to the Cabinet room, which I did. When they were +taken from the Cabinet room they went to the India Board, and Ashley might +have seen them. I had never kept any papers from him. We then talked about +the speech to be made in moving the committee. The Duke seems inclined to +have little said. Peel seems disposed to say little; but he knows little. I +think they are wrong. I am sure it is necessary to correct the erroneous +notions which have been propagated with respect to the trade. They will +otherwise acquire so great a head it will be impossible to beat them back. + +However, this we are to talk over with Peel tomorrow. + +General King, who voted against the address on Thursday, is turned out by +the King himself; the Duke having only mentioned the fact. I dare say the +King may be alarmed by the spirit shown by the House of Commons. + +The suicide of . . . . on account of his wife's seduction by the Duke of +Cumberland, will drive the Duke of Cumberland out of the field. + + +_February 9._ + +Called on the Duke. He advised a very narrowed statement in moving for the +committee. I rather doubt his judgment upon this point. I fear the opinion +of the country will become settled, and that when the strength of our case +is brought forward it will be found unequal to the driving back of the +stream. However, I made a speech as he desired. Lord Lansdowne said a few +words. + +Lord Durham then questioned me as to the authenticity of my letter to Sir +J. Malcolm. I acknowledged it was substantially correct, and declared I +could not have entertained any other sentiments without a dereliction of +duty. He expressed disapprobation, considering the letter as evincing a +determination to control the independence of judges. The Duke replied--then +Lord Melville--then Lord Holland--I last. I declared that, as my father's +son, I was the last man capable of harbouring a thought against the +independence of judges; but I would resist their usurpation, more +especially when they usurped powers withheld from them by Parliament as +dangerous to the peace of India and to the stability of the British power. + +I said India could not bear the collision of the Supreme Court and the +Local Government. If we did not support the Government we should lose +India. + +I was determined to maintain the integrity, the dignity, the authority, and +the unapproachable power of the Local Government, and especially to support +a man who, at that distance from England, acting in the faithful discharge +of his public duty, incurred the highest responsibility and the greatest +personal risk in defence of what he considered essential to the stability +of the British power in India. I believe I did well. They all told me I +should hear no more of it. + + +_February 10._ + +Saw Bankes. He says the House of Commons is loose indeed; but he thinks +Ministers will have a majority on the East Retford business. The worst of +it is that those who ought to be the friends of Government will not stay +out a debate. Last night Peel and Goulburn were left with a decided +minority, but the House was counted out. + +Saw Hardinge. He seems to think there is no great danger, and he thinks the +House is in so loose a state that the accession of an individual or two +would not draw others; that Brougham may be quieted, and that the others do +not much signify. + +In the meantime Abercromby has been made Chief Baron of Scotland. Another +Whig gone. A very valuable intimation to those who remain. + +Lord Lansdowne brings in Zachary Macaulay, son of the old saint. [Footnote: +The late Lord Macaulay. He is erroneously described by his father's +Christian name.] They say a very clever man indeed, at least as a writer. + +Hardinge told me the Duke told Mrs. Arbuthnot I spoke very well last night. +At dinner the Chancellor and Sir George Murray congratulated me on what had +taken place. + +After the Cabinet dinner, much talk and nothing settled. The motion of Sir +J. Graham will, I think, be amended--and easily. There is a disposition, +very properly, not to give Portuguese papers. As to the Lord Holland's +motion on Friday no decision is come to. + +Gave the Duke the petition of the Bengal half-castes. + +Mr. Jenkins, who was for many years resident at Nagpore, called upon me and +offered himself as successor to Sir J. Malcolm. He said the Chairs were +disposed to him, if the Government had no objection. I said I was aware of +the services he had rendered, but that there were many distinguished +servants of the Company, and likewise persons of ability who had not been +in India, whose several qualifications must be considered. It was further a +point upon which I must of course communicate with the Duke of Wellington. +The man is a person of dry cold manner, not prepossessing. + +I am disposed to think Mr. Chaplin the best Indian for the situation. + + +_February 11._ + +I think Polignac's Ministry must fall, and really, as regards himself, I +cannot feel regret, as he is the greatest liar that has exercised +diplomatist functions for a long time. I had thought better of him. If +their expedition ever sails for Algiers they will find what it costs to +send an expedition over sea. I think, however, they will succeed, and, if +they do, they will keep Algiers. + +Sir R. Gordon entertains a very different opinion from that expressed by +Aberdeen as to the future fate of the Ottoman Empire. He thinks the events +of the late war prove little, and that the Sultan has learnt a lesson which +will induce him to treat his rayas better--that the war once over, all men +will return to their duty. However, he gives no good reasons for his +opinion. He states very fairly the difficulty of his own position. He says +he has hitherto believed it was the intention of his Government to support +Turkey. He has therefore had influence, because where he has advised +concession the Turks have understood we meant it should not be hurtful to +them--but now, how can he advise the Turks to yield to what is asked, when +he knows the Government think that the more is taken from Turkey, the more +is saved from Russia? Sir R. Gordon says his colleagues are by no means of +opinion that the Ottoman Empire is falling, and that France allows their +officers to go in numbers to serve with the Turkish troops. + +Received a letter from Sir J. Macdonald in which he tells me the Turkish +Asiatic provinces are falling away from the Sultan. + +He encloses a letter from a Mr. Sterling, giving a very interesting account +of his journey by Meshed and near Balkh to Cabul. He took a new road to the +north of the Paropamisan ridge. In Cabul he experienced no difficulty. + + +_February 12._ + +House. Lord Holland's motion of a resolution that the House would not be +satisfied with any plan for the pacification and settlement of Greece, +which did not secure to that state the means of independence by sea and +land, and leave the Greeks free to have their own Constitution. His +information was most inaccurate. Yet on this he founded his distrust of the +Government. Notwithstanding this distrust he was neither with them nor +against them, nor did he wish to turn them out. He made an indifferent +speech. Aberdeen a fair one ill delivered. The Duke spoke admirably. The +brains were beaten out of the motion. No division. Goderich and Clanricarde +and Melbourne spoke; Lord Melbourne poorly. + +On the East Retford [Footnote: It will be remembered that this question had +led to the resignation of Huskinsson and his friends.] question last night +we had a majority of twenty-seven in a House of 226 members--the high +Tories voting with Government. + +Bankes has now the offer of a Lordship of the Admiralty till Croker can be +got rid of; but he will not go. Castlereagh will have the Treasury +Lordship--that is, 600L a year more for having been careless. + + +_February 13._ + +After seeing the Chairs spoke to the Duke about the Bombay succession. He +asked what I meant to do with Elphinstone? I considered he had left India +altogether. The Duke thought he must return--that he would go to Bombay +again with the expectation of afterwards going to Madras. I think the Duke +has an idea of making him Governor-General. I mentioned Mr. Chaplin. The +Duke mentioned Mr. Jenkins, of whom he thought highly. He had done well at +Nagpore, and he had had some correspondence with him when in India which +gave him a good opinion of him. The Duke spoke of Mr. Russell, but thought +he had been mixed up with the Hyderabad transactions. I then mentioned +Clare. The Duke thought him better than any of the others mentioned. That +it was a great thing to have a man of rank; he must be well supported; he +had not a very strong mind. However, on the whole he seemed better than the +others, and I am to propose him. + +I am very glad to have Clare. I have a great respect and regard for him-- +but I have a little hesitation as to his fitness. He will, however, be a +most zealous and honourable servant of the public, and his good manners +will keep people in good humour and in order. + +Leopold has sent in his answer. I have not seen it yet. He accepts on +conditions. + +The debate last night in the Commons is considered very favourable. +Dawson's amendment was adopted--and Planta and Holmes say the temper of +the country gentlemen is much improved. They are quite in spirits again. + +A hint of Peel's, but a hint that the Government did not fear an appeal to +the country, seems to have had a good effect. + + +_February 14._ + +Cabinet. On Thursday Peel, in opening the Compensation Bill, will detail +the various legal reforms. + +He is disposed to diminish gradually the number of crimes for which the +punishment of death is awarded. The Duke seemed reluctant and so did +others. However, the Chancellor did not object. + +My father considered that where a man could not protect his own property +the law ought to protect it for him by higher penalties. However, now it +seems a man must protect his own property, and punishments are to be +proportioned more to the extent of the moral offence than to the necessity +for preventing crime. + +Then we considered Leopold's answer. The man accepts provided-- + +1. There is a guarantee of the new State. + +2. That the frontier is slightly altered. + +3. That the three powers protect the present insurgents in Samos and +Candia. + +4. That a loan of 1,500,000L is guaranteed. + +5. That he may have troops furnished to him. + +6. He stipulates that the Greeks should have the power of declining him, +_le soussigne_, as their Prince. + +A guarantee there will probably be, and therefore the alteration of +boundaries, which Leopold knew could not be listened to, is in fact +unnecessary. + +Each power separately and individually may use its good offices with the +Porte for the protection of the Greeks in Samos and Candia, and indeed, +under the agreement as to an amnesty, each would be bound to do so; but no +triple agreement will be entered into, the object being to get out of the +Treaty of July 6. + +Aberdeen seemed disposed to allow 1,000 men of each of the three Powers to +go to Greece. This would continue the triple action, and as these troops +would go, not against any external enemy, but against Greeks, the measure +would be somewhat in contradiction to the declaration the other night that +the Greeks and their Prince might make what Government they pleased. After +some conversation it seemed the general opinion that it would be better to +pay the cost of the troops than to have our own there, and in fact the same +money would enable Greece to have twice the number of Germans or Swiss that +she could have of British. This I thought. But I suggested that Greece +could not want a large sum down. A sum might be required for outfit, but +then an annual sum. Peel proposed the whole loan guaranteed should be +700,000L, of which 100,000L to be paid down as outfit, and then 100,000L a +year for six years at 5 per cent; the three Powers guaranteeing each a +third part of the interest. It is better to guarantee the loan, then to pay +money down. The loan, they say, can be made at three. Aberdeen says the +Greeks give a most flourishing expose of their future finances, and he +thinks they will become a rich State, and the Powers be exposed to no +danger of being called upon for the payment of the interest. I think he +begins to love his Greek progeny. + +The Duke only desired we would get out of the treaty. I suggested the +inexpediency of our joining in the guarantee. A guarantee gave no right of +intervention we should not otherwise possess, and it obliged us to +interfere when we might not desire to do so. However, I fear there will be +a guarantee. + + +_February 16._ + +Cabinet. There seems to be little doubt that the Emperor Pedro means to +direct an expedition from Rio against Portugal, Terceira being the point of +_rassemblement_. This is a practical answer to the question recently put by +us conjointly with France and Austria as to the intentions of the Emperor, +and therefore we are at liberty to act as if a specific answer had been +received. It seems Austria will be very unwilling to recognise Don Miguel; +France not. + +The object of recognising him is to prevent a revolutionary war in Portugal +and the entrance of Spanish troops into Portugal to oppose it. + +Whenever Miguel is recognised, I think Lord Rosslyn will be made Master- +General of the Ordnance, Lord Beresford going to Portugal as Minister, and +then the Privy Seal will be disposable. I dare say the Duke, out of good +nature, will offer it to Lord Westmoreland. + +Aberdeen read the remonstrance he proposed sending to Spain against the +proposed expedition to Mexico. + +Leopold met the Plenipotentiaries, and Aberdeen thinks he would have +acceded, but he evidently required the sanction of another person. The +French Ambassador used very strong language, telling him his Court would be +very much hurt indeed at finding him make these difficulties after all that +had passed, &c. + +Peel told me he was disposed to grant the motion for any correspondence +between the Board of Control or any member of it, &c., with a direct +negative. To move the previous question was an admission of some error. I +was telling him the circumstances when it was necessary to attend to +Aberdeen's business. I must tell him to-morrow. + + +_February 17._ + +At the Cabinet dinner at Lord Melville's, talked to Peel and gave him a +copy of the report of the Privy Council and of my letter to Sir J. Grant. +He is disposed to take a high tone, and thinks men will follow him better +when he does than when he temporises. I am sure they will. + +He says he would reduce everything so low as not to be beat upon +establishments. If he is beat upon unimportant questions he does not care, +and will not go out. They will not get a majority for stopping supplies, +and if they can agree upon motions, he is prepared to play the game of '83 +[Footnote: Alluding to Pitt's course at the beginning of his first +Ministry. He retained office a whole Session in spite of the motions +carried against him, and in the general election of 1784 obtained an +overwhelming majority.] with them. I am sure he is right. + + +_February 18._ + +House. First a question from Lord Holland whether the orders to the Admiral +respecting Greek slaves, &c., would, after the settlement of Greece, apply +to Candiot Greeks. Then Lord Melbourne's motion for Portuguese papers. He +did not speak well--but very bitterly. Goderich spoke pathetically against +the Terceira affair--Lord Wharncliffe well with us--Lansdowne wide and +loose--the Duke very excellent--Aberdeen worse than usual, and very +imprudent, abusing Miguel and making awkward admissions. + +It was quite established that Canning had nothing to say to the Portuguese +Constitution, and I think we shall hear no more of Terceira. Fifty-two to +twenty-one--no proxies. + + +_February 19._ + +Cabinet. Leopold's answer. He wants troops and money. After long talk it +was resolved the French troops might stay a year, till he could raise +others, and money should be given. + + +_February 20, 1830._ + +In riding with Lord Rosslyn had a long conversation with him upon Indian +matters. He had just been reading the despatches from Lord Stuart and Lord +Heytesbury upon these subjects. I told him I had anticipated all Lord H. +suggested and had done, I really thought, all that could be done. I am to +send him the secret letter. He thinks, as I do, that Aberdeen is in a great +hurry to get rid of the Greek question, and disposed to incur future +embarrassments to avoid present inconvenience. + +Lord Rosslyn does not much like the division of last night, but I believe +it was a good one. + + +_February 21._ + +This morning looked through the finance accounts of the three years, ending +1819, and the three ending 1828, with a view to comparing the state of the +country with what it was before Peel's Bill. The increased consumption is +astonishing. The increase of British tonnage and in the number of seamen +since 1819 is equal to the whole tonnage and to all the seamen in the +foreign trade with Great Britain, although that is increased nearly in the +same proportion with our own. + +The increased consumption of tea and coffee is 50 per cent. The number of +pounds in 1819 being about 30,000,000 of pounds, and now 45,000,000 pounds. + +The import of foreign raw produce is much increased--of that produce which +competes with the landed produce of England. + +Hardinge called. He thinks the Government quite safe now. Indeed, he never +had much apprehension. He regrets Sir James Graham's divergence from the +road which leads to office. He thinks he came up to London intending well; +but that he thought under present circumstances he could be a more +considerable man out of office than he would be in a subordinate situation. + +The Duke of Northumberland says the salary of the Lord-Lieutenant may well +be reduced to 20,000L a year. + + +_February 24._ + +Lord Rosslyn, who called upon me at the office, thinks I may go a little +too far in my directions with regard to Russian spies, that is, in a public +despatch. I had directed that if it appeared danger was likely to arise +from their return to Europe or from their passage into any Asiatic country, +their persons should be placed under restraint, and in all cases their +papers and letters got possession of. He suggests that this might be +mentioned in a private letter, or left to the discretion of the Local +Governments. + +We had a long conversation on Lord Stanhope's motion for to-morrow, when +Whigs and Tories are to combine to beat us. + +The division last night in the House of Commons on Lord J. Russell's motion +for giving two members to Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds, was not +satisfactory. There were 140 for it, and only 188 against it. The Tories +stayed away. + + +_February 25._ + +House at 4 and until 2. Lord Stanhope's motion for a Committee of the whole +House on the internal state of the country. He made a weak speech, because +to get votes he abstained from stating the cause of distress, which in his +opinion is currency, or any remedy. Goderich and Lansdowne made good +speeches. Rosebery not a bad one, though as usual pompous. All suggesting +some remedies--all for reducing taxation, but against a Committee of the +House. Lord Radnor made a good vulgar speech. King spoke better than usual. +He proposed, but afterwards withdrew, an amendment for a Committee +upstairs. The Duke, who alone spoke on our side, did not speak well, and +some of his statements were hazardous. Lords Darnley and Bute declared +there was no distress near them. + +We divided well. There being but fifteen present for Lord Stanhope's +motion, and ten proxies. + + +_February 26._ + +Chairs at 11. Went over with them the letter on Batta. + +Lord Wharncliffe intends on Tuesday to propose examining the Chairman of +the East Indian Company. + + +_February 27._ + +Wrote a note to Loch to tell him of Lord Wharncliffe's intention. He does +not like the idea at all, and wishes to see me before the Committee sits. I +have named Monday at eleven. I told him my feeling was against his being +examined, as I thought it unfair; besides, he was not the best witness. I +told Lord Wharncliffe he should examine Lord Amherst. + +At the Cabinet room I attempted to read the papers respecting Irish +education. My opinion is that it would be better to let the matter rest for +the present; the agitation of it may revive animosities, and if any good be +attainable, it may be attained at a more favourable period than the +present. I rather doubt whether it might not be yet more safely left to the +people themselves, as education in England and in Scotland. + + +_March 1._ + +Cabinet. We were to have talked about Irish education, but more important +matters intervened. There is a motion on Friday of Mr. Davenport's for a +Committee on the internal state of the country. Peel thinks there will be a +union of parties in favour of it. He feels it must be opposed. Some of the +friends of Government have said they must vote for it. He proposes that +Goulburn should to-morrow give notice of his intention of explaining his +views as to taxation on Monday week. Peel thinks that he can procure an +adjournment of the debate till after Goulburn's expose. + +Goulburn suggests taking off the whole of the beer tax, and remitting the +hop duty for this year, as well as remodelling it. He likewise proposes +lowering the duties on East and West India sugar, the former from 37_s_. to +25_s_., and the latter from 27_s_. to 20_s_. + +As the revenue is decreasing, these reductions cannot be taken from it. +There must be a commutation. This he proposes to be a modified property +tax, to apply to landed property, all fixed property, and the funds as well +as all offices, but not to the profits of trade. + + +_March 2._ + +There seems to have been some incivility last night on the part of Sir +Charles Burrell and Sir E. Knatchbull against me, with reference to my +opposition to the Duke of Richmond's motion on the wool question last year. + + +_March 3._ + +Peel's. Met Bankes, Graham, and Ashley. It was, after talk, agreed that the +papers asked should be refused, unless in the course of the debate it +should appear that the granting of Grant's petition and the report of the +Privy Council would improve the division. I expect a regular attack upon +myself from all quarters. I would give a year of the House of Lords to be +there to throw grape-shot amongst the small lawyers. + +Cabinet room. Read despatches relating to the expedition to Algiers, which +is certainly going. + +Cabinet dinner at Peel's. The affair of the vacated offices becomes +serious, for it seems certain that it is necessary to take the declaration +again upon any new patent, and the Board of Admiralty should have taken the +declaration as well as Castlereagh--the Board of Control as well as me. + +The Chancellor continues to have no objection to reducing the salaries of +the Supreme Court Judges. + + +_March 5._ + +Chairs at 11. I got rid of them as soon as I could, as I wished to go to +the Committee. + +Loch showed me a letter from Lord William Bentinck, by which it appears +that the officers of the Cawnpore division of the army wished to have a +general meeting for the election of delegates to England. Sir J. +Whittingham forwarded their request to Lord Combermere, highly disapproving +of it. Lord Combermere directed the Adjutant-General to write a letter +coinciding with Sir J. Whittingham's opinions, and adding that he would be +the advocate of the army both in India and in England. Lord William +(Bentinck) is going up the country with the _Government_ and wishes to take +Lord Dalhousie with him. He expects very uncivil treatment, and says the +discontent is deep-seated. The same account is received from other +quarters. + +The debate was adjourned last night. R. Grant made a speech in a moderate +tone, but disingenuous. Lord Ashley spoke good stuff apparently, but Henry +says he could not hear him. Lord Graham was unembarrassed and did well; but +the 'Times' hardly gives him ten words. + +I sent a note to Peel to-day observing upon the disingenuousness of Grant's +speech. He told me he had been reading the papers, and saw it was no +question of judicial independence, but of judicial aggression, and he +thought the tone of the Governor who was in the right much better than that +of the Judge who was in the wrong. So I hope he will make a good speech. + + +_March 6._ + +Read letters from Sir J. Macdonald. They came by Constantinople. The only +news they contain is that the Russians certainly have the intention of +conquering Khiva and Bokhara. This comes from Chasanes Murza. I told the +Duke, who seems disposed to make it an European question. + +I showed the Duke a most atrocious libel on royalty which has been +published in the 'Calcutta Gazette.' If the King saw it he would recall +Lord William by the Sign Manual. A letter must be written immediately in +the press. It is in such a state that our Government cannot stand if it be +permitted to go on uncontrolled. + +I asked the Duke as to taxation. He said he thought it could be done +without income tax. To lay on income tax would be to weaken ourselves in +the opinion of all foreign Powers. Besides, it would prevent our reducing +the Four per Cents. + +He calculated the loss of the beer duty at 3,500,000L. and, marine +insurance, cider, remission of hop duty, &c., would make the loss +4,500,000L. + +To meet this he expected + + L + Surplus of last year 1,700,000 + Additional from general improvement 400,000 + Additional malt by reducing beer duties 500,000 + Increased duty on spirits 500,000 + Reducing Four per Cents 750,000 + Savings 1,400,000 + Ireland, soap, &c. 450,000 + Stamps 200,000 + --------- + 5,900,000 + 4,500,000 + --------- + 1,400,000 + +There may have been more; but he spoke, and I write from memory. + +I told him I thought that with a diminished duty on beer and an increased +duty on spirits he could not expect an increase of 500,000L on spirits. He +admitted that was the weak point. He said he was sure we could not carry an +income tax while we had a million surplus. If we have a good harvest, I +have no doubt the increase on malt will be great; but I apprehend there +must be a repayment of beer duties, and if there should be, the loss will +be enormous. + + +_March 8._ + +Sent Mr. Elphinstone a letter giving an account of the travels to the North +of the Paropamisan range into Cabul. + +The Duke said we really must look out for a new Governor-General. I +suggested Hardinge. He said Hardinge had not as yet station enough in the +opinion of the public, in the army, or in Parliament. He wished him to be +Secretary in Ireland. It would have been much better if he had gone there +instead of Lord F. Gower, and Lord P. to the War Office. To be sure, then +we should not have had the reductions Hardinge had effected. He had, as I +knew, always wished Hardinge to go to Ireland. + +I observed that Hardinge was rising every day in public estimation, which +the Duke acknowledged, and I added that I was sure none would do the duty +better, for he had firmness and habits of business. The Duke seems to think +of Elphinstone. He said he was a very clever man. I told him I had been an +hour and a half with Elphinstone last night. I told the Duke all my notions +respecting individual responsibility, members of Council, &c., and that I +had begged Elphinstone to think of them. The Duke seemed generally to +approve of them. It seems Lord Wellesley never would go to Council. I do +not wonder at it; but the Duke used to tell him he was Governor-General _in +Council_--that he ought always to go there. + + +_March 10._ + +Dined with the Duke. Cabinet dinner. Only the Peers there. The others +detained by Lord Palmerston's motion on Portugal, on which there was a +majority of two to one, 150 odd to 70 something. Huskisson made a very bad +dull speech. We talked about a successor to the Speaker. They seem to think +he will not resign now, as he would not get a good pension in the present +temper of the House. + +The candidates are Sir J. Beckett, Littleton, G. Bankes, Wynn of course. I +mentioned Frankland Lewis as a good man, which he would be. I dare say the +Chairs will think he should be elected unanimously. + +It seems there must be a Bill of Indemnity for not taking the declaration, +two Bishops, Chester and Oxford, not having taken it. The Duke finds he has +at Dover, as Lord Warden. + +We had some little conversation about the income tax, which the Duke is +very hostile to, and I am glad we shall not have it. + + +_March 11._ + +The Russians have at last sent their reply to our expostulatory note. I +have not had time to read it. Lord Heytesbury calculates that the last war +cost them 12,000,000L, but they endeavour to conceal the amount. + +Peel told me the House was quite excited against the Bombay judges, and +that the division fairly represented its real opinion. + + +_March 12._ + +There was but one black ball in the election of Lord Clare, and the Chairs +think that was put in by mistake; no one objected. + + +_March 13._ + +Read Sir H. Parnell's pamphlet on taxation. + +Cabinet room at two. I had only got half through the Russian answer when +the Cabinet met for the subject of taxation. + +I rather expected to find that the Duke had had communications with +Goulburn, and that the idea of a property tax was given up. However, that +seemed not to be the case. It was determined the whole beer duty should be +given up in any case. + + L + The expected revenue is 50,250,000 + The expected expenditure 47,930,000 + ---------- + Surplus 2,320,000 + Add by reduction of Four per Cents 777,000 + By 1_s_. 6_d_. on British, + and 2_d_. on Irish and Scotch Spirits 400,000 + By stamps in Ireland 220,000 + 3,717,000 + Deduct beer tax, L3,200,000, but the loss to + the revenue from the probable increase of malt, + calculated at 2,500,000 + ---------- + 1,217,000 + Probable increase of revenue 450,000 + ---------- + Sinking fund 1,667,000 + +The conversion of stock into annuities is proceeding at the rate of +1,000,000 pounds a month, and the increased annual charge already is +250,000 pounds. Certainly to this extent the estimated three millions of +surplus might be fairly reduced; but to reduce the surplus to 1,200,000 +pounds or 1,600,000 pounds would be an entire abandonment of the system +adopted by the Finance Committee and the Government. + +It seemed to me that the members of the House of Commons were all in favour +of the income tax; all the Peers against it. The Duke was strongly against +it. He apprehended the reduction of establishments, and particularly the +pressure of the tax on men of 1,200 pounds a year, and under. + +If I imposed the income tax, I would make it the means of a thorough +reconciliation between the higher and lower classes. In this manner only +would it be effectual and make a strong Government. + +I object greatly to Goulburn's deductions from the old income tax. He +excepts _occupiers_; that is, as regards land occupiers, quite right; but +he excepts manufacturing capital and capital engaged in commerce. Now, why +should the man who has 100,000 pounds in a manufactory, and makes 10 per +cent, on that sum, pay nothing, while the man who invests his 100,000 +pounds in the funds gets only 3 1/2 per cent, and pays 5 per cent, out of +that reduced profit? The man who has a manufacturing or _commercial +capital_ is a _saving man_. He can afford to pay something to the State, +and why should he not? So the lawyer who may be making 10,000 pounds a +year is to pay nothing. If he takes 5,500L. a year and becomes a judge, he +pays 137 pounds 10 shillings. Yet his interest is still for life. + +In all this there seems to me unfairness. + +If the tax be imposed as it is proposed, it will be very difficult to +include afterwards the classes now exempted. It will be impossible to take +off the tax, and whenever a tax is unpopular, those upon whom it presses +will say, 'Take it off. It is only adding 1/4 or 1/2 per cent. to the +income tax.' + +A real property tax is the fairest of all taxes--but an income tax is the +most unfair even when it affects all income; but when it affects the income +of some who have a life interest, and not the income of others in the same +situation, it is most unfair indeed. + +It is quite erroneous to suppose that those who pay an income tax are the +only persons who suffer from it. The reduction of establishments, the +diminished consumption, the increased economy in every article of +expenditure on the part of those affected by it have necessarily the effect +of reducing the wages of labour. The labourer may buy some things cheaper, +but he has less wherewith to buy. + + +_Sunday, March 14._ + +Saw Hardinge at two. Told him how we stood as to the question of taxation. +He said he thought the income tax would be popular, but agreed with me in +thinking it should be established on strictly just principles. + +Cabinet at three. Goulburn read a new statement showing the surplus this +year, if we reduced beer and leather, and next year too. The surplus this +year is about 2 millions. Next year about 1,500,000L. + +The income tax reaches the funds, and the Irish, and the parsimonious, and +the rich--so far it is good, but it likewise reaches the man of 100L a +year. It tends to diminution of establishments, to diminished demand for +labour. To create an alteration in demand generally. + +It was proposed to exempt professions and trades. This was unjust, and it +would have led to an entire separation and hostility between the landed +proprietors and the united body of labourers and manufacturers. + +These last would have joined on all occasions in urging a further and still +a further increase of income tax, and would never have consented to a tax +on consumption. The income tax would finally absorb all other taxes. + +Another great objection to the income tax now is that it would have the +effect of perilling the reduction of the 3 per cents. + +The Duke, Rosslyn, and I were decidedly against income tax. Lord Bathurst +and Lord Melville, as well as the Chancellor, less decidedly so, but still +in favour of abiding by the reduction of the beer and leather tax. Aberdeen +said nothing, neither did Sir G. Murray, so they were understood to go with +the majority. + +Goulburn acknowledged the discussion had to a great extent changed his +opinion, and that he was not then prepared to propose the tax. + +Herries seemed much in its favour; but more, as it seemed to me, because he +wished to maintain a large surplus according to the decision of the Finance +Committee than for any good reason. Peel was decidedly for a property tax. +He wished to reach such men as Baring, his father, Rothschild, and others, +as well as absentees and Ireland. He thought too it was expedient to +reconcile the lower with the higher classes, and to diminish the burthen of +taxation on the poor man. I accede to the principle; but I doubt whether +taxes on consumption do really press more heavily on the poor man than an +income tax. What he has to look to is not the actual price of the article +he wants, but the proportion which his wages bear to that price. It matters +little to him what the price of candles may be, if he has not money +wherewith to purchase them. That system of taxation is best for the poor +man which most tends to increase the funds for the employment of labour; +and every disturbance in the system, every alteration of demand, does +intrinsic mischief. + +After this matter was decided, Peel behaving most fairly, and declaring he +would support the decision of the Cabinet whatever it might be, and that in +this case the decision of the Treasury was to be principally looked to, we +talked of Queen Donna Maria, in whose name Don Pedro has established a +Regency in Terceira. + +I read Leopold's letter to Lord Aberdeen, in which he refers to his letter +of February 11, for the statement of his views in taking the Greek coronet, +saying that he only acceded from courtesy, and as a matter of form, to the +protocol, and further urging some alteration in the frontier. He has made +an application for a joint guarantee by the three Powers of a loan of +60,000,000 paras, or 2,400,000L. Now we only agreed to guarantee 50,000L a +year, and that for troops. Nothing will be said upon this point till he has +withdrawn his letter. He seems to be Aberdeen's pet. I do not think, had +the Greeks searched Europe, they could have found a man whose character was +more congenial to their own. + + +_March 17._ + +Leopold has withdrawn his obnoxious letter. + + +_March 18._ + +House at five. Debate on the Duke of Richmond's motion for a select +Committee on the state of the labouring classes, and the effect of taxation +upon the productive powers of industry. + +A most dull debate, till Lord Holland spoke. I answered him. Lord Lansdowne +next, then the Duke. I spoke, showing the impracticability of the +Committee. I however showed up Committees rather too much. This Lord +Lansdowne took hold of, not very fairly, but he did it well. + +We had in the House 69; they 39. + +With proxies we had 140 to 61. My uncle voted in the minority, and so did +Coplestone. Dudley, Lord Malmesbury, Lord Gower, voted with us. + +The Whigs, Brunswickers, and Canningites were in the minority. The Duke of +Cumberland was there. + +I find we have some recruits--in proxies Lord Lauderdale, Duke of Bedford, +Downshire, Lord Wilton; and Lord Jersey sits behind us. He has now Lord +Lauderdale's proxy. All this is consequent upon Lord Rosslyn's accession. +Lord Grey has now no one left. No one expressed a wish to turn out the +Ministers. + + +_March 19._ + +It seems that in the House of Commons Huskisson made a friendly speech, +finding he can do no harm, and Lord Althorp a very friendly one. In short, +everybody seems to be of opinion that the worst thing that could be done +would be to turn out the Government. + +Peel says, and so does Herries, that the House is in favour of an income +tax. That what we have determined upon is the best for this year, but that +next year there must be an income tax. + +Cabinet. Leopold wants more money. It was agreed he should have 70,000 +pounds a year loan guaranteed to him for seven years, instead of 50,000 +pounds. + +The holders of 4 per cents. are to have the option of 100 pounds stock 3 +1/2, or 70 pounds stock 5 per cents. Trustees may only convert into the 3 +1/2 per cents. + + +_March 20._ + +Chairs at 11. They have made some alterations in the letter to the Indian +Government respecting their conduct, and have praised Lord William for his +_perseverance_, &c. This is contrary to the Duke's view and to mine. I +shall see whether I can allow their amendments. + +I find they have likewise altered much in the letter relative to Batta. + + +_March 23._ + +The Duke, Lord Bathurst, and Rosslyn went away at 2 to the Cabinet, where +they decided against the Jew Relief Bill. The bishops have intimated that +they must unanimously oppose it. + +Debate on Lord Clanricarde's motion on the eternal Terceira question. The +Duke spoke very well. The House was flat. The division with proxies 126 to +31, 4 to 1. We have now of Whig proxies Bedford, Lauderdale, Wilton, +Downshire, Belhaven, Meldrum, and Lord Jersey. + + +_March 24._ + +Cabinet dinner at Sir J. Murray's. Considered what course should be adopted +upon P. Thompson's motion for a committee to revise taxation. Peel still +hankers after the property tax, and rather unwillingly opposes this motion. +However, it will be done on the ground that the remission of such a +question to a committee would derange, by existing apprehensions and hopes, +the whole industry of the country. In fact it would likewise vest the +Government in the committee. Peel, Planta, and Holmes all think the +division will be close. I do not apprehend that, if the debate be well +conducted. + +Had a long conversation with the Duke upon Indian matters. The +recollections of his youth are strong upon him, and he still clings to the +old forms. + + +_March 25._ + +Read some evidence before the Commons on the China trade. + +Committee. Examined Mr. Elphinstone. He gave very good evidence. + +House. A flat discussion on the Kentish petition. + + +_March 26._ + +We had two to one last night. The House not very full. It seemed by no +means the wish of the House to have a property tax; quite the contrary. + +Mr. Elphinstone re-examined by Lord Lansdowne and others. He gave a very +good evidence, and quite knocked up colonisation. + + +_Monday, March 29, 1830._ + +Office at 2. Looked over regulations, &c., relative to the half-castes and +considered their question. Came to a decided opinion against their +admissibility to offices which can be held by natives. + +When Lord Carlisle presented the petition I said very little, expressed +compassion for their situation, and a wish to relieve it in any manner +consistent with the conservation of our empire and the well-being of the +great body of the native population. I said what they asked was not +equality of rights, but privilege. + +Lord King's resolutions on the Corn Laws. A dull debate which lasted till +nine--no division. The Duke did not speak well, and it was unnecessary for +him to speak at all. + + +_March 30._ + +Committee. Examined Mr. Chaplin, who gave a very good evidence. He is +decidedly against the employment of half-castes. + +I told the Duke at the Committee that I had written to the King immediately +on Clare's appointment, and afterwards to Sir F. Watson, when I sent the +warrant and had got no answer. The Duke said he would enquire about it. He +thought he should have spoken to the King _before_. However, he would +settle it. + + +_March 31._ + +Committee at 1. Examined Mr. Ricketts, the half-caste, when Lord Carlisle +had examined him in chief. Mr. Ricketts did not seem to know much about the +law. It was odd enough to observe him looking round to me after every +answer. + +We had afterwards Mr. Baker, a strong contrast indeed with Mr. Ricketts. He +gave very curious evidence relative to the trade of the Arabs of Malabar +with Scinde, the Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea. + + +_April 2._ + +Cabinet. Question whether the French should be allowed to hire 9,000 tons +of transports now in the river for the expedition against Algiers. The Duke +was strongly against it. The French had behaved so ill to us, concealing +their objects from us, and revealing them to other Courts, besides +intriguing with the Pasha of Egypt. + +Aberdeen was for giving the permission. He thought the French would +consider it quite a hostile measure if we refused permission. However, +permission will not be given. + +Leopold is still negotiating about the money, and it seems doubtful whether +he will not resign at last. + + +_April 3._ + +The Company have got into an awkward scrape. It seems they have not made +out their account of the prime cost of their tea as merchants do, that they +have charged all losses whether from fixed rate of exchange or other +causes, whereas merchants in general state prime cost on a calculation of +the price in the place where the article is purchased, the other +calculations going in diminution of profit. + +I begin to think the maintenance of the monopoly will be impossible. I have +long thought it very inexpedient. It would leave a sullen, settled feeling +of discontent in the minds of the manufacturers and merchants of England. + + +_April 6._ + +Wrote to the Duke to tell him I had not yet received the Duke of +Devonshire's memorandum respecting Sir W. Rumbold, and that in the meantime +I was getting into as small a compass as possible the information he +desired. + +I added that the liberation of the Nizam changed our position with respect +to Sir W. Rumbold, and I should be glad to speak to him about it. + +I reminded him of Lord Clare's appointment, not yet approved by the King. + + +_April 8._ + +Cabinet at 2. The Committee on the Bank Charter to be taken out of +Huskisson's hands. + +The King was not well yesterday. The Duke recollected Clare's appointment, +and thinks I shall have the warrant in a day or two. + + +_April 9._ + +Wrote to Wrangham, begging him to send me the Cabinet box I desired the +Cabinet messenger to take to my house yesterday. I think it contained the +papers relative to Russian projects against India. + +I have been so unwell the last two days I have been unable to do any public +business. + + +_April 12._ + +Had some conversation with Hardinge. He thinks the Duke will not remain in +office above a year more, and that Peel will then be Minister, and that +Peel looks forward to that now. I said I feared he would be a very Radical +Minister. + +Hardinge thinks Sir G. Murray would be very well satisfied to be Master- +General, that he feels the Colonial Office is above him. I doubt, however, +if he would like leaving it. If Peel was Minister he would have all the +Ministers he could in the House of Commons. + +From what Hardinge heard from Croker I am inclined to think that foolish +fellow and others imagine they could go on without Peel. + +I do not think it impossible we may have a dissolution of Parliament if +there should be a good harvest. + + +_April 12._ + +Sent the letter and list of Russian papers about China to the Duke. Wrote +to Aberdeen and told him so. Observed at the same time that I should be +very glad to make some arrangement with the Portuguese for excluding opium +from their Indian ports; but I feared the present state of our relations +with Portugal was not favourable for our doing so. + + +_April 13._ + +Found in London the papers I had sent to the Duke. He says he is sorry he +has read them. He had thought better of Sir Ch. Metcalfe. The only one of +the four who writes _common sense_ is Elphinstone. + + +_April 15._ + +The King was apparently very ill indeed yesterday. + +Received a medal struck for the native troops engaged in the Burmese war +from Loch, and another to be transmitted to the King. + + +_April 16._ + +Saw Hardinge, who called upon me at R. + +The King has really been very ill, but certainly not worse than the +bulletin made him. + +Sir H. Halford does not go down to-day, nor will there be any more +bulletins. + +Hardinge seems to be dissatisfied with Peel, who he says is cold and never +encourages any one. All this is very true. + +I think Hardinge rather looks to the Colonial Office. He thinks Sir G. +Murray does not do the business well, and that he would be perfectly +satisfied with the Ordnance. Hardinge does not like Ireland, yet, I think, +he will find he goes to Ireland. The Duke certainly wishes it. + +The Duke of Clarence is very fond of Hardinge, and tells him all he means +to do when he is 'King William.' This seems much confined at present to +changes in uniforms. He means to make the Blues _red_, and to have gold +lace for all the Line, and silver lace for all the Militia. + + +_April 17._ + +Saw Sir A. Campbell at 1. He came about his claim upon the Company. I told +him I transacted all business of that nature in writing. I gave him +information as to the proposal of the Chairs, which is to give him staff +allowances for a year, instead of Batta, by which he would gain about +15,850 R., or about 1,580L. What he wants is about 25,000L, or the +difference between that and the value of his pension of 1,000L a year--that +is, 15,000L. + +Went to the Foreign Office. No news there or at the Treasury of the King. +The report is that he is better. + +Read there for an hour and a half. + +Polignac offers, if it were desired, to sign a Convention upon the +principles laid down in Aberdeen's despatch as to Algiers. + +He seems out of humour altogether with Leopold; Villele seems to have no +great disposition to come in, although his friends have. He says the +Opposition will in any case have 180 votes in the new Chamber. + +Spain will withdraw her Minister and have only a Charge d'Affaires at +Lisbon if Don Miguel will not grant the amnesty. + +France does not remonstrate against the abolition of the Salic Law in +Spain, as she precluded herself by treaty from the succession. The law was +otherwise in the old Spanish monarchy. [Footnote: The Salic law was +introduced by Philip V. of Spain, the first Bourbon king, whose own claim +was through his mother, daughter of Louis XIV., who had renounced the +succession.] The abrogation of the Salic law is directed against Don +Carlos, &c., and the King naturally wishes his own child to succeed, be the +child male or female. + +Saw Mr. Downie on the part of Mr. Chippendale, the man who was removed by +the Sign Manual from the service of the India Company. The Court and the +Bengal Government did not view his offence in the same light. The poor man +is ruined, but the feelings of humanity must not interfere with the +interests of the public service. His removal was a good hint to the whole +body of civil servants, and did good. + + +_April 18._ + +Brought Lord Clare home after church, and showed him my letter to Mr. +Elphinstone respecting the chiefs of Kattywar and the Guicowar. Talked over +the policy to be pursued with regard to them. + +He is to leave England in September, and means to go to Marseilles. + + +_April 19._ + +Lord William seems to have been much gratified by my letters in May and +June affording the pledges of my support and the assurances of my +confidence. Afterwards, however, he received my letter of July, intimating +censure for the relaxations of the rules restricting the residence of +Europeans, and a difference of opinion as to the Government leaving +Calcutta. His letters are in a very good tone and temper. + +I sent all the letters to the Duke. + + +_April 20._ + +Drove to the Foreign Office and saw Aberdeen. Went to enquire how the King +really was, for the bulletin of yesterday says his difficulty of breathing +continues. Aberdeen said the King really was not so ill as the bulletin +represented him to be. There was no present danger. The Duke thinks he +understands the King's case exactly, and says he has no water on the chest, +as is reported, but is _rather fat_. It is said the seat of pain is the +prostate gland. The people about him are seriously alarmed. + +Advised Hardinge, who dined with me, to come forward on the Terceira +question, which he seems inclined to do. Peel will be much obliged to him. +I told him I thought the strong position was this: 'We are at liberty to +prevent that which, if we permitted, would be a cause of war.' I think I +shall write a memorandum for him. + + +_April 21._ + +Wrote to Astell to ask if he would buy the Russian China papers. I told him +at the same time that a Russian ship was going at the charge of the Russian +Government to India, Swan River, and China as a commercial feeler. + +Cabinet at 2. The King is rather better, but in a precarious state. The +embarrassment in his breathing comes on in spasms. His digestion is good, +and they think there is no water. The Duke will urge him to have regular +bulletins published. He goes down tomorrow. He has not seen him since this +day week. The King is in excellent humour with everybody, and never was +more kind to the Duke. + +There has been a short difference between the King and Peel. The King +having sent a pardon to Ireland for a Mr. Comyn, who burnt his house to +defraud his landlord, &c., Peel insisted, and the man will be hanged; the +Lord Lieutenant having taken upon himself to give a reprieve only, and not +to promulgate the pardon. + +The Duke described the King as a bold man, afraid of nothing if his +Ministers would stand by him, and certainly neither afraid of pain or of +death. I did not think this of the King. In general he has been supposed to +be a coward. + +In Cabinet it was decided to authorise and advise the Lord Lieutenant to +put into execution the law for suppressing the association against that +which O'Connell is now endeavouring to organise, and at the same time to +give silk gowns to Shiel and two or three other Roman Catholic barristers, +omitting O'Connell. However, this last measure will be mentioned to the +King, although a King's letter is not required. + +We had afterwards a talk, and a long one, about Algiers. + +Prince Polignac sent a despatch to the Duc de Laval, giving explanations +satisfactory upon the whole, but mixed up with matter accusatory of us. Of +this despatch the Duc de Laval was not authorised to give a copy. We want a +written declaration of their views, none other being official. They are +afraid of their Chambers, and of giving a pledge to England different from +that which they have given to other Powers, and with which other Powers +have been satisfied. Peel thinks they will promise to abstain from +permanent occupation, and exact an amount of indemnity so large, with +occupation as a security, as to make that occupation permanent. If they got +possession of Algiers, I do not believe they will ever give it up--say +what they may. + +Peel objected to me saying what declaration would satisfy us, as in the +event of their deceiving us, or quibbling, it would then seem to be our +folly which had led to it. + +All seem to view the comparative statement of the prices of teas in the +same light that I do, as fatal to the monopoly. + + +_April 23._ + +Rode to the Treasury to enquire after the King; but there were so many +waiting to see the Duke I did not wait. The King is rather better. + + +_April 24._ + +A letter from Lady Macdonald enclosing one from the Nain Muhan to herself, +very complimentary and really pretty. She is to be at Tabriz in October. + +The King has had two good nights. + +Peel's letters to the Lord Lieutenant respecting the suppression of the new +Association and the appointment of Catholic King's Counsel was circulated. + + +_Sunday, April 25._ + +Read Aberdeen's and the Duke's speeches on the Terceira question, and +afterwards wrote a memorandum for Hardinge's use, bringing into a short +compass all the strong points of the case. + +Mr. Sullivan called upon me after church, and told me his son remained in +India. It is very extraordinary that he should be glad of this, as he must +be without the hope of ever seeing him. + + +_April 26._ + +Cabinet at 3. The King has had another good night. He has, however, had +another attack. His pulse is in a weak state. He seems oppressed by fat. He +is become alarmed about himself, which much increases danger in such a +complaint. Consequently all the _entourage_ is alarmed too. + +The drawing-room and levee are to be postponed _sine die_. Trade and +agriculture are both flourishing. The only embarrassment arises out of the +uncertainty as to the King's health. + +Leopold is to have a loan of sixty millions, guaranteed in equal portions +by the three Powers. The loan to have a sinking fund of 3 per cent, to be +paid in equal portions in eight years. The guarantee is to Leopold and his +descendants, being sovereigns of Greece. + +Thus he has obtained almost all he asked, and what he most wanted, the +money. + +Peel seems to think the King's death by no means improbable. If it should +take place, Parliament would adjourn till after the funeral, and then be +dissolved. + +In the House Lord Durham, in presenting a petition against the East Indian +monopoly, said he gathered from what had fallen from His Majesty's +Ministers that they were determined to maintain it. + +I said, 'I cannot admit that anything which has fallen from me, or, in my +presence, from any of my noble colleagues, can justify the noble lord in +assuming that His Majesty's Government have formed any determined opinion +upon the subject.' + + +_April 27._ + +House. East Retford case. The Duke showed me a letter from Halford which +gives a very alarming account of the King. He went on much the same till +half-past three this morning, when Halford was sent for and remained till +half-past eight. The embarrassment of breathing was considerable. The King +was rather better at half-past ten, when the bulletin was dated. Halford +says he can tell more than he can write. He does write that there is +_water_, and it is evident the King is very much alarmed. + +From the letter I should say he could not live many weeks. + +In the House Lord Strangford told me that Sir W. Seymour [Footnote: +Recently appointed a judge at Bombay.] was dead. He died in December--a +short time after the birth of his son. + +Really the mortality amongst judges is awful. + + +_April 28._ + +Went to Guildhall to be present at the trial of Serjeant Kearney for the +assault on Astell. I was not called as a witness. The man was very +intemperate indeed, and abused Astell very much. He spoke of my kind +interference, &c., but made a mistake in imagining that I had advocated +with the Chairs the loan he asked of 250L. I came away as soon as the +Recorder began to sum up. It was curious to see how justice was +administered. The Recorder, an old twaddle, who talked half the time with +the accused, and allowed him to make speeches instead of putting questions, +and Sir C. Hunter, Sir J. Shaw, and another alderman! + +Went to the office at 3. Loch, with whom I had some conversation at +Guildhall, told me he had heard the explanation Melville intended to give +of the matter of prime cost, and he thought it satisfactory. Wortley said +Arbuthnot by no means thought it satisfactory, but was to put the +questions. Wortley said Arbuthnot told him the Duke had read the evidence +and was himself satisfied the monopoly could not be maintained. + +Cabinet dinner at Lord Bathurst's. The Duke was at Windsor this morning. He +did not see the King because the King refused to see the Duke of +Cumberland, and begged the Duke would not see him unless it was very +pressing, that the rebuff to the Duke of Cumberland might be less. +Accordingly, the Duke sent in on paper what he had to say, and he got two +signatures, although they were given very reluctantly. The King says it is +_unkind_ in those about him to urge him to sign, as they know how +distressing it is to him. In fact _yesterday_ it would have been death to +move his arm. We are to meet on Friday to consider what shall be done. Some +means must be devised of getting signatures, for his state may last some +months. He was ill for four hours yesterday evening. Halford was with him +all the time, and held his hand. Halford says he is sure the King would +have died had he not been there. He was nearly dead as it was. However, +after this attack, which began at half-past two, he had a solid dinner and +slept well, and this morning he woke much relieved, but _with a dropsy_-- +that is, an external dropsy, the water being between the skin. Knighton +thinks some must be upon the chest; but the two others are inclined to +think not. He may live days, weeks, or even months; but I doubt his living +weeks. On Sunday he saw the women, and on Monday too. He was then alarmed +about himself. Now he mistakes water for gout, although his legs are +swelled to double their usual size. The physicians do not undeceive him. +However, the public will find it out. He has not read the newspapers for +two days _He_ is much relieved by the effusion of water. + +It seems the medical men when they read the first bulletin said, 'It must +end in water.' + +Lord Rosslyn has looked into the Acts, &c., and finds there is no +difficulty at all about the money vote on the Bills. They all went on at +the accession of the present King. + +The Duke was requested by the physicians and the people about the King not +to mention Shiel's proposed appointment; to make it, if he thought it +essential, but to spare the King all discussion. Of course, as it is +thought the King would be agitated, the Duke has neither mentioned it nor +done it. + +There was in circulation a letter from the Duke of Northumberland +expressing his extreme satisfaction at the decision of the Government with +respect to the putting down of the new associations, and likewise with +respect to the making of the Catholic silk gowns. + +The bulletins are to be now shown at St. James's; a lord and groom-in- +waiting will be there. + +Received a letter from Sir J. Dewar [Footnote: Chief Justice of Bombay and +a colleague of Sir W. Seymour. They were the two judges referred to in the +letter to Sir J. Malcolm.] to inform me of the death of Sir W. Seymour. He +died more of the fear of dying than of fever. His apprehension for Lady +Seymour affected him very much. She was confined the day he was taken ill. + + +_April 29._ + +Halford thinks worse of the King. There have been other attacks of +embarrassment of breathing. I do not myself think he will live a fortnight. + +There was an excellent division on Terceira about 2-1/2 to 1. Hardinge was +not wanted. + + +_April 30._ + +Cabinet. The King very ill yesterday. The least exertion brings on an +attack. Halford thinks he has water in the abdomen and chest. He had some +sleep, and was better in the morning when they issued the bulletin, which +says his symptoms were alleviated. However, the bulletin so little +corresponds with his real state that they think he saw it. It seems to be +now more an affair of days than of weeks. It may happen at any moment. + +Peel suggested the possible case of both Kings dying before an Act +appointing a regent, and we may be called upon to provide for it. The +Duchess of Clarence would be Queen Regent. + +We talked about a Bill for enabling the King to give authority for the +affixing of the Sign Manual. + +To avoid delay and the examination of physicians Rosslyn proposed that, if +the King would sign it, there should be a message. + +It will be arranged that there shall be two Ministers present-one to +countersign, the other to affix the stamp. + +The Attorney- and Solicitor-General were called in. They evidently thought +the King's mind was gone as well as his head, for they proposed a +delegation of the Royal authority. + +Planta called upon me to ask more particulars as to the office of Signer of +the Writs. It seems it comes in lucky time to oblige Lord Chandos, who has +long wanted something for a Mr. Wentworth, and nothing could have happened +more conveniently for the Government. + + +_May 1._ + +Met Lord Rosslyn, who told me he and Lord Bathurst met every committee day +Lord Londonderry and Lord Durham on the Coal Committee. Sometimes they +could not get a fifth, and then they adjourned joyfully. Both Lord +Londonderry and Lord Durham continued most wrong-headed upon the question. + + +_May 2._ + +I rode as fast as I could to town as soon as church was over (for the Duke +had wished to see me before he went to church, thinking I was in town), and +in Brompton met Lord Rosslyn, who told me there was no Cabinet, and that +the Duke had found the King better than he expected. + +Rode at once to Apsley House. The Duke was gone out, having left word he +should be back soon if I came. I waited an hour. When he returned he told +me he had no idea I was out of town, or he would not have written. Lord +Combermere had asked to see him, which he could not refuse. + +The Duke said that on Friday the King was much better. The miracle which +the physicians had said could alone save him seemed accomplished. Great +quantities of ether-quantities much greater than are usually given-had +apparently restored him, and all were in good spirits, when, feeling +himself much better, he drank a great deal and was actually sick! Thence +the indifferent night of Friday. On Saturday he was better again, and when +the Duke saw him, seemingly very well, quite alive--in very good humour +with everybody, and quite without nervousness. However, he passed a bad +night, as the bulletin says, probably in consequence of having drunk again. +Sir H. Halford was quite in tears on Saturday, not more on account of the +King's state than on account of his own professional disappointment. He had +thought on the Friday that he had accomplished a miracle. They have treated +the King as if he had been a hospital patient, and have _epuise'd_ the +resources of art boldly applied to his case. + +The King did not express the least apprehension to the Duke; but to the +women he speaks of his danger, and as if he was a dying man. The Duke +thinks he does this to try and vex Lady Conyngham. + +The thing most surprising to me is the Duke's opinion of the King's firm +courage. He said he had seen him not only now, but before, when he was +considered not to have twenty-four hours of life in him, yet he, knowing +his situation, was perfectly firm. + +Before the Duke came I had some talk with Holmes, whom I met with Drummond. +Holmes said they could finish the session by the end of July if they acted +with that view. I fear it will last much longer if the King lives, and if +he dies, that we shall have a six weeks' session in August and September. +Holmes said he did not think the King's illness by any means diminished the +strength of Government. He thought the friends of Government were rather +more disposed to come down, and he could on any great question get 300. + +He had gone round on Wednesday to the reporters, and had told them they +would never have a holiday if they reported speeches on a Wednesday, so +they did not, and they will not. This will put an end to all speechifying +on holidays. + + +_May 3._ + +Cabinet. Saw a letter from Halford to the Duke. The King was 'in a most +distressing, not to say alarming, state' from eight to-day evening to half- +past three. He cannot get sleep. Halford says it was 'a gigantic struggle.' + +The Duke saw Lord Combermere to-day, having received the letters I sent him +before the interview. The Duke told him the Government were parties to the +disapprobation expressed by the Court of Directors. + +Lord C. threw the whole blame upon Lord W. Bentinck. He had carried the +order into execution without communication with him, 'and had told the army +if they objected to it, they might memorialise.' + +This _I do not believe_. + +Lord C. said the army was not in a state approaching to mutiny, and never +had been. + +He had not said it was in his minutes (but he did in a letter); as to the +minutes of the other members of Council, he was not responsible for them. +They were civilians. Besides, Lord W. wished to go up the country. He had +received in July a letter telling him he was not to go except in a case of +emergency, then the Government was not to move from Calcutta, and he +endeavoured in his minute and the others in theirs to make an apparent case +of emergency that they might move. + +As to the last point there is an anachronism, as the orders not to leave +Calcutta _as a Government_ arrived after the minutes were recorded. + +The Duke told Lord Combermere that all the orders for reduction of +expenditure having proved inefficacious, it was necessary for the +Government here to take reduction into their hands, and it was very natural +and obvious to enforce an order twice repeated and already obeyed at the +other presidencies. + +When the army assumed the tone which appeared in the memorials, it was +impossible for the Government to do otherwise than insist upon the +enforcement of the order. They had expected from him that his whole +influence would have been used to strengthen the Government and to prevent +any ebullition of feeling on the part of the army. Lord Combermere left the +Duke very angry. If the King had been well he would have joined Lord +Anglesey. As it is, I expect he will oppose the Government. Lord Hill saw +him for a few minutes, and had only some unimportant conversation with him. +He told Lord Hill he had made thirteen or fourteen lacs. He made seven lacs +by prize money at Bhurtpore. + +The French have not yet given a written explanation as to Algiers. Their +army is said to be in very fine order. + +Leopold seems to have insinuated that our yielding on the subject of the +loan was sudden and late, &c. Aberdeen understood him to allude to the +King's illness, and to impute our concession to the wish to get him out of +the way. He took no notice of it, and treated the thing as settled. + +Preparations have been made for the event of the King's death. + +Peel has been obliged to leave London, as his father is dying. + + +_May 4._ + +Committee. No witnesses. Walked with Lords Bathurst and Rosslyn to the +Duke's. The bulletin is good. The King had some sleep and is better. +Halford's account, too, is better. The King slept six hours, but the water +was so much increased about the legs that they have made punctures to draw +it off. Upon the whole the account leads one to suppose the thing will be +protracted. + +In the House of Commons last night, Goulburn was obliged to withdraw the +vote of 100,000L. for Windsor Castle and refer it to a Committee upstairs. +The expectation of a dissolution is acting powerfully on votes, and he +would have been beaten. The Duke approved entirely of his having withdrawn +the motion. + +The continuance of the King in this state would be highly inconvenient +indeed. There would be no possibility of carrying on the money business in +the House of Commons. + +In the House of Lords we had a motion from Lord MountCashel for an address +for a commission to enquire into the abuses of the English and Irish +Church. No one thought it worth while to reply to him. + + +_May 5._ + +Read and altered a letter relative to the new arrangement of civil +allowances. + +Elphinstone approved generally of what I proposed--which is. + +1. To depose every chief who shall harbour banditti. + +2. To oblige them to give up refugee criminals under the same penalty. + +3. To engage as many as possible to abandon their heritable jurisdictions. + +4. To remit the arrears. + +5. To form a local corps in which the chiefs and their relations should be +officers (with only two or three Europeans) to maintain order. This corps +to be a sort of bodyguard to the Resident. The robbers to be admitted as +privates. + +6. Troops to be brought if necessary from Cutch. + +7. Every measure to be adopted to encourage the growth of cotton. + +These things I shall throw into a letter, which, however, will not be sent +till Clare goes out. + +We talked of native education. I read to E. my alterations of the letter of +last July relative to his plans for education, with which he seemed +satisfied. + +He seems generally to approve of my views upon that subject, particularly +of uniting the English with the native classes at the several colleges, and +teaching the natives useful knowledge. + +They should be examined in the regulations of the company. + +Office, but first saw Hardinge, who seems full of the Duke of Clarence, +with whom he is high in favour, as having, urged by Wood, had several +things done for the young FitzClarences. + +He said the Duke thought the King might live four months. + +Cabinet dinner at the Chancellor's. The Duke saw the King, who looked very +well, and seemed cheerful and in good humour. + +He was very ill yesterday. Black in the face, and the ends of his fingers +black. They think he will go off suddenly in one of these attacks. + +Little water came from one leg, and they will scarify it again. + +O'Reilly, who probably performed the operation of scarifying, and who must +know the state of the King, whom he saw daily, declared positively +yesterday to Lord Maryborough, and with a face of surprise, that there was +no water. + +The Duke of C. saw the King on Sunday, and was at Windsor and probably saw +him to-day. + +The Duke of Sussex has lent the King an easy chair, and affectionate +messages have passed between them. + +The Bishop of Chichester is now at Windsor, the Lord and Groom and Equerry +in waiting, two physicians, besides O'Reilly and Sir Wathen Waller and +Knighton. + +When they told the King they must make a puncture in about four hours, he +desired it might be made at once if it was necessary. + +The Duke told the King he had told Sir H. Halford he would always find him +intrepid--with which the King was much pleased. + +He said when he saw a thing was necessary he always made up his mind to it. + +Wortley told me the Household betted the King would be at Ascot. + +By-the-bye, Wortley did very well last night in not allowing Wynne to lead +him into a speech on the half-castes. He spoke very officially and +properly. I complimented him upon it. In fact it is an act of forbearance +in any man, but especially in a young man, to throw away a speech. + +Precedents have been looked into, and every necessary step is known, should +the King die. + +The Duke will immediately go in uniform to the Duke of Clarence and advise +him to come to his house in town. + +A sketch of the speech will be prepared, but kings like making the +declaration to the Privy Council themselves, as it is the only thing they +can do without advice. + +Peel's father died on the 3rd. + + +_May 6._ + +Left my card with Lord Combermere, who called yesterday. + +The bulletin states the King to have been better yesterday, but to have had +a bad night. + +The private letter to the Duke says he passed the night wretchedly, and +with much inquietude. They find it necessary to make further punctures, and +have sent for Brodie. + +The King spoke to Halford for some time with much composure and piety as to +his situation. + +Lord Bathurst looked into the precedents in Queen Anne's reign, and at the +declarations of several kings on their first meeting their Privy Council. + +House. A good and useful speech from Lord Goderich on the funded and +expended debt. He showed that the receipt from taxes was about the same as +in 1816, although 9 millions had been taken off, and that the interest of +the National Debt would, in 1831, be reduced 44 millions below its amount +in 1816. + +Cabinet at half-past ten at Aberdeen's. A letter from Leopold, endeavouring +to throw upon us the blame of delay for two months, and treating +acquiescence in his terms of loan as a _sine qua non_. Now the terms we +propose are not _exactly_ the same, as we make a payment by annual +instalments a part of it, and I expect he will break off at last; but he +will wait till the King is actually dead. + + +_May 7._ + +A very good account of the King. He has passed twenty-four hours with +mitigated symptoms. + +Dined with Sir J. Murray. I must next year have an Indian dinner. + + +_May 9._ + +Read as I went to town to Cabinet, and returned in the carriage Cabell's +memorandum on the Hyderabad transactions. + +The Duke read the letter he had received from Sir H. Halford. It gave a bad +account of the King. Yesterday was a day 'of embarrassment and distress,' +and he is swollen notwithstanding the punctures made by Brodie. He is +anxious about himself, and must know his danger, yet he talks of the +necessity of having a new dining-room at the Cottage ready by Ascot. + +We had much conversation respecting the law asserting his power of +disposing of his property by will. + +The Chancellor was not there. He went to Windsor. + +The other matters considered were merely the mode of dealing with several +questions to be brought on next week. It seems to be clear that no +dependence whatever can be placed in the House of Commons. Every man will +vote for his constituents. + +No answer has been received from Prince Leopold. + +My apprehension is that the King cannot live ten days. + +Lord Londonderry went to Windsor yesterday and saw the physician. He had a +dinner afterwards at his villa, and told every one, the Lievens being +there, that the King was much worse than he had ever been. This was untrue, +for the Duke left Windsor after Lord L., and when he left the Castle the +King certainly was not worse, but rather better. I have no doubt Lord L. +managed to tell Wood, [Footnote: Lord Londonderry's brother-in-law, having +married Lady Caroline Stewart, also sister-in-law of Lord Ellenborough.] +and Wood would tell the Duke of Clarence, who would think he was ill-used +and deceived. + + +_May 10._ + +The Duke will read the Hyderabad memorandum as he goes down to Windsor on +Wednesday. + +I told him of the alteration in the treaty with Nagpore. + +The Chancellor was at Windsor yesterday. He did not see the King. The +physicians seemed to think it could not last a week. He is greatly swollen, +and generally. + +Lord Bathurst went to Windsor to-day. His account was a little better, but +his expectation did not go beyond a fortnight. In the meantime the +physicians are afraid of telling the King of his danger. + +Sir W. Knighton sat up with him last night, and was much alarmed by one of +the attacks, not having seen one before. However, he did not call Sir H. +Halford. + +The probability is that the new Parliament will meet in the last week in +July. + +The Speaker says the House of Commons is like a school two days before the +holidays. They do not know what mischief to be at. + +Lord Rosslyn seems to think all sorts of intrigues are going on, and has +some little doubt as to the Duke of Clarence. I have none. + +House. E. Retford again. Wrote to Lord Holland when I came home to call his +attention to the Hickson Nullity of Marriage Bill. I cannot take a part; +but he must do so if he wishes to preserve his grandfather's clause. + + +_May 11._ + +Heard from Lord Holland, who is fully alive to the consequences of the +Bill. He thinks I am right not to take a part. + +There was an indigo-planter before the Committee to-day. It seems, as I +supposed, to be just as unnecessary for indigo-manufacturers to be indigo- +growers as it is for maltsters to be great farmers. This man took out no +capital and he had no licence; yet he was permitted to reside and take a +lease, and the agency houses lent him money at 10 and 12 per cent. + +The judge, Sir T. Strange, was a sensible man. He deprecated the +introduction of English law into the provinces. + +The King is getting weaker, which the physicians dread more than his +spasms. It is thought he can hardly last a week. + +Read the memorandum on Hyderabad a second time, and sent it with the +proposed letter and alterations to the Duke. + +Prepared materials for Lord Stanhope's motion about shipping on Thursday. + + +_May 12._ + +Cabinet dinner at Lord Rosslyn's. + +The Duke saw the King to-day. He said there was a decided alteration since +Wednesday last. He was now in appearance an invalid, but not a dying man. +His body is very much swollen. They took several quarts of water from his +feet yesterday. He is good-humoured and alive. His eyes as brilliant as +ever. His voice a little affected. His colour dark and sodden. + +The Duke thinks he may die at any time; but may live a fortnight or ten +days--Knighton thinks so too. The other physicians think worse of him. + +He called for the 'Racing Calendar' yesterday. They were afraid he would +call for the newspaper. + +Knighton found he was not aware there were now any bulletins. + +Knighton proposed to him the taking the sacrament, as he did not take it at +Easter. He said he would think about it, but to be better before he took +it. His taking it now might lead to the publishing of more bulletins. + +He continues to take the greatest interest in the improvements at the +lodge. + +After dinner we talked only of the things necessary to be done on a demise. + +Lord B. seemed to say we _could not_ have the Duchess of Clarence as +Regent, because there was no precedent. I trust this will be got over. + +Leopold has written an unsatisfactory answer to the last letter about the +loan. However, he goes. + +The Porte has acquiesced in the arrangements of the protocol, so Leopold is +Prince Sovereign of Greece. + +The Duke read Cabell's memorandum to-day. He thinks Cabell proposes doing +more than should be done. He has a strong feeling as to the scandalous +nature of the whole transaction. Lieutenant-Colonel Arabin has been +infesting the Chancellor upon the subject. + + +_May 13._ + +Dined at four. Rode to the office and back, and to the House. + +Prepared for Lord Stanhope's motion for returns on shipping, &c. + +The Duke had a great deal of information, and answered Lord Stanhope. I +spoke, however, afterwards, as I had some new facts. Then E. Retford till +nine. + +Read letters from Sir John Macdonald and a paper he enclosed from +'Blackwood's Magazine' in 1827 on the invasion of India by the Russians. + + +_May 14._ + +Colonel Briggs called. He is a clever man. He will prepare for me a +memorandum on the composition of the native army. He seems equally +conversant with revenue, judicial, and military matters. + +House. E. Retford as usual. The King is much relieved by the draining of +the water from the punctures; but the wounds gave him much annoyance last +night. The fear is they may lead to mortification. Lord Rosslyn and I go +down on Sunday to Windsor to enquire. + + +_May 15._ + +Astell has sent to Lord Combermere the letter lately despatched to India in +which the conduct of the several members of Government is commented upon as +regards the Batta question. Lord Combermere only asked, as far as I +recollect, to know upon what grounds his conduct has been censured. I told +Astell to tell him the censure rested entirely on official documents with +which he must be acquainted. The Duke was very angry with Astell, when I +told him of it after the Cabinet, and expects a question in the House of +Lords. + +I told Astell the letter ought not to have been given. It reveals what has +been done with regard to the Batta question, and the news may possibly +reach India through the press before the Government obtain it. + +Cabinet at half-past four. Not only have the Turks acceded to the +arrangement for Greece, but the Greeks have done so too. Leopold adheres to +his memorandum of March, and wants the power of drawing as much as he +pleases of the loan at any time. + +He will be invited to meet the Plenipotentiaries or to send a person to +meet them to discuss this point. The people about him say he means to break +off. If he should, Peel thinks we could not do it upon a better point, and +he is right. + +The King is decidedly better. The Duke saw him to day. He was looking more +healthy. He has had some refreshing sleep. He is more likely to live than +to die. The only danger is from mortification in consequence of the +punctures; but his constitution is so good that in all probability he will +avoid this danger. This wonderful recovery quite changes our position. In +all public business we must now calculate upon his living--at least till +the end of the Session. + +Lord Morpeth is to make a motion for the repeal of the Banishment Clause in +the last Libel Act. To the repeal of that clause, which is inoperative +against the common libeller, we have no objection, and the Attorney-General +is pledged to it; but the House of Lords would not like, and the King would +not endure, the repeal of that provision without the substitution of some +other security. That proposed by the Attorney-General is the requiring +security to the amount of 500L. from two sureties that the editor shall pay +_fines_ on account of libels. This is reasonable, and would to some extent +prevent the putting up, as is now done, men or women of straw as editors, +who have no means of paying fines. The other proposal of the Attorney- +General, that the types should be seizable to whomever they may belong, is +objectionable and would hardly be carried. Peel is very sorry the question +is stirred at the present moment. The press is generally with us or +quiescent, and the 'Morning Journal,' [Footnote: It had been obliged to pay +heavy damages for a libel on the Duke of Wellington.] a paper instituted to +oppose the Government, has within these few days been given up altogether +from the want of support. Certainly this is not the moment at which it is +desirable to appear to commence an attack upon the Press--and the Attorney- +General can do nothing that will not be suspected by them. + +The Duke has written a memorandum on the Hyderabad affair. + + +_May 16._ + +Read the Duke's memorandum; he mistakes the law. However, I cannot write +notes upon his memorandum without the Act of Parliament. The King had an +indifferent night, but still feels better. I only met Lord Bathurst, who +told me so. He had not seen the private letter. + +Had a long conversation with Lady C. Wood at Lord Camden's about the +Clarences. It seems there has been a great deal of hope excited in the +Spencers. + +They expect Lord Holland to be made Minister, and their son Bob or Lord +Darnley to be first Lord of the Admiralty!--_Nous verrons_. + +It seems the Duchess of Clarence and the Duchess of Kent were and are great +friends, and the Duchess of Clarence is very fond of the young Princess. + + +_Monday, May 17._ + +At eleven set off with Lord Rosslyn for Windsor. We drove to the visitor's +entrance. After a time Sir A. Barnard came. Lord Rosslyn said we did not +presume to ask to see the King, but we were anxious to know how His Majesty +was, and to present our humble duty to him. + +Sir A. asked if we would see Knighton? Lord Rosslyn said it would be very +satisfactory. However, no Knighton came, but a message through Sir A. +Barnard that Sir Wm. Knighton had gone in to the King and had mentioned we +were there, and His Majesty had expressed himself very sensible of our kind +attention. This I conclude is Knighton's own message, and that the King +will never hear we have been. Sir A. Barnard seemed in excellent spirits +about the King. He had a good night, and is certainly much better. He talks +of being able to go to Ascot and to stand up in the carriage, though he +could not go up into the stand. + +We met the Bishop of Chichester going back to town. I suppose he thinks he +shall not be wanted. + +Rode down to the House. East Retford. + +The Duke's private account of the King is excellent. + + +_May 18._ + +Committee. Examined Colonel Briggs, who gave very good evidence indeed. +Ordered the attendance of six witnesses for Tuesday, whom we shall +endeavour to despatch, and that will enable everybody to go to Epsom on +Thursday and Friday. + +The King much better. All his symptoms alleviated. + +To-morrow the Duke will get from him his signature to the message for a +_stamper_. There are to be three signatures of Ministers, that is, of Privy +Councillors, to authorise the stamper, who is to be nominated by the King +to affix the royal stamp to instruments in the King's presence. + +By the account from Marseilles, it appears that there are 11 sail of the +line and 28 frigates in the French expedition, in all 97 sails--about 350 +transports, carrying 75,000 tons. There will be 30,500 infantry, besides a +very complete equipment of artillery, &c., 75 battering guns, 4,000 horses. +The Luke of Angouleme's (the Dauphin's) visit has delayed the expedition +four days. They will probably be on the sea _to-day_. + +Rosslyn was talking yesterday of the _danger_ from this expedition, and the +annexation of Algiers to France. I do not fear it--we can, if we manage +well, make it very costly by bringing forward the people of Tunis and +Morocco, not near the coast, but almost from the desert. We must take care +to secure Tunis, and then the French will be no gainers by their move. + +Lord Londonderry made a very foolish speech about foreign policy in putting +off his motion, which stood for the 25th. Aberdeen promised the Greek +papers on _Monday next_. + + +_May 19._ + +The Duke saw the King to-day and found him looking better than he did at +the last Council. + +The drain from the legs is now very small. He was annoyed last night by +them and sent for Halford, who sent off for Brodie; but there was nothing +of importance. They cannot yet say that he will not ultimately die of this +complaint. Knighton thinks he will be an invalid all his life. Tierney says +they cannot tell for a week whether there is any mischief remaining about +the chest. The Duke wished to speak to him about the stamp; but he made an +excuse about his legs requiring some dressing, and the Duke, seeing he did +not choose to talk about business, went away. + +It seems clear that Leopold means to abdicate. + +The Attorney-General has made his libel preventive measure a poor weak +inoperative thing, ridiculous, and unconciliating. + +The French Chambers are dissolved as a _coup de theatre_ on the sailing of +the expedition, and they are to meet on August 3, by which time they expect +to hear of its success. + +A union of parties is expected on the Greek affair. I am not sorry for it. +The Huskissonians and Whigs are drawing nearer together. The Tories, on the +other hand, are rather approximating to us--so that by the beginning of +next Session men will be at last in their right places. + + +_May 21._ + +The King had a bad night. The private letter gave a bad account. He has +been _drinking again_, very irritable, _intolerably_ so. Halford says, +would neither sit in a chair nor lie in a bed, &c. Halford at last held +strong language, and I believe told him his life depended on his obeying +his physician. + +I am very much disappointed indeed at this. I hoped he was really getting +better and would live. + +Aberdeen is to allow the instalments of the loan guaranteed to Leopold to +be paid in four instead of eight years if he can keep him to his +principality by doing so. + +The French were off on the 18th. There is a partial change in their +Ministry. + + +_May 23._ + +Rode to the Cabinet at three from Roehampton. The bulletin is that the King +had had embarrassments in his breathing. + +The Duke waited two and a half hours before he saw him yesterday. The King +signed the two messages, and then said 'the Duke has just caught me in +time!' and in an instant there was a gurgling in his throat. He seized +Knighton's arm. The Duke ran for Halford, went out into the gallery where +he did not find him, then into another room where he was. Halford +immediately took a bottle from the table and gave the King something which +seemed to relieve him. + +The Duke thinks the King was in pain three or four seconds; but it was a +minute and a half before he was relieved. He then did not speak; but made a +motion with his hand for the Duke to go. + +He had just before been talking of going to Ascot and then to Aix-la- +Chapelle. + +The King was perfectly satisfied with the proposed arrangement for the +stamp. + +He asked the news, was told Leopold was behaving very ill, and agreed. + +As to Algiers he was told the note of the French Minister was +unsatisfactory, and that it was under consideration whether a note should +not be presented. He thought it right. + +The Duke's opinion is that if the King should be seized with one of those +attacks when no one was with him, he would die. + +The opinion of Halford and the others is that the disorder is mortal; but +he may live six weeks or two months. + +The punctures are healed. They are afraid of opening them again for fear of +mortification, and can only proceed by medicines. + +The King's state seems distressing. He can neither remain quiet in his +chair or in his bed. He is in a state of constant restlessness. + +The Duke of Cumberland was there to-day, but the King had desired he might +not see him. + +Leopold has declined. He sent a note to that effect on Friday night at +twelve o'clock--very well written, not by himself. Aberdeen thinks +Palmerston wrote it. He takes popular ground, and cannot impose himself +upon _a reluctant people_. The fact is Friday's bulletin wrote his letter. + +The Duke thinks he will be shown up. The papers presented to-morrow will be +no more than it was before intended to present; but Aberdeen will announce +the _evasion_ of the sovereign, and say that that circumstance will render +necessary the production of other papers which will be presented as soon as +they can be printed. The whole discussion will turn upon Leopold's conduct. + +Aberdeen will be in the position of the manager of a country theatre who, +just as the curtain is about to be drawn up, is obliged to come forward and +announce that the amateur gentleman who had solicited the part of Macbeth, +who had attended all the rehearsals, and whose only difficulty, which was +about money, seemed to be in a fair way of adjustment, had unexpectedly +intimated his intention to withdraw in a printed address to the galleries. + +Forsooth there should have been an appeal to the people of Greece on the +subject of their Government! An appeal to the people of Newgate on the +subject of the new police! [Footnote: This sentiment, however severe, +represents the feeling about the Greeks of many Englishmen at that time, +and especially of those who, as in the case of naval officers employed in +Greek waters, had seen much of them during the war. Their struggle for +independence was undoubtedly disgraced, not only by cruelty, but by a +treachery and disregard of faith which, though perhaps attributable to past +subjection and oppression, was peculiarly odious to English observers. Lord +Ellenborough adopted this view.] + +By a letter of C. Capo d'Istria's, dated 25 M., April 6, written +immediately after his receipt of one from Leopold (after his acceptance), +it appears that Leopold had intimated his intention to change his religion. +He must have had about forty-eight hours to consider the point. + +Lord Melville had heard that Leopold had consulted Lord Grey and Lord +Lansdowne without acquainting one that he had seen the other. + + +_May 24._ + +Rode to the office at four to receive the manufacturers. Mr. Crawford was +there, Finlay being ill. I told them of my plans as to the Indus. I +directed their attention to the point of bringing out in evidence the +effect the stoppage in China had upon the general trade of the East. I +again desired them to show, if they could, why British manufactures did not +go to China by the country trade. + +Met Aberdeen. Told him I thought, on consideration, that a reply to Leopold +would lead to an answer from him, to which the Plenipotentiaries could not +reply without entering into an undignified discussion with Palmerston, who +would be the real controversialist. + +There should be an answer, but it should be addressed to the Residents, and +what could not be addressed to them might be stated in Parliament, that is, +all relating to letters, conversations, &c. + +I dare say Leopold will publish to-morrow. It is unlucky the French have +troops in the Morea. If they had not, I should be disposed to leave the +Greeks to settle their affairs as they pleased, giving them no money. They +would soon become reasonable. + +The bulletin had 'The King had a sleepless night.' + +House at five. The message and address. The Opposition made no objection to +the address, which was carried _nemine dissentiente_. Lord Grey seems to +expect a delegation of the royal authority. I told Lord Holland I thought +he would be satisfied. + +Then Aberdeen presented the Greek papers, and, having explained their +contents, stated the change of circumstances since Friday night. He +represented Leopold as having made preliminary objections on other points, +but none on any but money since February 20, when he accepted. Within these +few days other grounds have been taken, and the abdication is on these +other grounds. + +There was much movement amongst the Opposition. Aberdeen was accused of +unfairness. Lord Durham opened the fire, and I prevented Aberdeen from +answering him. The others--Darnley, Lord Londonderry, and Lord Winchelsea, +all for Leopold. In short there is a general union of all those who prefer +the rising to the setting sun. We shall have a personal debate. + +We went into E. Retford. I sat by the Chancellor, and worked the Bill for +the King's relief. + +In the House of Commons little was said upon these points. Aberdeen did +well. He can make a biting speech as well as any one, and in a quiet way. + + +_May 25._ + +The King passed yesterday uncomfortably. He was a little relieved by +medicines during the night. Water is forming again. + +House. The Chancellor explained very well the objects and details of the +King's Relief [Footnote: Relieving him from the necessity of constant +signatures.] Bill. The only objections made were to reading it to-morrow, +and it was conceded that it should be read on Thursday--to its duration, +and it was conceded that should last a month. Lord Grey, I hear, says it is +too complicated, that it would have been better to appoint a Custos Regni. +I hope he will say that on Thursday. + +There is but little hope of the King's living till the Bill is passed. + + +_May 26._ + +Hardinge, whom I met in the Park, told me Sir J. Graham informed him there +was to be an opposition _a l'outrance_. That Lord Anglesey was to be +Minister Lord Grey would serve with him. Palmerston was to be made a great +man of. Huskisson to have nothing but revenge. The Duke of Richmond was to +be had at all events. All this is childish. + +House. I expected nothing but the Chancellor's Bill, and went at half-past +five, expecting to find Eldon in the midst of his speech; but I found Lord +Durham talking about Greece, and soon engaged in the talk myself. Lord Grey +was decidedly in opposition. I called the attention of the House to this, +that our conduct was to be judged of by the papers on the table--the +resignation of Leopold was not alleged to have taken place in consequence +of any act of the Government. If noble Lords chose to put on one side the +conduct of the Government, and to make this a mere personal question as to +the conduct of Leopold we were prepared to enter into the discussion. In +speaking of Leopold I said he 'was connected with this country by some of +its dearest recollections.' + +Cabinet dinner. The King's digestion is affected now; but otherwise he is +well. He has had many attacks of embarrassed breathing; but none serious. +The Duke of Clarence was in the room with him (the Duke of W. being +present) for a quarter of an hour today. The King talked of his own danger. +He said, 'God's will be done. I have injured no man.' This he often +repeated. He said, speaking of his own danger to the Duke of Clarence, 'it +will all rest on you then.' He was in very good humour, very angry, +however, with Leopold--his anger brought on a slight spasm. + +He afterwards talked of going to Ascot, and told the Duke to manage that he +might be able to go to Aix-la-Chapelle. + +He is much pleased with the conduct of both Houses about his Signature +Bill. After dinner Aberdeen read His proposed answer to Leopold to be +addressed to the Residents with a copy of Leopold's letter. It was full of +admissions, many of which Peel noticed. Aberdeen was going to meet Laval +about it. I objected to sending a copy of the letter to Leopold, as that +would as much lead to a reply as if they answered him directly. This the +Cabinet seemed to feel; and if there is a letter to the Residents it will +be printed with the other papers only, and not communicated. + + +_May 27._ + +Privy Council at one. The Archbishop of Canterbury ordered to frame a +prayer for the King's recovery. + +Cabinet. King's Signature Bill amended. Then Aberdeen read a letter from +the Residents in Greece giving an account of all that took place from the +notification of the protocol to the Senate to their adhesion. Unfortunately +this letter was not sent to Leopold as it ought to have been, when he on +the 15th sent Capo d'Istria's letter to Aberdeen, and it is thought we +cannot publish it. It shows that the adhesion was entire. + +No answer to his letter is to be published. We are to wait till we can have +a protocol. Laval would not sign any joint letter to the Residents. Being +so near he prefers waiting for the orders of his Court. + +House. King's Signature Bill passed, with some amendments. It is to last +till the end of the Session. + +The King's command is to be signified by _word of mouth_, a very +inconvenient mode to a sick man. + +East Retford for a House. + +All Columbia is at war again. The Mexicans are urging the Haytians to land +5,000 men in Cuba. Peel fears war will begin there by the Americans taking +Texas. + +Fitzgerald writes from Paris that he thinks the French will not retain +Algiers. That an energetic demand on our part would have drawn from +Polignac a distinct disavowal of the intention. That he does not think the +channel (Lord Stuart) a good one. + +I think Fitzgerald would not at all dislike being made Ambassador at Paris. + +It seems there is a very sore feeling indeed excited by de Peyronnet's +appointment. He thinks the only safety of the Government is in throwing +themselves upon the ultra-Royalists. + +The King is a little better. His stomach begins to bear a little light food +again. + + +_May 28._ The account of the King not good. + +Cabinet. Found them talking about Scotch boroughs. Aberdeen presented the +papers relative to Leopold in the House. Some conversation as to the +correctness in point of form of presenting them printed. The rule is to +present papers written by the King's command, and to have them printed for +the immediate use of the House. + +The Commons passed the King's Signature Bill without a word. + +I thought it necessary to determine at once who should be the new judge at +Bombay, and upon full consideration thought Awdry the best man. The +Chancellor had no objection, and I immediately wrote to Awdry to tell him I +should advise the King to appoint him. + + +_May 29._ + +Before the Cabinet met Hardinge and walked some time up and down Downing +Street with him. He told me the Duke had proposed an exchange between him +and Lord F. Leveson. Hardinge declined; however, he was at last induced to +acquiesce. There cannot be a better thing for him, for the Government, and +for Ireland, than his going there. I have always told him so. We may now be +satisfied things will go on well there. Lord F. Leveson is a mere boy, and +quite unequal to the situation. Hardinge will do admirably and be very +popular. So will she. They will like an Irishwoman. + + +_June 1._ + +The King had a quiet night. In other respects he is much the same. + + +_June 2._ + +Employed all the morning on the Greek papers. Cabinet dinner at Peel's. The +King rather better. They have opened punctures above the knees. 400 papers +were stamped. Lord Farnborough was the stamper. The King was perfectly +alive to all that was going on. + +A steamboat has made the passage from Bombay to Suez in a month and two +days, leaving Bombay on March 20 and reaching Suez on April 22. The letters +arrived here on May 31. The steamboat was detained ten days for coals. +There was no steam conveyance from Alexandria to Malta, so we may reckon +upon gaining fourteen days at least upon this passage. Besides, the steam +vessel was probably a bad one. + + +_June 3._ + +House. Aberdeen, in reply to a question of Lord Londonderry's, promised all +the protocols of Paris! A most voluminous mass of dull twaddle. The House +postponed Miss Hickson's divorce case to Lord Salisbury and East Retford. +We had only 18 to 69! The Duke seemed very angry, and I heard him speaking +to Lord Bathurst of some peer who went out without voting, whose conduct +seemed to make him very indignant. + + +_June 4._ + +House. All seems quiet again. Nothing more said about Leopold. There was to +be a meeting to-day at Lord Lansdowne's which the Duke of Newcastle was +expected to attend. Palmerston was at the last. [Footnote: The conjunction +of these names indicated an alliance of Whigs, Canningites, and Tories +irritated by the Roman Catholic Bill.] Rosslyn does not know whether Lord +Grey was. + +The King not going on well by the bulletin; worse by the private account, +which, however, I did not see. He has lost his appetite and grows weaker. + +The Duke has not yet read my Nagpore letter; but he will to-morrow. He +seems to agree with me in general views upon the subject of our policy +towards the native States. + + +_June 5._ + +Chairs at 11. They are dissatisfied with Malcolm for sending a steam vessel +into the Red Sea, because he had no important intelligence to communicate! +I shall never make these people feel they are at the head of a _State!_ + +The bulletin to-day is very alarming. The Duke had not returned at half- +past 4; but soon after he was seen coming into town looking very +melancholy. The Duchess of Gloucester arrived an hour later. I thought the +Duke had stayed to be there at the King's death. Knighton sent up to +Goulburn to desire a warrant might be sent down to be stamped conveying the +King's fines, &c., belonging to the Privy Purse. + +Goulburn very properly refused to send the warrant till he had seen the +Duke. This looks as if they did not expect 24 hours. + +He was as ill as possible when Aberdeen saw him yesterday for a few +minutes. + +A Cabinet is summoned for half-past 3 to-morrow. + +All is still again in the House of Commons, as well as with us. They have +found the Leopold line will not do. + + +_June 6._ + +Cabinet at half-past 3. They all say Scarlett did ill. He did not fight +gallantly, and he fought without judgment. + +The Duke said he thought the King was _really_ suffering yesterday; but +from several circumstances he thought he would live three or four weeks. +The physicians said eight days. He was better than when Aberdeen saw him on +Friday. No stamping was done. Peel went down to-day. It was hoped some +papers would be stamped. Peel had not returned when the Cabinet separated +at 5. + +Aberdeen brought forward the question of a Bill it is thought necessary to +introduce in consequence of slave-dealing by Brazilian subjects having now +become piracy. + +Goulburn seems to be unable to fix any time for the conclusion of the +Session in the event of a demise. I fear it will be necessary to sit a long +time to get the necessary votes. There are no less than fifty subjects +unvoted. + + +_June 7._ + +House. In going down met Goulburn, who said the account of the King was +very bad. Halford had suggested it would be better for the Duke to go down; +which he did. Peel thought the King very much changed indeed in the week +which had elapsed since he last saw him. + + +_June 8._ + +Cabinet at 3. The diplomatic expenses were carried only by 18, and the +abolition of the punishment of death for forgery was carried by 13. This is +a very serious state of things; with such a Parliament there is no +depending upon the carrying of any measure, and Peel is quite disgusted. As +to the Forgery Bill it will be difficult to find juries to convict when a +majority has decided against the punishment of death. I am satisfied that +the property of many will be exposed to much danger by the abolition of the +punishment of death. + +One Ashe who has libelled the Duke of Cumberland, or written a threatening +letter, will be prosecuted as if he had done the same thing against any +private individual. + +The Fee Bill will be altered in the Committee (which out of delicacy is +indefinitely postponed) and the commissioners continued by endorsement. +This is a very ingenious device, saving all the difficulty of dealing with +patent offices and of sharing the present fees. + +Lord Combermere has written a letter to the Duke explaining and defending +his conduct. This is a trouble brought upon us by Astell. He has written +rather an impertinent answer to my letter respecting the 600L for the +Russian papers, or rather some one has written it for him and he has only +signed it. + +I find Mr. Archibald Campbell, who applied yesterday to me for an +assistant-surgeoncy, is Campbell of Blytheswood, a good voter and a great +friend of Lord Melville's, and others. I have given him the surgeoncy. I +told Planta, who is much pleased. + +The Duke was sent for because the physicians intended to acquaint the King +with his danger. + +He was restless yesterday. The bulletin says he passed a very distressing +day. He walked across the room, however, and will probably last some days. + +In the House, East Retford till 8, when I came away. + + +_June 9._ + +A better bulletin. Office before 12. Settled with Wortley the 'reasons' for +abolishing the College. [Footnote: Haileybury.] + +At 3 Sir P. Freeling came. Went with him and Wortley to Lord Melville's. +There will be no difficulty in getting the steam vessel to Alexandria. + +Read Colonel Macdonald's Journal for January, February, and to March 10. It +is not so interesting as the last portion, or rather not so entertaining. +These make no doubt from the account of Khosroo Murza and of the others who +went to Petersburg, that the conquest of India by the route of Khiva and +Bokhara is the favourite object of the Russians, and the whole people seem +animated by hatred of England. + +Cabinet dinner _chez moi_. The Duke did not see the King to-day; the Dukes +of Clarence and Cumberland being there, whom he did not wish to see. The +King is better. There is coagulated lymph in his legs, one thigh, Tierney +thinks, is a little swelled. He has had no embarrassment of breathing for +thirty-six hours, and slept yesterday as soundly as a child. + +The man who was with the Queen and the Duke of York when they died is with +the King now. When the King was sleeping yesterday Knighton said to him, +'This is not the sleep of death!' The other answered, 'Lord, sir! he will +not die!' They think the King has never thought himself in danger, not even +when they told him he was. He seemed flurried, however, or they thought so, +for a moment, and then they endeavoured to unsay; but the King, who was +quite firm, said, 'No, no! I understand what you think. Call in the Bishop +and let him read prayers.' + +Last night he was talking a great deal to Knighton, and was as amusing as +ever. In constitution and in mind he is certainly a wonderful man. I have +no doubt that the feeling that he is always in representation makes him +behave in the face of death as a man would on the field of battle. + + +_June 10._ + +The King passed a restless night. He is weaker than he has been yet. + +East Retford. Salisbury concluded his case. + + +_June 11._ + +House. I expected to get away immediately; but Lord Londonderry made a +motion for papers, which led to a discussion of an hour and a half. He was +put down entirely by Aberdeen, who really, with a bad manner, said very +good things. At last Lord Londonderry chose to say the Contents had it and +did not divide, so that the motion was negatived _nemine contradicente_. +Most scandalously many went out, not voting against the motion after +Aberdeen had declared it would be injurious to the public service to give +the Papers. + +The King rather better, but weaker. + + +_June 12._ + +Chairs. They did not come till half-past 11. I began to think they had +taken huff and did not mean to come at all, as I had taken no notice of +Astell's letter. However, they came. They do not much like my Nagpore +letter, which it seems is contrary to the line of policy laid down by the +Court and approved of by Wynne. I told them I took the responsibility upon +myself. They were ministerial only. My opinion was confirmed by that of +Jenkins and of the Duke. + +Met at dinner, at Hardinge's, Arbuthnot, with whom I had some conversation +about the Report he is writing on the China Evidence. He is to show it to +me. The Duke saw the King, who is much better. The King said he would defer +taking the sacrament till he was well; but he takes it to-morrow as a +_convalescent_. + + +_June 13._ + +Cabinet at half-past 3. First considered the line to be adopted on the +Forgery Bill, which seems to be to allow it to pass unaltered, throwing the +whole responsibility on the House of Commons; but Peel is to see the +bankers and merchants that he may ascertain what their opinions are now the +Bill has passed the Commons abolishing the punishment of death for forgery. +Peel's idea is that no conviction would be obtained. + +I believe the French and the Russians are so alarmed by the effect produced +in France by the continued exhibition of democratic violence in Greece and +successful rebellion, that they would be disposed to enter into our views +with respect to the nomination of a prince rather than leave the question +open; but that they will procrastinate if they find we will unite with them +in giving money which may keep Greece in a state of tranquillity. As to +Capo d'Istria, he first wished to prevent the nomination of any prince and +to keep the government to himself. When he found that would not do, he +endeavoured to frighten Leopold into subserviency; but if he finds he can +get money without having a prince, he will frighten other princes and +remain there himself. + +It is like paying money in consequence of a threatening letter. If it is +done once there is no stopping. + +I said I believed the dissolution of the Acarnanian army, happen as it +might, would be better than its maintenance, and that the state of anarchy +into which it was pretended Greece would fall if it had not money, would be +a better foundation of improvement than the state of military thraldom in +which it is now held. + +Peel proposed that Dawkins should be instructed under circumstances of +imminent danger to advance money not exceeding 20,000L, and this would be +the best way of doing it. The Duke has great repugnance to giving anything, +and objects to doing what might be considered an unconstitutional act. He +hopes Aberdeen will be able to persuade the other Powers to give 30,000L +each, leaving us out of the subscription. + +The thing was left undetermined. I suggested that it was by no means +impossible a question might be asked by some 'friend of Greece' whether we +intended to give or had given money in consequence of Capo d'Istria's +representations, and then what we had done would come out. In fact if the +King was well the matter would be brought before Parliament. + +His illness creates great embarrassment. It is doubtful whether the +Government can command majorities on questions on which a defeat under +ordinary circumstances would lead them to resign; but it is known that now +they cannot resign and cannot dissolve, and the Opposition has no other +effect than that of interfering with the conduct of public business. + +A powerful man would place this strongly before the country and bring the +House to a sense of its duty. + +The Duke showed me the letter he had written to Lord Combermere in reply to +his, upon my Memorandum. It is _excellent_. + +There is to be a great fight upon sugar. Charles Grant makes a proposition, +and Goulburn proposes to modify his original proposition by suggesting the +addition of 6_d_. a gallon to Scotch and Irish spirits and to rum, thus +leaving the proportional burthen nearly the same. In addition to this he +proposes lowering the duty on the inferior kinds of sugar. + +The French Expedition was in Palma Bay on May 31, awaiting the arrival of +the last division, which was expected the next day. + + +_June 15._ + +The King much better. He has been in good spirits about himself, and has +expectorated, which is thought a good sign. + +In the House of Commons Goulburn's altered plans seem to have succeeded +with all parties as far as first impression goes. + + +_June 16._ + +At the Cabinet dinner spoke to Lord Melville and Goulburn about the +embarrassments of the civil servants. Both are very much indisposed to +grant the papers asked for by Hume on the subject. I shall write to +Arbuthnot to do what he can to prevent their being given. + +The Duke got a number of papers stamped--indeed all the arrears, about 400. +The King paid more attention to them than he ever did while he was well. He +recollected everything. + +The Duke did not think him so well as when he last saw him. The physicians +do not like this catarrh. The Duke thought his hand was hotter than usual, +that he was larger, and that altogether he was not so well. His judgment +has hitherto been so correct that I attach much importance to it. + +Peel spoke after dinner with much _ennui_ of his position in the House of +Commons. He complained that it really was not worth a man's while to be +there for so many hours every night. The sacrifice was too great. He said +the Radicals had brought the House into such a state that no man could do +business but themselves. He seemed not well, and thoroughly out of humour. + +We had some discussion about the Forgery Bill. We are to see the Governor +and deputy-governor of the Bank, &c. The Duke is much indisposed to +acquiesce in the Commons' amendment. + +Peel thinks that after the vote of the House of Commons no verdicts will be +obtained; but may not a contrary vote of the House of Lords turn public +opinion into its former course? I think it may. + + +_June 17._ + +In French newspaper a bad report of the French fleet, which is very much +dispersed. One division was in sight of the shore on May 30 when it came on +to blow, and they ran to Majorca. The other divisions will have gone to the +rendezvous on the African shore, where they will have met no men-of-war and +much bad weather. The star of Napoleon is set. + +Lord Combermere has written another letter to the Duke, in which he +acknowledges his error as to the compact in 1796 and 1801, and says he was +led into it by Col. Fagan. He restates all he before said on the other +points, and still wishes his letter to go to the King. + +The King seems to have had a good night. I did not hear the private +account. + + +_June 18._ + +Received last night from Astell a letter in which he speaks of an intended +address of his respecting the Nagpore letter. I have told him he has +already privately told me his opinion--that the Act of Parliament has made +no provision for a representation on the part of the Secret Committee if +they disagree with the Board, and I cannot receive any such representation +officially. I have further told him that I think any more delay will be +injurious to the public service. + +Wrote a letter to Runjeet Singh to go with the horses. Showed it to Lord +Amherst, Clare, and Auckland. Lord Amherst and Clare were delighted with +it. Showed it to the Duke, who approved. Saw the Duke. + +The King alarmed the princesses yesterday, but the Duke of Clarence did not +think him so ill. I saw the Duke of Clarence's letter to the Duke of W. +Halford thinks the expectoration is an additional evil. + + +_June 19._ + +At 11 Privy Council to hear the appeal of Elphinstone (that is, East India +Company) against Ameerchund Bidruchund, a case of booty. Remained till +half-past two, when I was obliged to come away, having a dinner at +Roehampton. Indeed I do not think that upon a point affecting the revenues +of India I ought to vote as a judge. + +Brougham ridiculed the Directors who sat there in a mass, nine of them. +Fergusson spoke of "the Court." Brougham said he was not surprised he +should make that mistake seeing such an array of directors. Brougham put it +_ad verecundiam_ to the directors whether they would vote upon a question +in which they were directly interested, and in which they had already +appeared by Counsel. + +They were and will be very sulky. They will stay away and decline +supporting Government. + +The bulletin is bad. + +Two most impertinent letters from Lord Arbuthnot and Mr. Arbuthnot asking +for, or rather _demanding_, cadetships. They will find I am not to be +bullied. + + +_June 21._ + +The King expectorated blood yesterday. He is failing in strength, and now +certainly dying. + +Read a memorandum of Wilson's on a proposed remodelling of the army. It is +founded on my idea of bringing it into the form it formerly had, with fewer +European officers and more native officers, in higher ranks. He proposes +having two more European Non-Commissioned officers, a Subadar Major, and +another Subadar, and several minor things. + + +_June 22._ + +Cabinet. The Duke thought the character of the Government would be affected +if we gave up the Forgery Bill in the Lords, not in consequence of any +change of opinion, but of a majority of 13 in the House of Commons. I am +satisfied the law, as it is, ought to be maintained. In the House Lord +Lansdowne made a speech on moving the second reading, and Lord Winchelsea +and the Duke of Richmond said they should vote for the Bill as it was-- +none, however, taking religious objections, Lord Lansdowne throwing out +that he would consent to make the bill temporary. The Chancellor made a +very good speech, expressing his general objections to the Bill as it +stands, and reserving his reasons for the Committee. + +The King is rather worse and weaker. + +In the House of Commons last night a mine was sprung and all parties, Whigs +and Tories, East and West Indians, united by a trick on the sugar duties. +However, we had a majority. + + +_June 23._ + +It seems Peel and Herries and even Goulburn himself rather doubts whether +the sugar arrangement will work, and Peel has some doubt as to his +majority. Altogether he is very much out of humour, or rather _ennuye_, and +a very little would induce him to give up. + +Cabinet dinner. The Duke saw the King and some stamping took place. The +King was much worse than on Saturday. The expectoration is matter from the +lungs. Knighton says that if they can keep the bowels right he may live a +month. Halford says if he was an ordinary man he should think he would not +live three days. Tierney says his pulse almost failed while he was asleep +this morning, and he thought he would have died. The Duke says he thinks +more with Knighton than the others. + +The King was perfectly alive to all the business done. He talks of going to +the Cottage still. + +Much talk at the Cabinet dinner as to what should be done as to +dissolution; but all depends on the time of the King's death, and the state +of public business then. + +Peel, Herries, and all seem to think the Low Party gains, and will gain +strength. Hume, on Whitbread's retirement, is to come in for Middlesex. + + +_June 24._ + +House. Galway Franchise Bill read second time Counsel were to have been +heard; but the petitioners declined having them. I fear we shall have a +sharp debate about it to-morrow, and Lord Grey be directly opposed to the +Duke, and the worst of it is I do not believe our case is very good. + +Hardinge and Wortley both say we are in a great scrape with these sugar +duties, and Ireland, which was all with us, is hostile again on account of +the spirit and stamp duties. + +Walked as far as Mrs. Arbuthnot's with the Duke. He told me his view of the +Galway Franchise Bill, and is very certain of his case. He feels Goulburn +has satisfied no one with his sugar duties. + +The King seems much worse by the bulletin; but the private account was not +much so. He was said to be worse when Lord Hill left Windsor. I really +believe that we are so bothered with sugar duties and other things that an +immediate demise and immediate dissolution would be best for us, and for +the country. + + +_June 25._ + +Went to the Duke about the Galway Bill before the House met. The Duke spoke +very well and made a very good case. Lord Grey well, but the Chancellor +demolished his speech, and placed the question on such good grounds that it +was useless to speak afterwards; nor was there much subsequent debate. The +Duke of Buckingham made a speech against us, in which he mistook every +point, and gave me a great disposition to follow him; but I knew if I did I +should have a whole hornet's nest upon me, and I wished to keep Durham and +Radnor in check, or answer them. Had I spoken the debate would have lasted +three hours more. As it was we got away by nine. On the division we had 62 +to 47. Not brilliant. Our case was excellent. I had feared it would be +indifferent. The Chancellor had got it up admirably. Lord Londonderry, the +Dukes of Newcastle and Richmond, Calthorpe, all the Canningites, of course +voted against us. Dudley was in the House at one time, but he did not vote +against us, nor has he once since he went out. + +The King much weaker. + + +_June 26._ + +At half-past eight this morning I received a Cabinet box containing the +bulletin signed by Halford and Tierney of the King's death, and Halford's +private letter to the Duke of Wellington. The letter stated that the King +had slept for about two hours and woke a little before three. Soon +afterwards, Sir W. Waller only being in the room, he suddenly put his hand +to his breast, and said, 'Good God, what is the matter? This is death?' He +then sent for Halford. He and the others came, and so soon afterwards as I +have said, he expired without the least struggle or pain. + +Peel summoned a Cabinet at half-past ten. We met and talked of very little +but in what dress we should go to the Council, which was to be at twelve. +It was agreed we should go in black, shoes and stockings, but not full +dress. However, after I left the room the Duke arrived, and said the King +[Footnote: The Duke of Clarence now became William IV] intended to appear +in uniform, so the Duke, Lord Bathurst, Rosslyn, and Sir J. Murray, who +were there, put on their uniforms. The group at the Council was most +motley. Lords Grey, Lansdowne, Spencer, Tankerville, Sir J. Warrender, and +some others being in black full dress. Lord Camden and some more in +uniform, which several sent for after they arrived, as Salisbury and +Hardinge. The mass, however, in plain black, some in colours. The Royal +Dukes came in full dress. + +We waited a long time before the Council, almost two hours, a time occupied +in audiences. + +The Duke of Cumberland got the King to send for Lord Eldon, who went in for +a minute only. The Duke of Cumberland received his gold stick, and seemed +very active. The Duke of Wellington, Lord Bathurst, Rosslyn, the +Chancellor, and Sir R. Peel went in together, and personally acquainted the +King with the late King's death. The King said he might not have an +opportunity of seeing that day the rest of his late Majesty's confidential +servants; but he told those present that all had his confidence, and that +they would receive his _entire, cordial, and determined support_. He told +the Chancellor in a private audience not only the same thing, but that if +at any time he should hear reports of his ceasing to place confidence in +his Government, they were not to be believed. If he had any fault to find +he would at once tell them. + +When the Duke and the others came out from the King we all went to the +ball-room, where we began to sign the proclamation, and a few, the Royal +Dukes and others, had signed, when we were called to the Privy Council +Room, where the King soon arrived, attended by the household of the late +King. He took his seat, and read his declaration. He read it with much +feeling, and it was well imagined, and will have a good effect. The Lord +President entreated it might be printed. + +I should have mentioned that before the King came in the Council made the +usual orders, with the addition of an order for defacing the late King's +stamps, which was accordingly done by the clerk of the Council. + +When the declaration had been read the King took the Scotch oath in the +usual form, the Lord-President reading it to him, and the King holding up +his right hand. + +He then said it was a satisfaction to him to find such a Privy Council, and +requested them all to take the oath. + +This the Royal Dukes did first, then the Speaker, that he might go to the +House of Commons. Then the Archbishop and the Chancellor together, then the +Dukes, with the Lord President and Privy Seal, then the Marquises, then +others according to their rank. When all had taken the Privy Councillor's +oath the Lord Chancellor took his, and the Clerk of the Council was sworn +by the Lord President. The King then retired, and the Council ordered as +usual respecting the disposal of the late King's body. + +After the swearing in we signed the Proclamation. Some remained to alter +the Liturgy. Queen Adelaide is to be prayed for, and the rest of the Royal +family. + +The Duke of Norfolk was there as Earl Marshal. He observed he was the only +person there who was not a Privy Councillor, and expressed a wish to be +one. The Duke mentioned it to the King, who readily assented. He observed +there had been no Duke of Norfolk a member of the Privy Council since the +time of James II., and that that Duke of Norfolk was a Protestant. The Duke +of Norfolk, however, will consider the oath before he takes it. He would +have taken the Earl Marshal's oath to-day, but it was not there. + +We met in Cabinet at 4. + +The only innovations I yet hear of are in the dress of regiments. The King +intends, as he told Lord Farnborough, to live at Windsor. He intends to +have a battalion of the Guards at Edinburgh, and a regiment of the Line at +Windsor. + +I went in, by some misdirection, the wrong way, and found Wood and Sir Ch. +Pole waiting for the King. Wood, whom I met near the Horse Guards, as I was +riding down to the Cabinet, told me the King had rehearsed his declaration +to him, Sir Ch. Pole, and Lord Errol, before he went into the Privy +Council. + +There was no grief in the room in which we waited. It was like an ordinary +_levee_. + +The Chancellor went down to the House between the Cabinet and the Council, +and took the oaths. + +The Lord Steward was sent for by Peel, and only arrived a quarter before +four at the House of Commons. + +Lord Holland, Grey, and others seemed to think the Proclamation ought to +have been made to-day, and I think it might have been just as well. + +The Duke of Wellington was much cheered by the people. The Duke was called +out of the Cabinet to see Halford, but we had a long conversation as to the +course to be pursued with respect to the Parliament, and especially with +respect to the Regency question. + +The House must sit next week, as the sugar duties expire on Saturday next, +and Goulburn seems disposed to propose a Bill for the continuance of the +present duties for a time; to take money on account for miscellaneous +services; to throw over the judicial Bills and end the session at once. + +The stumbling block is the Regency question--whether it should be brought +forward now, and if brought forward, who shall be Regent. + +Peel seems to think we can hardly avoid bringing it on; as the session +would have lasted two months in the event of the late King's living, why +should it not now, when the reason for Parliament sitting is so much +greater? And what would be the situation of the country if the King should +die, leaving a minor Queen? + +Peel suggested appointing the Queen Regent for a year. I said, depend upon +it, when the King once has her as Regent he will never consent to change +her, and if you appoint her for a year you appoint her for the whole time. + +He afterwards suggested her appointment for a year after the King's death +on account of the probability of her pregnancy. To this I objected, the +state of distraction in which the country would be placed during that year. +It is impossible consistently with the constitution to have an Executive, +of which the existence shall be dependent on the good pleasure of +Parliament. + +Peel then suggested the giving to the King the power of naming either the +Queen, the Duchess of Kent, or any member of the Royal family. The +objection to this is that he ought to name one of the two first--that we +got no security against a bad nomination, which we ought to do. + +The views we ought to have are these: to give all possible strength to the +monarchy. This we do not, if we permit a frequent change of the Executive; +if we diminish the power of the Crown while in the hands of a Regency. We +want to give stability to the Government, and this can only be given by +making the Queen Regent. If we do that we provide, as far as human wisdom +can, for a stable Government of seven years. + +We can in no case _name_ any other person than the Queen, because she may +become pregnant, and in that event it would be monstrous to make the +Duchess of Kent Regent. All we can do, then, is to give the King the option +of choosing the Queen or the Duchess of Kent. He will name the Queen, and +she will be the best. + +It has been observed that all Kings of England die either on Saturdays or +Sundays. + + +_June 27._ + +Came up to a Cabinet at half-past three. We had a great deal of +conversation as to the course to be pursued. The Chancellor said that in +the event of a minor succeeding to the throne, all the minor's acts would +be valid, and under the responsibility of ministers the Great Seal might be +put in the minor's name by the minor's sign manual to an Act creating a +Regency. + +It was determined to take the opinion of the Attorney- and Solicitor- +General upon this point. + +On the supposition that the law is as the Chancellor states, we considered +what should be done. All turns upon our being able to get a temporary Act +for the sugar duties, and if we cannot get that we are _really_ no longer a +Government. It was determined to carry through the Beer Bill and Beer Duty +Bill, to throw over Stamps in Ireland, and carry Spirits. To take a sum of +800,000L on account of miscellaneous estimates, and 250,000L on account of +the civil list. + +These last points were decided at a Cabinet at Sir R. Peel's, which +assembled at eleven, and sat till near one; at which the Attorney- and +Solicitor-General delivered their opinion, in conformity with that of the +Chancellor as to the legal competency of a minor sovereign. + +The Attorney-General reminded us that if the King died before the new +Parliament assembled, the old Parliament would revive. + +Peel talked a good deal of the Regency. He is much in favour of making the +Queen Regent for a year after the King's death, to provide for the possible +pregnancy. It seems the principle of all Regencies has been to make the +guardian of the person Regent. It is curious that the case should never +have been provided for of a Queen being left pregnant of an heir apparent, +and that it should never have occurred. The difficulty would be infinite. + +I consider the death of the King to have been one of the fortunate events +which have often saved the Duke of Wellington. I really do not know how we +could have gone on, had he lived two months. + +The King wishes to make Lord Combermere a Privy Councillor, thinking all +gold sticks have been so. We find he is misinformed, and the Duke means to +show him the list of gold-sticks not Privy Councillors, and at the same +time to tell him how Lord Combermere stands, having within these few months +been censured by the Government. The Duke will show the King the +correspondence which passed lately, and leave it to him to decide. There +would be no objection to making him a Privy Councillor some months or a +year hence. + +Brougham made a violent speech against Lord Conyngham for not being in +readiness to swear in the House of Commons. + + +_June 28._ + +Went to St. James's at eleven. The Household, the Royal family, and the +Ministers only were there. The King was dressed in plain black. He went to +a large window looking into the courtyard, and stood forward. There were +but few people there at first, the Horse Guards and the Heralds. The King's +band played God Save the King, and those who were there cheered, upon which +numbers of people came round from before the Palace and filled the +courtyard. They then cheered well. + +As the King passed through the line we formed for him to go to the window +he came up to me and said he must begin by chiding me for not coming to him +yesterday. In fact he had forgot I was a Cabinet Minister, and he therefore +would see me to-day. I said 'it was my first and I hoped it would be my +last fault.' After the Proclamation he sent for the Duke of Wellington, and +when the Duke left him, for me. He asked about China. I told him how we +stood there. That there was an interruption which would probably prevent +the arrival of any ships this year; that orders had been given for a double +investment next year. I said the state of affairs generally was by no means +satisfactory. The King said he was afraid Lord W. Bentinck had not been +doing well. I said I feared he had let down the dignity of his office, and +had when he first went there run after popularity too much, and allowed the +press to get ahead. It would now be very difficult to check it. I added +that he went to make great reductions and had made some. That that had +rendered him unpopular. He was honest and well-meaning. The King said he +should go down to Bushey soon, and as I was living near he would have me +over at eleven o'clock some morning, and give me some hours to make him +acquainted with the state of India. I told him of the secret letter to the +Bengal Government about the Nagpore Treaty, and the principles laid down, +of which he highly approved. He then expressed apprehension of Russia. I +told him all that had been done upon that subject, and of the present to +Runjeet Singh, and the navigation of the Indus, with all which he seemed +much pleased. I said I would send him the secret letters, and get together +information that would bring the whole state of India before him as +concisely as possible. As I was led to mention Sir J. Macdonald, I asked a +coat for him, and the King granted it, thinking it very proper. + +The Duke attends the opening of the King's will at 12. + +The late King died, as was thought, of fatness about the heart. The dropsy +was gone. + +Cabinet. We had none at St. James's, but there was a council. The Duke of +Norfolk attended to be sworn in as a Privy Councillor. We found, on +reference to the Act of last session, that he must have taken the oath +within three months before his receiving any office of trust or profit. So, +on my proposal, the Petty Bag was sent for, and the Chancellor held a court +of Chancery in the ball-room, where the Duke took the oath. He was +afterwards sworn in, as were the Duke of Bedford, Sir S. Canning, Sir J. +Mackintosh, Lord Bexley, and two or three others who were not in time +yesterday. There were a good many orders in council, but of no moment. + +There was the usual proclamation against vice and immorality. + +The King did very well. He was very gracious to all who approached him, and +had something to say to every one. He took little notice of Sir. J. +Mackintosh. + +Lord Bathurst had to change a sheriff. The King, when he heard the name of +the new one (sheriff of Suffolk, I think), said, _'He is a Whig.'_ Lord +Bathurst said, 'He is a very good man, I believe, Sir, and is recommended +by the Duke of Grafton.' 'Oh!' said the King, 'I do not mean to say it is +wrong; only remember, _he is a Whig_.' + +After the council we went to Peel's, but we remained but a short time, the +Duke going to the House and Peel too before 4. In our House not a word was +said. In the Commons Brougham, who seems, as Frankland Lewis told me, half +frantic, made rather an apologetic speech for his attack upon the Lord +Steward, but again hinted at intentional disrespect towards the House of +Commons, not on the part of Ministers in that House, but of persons +elsewhere. He reminded Peel that whatever accession of strength Ministers +might have recently obtained, they could not carry on the Government +without the confidence of the House of Commons. + +His speech was very mysterious, and hardly any one understood it. Some +thought he alluded to the accession of Lord Grey to the Government; that +must have rested upon foolish rumour. He alluded, I conclude, to the King's +support, now well known. What symptoms of disrespect for the House of +Commons he may have discovered I know not. Probably he chooses to imagine +them, to produce an effect. + +He is evidently mad with disappointment. He could not well be wooed in such +a temper, even if he were to be wooed at all. + +After the House I rode to leave my name at the Princess Augusta's, and +forgot the Duke of Cumberland, who lives close by; then I went to the Duke +of Gloucester's, where I met F. Lewis, who told me of Brougham's speech and +so on. I went with Wood to the Princess Sophia of Gloucester's. He told me +all the King said of the late King's error in not frankly supporting his +Government, and of his own determination to do so. He had been long in the +habit of saying, 'the Queen is not with child.' There had been a report to +that effect. Rode to the Duchess of Kent's and Duke of Sussex's. Met Lord +Graham, Mr. and Mrs. Arbuthnot, and the Chancellor. Rode on with the +Chancellor to Kensington. As we were coming away from the Palace we heard +the trampling of horses behind us, and turning round, saw the King coming +full tilt with his lancers; we had but just time to wheel round and salute +His Majesty, who seemed much amused at seeing two of his Ministers amongst +all the little children who were running by his carriage, and the +Chancellor, so lately in all the gravity of his official robes, mounted on +a little white New Forest pony of Lady Lyndhurst's. I rode on to +Roehampton, dined there, and rode back. + +At 10 a Cabinet at Peel's. We framed the message. Peel was very flat. The +measure of immediate dissolution is one he does not half approve. He wished +to settle the Regency question. He has been put out of humour by having his +opinions upon that point not at once acquiesced in. He sees all the +difficulties of our position, and does not meet them with energy and +_elan_. He certainly is not an agreeable person to transact business with, +but he is a very able man. + +The accounts from Ireland are very bad. The potatoes are exhausted at +Limerick, Tralee, and other places, and the new crop will not come in till +August. At Limerick some stores have been forced, and the troops attacked +with stones. + +At Tralee there was a subscription of 450L for the purchase of potatoes; +300L was expended, and the Mayor of Tralee and other _gentlemen_ bought +some of these potatoes, which were offered at a reduced price to the +people, for _seed_! Can any country be tranquil in which resident gentlemen +can do such things? A discretionary power has been given to the Lord +Lieutenant to expend 3000L in food, should it become necessary, without +further reference. + +About 180 peers have taken the oaths. I fear we shall be beaten upon the +Forgery Bill; we have a very narrow margin indeed, not above six or eight +without bishops. It is supposed the bishops will stay away. I fear those +will stay away who would, if present, vote with us, and all who are against +will come. If this should be the case we must be defeated. + +The King was perfectly reasonable about Lord Combermere. The Duke showed +His Majesty the letters which had passed, and the King said he should not +think of it. He told Peel and Lord Melville he wished the Royal Academy to +remain open till after the King's funeral, that he might see the +exhibition, and said Peel should attend him when he went. This Peel thinks +very foolish, and his disposition seems to be to turn the King into +ridicule, and to throw the suspicion of insanity upon all his acts. This is +the _tactique_ of the Whigs. The King takes the Sacrament on Sunday, and +has desired the two English and one Irish archbishop to attend. This they +call 'an indication.' + + +_June 29._ + +At half-past ten went to Lord Rosslyn's, to arrange with him the Lords' +Address. Went with him to Peel's, to show it to him. He was reading when we +went in, and hardly looked up. He heard the Address which I read, and +approved of it; but he hardly took any notice of us or of it. He seemed +really ill, and quite broken down. + +Called on Hardinge. We had some conversation respecting the state of the +Government. His idea is that the strength of the Government in the House of +Commons is much injured by Peel's being in a subordinate situation to the +Duke. That if he was Chancellor of the Exchequer and First Lord of the +Treasury, things would go on better, the Duke taking a secretaryship of +State. This would do very well in the House of Commons, but very ill in the +Cabinet. He is for getting Mr. Stanley, and suggests (or Rosslyn did, or +both, for having talked to both on the same subject I may confound them) +that Lord F. Leveson should be made a peer. I think that a good idea. He is +of no use in the Commons, and his peerage would open a place which Mr. +Stanley could fill. + +Rosslyn thinks Aberdeen's notions upon foreign politics have, together with +his assumption of independence which is of recent date, made the Duke +rather sore, and that he would not be sorry to have another Secretary of +State for Foreign Affairs. Lord Rosslyn wants to have Lord Grey in, and +says he would as soon be First Lord of the Admiralty as Foreign Secretary. +Rosslyn would, I think, like to go to Ireland as Lord Lieutenant. He would +willingly give up the Privy Seal to Aberdeen. He thinks Sir G. Murray would +make an excellent Governor General. I fear he would be too indolent. He +said he knew, if there was a vacancy, the Duke would be glad to make him +Master General. + +I had said I believed Lord Beresford would go to Portugal as Minister, if +Miguel would be on good terms with us. It seems Goulburn would be glad to +be Speaker. That would open a proper office for Herries, and his offices +might be divided, Lord Althorpe having the Board of Trade. + +I really think some arrangement must be made to give us strength in the +House of Commons. Saw the Duke at two. He approved of the address. Rosslyn, +was with him. I told him how ill Peel seemed. He said he would go to see +him. + +House. The Duke moved the Address. He gave a character of the late King as +one of the most accomplished, able, and remarkable men of the age. I saw +Lord Grey smile a little, but the House generally was grave and formal. +Lord Grey assented to the Address, but _laissait entrevoir_ that he should +be hostile to the Address to-morrow, hinting at the Regency. The same thing +was done in the Commons. + +The Duke told me the late King had three disorders which must have proved +fatal, and he died of bursting a blood-vessel in the stomach. He had a +concretion as large as an orange in his bladder, his liver was diseased, +and his heart was ossified. Water there was not much, and all proceeding +from the interruption of circulation about the heart. I read the report, +signed by Halford, Tierney, Brodie, and A. Cooper. + +We had East Retford again. Lord Londonderry, whom Lord Durham puts forward +as his tool, moved an adjournment. The question was postponed till Friday. +Afterwards the Duke of Buckingham, when most peers had gone away, moved the +same thing, and then Lord Londonderry twice. We had majorities but gave it +up at last. The Chancellor is heartily tired of the whole thing. The Duke +went away while Lord Londonderry was explaining in answer to his speech, to +the noble Lord's great annoyance. + +I rode home with the Duke, who spoke of Lord Londonderry as a madman. He +said Peel had not taken a sufficiently high line. He did not like the +position he stood in in the House of Commons. The Duke said no Government +was ever beaten by its enemies, but many have been by their friends. + +The King was very amenable and good-natured to-day. + + +_June 30._ + +Occupied all the morning in looking at the precedents in the case of +regency. There are two modern contradictory precedents, 24 Geo. II. and 5 +Geo. III., and no experience of either, nor has there been a minority since +Edward VI. in 1547. + +It is clear the sovereign is sovereign whatever be his age, and the Act +appointing a regent must have his assent. Whatever has at any time been +done, has been done or sanctioned by Parliament. Parliament cannot +supersede the Royal authority. + +It is remarkable that Parliament in 1811 made provision for the care of the +King's person in case of his death; but none for the care of the kingdom in +the event of the Regent's death, although the Princess Charlotte was but +fifteen. + +House at 5. The Duke moved the Address in a very short speech, not +adverting to the regency. Lord Grey followed and declared his opinion of +the incapacity of Government as exhibited in their measures during the last +five months. Goderich said 'nothing had been done,' and was for going on +with the business. Lord Harrowby wished a short Regency Bill to be passed, +giving the regency to the Queen for six weeks, to provide for the case of +pregnancy. The Chancellor made a speech, not long, admitting the law to be +as stated, that is, that the sovereign immediately on accession possessed +all Royal power. Eldon spoke against us, and treated the question of a King +_en venire sa mere_ with jocularity. I followed, and observed gravely upon +his jocularity on such a subject; then stated my view of the question, and +expressed my regret and surprise at Lord Grey's declaration, added I was +happy to know at last where we were, who were our friends and who were our +enemies. + +Then got up the Duke of Richmond, totally misrepresenting what I had said +as to Lord Eldon and Lord Grey, and endeavouring to make them appear as +personal attacks to which no gentleman could submit. Lord Londonderry +followed in the same tone. (After the Duke of Richmond I explained that I +had not attributed improper motives to Lord Grey, nor attacked Lord Eldon's +character.) We had afterwards Lord Lansdowne, Lord Harewood giving his +first vote for the Government after the Catholic Question, and _that_ +because it was the first measure of the new King. A foolish reason, but I +dare say many voted on the same ground. Lord Wharncliffe spoke against us, +Lords Bute and Wicklow and the Duke of Buckingham for us, Lord Radnor +shortly against. The Duke replied. Then Lord Grey spoke, and observed, of +course, upon what I had said, but not angrily, and I made an explanation +which was satisfactory, and set us quite right again. He had imagined me to +say he owed a debt of gratitude to the Government for the measure of last +session. I said he had expressed gratitude, but we had not claimed it, +because we only did our duty. In the lobby during the debate Lord Jersey +told me he was afraid Lord Grey might have misunderstood the meaning of +what I said about gratitude, and begged me to set him right immediately if +it was so. + +We had 100 to 54. A very good division. We went, at ten, to Goulburn's to +dinner, and expected soon to see the members of the House of Commons, and +to hear of as good a division there as in the Lords, but after an hour we +heard the division had only been 185 to 139. This made us a little flat, +and Lord Bathurst drank no more champagne. + +I intentionally committed the Government thoroughly with the Whigs, for +after Lord Grey's declaration it was idle to expect a vote from them, and +our people were pleased, as I knew they would be. The Duke of Bedford and +Lord Jersey voted with us. So did Dudley. + +I shall have work enough now, as they have ten or twelve speakers, and we +but three. + + +_July 1._ + +Looked over the debates on the Forgery Bill this morning. Committee at one. +Examined a manufacturer of camlets and bombazines from Norwich. House. +Forgery Bill. The Chancellor made an admirable speech, Lord Lansdowne +followed him, then Lords Wynford, Tenterden, and Eldon all against the +bill. We divided 77 to 20. The Duke was delighted, he said, '_How very +right we were._' So said the Chancellor. Peel would have given it up. Now, +I think one large majority will set public opinion right again. The +Chancellor said all that was contained in Peel's two speeches and much +more. Peel and Brougham were under the throne. + +Lord Bathurst, with whom I walked home from the House at three, when we +talked of Goulburn's becoming Speaker, suggested Hardinge as Chancellor of +the Exchequer. He would be an excellent one. + +I met Goulburn in the Park this morning. He did not seem much pleased with +the House last night. I see there were strong words indeed in the second +debate, Brougham talking of the _parasites_ of the Duke of Wellington. Peel +asked whether he presumed to call him a parasite? There was great +confusion, and it ended by Peel's making an explanation for Brougham, in +which Brougham acquiesced. Several members, amongst the rest, I hear, +Castlereagh, were going to call Brougham out. + +In the House Lord Bathurst told me Wortley had stayed away from the +division last night, and had sent in his resignation. Soon after I received +a note from Wortley telling me so, expressing great regret that he could +not vote for a course of measures which excluded a Regency Bill. His regret +was increased by my kindness and encouragement. I have sent his letter to +the Duke, having shown it to Lord Bathurst in the House. I wrote an answer +to say I felt great regret at his not being able to adopt our line, and +expressing my personal regret at losing him, and my acknowledgments for the +assistance I had derived from him. + +His father and father-in-law both voted against us last night. He says in +his note he has taken his line entirely on his own view. + +I had some talk with Dudley in the lobby of the House. I began by saying he +had acted very handsomely by us. He said he was friendly to the Government, +and above all things unfriendly to Lord Grey and the Duke of Newcastle. The +motion of last night he called pure faction. + +Salisbury told me he stayed away to-night not liking to vote against us, on +account of yesterday's declaration of war. The Duke of Gordon told me he +was much pleased with me last night. I do not, however, think I spoke as +well as usual. + +Bankes I had some talk with. He said the Duke of Cumberland was hostile to +the Duchess of Kent and Leopold. He would prefer the Queen as Regent. He +had been much with the King for the last six weeks, and there was a good +understanding between them. Bankes asked if I had left my name with him. I +told him I had, and I believed all the rest had. By some mistake of a +servant the summons to the Privy Council did not reach the Duke of +Cumberland till the day after the accession, and he was very angry. It had +been sent to Kew. He is satisfied now. Goulburn has hit upon a _mezzo +termine_ which answers for the present session. He has reduced the duty on +West Indian sugar to 24,9., and on East Indian sugar to 32s. The duty on +other sugar to be 63s. I did not fail to tell Dudley and Bankes in what +strong terms the King had expressed his determination to support the +Government. They were both 'colpiti.' Dudley had had no idea terms so +strong had been used. He comes to the Council to be sworn in on Saturday. + + +_July 2._ + +Chairs at eleven. They have sent a representation on the subject of the +Kattywar draft, impugning, as I understand, for I have not yet read it, the +power of the Board to give orders in the Secret Department which do not +require secresy. + +I told the Chairs distinctly that I intended to take upon the King's +Government the whole responsibility of the foreign policy of India. + +I saw Wortley, who thanked me very much indeed for my note of yesterday +evening. He was much distressed, and evidently regrets extremely that he +has tendered his resignation. He adheres, however, to his opinion that the +Regency question should have been settled at least provisionally before +Parliament separated. He was going to see Peel and afterwards the Duke. + +He told me the Government could not be conducted in the House of Commons +unless some more Ministers would speak-that there must be a change. + +I called at Hardinge's. He told me the same thing, and that he had talked +about it to the Duke yesterday and made him promise to place the +ministerial seats in the House of Commons at Peel's disposal. Hardinge is +for having Edward Stanley. He spoke of Wilmot Horton, but he is not of +Cabinet calibre. I think Hardinge is disposed to displace Murray rather +than either of the others. He talked again of making Peel First Lord of the +Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Duke Secretary of State +for Foreign Affairs--Aberdeen going to Ireland. Aberdeen would not go +there, I think. I told Hardinge Lord Bathurst had suggested him as +Chancellor of the Exchequer. He would not hear of it. + +It seems Brougham was almost drunk the other night. Hardinge and several +others were getting up to question him when Peel stopped them. He pulled +Hardinge down by the coat. Hardinge says Peel managed admirably. + +In the House spoke to the Chancellor and Lord Bathurst, and told them I had +heard we must have an addition of strength to the Treasury Bench. They both +said they believed so too. Lord Bathurst again mentioned Hardinge. + +Spoke to the Duke about Wortley. He said he had written a kind note to him, +and told him he had been too hasty. He should have spoken to some of the +Ministers first. The Duke evidently intends the thing to blow over. + +Spoke to Lord Wharncliffe about the same thing. He said he would neither +have voted nor have spoken against Government on Wednesday if he had had an +idea of Wortley's resigning, because it gave the appearance of concert, and +there really was none. He did not know of the letters till after they had +been written. I said Lord Harrowby's taking the same line, both voting and +speaking, gave the appearance of concert. He said he thought Wortley +altogether wrong. That a young man, having joined a Government, had no +right, for a difference on a single point, to resign. If he differed upon a +system of policy it was another thing. I said I thought it would be allowed +to blow over. He afterwards talked to the Duke, and I have no doubt Wortley +will remain. + +Lord Bathurst says W. Horton is a gentleman. I doubted it. He rather wishes +to have Wilmot in office. But the person to be got is Mr. Stanley. + +We had a discussion on a motion of Lord Londonderry's whether we should +proceed with East Retford or not. I followed Lord Grey and spoke very +quietly but, I think, reasonably, for going on. I said if we were obliged +to postpone any measure, the last we should postpone should be one deeply +interesting to the House of Commons and affecting their privileges. + +I think we did all Peel could require. We had 45 to 13. I remained till +eight, but I could stay no longer. + +Lord Londonderry attacked me again, and said instead of planting a dagger +in the side of Lord Grey I should have applied a _healing plaster!_ His +comparative civility to the Government to-day was to conciliate their +support to Sir R. Gresley for Durham. + +The Duke told Hardinge yesterday I was always ready. I was a little too +lively, but I was of great use. + + +_July 3._ + +The King has done two popular things. He has allowed a passage to be made +from Waterloo Place into the Park, and he has dismissed all the late King's +French cooks! He will have no foreigners about him. + +The foreign Ministers were all introduced to him to-day. He was very +gracious, Aberdeen said, but he did not choose his topics quite so well as +the late King, who had much tact and grace, neither does the King speak +French well. + +Lord Combermere came and had an audience to present a picture of the King +of Delhi, painted by an Indian artist. It seemed not ill done, and had the +appearance of an ordinary picture, but when placed against the light was a +transparency. Lord Combermere did not remain long with the King, and when +he came out he seemed annoyed. He remained some time, and the Duke was +afraid he remained to be sworn in, in consequence of some incautious +promise of the King. It was arranged that Buller, who had a list of the +Privy Councillors, should turn him out with the rest who were not so, when +the Council began. However, he went away a little before. + +The Duke of Montrose has resigned, and the King has placed the office at +the disposal of the Duke of Wellington. + +Peel seems to think Lord Graham is dissatisfied and unfriendly. It seems he +has been heard complaining of vacillation, &c., on the part of the +Government, and does not attend well. + +The Queen has named Lady Wellesley and Mrs. Berkeley Paget as two Ladies of +the Bed-chamber. Valletort is to be in some high situation about the Queen. +Lord Errol, her Master of the Horse. + +I conclude Lord Conyngham will resign, but it is not known. + +The Duke goes to Windsor to-morrow respecting the late King's papers, the +Duke of Cumberland having meditated an _enlevement_. + +Peel thinks Brougham really rather mad, and would not be surprised to hear +he was confined. Last year he was melancholy, and his friends and _he +himself_ feared he might commit suicide. Now he is in an excited state. +Peel speaks of him as a most wonderful man in ability. + +It seems that last night the leaders came down to make an attack, but the +followers, not having been consulted, would not support. R. Gordon came +over to Herries and said he should vote with Government. Hume, who in the +morning had sent to ask Planta whether Government intended to oppose him +for Middlesex (a question Planta was desired not to answer till the end of +next week), was very civil, and disposed to let business pass. It is not +impossible that the House of Commons may have done their business by this +day week. + +I am to look at the Beer Bill, and have already begun to read the Commons' +debates upon it. + + +_July 4._ + +Read all the debates on the Beer Bill, made notes, and considered the +subject. The Queen seems to have selected her maids of honour from the +neighbourhood of Bushey. This is amiable and very right. + + +_July 5._ + +I proposed to Wortley, as Edward Stanley was an acquaintance of his, to +give him a hint not to commit himself against the Government just now; but +he says he does not know Stanley intimately enough. + +I asked him whether he did not find the Duke of Wellington very kind. He +really had the kindest heart of any man I ever knew. When I looked up I saw +the tears in his eyes. + +Clare told me he heard all the Whigs in our House, except Lord Lansdowne, +were determined to push us _a l'outrance_; but Lord Lansdowne thought the +Duke must endeavour to strengthen himself during the vacation. He could not +do it now, as it would be a confession of weakness; but he thought he would +do it before Parliament met. However, the others would not hear him. + +There was a meeting at Lord Althorpe's yesterday, but I have not heard the +result. + +Talked to Clare about the affairs of Kattywar, and promised to give him +precise instructions before he left England. + +He will remain at Bombay, I think. He tells his mother three years, but he +will remain till he has made some money and done something worth going +there to do. He has got Elphinstone to make a list of the civil servants +_with their characters_. + +The King took the sacrament yesterday with the Royal Family, and afterwards +received the bishops and the judges. He made long speeches to both. Thirty +minutes to the first, and twenty to the second. + +Polignac seems quite firm, although certain he shall be in a minority of 1 +to 2 or 3. It is expected he will _evade_, and that Villele may be able to +go on with the new Chamber. + +No news from Algiers. 15,000 men are assembled at Toulon as a reserve. + + +_July 6._ + +Cabinet. Peel said the Lord Advocate would resign if we did not pass the +Scotch Judicature Bill, so we must struggle through with it. The Welsh +Judicature Bill is to be passed too. This will keep us sitting some time. +The Commons will have finished on Friday. + +House. We had the second reading of the Beer Bill. I said a few words to +show the inaccuracy of one of Lord Malmesbury's conclusions; but I must +speak in detail in the Committee. + + +_July 7._ + +Last night we had 247 to 93, a great division. The Tories in general voting +with us. + +Looked over again all the papers relative to the Beer Bill. + +In my way back from Roehampton met Lord Ravensworth, who told me the King +had the gout, and that he had given the Guelphic ribbon to his three sons- +in-law. He likewise told me what I knew before, that the Duke of Montrose +had resigned. + +I told him of the dismissal of the French cooks, which horrified him. + +Cabinet dinner at Herries's. All the House of Commons pleased with their +division. They got three county members to speak for others. The Whigs did +not like the motion, and were unwilling to divide. Robert Grant divided the +House. The King was delighted with the division. + +He came to town to-day, almost for nothing, and received the Duke and +others. He sent for Lord Rosslyn and told, him he had made his regiment the +Queen's Own. + +He has changed the uniform of the navy, which is to be blue with red cuffs +and facings. He wore the uniform so to-day. + +Aberdeen introduced Prince William of Prussia. The King desired him to +stay, and said he should never receive foreigners except in his presence, +and never but in his naval uniform. He should wear the military uniform now +and then, but as little as possible. + +All the cavalry are to be in red. + +No news from Algiers. The Duke thinks they must be rather in want of +provisions. The French are all in a state of sentiment, as Bourmont's +second son has been dangerously wounded. Certainly the way in which it is +mentioned in the dispatch is good, and indeed Bourmont, a very clever man, +and first under fire with his four sons, will soon be popular with an army. + +Polignac seems to be insensible rather than bold. He thinks all will go on +well still. + +The present intention is that we should all be in gala at the funeral, with +black scarfs, &c. + +I have asked several to dine at Roehampton and go from thence. + +The Queen is to be present, I suppose, in the King's pew. The King is +certainly to be chief mourner. + +We had a great deal of talk after dinner about elections. I fear they have +not been attended to in time. It is hoped Seaford will be conquered from +Lord Seaford, and that the two Grants will be thrown out. We have nobody +for Surrey and nobody for Middlesex. + + +_July 8._ + +House. Answered the Duke of Richmond on the sale of Beer Bill. The Duke +seemed very well satisfied, and the House was very attentive and cheered +frequently. We had on a division 60 to 15. + + +_July 9._ + +Lord Radnor made some observations upon the continuing of the Irish Arms +Bill without explaining the reason, the Bill having been introduced in +troublesome times and expiring at the end of this Session. Lord Grey +supported him. It is clear Lord Durham and Lord Radnor evidently intend to +make us look about us and not do work in a slovenly manner. I cannot find +fault with them. + +Lord Durham moved the printing of the Appropriation List, which was +negatived without a division, as unusual; but I dare say he will ask +questions as to some of the items. + + +_July 10._ + +As I was coming home from the office I called on Hardinge. He considers the +division to have been invaluable to us here and even to France. Certainly +the French funds rose when it was known the present King held the same +course as his predecessor. Hardinge thinks many men are disposed to support +the Duke's Government under the idea that all sorts of calamities would +attend the weak Government which must succeed it. He thinks Palmerston the +best man to have in Goulburn's place, Goulburn going to the Speakership. He +thinks W. Horton would be better than Frankland Lewis as his successor at +the War Office, it being necessary in either case to get Lord F. Leveson +into the House of Lords. Fitzgerald has written to Hardinge, and seems +eager about politics. I wish he was well and could come into office again. + +I do not know that the Duke or anybody would have any objection to +Palmerston coming in by himself; but I doubt Huskisson's ever being in +office again while the Duke lives. Neither will the Grants come in--indeed +it is to be hoped they will both be turned out of their seats. + + +_July 12._ + +Office. Backhouse brought the account of Sir J. Macdonald's expected death; +the date, May 12. Sir Henry Willock will take charge of the mission _ad +interim_. He may be a sensible man, but the loss of Macdonald is severe. I +do not know how we shall replace him. + +Cabinet at 2. The business was the eternal slave question--what answer +should be given to Brougham to-morrow. He is expected to propose some +pledge of proceeding _legislatively_ in the next session as to the +admission of slave evidence and other points. A Bill has been prepared +making slave evidence admissible, and it would probably have been +introduced but for the early termination of the session. However, there +seems to be great reluctance to embark in a contest with the Colonial +legislatures. The foolish resolutions moved by Canning are deeply +regretted. I was the only man who objected to them, when, two years after +they had been found of no avail, it was proposed that the Lords should +concur in them. Peel objects to any pledge on the part of Parliament, more +particularly on the eve of a dissolution. It is thought that _by paying +from our funds_ for an improved judicature in the West Indies we may induce +the colonies to acquiesce in the admission of slave evidence, although +imposed by the interposition of Parliament. I doubt it, and if we pass a +law to which the colonies are adverse, which they will regard as being _no +law_, how are we to execute it? We may make judges and pay them, but we +must procure submission to those judges, and further, we must make +_jurymen_. + +All these difficulties I foresaw when the Lords adopted the Commons' +resolution; but I suppose Canning forced it upon Lord Bathurst and the +Cabinet. + +House at 5. Debate on the Scotch Judicature Bill. Lord Wynford made a +miserable speech, which proved he knew nothing about the subject. The +Chancellor was very angry with him, and once interrupted him improperly. +The debate was dull, and there was no division. + + +_July 13._ + +Went to St. James's at half-past one. A few Privy Councillors were there to +be sworn in, amongst the rest the Duke of Hamilton. + +The Duke of Wellington had to talk over the King about giving a lodge in +Bushey Park to one of the FitzClarences for his life, and about gazetting +the Queen's household. He found the King very reasonable indeed. + +The King means to give his Ministers a grand dinner. He intends asking the +Speaker and the two Gold Sticks, but _not_ the _third_, the Duke of +Cumberland. + +The Duke of Buckingham is Lord Steward. A bad appointment. The office of +Lord Chamberlain was offered by the Duke of Wellington to the Duke of +Bedford, Lord Rosslyn going to make the offer. The Duke of Bedford was much +gratified, but declined on the ground of his health. The office was then +offered to Lord Jersey, who accepted willingly. + +House. The Chancellor made an excellent speech on the Welsh Judicature +Bill, and it was read a second time without a further word. The Forgery +Bill passed with a motion of Lord Holland's _pro forma_ that he might +protest. + +We had Sir Jonah Barrington for a short time. He is very roguish and sly. + +There are no particulars yet of the capture of Algiers, except that the +fleet co-operated. + +The French seem to have been highly delighted. + + +_July 15._ + +Sir G. Murray, Goulburn, and Herries came down to Roehampton at four to +dinner. At five we set off for Windsor. The day was beautiful, and all the +world made it a holiday. Carriages of all sorts and hackney coaches were on +the road all the morning to Richmond. I never saw so many persons there, +and chiefly of the class of shopkeepers. London was quite empty, but the +Park quite covered with the people. It seemed to be a day of general +recreation. + +Arrived at Windsor at a quarter after seven. There were a few Lancers along +the road from Frogmore, where the King and Queen were, but no crowd. Near +the town there were a great many waggons. We turned to the right at the end +of the Long Walk and drove through the park to the great gate of the +Castle. Within the court were Horse and Foot Guards. We entered at the +visitors' entrance, and went to St. George's Hall, where we all assembled. +A great many were already come. They began forming the procession at half- +past seven, and it was all formed so as to move before nine. I walked with +Lord Hill. There were ten or twelve barons, a number of judges, six or +eight bishops, and upon the whole a fair representation of the peerage and +the Privy Council. There was a double line of Life Guardsmen within the +castle, without Foot Guards, and the Blues in the chapel. We did not see +the body as we passed. A screen of black concealed the room in which it lay +in state. I imagine the King was in the room. As we returned it was open. + +It struck nine as we came to the Round Tower. A rocket was fired as soon as +the body moved, to give notice to Linden for the firing of the minute guns. +The bands of the several regiments played the Dead March in Saul, &c., as +the procession passed. The Foot Guards stood close together with arms +reversed, every fifth man having a flambeau. The platform was, in most +places, open on both sides. There was a good deal of air, but the night was +warm. Had there been rain, or had it been cold, some must have died. There +were but few people on the right of the platform in the inner court, but in +the outer court there was a dense mass of people, and all the roofs were +covered. There was hardly a whisper. All the people seemed very decent in +their dress, and their conduct was perfect. The procession entered at the +great door of the chapel and turned to the left, went down to the end of +the aisle and then turned, facing the door of the inner chapel. In the +space we thus went round were the Eton boys. In the chapel there were some +persons on the right of the altar. I could not well see who they were, as +there was a sort of haze, but they were all in uniform. With this exception +the chapel was empty. We were all placed as we entered in the seats and +stalls. The body was drawn upon a carriage. It was too heavy to be carried. +The King had a vast number of attendants, such as equerries, &c. Half of +them captains in the navy. The attendants pressed rather too close upon +him. He was in black with the collars of all the orders. He nodded +occasionally as he recognised people; but when his countenance was still he +looked very grave. He is become very like his father. The assistant +mourners, who were Lords Goderich, Sidmouth, Granville, Grantham, Carlisle, +and some others, had no seats and stood during the service. The last who +entered were the Guard, the colours preceding. These came half way into the +aisle, the colours depressed. The colonels of the battalions and the +general, Sir H. Vivian, came in with their caps on and swords drawn, and +stood to the right and left of the King, but not near him. The banners were +depressed on the two sides of the grave. Over the grave was a black canopy, +on the top of which was an enormous crown. The music was good. The service +was very ill-read by the Dean Hobart, and the Garter could not make himself +heard when he recited the King's titles. Lord Jersey walked as Lord +Chamberlain, Lord Conyngham as Steward. He broke his staff into the grave. +Lord Cholmondeley was there as Lord Great Chamberlain, and sat on the left +of the aisle in a stall opposite the passage. On the other side was the +Earl Marshal. When all was over the King went out by the small door on the +left near the King's closet, and so by the cloister to the platform. As +soon as he appeared the Guard received him with presented arms and God Save +the King. We all returned by the way we came. There was tea in St. George's +Hall but we went on, and finding Goulburn's servant, followed him to the +carriage, which was on the other side of the entrance gate, and so got away +even before the King. We were at Roehampton by half-past one. The whole +procession lasted about two hours and a half or rather less--that is, from +the first move to the end. + +It was very well arranged. Pohlman, our Deputy Black Rod, who is a Herald, +was the acting person, and did his duty admirably. There was no +interruption, no confusion, but everything managed as if we had been +drilled and did the same thing every day. And so King George IV. is gone to +his grave with all the pomp of royalty, and splendid the pageant was; but +it was considered a mere pageant even by his household, who had lived so +intimately with him for years. There was no regret. A coronation could +hardly be gayer; but the procession was gravely done and decently. + +The magnificence of the castle aided the spectacle and made royalty appear +almost as imposing in death as at the moment when the Crown was assumed in +the Abbey. + +We had supper and they all went to London. + +Huskisson and Palmerston were there. Huskisson very sulky and sour. +Palmerston very cordial, as if he thought he might come in, I should be +glad if he did. + +It seems the Duke of Buckingham hints that he must have something more than +the stewardship for his seven votes. No one likes his appointment, and we +all feel as if an alliance with the Grenville party would bring us ill- +luck. + + +_July 16._ + +House. Administration of Justice Bill. A great many amendments made by Lord +Tenterden. We struck out a clause by which Le Blanc would have been obliged +to sit to tax costs every day in the year. Lord Eldon said the Bill as it +was originally drawn was more like a string of resolutions at the London +Tavern than an Act of Parliament. + +The Attorney-General was very angry indeed at the alterations made in the +Bill, and threatened to throw it over in the House of Commons. + +Nothing said about the Libel law; but Lord Holland is to say something on +the third reading. Sir Jonah's case. W. Goady spoke. He spoke so slow, it +was like a banker paying in sixpences to gain time. He was so dull I went +away for fear of falling asleep. The Duke stayed and slept. + +The Duke remained at Windsor all night. I met him as he was coming down to +the office to-day. He said he had remained to see the King and give up to +him the late King's snuff-boxes, &c., which were all in a great box. + +Lord Wharncliffe told me he thought Duncombe, Bethel, Lord Morpeth, and +Ramsden would come in for Yorkshire. Afterwards we heard Brougham was to +stand. It will have a very bad effect if Hume and Brougham come in for +great counties. Yet I dare say they will. + +Wortley goes down to stand for some Scotch boroughs, which will lead to the +County of Forfar. + +Long Wellesley has been arrested by Gosling the Banker for 4,000L, on which +it was found that he had but 3,000L in the books in the Bank, so he +remained in durance for the other 1,000L till he found five people, each +willing to be bound for 200L. This disposes of him for Essex. He had given +out that he had 30,000L. An express has been sent off to a Mr. Lloyd, the +son-in-law of the old Eliab Harvey, to stand for Essex. I know the man. He +was at Ryde in 1813, and at Cowes in 1826. His daughters are rather pretty +girls. I suggested Tower, who would have done very well for Essex. + + +_July 17._ + +St. James's at 2. The Lord Mayor and Aldermen first came up with their +address, then the same with the Common Council. The King received the +addresses, which were very loyal, on the throne. He read the answers very +well. The Ministers stood on his left and the household on his right. About +seven gentlemen pensioners were on each side from the door to the foot of +the throne. The Lord Mayor, &c., were introduced by the Lord Chamberlain. +It was well done, and is rather an imposing ceremony. + +Cabinet. First a question as to what should be done about Ashe, the man who +wrote a libel on the Duke of Cumberland, which he sent to him and now +reclaims. He has written many letters indicative of an intention to +assassinate, and is now come up from Carlisle on foot, and has been walking +opposite the Duke's house for three hours, having first written another +letter of a threatening nature. + +Lord Wynford wrote to Peel on the Duke of Cumberland's part; but the Duke +will not exhibit articles of the peace. Colonel Peter gave Ashe 5_s_. and +he went away. + +The question was what could be done with him? I suggested that, as in the +case of an expected duel, a magistrate on mere information that a breach of +the peace was apprehended would take persons into custody and hold them to +bail; so here the same thing might be done, one of the letters distinctly +threatening a breach of the peace. This would secure the man till it could +be discovered whether there was legal ground to indict him for the letters. +This will be done. + +We then came to the consideration of the East Retford question. All the +press were for giving up the Bill. I took some part in the discussion. +However, Peel was so strongly for the Lords going as the Commons had done, +and for preventing the appearance of disunion in the Cabinet, that his +wishes were acceded to, and we support the Bill. The Duke _thinks_ it will +be thrown out, and I _hope_ it will. It will be very difficult to make a +speech in favour of the Bill which will not commit us to a bad precedent. +However, I shall try. Peel was very obstinate and disagreeable. In fact the +interfering with the existing franchise never was made a Cabinet question. +The giving the franchise to Bassetlaw [Footnote: The Hundred of Bassetlaw, +forming the existing borough of East Retford.] rather than to Birmingham +was, and it was because after an agreement that we should all vote for +Bassetlaw, Huskisson voted for Birmingham and then resigned, that the +separation took place. + +These questions never were made Government questions before, and it is much +better they should not be. + +Peel thinks he will not be able to oppose reform in general if we do not +show a disposition to punish individual cases of corruption. + +I did not get away till seven, and then went to Hardinge's to bring him +down to Wilderness. [Footnote: Seat of Lord Camden, near Sevenoaks.] He +told me the Speaker had been with the Duke and did not resign just now. +There had been a question whether he should not; but it was thought we +might be damaged at the elections if we made any change now. The Duke asked +Hardinge what he thought as to taking Huskisson and Palmerston back again? +Hardinge declared against having Huskisson, but recommended Palmerston. I +dare say as soon as the elections are over something will be done, and that +Palmerston will be offered the Chancellorship of the Exchequer. + +Peel once wanted Edward Stanley, but it seems he has wavered a good deal. +Unless his manner should change it would be impossible to go on with him as +Minister; but I trust in God we shall never lose the Duke. + + +_July 19._ + +Received at nine a card from Lord Bathurst informing me that the Queen +would be in Downing Street at ten. Went in plain clothes as I was desired. +Found the Queen was to be there to see the Guards, whom the King was to +inspect. The Ministers were invited and the connections of the Bathursts. +We were presented to the Queen, and kissed her hand. After the parade, +which the King attended on foot, he joined the party, and they had +breakfast. However, before that I went away. At one again at St. James's. +The two Universities came up with addresses to the King and Queen. Oxford +first. They very properly put their doctors first. The address was read by +the Vice-Chancellor, and then, after the Queen's reply, the doctors and +proctors, and a few others who formed the deputation, kissed the King's +hand. As the Queen has no separate apartment the King retired, the Queen +entered with her household and ladies, and then the same ceremony was gone +through, the Ministers remaining on the left behind the ladies. The Queen +read pretty well. She was obliged to rise each time to give her hand to be +kissed. Cambridge came afterwards with the Duke of Gloucester and all the +Peers, who belonged to the University, in their gowns at the head. This +destroyed the character of the collegiate body. However, those only were +presented who were presented of the Oxford deputation. The King went beyond +his written speech to the men of Cambridge, and put us in a fright. +However, it was good-humoured, and of no great harm--a sort of joke. + +I came away as I had business. Afterwards there was a Council, and the +Lords Lieutenant were admitted to take the oaths. + +House. East Retford. The Chancellor made a capital speech, and we had a +better division than case, 29 to 7. Lord Durham spoke temperately and well. +Lord Grey well too. We had Wynford with us. There is no explaining that +man. The Duke of Cumberland voted against us, and Eldon spoke. + +At St. James's. Lord Westmoreland told me that yesterday at a great dinner +the King gave his household he gave as a toast, 'The land we live in, and +let those who don't like it leave it.' + +This and many other things show his feelings towards the Duke of +Cumberland. + +The King reviews a regiment every morning this week. He has been on +horseback within these six weeks, but he has a rupture, and is now rather +afraid of riding. He is going to change the uniforms of the Lords +Lieutenant. + +We expect to prorogue on Friday and dissolve on Saturday. + + +_July 20._ + +Then East Retford. Lord Wharncliffe moved a resolution with the view of +giving the franchise to Birmingham instead of the Hundred. Dudley spoke for +Birmingham and well. I spoke shortly. I guarded myself against being +considered as pledged to any other measure, intending to decide all +measures according to the special circumstances of the case. + +The Duke was not so cautious as I was, and spoke strongly against giving +the franchise to great towns. [Footnote: No one expected it to occur in two +years' time.] Lord Holland said to the Chancellor, 'He will live to see it +done.' I think I may, and therefore was cautious. + +We had 39 to 16. + +So ends the business of this Session. + + +_July 21._ + +Went at ten to the Duke of Wellington's, where the King and Queen were to +breakfast after an inspection of the 2nd Life Guards. The day was beautiful +and the people in excellent humour. The King first went with the Queen to +the Regent's Park barracks, and then to the Knightsbridge barracks. When +they came to the Duke's the King went to the window and was well cheered. +They then called for the Queen, who went to the window and was very well +received indeed. + +Yesterday evening the King walked out alone into St. James's Street. He +found Watson Taylor and took his arm. The mob pressed upon him so much that +Watson Taylor's shoes were trodden down at heel. While the King was alone +an Irish woman came out of an alley and kissed him. This and a lecture from +the Duke have cured him of walking out alone. At least he has promised not +to do so again. + +House at 2. Aberdeen says the King spoke very well to the foreign Ministers +to-day. There was an extraordinary number of naval officers, and the +fullest _levee_ I ever saw. The King recognised very cordially all his old +friends. He was very gracious indeed to Elphinstone, whom he saw for the +first time. He was imprudent enough to make a sort of speech to the West +Indian deputation, and pledged himself warmly to support their interests. +This I saw. After I was gone I hear Astell and Campbell came up with the +address of the East India Company, and that he spoke in similar terms to +them. This the foolish Astell will publish everywhere. + +The Duke says he goes away when the King begins to speak. I really covered +my face when he began to speak about the Catholics to the deputation from +Cambridge. What he said to them, which was no more than an indifferent +joke, has been variously misrepresented and not at all understood. It must +have been imperfectly heard. + +The King is angry with the Duke of Gloucester for slurring over a part of +the address from Cambridge, which was very loyal, and for not kissing his +hand. He has reason to complain of this. The Duke of Gloucester kissed the +Queen's hand with marked devotion. + +The Duke of Sussex has been already infusing poison into the King's ear and +talking of invasions of the property of the Church. This the King told +Peel. Those who observed the Duke of Sussex at the levee thought he seemed +very triumphant, and received his Whig friends with a smile which said, 'We +shall do them yet.' + +He was invested with the Thistle to-day. The King asked all the knights +presented to drink a bottle of claret with him in October. + +Blomberg was up with an address. The King said, 'You and I know each other +of old. You need not be presented. By-the-bye, you may as well dine with me +to-day.' + +The King made an extemporaneous reply to the address of the Canons of +Windsor the day after the funeral. They begged to have a copy. He +endeavoured to recollect it for them, and sent it to Peel. Peel found some +curious historical inaccuracies. + +The Duke of Wellington thinks we shall gradually bring the King round, and +induce him to move more quietly. To thwart him directly would have a bad +effect; but he may be led. In the meantime he is very well in health. + +The King has promised to dine with Leopold, who has asked the Duke, but not +Aberdeen. The Duke thinks the King should not dine with him now. The two +other Powers having manifested the greatest dissatisfaction with Leopold's +conduct, and we having intimated it in the House, it would be incongruous +and injurious for the King to dine with him. Leopold has written one if not +two letters complaining of the conduct of the Allied Powers. + +We went to the House for fear Lord Durham should play us a trick, and it is +perhaps fortunate we did, for he was there and made a protesting speech, +which was followed by one from Westmoreland on the East Retford Bill. +However, we had a majority in the House, and there was no division. + + +_July 22._ + +Rode to town. Cabinet. Considered the King's Speech. Peel had introduced a +plagiarism from the first speech of the old King, 'Born and educated in +this country, I glory in the name of Briton.' However, the whole sentence +would not do, and it was omitted. I assisted in working the sentences into +form, and breaking them up into short ones. Went away to dress for the +Council, thinking the whole settled. Council at three. First the deputies +of the two Houses carried up the joint address respecting Sir Jonah +Barrington. Then the King being alone, and saying he was ready for his +Ministers--none being there but me--I went in, and first asked him to allow +Clare to wear the uniform the late King gave him. This led to a long talk +about uniforms for Indian Governors, and I had some little difficulty to +carry my coat without having a general consideration of the whole question +of Governor's uniforms. I then told the King of the approaching death of +Sir J. Macdonald. He asked whom we proposed sending in his place? I told +him it did not entirely depend upon the King's Ministers, but that I +thought, if we recommended a very fit man, we should get the Chairs to name +him. + +The King said, 'You heard what I said to the East India Company yesterday?' +I had not, but I bowed, and he added, 'I told them they should not be +unfairly dealt with. There is a run on them, and the notions of people are +very much exaggerated with regard to the question.' + +I said the question would require and receive the most mature consideration +from his Ministers before they ventured to offer any advice to his Majesty +upon the course to be pursued. + +The King said in about ten or twelve days he should be able to give me a +day or two for Indian matters. + +I thought I had given time to the others to arrive, and rose. I should +mention that he spoke of Algiers, and said he suspected there was an +understanding about it between the Russians and the French. + +I said I did not entertain much fear of the French having Algiers. With a +little money we could raise Morocco on one side and Tunis on the other, and +harass them from the interior, and while we took care they had not Tunis, +Algiers was comparatively unimportant. With Tunis, Malta, and Corfu we +should hold our hands across the Mediterranean. + +I went out and found them come. The Duke went in. The King gives up dining +with Leopold. He gave it up the moment the objections to it were mentioned +to him. + +The speech was, I found, much improved after I went away. The King said he +thought nothing could be better, and indeed it is a very good speech. He +said he thought the reference to the Catholic question was unavoidable, as +it was the great measure of the Parliament; and it was particularly proper +that he should refer to it as he had voted for it, really thinking that the +Church would be more secure by means of Catholic admission than by their +exclusion. + +I thought the King seemed a little tired. Well he might be. He had been at +an inspection of troops, the Grenadier Guards and the Lancers, from ten to +one, and the day was very hot. He inspected the troops on foot. + +The Duke of Wellington passed the King at the head of his regiment, and +Lord Rosslyn at the head of his. Lord Rosslyn is delighted with the +opportunities of wearing his uniform, and playing the general officer +again. + + +_July 24._ + +Council at 11. Parliament dissolved. The seals were delivered to the +Secretaries and to Goulburn. Herries kissed hands. + +Sir G. Clark becomes Under-Secretary to the Home Department. W. Peel goes +to the Treasury. Charles Ross comes into Clark's place. Macnaughten goes +out. + + +_July 26._ + +Dined at St. James's. The King of Wurtemburg, the Ministers, Foreign +Ministers, Household, and Knights of the Garter there, in all 80. After +dinner the King made a speech which made his Ministers' hearts fail within +them. However, we were _quitte pour la peur_. He only spoke of his love of +peace. The only thing painful was that he should speak at all, and before +his servants, like a chairman of a public meeting. + +At the Duke of Wellington's on Sunday he made a speech, praising very much +the Duke, and declaring his entire confidence in him. This was before the +Foreign Ministers. The speech was a little warlike, I believe. The Duke's +reply very short indeed, and peaceful. The King should recollect that what +he speaks is as important as what is written in a State Paper. + + +_July 28._ + +Levee. Before it a Council, _standing_, in the King's closet, for swearing +in Privy Councillors. Sir R. Wilson was presented on his restoration to the +army, and holding the King's hand in his expressed his gratitude. + +The King made an energetic reply, and then there was a short rejoinder from +Sir R. Wilson. I could not hear what was said. We afterwards shook hands +cordially with Sir R. Wilson, whose restoration pleases everybody. + +The French Government have dissolved the Chamber without allowing it to +assemble; have placed the press under restriction, and altered the mode of +electing deputies, so as, as far as I can understand, to give to _les plus +imposis_ the power of electing a majority. + +No letter has been received by any Foreign Minister or by us. The whole was +kept a profound secret. The report to the King respecting the press, which +is made the foundation of the Ordonnance, is a long violent declamation, +very weakly written indeed. [Footnote: These were the celebrated Ordinances +which cost Charles X. his crown.] + + +_July 28._ + +Cabinet at half-past three. I was rather late, and found them considering +what should be said by Lord Stuart at Paris, respecting the late violent +measures of the French Government. They had decided that Lord Stuart, if +Prince Polignac endeavoured to draw from him in conversation his opinion, +should say he was directed to offer none. They seemed inclined to tell him, +if Prince Polignac required his opinion by offering an explanation, to say +we considered the measure adopted was in violation of the Charter. At my +suggestion, if Polignac asked his opinion more formally and offered no +explanation, he was directed to request the explanation might be in +writing, and he would transmit it to his Court, or it might be made through +the French Ambassador here. The French Ambassador, however, knowing nothing +of what was doing, left England on Monday, and would meet the news on his +road to Paris. + +At six o'clock on Tuesday evening a row was going on, and a Guardsman had +been killed. This was resistance when the police broke the types, &c., of a +press which would go on. The idea is, that the Chamber of Deputies will +meet, considering the dissolution to be illegal. + +Matuschevitz openly inveighs against the measure. It is doubtful whether +Metternich did not advise it. He sent a long paper from Johannisberg, +giving his views on the present position of the French Government. + +The King of Wurtemburg had an interview of two hours with the Duke of +Wellington yesterday. He is very anxious on the subject of France. He says +the people of Wurtemburg will cry out that a similar measure is intended +against them--that everywhere the two extreme parties will be placed in +collision. Bulow thinks the same. The Duke advised the King of Wurtemburg +to avoid Paris on his return; but the King has some _emplettes_ to make, +and goes there. The Duke advised him then, if he must go for his +_emplettes_, to stay only a day. He said he would not stay above five or +six! Thus is every consideration of real importance sacrificed to motives +of private fancy and convenience! + +Lea informed Aberdeen that a vessel was fitting out in the Thames with +Spanish refugees and arms to endeavour to raise an insurrection in Spain. +After some time they found the vessel, and to-day she was detained. She had +sixty-nine men, and about 150 stand of arms on board. They sank the printed +proclamations which were picked up. Torrijos and Valdes were to be the +leaders. Torrijos was to join below the revenue vessels. Some of the men +had 10L each, given to them by the Spanish Committee, to aid their voyage +to Rio. There is some doubt under what law they are to be indicted, and the +Attorney and Solicitor-General are out of town. + +Received a letter from Lord Heytesbury, enclosing one he had received from +Captain Campbell, announcing the death of Sir J. Macdonald. + + +_July 29._ + +The Duke told me he had seen Rothschild that morning, who had recent +intelligence from Paris. The Guards were faithful, but the 53rd Regiment, +which was at the Hotel de Ville, had joined the people, and so had +individual soldiers of other regiments. The people and the National Guards +were arming. The Chambers had assembled. The King was not at Paris. He was +nought to be at Compiegne. + +The Duke thought Henry had better not go to Paris, that one party or the +other would soon attack the English. + +Called on Elphinstone. Offered him Persia. He was much obliged, but said +nothing would induce him ever to go to Asia again. + +Spoke to him of Monteith. He knows him, and a little doubted his +discretion. He promised to find him, and send him to the Duke if he was in +town; but he thought he was at Algiers. Spoke to him of Jenkins and Briggs. +He says Jenkins is the abler man. + +Saw Lord Essex and Lord Clinton. They had heard the Duke of Orleans was +proclaimed Regent. + + +_July 31._ + +Went to town early. Called at the Duke's to hear the news. None had arrived +since yesterday morning. The Duke said he considered the King dethroned, +and we should soon have to consider whether we should acknowledge the new +Government. I observed that our course must depend very much upon the +manner in which the French effected their Revolution. The King had put +himself decidedly in the wrong, and if they make their Revolution as we +made ours in 1688, there was no reason why we should not acknowledge the +new Government, be it what it might. The Duke said the foreigners were +already coming to know what we thought and meant to do. We should have them +all in our train, and provided we took a reasonable course on the question +of Algiers, and others which might arise, we should do very well. The +mischief was that this event would place the two parties in presence on +every occasion, and every trifling difference would resolve itself into one +of Liberal and anti-Liberal. I said I feared whatever party predominated, +even if the King regained his power, France would be precipitated into a +war, for no party would be able to maintain itself in quiet times. The Duke +said the King's Government was becoming very dangerous. It had, as was +shown in the case of Algiers, and their discussions with us, no more +morality than that of Buonaparte, and it had the favour of European Powers +as an ancient dynasty, while it was prepared to act upon the principles of +a new one. Now, under a Government of Revolutionary origin, all their Acts +would be viewed with disfavour and suspicion. + +The Duke spoke very strongly against Canning's policy, in admitting France +to the Triple Alliance [Footnote: By the Treaty of London with reference to +Greece.] and thus bringing her into a prominent station in Europe again. +She would naturally have risen again in good time. The time should not have +been anticipated by us. + +The Duke agreed with me in thinking the Government here would be +strengthened by what was occurring in France. + +I lamented Brougham's success in Yorkshire, and viewed with some +apprehension the increased power it would give him. He said Yorkshire was +quite radicalised by having four members. No gentleman could bear the +expense--the middle classes had it all to themselves. + +At a quarter to four I called at the Treasury and found Rothschild had +received intelligence down to the 29th, at 4 P.M. Drummond showed me the +Duke's letter to Peel which contained this account:--That there was +fighting all Wednesday, the 28th, and Thursday, till 3 P.M. There had been +a terrible massacre, but the troops got the worst of it. The people were +led by the students of the Ecole de Droit, and of the Ecole Polytechnique. +The 53rd Regiment, which it was said yesterday had joined the people, had +in fact surrendered. The people had armed themselves at the Arsenal. On the +night of the 28th the Guards retook the Hotel de Ville, but were driven out +again, and retired to the Louvre. The firing did not cease at the Tuileries +till past 3 P.M. The people pillaged it when the troops retreated, and the +tri-coloured flag was hoisted there, and on the column in the Place +Vendome. The Ministers escaped by subterraneous passages from the +Tuileries, and were with the King, who had a great many troops about him at +St. Cloud. La Fayette commanded the National Guard, and was a member of the +Provisional Government. Generals Gerard, Lafitte, and Casimir Perrier were +the others. C. Perrier was deputed to the King at St. Cloud. + +No couriers were allowed to leave Paris. These letters were sent by private +servants to the first stage. + +I told all this to Henry, but he goes. So do many others. There were thirty +people applying for passports when he went for his. On the other hand many +English come away. + + +_August 2._ + +There is a great deal of information in the 'Times.' The result is, that +the King's offer to change his Ministers and to recall the Ordonnances was +not accepted, and the Duke of Orleans accepted the office of Lieutenant- +General of the kingdom. His address is quite in the spirit of the +Revolution. + +The Guards are disorganised and desert. + +The Swiss only are said to remain with the King, who it is thought is gone +to Nantes. + +Lord Stuart says if the Royalists do not resist, the French will invade +Belgium in three months. The Deputies, at first in very small numbers, not +more than thirty, nor at any time much above sixty, seem to have been +irresolute. They were decided by others, and indeed the whole seems to have +been done by the people. There is no appearance of previous concert. If +there were leaders, they were the boys of the Ecole de Droit and the Ecole +Polytechnique. Polignac seems to have been firm after the beginning of the +fight, and when Lafitte and others went to Marmont at the Tuileries, in the +middle of the tumult, he declared concession impossible. + +The Guards at St. Cloud told the King they would protect him, but would not +advance again to Paris. General [blank] seems to have had 6,000 men at +Versailles, but the people would not admit him. At Rouen there was great +ferment, and forty pieces of cannon were sent by the people to the +assistance of Paris. The troops seem to have been ordered upon Paris from +all quarters. The total loss of life is estimated at 5,000. + +The people were becoming impatient, and cried _Vive la Republique! Vive +Napoleon II._! This, it is said, determined the Duke of Orleans to accept: +and the Deputies offered, because they feared the establishment of a +Republic would be the signal of general war. + +I do not hear of the pillage of private houses. The churches have been +pillaged and the palaces ransacked. The priests thought fit to fire from +the Archbishop's palace, which led to the death of many and to the pillage +of the palace. + +The Duke said they had done everything in the most offensive way, re- +establishing the tri-coloured flag, &c. They seem determined to force the +Revolution down the throat of Europe. He spoke of the Duke of Orleans' +address. I said I supposed he was obliged for his own safety to throw +himself at once into the Revolution. The more natural thing would have been +for the French to have sent for young Napoleon. The Duke said he heard +young Napoleon was getting hold of French pamphlets, &c. + +The Duke of Orleans asked Lord Stuart's advice as to accepting the Crown. +Lord Stuart reminded him of his oath, and told him the Powers of Europe +which restored the Bourbons could never recognise him. + +On consideration I think we should endeavour to induce the Powers which +signed the Treaty of Vienna to declare that they are determined to maintain +the territorial arrangements made by that treaty; but that they will not +interfere with the internal Government of France. + +I think this declaration, made at once, would perhaps prevent any attempt +on the part of the French to make war for the frontier of the Rhine. + +The elections go well for us, except Canterbury, where Lord Fordwich has +beat our man, Henry B. Baring, the husband of Lady Augusta. + + +_August 3._ + +The accounts from Paris state that the Due de Mortemar, who had been +appointed Minister by Charles X. himself, saw it was too late, and that the +only chance for the House of Bourbon was in the placing the Duke of Orleans +in the office of Lieut.-General. + +This he proposed himself to the Duke of Orleans, who wrote to the King, and +in accepting the office said his conduct would show with what views he did +it. Then he issued a tri-colour proclamation! Lord Stuart says this was +done at the last possible moment. The proclamation was received with cries +of _Vive la Republique! Vive Napoleon II._! However, these cries ceased, +and it was hoped things would go on quietly. Sebastiani and B. Constant +expressed hopes that in a few months men's minds would be tranquillised, +and things placed on a regular footing It seems that the King is at +Trianon, with about 4,000 guards. He talked of resigning to the Dauphin, if +he had not already done so. It will probably be too late, and the Dauphin +is supposed, I believe very justly, to be implicated in all that has +passed. + +Lord Stuart states the loss of the troops at 3,000. That of the people at +6,000. Of course these calculations are very vague, and probably +exaggerated. It would appear as if there had been more preparation on the +part of the insurgents than was imagined. The decisive measure, that of the +Bank refusing discounts, was of course suggested by Lafitte. The Royalists +are much in want of money. They left forty-two millions in their caisses, +and 150 millions at the Bank! Bourmont was to leave Algiers on the 25th. +Probably he was called home to be present at the crisis. + +The King's troops still remaining in force at St. Cloud, the barricades are +continued. + +Everybody seems to think the military force was as ill-managed as +everything else. Marmont acted _mollement_. + +We have been beaten at Canterbury, and what is worse at Norwich, where a +brother of Peel's has been driven out by Robert Grant, the most decided +enemy of the Government. No one declares himself the opponent of +Government, and as such asks support; but our candidates do not succeed at +popular elections. + + +_August 4._ + +To London early. The King of France is supposed to be gone towards +Cherbourg. We fear he will come here. The Duke said the King seemed +disposed to receive him, and reminded the King that the Pretender had been +three times ordered out of Paris on the representations of this country. I +was glad to find a very general feeling that the King of France could not +be permitted to remain if intrigues were allowed by him. That he could have +no more than a refuge. Peel seemed to feel this most strongly. The Duke +seemed to think there had been previous concert on the part of the +_patriots_. + +The King is violent against the Duke of Orleans. + +Our Duke of Orleans, as I call him, the Duke of Sussex, sticks close to the +King whenever he appears. + +The Duke of Cumberland has resigned the Blues in a huff because they are +placed under the Commander-in-Chief. However, he wore the uniform to-day at +the levee. + +We have a Cabinet to-morrow at 4, on Civil List and Regency. Indeed we know +not how soon we may meet Parliament. Perhaps on September 15. + +The Queen received the address of the London clergy. She had her whole +_etat major_. + + +_August 5._ + +At four Cabinet. Talk about the Civil List. There are pensions to the +amount of about 7,000L a year which the present King will pay, and he will +pay 6,000L a year to Mrs. Fitzherbert, her charge on Brighton. She had +10,000L a year before. Many pensions are struck off, one of 500L to Sir J. +Lake, many others, to jockies, &c. + +It seems the late King borrowed 50,000L for himself and as much for the +Duke of York, on the revenues of Hanover, which sums have been paid off. + +The King of France abdicated, and so did the Dauphin, in favour of the Duc +de Bordeaux, in a letter addressed by them to the Duke of Orleans, in which +his Lieut.-Generalship was treated as emanating from the King. The Duke of +Orleans in his speech to the Chambers announced the abdications, but did +not say they were in favour of Henry V. Hence the people of Paris, hearing +the King made difficulties, supposed he had receded from his original +promise--whereas he only said his original promise was conditional, _and +had not_ been fairly made known. Be this as it may, 35,000 men set off for +Rambouillet to take him, 10,000 were sent afterwards by the Duke of Orleans +to protect him, and he has 7,000 at Rambouillet, chiefly cavalry and +artillery, for the same purpose. I think there must be a smash. + +Stuart and Pozzo went to the Duke of Orleans to represent the personal +danger of the King, and to desire that measures might be taken to preserve +his life. The Duke is represented as having been _tres emu_, and as having +said that his character depended upon the preservation of the King's life, +and the measures I mentioned were immediately taken. + +Chateaubriand and Hyde de Neuville are for the Due de Bordeaux. + +Stuart has, I know not why, counselled the Duc de Bordeaux's friends to be +quiet. + +The Duke of Wellington thinks there is Radicalism in everything-that the +Lieut.-General will have no power. + +The King went in grand state through the City to the Tower. He had six +carriages and six. At the Tower the Duke gave him a breakfast. He then went +on to Greenwich by water, and returned to London by land. He was very well +received. + + +_August 6._ + +At the dinner we had the Ministers, Household, and Trinity House. Chairman +and deputy-Chairman of the East India Company, Governor and deputy-Governor +of the Bank, Lord Mayor, and Ward and Thompson, members for the City. The +King made speeches and gave toasts as if he was Duke of Clarence at the +Trinity House. He alarmed and pained us, but he did less mischief than I +should have expected; and as all the people present were real friends, he +only let down the dignity of the Crown. + +He gave the healths of the Ministers, and afterwards of the Duke of +Wellington. Some things he said very well. The Duke answered very well. + +There is so much good feeling about the King that his errors of taste are +pardoned. He will improve, and wear his robes more gracefully. + + +_August 7._ + +Cabinet. Determined that the principle of the Regency Bill should be that +the mother of the Sovereign should be Regent. The Regent to have unlimited +power. If any limitation, it should only be placed upon the creation of +Peers, and a Council of Regency should exist only for that purpose. + +We separated till the 23rd. + + +_August 9._ + +In coming down to Sandgate read James's and Cabell's memoranda on the +progress of the British Government in India, and our foreign relations. + +As I was coming out of Maidstone met the candidates coming in. Sir E. +Knatchbull in a cocked hat, attended by thirty or forty gentlemen in black, +all covered with dust, preceded by about six blue flags, and followed by +some carriages with ugly women. Then came T. Law Hodges (why _Law_ I do not +know), with many light blue flags, and some low people--few gentlemen. The +numbers, however, of the Hodges colours and people were greater than that +of the Knatchbull squad. Not a cheer for either. The whole thing flat and +ridiculous--worthy of Hogarth. There were some people collected in +Maidstone, but not so many as on a market day--there were none on the +roads. + +By the 'Times' I see the Chamber has modified the Charter, and has +proclaimed the Duke of Orleans King of the French; at least has offered him +the Crown on the condition of his acceptance of the modified Charter. + +The Chamber of Peers is put by. It is only advised to _eliminate_ the last +seventy-six peers. + + +_August 10._ + +Briscoe comes in for Surrey, to the exclusion of Jolliffe, our friend. +Certainly the popular elections have all been unfavourable to us. In fact +the Tories have not yet recovered their good-humour, and the Government has +some furious enemies, and no warm friends. I do not think we can go on +without an accession of speaking strength. Our measures must be modified to +meet the circumstances of the times, and so far I have no fear. + + +_August 13._ + +Cabinet room. Read Lord Stuart's despatches. There is little in them that +is not in the newspapers. He says the Revolution has been brought about by +small proprietors acting under the influence of bankers and lawyers. The +troops have shown no great popular feeling. Many have taken the opportunity +of going home. + +The new King's oath-taking was flatly received. As long as he can keep La +Fayette with him he is master of Paris. + +Lord Stuart seems to have behaved prudently in merely acknowledging the +receipt of the communication from Marshal Jourdan of his being appointed +foreign secretary. The Neapolitan Ambassador wished to have a note +generally agreed upon. All the Ambassadors say they are so sure England +will judge rightly, that they will, without instructions, follow in our +wake. + +La Fayette has originated the idea of a mission of deputies of the National +Guard to London to thank the English people for their sympathy. Lord Stuart +hopes the King will induce La Fayette to give up this mischievous and +foolish scheme. + + +_August 18._ + +Lord J. Russell is not returned for Bedford. He lost it by one vote. He has +published a good address, and is evidently very indignant. + +Brougham has had questions put to him by Martin Bree, which he has answered +satisfactorily to the venereal doctor. It would have been good fun had they +fought. + +The only merit of the French Revolution seems to be that it has not been +vindictive. If they are wise they will not touch the lives of the +Ministers. The new King calls his eldest son Duke of Orleans. All the +daughters are to be Princesses of Orleans, distinguished by their Christian +names. + +This is like Henry IV.'s policy in reserving the Duchy of Lancaster. He +wishes to be able to make room for Henry V. He has given up his property to +his eldest son's little children, and would probably, if he were displaced, +emigrate quietly, as he has often done before, and leave his children in +possession. + +When Brougham accused the Duke of Wellington of advising Polignac, the +whole meeting of his own friends expressed dissent. It is incredible that +he should be so foolish as to believe such a thing, or as to attempt to +make others believe it. + + +_August 19._ + +I see by the 'Sun' that the ex-King of France is arrived at Portsmouth. I +am very sorry for it, although he will not be received by the King, and +will probably sail immediately. He may require refitting, for I dare say he +brought off little from Rambouillet. His packets are accompanied by two +French vessels of war, and all the French vessels at Spithead hoisted the +tri-coloured flag when he was known to be there. + + +_August 20._ + +It seems the Royal party have landed at Cowes. + + +_August 23._ + +Went to the Cabinet room to read despatches. Lord Stuart represents the +Government as by no means settled; anxious to remain at peace, and to +prevent revolution, but not secure. Things which are essential the new King +is obliged to ask humbly of La Fayette, who is now really Sovereign. + +La Fayette wanted to dissolve the Chamber. The King rightly thought that to +do so now would be to make a Convention. [Footnote: I.e. as in 1792.] + +Some persons are gone off to bring Napoleon II., but the Austrians will +stop them on the way. + +The Prussians on the first intelligence of the events at Paris sent orders +to their Minister to come away, but he was directed not to do so without +concert with his colleagues. They met, and agreed to recommend him to stay. +The disposition of Metternich and Nesselrode, who met at Toplitz or +Carlsbad, I forget which, was the same and reasonable--to leave France to +settle her own affairs quietly, and only to interfere if she invaded the +peace of other States. + +The Duke has left a memorandum on the Cabinet table showing clearly from +treaties that this is not a case in which we are bound to interfere. We +engaged to support a constitutional monarch against revolutionary +movements, but the monarch having violated the constitution has broken the +condition. France may still form a part of the Congress of Europe, in +'Union or _Pacific Concert_,' with the four great Powers. The treaty of +offensive alliance between those Powers is dormant, while France remains +under a constitutional King. + +The Duke properly thinks that the sooner, after having taken a decent time +for deliberation, we can recognise the Duke of Orleans, the better for him +and for us. + +He expects at no distant period war, as the consequence of these events, +and I fear he may be right. It will arise by the imitation of the Spaniards +and Portuguese, and the ambitious sympathy of the French. + +It is evident that Russia means to indulge France with Algiers. + + +_August 23._ + +Received a letter from the Duke respecting Rajpootana. He thinks the +cession of territory will only lead to new demands on our part, and advises +that, unless it should be necessary to give some instruction, the letter +should not be sent. He thinks, too, that as no brevet has been given to +King's officers in Ava, none can be given to those of the Company. I am to +see him tomorrow upon these points. + +Cabinet at 3. Showed Herries the answer I proposed sending, respecting the +Interest Bills, of which he entirely approved. + +Peel was not at the Cabinet. + +Read the Duke of Orleans' letter to the King, which is proper. He says he +laments and wishes he could have prevented the fall of the eldest branch of +his family. He _devoted_ himself to prevent misfortunes which would have +endangered the peace of Europe. He avows pacific intentions. + +The King is to receive General Baudrand, who brought the letter in the +Levee, which will be before the Council on Wednesday. + +The King of the French will be acknowledged. A letter will be written to +our Ministers with the great powers stating our reasons for doing so. This +will be read to the Foreign Ministers here. + +I suggested that it might be as well to make the letter substantially the +Duke's Memorandum, and particularly to remind France that the Quadruple +Alliance still existed. We shall have the drafts of the letter tomorrow. + +Parliament to be prorogued to October 26. + +To-morrow the Brazilians will acknowledge Miguel as the Regent, if he will +marry Maria da Gloria. Then came some absurd conditions. However, the thing +is to be considered to-morrow. Aberdeen's idea is that there is no doing +anything with Don Pedro, and that we must acknowledge Don Miguel as soon as +he will grant an amnesty. + +We were to have a Council on Wednesday for the prorogation. The King will +not much like this, as he wanted to go to Ascot, but he may have it as +early as he likes, and he ought to receive General Baudrand soon. We may +have the Council at 10, and he may be at Ascot in excellent time. + + +_August 24._ + +The Council is at 1. At 1 I went to the Duke. Told him of my recent letters +to the Chairs. He said we must not make bankrupts of the Company, if we +would use them hereafter. I said it was my duty to state the case of the +public, as the Board were guardians of the territorial revenue. + +A letter from Count Moltke, requesting to see me. I have appointed to- +morrow at 3. + +Cabinet at 3. Aberdeen read the proposed letter from the King to King Louis +Philippe. With a few trifling alterations it was adopted. + +The Duke called on Marmont to-day, and received from him a military account +of the affair at Paris. Marmont said he knew nothing of the Ordonnances, +and disapproved of them. He was at the King's levee on the Tuesday, and was +told there were _quelques inquietudes_ at Paris, and to take the command of +the troops. He found only 7,000 men. Polignac, forgetting any were _en +conge_, thought there were 12,000. He occupied the Places de l'Hotel de +Ville, de la Bastille, de Victoire, and de Vendome in sufficient force. His +troops were not attacked. He withdrew them at night, and reoccupied the +Posts in the morning. Then the attack began. The troops maintained +themselves, but he found it necessary to withdraw them to the Louvre, the +Tuileries, the Pont Neuf, and the Place de Vendome. In the Louvre he had +two battalions of Swiss; two battalions of the Line in the Place de +Vendome; the Guards in the Tuileries. He kept open his communication with +the country by posts at all the avenues leading to the garden of the +Tuileries and the Bois de Boulogne, Champs Elysees, &c. The battalion at +the Place de la Bastille could not retreat by the straight road, and was +obliged to march all round Paris, crossing the river at the bridge nearest +Charenton, and coming to the Tuileries by the Faubourg. + +The two battalions in the Place de Vendome went over to the people. He then +sent one battalion from the Louvre to the grille of the Tuileries garden, +opposite the Rue de Rivoli, and so protected his flank. On Thursday he had +lost 1,800 men, killed and wounded; and 1,200 _egares_--besides the two +battalions; but he had received a reinforcement of 3,000 men. The troops +were _extenues de fatigue_. When Lafitte and the others came to him he told +him he could not order the fire to cease. He was attacked. + +If the fire of the people ceased, his troops would not fire. He fairly told +the King it was not _une commotion_, nor even _une insurrection_, but _une +Revolution_. There were not above thirty or forty people behind the +barriers, but all the windows were occupied by armed men. He counselled +concession, but Polignac would not hear of it. He said Polignac was +_l'homme le plus presomptueux_ he had ever seen. + +When the Louvre was attacked the Swiss ran out towards the Tuileries and +carried with them a battalion he had in the Place de Carrousel, as well as +two guns he had with him. The rush was such he could hardly get upon his +horse, and the men ran so fast that a person he sent after them on +horseback found them almost at the extremity of the Tuileries garden. +However, some returned to protect the retreat of about sixty men whom he +had got together to defend the grille at the Arc de Triomphe in the Place +de Carrousel. They were just enabled to retreat. + +Marmont is violent against the Swiss, who were, he says, retained in the +French service by higher pay and privileges for _this very thing_, and yet +they ran away in this shameful manner. + +Marmont means to go to Italy for a year. After that he hopes he can return +to France. He has no wish to emigrate. + +If the account in Lord Stuart's report be correct, France is in a +deplorable state. In many parts of the country no taxes are paid, and the +Republican party has not lost hope. + +The conditions of what Don Pedro considers a conciliatory arrangement are +entirely inadmissible. They are founded upon the marriage of Donna Maria da +Gloria, and England, France, and Austria are to guarantee her against any +_injure_ she may receive from her husband. Certainly we may safely say +these terms are inadmissible, and so break off all negotiations with Don +Pedro, who, since these terms were proposed by him, has recognised the +independent Regency of Terceira. By-the-bye, one of his terms is the +payment, by Portugal, of all the expenses incurred by himself for Donna +Maria. + +It seems the draft of a decree of amnesty has been sent to Lisbon, and if +Miguel will pass that decree we are to recognise him. + +The Chancellor and others seemed to think this was an awkward time, and we +had better wait a little. I think so too. However, undoubtedly our early +recognition of Miguel might lead to the prevention of a Portuguese +Revolution. + +There was much conversation respecting the Bank Charter. It seemed to be +the general opinion that Government should take it upon itself to arrange +terms with the Bank, which terms will be prohibition to any other Bank to +issue notes within twenty-five miles of London. This being granted, the +Bank will do the public business for 100,000L a year less. The whole +question of country banking, whether it is to be with limited or unlimited +responsibility, a limited or an unlimited number of partners, is to be left +open to Parliament. + +I suggested that the most important question was the revision of taxation. +My view now is that we must take off some of the taxes which press most on +the poorer classes, and have an income tax. I dislike an income tax as much +as any one. To me it is a very oppressive tax, but I believe it may become +necessary. + +Walked to the corner of Hyde Park with Lord Rosslyn. Had some conversation +with him respecting the changes necessary in the Government before we meet +Parliament. He says Lord Althorpe will not come in without Lord Grey, and +he is not sure Lord Grey would not stipulate for Lord Durham. The latter is +out of the question on account of his temper. I do not think the Government +could go on with the Duke and Lord Grey. Of the Huskissonians, Palmerston +is the only one. To E. Stanley there is no objection. + + +_August 26._ + +At 3 Count Moltke came to the office. He had two Danish claims to speak +about. + +Dinner at the Albion for Clare. There were present of the Ministers, Peel, +Rosslyn, Goulburn, Herries; then Lord F. Leveson, Calcraft, the Solicitor- +General, W. Peel, Lord G. Somerset, Planta, Gen. Macdonald, Col. Fitz- +Clarence, Lord Tenterden. Of Clare's friends Glengall, Agar Ellis, Sneyd, +Lord Templeton, besides H. Vyner, and Upton, who go with him. + +I spoke feebly, not being well; besides, I did not think it in good taste +to make a great speech; but to leave Clare's the first speech of the day. +Peel made a very good speech; but too much of it. Clare really spoke very +feelingly and well. He spoke a little too much of his gratitude to the +Court. + +I had some conversation with Loch. I was as well received as I expected, +and better, considering the run that has been made at me. The Duke went off +to Walmer Castle, very wisely, for he wants sea air; but Clare would have +been more pleased had he been present, and the Directors too. The +Ministers' healths were well received. + + +_August 28._ + +Received from Elphinstone his remarks upon the proposed letter to Bombay, +respecting native education, of which he generally approves. He strongly +urges the sending out of European professors, young men, acquainted with +English literature, to learn the language there, and teach the natives. I +have sent the extract from his letter to Astell, suggesting that the +Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Dublin, and Edinburgh should each name +those from whom should be selected the necessary number. I have observed +that the object of native education is of such importance that the state of +the finances must not prevent its accomplishment. + + +_August 30._ + +Wrote a very long letter to Hardinge on the present position of the +Government and our policy. I gave my opinion that any accession of men +which destroyed the unity of the Duke's Government would do harm. That we +must meet our difficulties by measures. That the first was a revision of +taxation, that no men we could get would add moral strength to the +Government, and the Whigs would not support unless they had half the +Government. That the question of Reform could not be made an open question. +It was best for the country that parties should be decidedly separated. It +might then choose which it preferred, and men would be obliged to take a +side. We had better be out with character than in with a detachment of the +enemy, in possession of a gate. Still TALK we must have, and we want a +financier. I said of myself that I cared little about office. I should +without reluctance acquiesce in retirement if the Duke could fill my office +more advantageously, and I believe Rosslyn would do. I thought Rosslyn +would like Ireland or Paris. + +I do not think it improbable Hardinge may send this letter to the Duke. + + +_August 31._ + +An insurrection at Brussels, the houses of the Ministers burnt. The troops +fired and killed many. They, not being 1,500, retired to the park, and +formed before the palace. An evening paper I got at Ashford says the +nobility had joined the people, and the troops had acceded on condition of +keeping their arms, and guarding the palace. If this Revolution takes the +line of union with France, war is almost inevitable. It may be only for a +more popular form of Government, but what the people of the Netherlands +desire is annexation to a great State. They are ashamed of being Dutch. + +Most fortunately all our manufacturers are in full employment, and the +harvest is abundant. The peace and constitution of England have depended +upon fine weather. + +Clare, from whom I heard to-day, tells me Lord Wellesley assures him there +is to be a Revolution in Spain, and named the day. The nobles are supposed +to be at the head of it. This may all be true, for our Ministers never find +anything out; but my apprehension is that there will be a low, ill- +supported revolutionary movement. + +Received a letter from Lady Londonderry. She first wishes me to obtain, if +I can, Ward's exchange to a better climate. This I have told her I have +already endeavoured to do; but that I have no expectation of Aberdeen's +doing it. + +Lady L. says her brother was two hours with the Duke, and as long with Lord +Grey. The latter would have acted a second part, but the Duke would not +admit him. I have told her I think she must have misunderstood Lord +Camden's account, and that she may be assured it is not the Duke's +character to fear an equal. + +I sent her letter to Hardinge, and asked him if he knew anything of the +affair. I cannot imagine when it can have taken place. Lord Camden was an +odd person to employ. He knows so little of Lord Grey. Rosslyn would have +been the natural envoy if it proceded from the Duke; but I think it must +have been a volunteer of Lord Camden's. + + +_September 2._ + +Read the papers relative to the Danish claims. Canning seems to have +decided one case, that of the Danish East India Company, hastily. However, +we cannot undo a decision of a Secretary of State. + +The other case, that of the private individuals at Tranquebar, has been +determined in their favour. + + +_September 3._ + +Had a long conversation with Herries, with whom I rode for a long time, +respecting affairs, both here and abroad. He is rather downcast. However, +he thinks this Belgian insurrection will be put down. Rothschild has +exported 800,000L in silver and 400,000L in gold to meet his bills when +they become due--diffident of having anything paid to himself. + + +_September 5._ + +Cabinet room. Found Lord Rosslyn there. He told me the substance of a +report I did not see of Col. Jones, who was sent by the Duke to the +Netherlands, and is returned. He says the Prince of Orange is with 1,600 +men in the park and palace at Brussels; 5,000 men are close at hand under +Prince Frederick of Orange, at Vilvorde, and two bodies of 10,000 each are +marching upon the same point. The troops at the palace have twelve guns. +All the troops show a good disposition. + +The first deputation from Brussels was rather insolent. They were treated +accordingly, and told to return without cockades, &c. They did so, and the +Prince agreed to go into Brussels without troops. There was a great crowd, +and for a moment he was separated from the staff and the Garde Bourgeoise, +and alone in the midst of the people. He leapt his horse over a barrier and +so got back. A Commission of very respectable men has been appointed to +investigate grievances. So the thing will rest till the meeting of the +States on September 13. + +There is a letter from Lord Heytesbury giving an account of his +conversations with the Emperor of Russia. The Emperor is violent against +the Bourbons; says very correctly that his treaties only oblige him to +maintain a constitutional King. Still he may recognise, but shall always +consider the Duke of Orleans as a usurper. + +Prussia seems very prudent; disposed to recognise, but to state the +condition of peace--that the territorial possessions of 1815 shall be +maintained. Austria seems to be less prudent. Metternich sent to Bernstorff +the answer he intended to give, which required a declaration of not having +any intention to interfere in the affairs of France, but required a pledge +as to the observance of the Treaty of 1815 before recognition. Bernstorff +very prudently advised Austria to recognise unconditionally. + +The Spaniards seem to have been in great consternation at first. + +The Minister (Addington) thinks the King and Queen are so popular, and the +public interest is so much directed to the Queen's approaching +accouchement, that no revolutionary movement of importance is likely to +take place. He deprecates, however, the commencement of any such movement, +because he thinks it would enable the Apostolical Party [Footnote: The name +given in Spain and Portugal to the Absolutist and Clerical Party.] to +induce the King to dismiss his present quiet Ministers, and have recourse +to measures of rigour, which would infallibly ruin the dynasty. Spain, and +indeed all the Powers, seem to look for instruction to England, and there +can be no doubt that all will recognise and all be quiet. Salmon, when he +communicated to the King the events in France, said, 'Your Majesty sees how +dangerous over-zeal is in a Minister. No one could be more devoted to the +Royal Family than Prince Polignac.' + +The King said, 'I see it.' + +However, notwithstanding this, they say he is so weak that he may adopt a +violent course. + +Nothing can be more correct than the conduct of M. Mole, the French +Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. He is most anxious to preserve +peace in Europe, the new King's Government in France, and himself in +office. He is much alarmed by the events in Belgium, and wished our +Minister to join the French Minister at Brussels in recommending some +concession to the King of the Netherlands. The Duke has, as Rosslyn told +me, written a memorandum to serve as the basis of Aberdeen's dispatch, very +civil indeed to Mole, very much satisfied with the disposition evinced by +the French Government, but, in our ignorance of the real state of things, +declining to advise the King of the Netherlands. + +It is very amusing to see the French Government most _liberally_ permitting +the Bonaparte family to return to France, and most _prudently_ sending +circulars to all the Ministers of the Powers which signed the protocols of +1815, urging them in the name of that treaty not to allow the members of +the Bonaparte family to leave their present residences. + +It seems this is very necessary; for although their partisans can do little +without their presence, they might do much with it. + +Martignac has got together sixty members of the Chamber of Deputies who +will act _en masse_ for royalty. + +There is no military force to keep people in order, and the National Guard +does not like doing so. In fact the Revolution is not over. Things may go +on as they are, but we have as yet no security. The French seem heartily +sick of Algiers. It costs a great deal of money. Tropical products will not +grow there. The climate does not suit the French troops, who have besides a +most extraordinary _maladie de pays._ They must send 15,000 men more there +to maintain it, as now they have no more than the town. They are willing to +give it up to the Sultan if he will renounce tribute, &c. + +I never considered the acquisition of importance to France. I always felt +we might vex the French to death by the use of a little money which would +at any time have brought forward all the Arabs from the desert. The port +will only hold a few vessels. + +The Emperor of Russia proposes to cut the Greek question short by proposing +the crown at once, without the intervention of France, to Prince Frederick +of Orange, and if he should refuse, then to Prince Charles of Bavaria, who +we know will accept. + +I should say from all I have read to-day that if France should make an +aggressive movement all Europe would be united against her as in 1813; but +if she remain quiet within her own frontier no Power will wish to molest +her. + +It is satisfactory to observe the increased prudence and reasonableness of +the great States; their general union, and the deference which in the hour +of danger they all show to the opinion of England. + +There are some apprehensions, I hear, of riots at Manchester. There is no +cause for them. All men can get work. I would put them down with a strong +hand. + + +_September 6._ + +Saw at the office Colonel Monteith. + +The King of Persia has about six millions sterling left in his treasury in +gold and silver, besides jewels unsaleable on account of their high price, +but which might be estimated at four millions more. + +There will be a civil war on the death of the Shah. + +Abbas Mirza might succeed if he had energy, but he is the weakest man on +earth. Probably all the Rajahs will be put down and some new dynasty +established. + +The chiefs are not likely to serve the Russians at any time. The Persians +are fine men and make excellent soldiers, bearing heat and cold, but not +wet and damp. Officers there are none. + +The Russians lose 10,000 men a year in Georgia and Caucasus, and it costs +them about 500,000L a year. They have never conquered the country. + +The cession lately obtained from Turkey has enabled the Russians to put +down the robbers who lived in Abkasia; [Footnote: The country at the +western end of the Caucasus.] but it is of no value for purposes of +offensive war--of some for defence. + +It is cheaper in the proportion of 100 to 220 to send goods to Tabriz by +Trebizond than by the Persian Gulf. + +The Imaum of Muscat carries on a large trade in opium between the Red Sea +and China. He carries British manufactures to the Indus, and trades +extensively with Cochin China, where sugar is half the price it is in +India. + +The officers of the Crown Prince's army all speak Turkish. It is more +important to have at the head of it a man of energy than one conversant +with Persian. + +His rank should be increased, as now he is made to rank below the last +member of the Mission. + +The disturbed state of Persia has driven much trade to the Indus which was +carried on by the Euphrates. + +Persia may now be considered not as a monarchy, but a Federative State, all +the King's sons being independent Princes. + +Colonel Monteith was at Algiers--the only Englishman in the army. There may +have been twenty foreigners in all. He had letters of introduction and got +there in a transport, taking his chance of being sent back. He was with the +intendant of the army, and at the siege was attached to a division. +Bourmont offered to receive him in his family. Bourmont was hated and +despised. He seemed to take very little trouble about the army, and to +leave everything to the generals of division. On the 19th, the day of the +battle, he lost 600 men by not advancing sooner. The moment he advanced the +enemy fled. The loss was 2,200 men in all, yet fifty were never to be seen +dead and wounded together. The loss was by skirmishing at long shots along +the whole of the line. This sometimes lasted all day, and the troops, being +young, were too foolhardy. The Arabs are a miserable race, half naked. +Everything beyond Algiers seems a desert. For eight miles round Algiers the +cultivation is beautiful, and the villas more numerous than near any town +he ever saw. A profusion of water. The town, miserable in the extreme, +inhabited by Moors and the descendants of Turks, about 50,000. The port is +formed by one pier which hardly protects two or three frigates. There is no +safety in the bay. + +There were 3,000 Turkish soldiers in Algiers, and about 7,000 in the +country. These kept order. Now they are sent away the French may colonise +extensively, but they cannot keep the country with the present inhabitants. + +The Dey had ten millions sterling in gold and silver, a treasure which had +been accumulating since the time of Barbarossa. [Footnote: A famous corsair +of the sixteenth century.] He claimed 400,000L as his own, and was allowed +to carry it away. The French enquired about the jewels of the Regency. The +Dey said there were no jewels but those which belonged to his wives, and +_la galanterie Francaise_ would respect them as private property. So they +did. + +There was a magazine containing 250,000L of things in the trinket line. +There were 150 ornamental daggers, all the presents of European princes, +&c. Colonel Monteith saw one officer coolly put into his pocket a watch set +in diamonds, which had evidently been given by a King of England, worth, he +supposed, 2,000L. + +General Lavardo pillaged more openly than any one. He had thirty soldiers +employed in carrying off his pillage. + +The affair at Belida was accidental. Bourmont went out with 1,600 men and +invited the chiefs to meet him. They were coming peaceably; but some Arabs +saw the French artillerymen taking their horses down to water without their +guns, and they could not help attempting to steal. The artillerymen beat +them off; but the firing having begun was soon converted into a battle. +Bourmont beat them off, but thought it expedient to retreat. + +The beach was particularly favourable for landing. The weather fine, and +there was plenty of time to prepare. + +The thing best done was by General Valagi, who in eighteen hours raised a +continued work of a mile and a half. He had 1,600 sappers and miners. +Colonel Monteith is in admiration of this entrenchment, which was +beautifully finished, and was capable of resisting 30,000 regular troops. + +The Arabs are miserably mounted. The Dey's two best horses were not worth +30l. each. + +Duperre he thought a man willing to do all, but quite overpowered by the +management of 100 ships of war and 500 transports. His reports are all +lies. Bourmont's are nearest the truth. The ships, with the exception of +those which were in the Levant, were not in good order. There seemed to be +no discipline. + +The army never wanted either water or provisions. Water was within three +feet of the surface everywhere. In the gardens on the side of the hills +towards Algiers the water was found at the depth of twenty feet. + +Nothing could be more perfect than the equipment of the army. They +calculated the cost of the expedition at four millions. + +I see by the newspapers that the Prince of Orange yielded the point of the +colours to the deputation from Brussels. He seems to have conceded a great +deal, but to have acted with great personal courage and decision. It is +expected that the Commission he appointed have asked for the separation of +Holland from Belgium, and the establishment of a Federal union only; two +countries under one King with distinct legislatures, armies, &c. The great +towns are quiet. Holland ready to march upon Brussels. + +I shall not be satisfied unless some of the Bruxellois are hanged for +pillage. + +The answers of the King seem to have been firm and judicious. + +It is impossible not to admire the constancy of the troops, who bivouacked +for eight days in the park. + +The French Government seems too weak or too timid to prevent outrage in +Paris. The printers' devils will have no machinery for printing! It is +entertaining to see those who make all revolutions suffer by them. + + +_September 7._ + +Saw Greville at the Treasury. He told me he had got from Lord Chesterfield +that Palmerston had no objection to come in. Lord Melbourne had; but they +required the sacrifice of Aberdeen, Bathurst, and Arbuthnot. There must be +some mistake about this condition. I told Greville if he could get a _fact_ +to communicate it to the Duke. + +It is feared the Prince of Orange is gone away to the Hague. He promised +Colonel Jones he would be firm. + + +_September 8._ + +The Prince of Orange certainly went to the Hague. He was received there +enthusiastically. The proposition he takes is for Federal union. I fear he +must submit to some modification of that, or encounter real opposition and +civil war. + + +_September 9._ + +Hardinge gives me rather an indifferent account of Ireland. Great animosity +still existing between the Catholics and Protestants in the _lower_ ranks; +in the higher, peace. A revolutionary disposition raised in the middle +classes by the example of Prance. Great dissatisfaction in consequence of +the proposed taxation of last session. + +He told the Duke, and so did Arbuthnot, that he might dispose of their +offices if he wanted them. He seems to think Peel is tired and anxious to +withdraw--annoyed at the idea of being unpopular, an idea the defeat of his +brothers has given him. This makes him less energetic than he should be +with respect to the measures necessary to strengthen himself in the House +of Commons. + + +_September 10._ + +It seems the desire of separation is general in the Netherlands. It is the +result of national prejudice and vanity. The Dutch seem just as violent the +other way, and the deputies were rather in danger at Rotterdam. The +separation will probably defeat the objects of the great Powers in 1814, +for it is idle to expect such terms of Federal union as will enable the two +States to act cordially together. + + +_September 11._ + +By withdrawing his troops from the palace, and going to the Hague, the +Prince of Orange has ruined his cause. He has appeared to give it up. + + +_September 13._ + +Read on my way to London the intelligence obtained by Lord Heytesbury +relative to the Russian trade with Tartary and on the Caspian. It is very +full and satisfactory. + +The 'Times' has a sensible article on the state of France; the want of +materials to form a constitutional monarchy, the growing dissatisfaction +that _more_ is not done in a revolutionary sense, and the irresponsible +power of a deliberative army of 800,000 men. + +Ghent and Antwerp seem to cling to the connection between Holland and +Belgium, and I begin to hope that if France is tranquil the Bruxellois and +Liegeois may grow tired and become reasonable. Men cannot play at +barricades long when no one attacks them. + + +_September 14._ + +House of Lords. I had to wait half an hour for the seals, which were +carelessly carried off by Lady Lyndhurst in her carriage. + +Talked to Rosslyn. He told me Aberdeen was led to expect another revolution +in France. The paper they were going to prosecute was an _affiche_ calling +upon the French people to overthrow _l'aristocratie bourgeoise_, which was +as bad as the other, and to divide the lands. + +In the Netherlands the people and their leaders are divided, and if Antwerp +and Ghent, &c., remain firm, it signifies little what Brussels does. +Brussels will be brought into terms by distress. + +Rosslyn thinks some of the Whigs as well as of the Tories will be alarmed +by events on the Continent and support Government. + +He hears of no negotiations for accessions. + +The people of Brunswick, very justly provoked, have turned the Duke +[Footnote: This was the eccentric Duke who died a few years ago at Geneva, +bequeathing his whole property to the city, who have erected a monument to +him.] out of the town and burnt his palace. He escaped with ten Hussars. He +deserves his fate. I believe he is mad. He is a complete _vaurien._ + +When Parliament is prorogued, as to-day, the peers are without their robes. +The Chancellor was in his legal dress. The Commons appear without a summons +by their clerks, and the Chancellor merely desires the proclamation to be +read. However, as it is held, _improperly,_ to be the first day of the +sitting of Parliament, the return of the Scotch peers is laid on the table. +All this is sanctioned by precedent, but contrary to reason. + + +_September 20, 1830._ + +Wrote a long letter to Hardinge upon the political consequences of +Huskisson's death, [Footnote: He was killed, as is well known, at the +opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.] urging the introduction +of Palmerston and Stanley. The latter to Vent the junction of the Whig +aristocracy with the Radicals. + +I am sure, if measures are not taken immediately, we shall have all the +Huskissonians, Whigs and Ultra-Tories (the last are insane), united against +us. + +Received from Sir J. Malcolm a letter with some enclosures about suttees. +He has reluctantly and fearfully abolished suttee, making it culpable +homicide to assist, and murder to force the victim. He has done it, I +think, wisely by a repeal of a clause in one regulation and an amendment. +Thus not putting it vainly forward as Lord William did in a pompous +document. + +He has abolished the Military Board, I believe, very wisely; but there may +be a difficulty with the Duke, if I cannot do it without talking to him +about it. I believe Sir J. Malcolm is quite right, and that there would +have been no hope of preserving a system of real economy had the Military +Board been permitted to remain. + +I am curious to see his measure of checks on expenditure, that if it be +good it may be adopted at the other Presidencies. + +Received some letters from Lord W. Bentinck. Lord Dalhousie has been very +ill, and the command of the army would fall, Lord William says, into the +weakest hands, if anything happened to him. + +The spirit of the army was becoming better, I gather from Lord William's +letter, but it required much attention. I have been thinking all day of +what measures may be adopted for improving it. + + +_September 21._ + +Office. Read to Cabell my memorandum on the alterations which might be +introduced into the army, which I wrote hurriedly this morning. He was long +in the military department, and can be of much use. Cabinet room. I think +the result of Lord Stuart's dispatches is that the moderate party are +gaining strength. I should say the facts we see in the newspapers lead to a +different conclusion. + +The Ministers and the old leading members of the Chamber of Deputies act +manfully against the crowd. Their declarations of intention are +satisfactory. I really believe they mean to act honestly if they can. + +Austria seems to have hesitated about the acknowledgment of the King of the +French after the receipt of a dispatch from Petersburg, and Metternich, who +seems to be growing weak, wavered after he had received General Belliard +very cordially. + +Prussia, that is _the King,_ hesitated about signing the letter to Louis +Philippe when he heard of the doubts of Austria. The result, however, is +that all _entraines_ by us will acknowledge; the Emperor of Russia, who was +the most reluctant, having determined to do so if the others did. I should +say there is this satisfactory conclusion to be drawn from what we have +seen, that if France showed a disposition to aggrandise herself all Europe +would be against her. + +The object of the French Government is to place France exactly in the +position in which she stood a fortnight before the ordonnances--that is, +Talleyrand's wish, and he has _redige_ his own instructions. + +Read Aberdeen's letter, dated the 17th, stating the necessity of +maintaining cordial intercourse with and between Spain and Portugal, and +intimating that on the promulgation of an amnesty according to the terms +recently communicated England will resume diplomatic relations with Miguel, +but not otherwise. + +Spain seems to be sensible. There was a movement of folly about Royalist +volunteers which was put down, and the Government seems by no means +disposed to give way to Absolutists. If the Queen should have a son Spain +will probably be tranquil. + +Talleyrand pretends the French will be reasonable about Algiers. I do not +wish them to be so. I believe they could not have made a worse purchase. +They will find the possession very expensive. Their troops will hate it, +they will have nothing beyond their outposts, and it is no port. + +My first opinion is strengthened, that they could not be worse than if they +were left as they are. + + +_September 24._ + +The populace and the burghers at Brussels have quarrelled, and fought a +little. It seems the Liberals and the Catholics, [Footnote: They have +formed the two opposing parties in the Belgian Chambers since the country +became an independent State. They had temporarily united against Protestant +Holland.] as the others are called, have been long diverging. The deputies +and men of property, excepting M. de Stassart, have become alarmed. The +Prince de Ligne and D'Aremberg and others have left Brussels. On the 21st, +probably the 20th, in the evening a proclamation was published at Antwerp +by Prince Frederick of Orange, noticing the excesses of the populace, and +announcing that the troops would relieve the burgher guard. This must have +been done in concert with the influential persons of the town who are +alarmed for their property. The Liegeois are very violent. They will be +expelled from Brussels. No more can get there, as the road is interrupted. + +The Dutch have but 20,000 men, of whom the Belgians are as three to five. +The Belgians had begun to desert, but they did not join the Bruxellois in +any numbers. The hanging of some of the Brussels mob would have an +excellent effect. + +The Government of France seems to become weaker, and to permit things which +discredit it. + +A night or two ago some _ouvriers_ insisted on going into the King's +bedroom, after he was gone to sleep, woke him, and made him make a speech +sitting up in his bed. Twelve departments have united against indirect +taxes, and few pay those which are direct. Meanwhile, the Algerine treasure +has been pillaged by the officers of the army, and ships clearing for +Toulon go elsewhere to land it. They want a loan, while the fallen +Government would have had a surplus. They will find the raising of a loan +difficult. The French are displeased by the coldness of Austria and +Prussia, and by the marching of Austrian and Prussian troops. + +The King of Saxony has resigned, or rather he has associated his nephew +with himself as Co-Regent; the brother waiving his claim to the throne. + +The Landgrave of Hesse Cassel was met by a deputation requiring him to do a +number of public acts, and amongst the rest the dismissal of all +mistresses. It seems the Electoral Prince has one to whom he is going to be +married. + +The Duke of Brunswick lately galloped off _lui Troisieme_ while his palace +was burning! + +These are odd times! + +However, here people seem to be inclined to be quiet. Even the Common +Council have by a large majority decided against congratulating or noticing +the French people. + + +_September 26._ + +Brandreth told me there was a report of the Belgian troops having entered +Brussels, and of a great massacre. There will be news to-morrow as the wind +is down. + + +_September 27._ + +No direct news from Brussels yet. There has been fighting for two days, and +it was known at Antwerp that the first regiment that entered was nearly +destroyed. It seems the invitation of one section was a ruse. + +There are to be no Cabinets for eight or ten days, the Civil List not being +prepared. When we do meet we are not to separate. + +There seems to be every expectation of a new Ministry in Paris, and in the +revolutionary sense. + +I saw Aberdeen. He rather expects it. + +Read the report of the Commission appointed to form the articles of +accusation against the Ministers. It is a party speech, with little points +and prettinesses, affecting moderation, and full of rancour. It is a nation +which has no idea of justice. + + +_September 28._ + +Cabinet room. Dispatches of the 24th and 25th from Sir Ch. Bagot; but none +from Mr. Cartwright. When Sir Ch. Bagot wrote last thirty hours had elapsed +without official intelligence, although the distance is only thirteen +hours. It was known there had been hard fighting, that it was necessary to +take in succession every house in the Rue Neuve Royale, that the troops +were in possession of the upper part of the town, and a proposition had +been made by the lower town for a cessation of hostilities, after which +they had recommenced. + +It is evident the resistance has been most serious. 20,000 French are in +the town, and these probably direct the defence. All clubs, and councils of +all sorts, had ceased to have power two days before the attack. There has +been perfect anarchy. The troops behaved admirably. They were much +exasperated. No assistance had been sent by the country. + +Aberdeen is confident the King's troops have been driven out, because no +official accounts were sent. The Duke, and all the military men, say the +non-arrival of dispatches proves nothing but that the affair was not over. +During an engagement a general can think of nothing but victory. The +importance of the result is incalculable. + +At Paris the National Guard have dispersed a meeting of lookers on, who +were led by curiosity to crowd about a riding school in which the Society +of Les Amis du Peuple met the day after they were denounced by Guizot in +the Chamber as agitating France. Two officers of the National Guard entered +the riding school, and warned the meeting of the danger they were bringing +upon public tranquillity. On the representation of the second they +adjourned. + +At dinner at Lord Rosslyn's the Duke said the French Government could not +go on as it was. The chief of the National Guard necessarily commanded +everything. The National Guard might become janissaries. I think the +Government may go on as it is _in form,_ but it will vary _in substance_ +from day to day. Management, a little good fortune, and a few examples of +determination may make it a fair Government; a single error may produce +anarchy. + +The Duke gave an excellent account of the feeling at Liverpool, Manchester, +and Birmingham. At Manchester it was better than at Birmingham, but there +they received very coldly Tennyson's speech about giving them members, and +at last put an end to it by striking their glasses with their knives, which +made such a ringing that Tennyson was obliged to sit down. He deserved this +for his bad taste. + +The Duke was astonished by the machinery. Those who have witnessed the +improvements of late years expect progressive improvements so great that +they say a man who laid out 100,000L now in the best machinery would, if he +refused to adopt the new improvements they anticipate, be without profit in +five years and be ruined in ten. + +The rapidity of motion is so great in the steam carriages that even the +Duke with his quick eyes could not see the figures on the posts which mark +the distance at every quarter of a mile, and when two steam carriages +crossed no face could be seen. [Footnote: This was on the Manchester and +Liverpool Railway, then just opened, and describes the first impression +made by railway travelling.] It was like the whizzing of a cannon ball. The +cold is great, and they must have some defence against the wind, through +which they pass so rapidly. + +A new canal without locks, which brings coals to Birmingham in two hours, +which by the old canal required nine, is more magnificent even than the +railroad, splendid as that is. The railroad cost a million. For several +days after it was opened the proprietors made 250L a day. + +The King has the gout. The Duke goes to Brighton to-morrow. We dine with +him on Thursday. Cabinets will not begin till next week. + + +_September 29._ + +No news in the newspaper from Brussels. No dispatches from Sir Ch. Bagot or +Mr. Cartwright arrived at the office; but a gentleman who left Brussels at +five on Sunday reports that they were then fighting in the town, but the +troops had the worst of it. + +The Consul at Ostend reports that the King's troops evacuated Brussels on +Sunday night; that reinforcements from the country were pouring into +Brussels; that there had been an attempt at insurrection at Ostend, which +was put down for the time by the Governor, who killed two and wounded six; +that eleven or twelve men had marched in from Bruges, which was in +possession of the Bourgeois; that Ghent was expected to rise, and in a few +days all Belgium would be separated from the King. + +A son of Holmes of the Treasury arrived at the Foreign Office at four, and +said he had left Ostend at three yesterday, when there was a report that +the Dutch had made another attack and had recaptured the park. + +It seems they never had more than the park. They had to take, and did take, +the Rue Royale. They were more thoroughly masters of the Place Royale. They +planted guns against the town, which were answered by guns from the rebels. +At five on Sunday the latter were gradually advancing, and picking off the +troops in the park. + +The first day some rockets were fired and eighteen houses burnt; but Prince +Frederick ordered the discontinuance of this, the only efficacious mode of +attack. + +Lord Blantyre was killed. He was lame and on a sofa, but curiosity led him +to crawl to the window and peep out, when a ball struck him in the +forehead. Lady Blantyre and his children were with him. He was much +esteemed. He was in the Peninsula, and a gallant officer. + +I think the employment of European officers in civil situations under +native princes may be very useful to their subjects; and while we do not +ourselves employ natives in high situations, to force all native princes to +employ them is to make a striking contrast between their Government and +ours, very injurious to ours. + +Jones seemed to hesitate and to think I committed myself. However, I feel +sure of my ground. + +A letter from Lord Cleveland, expressing a wish to have the Vicarage of +Ilchester, and offering an equivalent living in Shropshire, or Cheshire. + +I sent his letter to the Bishop of Bath and Wells, saying I should be much +obliged to him if he could make the arrangement, Lord Cleveland being a +faithful and powerful supporter of Government. + +Told Lord Cleveland I had transmitted his letter with a strong +recommendation. + +I made my letter as agreeable to the Bishop as I could, but I dare say he +will refuse. Very likely he has given away the vicarage. I told Lord +Cleveland I thought it probable. + + +_September 30._ + +The Consul at Antwerp writes a long foolish letter in much alarm. + +Mr. Cartwright's reports are come. He describes a horrible carnage. The +events much as we know them. Sir A. Bagot says his Russian colleague has, +with the consent of the King and the Dutch Ministers, written home to say +Belgium can only be preserved by foreign aid. + +At dinner at the Duke of Wellington's met Talleyrand and Vaudreuil. The +others there were Aberdeen, Goulburn, Herries, Murray, Beresford, Lord F. +Somerset, and Rosslyn. + +Talleyrand is not altered since 1815, except that he speaks thick. He has +not even changed his hairdresser or his tailor. + +Lord Rosslyn showed me a letter from Lady Janet, who was in Brussels during +the fight. She walked about frequently, and was treated with civility by +the armed burghers. A few grape-shot fell into the courtyard, and she +picked up one. She was at the Hotel de Brabant in the Rue Neuve. There was +no pillage, nor any riot. The loss of the people was great. She left the +town on Sunday (I think) with a passport from Count Hoogwoorst, and got +round to Antwerp. + +The troops are said to have lost only 600 men. Prince Frederick is about +two leagues from Brussels, on the road to Louvain, waiting for heavy guns. +This is the report. I suspect he will retreat altogether. + + +_October 1._ + +On consideration thought it would be better to have a secret letter on the +press, authorising the Government to allow their servants to be connected +with the press. To this letter I thought it advisable to add an exhortation +to redoubled zeal on the part of the Company's servants on account of the +unsettled state in which the minds of men must be until it was decided +under what form the future Government of India should be administered, and +I directed the Government to make all thoroughly understand that no +possible change could effect the public debt, or the rights of the natives +or the just expectations of the European servants. My reason for thinking +the officers of Government should be permitted to be concerned in the press +is this, that if none but those who are unconnected with the Government, +and who, according to the existing system, cannot be connected with it, +manage the press, the probability is that everything will be said against +the Government and nothing for it. + +I showed the proposed letter to the Duke. He thought it would be better to +pay people for writing than to employ the Company's servants, and that the +concluding paragraphs would lead the Government to suppose it was quite +decided that the Company should be put an end to. It is wonderful the sort +of prejudice he has in favour of the Company. He thinks that unless +Directors selected writers and cadets we should have an inferior sort of +people in India. I have no objection to the patronage being in a corporate +body, but I am satisfied the present system leads to a degree of delay +which is more mischievous than misdirection. He acknowledges, however, that +the service is much changed. The exhibition made by Courtenay Smith has +produced a strong impression upon his mind. He has done more injury to the +Company in his mind than all the evidence. He still seems unwilling to make +his opinion up against the continuance of the monopoly. It must fall, +however. + +The King wishes to have Sir E. Barnes appointed provisional successor to +Lord Dalhousie. The Duke thinks him a better man than Sir R. O'Callaghan, +who was suggested by Lord F. Somerset. I suggested that it would be +expedient to unite the influence of Governor-General with that of +Commander-in-Chief, and make Lord William Bentinck provisional successor. +The Duke seemed to think Lord William could not execute both duties, and +that it was better to adhere to the general usage of separating the two +offices. It seems that after Lord Hastings' return the Court intimated a +disposition to separate the offices in future. I can do nothing against the +King, the Duke, and the Horse Guards; but I am satisfied it would have been +better to send Sir E. Barnes as second in command to the Governor-General. + +The King (Lord F. Somerset told me) was desirous of doing away with the +Company's European regiments. He could not do a better thing. He has +likewise some notion of bringing the army under himself. The Duke thinks it +must be a _local army,_ and certainly it must. [Footnote: In accordance +with this view Lord Ellenborough opposed the eventual amalgamation of the +Queen's and the Indian army.] I believe it is better to make it an army of +three Presidencies, not one army. My doubt is whether it would not be +advisable to allow exchanges from the King's army to the Company's. +Everything would be beneficial that raised the tone of the Indian army. + +The Duke showed me a draft letter he had written for Aberdeen to Lord +Stuart, informing the French Government that the King of the Netherlands +had required the assistance of his allies to re-establish his authority in +Belgium. That it was as much the interest of France as of other Powers to +put down a revolution not carried on by the higher or the middle, but by +the lowest classes of the people. That we were desirous of concerting with +France, as one of the contracting parties to the Treaty of Vienna, what +course should be now adopted. It could not be supposed the Allies would +forego the advantage of the union of Belgium and Holland for which they had +sacrificed so much. + +This was the substance of the letter. It will not be sent without the +concurrence of the Cabinet, which will be summoned the moment Peel comes to +town, and he is hourly expected. + +I think this letter prudent, inasmuch as whatever may happen it will place +us in the right; but I do not expect that France will do anything against +the rebels, or sanction the doing of anything. + +The Duke considers, as indeed is clear enough, that it is idle to expect +the future submission of Belgium to the King of the Netherlands. It may be +possible to place it under a Prince of the House of Nassau. I do not think +the Duke sees his way; but he expects war. + + +_October 2._ + +Cabinet. Aberdeen's letter to Lord Stuart. It is founded upon the Duke's +memorandum, but much extended _a l'Indienne_. I think none approved of it +but Lord Bathurst. I objected to the statement that the treaty of 1815 +imposed upon us _obligations_. It may give us _rights_, but it imposes no +obligation. Then the principle of non-interference is advanced as just and +wise, but there are peculiar circumstances attending the position of the +Netherlands which make a difference. + +There is an assertion that the troubles in Belgium have been fomented by +French agency, although not assisted by the Government, and a direct +reference is made to the Barrier Treaties. France is requested to concert +with us and the Allies to _suppress_ the anarchy which exists in the Low +Countries. She is at the same time reminded that in no case can the Allies +consent to renounce the security given to them by the Treaty of Paris in +consequence of an insurrection amongst the lower orders at Brussels. Of +this a great deal will be left out. Peel seemed to be rather averse to the +whole tenor of the letter, which looks like an invitation to put down the +insurrection by force. He sketched in a few words a letter which would be +innocuous. + +The Duke's object is to make an effort to induce France to act with us to +settle the Belgian affairs amicably. They cannot be settled _without_ +France, without a war. But is there any hope that the French Government +will venture to give us her _appui_? If they be self-denying enough to +renounce the hopes of annexing Belgium to France, their fears of the +Jacobins will not allow them to do so. My expectation is that they will say +they neither have interfered nor will interfere to dissolve the union +between Holland and Belgium. That they will not interfere in the internal +concerns of other States. + +Some think they will go farther and declare they will not allow other +_Powers_ to do so. I do not expect this. + +Every word of this letter must be well weighed, for every discontented man +in England and in France will criticise its words and its spirit. There is +no writer more unsafe than Aberdeen. + +Rosslyn did not seem to like the letter at all, but he said little. I +whispered to Peel that I wished he would bring a letter to-morrow. _Short_. +It was at last agreed alterations should be made, and we are to meet at one +to-morrow. + +Peel takes the letter home, and will, I trust, cut it down. + +The King Charles X. is in danger of being arrested, of which he naturally +has a great horror, and he desires to be allowed to go to Holyrood House, +where he would be safe. At Lulworth they are afraid of the Due de Bordeaux +being kidnapped. The pretence is the getting masters from Edinburgh for the +children. + +It may be feared that the placing him in a royal residence may look or be +represented as looking like recognition. On the other hand his removal from +the southern coast to Scotland is a renunciation of intrigues with France. + +It would be inconvenient if the King should wish to go to Edinburgh next +year. Charles X. is to be told he cannot stay there after the spring. +However, he will probably live there all his life. + +It would be a revolting sight to see a King imprisoned for debt, and all +gentlemen, all men of feeling, would have cried out _shame_! + +We are right in feeling, but in policy I am not sure. + +Nieuport has fallen as well as Ostend. The Bruxellois are drilling, and +threaten to attack Prince Frederick. Probably Van Holen drills them to keep +them quiet. + +Many people have applied to Falck [Footnote: Dutch Minister.] for passports +for Brussels, going in reality to join the rebels. Today two Irish +labourers asked for passports! Brussels will become the sink of Europe, and +every unquiet spirit will go there. + +The Duke thinks our attempt to make France act in concert with us the only +chance of preserving peace. + +I fear its preservation is almost desperate. One thing is in favour of it, +that all the European States desire it yet more than we do. + +I cautioned them to-day not to take any advanced position from which it +would be difficult and discreditable to retreat. The people would not go in +with us in a war to avert a distant danger, nor indeed for any object not +commercially interesting. + +It came out accidentally in the course of conversation respecting the loan +to the Netherlands that we had lent 20,000L to the Greeks; the sum to be +repaid by bills to be drawn by our Commissioner whenever the loan we are to +guarantee may be made--that is, we are to be paid out of our own money. + +Of this loan I knew nothing, and my impression is that when it was +earnestly pressed by Aberdeen such objections were stated on the ground of +illegality that the decision was against it. Certainly nothing was decided +in favour of it. I recollect having said I would rather advance a portion +of the money myself than be a party to the transaction. + + +_October 3._ + +Cabinet. The Consul at Ostend announces that nothing remains to the King of +the Netherlands but Antwerp. The troops have everywhere laid down their +arms. On the 1st the Brussels papers announce that orders had been issued +by the provisional Government for arresting all the Dutch officers. + +Peel read first the dispatch written by Aberdeen with the omissions agreed +upon, and then his own substitutions. His is much the best. It speaks of +'composing troubles' instead of 'suppressing anarchy,' avoids all mention +of interference, and altogether is a more prudent paper, touching the +Barrier very slightly. It was understood that Peel's was adopted. + +It is determined to allow the King, Charles X., to go to Holyrood House, +but he will be told there is no furniture, or very little, and that he can +only stay six months, and that no expense can be incurred on his account. +He has admitted no one to an audience, but many have been to Lulworth to +ask for places. + +Talleyrand says they have found an _ebauche_ of Polignac's, telling +Bourmont that his proposal that the money taken at Algiers should be given +to the Legion of Honour could not be complied with, as the King intended to +distribute it amongst his most faithful friends. They pretend they do not +intend to make use of this because there is no proof of its having been +sent; in fact they do not use it because it reflects credit on Bourmont. + +Lord Rosslyn, with whom I walked as far as Pimlico Palace, showed me the +Treasury list of the House of Commons. 311 decided friends and 189 enemies- +that is 500; the remainder, consisting of moderate Tories, violent Tories, +good and bad doubtfuls, as well as Huskissonians (the latter 13), are more +likely to be against us than for us. + +Rosslyn still hankers after a coalition, but reform has made it impossible. +We might have had this time last year Sir J. Graham. We might even now have +Palmerston, [Footnote: It appears from Lord Palmerston's published papers +that this was an error. He had already determined to act with the Whigs, +and not to take office without Lord Grey and Lord Lansdowne. See Ashley's +_Life of Lord Palmerston_, vol. i. p. 211.] but the Duke seems determined +to go on as he is, Peel and all, even Bathurst, seem to have a correct view +of the danger; but I see no flinching. + + +_October 4._ + +Saw the Duke. Suggested that we must soon consider what should be done with +respect to the China trade. If we were to give up the monopoly we had +better do so at once, on the first day of the Session, with a good grace, +and not make ourselves appear to do it with reluctance. The Duke said we +must certainly consider it. Had I talked with the Chairs about it? I said +no. I had thought it best to wait till the Cabinet had come to a decision +as to what should be done. I had privately advised them to turn over in +their minds the plan of the Company going on with the Government slightly +varied, but without monopoly. + +The Duke said he could not make up his mind without hearing first what the +Chairs had to say. I observed that if they, that is Astell, thought the +Government hesitated, they would certainly say they could not go on without +monopoly. However, the Duke seemed to think it was impossible for the +question to come before the Cabinet before we had talked with the Chairs. +So I have asked him and Loch to meet at the Treasury at twelve on Monday. + +I should like to see Tucker and Stuart, but I must do it privately, as I +have no principle to go upon in consulting with individual Directors. + +The Duke seems very reluctant to give up the monopoly, and to have very +exaggerated ideas of the value of the Company's intervention. + +He showed me a letter he had received from Mole, in which he takes a very +moderate view of the Belgian question. Expresses the most earnest desire +for peace, as war would place everywhere the two extreme principles in +conflict. France will not interfere, neither can she suffer others to +interfere, in the internal affairs of the Netherlands. He hopes to be able +to arrange everything amicably. + +A letter the Duke showed me from Rothschild's brother is still more +satisfactory if the view taken in it be correct. He says France will, _with +England and the Allies_, amicably settle the question; but she will not +have to be excluded. + +He mentions Leopold as a probable King of Belgium. + +The Court of Turin [Footnote: The first French Republic had made a similar +non-recognition a plea for seizing Savoy.] seems to be in a great fright +because the French Government took huff at their not recognizing at once. +They were afraid to do so till they heard what the great Powers did. + +M. de la Tour says they can bring 60,000 or 90,000 men into the field, if +Genoa is guarded for them by a fleet; but Genoa would require 14,000 men. +On that place they must retreat. + +The Spaniards seem to be going on well. They mean not to be _empresses_ +with their recognition, but are advised not to be the last. + +There have been insurrections at Hanau, Swerin, and I know not where else. +The Diet intend to vary the law of the Empire and to allow any neighbour, +whose assistance may be asked, to give it at once. + +The Emperor of Russia received General Athalia very graciously, but he +keeps him waiting for his answer. Lieven professes himself well satisfied +with our reasons for immediate recognition. So does Metternich. In fact +they cannot do without us, and if we lead they must follow. + + +_October 5._ + +Cabinet. Goulburn's Civil List. He transfers to the Consolidated Fund all +the salaries heretofore partly paid by the Civil List, and in diplomacy +there is a reduction of 28,000L a year. + +It is supposed there can be no reduction in the great departments in the +article of tradesmen's bills, or in the Board of Works. + +The King gives up the Droits [Footnote: 'Droits of Admiralty.'] without any +compensation. This is all a loss to the privy purse. + +It seems possible to reduce perspectively many officers in England and in +Ireland who do not really contribute to the state of the crown. This, +however, did not occur to Goulburn but to Peel. + +The account of Liege is very bad indeed. Things there seem going on in the +style of the French Revolution. + +Nothing can be better than the account from France. They will be pleased by +the letter read to them. All they feared was the attempt to exclude them +from all concert in the settlement of Belgium. They think neither the King +nor Prince Frederick can return to Brussels; but the Prince of Orange may, +and this will, I think, be finally settled. + + +_October 6._ + +Council at 2. Talleyrand was presented. He backed to the window and read a +speech in which there were several erasures. He declared the determination +of France to pursue the course so wisely followed by England of non- +interference. He spoke of himself as 'Ministre d'une Royaute votee a +l'unanimite.' + +The King did not much like receiving him, and was a little nervous. To what +Talleyrand said about noninterference the King answered it was a very good +thing, especially when exercised _de bonne foi_. This he said by Aberdeen's +advice. + +I read the King of the Netherlands' letter. He asks distinctly for +_military assistance_. + +Cabinet dinner at the Duke's. The Prince of Orange is gone to Antwerp. This +the Duke thinks the very worst step that could have been taken; the only +mistake the King has made. In fact the King was unwilling, and ever since +the affair of Brussels there has been a coolness between the King and the +Prince. The Duke fears the consequences of the Prince's going, because he +is a man devoted to popularity-vain. The Duke and Talleyrand were talking +about popularity. The Duke said those who loved it never loved it with +moderation. Talleyrand said, 'Il n'y a jamais de moderation, ou il n'y a +pas de _gout_--et il n'y a pas de gout dans l'amour de la popularite!' The +Duke asked Talleyrand what sort of a man the Duke of Orleans was. 'Un +Prince de l'Ecole normale.' Of the Queen he said, 'Elle est bonne femme, et +surtout grande dame--c'est ce qu'il nous faut.' + +Talleyrand said he had given the King a piece of advice, '_to go to +Neuilly_'--that is, to rescue himself from the vagabond cortege. + +Talleyrand is very well pleased with the letter sent to Paris, and the +foreign Ministers are satisfied. + +The King (our King) seemed to me to be very weary to-day. Aberdeen said he +was a good deal distressed at the state of Europe, and rather anxious. + +Lord and Lady Holland and Rothschild appear to be the only people besides +the Ministers who have called on Talleyrand. Lord Holland is very much with +him. Lord Holland is doing all he can to save the lives of the French +Ministers--for the interest of the French Government, not of the Ministers +themselves. He has written to La Fayette and to the King. + + +_October 7._ + +I forgot on what authority it was mentioned yesterday, but it was mentioned +as a fact that the Liberaux would not have done anything unless they had +been certain of the Duke of Orleans. So afraid were they of a revolution +that they would have submitted to the Ordonnances rather than run the risk +of it. + + +_October 9._ + +At Canterbury heard more particulars of the machine-breaking now going on +in the neighbourhood. Notice is given, and the frames are broken. One +gentleman boasted at market they should not break his, as he had armed men +to protect them. They on the same night set fire to his rickyard. Sir Henry +Oxenden's sons went out to meet them, when they came according to notice to +break Sir Henry's machines. One man spoke for the rest. He acknowledged Sir +Henry seldom or ever used his machine, and that he was the landlord in Kent +who gave most to the poor; but they must do as they were ordered; they +would, however, do as little as they could, and they only sawed off a +shaft. + +The farmers now leave their thrashing machines out in the fields to be +broken. + +The rickyard of one gentleman was set on fire because he committed a man +for machine-breaking. He lost 6,000L, nothing being insured. + +It seems suspicions are entertained that the machine-breakers are not all +of the station they assume. They all wear smock frocks, but their language +is better than their dress. When money was offered them, if they wanted it, +by the Oxendens, they said they did not want money, they obeyed orders. + +It is reported, but this must be an exaggeration, that 500 assembled lately +on a Down near Mr. Brockman's. + +The magistrates have no good evidence against any. Some Bow Street officers +are here. Lord Winchelsea and Sir Edward Knatchbull have been here at every +meeting of the magistrates, although they live eighteen miles off. + +The Provisional Government of Belgium have declared the independence of the +country and the defeazance of the House of Orange. In the meantime the +Prince of Orange is arrived at Antwerp, as Viceroy, with a Belgian Etat +Major Civil. + +It seems probable the Chamber of Deputies will abolish the punishment of +death for political offences, and so save Polignac. + +The levy of 108,000 men will hardly make the French army 240,000 effective, +for it was not full before the Revolution, and numbers have deserted; +besides the disbandment of the Guards, which was 25,000 men. + + +_October 11._ + +Cabinet. Aberdeen read Lord Stuart's account of his interview with Mole. +Mole suggests an immediate conference, and thinks the Prince of Orange may +be made Sovereign of La Belgique. No communication will be held by the +French Government with the Provisional Government of Belgium. They will +communicate through the King. + +It is proposed to have the Conference here. The Ministers of Austria, +Prussia, and Russia have expressed their readiness to acquiesce in anything +proposed by this country. They may inveigh against the diplomacy of +England, but in moments of danger all rally under our wing. + +Mole distinctly admitted that the existence of the present Government of +France depended on its remaining on good terms with England and Prussia, +and the affairs of Belgium gave them an opportunity of showing _la droiture +de leurs principes_, &c.--in short, of gaining a good character. + +It was decided against guaranteeing the sum of 500,000L the Dutch wish to +raise here. There would be no end to such loans if we once began to assist +the credit of foreign States. Parliament would not approve of the measure. +To the Dutch Government it is important that this Administration should +remain, and likewise that their own credit should not be injured in all +Europe by the confession of weakness which their recourse to us implies. + +To guarantee a loan is to give money, and to do that is to assist one of +the parties to lose the mediatory character, and, in fact, put ourselves +out of the Congress. + +Hardinge can reduce 57,000L a year in net and on the Civil List, 30,000L on +the Pension List, and 27,000L on officers of State. + +We had some talk about details, but Goulburn does not reduce as much as +Hardinge. + +Had some talk with the Duke and Peel respecting the fires in Kent, and the +breaking of frames. Five are in prison. The Duke thinks smugglers are at +the bottom of it. + +There has been alarm at Carlisle. The officers in command of the castle +apprehended an attempt to surprise it and seize the arms. Men had been seen +measuring the wall. Sir J. Graham was alarmed about it. Orders will be +given to provision for thirty days all the places where arms are kept, the +town included, where there are 600,000 stand of arms. In the meantime all +classes are more comfortable in this country than they ever were, and this +alone keeps down insurrection. There are leaders but no troops. + +Hardinge reports that the spirit in Ireland is _disimproved_ since the +events in Belgium. + +There is to be an Anti-Union Society, which, as soon as it meets, will be +put down under the Act. + + +_October 12._ + +At nine went to Apsley House. Met the Chairs. We went in to the Duke. Our +conversation lasted two hours. As they are to send in a _proces verbal_, it +is unnecessary for me to state it. The substance was that, supposing the +monopoly to be taken away, they would administer the Government of India as +heretofore on one of two conditions; either closing their account with the +public and receiving payment in full, or an equivalent annuity for all +their property in India, in which case they would require no guarantee of +the present dividend; or making over all their property, and taking a +perpetual guarantee of the dividend. + +The public to make good in either case all deficiency of Indian revenue, +and in either case the Company to be the agents for the territory, +providing all necessary sums here and receiving repayment at a rate of +exchange to be paid from time to time fairly. + +The Chairs were given to understand that the public being liable to the +making good of Indian deficiency, we should require a strict control over +the whole expenditure _here_, as well as in India. + +They show, especially Campbell, a disposition to leave off trading and +become gentlemen. They were told by the Duke that if they did so we must be +at liberty to revise our arrangement with them. We might as well go to the +Bank as to them, if we were to treat with a body not commercial. + +The Duke seems much pleased with his foreign prospects. + +M. de Choiseul was waiting to see him. I suppose on the affair of Holyrood +House. + +It seems probable that the French will abolish the punishment of death, and +so save Polignac. + + +_October 14._ + +Found at the office several papers giving accounts of Radical meetings in +Lancashire. All the old Radicals are reappearing on the scene. They do not +as yet seem to be attended by any numerous assemblies, never above 200 or +300. + +A letter from a clergyman at Wrotham speaks of burnings near that place, +and of the bad conduct of the people who interfere with the working of the +engines, and seem to rejoice in the destruction. + +Read all the papers relating to the education of the Princess Victoria, who +seems to have been admirably brought up. + +At the Cabinet room read a long and excellent letter of Hardinge's +respecting the state of Ireland. + +The 87th Regiment at Newry, when paraded for church, refused to march +without music, to which it had been accustomed in the south. It had been +discontinued in the north to avoid displeasing the Orangemen. + +The captain sent for the Lieutenant-Colonel Blair, who was at first +disobeyed, but he placed a drum to have a drum-head court martial, and then +they marched. The Duke says it is, and always has been, the worst regiment +in the service. It ran away at Salamanca and exposed him to being taken +prisoner. It has always been unmilitary, and from the same cause, a +disposition to seek popularity on the part of its officers. Hardinge +proposes embarking it at once for the West Indies. The Duke prefers +bringing it to Dublin, where there are other regiments to keep it in order, +and soon sending it to England, and by detachments at no distant period to +Botany Bay. They do not expect there will be any further exhibition of +mutinous spirit. The only mischief of this is the effect at this time. + +There have been apprehensions of an attempt to scale the Pigeon House, and +a full garrison has been ordered into it, with directions to add to its +defences on the seaside so as to protect it from escalade. + +Hardinge can bring twenty guns together in a very short time, at any point +in Dublin. He talks of arming the students in Trinity College in the event +of an explosion. + +They rather expect an explosion about the 18th or 19th, when probably there +will be the first meeting of the new Association. + +This it will be the first object to put down by the Act of 1829. The +meeting to petition for the repeal of the Union will be permitted. + +Hardinge is quite himself on horseback. The only fear is that he should be +too lively. Peel seems to think he is; but it is a great comfort to have +him there instead of Lord Francis Leveson, who was always wrong. + +The King of the Netherlands has called his States at the Hague, the +Constitution requiring them to meet this year in Belgium. He takes +advantage of the provision in the Constitution which permits him to call +the States in Holland in case of war. They fear the loss of Antwerp. The +Prince of Orange thinks things look better. + +The Netherland Ambassador is much annoyed at the refusal of pecuniary +assistance; but, as was expected, the Dutch have got their money, only +paying a little more for it. + +Our depots are only 160 strong. We have hardly a battalion. One or two at +least of those which were going abroad will be retained for a time. + +The Duke of Brunswick does not much like abdicating. The Duke of Wellington +thought he had brought him to make his brother Governor-General for his +life, retaining the succession for his children. However, Aberdeen seems to +have blundered him back again. He is to go to see the King on Saturday. The +King desired he might come early, that he might not be obliged to have him +to dinner, and he desired Aberdeen would remain in the room. + +Pozzo thinks the French Government is gaining strength; but they are very +inefficient in preventing armed men from assembling on the frontiers of +Spain. + +The French have exercised such coldness towards the Belgians that they are +become unpopular. De Potter was French while he had hopes of becoming so. +Now he is a Republican. + +The Austrians will send troops into the Sardinian dominions if there is any +insurrection. [Footnote: They had similarly interfered to put down the +Constitutional movement in Piedmont which followed on the Neapolitan +revolution of 1821.] This by invitation. + + +The Queen of Spain has, it is said, a son. [Footnote: It was a daughter, +afterwards Queen Isabella II., born October 10, 1830. The alteration of the +succession in favour of the female line led to a civil war on Ferdinand +VII.'s death. A son might have secured peace, but probably without a +Constitution.] This event would, it is thought, secure Spain against any +revolutionary movement. + + +_October 15._ + +Called on the Duke. Settled with him the alterations necessary in the +Chairs' memorandum of the conversation on the 12th. He thought we had gone +too far in leading them to expect they should be repaid the money they had +sunk in the territory while they held the Government. + +Received from him the opium letter. He thinks the principle good, but +considers it is not fair to make the Scindians prevent the transit of +opium. We cannot prevent them, for they are independent; but unless we +endeavour to persuade them, and succeed in doing so, we shall lose our +opium revenue. + + +_October 16._ + +Chairs at 11. Head over with them my alterations of their protocol. Astell +did not seem to see the greatness of the variations. Campbell did, and +particularly observed upon the words, 'value of the fixed property in India +which might be adjudged to appertain to the Company in their commercial +capacity.' He wanted an admission of the justice of the claims, leaving +nothing for adjustment but their amount. I said we could not admit claims +without examination, the nature of which we did not yet know. All we could +admit was that the claims were such as should be submitted to examination, +and their validity decided upon just principles. + +Astell wished to go back again and recommence the discussion. I said he +knew I could decide nothing without the Cabinet, and he nothing without the +Court; all he had to do now was to bring the subject before them. + +He asked whether they were distinctly to understand that the Cabinet had +decided upon the termination of the monopoly? I said that the question not +having yet been before the Cabinet I could not give an answer officially; +but when the First Lord of the Treasury and the President of the Board of +Control desired to know what the course of the Court would be in the event +of its being proposed that the Court should administer the Government +without monopoly, I thought it was not difficult to draw an inference. + + +_October 19._ + +Sent to the Duke a memorandum on his letter. Read at the Cabinet room. The +King of the Netherlands is much annoyed at the desertion, as he thinks it, +of his allies. He now proposes a Congress of the Four Powers and _France_ +at Breda or Cleves. He admits France very unwillingly, and by no means +acquiesces in the reasoning in favour of the advance we made. + +Sir Ch. Bagot seems to think the Prince of Orange will be losing the +affection of the Dutch without gaining the Belgians. + +The German Confederation is arming in the neighbourhood of Hanau for the +preservation of the peace. They have put 6,000 or 7,000 men in motion, and +have a reserve of 15,000 or 18,000. + +The excitement against Polignac and Peyronnet increases, and the Ministers +run the hazard of their places by attempting to save them. I fear that is +hopeless. The Spanish Radicals seem to find it would be dangerous to pass +the frontier. + + +_October 20._ + +Office. Cabinet room. The Prince of Orange has written a most offensive +letter to the King of the French, almost insinuating that the troubles in +Belgium are fomented by France, and saying that by a declaration against +the Belgians France would show her good faith, and secure the recognition +of Russia. The French Cabinet is much offended at the silence of the King +of the Netherlands, and Count Mole is going to write to the Dutch Minister +upon the subject. + +Nesselrode seems to see great difficulties in the intervention of France in +the settlement of Belgium--the union of Belgium and Holland having been +made _against_ France. The Russian Minister at the Hague has general +directions to follow the course of England upon all points not provided for +by his instructions. + +There is a great fall in the Funds to-day; partly, it is said, in +consequence of those who desired to keep up the Funds being no longer able +to do so; partly from the general aspect of affairs. My surprise is that +the Funds have not fallen before, and much more. + +Cabinet dinner at the Duke's. Showed the protocol of our Conference with +the Chairs. The heads of the speech were read. Aberdeen's will not do at +all. To my surprise he intended to announce the recognition of Miguel, he +having engaged to do a great act of justice; that is, to publish the +amnesty. He will not do it till a British Minister arrives at Lisbon; that +is, he makes us, whom he has once deceived, dependent upon his word. This +would be a very incautious step on our part. We meet on Friday to consider +the speech in detail. + +We had a good deal of conversation about the Duchess of Kent's allowance, +which is to be much increased. It is proposed to give her 20,000L a year. +She has now 12,000L for herself and the Princess, out of which she pays +interest and insurance upon 12,000L she borrowed on the Duke of Kent's +death for her outfit. + +The King has about thirty people at dinner every day, belonging to the +Household. His expense must be enormous in living. + + +_October 21._ + +Read in the newspaper the King of the Netherlands' speech. It is querulous +and angry. I really thought the Proclamation _extraordinary_ of the Prince +of Orange a forgery; but it is genuine, and he throws off all connection +with Holland, declaring the independence of Belgium, and placing himself +practically at the head of the Rebellion! + +On Monday night at a dance at the Lodge, Hardinge saw accidentally in an +evening newspaper, shown to him for another purpose, the advertisement of +the Anti-Union Association, and by seven o'clock the next morning the Lord +Lieutenant's Proclamation prohibiting it was placarded in the streets. This +is decision. There was no riot. Persons in general were satisfied the act +was right. O'Connell is alarmed. The Duke of Leinster is ready to sign a +declaration in favour of the Union. All is safe in Ireland with Hardinge's +promptitude. I wish he could remain and not come over to Parliament. + + +_October 22._ + +Saw Campbell, who was very nervous and anxious, and I at night wrote a +letter to Lord Hill in favour of his son--more, I admit, from a father's +feelings than from a conviction of being right. + +It seems the Lord Lieutenant not having been near Dublin when the +Proclamation was issued by Hardinge, he must have had a blank Proclamation +in his pocket, and have issued it without the opinion of the law officers. +He has good debatable Parliamentary grounds of defence; but he has trodden +upon the margin of the law. Not the worse for that in these times, when it +is most important that every one should see the Government are vigilant and +determined. + +Valdez, who entered Spain with a few hundred men, has been smashed at once. + +At the Cabinet we had a long discussion respecting the Regency question. +Aberdeen started the objection that the proposed measure was destructive of +the principle that the King could not die. On the other hand it was +contended that we maintained that principle. We made a Regent for _a King_. +We acknowledged _a King_; but we deferred taking the oath of allegiance +till we knew who he was. The difficulties attending the _unkinging_ of a +Sovereign on the birth of a Prince nearer to the present King seem greater +than any attending the measure proposed. It was ultimately determined that +the Chancellor should consult the judges and the law officers. + + +_October 23._ + +Cabinet. Twenty-six magistrates at Canterbury sentenced to three days' +imprisonment threshing machine breakers, who pleaded guilty! Such has been +the terror struck into them! Sir E. Knatchbull was in the chair. + +We went through the speech--not deciding absolutely upon the words; but +generally upon the substance. + +Then arose a conversation as to the Regency which, in this last hour, is +thought a point of importance. The Chancellor seems alarmed and unwilling +to move the suspension of the rights of the presumptive heir until the non- +existence of an heir apparent be ascertained, without the opinion of the +judges. It is admitted there is no written opinion to guide us. The analogy +of property is in favour of the heir presumptive; that of peerage in favour +of the heir apparent _in utero_. + + +_October 24._ + +Cabinet at 4. Read two letters from Hardinge. By his account all the men of +property will support the Government and the Union. + +The press is coming round--_bought_. A Mr. Conway, an able writer, is +furious against O'Connell, and, upon the whole, the Press is on our side. +Hardinge dilates with delight upon his military preparations and plans of +defence, and seemingly will be disappointed if he cannot put them into +execution. + +The Belgian Ministers resigned after the Prince of Orange's Proclamation. +He is left without advisers. He has endeavoured to get Sir Charles Bagot to +join him, and Grasioff. He sends for Cartwright. He seems much embarrassed. +In fact he is in heart a Belgian, and would sacrifice everything to be King +of Belgium. He never knew the Dutch, and not unnaturally likes the Belgians +better. They are indignant at his conduct in Holland, and with reason. He +seems to intend to rule the Dutch by means of the Belgians. This he cannot +do. + +The Duke of Wellington always thought him a silly fellow. + +The Provisional Government is going to send some mission here. + +We had a long talk about the Regency. Really it does us little credit to +begin now, within ten days of the meeting of Parliament, to consider that +question seriously. + +The Chief Justices will be asked whether, supposing the Queen to be +pregnant at the death of the King, the next living heir would succeed? How +in the event of the birth of a child the _de facto_ Sovereign is to be put +aside? And what should be done if the Queen only may be with child? The +difficulty consists in the oath of allegiance, which must be altered and +made conditional. But what a curious position the Queen Victoria would be +placed in, if a baby were to oust her after eight months of reign! + +I think the course adopted will be this--to make an oath of allegiance +conditional, saving the rights of a child to be born; to appoint the Regent +who would be named for the Princess Victoria, with the provision that on +the birth of a child the child's mother shall be Regent. + + +_October 25._ + +Cabinet at 4. Peel read letters he had received from Mr. Foster, the +magistrate of Manchester, Mr. Hulton, of Hulton, and a manufacturer whose +name I forget. They all give an alarming account of the state of +Manchester. The colliers have turned out in some districts, and where they +have turned out the mills are necessarily stopped. This has thrown numbers +out of employment. These colliers can earn 10_s_. a day; that is, as much +as many clergymen. The spinners can earn 5_s_. a day. Yet they turn out. + +This seems to be a manoeuvre like that of Lafitte when he refused to +discount bills. To stop the supply of coal is to throw all mills out of +work, and every one out of employment. The question is, Shall the masters +resist? If they do, there will be an early collision. If they do not, they +may defer it, but not long. Concession was counselled six weeks ago, on the +ground that, after the events in Belgium and in France, collision was +dangerous; and this even by bold men. It seems there are 3,000 infantry, 3 +guns, and about 600 or 800 cavalry near Manchester. Perhaps some howitzers +may be sent, but more force there is not. Peel at the Cabinet wrote a +letter to Mr. Taylor, saying that under ordinary circumstances he should +have counselled resistance or rather non-concession; but now it was a +doubtful question whether a collision at Manchester would not lead to +collision in many other places, and was our force sufficient? He was +desired to see Mr. Hulton, Sir E. Bouverie, and others, and to consider +what could be done, particularly whether Volunteer Corps could be formed. +The delegates who went to Mr. Chappell seem to be amenable to the law and +get-at-able. This will be done. + +The law officers came in and were asked as to the power of the Crown to +permit the formation of Volunteer Corps. They were desired to consider the +point. By the Act of 1794 there seems to be no doubt about it. + +Hardinge is arrived. He has been calling out O'Connell. I am sorry for it, +for O'Connell had declared he would not fight. O'Connell had called him the +Duke's aide-de-camp. So far it does good, that it lowers O'Connell still +more, and destroys the value of anything he might say against Hardinge. + + +_October 26._ + +Called on Hardinge. He says the accounts from Manchester to-day are worse. +In the House Lord Hill showed me a letter (from Sir E. Bouverie, I think), +giving a very alarming account--30,000 out of work, and apprehension of +early collision. + +Parliament opened. Took the oaths. Office. Lord Dalhousie was so ill on +June 4 that I have no idea of his being now Commander-in-Chief in India. + +Received a summons to a Cabinet at four _precisely_, and went to the +Foreign Office; but nobody came. I think it must have been summoned to meet +at Peel's house. The times are so critical that I should be sorry to lose a +Cabinet. I could not find out that any summonses had been sent from the +Foreign Office. There was a crowd of people in Downing Street, who had, I +dare say, followed the Duke from the House of Lords. There were a good many +about the House. All quite quiet. + + +_October 27._ + +_Levee_ at two. Addresses from the Church of Scotland, and the Lord Mayor +and Corporation of Dublin. Dr. Chalmers was with the Church of Scotland. +The Recorder of Dublin, Mr. Shaw, who is member for Dublin, made a speech +before he read the address--a thing quite unprecedented, and which might be +very inconvenient. The speech itself was innocent. The _levee_ by no means +full. + +Peel had an audience of the King, and in half an hour the King slept twenty +minutes. He says he never knew any man so much altered in three months. His +somnolency increases. He slept during an interview with Aberdeen yesterday. +When the Duke saw him he was alive enough. + +Cabinet. Prince at the Chancellor's. Some conversation respecting the +burnings in Kent. Peel thinks they were effected by a chemical process, by +some substance deposited hours before, and igniting when the perpetrators +are far off. The persons who met Lord Winchilsea expressed detestation of +the burnings, and went away to break threshing machines, but a man who +committed persons for breaking threshing machines had his ricks burnt; +another suffered the same thing who defended his threshing machines. I +believe the two offences to be committed by the same persons. The +magistrates are supine and terror-struck; but they have no police, no +military. Sir E. Knatchbull doubts whether they would arm as yeomen. Peel +does not seem to me to view with sufficient alarm the effect these burnings +will produce upon men's minds, and the example of impunity. Nothing was +said about Manchester. All seemed to think less seriously of our dangers +than they did some days back. + +The law officers mean to give in their report on the case put to them to- +morrow. They will say it is not provided for. The Chancellor has the judges +at dinner on Friday, and he will then obtain theirs. + + +_October 28._ + +Captain Harvey of the 4th Dragoons called by the King's desire to say the +King of Persia told him when he was at Teheran that he was hurt at not +receiving a letter from the King. I told Captain Harvey the King had +announced his accession to the Shah of Persia as he had to other +sovereigns. Captain Harvey was interpreter to his regiment. It seemed to me +that he rather wished to command the Persian troops. He is brother to the +tutor to Prince George of Cambridge. He is a very gentlemanlike man. + +The French insist on having the conferences respecting the settlement of +Belgium at Paris, if there are to be any regular conferences. They cannot +permit Talleyrand to act for them. The French would be jealous of him, &c. +We had wished to have the conferences here for the very reason that we +thought Talleyrand would do his utmost to have the credit of preserving +peace. I see there will be no Congress. The French think that, if they +stand still, the fruit will fall into their mouths. The folly of the Prince +of Orange will ruin his party in Belgium. The ambition of the Belgians will +induce them to attempt to form a separate State, which after much disorder +will be found impracticable; and as they will not become Dutch, they _will_ +become French. Then we shall have a war, and present forbearance only +postpones it. All the Volunteers who are acting in Belgium are French. All +the forces in the field are commanded by Frenchmen. French money is +employed. The French are really now carrying on the war covertly. + +Russia is paralysed by the devastating progress of the cholera morbus which +has reached Moscow. The Emperor is gone to Moscow to establish order and +obedience, for the civil and military authorities are quarrelling, and the +troops are unwilling to form the cordon. All cordons I believe to be +fruitless. It would be as wise to form a cordon against the wind. The +disease advances, however, along the high roads and navigable rivers. It is +the most extraordinary plague we have had. + +Prussia cannot act for fear of disorders at home, and Austria is literally +the only power to which war is possible. The French dare not go to war for +fear of a Republic. + +It seems the French Ministry will be partially changed, the Due de Broglie +and Guizot going out. The Due de Broglie seems to be a pedantic coxcomb. + +I pity the King of the Netherlands, who is a good man. To be hated by two- +thirds of his subjects, betrayed by his foolish son, and abandoned as he +thinks by his allies, must be great trials to him; while, although the +Dutch adore him and really love him, they will not give him money, and I +have a little doubt whether they will fight much. Probably, however, the +fear of pillage will make them do that for themselves. + +Read a very well-written pamphlet in reply to Brougham's two. I suspect the +writer is Philpotts. It is too powerful for an ordinary man, and far beyond +Croker. Neither is it in his style. Brougham has made Ridgway put forth a +letter stating that he never communicated upon the subject of the pamphlet +with Brougham--which is no denial that it is Brougham's. + +It is a good and useful pamphlet, and will teach the Whigs good manners by +showing them they cannot commit aggression with impunity. There is no part +much better done than that in which the falsehood and absurdity are shown +of what was said in the Brougham pamphlets respecting me. To be sure my +champion had a good case. What was said about me rather leads me to think +Lord Durham or T. Moore had a hand in it. + + +_October 29._ + +The letters from Manchester recommend resistance on the part of the +masters--that is, non-concession. This will put the colliers to the +necessity of adopting _force_, and in the defence of property we should +commence the contest, which can only be deferred, with great advantage. Mr. +Foster thinks the views of the Union have been shaken by the increase of +force near Manchester; and that, although there might be much disturbance, +the event would not be doubtful. One committee of the Union has proposed +acquiescence in the masters' terms. + +The accounts from Kent are bad. Peel has offered to send down a magistrate +and police officers, and to go to any expense. + +He was to receive Mr. Hammond, Plumptree, Lord Camden, and others to-day. +Poor Lord Camden, in the meantime, has the lumbago. + + +_October 30._ + +Cabinet. A very bad account of Manchester. No means of raising Volunteer +corps. Little hope of uniting the masters. The operatives triumphant. No +disposition, however, on their part to come to blows, and a confidence on +the part of the magistrates that a fight would be in their favour; but then +they must have _troops_, keep all they have, and get more if possible. + +Mr. Taylor recommends that constables should have the power of arresting +_picketers_ without warrant. + +Went through the speech. It will do very well now. + +Spoke to the Duke about Indian finance, and told him the result. He wished +to see all the papers, which were not yet quite ready. In the meantime +nothing is to be done, and we are to appoint the Committee. + +The Attorney and Solicitor-General deprecate the prosecution of a libel +transmitted for their opinion, and say they think it unadvisable to +prosecute without the sanction of Parliament! What this means I do not +know, unless it means that they are cowed. + +There is an infamous article in the _Times_ to-day, against the conduct of +the farmers and country gentlemen, and there are worse in the _Morning +Chronicle_. + +Had some conversation after dinner at St. James's with Frankland Lewis. He +longs for the Grants. I told him it would not do, and what sort of a man +Charles Grant was. Frankland Lewis does not seem to like his office, but he +says he shall bring it into order if he remains there, and make it a Privy +Councillor's office without drudgery. He and, indeed, all seem to wish they +were better and more boldly led in the House of Commons. All we want is +that. + + +_October 31._ + +Cabinet. On Monday the 25th the Prince of Orange left Antwerp. He embarked, +and intended to go to see his father, and then to come to England! On the +26th General Mellinot marched in and went on to Breda, with 5,000 men. On +the 27th (there having been a parley on the 26th), the populace attempted +to seize the arsenal. The citadel fired. The, town was on fire when Mr. +Cartwright came away, and is nearly destroyed. + +At Maidstone two or three ringleaders were seized very gallantly by the +magistrates, and carried off to the gaol by the cavalry at a canter. +However, there are but thirty-four troopers there. So four troops have been +sent from Windsor, a depot from some other place, and two guns from +Woolwich. All this was rendered necessary by an intended meeting on +Penenden Heath to-morrow. March, the Solicitor of the Treasury, is gone +down. + +There was much conversation about the state of the Press, and a resolution +taken to prosecute, notwithstanding the unwillingness of the law officers. +Scarlet appears to be quite cowed by opposition and the Press. + +This Press may be bought, but we have no money. Five-sixths of the Foreign +Secret Service money are preoccupied by permanent old charges--the Secret +Service money of the Treasury is preoccupied in the same way. + +There is a small sum of droits which may be turned over to the Privy Purse, +and then by the King to the Government, but it is not more than 3,000L. It +is thought that perhaps some of the pensions on the Secret Service money of +the Treasury may be turned over to the Foreign Office. The Treasury money +is the only money applicable to the purchase of newspapers. + +We twaddled a great deal over the speech. It was proposed by Peel to insert +a paragraph referring to the disturbed state of the country. He will write +it, and we shall consider it in a Cabinet at St. James's to-morrow at one, +before the Council. + +Lord Bathurst is more alarmed than any one; but Peel is a good deal alarmed +too. + +There is _danger_, for there are many to attack and few ready to risk +anything in defence. It was otherwise in 1793. + +The Duke thinks that with every disposition to do mischief there is no +conspiracy, or we should have heard of it. + + +_November 1._ + +Cabinet at St. James's at one. The Lord-Lieutenant has prohibited, by +Proclamation, the meeting of the Volunteer Society. Very properly and +consistently. It was a much more dangerous society than the other. He is a +firm man, not to be turned from the course he thinks right. + +O'Connell has not been spoken to in the clubs he has entered. At Brookes's +they turned their backs upon him. + +There was no meeting at Maidstone. Probably they had intimation of the +movements of troops. Lord Beresford told me there were 3,000 artillerymen +at Woolwich, enough to serve guns for an army. + +Went through the speech again. Aberdeen is the most obstinate man I ever +saw, about the mere _words_ of his part of the speech. We lost half an hour +at least in talking about words to-day. Peel read his concluding sentence, +which is very good. He laments the outrages, and the attempt to disturb the +concord between portions of the empire whose union is essential to their +mutual strength and happiness, declares the King's determination to exert +the powers confided to him by the Law and the Constitution for the +punishment of sedition, and ends by expressing a firm reliance on the +loyalty of the great body of the people. + +As far as I could judge by the King's countenance when the speech was read, +he acquiesced, and thought it right, but was pained at being obliged to +hold such language. + +I had prepared a paragraph to be used in case it had been thought right to +say anything about India. For my own part I thought it better not. We could +not produce a measure this year, and it would hardly be fair by the Court +to declare to Parliament that we thought the monopoly must be put an end to +without having previously acquainted them with our determination. The Duke +said he had seen nothing yet to satisfy him that the revenues of India +could meet the expenditure without the China trade. I think his reluctance +increases to put an end to the present system. My disposition to terminate +the existence of the Company increases the more I see of them. + + +_November 2_ + +House at five. Lord Bute made a very long, heavy speech. Lord Monson a very +little one, not bad. The stuff would do; but he has neither stature nor +voice. + +We then had Lord Winchilsea, Lord Camden, Duke of Leinster, and Lord +Farnham. Lord Winchilsea right in tone, but desiring inquiry into +agricultural distress. This, too, was the burden of a mouthy speech made by +the Duke of Richmond, whom I had nearly forgotten. Lord Farnham spoke, as +he always does, well. He deprecated the dissolution of the Union, but +desired relief for Ireland. This, too, was desired by the Duke of Leinster, +who spoke very firmly, as all did, against agitators. + +Lord Grey said it was a moment of great _danger_ and _importance_. +Fortitude, caution, and wisdom were required. He spoke strongly against the +dissolution of the Union, and against the disturbers of the public peace +everywhere. He used the words of the speech, _grief_ and _indignation_. He +joined in the determination to put down sedition by law. Rejoiced no new +laws were asked for. Approved of the prompt recognition of King Louis +Philippe; lamented the _necessity_ of the French Revolution. Said 'all +Revolutions were in themselves evils,' although they might produce eventual +good. Expressed his hope, for the honour of France and for the interests of +Liberty, that they would not sully a Revolution hitherto unstained by a +single act of vengeance. This part of his speech was very well worded and +spoken. He objected to the terms in which the passage respecting the +Netherlands was worded, as seeming to cast all the blame upon the Belgians, +and so to make our mediation less effectual. He likewise objected to the +making the Portuguese Amnesty a seeming condition of the recognition of +Miguel. Of the recognition itself he did not complain, as he had so long +been King _de facto_. These objections were fair. + +Lord Farnham having suggested the necessity of preparing for war, Lord Grey +said the preparation should be by gaining the hearts of our own people--and +he advocated, but very temperately, Reform. He did not, however, allow that +there was any abstract right to a particular mode of constituting a +Legislature. The right of the people was to a _good Government_, and to +whatever form of Legislative Assembly might seem best to secure that +Government. + +His speech was good, and temperate, as well as firm. The Duke of Wellington +followed him. He declared his intention to oppose Reform. He said we were +not bound to interfere for the maintenance of the Amnesty further than by +advice and remonstrance, not by war. + +I should mention that Lord Grey seemed pleased by the abandonment of the +droits. He was not very well, and at times was almost unable to proceed. + +Upon the whole the tone of the debate was very good, and will do good. + + +_November 3._ + +Office at eleven to see Col. Houston. + +Upon the whole the debate in the Commons was satisfactory. Peel was very +much cheered. O'Connell spoke well, and was heard in perfect silence. +Brougham made an ordinary speech; theme a bad one, violent. + +There was much row in the streets yesterday; but all occasioned by attacks +upon the police, and attempts to rescue pickpockets. The Guards were called +out rather hastily. Colonel Rowan who commands the police has begged they +may be left to themselves. They are quite strong enough. + +Cabinet dinner at Lord Rosslyn's. No House of Commons people there. The +Prince of Orange is come. He has written to the King, and is to see him to- +morrow. It seems there are 7,500 men in the citadel of Antwerp, which can +only hold 2,000, and has provisions only for two months. The forts of Lillo +and Liefkenshoek are ill-garrisoned; so is Breda, and so is Bergen-op-zoom. +The Dutch have not 4,000 men in the field near Breda. The question is, +whether the evacuation of the citadel of Antwerp would not be advisable for +the purpose of getting out the 7,500 men. It seems that if Flushing be +held, the Scheld is of no use. The Conference respecting Belgian affairs +meets to-morrow, Talleyrand being sole representative of France. The first +object will be to establish an armistice. + +After dinner we had some conversation respecting the debate in the Commons +of last night. Peel is disgusted at not being supported by the three +Cabinet Ministers present, who knew the whole subject which had been so +often discussed in Cabinet--yet not one of them rose to answer Brougham. +The Duke is very angry with them, and says he shall take an opportunity of +advising Peel in their presence never to rise till Brougham has spoken, let +others be abused as they may. If the three mutes will not speak, it is +clear they will not remain in very long. + +I consider a debate to be a battle, in which the chief should be able to +put every man into the fight, as he would every battalion, with a view to +the ultimate object; he himself being the reserve. + + +_November 4._ + +It seems Sir G. Murray did speak last night, but he went further than he +intended on Reform, and so rather damaged our position as a Government. + +Office. Saw Mr. Sullivan. He seems a sensible, liberal man. His evidence +would be a death-blow to the government of the Company. He says the cotton +of Coimbatore is carried to Tinnevelly and thence to Madras by country +boats, where it is taken up by the China ships. It might be sent directly +to the sea on the Malabar coast, the distance being 300 miles. There is no +obstruction to the cultivation. The country is under a Ryotwar settlement. +The unequal demand of the Company is very injurious. Their great demand at +some periods encourages cultivation and raises prices exorbitantly--the +next year there is no demand at all. They now purchase by contract. The +contracts are too large for the native merchants, and fall, as jobs, into +the hands of Europeans. Sufficient notice is not given of the contract. The +native merchants have from one lac to one and a half. + +Great injury is sustained by the tobacco monopoly. The Company's officers +sell it as retailers. The Government is, as I always thought, practically +in the hands of the natives. They require European co-operation, but if +they combine against their European superior he can do nothing. House at +five. Lord Winchilsea made a violent tirade against the Administration, +without any motion before the House. The Duke made a few observations on +the point of order very quietly, and we rose. + + +_November 5._ + +St. James's at half-past one. The clergy of the Province of Canterbury were +there, with their address on the accession. They were not expected, and +there were no gentlemen pensioners. However, they delivered their address +to the King on the throne, and a very good address it was. Peel had to +write the answer in a hurry. + +Recorder's report. One man left for execution for a street robbery +accompanied with violence. + +The Recorder gave but a bad account of the disposition of the City. The +Chancellor seems a good deal alarmed, and so does Peel. Every precaution is +taken, but I cannot help fearing there is a conspiracy of which we know +nothing. Aberdeen suspects connection with France. + +We are to inquire into the circumstances of the fires in Normandy, which +seem very much to resemble ours. We have had one near Godstone, and another +at Fair-lawn, in Kent; the sufferers unoffending persons. The object seems +to be to spread general terror. It is clear that they are effected by the +discharge of some chemical preparation, which ignites after a time. No +watching has any effect. Fires take place where no one has approached. + +Goulburn told me he thought Sir G. Murray had said much more than he +intended, purely from want of habit of speaking; still he had done much +injury. + +The new French Ministry is formed, and Lafitte is at its head. He pretends +to have the same views as the late Ministry; but it is impossible to +suppose the French can resist the offer of Belgium. We shall have no war if +we can preserve internal peace and the integrity of the Constitution. + + +_November 6._ + +A letter from Hardinge, who seems to think we stand ill, not for want of +numbers, but of speakers. Astell told me the Duke's declaration against +Reform had injured him in the City. + +Saw Wortley, and had a long conversation with him respecting the state of +the Government. He thinks we cannot go on. The Duke's declaration against +Reform has made it impossible for any to join him, and upon the question of +Reform it is doubtful if we should have numbers enough. + +We talked over possible Governments on the supposition that Lord Grey was +at the head, and that Peel remained in. In walking away I was overtaken in +Downing Street by Lord Graham, who had been waiting to speak to me on the +same subject. He seems to think our fall not so immediately necessary as +Wortley does. I then called on Hardinge, who had been with the Duke this +morning. Hardinge had candidly told the Duke that if he had a minority on +Reform, or a small majority, he would advise him to resign; and previously +to tell the King in what a situation he stood. If he had a good majority he +might perhaps get some to join; but if not, the position of the Government +would be as bad in February, or worse, than it was now. The Duke said he +thought things might do still. He had a number of young men who depended +upon him. He would take care to give the King timely notice. The King had +behaved very well to him. Indeed I know the Duke feels very strongly how +admirably and how kindly the King has behaved. + +Lord Maryborough had been to Hardinge to express his fears for the Duke's +life, and the Duke has received many letters informing him there is a +conspiracy to assassinate him on Tuesday, as he goes to Guildhall. + +Hardinge said every precaution should be taken, but he begged Lord +Maryborough not to tell the Duke his apprehensions. Hardinge, however, has +the same; and fears there may be an attempt that day to make London a scene +of barricades like Paris and Brussels. Troops will be disposed at intervals +in bodies of half battalions, with provisions, and there will be 1,000 +cavalry. Two guns will be ready with the marines at the obelisk, and two in +the park. Hardinge observed to the Duke that he knew he had bolts inside to +the doors of the carnage, and added, 'I shall take pocket pistols!' The +Duke said, 'Oh! I shall have pistols in the carriage.' Hardinge asked the +Duke to take him, which he does. Arbuthnot goes with the Duke, too. I wish +I could manage to follow him in my carriage. I shall buy a brace of double- +barrelled pocket pistols on Monday. Hardinge showed me his. + +The Duke has made himself very obnoxious by declaring his resolution to +oppose Reform, which in fact, however, he did not do in such terms as has +been said. + +Hardinge told me there was a proposal to Palmerston and others in the +summer, and they at once started the difficulty of Reform, which put an end +to the negotiation. If I thought Reform would tranquillise the country I +should be quite satisfied with a change of Ministers which would produce +internal contentment, but that I do not expect. + +I shall take care to have records in the office to show the line I was +prepared to take on the East Indian Monopoly, and the steps already taken. +I shall likewise leave a memorandum upon the alterations I propose in the +army. + + +_November 7, Sunday._ + +All the morning occupied with a letter on the Salt question. At half-past +two rode to the Cabinet robin. The Cabinet was to meet at three. We did +not, however, all assemble till four, the Duke having been with Peel at the +Home Office. + +Before the Duke came we had all been talking of the Lord Mayor's Day, and +the manner in which we should go into the City and return, and the +precautions taken against riot. + +The Duke and Peel came together, and it was evident from the first words +the Duke spoke that he and Peel had made up their minds to put off the +King's visit to the City. The Chancellor seemed almost to take fire at the +idea of this, but the Duke very quietly begged him to hear the letters +before he decided. The Duke then read various letters he had received, all +warning him against going, as there was a plot to assassinate him, and +raise a tumult. One of them was from Pearson, a Radical attorney. There was +one from a coachmaker, saying he was satisfied, from what his men told him, +there was such a design, and offering to come with eighteen of his people +and guard the Duke. There was another offer, in a letter not read, to the +same effect. There was an examination of a man who serves a Radical +printer, and who formerly lived with Cobbett, which showed the intention to +exist of attacking the Duke. The impression seemed to be general that the +attempt would be made. There was a letter from the Lord Mayor elect +(Alderman Key) to the Duke, telling him there was an intention amongst +disaffected persons to excite tumult and confusion, and to attack him; that +he could not be in safety without a guard, and a strong one; and that if an +attack was made _in one quarter_ the civil force would not be sufficient. + +The Duke said he would not go. Peel, who had received many letters +informing him of the intention to assassinate him, said if he went he would +go privately, and come away privately. He observed that if our force, the +disposition of which was mentioned, and was admirable, succeeded in putting +down a riot along the line of the procession, he could not answer for the +security of life or property in other parts of the town. We had information +that the Duke's house would be attacked while he was in the City, and it +was to be feared that fires might take place to exercise terror and create +a diversion. + +The feeling in the Duke's mind was that we should not be justified in +giving an occasion for the shedding of blood, by means of a crowd of our +own making. The consequences of the collision would be incalculable, and +might affect all parts of England. + +The consequences of putting off the King's visit were not lost sight of; +the effect it would produce on the Funds, and on public confidence--all +that would be said against the Government as weighing down the King by its +unpopularity. + +The letter it was proposed to send was written, and the Duke and Peel went +with it to the King at a little before seven. + +While they were gone the feeling of the Cabinet underwent a change. Lord +Bathurst first observed that it would put an end to the Government, and +carry Reform. The Chancellor was most unwilling to postpone the King's +visit. It would be said we did it for our sakes only, and sacrificed him. +Lord Bathurst thought the King would take the advice, but be very angry, +and get rid of us. + +There would be a violent storm in Parliament, and the mobs would come to +our houses. All these feelings rested upon the supposition that the +procession could return without a tumult, but the letter had been written +on the supposition _that it could not_; which was the correct one. The Duke +and Peel came back and told us the King had thought the advice quite right, +and had behaved as well as possible. The tears were in his eyes while the +Lord Mayor's letter was read. He said he had already determined in his own +mind to bring the Duke and Peel back in his own carriage. The Duke thought +the King had rather expected the advice, and that his mind was relieved by +it. + +We knew the Queen was much alarmed; but it had been said that the King +would not hear of there being any danger. + +The account of the King's manner of receiving the advice seemed to +tranquillise those who had before been dissatisfied with the resolution +which had been come to. We then went to the Home Office, where we found +Alderman Thompson, Mr. Oldham (the Chairman of the Entertainment +Committee), Lord Hill, Lord F. Somerset, Sir W. Gordon, General Macdonald, +and Mr. Phillips. There were two City men I did not know. + +The Duke told them the course we had determined to adopt. Alderman Thompson +said he anticipated the decision--that it could not be announced in more +proper terms. There would be disappointment undoubtedly, but he thought +people in general would be satisfied with the reasons. He was almost in +tears, and indeed all were much affected--the _cause_ of the measure being +the apprehended danger to the Duke. + +Just as the letter was going off Alderman Thompson observed that although +he had no doubt the letter from the Lord Mayor elect was written by his +authority, as it was in a handwriting in which a letter had been received +from him by the Entertainment Committee, yet it was not in the Lord Mayor +elect's handwriting, nor was it dated or signed by him as the other letter +was. It was immediately determined that it must be ascertained whether the +Lord Mayor elect had authorised the sending of the letter before Peel's +letter to the Lord Mayor was delivered. + +Many began to think there was a hoax, and certainly the forgery of one +letter would have thrown suspicion upon all the rest. + +We were to meet at half-past ten. In going down at half-past ten I called +upon Hardinge, who was in his dressing-gown. His servant gone to bed. He +did not seem at all surprised. + +Went on to the Cabinet room. Found every word of the letter was in the +Lord Mayor elect's own handwriting. + +Mr. Phillips, Sir R. Binnie, and Col. Rowan came in, and Lord F. Somerset, +and Sir W. Gordon. The artillerymen and marines, of whom there were to have +been 500, with two guns, at the Obelisk, are not to be moved up. All the +other troops are to remain, and every precaution to be taken, as an attempt +to create disturbance may be expected on Tuesday. + +After we had disposed of this matter we spoke a little of Civil List and +Regency. Notice is to be given to-morrow of the two bills, _as if we were +still a Government_, but I now think nothing but general alarm can enable +us to weather the question of Reform. + + +_November 8._ + +The letter to the Lord Mayor is in the _Times_, and the measure is +temperately approved of. + +At the same time the result of the Conference on the affairs of Belgium is +announced--namely, the declaration that there must be an armistice. This +will, I trust, give more solid expectations of peace than men have +entertained since the King's Speech. The opening of the West India ports to +American ships is likewise announced. Both the measures are well-timed. + +Rode down to the Horse Guards. Overtaken by the Duke, who said he heard +that people were delighted with the measure of postponing the King's visit +to the City. However, whether they _would say so_ was another thing. He +spoke with much feeling of the King's kindness. He said he had behaved as +well as possible. + +Some boys hooted, but in general people took off their hats. + +Dodd, the coachmaker, told me the people in his neighbourhood were almost +all well-disposed. There were very few Radicals. Colonel Jones had told him +he could get very few people to attend his meetings, and none who were +respectable. + +Met Hardinge. He considers it to be the end of the Government. We met Lord +Hill, who lamented the measure, but concluded it was necessary. Went to the +office, where I saw Wortley. He thought it a sad business, and fatal to the +Government. He said London had been full of reports yesterday. Wynne was +talked of for the India Board. + +Hardinge's idea (as well as the reports) was that Leach would be +Chancellor, and Brougham Master of the Rolls. + +All the world was much amused by the Chancellor's giving a dinner to Lord +Grey, Brougham, Lord Lansdowne, and others. They themselves must have been +much amused, and the Chancellor's not getting to dinner till a quarter past +eight, and going away at a quarter-past ten, must have satisfied them that +something was in the wind. + +Desired Jones to make out the appointment of Leach's son to a clerkship +immediately, and signed it in the course of the evening. + +House at five. It was very full. Every Whig who is above ground and some +who are half under it were present. After an hour of talk about everything +but the only thing men were thinking of, the Duke of Richmond outed with it +in an offensive manner, and he is the last man who should have done so. The +Duke made his explanation very well. Lord Grey afterwards spoke in a very +bad temper, with personal civility, however, to the Duke. The Duke replied, +which prevented my speaking at all. Lord Grey had spoken 'of measures +tending to bring this country into the situation in which France was the +time of the late Revolution;' words which should have been taken up, but +the Duke's rising after him prevented it. + +Upon the whole I think the measure is considered right, and people are very +glad; indeed, the danger is no longer hanging over their heads. I hear that +in the Commons Peel did admirably, and that he was cheered by the whole +House when a Colonel Davies _sneered_ at the letter from the Lord Mayor to +the Duke. Brougham made as mischievous a speech as he could. + +The Chancellor gave notice of the Regency Bill for Friday. + +I do not think our friends see our danger, and they will never forgive us +if we go out of office without absolute necessity. + + +_November 9._ + +Looked into the Salt question in the morning. Cabinet at two. There was +last night a meeting at the Rotunda; about 2,000 people within, and 3,000 +or 4,000 without. About half-past ten they dispersed, and from 200 to 600 +ran down to Westminster, first going to the House, which was up, and then +to Downing Street. The police licked them well, and sent them off. They +came so quick that a man who headed them, and brought information to the +Home Office, where Peel and the Duke were, could not, by hard running, get +in advance above a minute, and they had passed the Horse Guards before the +Duke, who went there by the back way from the Home Office, had got into the +courtyard. He was going out at the door when the porter told him the mob +was passing. One man was taken, in whose pocket was found his will, leaving +his body to form a rampart against the troops, &c. + +It was determined to endeavour to induce the mob to disperse as soon as the +Rotunda was full, and then to read the Riot Act as soon as the law +justified it, and to disperse them by police. There will be common +constables there besides. Mr. Chambers will be there; and if he sends for +assistance to the Horse Guards, two bodies of fifty each, each headed by a +magistrate, will go over Westminster Bridge, one by Stamford Street, the +other by the Blackfriars Road, to the Rotunda. + +There will be about 300 or 400 new police there. I suggested to Chambers +the having a boat ready to take a note to the Horse Guards, as his +messenger might be impeded in the streets. Persons are flocking in from +Brixton and Deptford, and by the Kentish roads. + +Mr. Chambers represents the mob as very cowardly. + +There are two shorthand writers at the Rotunda. The speeches are not very +seditious. + +The _Times_ is turning against us, and I hear the Press is worse than it +was--none of the newspapers fighting our measure well. + +After the Duke was gone there was a little said about Reform. Many +defections announced--the Staffords, young Hope, Lord Talbot, the Clives +very unwilling to vote against it, thinking the public feeling so strong. I +suggested that neither the Duke nor Peel had gone further than to say that +no proposition had yet been made which seemed to them to be safe, and that +we might perhaps agree to a Committee to inquire into the state of the +Representation, and afterwards defeat the specific measures. Peel said he +thought the terms of the motion did not signify. It was 'Reform, or no +Reform!' He never would undertake the question of Reform. Lord Bathurst, of +course, was against me, and generally they were; but they had, before my +suggestion, said, 'Had we not better, then, consider what we shall do?' +Afterwards they said nothing. + +Peel and the Duke both think the measure generally approved, and Peel is +satisfied with the House of Commons. Goulburn, on the other hand, thinks +the general feeling is against us. + +House. Nothing said. There was a crowd at the door, and much hooting. I had +to drive my horse through it. While we were in the House the mob was +removed by the police. Not knowing this, Clanwilliam and I came home in the +Duke's carriage. There was no mob till we passed Bridge Street, where there +were a good many people who recognised the carriage, and followed it +hooting. They ran into Downing Street, and we passed on through the Horse +Guards. I was glad to find a Grenadier at the Duke's. Clanwilliam said he +had ten or twelve there. + +Altered the Bill respecting the fees of officers in the Superior Courts, +and sent it with a letter to Lawford, appointing eleven on Thursday for +seeing him at the office. + + +_November 10._ + +Office. Wrote a placard and showed it to Peel, who will have it printed. +The tide is turning. Carlisle began to abuse the Duke last night, and found +it would not do. Some cried out, 'He gained the Battle of Waterloo!' and +Carlisle was obliged to begin to praise him. He then tried to abuse the new +police, but that would not do, and he was obliged to praise them too. + +There was a good deal of rioting in different parts of the town. The City +Police was inefficient, and at Temple Bar rascals were masters for some +time. The new police, however, gave them a terrible licking opposite +Southampton Street, and not far from Northumberland House. They got licked, +too, in Piccadilly--and the whole was put down by the Civil Power. + +The military were so arranged that, had they been called for, they would +have enveloped the rioters. The thing may be considered as nearly put down, +and the Government strengthened by it. + +The Funds have risen to-day, and are as high as before the postponement of +the King's visit--indeed higher. So much for Lord Clanricarde's speech. + +Cabinet dinner at the Duke's. The King is anxious about the duration of his +Government. He would concede on the subject of Reform, although he is +against it. Peel told him he thought that by opposing all Reform in the +first instance the Government would be able to make better terms +afterwards. The King said either course had its conveniences and +inconveniences. He did not decide between them; but he evidently inclines +to concession. + +It seems the Queen _now_ declares herself much disappointed at not going to +Guildhall, and the Fitzclarence family are turning against the Government, +wishing, as the Duke says, to be Dukes and Duchesses, which is impossible. + +On Tuesday night 4,000 troops could have been collected in St. James's Park +in ten minutes. There were 2,000 police near Whitehall as a grand reserve. +The Lord Mayor wrote to Peel acknowledging the total inefficiency of the +City Police. The contrast between the City and Westminster was most +striking. + +The Press is turning against us. Like cats, they are leaving the falling +house. + +In the House of Commons this evening there was an almost unanimous shout +when Peel admitted that the new Bishop of Exeter was to hold the living of +Stanhope _in commendam_. It seems all unite upon that question, which is an +unlucky one, although the interference of Parliament is quite irregular. + +There was much talk about the Regency question after dinner, and I left +them talking still at half-past eleven. + +On Friday the Chancellor should open the question to the House, and we are +not prepared, having called Parliament together for this specific purpose! + +We have neglected the Press too much. The Duke relies upon the support of +'respectable people,' and despises the rabble; but the rabble read +newspapers, and gradually carry along with them the 'respectable people' +they outnumber. + +I do not think the being out of office for a Session would be of any +ultimate disadvantage to me. I am sure I should enjoy better health, and I +should have much more to do in the House. I should be enabled to regain my +proper place. + + +_November 11._ + +Office. Saw Wortley. He says the spirits of our friends are improved, and +those of our foes lowered, the few last days as to Reform. Cabinet at two. +A fire at Melton-Constable. The country round Battle and Hawkhurst almost +in insurrection. Troops sent there The accounts from France good. The +French Government acknowledges the right of the Diet to drive the Belgians +out of the Duchy of Luxembourg, which is a part of the German Empire. They +have instructed Talleyrand to promote the interests of the Prince of +Orange. + +Regency Bill. Decided that the Princess Victoria shall be considered Queen, +and the oath of allegiance taken to her with the reservation of the rights +of any child that might be born. If the child should be born, the Queen +Dowager to be Regent. During the Princess's minority the Duchess of Kent. + +The Duke saw the King to-day, and found him very well satisfied with the +postponement of the dinner, and tranquil. + +House. The Duke of Buckingham told me they had formed their Government, and +expected to be in in a week. They think the Duke will resign after Tuesday. +Lord Grey to be Foreign Secretary. The Duke of Richmond to be First Lord of +the Treasury. Palmerston and Grant Secretaries of State. Lansdowne +President. The Government to be as Tory as possible. The Chancellor to +remain. + +Lothian told me all the best old friends of the Government were against +Philpotts. I told him the reasons why Parliament should not interfere; with +which he was satisfied, and was sorry he had not heard them before. + +Lord Camden spoke to me on the same subject. I wish we could get rid of +Philpotts. He will damage us more than Reform. + +The Funds have risen to 84 3/4; that is, 7 1/2 per cent, in three days. I +believe this is the consequence, not only of the broken heads, but of the +idea that the Duke will be firm and not run away. + +We had a two hours' talk about agriculture; the Duke acquiescing in a +motion of Salisbury's for a Committee on the Poor Laws. + + +_November 12._ + +Wrote a note to Hardinge, suggesting to him the expediency of calling upon +Dr. Philpotts and placing before him the hopelessness of his keeping +Stanhope, the damage to himself of a vote of Parliament, and to the Church +from the example of Parliamentary interference, leading him to propose the +exchange of Stanhope for a living near Exeter, and I mentioned Dr. Barnes. +If this could be managed we should turn evil into good, and avoid the +division we must lose. The Funds rose to 853/4, and then fell to 84 3/4, +being still a rise. In the City they think the Government will stand. + +There have been threatening notices as near as Colnbrook. In Sussex and +Kent things are very bad. I did not, however, see Peel to-day. There was +nothing in the House. + + +_November 13._ + +It seems Peel and Scarlet licked Brougham well yesterday. The temper of the +House is said to have been rather good. Hardinge told me Goulburn made an +indifferent speech. Philpotts has so good a case that he looks confidently +to the result of the debate. We agreed that there was no reason-why the +_conge d'elire_ should not issue. Philpotts himself decides that it should, +happen what may as to Stanhope. + +We had some talk as to the division on the Civil List. Peel is for refusing +a Committee, and the separation of the diplomatic expenditure, and will not +yield because he is weak. I think he is right. The better face we put upon +it, the more votes we shall have. + +Hardinge suggested the placing of Doherty in Arbuthnot's office. Nothing +could be better than that arrangement; but he thought, and I think, the +Duke would not displace Arbuthnot. Arbuthnot knows more about my office +than any one else. Where would they put me? + +We had some conversation respecting the Regency. It was determined to +legislate as _little_ as we could. + + +_November 14._ + +Cabinet at four. Peel is of opinion that the fires are in many cases +perpetrated for stock-jobbing purposes. They are certainly done by persons +from London. + +He said he was satisfied that, whatever might be the division on Reform, +the question was carried. Admiral Sotheron, Lindsay, he thought [blank], +and I think he mentioned another, voted for it. If the county members did, +and it was thrown out by the representatives of Scotch and English +boroughs, it was impossible to stand much longer. He read a paper, +circulated for signatures in the parish of St. Ann, in which the +subscribers declare their readiness to be sworn in as special constables, +and their determination to protect property. At the same time they declare +their opinion that there ought to be a Reform, first in the House of +Commons; but of Church and State. This he considers the commencement of a +Burgher Guard. I cannot understand his reasoning; if he thinks Reform must +be carried, surely it is better to vote a general resolution, and to fight +the details. By objecting to the general resolution we shall probably be +turned out, and have much less power to do good out of office than if we +were in. + +It seems to me that obstinacy, and the fear of being again accused of +ratting, lead to this determination to resist when resistance is, in his +own opinion, fruitless. + +Clive, whom I saw to-day, is for a modified Reform; but he will vote for us +in order to keep the Duke in. + +We had a long conversation about the Regency, and agreed upon the substance +and form of the Bill. Aberdeen wanted again to open the whole question, on +which he has no fixed opinion. He has come round entirely. First he thought +the right was in the presumptive heir; now he thinks it must be in the +child _in utero_. + +It appears certain that at Carlisle the 9th was looked to as the day of +signal to them and to all England. It seems the plan was to attack the +Guildhall and massacre all in it. There would have been a smash, but a most +signal defeat, for there would have been 250 cavalry, and from 700 to 800 +Volunteers there (the East India Volunteers and the Artillery Company), +besides a battalion within reach. + +Sir Claudius Hunter has published in the _Sunday Times_ a denial of the +speeches attributed to him, and a statement of the City force. Their +ordinary force is fifty-four men! With Volunteers, Artillery Company, +Picket men, Firemen, Lumber Troop, &c., they would have had about 2,250. + + +_November 15._ + +House. A very temperate speech of Lord Durham, and a very good one of Lord +Suffield, respecting the new police. Lord Bathurst observed to me they +spoke as if they expected to come in. I mentioned Salisbury's motion for a +Committee which is to be made on Monday next, and Lord Bathurst said 'Shall +we be alive then?' He has a serious apprehension of being out. + +The Chancellor made a most excellent speech in moving the first reading of +the Regency Bill, and was cheered on both sides of the House. It seems as +if the measure would be unanimously approved. Lord Eldon seemed to say he +should advise the Duke of Cumberland to acquiesce in it. + +The ultra Tories were to have a meeting to-day--thirty-eight of them--to +decide what they should do about Reform. Yesterday the report was they +joined us; but the Duke of Richmond will do all he can to make them go +against us, and, if they do, I suppose we shall be obliged to make our +bows. + + +_November 16._ + +Goulburn opposed the submitting the Civil List accounts to a Committee, and +was defeated. We had 204 to 233. Majority against us, 29. Hobhouse asked +Peel whether Ministers would resign, to which he got no answer. Brougham +rose and said Ministers would have time for consideration. + +I suppose this division must be considered to be fatal to us. Henry is +going off to take chambers. He means to apply himself to the Law. He is +rather in a hurry. For my own part I am by no means sorry to be out of +office. I think I shall be better able to regain my proper station in +Opposition than I could have done in office, and the emoluments are of no +value to me now. + +Office. Saw Wortley. He is glad that the division against us has been upon +the Civil List, rather than upon Reform. He thinks we should resign to-day, +and thus throw upon the Whigs the burden of bringing forward Reform as a +Government measure. Probably Brougham would postpone his motion if we +resigned. + +At about half-past three I received a note from Sir Robert Taylor desiring +my immediate attendance at St. James's. I dressed and went, and in a few +moments was admitted to the King. I met Lord Melville coming away. The King +desired me to sit down, and asked me whether I had any expectation of the +division of last night? I said no--I thought that upon any question +connected with the Civil List we should have had a majority; that the +question itself was one of little importance; but, as the Committee had not +been granted before, Sir R. Peel thought it would be a confession of +weakness not to oppose it now, and I thought he was right. The King said it +was probably chosen as a question merely to try strength. + +The King asked me what had taken place between the Government and the +Company. I told his Majesty, and added an outline of the plan I had for the +new military arrangements, of which he seemed highly to approve. I then +said I supposed I must take leave of his Majesty. He said in one sense his +Ministers seemed to think they could not go on. + +I said I could not but express my sentiments, which were I was sure those +of all my colleagues--the sentiments of deep gratitude to his Majesty for +the constant kind and honourable confidence he had placed in us. + +His Majesty said he thought it his duty to give the full support of the +Crown to his Ministers. He had confidence in those he found at his +brother's demise; and since July 26, which was the commencement of our +troubles, he had regarded with admiration that which was most important in +their conduct, their Foreign Policy. He had a feeling of entire +satisfaction with them. + +I said it must likewise be satisfactory to his Majesty to feel that his +late Ministers, fully aware of the real difficulties of the country, would +never be led by any personal or party feelings to do anything which could +be _prejudicial_ to the country, and that whatever might be their +differences in principle from his new Ministers they would ever support his +Majesty's interests. + +The King was much affected, and had the tears in his eyes all the time I +was speaking to him. I then rose and kissed his hand, and he shook hands +with me, and wished me good-bye for the present. I asked for the _entree_, +which he gave me very good-naturedly. As I came away I met Rosslyn going +in. The three Fitzclarences were in the lower room, seemingly enjoying our +discomfiture. + +House at five. The Duke had already declared that the occurrence which had +taken place elsewhere had induced him to think it his duty to tender his +resignation to the King, and his Majesty had been graciously pleased to +accept it. + +Lord Grosvenor asked a question as to the appointment of a successor to Mr. +Buller, and Lord Bathurst said none had been made. + +It is a sad loss to Wm. Bathurst, who would have been Clerk of the Council +if the Government had lasted three days longer. + +Nothing was said. Lord Grey has been sent for by the King. + +I went through all the protocols on the table, and have left hardly +anything but two unanswered letters to my successor--one respecting the +rate of Exchange between territory and commerce; the other respecting +Hyderabad affairs. + + +_November 19._ + +Office. Saw Cabell, Jones, and Leach. They had all the tears in their eyes. +Old Jones could hardly help bursting altogether into tears. Left directions +with Leach for placing certain papers before my successor, showing the +state of the finances and expenditure prospectively, and the position in +which we were as to the renewal of the Charter. + +Cabell will place the Hyderabad papers before my successor, with my letter +to Astell, and his reply. + +Called on Hardinge, who was not at home. + +I can only leave a memorandum in the office showing the nature and extent +of the military alterations I projected. + +Called on the Duke. He told me Peel came to him in a very nervous state on +Monday night. Arbuthnot and Goulburn were with him. It was clear that the +majority would have been against us if there had been a House of 500. The +Duke sent for the Chancellor, who said as soon as he heard of the division +he thought the game was up--that we could not go on. The Duke went to the +King in the morning, and told him it was better he should resign +immediately, and so force the new Government to bring forward their measure +of Reform. It was better for the country. The King asked the Duke's opinion +of Lord Grey, and whether he had ever had any communication with him. The +Duke said No. The King knew the personal objections the late King had to +Lord Grey, and he could not, although often pressed by Lord Grey's friends, +have any communication with him without either deceiving _him_ or deceiving +the King; and he would not do either. The King asked what sort of a man +Lord Grey was? The Duke said he really did not know. He had the reputation +of being an ill-tempered, violent man; but he knew very little of him. He +had never had any political conversation with him. The King was much +agitated and distressed. + +I told the Duke what passed at my interview with his Majesty yesterday. + +Drummond, Greville, and Sir J. Shelley, whom I saw in the ante-room, +congratulated me on being out, but condoled on Lord Durham's being removed +out of my way. He goes Minister to Naples _vice_ Lord Burghersh, +_dismissed_. It is understood Brougham will not _positively_ take my +office. + +Levee. The Duke of Buckingham told me the King was much out of spirits. He +expressed himself much pleased with his Ministers. + +The King desired Lord Camden to come and see him frequently--every three or +four days. + +The Duke of Newcastle, Lord Falmouth, Sir E. Knatchbull, Sir R. Vyvyan, +will not support the new Government. Having had their revenge they mean to +put their knees in our backs and do all they can to get out the others. +They are sorry for the work they have performed, and regret their vote. +They had intended to stay away on the question of Reform--now they mean to +vote against it. + +Lord Anglesey goes to Ireland; a very bad appointment. The Duke of +Devonshire would have been a very unexceptionable one. + +None of the Whigs or Whig Radicals were at the levee, but a good many +Tories. We were there as usual as Ministers, and those who had business +with the King went in to him as usual. + +I proposed to Herries, Goulburn, Arbuthnot, and others, that we should in +each department prepare a statement of what has been done since the Duke +came into office. This we shall do to-morrow. + +I likewise proposed we should have a large sheet of paper with columns for +the new Ministers, and in each column their pledges with the dates. + +Croker has promised to undertake a newspaper, probably the 'Star.' + +Arbuthnot told us before dinner that as yet no progress had been made by +Lord Grey, except in getting Lord Althorp after much solicitation. Brougham +has again in the House of Commons to-night declared he has nothing to do +with the new Government, and will positively bring on his motion on the +25th. The new Government wish to postpone the question till March, when +they promise to bring in a Bill. + +Lord Lansdowne is said to be much dissatisfied, and the Palmerston party +think they have not enough offered to them. It is evident that Brougham +prefers power to temporary emolument and distinction, and he will be very +dangerous acting at the head of the Whig Radicals. + +The Duke said 300 people had called upon him to-day--amongst the rest Lord +Cleveland, with whom Lord Grey was early this morning, and whom he in vain +endeavoured to induce to go to Ireland. + +William Bankes, whose father did us most mischief on Monday, and who did +not vote with us, came to ask the Chancellor for a living to-day! + +Lord Grey was much agitated when he was with the King, and has expressed +himself as very much struck by the strong terms in which the King declared +his approbation of his late Ministers. + +My fear is that the Whigs will not be able to form a Government. It is of +much importance to the country that their incompetence should be exhibited, +and the fallacy of the grounds upon which they have been attempting to +obtain popular favour. We shall never be strong until it is proved they +cannot form a Government. Again I say my fear is they will be unable to +take the first step. It was considered that we ought to transact all the +ordinary business of our several departments. + + +_November 18._ + +Called on Hardinge. He is out of spirits. Yesterday at the meeting of the +_employes_ Lord G. Somerset asked Peel if he would lead them--to which Peel +gave a damping answer. Hardinge feels that he is capable of business, that +his circumstances require he should exert himself and be in office; and, as +he would not take office without the Duke's acquiescence, he thinks it +rather hard he should be deprived of a Parliamentary leader, and thus of +the means of coming in. + +I told him Peel would be in Opposition in a fortnight, as soon as he +recovered his health and his spirits. There has been a report that the Duke +had declared he would not take office again--which is untrue. + +Office. Saw Jones. Received a letter from the Chairs asking whether I had +given Sir J. P. Grant authority to appeal to my sanction for his remaining +in India, notwithstanding the Order in Council for his return. My answer is +_No_. I add that I imagine the misapprehension arose out of some private +communications from Sir J. P. Grant's friends, of the purport of a +conversation with me which must have been inaccurately reported to him. I +showed my draft reply to Lord Rosslyn, and begged him to show it to Grant's +son. + +The report Hardinge gave me was that Lord Wellesley was to succeed me. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Political Diary 1828-1830, Volume II +by Edward Law (Lord Ellenborough) + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A POLITICAL DIARY *** + +***** This file should be named 10693.txt or 10693.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/6/9/10693/ + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Keren Vergon, Robert Fite and PG +Distributed Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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