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LOED ELLENBOEOUGH'S DIAEY 
 
 1828-1830 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
LONDOSt PBISTKD BY 
 
 ,r^TISW0OD« A.O CO., ...V-STKK.T SQUAB. 
 
 A«U PAKLIAMBST STEKKX 
 
f f 
 
 i POLITICx^L DIARY 
 
 I 828 -I 830 
 
 BY 
 
 EDWAED LAW 
 LORD ELLEXBOliOUUH 
 
 EDITED BY LORD COLCHESTER 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES 
 
 VOL. L 
 
 LONDON 
 
 RICHARD BENTLEY & SON, NEW BURLINGTON STREET 
 
 IJnblis^crs in ©rblnarn to ^cr P^ajwfw i\t (^uccn 
 
 1881 
 
 The right of translation is reserved 
 
PEE^FACE. 
 
 -*c*- 
 
 Edward Law, second Lord EUenborough/ the author of 
 this Diary, was born September 8, 1790. He was the 
 eldest son of Edward Law, afterwards Attorney General 
 and Chief Justice of England, who was raised to the 
 peerage as Baron Ellenborough in 1802, son of Edmund 
 Law, Bishop of Carhsle, author of ' Law's Theory of 
 Eeligion.' He was educated at Eton and St. John's 
 College, Cambridge. Among his Eton contemporaries 
 was the late Lord Stratford de Eedchfie, who, though 
 his senior, survived him nearly nine years, and with 
 whom his personal friendship lasted throughout hfe, 
 though just at the period included in the accompanying 
 Diary he seems to have felt some dissatisfaction with 
 his conduct as an ambassador serving under the Minis- 
 try of which he was a member. Lord Ellenborough 
 throughout hfe felt a warm interest in Eton, but always 
 spoke rather shghtingly of his recollections of the 
 University. Something of this appears in the remarks 
 he makes on Academic voters at the time of Peel's 
 defeat by Sir E. Inglis at Oxford. Probably the typical 
 College Don of the days of Gibbon and Horace Walpole 
 still lingered to a great extent in the earher years of 
 the present century. Lord Ellenborough used to say 
 that the Fellows of St. John's only reahsed the evil of 
 the Walcheren expedition when some one calculated 
 
 ^ Created an Earl after his return from India, 1844. 
 
VI , PREFACE. 
 
 the amount of its cost in bottles of port wine. His 
 University career, however, was not altogether undis- 
 tinguished, as he was the author of the Prize Ode on 
 the dethronement and exile of the House of Braganza, 
 which figures in the 'Musib Cantabrigienses.' 
 
 After leaving Cambridge, Lord Ellenborough made 
 a tour in Sicily, then occupied and defended by the 
 English, and the only part of the continent of Europe 
 which the great struggle with Napoleon did not close 
 to Enghsh travellers. 
 
 Growing up at the moment when England's great 
 mihtary triumphs were commencing in the Peninsula, 
 Lord EUenborough's first ambition was a military career. 
 This, however, did not meet with his father's sanction. 
 
 On entering pubhc hfe, his wish, he used to say, 
 was to become a ' military statesman,' an idea which 
 naturally might suggest itself when the conduct of a 
 great war was the most engrossing topic of Parliamen- 
 tary discussion, and the military administration from 
 home, perhaps somewhat unjustly, charged with 
 grievous shortcomings. Throughout life Lord Ellen- 
 borough retained an eager interest in all military ques- 
 tions ; the progress of a campaign, the positions of 
 contending armies, the geographical character of a 
 theatre of war, were always favourite subjects of atten- 
 tion with him. From the commencement of his Par- 
 liamentary career he was strongly of opinion that the 
 principal road to influence of any kind in English public 
 life was through the power of speech. He set himself 
 dihgently to the cultivation of oratory as an art, and 
 though undoubtedly possessed of great natural gifts of 
 eloquence, he attributed mainly to such diligence and 
 study the position he attained as a speaker of the first 
 rank. He was convinced of the maxim 'orator fit,' 
 
PREFACE. Vll 
 
 and on this principle devoted his leisure to the assiduous 
 study of what he thought the best models of ancient 
 and modern eloquence. Not many years before the 
 close of his career, he was occupying himself with a 
 systematic perusal of Lucan, whom he considered ' as 
 not perhaps a great poet, but to be looked upon as one 
 of the first of orators.' 
 
 Lord Ellenborough (then the Hon. E. Law) entered 
 Parhament in the year 1813. He was returned to the 
 House of Commons, hke so many who afterwards 
 attained eminence, for a small close borough, the almost 
 forgotten constituency of St. Michael's, in Cornwall. It 
 was the second year of the Liverpool Cabinet, a Cabinet 
 ' doomed to death ' by the anticipations of lookers-on 
 from the moment of its formation, yet destined to last 
 from 1812 to 1827, when the one chief was withdrawn 
 who could form an effective link between its discordant 
 elements. His father, the Chief Justice Lord Ellen- 
 borough, was a supporter of this Ministry. Introduced 
 to office by Addington, he had followed him into the 
 Talents Cabinet of 1806-7, had sided with him in its 
 internal differences, and, after being engaged with him 
 in partial opposition to the succeeding administration, 
 had now seen him reunited to the old followers of Pitt 
 as Home Secretary of the Cabinet formed after the 
 death of Mr. Perceval. Of this Government Mr. Law was 
 returned as a general supporter. He stipulated, how- 
 ever, for the right of independent action on the Catholic 
 question ; and, in spite of private ties soon afterwards 
 formed, he, in some respects, after the close of the war, 
 took a separate course on foreign pohcy. 
 
 In the latter part of this year he married Lady 
 Octavia Stewart, sister of the then Foreign Minister, 
 Lord Castlereagh, a union terminated by her death 
 
Vlll PREFACE. 
 
 within six years. He visited Vienna during the residence 
 there of his distinguished brother-in-law as the repre- 
 sentative of England in the Congress which in the year 
 following met in that city to regulate the settlement of 
 Europe. He thus naturally acquired a deeper interest 
 in the foreign pohtics of England, and opportunities of a 
 wider insight into European affairs, as well as a personal 
 acquaintance with many of the principal personages of 
 the poHtical and diplomatic society of the Continent. 
 
 He never became, however, an indiscriminating ad- 
 herent of the policy of his eminent relative. One of the 
 acts of the Congress which excited much attention, and 
 attracted much criticism, was the annexation of Genoa 
 to the Sardinian kingdom. Genoa, which with Venice 
 and Lucca was, down to the French revolution, one of 
 the few solitary survivors of the Itahan Eepubhcs of 
 former ages, had, after a brief existence in a revolu- 
 tionised form as the ' Ligurian Repubhc,' been swal- 
 lowed up in the French Empire. At the fall of Napo- 
 leon's power the Enghsh admiral on the coast had 
 given — without, it was said, full authority — a sort of pro- 
 mise that the Genoese, if they took part against France, 
 should be restored to their independence. The contrary 
 decision of Lord Castlereagh has been vindicated in a 
 great measure by events. At the time, too, it was diffi- 
 cult to show how an alternative could have been found. 
 The oligarchical commonwealth which had lasted for 
 nearly three centuries was precisely one of those govern- 
 ments which may endure for long, but can never be re- 
 called to hfe. A revived democracy on the ' Ligurian ' 
 pattern would at that time have been tolerated by none 
 of the Continental Powers. Even if a petty principahty 
 was desired by the people, it was important not to leave 
 so important a seaport in the hands of a State unable to 
 
PREFACE. IX 
 
 defend it ao^ainst an invader. Lord Ellenborouorh, 
 however, with the view perhaps natural to his age, 
 shared the sentiments of those who could not acquiesce 
 in the transfer to an ahen prince of the commonwealth 
 of Andrea Doria, in contradiction, as was alleged, to the 
 British promises on which the inhabitants had rehed. 
 He therefore declined the offer of Lord Castlereagh to 
 appoint him one of the Commission for carrying this 
 provision of the treaty into effect. 
 
 His desire at that time for the future of Italy — a 
 country which he frequently visited during the years 
 immediately following — if perhaps unattainable at that 
 moment, at any rate anticipated much of what he lived 
 to see reahsed. When in 1859-60 expressions of sym- 
 pathy for Italy were put forward on every side, he 
 remarked, ' I expressed my sympathy forty-five years 
 ago.' In a letter to Lord Brougham, pubhshed at the 
 close of that year, he described the wish he had then 
 entertained for the estabhshment of a large State in 
 North Italy, which would have had every motive to 
 join with Austria in closing the Alps against France, if 
 assured of its own independence. It is curious that 
 Lord Brougham, who at the outbreak of the war of 
 1859 was rather hostile to the Sardinian cause, vindi- 
 cated his consistency as an old opponent of the treaties 
 of 1815 by reminding the House of Lords that what he 
 had most attacked was the handing over to Sardinia of 
 
 Genoa. -^ 
 
 In the year 1816 Mr. Law's name appears as speak- 
 ing against some portions of the Treaties of Vienna, 
 
 * Lord Ellenborougli, however, was not blind to the objections to the 
 method by which Italian unity was effected. Thus in 1860, while openly 
 sympathising with what he thought the straightforward course of Garibaldi, 
 he thought the conduct of the Piedmontese Government to neighbours with 
 whom it was nominally at peace ought to be called 'piratical.' 
 
X PKEFACE. 
 
 especially as regarded the Netherland barrier, though, 
 when the kingdom so created had been estabhshed for 
 fifteen years, he considered, as his Diary will show, its 
 downfall as an event to be regretted on European 
 grounds. He took some part in the debates on the 
 famous Six Acts, of which he was neither a supporter 
 on all points, nor an unmitigated opponent, apparently 
 considering them as not uncalled for, but as carried in 
 some respects further than he could approve. 
 
 The death of his father at the close of 1818 elevated 
 him to the Upper House, in which he was destined to 
 sit for more than half a century.^ 
 
 The accession of George IV. in 1820 was followed 
 by the famous Bill of Pains and Penalties against Queen 
 Caroline. Lord Ellenborough was one of those who 
 opposed the Bill, though of opinion that if it were to 
 be passed the Divorce Clause ought, in consistency, to 
 form a part of it, as, if the evidence against the Queen 
 was held sufficient to justify such a measure, it was, he 
 thought, preposterous to consider that she ought to 
 remain the King's wife. 
 
 The year 1821 was the commencement of a period 
 of revolutions in several parts of Europe which awakened 
 alarm or sympathy in almost every part of the Con- 
 tinent. The circular of Lord Castlereagh protesting 
 against the theory of intervention put forward by the 
 Courts of the Holy AUiance, while at the same time it 
 censured the revolution at Naples by which the King 
 
 ^ The death of Lord Ellenhorough's father was shortly followed by that 
 of his wife, a loss felt by him long and deeply. In the last years of his life 
 he had restored an old chapel on his property in Gloucestershire. He here 
 erected a memorial to her memory, with a Latin inscription attributing to 
 her ' whatever good he had done or thought in his life.' The letter on her 
 death to Cardinal Consalvi, whom they had known intimately in Italy, will 
 be found in Cretineau Joly's Memoires du Cardinal Consalvi. 
 
PREFACE. xi 
 
 had been forced to concede the democratic Constitution 
 of Spain in 1812, was the subject of much criticism in 
 and out of Parhament. While dechning to accept the 
 principles of the Congresses of Troppau and Laybach, 
 the English Cabinet were disposed to acquiesce in the 
 Austrian intervention agreed upon at the latter meeting 
 for the purpose of opposing the ascendency of Carbo- 
 narism. Lord Ellenborough vindicated in the House 
 of Lords the language used by Lord Castlereagh, con- 
 sidering that a mihtary revolt such as that which had 
 occurred at Naples could never be regarded as a sure 
 basis for liberty, but rather a precedent for setting up 
 a dictatorship at the will of a despotic soldiery. At 
 the same time he avowed strong sympathy with the 
 Itahans in their wish to reform the governments, whose 
 evils he knew from having seen their operation. And 
 as the question approached a violent solution, as those 
 whom his Itahan friends would have called ' barbari ' 
 moved southward to restore the absolute monarchy 
 of the Two Sicilies, his feelings were still more warmly 
 enlisted on the anti- Austrian side, and he spoke strongly 
 in favour of an Enghsh mediation between the contend- 
 ing parties. 
 
 By the tragical death of Lord Castlereagh (then be- 
 come Marquis of Londonderry) on the eve of the Con- 
 gress of Verona, the direction of British foreign pohcy 
 was transferred to Mr. Canning. It may be enquired 
 why there was not more sympathy between Lord Ellen- 
 borough and Mr. Canning, introducing, as the latter 
 Minister did, a bolder and, some might say, a more 
 generous system of pohcy than that of his predecessor, 
 with whose ideas, in spite of family ties and personal 
 friendship, Lord Ellenborough had never been altogether 
 agreed. But men do not always appear to their con- 
 
Xll PREI'ACE. 
 
 temporaries as they do to the generation after them. 
 To us Mr. Canning stands out as at once the foremost 
 orator of the Parhament of England sixty years back, 
 and as the fearless Foreign Minister who, perhaps at 
 times with too much parade, asserted the right of Eng- 
 land to an independent course among the Powers of 
 Europe, and to a place in their councils worthy of its 
 power and its history. To many of those among whom 
 he moved his individual relations to colleagues and to 
 rivals had as much to do with the estimate formed of 
 him as the prominent acts of his official career which 
 strike the attention of posterity. And as to these rela- 
 xions, he no doubt inspired very widespread distrust. 
 Parts of his early career seemed to give plausibihty to 
 the view which regarded him as an interested intriguer. 
 The grounds for such a charge, justly or unjustly, were 
 drawn from his behaviour towards Gastlereagh during^ 
 the Portland Administration, and towards Addington 
 after Pitt's retirement in 1801. No one was more likely 
 to be influenced by such impressions as one who was 
 both the brother-in-law of Castlereagh and the son of 
 one of the closest friends of Addington. 
 
 Lord Ellenborough after this period inclined rather 
 more than previously to the Opposition. He put him- 
 self in the forefront of the attack upon the Ministerial 
 policy in reference to the French intervention in Spain 
 in 1823. The nature and origin of the Constitution 
 established by the Spanish Eevolutionists were open to 
 the same objections as in the case of Naples. But Lord 
 Ellenborough, in common with many others, felt it a' 
 discredit to England that French influence should be 
 forcibly exerted once more in the country which a few 
 years before had been so gloriously rescued from French 
 dominion by British victories. It is probable that the 
 
PREFACE. xiii 
 
 Foreign Minister's personal sentiments, and those of his 
 chief, Lord Liverpool, were not so widely different 
 from those of the speakers who were most impatient 
 of their neutrahty. Those who were outside the Go- 
 vernment could hardly know, what the Cabinet seem to 
 have had reason to beheve, that the Powers of the Holy 
 Alliance were ready, if necessary, actively to support 
 France as their agent, and that in attempting to protect 
 Spain we might, with no ally but those revolutionary 
 forces which Caniiing compared to the winds in the 
 bag of -Silolus, have been involved in a struggle with 
 the greater part of the Continent. 
 
 Lord EUenborough was not reconciled to what he 
 thought the abandonment of Spain by that recognition 
 of the independence of South America by which Can- 
 ning afterwards claimed to have called a New World 
 into existence to redress the balance of the Old. Nor 
 was he much influenced by the famous speech on send- 
 ing troops to Portugal, which, according to Canning's 
 biographer, was received with dehghted applause from 
 all parts of the House except from some of those 
 behind him who leant to the doctrines of the Con- 
 tinental Alliance. He probably thought that its defiant 
 tone incurred for a minor object the dangers that 
 would have attended a similar course with regard to 
 Spain. That treaty obhgations required the despatch 
 of troops to Portugal he admitted, but dechned to see 
 in it any great cause for enthusiasm. 
 
 Li 1827 the illness of Lord Liverpool snapped the 
 thread that held together the two portions of the 
 Cabinet he had presided over so long. The most de- 
 cidedly Tory section refused to follow Mr. Canning as 
 his successor. Partly by promotions from offices of 
 lower rank, partly by accessions from his old oppo- 
 
XIV PREFACE. 
 
 nents, the new Prime Minister endeavoured to maintain 
 a Coalition Cabinet which should defy the seceders, 
 while steering clear of extreme principles on either side. 
 ' The Whigs join us in a body,' wrote Lord Palmerston, 
 now for the first time a Cabinet Minister. This was 
 true of Lord Lansdowne, and several of the leaders of 
 that party. But Lord Grey, and those who were 
 especially connected with him, stood aloof, distrusting 
 the new Minister and the heterogeneous combination 
 which he directed. Lord Grey^ was the member of the 
 Opposition whom Lord Ellenborough was most disposed 
 to co-operate with. He took an early opportunity of 
 expressing himself a determined opponent of the Minis- 
 try. In this he was probably actuated both by dis- 
 trust of Canning and regard for the opinions of Lord 
 Grey. But he was thus again brought into connection, 
 in spite of difference on the Eoman Cathohc question 
 and some other points, with the party which came to 
 be led by the Duke of WeUington. He had hoped, as 
 this volume vnll show, for an ultimate junction between 
 the Duke and Lord Grey, a hope not so unreasonable 
 at that time as subsequent events might make it 
 appear. He succeeded, however, eventually in bring- 
 ing Lord Eosslyn into the Duke's Ministry, and Lord 
 Eosslyn, hitherto an ally of Lord Grey, brought, as will 
 bo seen, some additional support from outside. 
 
 Li a few months from his attainment of the Premier- 
 ship Mr. Canning died. It may be a question whether 
 he could permanently have held together the hitherto 
 discordant materials of his Administration. The task was 
 too much for his successor. Lord Goderich, under whose 
 leadership it fell to pieces without meeting Parhament. 
 
 ^ Tliey were distantly related througli the family of Lord Ellenborough 's 
 mother. 
 
PREFACE. XV 
 
 Thus the ground wns left open for the Duke of Wel- 
 lington. It was attempted to form again a Government 
 on the basis of that of Lord Liverpool, to bring together 
 those who had taken opposite courses at the disruption 
 consequent on his retirement. One or two of the most 
 ultra of the High Tories, such as Lord Eldon and Lord 
 Westmoreland, were left out to smoothe the way for 
 -those who returned from the Coalition camp. The 
 Whig element of the Ministry of 1827 was left to fall 
 back into Opposition. 
 
 Lord Grey's attitude to the new Ministry was under- 
 stood not to be unfriendly. Lord Ellenborough, who had 
 acted in Opposition with many of its members,^ became a 
 member of the Cabinet as Privy Seal. Then the attempted 
 reunion of the friends of Mr. Canning with their old col- 
 leagues ere long led to a new separation. How the change 
 of policy on the ' Catholic Question 'by the Prime Minister 
 created a still more bitter and more formidable split in the 
 ranks hitherto most united in his support, and how the 
 ahenation of many of his friends, joined to the events on 
 the Continent in 1830, led to the fall of his Government, 
 and with it of the old Parliamentary system of England, 
 these volumes will relate. As to Lord Ellenborough's 
 own position, it may be observed that the office he at first 
 held was one imposing no active duties and at the same 
 time enjoying an official precedence which causes it to 
 be usually reserved for some one belonging to the higher " 
 ranks of the peerage. He felt some dissatisfaction in 
 holding a dignified sinecure with no duties except a 
 general attention to the business of the Cabinet. He 
 devoted himself, however, actively to the foreign ques- 
 
 ^ It seems that, had the Goderich Ministry met Parliament, he was to 
 have moved the amendment to the Address in the House of Lords. 
 
 VOL. I. a 
 
XVI PREFACE. 
 
 tions which came before it. It may appear as though 
 in some respects his sympathies at this time as regards 
 European affairs differed from those he expressed before 
 or afterwards, as the early champion of Italy and Spain, 
 or as, in later days, the advocate of Poland. But, in 
 fact, Lord Ellenborough always was averse both to the 
 principles of despotism and of democracy, though at 
 particular times one of what he regarded as two oppo- 
 site evils may have appeared the more to call for oppo- 
 sition. During most of the time embraced by this Diary 
 Dom Miguel was apparently accepted by the Portuguese 
 nation as king, and Lord Ellenborough agreed with his 
 colleagues in deprecating either a European war or a 
 general letting loose of the revolutionary party of 
 Southern Europe in order to reverse their verdict. As 
 regards Greece, there is nothing to show if he had ever 
 regarded its cause more favourably. But the numerous 
 instances, not merely of barbarous cruelty, but cruelty 
 accompanied with gross breaches of faith, which ahen- 
 ated from the Greek cause many who saw much of the 
 struggle on the spot, may reasonably have had the same 
 effect on intelhgent observers at a distance. Lord Ellen- 
 borough had also a strong conviction, dating perhaps 
 from what he remembered at the time of the Congress 
 of Vienna, of the dangers of Eussian ambition and 
 aggressiveness, which naturally led him to attach im- 
 portance to the maintenance of the Turkish power. 
 
 Lord Ellenborough's desire, as he states in his re- 
 marks at the time, was to have attained to the Foreign 
 Office on its falHng vacant. Whether Lord Ellenborough 
 or Lord Aberdeen would have been the more efficient 
 Foreign Minister must be left to the judgment of the 
 world. Lord Ellenborough might have incurred the 
 charge of undue energy or rashness from opponents, but 
 would scarcely, even by an antagonist, have been taxed 
 
PREFACE. Xvii 
 
 with ' antiquated imbecility.' In the power of expound- 
 ing and defending a pohcy in Parhament, which in Eng- 
 land is scarcely less important than any other, there 
 could be no comparison between them. 
 
 The Indian affairs with which Lord Ellenborough 
 was concerned after his accession to the Board of Con- 
 trol are not of any very great contemporary interest. 
 It will be seen that he was already at that time in favour 
 of the abolition of the government by the Company, a 
 change postponed at that time, but ultimately carried 
 out in 1858. 
 
 Most of the domestic matters treated in these volumes 
 — matters of eager controversy in their day — have been 
 so decisively settled as to have only a historical interest. 
 They belong to a past phase of Enghsh poHtics. The 
 only phenomenon which forms, unhappily, an exception 
 is the chronic difficulty of deahng with Irish disorder. 
 It is otherwise with the foreign questions which fill a 
 large part of them. The events of the last few years 
 have given a fresh and hving interest to the past con- 
 flicts and negotiations relative to every part of the 
 Eastern Question. Bulgaria and Eoumeha, Thessaly 
 and Candia, the Armenian frontier, the possible approach 
 of Eussia to the Euphrates, have again been topics of 
 constant discussion in every pohtical circle. The daily 
 anticipations, reports, and eventual certainties as to the 
 movements of Eussian and Turkish armies in 1828-29 
 might seem, as it were, to belong to 1877. The per- 
 plexities which at the close of the war troubled the 
 Cabinet of the Duke of Wellington are clearly analogous 
 to the yet unsettled problems left behind by the war 
 terminated by the Treaty of San Stefano. They may 
 perhaps be worthy of perusal, not only as records of the 
 recent past, but as having a still active bearing on the 
 present and future of Eastern pohtics. 
 
D I A E Y. 
 
 -»<>♦- 
 
 January 22, 1828. 
 
 Went to the Eoyal Lodge in Windsor Park, with Lord 
 Aberdeen, to receive the Privy SeaL The other new 
 Ministers there were the Duke of Welhngton, Lords 
 Bathurst and Melville, Mr. Peel, Mr. Herries, and Mr. 
 Goulbiirn. We were appointed to be there at three, but 
 it was six before any one of us was admitted to the 
 King. Lord Lansdowne, Lord Carlisle, and I suppose 
 others of the old Ministers (but not the Duke of Port- 
 land, who is abroad, nor Lord Bexley), were there to 
 dehver their seals. I saw the King first. The Kins 
 was seated at the end of a long table prepared for the 
 Council which was to have been held, for the purpose 
 of my taking the oaths of office, if there are any, 
 and the oath of a Privy Councillor, but by some over- 
 sight the Clerk of the Council had not been apprised 
 of the intention to hold a Council, and was not there, so 
 nothing could be done. The King looked extremely 
 well. He said to me, ' Circumstances have not enabled 
 me to become acquainted with you, but I knew your 
 father well, and had the greatest respect and affection 
 for him. I know you have very considerable talents, 
 ^^ VOL. I. B 
 
2 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 and I have no doubt you will exert them for the public 
 service.' These were nearly the King's words. I assured 
 his Majesty of my gratitude to him for the favour con- 
 ferred upon myself, and for his affection for my father, 
 and assured him I would devote myself to his service. 
 He then nearly repeated what he had said before, and 
 concluded by expressing his confidence in me. I said, 
 'Your Majesty shall not be deceived.' During the 
 three or four hours we were waiting to be admitted we 
 had a good deal of conversation on different political 
 subjects. It was a quarter after six when Lord Aber- 
 deen and I arrived at Apsley House to dinner. Mr. 
 Herries had j^receded us, and was desired to order din- 
 ner, but not likmg, I suppose, after his quarrel with 
 Huskisson, which was the proximate cause of the disso- 
 lution of the last Cabinet, to come alone into the room 
 already occupied by Lord Lyndhurst, Huskisson, Dudley, 
 Palmerston, and Grant, he managed to come to dinner 
 after Aberdeen, whom I left there. On finding they 
 had only been at dinner five minutes, I went home to 
 change my dress, and deposit the Privy Seal, and on re- 
 turning found the party I have mentioned sitting round 
 half a round table ; the Chancellor opposite the chair 
 left for the Duke, then Dudley, Huskisson, Palmerston, 
 Grant, and Aberdeen. I placed myself by Aberdeen ; 
 on the other side of the Chancellor was Herries. Hus- 
 kisson, whom I knew only by sight, made a slight cold 
 bow to me. Dudley looked as black as thunder, and 
 the others rather out of humour. After about half an 
 hour Lords Melville, Bathurst, Peel, and Goulburn came 
 in. We then had more conversation, but there was no 
 
DINNER AT THE DUKE's. 3 
 
 appearance of cordiality or gaiety. The Duke came 
 twenty minutes later. 
 
 We had some conversation, begun by Huskisson, 
 on the topic of the King's Speech. Huskisson wished 
 that the sjDcech should communicate the withdrawing of 
 the troops from Portugal, declare that they were sent 
 as a measure of poHcy, as well as on account of the 
 casus foederis having arisen, and that our conduct had 
 been guided by the principle of preserving peace and 
 the settlement made in 1815. Dudley said : ' In fact 
 the expedition to Portugal had completely succeeded.' 
 I see their object is to procure an approbation of Mr. 
 Canning's pohcy. 
 
 Herries, whom I saw for the first time, is a plain, 
 ordinary-looking, clerk-like man, full of information. 
 Neither he nor Goulburn look as if they belonged to a 
 Cabinet. They are of the class of under-secretaries.^ 
 
 The difference was great between our way of talking 
 at the Lodge and at the Duke's. At the Duke's the 
 courtesy w^as that of men who had just fought a duel. 
 
 Aberdeen brought me home, and he had observed, 
 as well as myself, the extreme coldness of our new 
 allies. He does not like our position at all. The 
 Treaty bothers him.^ 
 
 ^ This record of Lord Ellenborough's first impressions of these statesmen, 
 on being- brought into official relations with them, must not be taken as 
 reflecting his matured judgment of colleagues with whom he acted for many 
 years in office and Opposition. 
 
 - The Treaty of London, often refeiTed to in this Diary, was signed on 
 July 6, 1827, by Lord Dudley, Prince Lieven, and Prince Polignac, on 
 behalf of England, Russia, and France. It embodied the provisions of the 
 Protocol agreed to by the Duke of Wellington during his mission to Russia 
 relative to the terms of mediation between Greece and Turkey. But a 
 
 B 2 
 
4 DIARY. . 1^28. 
 
 I wish the junction with Huskisson had never been 
 
 made. Wallace's name was as good for the commercial 
 
 interest. We get few votes, and abandon our strong 
 
 ground with the country. Besides I doubt the fidehty 
 
 of these men. 
 
 January 23. 
 
 The 'Times,' Brougham's newspaper, attacks Huskis- 
 son for joining Canning's enemies. Lady Canning has 
 written to him and calls his conduct base, mean, dirty, 
 and dishonourable. The violent attacks upon Huskisson 
 and his men for joining us may have made them feel so 
 awkward, and have made their looks so black yesterday. 
 
 The ' Times ' has the report of the Ordnance having 
 been offered to Lord Eosslyn. As the Duke had not 
 received any answer yesterday from Lord E., this secret 
 must have been betrayed, too, by one of the Cabinet. 
 
 Went to the Privy Seal Office. The clerk said the 
 Seal could not be used till I had been sworn in before 
 the Privy Council. It seems the new peers are in a 
 great hurry to have their patents sealed. The Seal is 
 always to accompany me, even if I leave town for a 
 night. The clerk seals in my presence. 
 
 Went to the Cabinet room at the Foreign Office. and 
 read there from two to six. Then saw Dudley. 
 
 Dudley's dispatches are very well written, correctly 
 and clearly, and at no unnecessary length. 
 
 The Greek question remains in this state. Three 
 
 secret article, suggested by Baron Damas, "bouud tlie three Powers in case 
 the mediation was not accepted by the Porte, to compel the cessation of the 
 armed struggle, though without taking part in the hostilities between the 
 two belligerents. This ultimately resulted in the forcible expulsion of 
 7br?him Pacha's troops from the Morea by the French under Maison. 
 
THE GREEK QUESTION. 5 
 
 propositions have been made — 1. To give aid in money 
 to the Greeks ; 2. to blockade Constantinople ; 3. to 
 occupy Moldavia and Wallachia. 
 
 To all these Dudley has stated some objections, and 
 the decision stands over. 
 
 Metternich declares Austria would go to war to 
 prevent the permanent occupation of Moldavia and 
 Wallachia. 
 
 Austria declines affording her intervention. 
 
 Metternich says Prussia is with her. Dudley says 
 Prussia wants Austria to join the Treaty. 
 
 I read Codrington's further explanation. It is miser- 
 ably done and unsatisfactory. 
 
 France will, under the new Ministry, adopt the same 
 line of poHcy as to Greece. 
 
 La Ferronais, who was long in Eussia, says the Em- 
 peror did not desire the Protocol ; but that, having once 
 become committed, he must persevere and do all by 
 himself, if the others will not do it with him. This is in- 
 consistent with the account of the Emperor Nicholas's 
 feelings given, soon after his accession, in Lord Strang- 
 ford's letter to Canning. 
 
 The Emperor, according to La Ferronais, says he 
 must maintain the high ground he attained at Aker- 
 mann. 
 
 It is reported that the Eussians will, by the cessions 
 to be made by Persia, acquire the jDasses of Mount 
 Ararat, the complete command of Armenia, and a road 
 to Constantinople. Georgia occupied before the war 
 75,000 men. 
 
DIAEY. 
 
 1828. 
 
 January 24. 
 
 Went to the Cabinet for the first time. The Duke 
 read the Speech, which, with no substantial alteration, 
 was approved. He afterwards communicated Lord Eoss- 
 lyn's dechning the office of Master-General, which was 
 done in a very handsome manner, expressing that he 
 should not go into systematic opposition, but that he 
 did not feel that confidence that he should generally 
 agree in the measures adopted, which would alone justify 
 his acceptance. 
 
 I received this morning a letter from Lord Grey in 
 which he said that my accepting office when I had de- 
 termined on giving personal support to the Government, 
 was the part of an honourable mind, resolved to do so 
 in the most effectual manner. His line will be as far 
 removed from systematic opposition as it is from con- 
 nection with the Government. So far from feeling any 
 hostility to the Duke's Government, it will give him 
 great pleasure if he should be enabled to support it. I 
 showed the letter to the Duke. 
 
 After deciding on the Speech we considered what 
 was to be done about the Corn Bill. Huskisson thought 
 there must be one ; that it should be the measure of the 
 Cabinet, and he was so pledged to the principle of that 
 of last year, that he must resign if it was not preserved. 
 
 He represented his peculiar situation, which I under- 
 stand. There are two great parties in the State repre- 
 sented by two parts of the Government. The compari- 
 son is not only between the parts of the Government, 
 but between those of the State. A breaking-up of the 
 Administration on this point would produce a quarrel 
 
FIRST CABINET COUNCIL. 7 
 
 between the Houses, and great irritation between the 
 manufacturing and agricultural interests. 
 
 The Duke then addressed us on the subject of the 
 separation of the army from the Treasury. His feelings 
 were strongly excited, and he evidently would have 
 been desirous of retaining the army. This we are to 
 decide to-morrow, in his absence. There was some dis- 
 cussion relative to the production of papers. I said 
 they should not produce a paper without considering 
 to what the production of it might lead, and that if they 
 once began to give papers about the battle of Navarino, 
 they might be obliged to give all, which might most 
 materially embarrass the negotiation with Turkey. 
 
 While we were sitting came a dispatch with 
 accounts from Paris, that in the French King's Speech 
 his intentions with regard to the evacuation of the 
 Spanish fortresses would be declared in a satisfactory 
 manner. 
 
 On the whole I should say our first meeting passed 
 
 off well. If we can get through the Corn Laws we shall 
 
 do very well. If we cannot agree upon that we shall 
 
 break up. 
 
 January 25. 
 
 Cabinet at 2. Decided unanimously that the Duke 
 should resign the army, and that there should be a Corn 
 BiU, supported by the Government, on the principle of 
 that of last year, by which is meant, on the principle of 
 a graduated scale of duty. 
 
 The Speech was finally settled. It having been ori- 
 ginally that his Majesty's object was to maintain the 
 repose of Europe on the basis on which it was founded 
 
8 DIARY. 1®28. 
 
 by the last general treaty of peace, it was objected by 
 Aberdeen that that treaty of peace did not comprehend 
 Turkey, upon which, after much discussion, the words, 
 it has rested since, were adopted on my suggestion. The 
 Duke wishing to introduce the words actual possession, 
 to which Teel and others objected. 
 
 - ^ It "was decided that no papers should be given, 
 besides the treaty itself, on the ground that the trans- 
 action was not terminated, and that the treaty being 
 acted upon by three Powers, the papers could not pro- 
 perly be pubhshed without the consent of the others. 
 
 It would be an act of gross injustice towards Cod- 
 rington to bring his conduct under examination in his 
 absence, and to try him or his letters. The questions 
 put to Codrington were properly put, the answers have 
 been received, and the Administration does not think 
 itself called upon, under all the circumstances, to pro- 
 ceed to any ulterior measures. In fact, if the investi- 
 gation led to the conclusion that he had acted against 
 his instructions, he would have acted against the law of 
 nations, and compensation would be required ; but, if we 
 gave compensation, the other Powers would not, and 
 this would separate us. 
 
 Besides, the Turks have ceased to lay any stress upon 
 the battle of Navarino, and to revive the question would 
 revive their claims, and throw new obstacles in the way 
 of the successful termination of the nej^otiation. 
 
 Jajiuary 26. 
 
 Went to the Cottage to be sworn in as a Privy 
 Councillor and* Lord Privy Seal. In the Park I passed 
 
NAVAKINO. 9 
 
 Lord Beresford and asked him to come with me, 
 which he did. He was going down to kiss hands on 
 being made Master-General of the Ordnance. 
 
 There were present at the Council the Duke of 
 Wellington, Lord Bathurst (President), Lord Aberdeen, 
 Peel, Herries, and Goulburn. Lord Conyngham (Lord 
 Steward) came in to talk to us. 
 
 The King sent for the Duke of Wellington and 
 objected to the term untoivard, as apphed to Navarino, 
 and to the epithet material, where he was made to 
 express his hope that the untoward event would not be 
 a material obstacle to an amicable adjustment, &c. As 
 Huskisson and the others had approved of the word un- 
 toward we retained it. We changed the form of the 
 sentence, and made the King express his hope that the 
 battle would not impede, &c. He wished to have the 
 word unlooked for, instead of untoward. Peel thought 
 the word untoward would bring us into a scrape. 
 
 As I was not a Privy Councillor I only went as far as 
 the door of the Council Chamber with the rest, and when 
 they were seated I was sent for, and bowing to the King 
 walked to his right side, where a stool was placed, upon 
 which I knelt on both knees and made my oath as 
 Privy Councillor. I then took the oath as Privy 
 Seal. After each oath I kissed the King's hand. As 
 a new Privy Councillor I had to walk round the table 
 and shake hands with all the Privy Councillors. By 
 the time I had got back to the chair next to the 
 King, which the Duke of Wellington had left for me 
 as Privy Seal, and which the Clerk of the Council 
 had told me I was to take. Peel was already on his 
 
10 DIARY. 1^2^- 
 
 knees taking liis oath as Secretary of State. I, by 
 gestnre, asked the Duke of Welhngton if I Avas to take 
 the vacant chair, on which the King pointed to it for 
 the Duke, and to the back chair for me ; there thus re- 
 mained a vacant chair between the Duke and Herries, 
 next to whom I sat. Whether the King did this to 
 show his respect for the Duke or liis dishke to me I 
 know not.^ 
 
 My Lord President read the titles of the orders in 
 Council. The King said, ' Approved, and ordered to be 
 pubhshed in the " Gazette," ' which words the Clerk re- 
 peated. The Secretary for the Home Department then 
 read the King's Speech. 
 
 Lord Beresford having taken my carriage that he 
 might be in time to dine with the Duchess of Kent, 
 I went with the Duke of Wellington. We had a great 
 deal of conversation on various subjects, till we got to 
 Hounslow, where I found my carriage. 
 
 Lieven has sent the Duke a long statement of the 
 case of Eussia, which he read on his way, but had not 
 finished. I am to see it. Eussia, in this paper, claims 
 the right of settling her affairs with Turkey, without 
 intervention of any other Power, and attributes it to 
 her own extreme goodness that she has acted with her 
 allies in this case. 
 
 I find I agree with the Duke in all my views of 
 foreign policy. 
 
 ^ Lord Ellenborough Lad incurred the dislike of George IV. by a Speech 
 on the third reading of the ' King's Property Bill/ in 1823, in which he 
 questioned the expediency of giving the King, especially when he had no 
 children to provide for, the power of leaving away from his successor pro- 
 perty enjoyed by him before his accession. 
 
LORD LONDONDERRY. 11 
 
 I do not think, from what the Duke said, that there 
 will be any difficulty in coming to a mezzo termine as to 
 the Corn Law. I told him I thought if we exacted too 
 much there Avould be a greater difficulty in carrying 
 the Bill through the Commons than there would be, if 
 we exacted too little, in carrying it through the Lords. 
 
 January 27. 
 
 Hardinge called while I was at breakfast. He gave 
 me an account of a conversation between Lambton and 
 Lord Londonderry, in which Lambton endeavoured to 
 persuade Lord Londonderry to go into Opposition. It 
 seems copies of my amendment ^ are about, and that 
 they want some one to move it to embarrass me. If 
 I am well, I care not for all their attacks. 
 
 Lord Lowther is very angry — he wanted the Woods 
 and Eorests. 
 
 January 28. 
 
 Decided as to Codrington, that it should be said 
 that the honours were given for valour and con- 
 duct as an officer. That the circumstances under which 
 the battle took place were not such as to induce the 
 Government to withdraw from his command an Admiral 
 who had acted in the most perfect concert with the 
 Admiral of the Allied Powers, and whose conduct had 
 
 ^ Lord JEllenhorougia 8 Amendment. — Lord Elleuborough appears to have 
 intended moving an amendment to tlie Address in answer to the King's 
 Speech if the Goderich Ministry had remained in office. As it probably 
 would haye been hostUe to the foreign policy of the Ministry, it would have 
 been embarrassing to himself and his colleagues after the formation of the 
 new Ministry to have attention called to it, especially as the Foreign Office 
 was stUl in the hands of Lord Dudley. 
 
12 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 received the approbation of the States with Avhich we 
 were alhed, in the prosecution of a common object. 
 
 Mr. Peel mentioned that, as to executing a treaty not 
 approved^ there was a strong case in point, that of Mr. 
 Fox, in 1783, who turned out Lord Shelburne by a vote 
 of censure upon the prehminaries of peace, and then 
 executed the treaty. 
 
 By intelhgence from Paris it appears that the Em- 
 peror JSTichohis will go on by himself, if his alhes will 
 not go on in concert with him, but he wishes to proceed 
 with them. 
 
 The French Government recommends to our favour- 
 able consideration the proposals made by Eussia. 
 
 Dined at the Duke of Wellington's. Present, the 
 Cabinet Ministers, and Lords Bexley, Beresford, Shaftes- 
 bury, Maryborough, and Lords Strangford and Chi- 
 chester, seconder and mover. 
 
 After dinner Dudley and I had some conversation 
 about the course to be pursued, and agreed upon it. 
 That the vague terms in Avhich the treaty speaks of 
 the settlement of Greece should be reduced to specific 
 terms, and then proposed to Turkey. Austria being 
 invited to join in the proposal. It being intimated to 
 Turkey that, in the event of her declining to accede to 
 the terms, Greece would be recognised as an indepen- 
 dent State. That is, we should proceed as if Turkey 
 had acceded to the terms. The advantage of this, 
 however, would be, that when we once recognised the 
 independence of Greece we should proceed on the hio'h 
 road of the law of nations. 
 
LORD HOLLAND ON THE EASTERN QUESTION. 13 
 
 January 29. 
 
 At half past three Fahnouth called upon me, and 
 told me he had told the Duke that, with every disposi- 
 tion to support his Government, he so much feared 
 Huskisson, and so much disliked seeing all the minor 
 offices left in the hands of the Canningites, that he 
 must see how the Government went on before he 
 could promise constant assistance. 
 
 At five went to the House. The impression pro- 
 duced by the Speech was that we came off with flying 
 colours, but that Dudley would have a difficult task. 
 
 Lord Chichester and Lord Strangford ran very 
 close to the sands and were very Turkish. Lord Hol- 
 land made a speech of historical research, showing in 
 what manner the Turks had been viewed and treated 
 by Enghsh and other statesmen, and that they were 
 not considered ancient allies. He spoke of them as 
 anti-social, and said that what they conceded in the 
 capitulations was given as an act of kindness ; that they 
 did not treat us as equals, and he observed, among other 
 things, that in 1770 we allowed the Eussian fleet going 
 against the Turks to refit in our ports. Upon all these 
 points I may perhaps make observations hereafter. 
 
 Lord King asked a question as to what was to be 
 done with regard to the Corn Law, which the Duke 
 answered, and then said a few words in answer to Lord 
 Holland's observations upon the Avords ancient ally and 
 untoward — the latter expression having been apphed to 
 the battle of Navarino. 
 
 Lord Grey declared he did not feel confidence in 
 the Government, but was civil to the Duke. 
 
14 DIARY. ^^^^• 
 
 Lords Lansdowne and Godericli upheld the treaty 
 and Codrington. 
 
 The Duke had gone farther than we had agreed 
 beforehand as to Codrington, and set hhn up too much. 
 
 Everybody seemed in good humour. Many con- 
 gratulated me. All my old Whig friends, Darnley, 
 King, Auckland, &c., were quite cordial. The evening 
 passed off as if the Administration had been estabhshed^ 
 
 years. 
 
 Dudley just declared that the treaty would be, 
 
 executed fairly and faithfully. 
 
 The feehng manifested by Holland especially, and 
 
 by Goderich and Lansdowne, convinces me that, had 
 
 they continued in office, we should soon have been at 
 
 war with Turkey. The change is just come in time, if 
 
 in time. 
 
 January 30. 
 
 Went to the Cabinet room. Eead papers relative to 
 the Greek question. Looked into what had been done 
 towards the settlement of Servia under the 8tli Art. of 
 the Treaty of Bucharest. Nothing seems to have been 
 finally decided till the Treaty of Akermann, when the 
 basis of settlement was more specifically laid down. 
 This basis is our best precedent for the settlement of 
 Greece. 
 
 Cabinet dinner at the Duke of Wellington's. After 
 dinner Dr. Jenner was spoken of as the fittest man for 
 the office of Judge Advocate. Dr. Lushington being 
 out of the question on account of politics. Phillimore 
 m fitness comes third. 
 
 Lord HilL was fixed upon as first General on the 
 
MOVEMENTS OF RUSSIA. 15 
 
 Stafi*, not as Commander-in-Chief. The saving is 3,000^. 
 a year. The other plan of having some one under the 
 King, as Commander-in-Chief, a great object with his 
 Majesty, was rejected at once ; and hkewise that of 
 having a Commission. 
 
 We had a conversation which lasted till half past 
 eleven on Greece. I think they will ultimately come 
 to my first idea of reducing to specific terms the vague 
 expressions of the treaty as to the basis of settlement 
 for Greece, and endeavouring to get Austria to join 
 us. We shall probably have a Cabinet on Saturday 
 on this point. The Eussian Memoir is very stout and 
 warhke. The French agree to it, even to the measure 
 of the three Powers taking between them a Greek 
 loan of two millions, to enable the Greeks to make 
 war. The Dardanelles to be blockaded, and Moldavia 
 and Wallachia occupied. Such are the proposals, 
 which are, however, accompanied by the most solemn 
 protestations of a determination not to extend the Eus- 
 sian frontier. 
 
 January 31. 
 
 Went to the Foreign Ofiice and saw Dudley. He 
 told me more in detail the Eussian propositions, which 
 I afterwards read. The Emperor proposed that his 
 army should take Moldavia and Wallachia, and march 
 on till the Sultan accepts the new proposals, which are 
 to be sent in an answer to the Grand Vizier's letter 
 to Nesselrode. These proposals are based on the treaty, 
 the line of demarcation to run from the Gulf of Yolo to 
 the mouth of the Aspropotamos. It is proposed that 
 the allies should bombard the fortresses occupied by the 
 
16 DIARY. ^S28. 
 
 Turks in the Morea, continue the blockade, and even 
 extend it to the Dardanelles, and attack Constantinople. 
 In addition to all this it is proposed that the three 
 Powers should guarantee a loan of two millions to the 
 Greeks. The Memoir is written with much ability and 
 goes into great detail. It commences by throwing upon 
 England the charge of having led the Emperor on to 
 a point at which his own honour and influence forbid 
 him to stop. There is evident determination in it. 
 
 I told Dudley I thought the only way in which we 
 could possibly prevent the Emperor from doing what he 
 threatened, was by placing in a strong light the real ob- 
 jections to the invasion of the Principalities, and obtain- 
 ing the accession of France, Austria, Prussia, and the 
 JSTetherlands, to a contre projet, which should have for 
 its object the attaining, by military means, the evacua- 
 tion of the Morea, &c., within the line of demarca- 
 tion. 
 
 All my feelings revolt at the idea of the cruel in- 
 justice to Turkey, of which we should be guilty even 
 in adopting this limited measure ; but the invasion of 
 the Principalities would lead to such dreadful calami- 
 ties, that, bound by the treaty, we are obliged to suffer 
 a lesser evil in order to avoid the greater. My fear is, 
 that should we, by taking on ourselves an act of injustice, 
 prevent the invasion of the Principalities now^ that 
 having once collected a larger army the Eussians will, 
 on the ground of their own peculiar [pretended) causes 
 of difference, still carry into effect the invasion at no 
 remote period. 
 
 The Emperor means well ; but he has been taught 
 
RUSSIA AND AUSTRIA. 17 
 
 to entertain high ideas of his imperial honour. His 
 Minister, Nesselrode, and Lieven, his Ambassador here, 
 entertain very dangerous designs, and the Eussian army, 
 once engaged in Turkey, will make, if it does not find, 
 reasons for remaining. The Austrians must be very cau- 
 tious, or the march of the assembled army will be 
 directed to Vienna, instead of to Constantinople, and 
 the Eussians would prefer it. 
 
 After dinner at Prince Esterhazy's I had some con- 
 versation with him. He does not seem to think matters 
 so serious as they are. I frightened him thoroughly 
 without telling him any particulars. 
 
 M. de Bulow, the Prussian Minister, and M. Eoth, 
 
 the French Charge cV Affaires., were introduced to me, and 
 
 I had some conversation with them, more with Bulow 
 
 than with Eoth. Bulow seemed to think there would 
 
 be httle resistance on the part of the Turks, and that 
 
 the Eussians would attack by sea and Asia, as well as by 
 
 the Danube. 
 
 February 1. 
 
 Drew out a hue of demarcation for Greece, from 
 Thermopylas along the summits of the mountains to the 
 sea, a httle beyond Lepanto. Aberdeen, to whom I 
 showed it, thought the line should begin at Thermopylas, 
 but that the line of the Aspropotamos was the best. 
 This includes Missolonghi. Eead dispatches of M. de 
 Eigny, giving an account of the state of Greece, the 
 armistice of September 25, and the situation of 
 Ibrahim Pasha, which show M. de Eigny to be a man 
 of ability and firmness. Our man Codrington is a mere 
 fighter. 
 
 VOL I G 
 
18 DIARY. • 1828. 
 
 Dudley told me the Duke did not think so seriously 
 as we do about the Eussian designs, and seemed to 
 imagine the Emperor might be put off with the hope 
 of getting Ibrahim Pasha out of the Morea. 
 
 February 2. 
 
 Found in Lord CoUingwood's letters passages show- 
 ng that the blockade of the Dardanelles would not 
 affect the provisioning of Constantinople. 
 
 Cabinet at 1. The answer to be given to the Eus- 
 sian Memoir, decided according to the idea I threw out 
 in the paper I gave Dudley some days ago. He pro- 
 posing it. My views and Peel's coincided entirely. 
 
 Dined with Lady Londonderry, where the first thing 
 I heard was that Dudley was out of office, and Lord 
 Stuart in his place. The lies of the day are quite won- 
 derful. 
 
 February 3. 
 
 Called on Lord Kenyon, who told me the Tories were 
 more dissatisfied at Lord Eldon's not having been con- 
 sulted than at his not being in the Cabinet. 
 
 Sir Alexander Grant said that was certainly the case, 
 and the Duke of Newcastle, amongst others, is gone out 
 of town much disgusted. 
 
 I hear Frankland Lewis was more violent against the 
 Duke and Peel than any one else, and he is made Vice- 
 President of the Board of Trade. Not satisfied with 
 having Huskisson, Grant, Palmerston, and Frankland 
 Lewis in office, the Canningites are discontented at not 
 having Wilmot Horton, too. This is really too much. 
 I dined with Lord Cassilis, where tliis man was, and I 
 
THE GREEK TREATY. 19 
 
 have no doubt he repeated everything that passed. He 
 
 has been down at Earsham, shooting with Huskisson 
 
 the last few days. 
 
 February 4. 
 
 Went to the House. Nothing but Lord Hawarden's 
 question of privilege. Dudley told me he did not think 
 any one had a right to say that he knew Mr. Canning's 
 views as to the mode of executing the Greek treaty, 
 Dying words there were none. His last travail related 
 to the Portuguese question. 
 
 February 5, 
 
 Went with Aberdeen to the Cottage, A Council to 
 swear in Frankland Lewis. The Bishop of Llandaff 
 there. Coplestone, the new political economist bishop. 
 The King looked out of humour. He wants to have 
 the Eecorder's report at Windsor, a thing never done 
 before. The Chancellor had a long conference with 
 him before we went in. He kept us waiting two hours. 
 
 February 6, 
 
 Went to the Foreign Office at 12. Saw Dudley. 
 Read his proposed answer to the Kussian note. A great 
 part of it excellent. He had not stated as strongly as 
 he might have done that the first suggestion of force 
 did not come from us. In fact, by Lieven's note, and 
 a letter from Lord Granville, of February 23, 1827, it 
 appears that the suggestion proceeded from Eussia. 
 
 Eead the Duke's paper relative to the hue to be 
 taken in a Conference, and the contre projet. Lord 
 Howard seemed to be working against Dudley and ours, 
 
 c "^ 
 
20 DIARY. 1^28. 
 
 and to wish to show that the suggestion of force came 
 from us, and was made first by the Duke of Welhngton. 
 I mentioned this to Lord Bathurst, who told me I must 
 take orreat care what I said to Lord Howard, for he was 
 very hostile to the Government. Young Abercromby 
 had had committed to him the copying of the Duke's 
 memorandum. He is as constantly at Lansdowne House, 
 and very young. 
 
 Dinner at the Duke of WeUington's for the roll of 
 Sheriffs. While we were at dinner came the Speech of the 
 King of France. He is to recall his troops from Spain, 
 tres incessamment, and expresses his hope that the affairs 
 of Greece will be settled sans le secour de la force. He 
 calls the battle as we did, imjyrevue. This is the first 
 fruit of the change of Government. A fortnight ago 
 the French were acceding to the Eussian proposals. 
 
 February 7. 
 
 Eead Huskisson's speech. He makes use, as all the 
 Canningites do, of the false phrase of Canning's foreign 
 policy and Canning's liberal views as to trade, &c., yet 
 at the same time asserts the Duke of WelHnofton never 
 thwarted the last or objected to the first. 
 
 As to pledges, the fact he states being so, he could 
 require none as to the past, and he does not seem to 
 have received any as to the future. The past is the 
 pledge for the future. 
 
 The Duke told me there icere no pledges^ that it was 
 untrue that he never differed from Canning.^ That for 
 
 ^ Mr. Canning, in reply to Mr. Hobhouse (February 24, 1823), who had 
 spoken of the ' present ' as opposed to the late Ministry, said that he should 
 
canning's foreign policy. 21 
 
 three years he prevented the recognition of the South 
 American States. That if he was asked any questions 
 he should say, ' There was much in the papers referred 
 to that was imtrue.' 
 
 Unfortunately when things are asserted so broadly as 
 these were by Husldsson, some will believe them. 
 
 At Lord Chesterfield's I met Arbuthnot, who told 
 me he knew the whole detail of the negotiation, and 
 that what Huskisson asserted Avas altogether untrue. 
 
 Fehruary 8. 
 
 There is a new dispatch from Nesselrode to Lieven, 
 acquainting him with an interview M. Tatischof had with 
 the Emperor of Austria, in which the Emperor expressed 
 the greatest fears of the recommencement of a war 
 of which he should not live to see the end, and at the 
 iiame time declared he would not mediate and would 
 not assist the Turks, and this he had told the Vizier. 
 
 The Emperor Nicholas, upon the receipt of the 
 letter from Tatischof, giving an account of the interview, 
 
 act unfairly to that Government, of which he was so recent a meinher, if he 
 did not reject any praise that was hestowed upon it at the expense of those 
 of whom it was formerly composed. He was compelled in mere justice to 
 say that upon his entering upon the office which he had the honour to fill 
 lie found the principles upon which the Government were acting reduced 
 into writing, and this State paper formed what he might he allowed to call 
 the political creed of the Ministers. 
 
 The speech in 1824 referred to was probably one on a debate on the 
 Catholic question, when, in reply to severe criticisms on his position in a 
 Cabinet many members of which differed from him on this subject, he 
 pointed out that he differed entirely from the Opposition on the at least 
 equally important subject of Parliamentary reform, which therefore must 
 have been an open question in any Cabinet in which he had been associated 
 with them. 
 
22 DIAEY. 1828. 
 
 wrote to the Emperor of Austria, expressing his satis- 
 faction and repeating the expressions stated by Tatischof 
 to have been used by the Emperor, in order to ^x the 
 Emperor to them. 
 
 February 9. 
 
 Cabinet at 3. Dudley's dispatch to Lieven con- 
 sidered. He had got into some confusion in the first 
 part of it, and he did not state as strongly as he might 
 have done that the proposal of force did not originate 
 with us. He seemed disposed to speak of it as a simul- 
 taneous proposition, and said there was nothing in the 
 documents to which he had access to show that it pri- 
 marily and exclusively originated with this country. 
 The Duke, with whom I dined, thought from his unwil- 
 lingness to speak out on the subject that he knew pri- 
 vately that Canning had suggested it first. The Duke 
 said Canning seemed always leaning to that point, but 
 that he had frequently drawn him off from it. 
 
 The facts are these. The protocol was ours. "We 
 prepared it under the idea that the Conferences of 
 Akerman were more likely to terminate in war than in 
 peace, and that it was in that case something gained to 
 bind down Eussia to the basis sketched in the protocol 
 for the future settlement of Greece. Six months after 
 the signing of the protocol Eussia declares that, having 
 once begun, she must, to maintain her influence at 
 Constantinople, go on. It is first proposed by France 
 to convert the protocol into a treaty, and the additional 
 articles are first proposed by Eussia. France acquiesces 
 in them reluctantly. Our feeling does not appear, as 
 
TURKISH AFFAIRS. 23 
 
 Lord Granville was then in England, and all the Con- 
 ferences seem to have been carried on here. 
 
 On February 23, 1827, Lord Granville, not having 
 then left Paris, speaks of the Russian project which con- 
 tained the proposal of force. 
 
 After Dudley's draft we read the Duke's contre 
 projet, which is substantially mine, and his remarks on 
 the effect of a Russian invasion, seconded by France 
 and England, for the purpose of forcing the Porte to re- 
 cognise the independence of her rebellious subjects. The 
 latter paper is very ably drawn. 
 
 February 10. 
 
 Lord Chesterfield told me it was reported Lord 
 Granville was to be Lord Chamberlain. I do not think 
 this unlikely, as Paris is wanted for Lord Stuart de 
 Rothesay. Dudley will not hke having Lord Stuart 
 forced upon him. I asked him if he had any reason to 
 think Canning had first suggested force. He said no, 
 but that the documents in the office did not enable him 
 to charge the Russians with having done so, or to put 
 the thing stronger than he has done. He is nervous 
 about the debate to-morrow, as Lord Carnarvon, who 
 makes the motion instead of Lord Holland, means to go 
 into the whole of our pohcy with regard to Greece. 
 
 February 11. 
 
 Lord Carnarvon made his motion ; went into the 
 policy of the treaty and its justice. Endeavoured to 
 show the usage of nations was in favour of interference 
 between a Sovereign and his subjects. Then called 
 
24 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 upon Dudley for explanations, and spoke of pledges and 
 guarantees. 
 
 Dudley objected, on the ground of public expe- 
 diency, to producing the papers moved for. Then said 
 there were no stipulations, but there were understand- 
 ings in conversation. He made a short discreet speech. 
 
 Lord Goderich then made a statement of the circum- 
 stances which led to the breaking up of the Administra- 
 tion, which he attributed entirely to the difference 
 between Herries and Huskisson, throwing all the blame 
 upon Herries. 
 
 Eldon spoke against the treaty as contrary to the 
 law of nations. He did not speak well. 
 
 The House was nearly up, when the Duke rose. 
 He said every member of the Government was as free 
 as air, and might propose any measure he pleased. 
 
 Lord Clanricarde then attacked Dudley, called 
 upon him to explain why he acted with those who were 
 personally hostile to Mr. Canning, and asked him to 
 whom he alluded when, in August last, he said he 
 would not serve with Canning's personal enemies. He 
 then read an extract from a letter of CanninjT's to the 
 Duke in May last, in which Canning spoke of the impos- 
 sibility of the Duke's being Minister, because he could 
 not divest himself of influence over the army, and the 
 union of military and civil patronage could not be 
 borne. 
 
 Dudley answered him, and said, ' I had no personal 
 hostility to Canning, and that my opposition last year 
 had not interrupted bis friendship with me, and Canning 
 knew it had not.' He instanced Cannin^j's sittinfj- in Cabi- 
 
ATTACK ON LORD ELLENBOROUGH. 25 
 
 net with Lord Londonderry after the duel as a proof that 
 Canning himself felt that enmity should not be eternal. 
 
 Then got up Lord Lansdowne, and attacked me. He 
 supposed, sneeringly, that my adherence to the Govern- 
 ment was honourable and conscientious, but he likewise 
 supposed that I had acquired information since I had 
 become a member of the Government which had induced 
 me to take new views, and now to support Canning's 
 principles of foreign pohcy. He supposed, too, that I 
 had disapproved of the expedition to Portugal, and 
 now concurred in the expressions in the King's Speech 
 which praised it. 
 
 I said that when it should become consistent with 
 the public interests to lay the papers on the table, and 
 to discuss the Treaty, I should be ready to do so. In 
 the meantime I declared my opinions, whatever they 
 might be, were unchanged, and no one had presumed to 
 ask me to change them. He presumed that I had dis- 
 approved of the expedition to Portugal, and yet could 
 now concur in rejoicing that the objects of the expe- 
 dition were accomplished, and that the faith of treaties 
 having been maintained and the safety and independ- 
 ence of Portugal secured, his Majesty had ordered the 
 immediate return of his troops. 
 
 I said, ' The noble Marquis is as incorrect in his fact 
 as he is in his reasoning. I never did disapprove of 
 the expedition to Portugah I could not disapprove of 
 his Majesty's keeping his plighted faith, and maintaining 
 the faith of a treaty. I ridiculed the absurdity of those 
 who spoke of that expedition as a master-stroke 
 of policy. There could be no policy where there was 
 
26 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 no choice. We acted in strict conformity to the express 
 stipulations of a treaty. But if I had disapproved of 
 the expedition, how much more must I have rejoiced at 
 the termination of an expedition of which I did not 
 approve ? ' 
 
 The noble Marquis assumed that it had been 
 promulgated that Mr. Canning's principles of foreign 
 policy were to be persevered in, and that I, having 
 changed my opinion, was to maintain the principles of 
 which I disapproved. Even if I had changed my opinion 
 I could not have pledged myself to maintain Mr. Can- 
 ning's principles, for I really did not know what they 
 "w^ere, No man had ever attempted to explain what 
 they were, as contradistinguished from those of his 
 predecessor and of his colleagues. 
 
 I then read an extract from a speech of Canning's, 
 of Feb. 24, 1823, in which he rejected praise given to 
 him at the expense of his colleagues, and said he had 
 found the principles upon which the Government was 
 acting reduced to writing. That State paper formed 
 the pohtical creed of the Ministers, and whatever credit 
 he might deserve was for following it. 
 
 As to the recognition of South America, the princi- 
 ple of that measure was announced to all Europe at 
 Aix-la-Chapelle. After that it was only a question of 
 time. The principle, therefore, was not Mr. Canning's. 
 
 As to the expedition to Portugal I had already 
 shown it was undertaken in strict obedience to the letter 
 of a treaty. 
 
 If the foreign policy of Mr. Canning meant merely 
 the treaty of July 6, undoubtedly it was not my inten- 
 
FREE TK\DE. 27 
 
 tion to advise his Majesty to violate his plighted faith. 
 But I was yet to learn that it was a pohtical crime in 
 Mr. Fox to censure the preliminaries of peace in 1783, 
 and yet carry those preliminaries into execution. Cer- 
 tainly I was prepared to execute that treaty fairly, in 
 the spirit of conciliation and of peace, in which, if I 
 might judge from the tone of some noble lords, they, at 
 least, did not think it was passed. 
 
 As to commercial policy I sat by the side of the 
 noble Marquis when the measures alluded to were intro- 
 duced, and I did not oppose them. The principles of 
 Free Trade I approved. I wish to carry them as far as 
 I could with safety, but I thought that as some of those 
 who in former times defended the Slave Trade by show- 
 ing that the condition of the slaves was better in the 
 West Indies than it had been in Africa, forgetting all 
 the miseries and losses of the middle passage ; so the 
 political economists, satisfied that the country would 
 attain greater wealth under their system than under the 
 ancient order of things, overlooked altogether the mise- 
 ries occasioned by the transition, and the ruin of all 
 the existing interests which had grown up under the 
 operation of the ancient law. For myself, I should, in 
 considering the propriety of any commercial regulations, 
 look, not only at the wealth which might flow from it, 
 but at the more important moral and pohtical conse- 
 quences ; for above all things I desired to maintain the 
 independence of the country, the moral happiness of 
 the people, and the safety of that constitutional system 
 which was far more valuable than gold. 
 
 ' The noble Marquis can hardly censure me for 
 
28 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 belonging to a Government founded upon the same 
 principle as regards the Cathohc question, as that of 
 which he was liimself a member. It may seem para- 
 doxical to the noble Marquis, but it was an opinion I 
 expressed last year, and I have not changed it, that a 
 Government, neutral on the Catholic question, was more 
 advantageous to the Cathohc cause than one united in 
 its favour. I am convinced that a Government united 
 in its favour would produce a reaction which would 
 throw the question back many years. A Government 
 united against it would produce evils of a different de- 
 scription. I am convinced that practically more good 
 can be done for Ireland under the present Administra- 
 tion than under that which has just expired. 
 
 I had now only to confirm what had fallen from my 
 noble friend (Dudley). I never was a personal enemy 
 of Mr. Canning. I could not be, for I hardly knew 
 him. The very few times I had met him, nothing had 
 passed but the ordinary interchange of courtesy. I be- 
 lieved he was much beloved by his friends, and had 
 many domestic virtues, but I looked at him only as 
 a political character. I thought him a dangerous 
 Minister. I think so still, and if he were alive now 
 I should oppose him. But as this feeling never had 
 interrupted the friendship between me and my noble 
 friend, or prevented the most cordial communication 
 between us, I could see no reason why it should prevent 
 me now from sitting in the same Cabinet with him. 
 
 Aberdeen and Bathurst told me I did very well. I 
 think the Duke thought I had been indiscreet. Beres- 
 ford, Salisbury, Stanhope, Strangford, congratulated me. 
 
A DANGEROUS MINISTER. 29 
 
 They told me I never spoke better. I think I did right 
 in saying what I did, as our best friends were alarmed 
 by Huskisson's speech, and began to think there had 
 been concession on our parts. I am satisfied with the 
 matter of my speech ; but I was neither so fluent nor as 
 correct in my language as I usually am. I shall speak 
 better the next time. It was new to me to speak from 
 the Ministerial Bench. 
 
 After the debate Dudley said he could not object 
 to my calHng Mr. Canning a dangerous Minister, as 
 I had called him so before. 
 
 Lord Eosslyn told me I spoke damned well, but 
 
 Lord WharnclifFe did us most good. So he did. Our 
 
 friends will now support us with warmth. Lord 
 
 Wharncliffe said he saw the pledges were not worth 
 
 a farthing^. 
 
 February 12. 
 
 Cabinet at 3. Decided that there should be a Bill to 
 enable the King to have the Eecorder's report else- 
 where than in London. Lord Bathurst made great ob- 
 jections, and thought it would produce a very unplea- 
 sant feeling and much observation. The King is to be 
 impressed with the necessity of availing himself of the 
 power of having it out of London only in the case of 
 illness. He is to be brought to London, if possible, for 
 the next Eecorder's report, and then the Bill would 
 proceed better on the ground of the injury done to his 
 health. He did intend to come up on the 19th to the 
 marriage of the Duchess of Kent's daughter,^ and yet he 
 will not come to a Eecorder's report, though there are 
 
 ^ Princess Feodore, half-tister of her Ma] est v. 
 
30 . DIARY. 1828. 
 
 already two waiting for him, and a third coming in a 
 short time, while Newgate is full, and the prisoners in a 
 state of disorder. 
 
 There was some conversation respecting the expedi- 
 ency of communicating our contre projet to France, 
 before we laid it before the Ambassador here, that we 
 might have the first communication to St. Petersburg 
 made, if possible, with the concurrence of France. 
 If the Eussians receive our contre projet without at 
 the same time hearing that France accedes to it, and 
 that Prussia and Austria will assist in endeavouring to 
 carry it into ejQTect, they will express themselves so 
 strongly against it that France will not venture to say 
 anything in its favour. 
 
 It seems that from the beginning France has, in the 
 first instance, gone with Eussia and then fallen back 
 upon our more moderate propositions. 
 
 Some thought it would be unfair to Eussia to let 
 France know the contre p>rojet before her. This seems, 
 to me absurd. 
 
 My impression is that the Eussian army will move 
 as soon as the roads are passable, and the grass sprino-s 
 up, and that all we can do is to place ourselves in a 
 good position with the country. 
 
 Herries, before the others came in, complained that 
 Ooderich had omitted all mention of his own abdication 
 and restoration, which made the whole difference. 
 These events took place before Herries' letter, and were 
 the reason why that letter was not written earlier. The 
 first abdication was occasioned by the Kino's refusal to 
 admit Lord Holland. I am inclined to think that 
 
AT LADY jersey's, 31 
 
 Herries saw the Whigs were strengthening themselves 
 in the Cabinet, and took the first opportunity of going 
 out. How he and Huskisson are to settle the matter on 
 Friday I know not. 
 
 I walked with Aberdeen to the House. Lord Darn- 
 ley was the only Whig there. He was saying there 
 would, he saw, be no opposition. He told Aberdeen 
 I spoke with more discretion and temper than they 
 expected. The only expression I used which, when he 
 first heard it, Aberdeen doubted about, was that of 
 'dangerous Minister' applied to Canning; but he said 
 he was glad of it now he saw the good effect produced 
 upon our friends. Stanhope, too, spoke of my speech 
 as what satisfied them. Lord Winchelsea, who had 
 looked quite cold before, was smiHng afterwards. Aber- 
 deen seems to think there may be a separation still 
 between us and Huskisson. I do not. If there should 
 be, I think Goulburn will be made Colonial Secretary 
 and Herries go to the Exchequer. I think either Bexley 
 or Lord Wallace would have the Mint. 
 
 I wrote out my speech of last night. 
 
 February 13. 
 
 Met Lord Grey at Lady Jersey's. He seemed 
 friendly. Told me I made a very good speech. Eidi- 
 culed Lord Lansdowne's geography, and appeared sorry 
 he had not been prepared to go into the general ques- 
 tion and answer Lord Carnarvon. 
 
 Every one seems satisfied with my speech, and our 
 friends are now in good humour. 
 
 Cabinet dinner at Aberdeen's. The Duke, Dudley, 
 
32 . DIARY. 1828. 
 
 and the Chancellor dmed with the King after the 
 Council. Dudley slept at the Cottage. 
 
 After dinner we had a s^ood deal of conversation on 
 matters of finance. Peel spoke of the absolute necessity 
 of reducing expenditure, as we have no surplus, and 
 cannot impose taxes. He spoke of reducing the num- 
 ber of seamen. There are now 30,000, of which 9,000 
 are marines. 
 
 Lord Melville insisted on keeping up all the marines, 
 but allowed a reduction might be made in the seamen. 
 They talked of reducing the whole rate to 25,000. 
 That is 16,000 seamen and 9,000 marines. I do not 
 beheve we can protect our commerce with this force. 
 The French have more than 20,000 men. It seemed 
 admitted that the army could not be reduced. Tliree- 
 fourths or more of the Hves of our soldiers are even 
 now passed abroad. There are but 2,500 men in Lon- 
 don. 
 
 I am against all reductions of troops and seamen till 
 we see daylight in the affairs of Greece. We should 
 reduce what is not essential to national strencrth. 
 
 February 14. 
 
 The Duke of Wellington is decidedly in favour of 
 the Eideau Canal,^ which would, he thinks, so com- 
 pletely protect the communication between Upper and 
 Lower Canada as to make all the designs the United 
 States might entertain quite abortive, and induce them 
 to be very quiet on all points of difference between the 
 two countries, which they will not be while they think 
 
 ^ For the protection of Canada. 
 
peel's financial statement. 33 
 
 they can easily annex Canada to tlaeir territory. If they 
 see they can gain nothing by a land war, and must lose 
 by naval hostilities, they will be tranquil enough. 
 
 February 15. 
 
 Mr. Peel made his statement of the financial situa- 
 tion of the country in moving the appointment of the 
 Finance Committee. He concealed nothing, but exhi- 
 bited things as they really are. This is the true policy. 
 Explanations were expected from Huskisson and Herries, 
 and it was said Tierney was desirous of making a state- 
 ment. However, nothing was said. The House was 
 taken by surprise by the motion for adjournment, and 
 everybody went away laughing at the disappointment. 
 
 February 16. 
 
 Cabinet at 3. Information that Ibrahim Pasha had 
 sent his sick and wounded and superfluous artillery to 
 Egypt, together with from three to ^Ye thousand women 
 and children as slaves. Great doubt was thrown upon 
 the latter part of the statement, as it did not appear that 
 Ibrahim had tonnage sufficient for such numbers. 
 
 The Duke of Clarence told me afterwards that the 
 slaves, principally children, were between six and seven, 
 and were sold in the market at Alexandria on their 
 arrival. We went through Dudley's paper, but I was 
 obliged to leave the Cabinet before it broke up, to go 
 to a Charity dinner at the London Tavern, for the Sea- 
 men's Hospital, where the Duke of Clarence was to be 
 in the chair. 
 
 VOL. I. D 
 
34 DIAKY. 1828. 
 
 February 17. 
 
 Esterhazy called. He brought the paper of advic6 
 Austria sent to the Porte. In this paper Austria speaks 
 of retaining the fortresses for the Turks, but Esterhazy 
 seems to think that will not be insisted on. I wish we 
 could retain the fortresses, at least Navarino, which is 
 the only good port, but Eussia would never consent. 
 Another point Austria wishes to obtain for the Turks is 
 the prehminary submission of the Greeks. This, too, 
 Esterhazy thought, might be held to be accomplished 
 by the Greeks admitting the suzerainty of the Porte. . 
 
 February 18. 
 
 Went to the Cabinet room at 4. Met Lord Bathurst 
 there. Saw Dudley. 
 
 Went with Aberdeen to the House of Commons. 
 Heard Lord Normanby's questions, and Huskisson, and 
 Herries. Lord Normanby spoke miserably. The others 
 very well. Herries made a statement which sets him 
 up very much. Huskisson got out of the scrape. The 
 letter of a Mr. Shepherd, who stood by him on the 
 hustings, declaring he had not stated that he had ever 
 demanded any personal guarantees of the Duke of Wel- 
 lington, did him great service. Herries' speech was the 
 best received. Herries, towards the end, which I did 
 not stay to hear, having left the House when his state- 
 ment seemed concluded, declared that he knew (this 
 expression he quahfied afterwards) that the diiference 
 between him and Huskisson was made the excuse for 
 breaking up the Administration, but was not the real 
 cause. 
 
CABINET DINNER. 35 
 
 February 19. 
 
 Lord Godericli, in the House of Lords, declared 
 that Herries' resignation was the sole cause of the 
 breaking-up of the Government. So the two are at 
 issue. 
 
 Lord Carlisle and Lord Morley spoke. The former 
 said he was sorry to hear me use the expression of 
 ' dangerous Minister,' ^ and the latter said that my having 
 declared I did not know what the system of Mr. Can- 
 ning was, was not a sufficient reason for his refusing to 
 support a Government of which I was a member. 
 
 In the House of Commons last night Brougham 
 used some shghting expressions respecting me, and mis- 
 stated my speech. Lord Normanby hkewise misrepre- 
 sented what I said, and then attempted to turn it into 
 ridicule. Hobhouse began this Hne in a very imperti- 
 nent manner the other night. Should this practice 
 continue, I shall be obhged to select a strong case, and 
 call for an explanation. 
 
 Nothing can be more contrary to good Parhamen- 
 tary usage or more really inconvenient than this new 
 custom of answering in one House the speeches made in 
 the other. It is so unfair and unmanly, that should it 
 be persisted in, it will oblige members of one House to 
 make their answers in a third place. 
 
 February 20. 
 
 Cabinet dinner at Dudley's. After dinner very httle 
 conversation on political subjects till the Duke, Peel, Lord 
 Bathurst, and Melville were gone, and Palmerston, too, 
 
 1 In reference to Mr. Canning. 
 D 2 
 
3G DIARY. 1828. 
 
 and Herries. Then • Huskisson, Grant, Dudley, and 
 Aberdeen, and I talked of the line to be adopted with 
 regard to the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts, 
 and whether the Government should oppose the repeal, 
 making it a Government question. 
 
 Huskisson and Grant seemed against making it a 
 Government question, and Dudley too. So am I. 
 Huskisson and I should vote against the repeal as pre- 
 judicing the Catholic question. I think Grant and 
 Dudley would vote for it. 
 
 Th^re is an awkward question with France as to an 
 insult committed against our flag in the Gambia. It 
 will be treated in an amicable way by us. Huskisson, 
 to my great surprise, expressed great dislike of the 
 Americans. He seemed to anticipate the breaking up 
 of the United States from the divergence of interest 
 between the Southern and Northern, the maritime and 
 back States. It seems that at the moment we were 
 concluding the Pacification of Ghent, the province of 
 Massachusetts was sending proposals for separation, 
 which arrived just too late. Huskisson thinks if we 
 had pressed the Northern, instead of the Southern States, 
 and taken Ehode Island, instead of attackincr New 
 Orleans, that the Northern States would have dissolved 
 the Union. 
 
 It is thought Jackson, if he hves, will be President. 
 He is seventy-three. They say he cannot be more 
 hostile to us than Adams. 
 
 Huskisson seems to suppose the Americans feel a 
 degree of awe and respect for this country, which I 
 confess I cannot trace in their acts. 
 
TURKISH CALL TO ARMS. 37 
 
 February 21. 
 
 Intelligence of January 10 from Constantinople. 
 The Turks have issued a Hattisheriffe inveighing against 
 all the Allies, but particularly against Eussia, declaring 
 she will never acknowledge the independence of the 
 Morea, calHng upon all Mahometans to arm in defence 
 of the faith, and giving over to the purposes of the war 
 the sum which was to be paid to Eussia under the 
 Treaty of Akerman. At the same time they have sent 
 from Constantinople about 200 English, French, and 
 Eussian subjects, and have closed the Dardanelles. 
 
 I fear after this there will be no possibility of pre- 
 venting the Eussians from marching. 
 
 I see no reason why we should view what the Turks 
 have done otherwise than we should have viewed simi- 
 lar acts on the part of Turkey at any other time, when 
 we were desirous of maintaining friendship with them. 
 We are bound by the treaty to co-operate with the 
 others for the pacification of Greece, but the moment 
 that object is accomplished we are free. We are not 
 called upon to act with Eussia in Iier quarrel. 
 
 If States always made war when they coixld state as 
 a cause and justification of war that which has at some 
 time or other been made a cause or pretext of war, 
 peace would never be established in Europe. 
 
 Lord Cowley represents Metternich as having been 
 much afiected when he heard the news. 
 
 Dudley seems still to feel that Metternich has con- 
 tributed to bring the mischief upon us by encouraging 
 •the Porte to resist. 
 
38 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 February 22. 
 
 There seems to have been a most violent attack 
 upon Hemes last night, and Hardinge tells me he was 
 damaged, and the House against him. He had declared 
 the other night, with the most solemn asseverations, 
 ' as he hoped to be saved,' &c., that he had consulted 
 no one as to the line of conduct he should pursue. 
 Brougham asked him ' if no one consulted with him ? ' 
 and to this he declined giving an answer. This is the 
 only awkward point, for on all other points he stands 
 well. The language of Wynne to Herries, and of Her- 
 ries to Wynne, was violent and not Parliamentary. 
 Lord Wellesley, as the Duke of Wellington told me, 
 compared the discussion to the concluding chorus in 
 ' Tom Thumb,' where all the characters say, ' You lie ! 
 you he ! ! you lie ! ! ! ' 
 
 It is reported Herries is gone down to Windsor to 
 ask the Kinsf to allow him to disclose all he cannot state 
 without the King's permission. 
 
 February 23. 
 
 Met Lord CHve at Lady Belfast's. He was in the 
 House of Commons during the explanations on Thurs- 
 day, and went there with a feehng for Herries, and 
 was much distressed by the scene that took place. 
 iPeel's countenance evidently showed he felt Herries 
 was damaged. 
 
 Ashley told me the wish at Lansdowne House was 
 that Herries might be retained. 
 
 At the Duke of Clarence's dinner, where the Cabi- 
 
TEST AND CORPORATION ACT. 39 
 
 net, &c., dined, I asked Peel what his objections were 
 to the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts. He 
 said that under the Acts there had been no difference 
 between the Church and the Dissenters — that there was 
 no practical grievance, and that he had rather continue 
 this sort of quiet and rest to the Church than open 
 a new state of things which might not be accompanied 
 with the same degree of tranquilhty. He added that 
 he thought the repeal would prejudice the Catholic 
 question, and that if he was in favour of the Cathohcs 
 he should, on that ground, oppose the repeal. 
 
 The Corporation of Nottingham is in the hands of 
 the Dissenters, and I believe others are. The Duke of 
 Welhngton said the law as it stood practically now was 
 not intended to prevent Dissenters from being in Cor- 
 porations, but to prevent them from doing mischief 
 when they were there. 
 
 We are to have a Cabinet on Monday to consider 
 whether opposition to the repeal shall be made a Go- 
 vernment measure. 
 
 February 25. 
 
 The newspaper contains the Turkish manifesto. It 
 is a declaration of war — at least Eussia will so consider 
 it, and march at once. I fear Eussia will think herself 
 released from the self-denying ordinance, and if she claims 
 territorial indemnity, Austria will go to war, for she 
 cannot permit the appropriation of the Principalities to 
 Eussia. 
 
 Cabinet at 3. Decided that the repeal of the Test 
 and Corporation Acts should be opposed by the Govern- 
 
40 DIARY. 1S28. 
 
 ment on the ground that there was no practical mcon- 
 venience, that the thing worked well, and that it was 
 unwise to change the relative jjosition of persons who 
 went on so well to^rether. Huskisson, others, and I 
 said we must object to the repeal, not only on that 
 ground, but as prejudicing the Catholic question. 
 This was assented to. The Duke cautioning us as 
 Ministers not to urge the union of Catholics and Dis- 
 senters Avith the vicAV of forcing the naeasure upon 
 Parhament. 
 
 House at 5. Lord Clanricarde stated the grounds 
 upon which he had made the observations he did the 
 other night on the apparent inconsistency of Huskisson's 
 conduct, and his declaration in August last. He spoke 
 discreetly. Dudley answered him. 
 
 The Duke declared he was not the personal enemy 
 of Mr. Canning, and even that he had no political hosti- 
 Uty towards him. 
 
 This declaration, certainly in direct contradiction 
 to what we all supposed, and indeed know, gave great 
 dissatisfaction to Stanhope, Londonderry, Eldon, and 
 indeed our best friends, those on whom we must 
 depend in the event of difficulty, our body-guard. 
 
 There were at tlie Cabinet room letters of Lieven to 
 Dudley, and of De la Ferronays to Both, both considering 
 the Turkish manifesto as a declaration of war, and the 
 French note urging us to sanction the entrance of the 
 Eussians into the Principalities in order to keep Eussia 
 to her self-denying engagements. 
 
 The Duke has received a note from La Ferronays to 
 the same effect. The Duke read the draft of his 
 
CONDITION OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE. 41 
 
 answer, which was much like Dudley's paper, as re- 
 garded the necessary effects of allowing the Eussians to 
 invade Turkey. The Duke thinks a Eussian army 
 entering Turkey with the sanction of France and Eng- 
 land would encourage insurrections everywhere, and 
 create a state of things which would lead to the dis- 
 solution of the Ottoman Empire, and to irremediable 
 confusion. 
 
 It seems it is not properly a manifesto of the Tur- 
 kish Government ; but a speech read to the feudatories, 
 which some scribes of the Fanar reduce to writing 
 from memory as well as they can afterwards. There 
 are two versions of this. The most moderate is that in 
 the ' Moniteur,' the other is that received by Esterhazy. 
 These are not official documents. In 1821 and again in 
 1823 there were speeches made of violent character, 
 but having no consequences, which Lord Strangford 
 did not send home, knowing them to be unofficial. 
 This circumstance the French do not seem to have 
 known. 
 
 Cabinet. The Duke's answer to La Ferronays' letter 
 decided upon. 
 
 Dudley is to answer Lieven's paper, put a new head- 
 piece to the English project which is to be divided from 
 the answer to Nesselrode, and answer La Ferronays' dis- 
 patch to Eoth by two o'clock to-morrow. He will 
 hardly be able to do it aU, for he works slowly. I have 
 had half a mind to offer to recast the Duke's letter into 
 an official answer to La Ferronays' letter to Eoth, but 
 I am afraid of appearing to encroach upon Dudley's 
 duties. I am not sure I should like to be Foreign Sec- 
 
42 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 retary, and have so much of the business taken out of 
 my hands as is taken out of Dudley's by the Duke. Yet 
 if I were Prime Minister I should do just what the 
 Duke does. 
 
 I told the Duke I was afraid he would make some 
 of our best friends dissatisfied if he used such language 
 as he did last night, saying he had not any political 
 hostihty to Mr. Canning. 
 
 February 26. 
 
 Stratford Canning is come. He will not be sent back 
 again. I think our best friends much dissatisfied with 
 the Duke's speech. 
 
 I hear Planta did not send out the notes for the dit 
 vision to-night till yesterday evening, so that there was 
 a general idea it was not to be made a Government 
 question, and many men having dissenting constituents 
 have pledged themselves. Others are not coming up. 
 On the other side there is a perfect whip. I told the 
 Duke this at dinner at Lord Londonderry's, and he was 
 much annoyed. 
 
 February 27. 
 
 '-The Committee for considering the repeal of that 
 part of the Corporation and Test Acts which imposes 
 the Sacramental Test, was carried against Grovernment 
 last night by a majority of 44. The numbers being 
 193 and 237. It was clear from the beginning of the 
 evening that Government would be in a minority, and 
 even as it was many of their friends voted very reluc- 
 tantly with them. The debate was dull. 
 
 Went to the Lodge to a Council. Met there Lord 
 
DINJ^ER AT LORD BATHURST's. 43 
 
 Melville, Peel, Lambe, Palmerston, Lord Maryborouo-h. 
 Dudley came late with Stratford Canning. The King 
 had a conference of two hours with Peel before the 
 Council on the division of last night. 
 
 Cabinet dinner at Lord Bathurst's. After dinner 
 we talked of the course to be pursued as to the Test 
 and Corporation Acts. Nothing was decided ; but Sir 
 T. Acland threw out last night that an annual suspen- 
 sion of the Sacramental Test would be better than an 
 annual indemnity ; and Peel seems to catch at this as a 
 mode of getting out. It seems some of the influential 
 bishops will agree to this. 
 
 The difficulty is to pass so modified a Bill through 
 the Commons as we can carry through the Lords with- 
 out displeasing our best friends. 
 
 The more I think of the repeal the more injury I 
 think it will do the Cathohc cause. 
 
 We had on the table some papers sent by Codring- 
 ton. A letter of his for which he ought to be recalled ; 
 it is so like a partisan. 
 
 February 28. 
 
 Eead the last dispatches of Ottenfels, from Con- 
 stantinople, dated January 10. Prince Esterhazy sent 
 them to me. The Turks seem to have lost their heads 
 from a sense of danger, but they are resolved to meet 
 the danger hke brave men. They consider that the 
 cession of the Morea would lead to general insurrection, 
 and that the Allied Powers desire the destruction of the 
 Turkish Empire. 
 
 Eead at the Cabinet room Sir P. Adam's account of 
 
44 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 his interview with Ibrahim Pasha at Modon. Ibrahim 
 acknowleclo^ed the correctness of the observations made 
 by Adam upon his position and danger. Said he was 
 ready to leave the Morea if ordered to , do so by 
 Mehemet Ah, the Pasha of Egypt, who Avould not order 
 him to do so, without the consent of the Porte. For 
 himself lie said that what he most desired was military 
 glory, and he was determined to preserve his mihtary 
 honour. He was a faithful servant of the Porte, and 
 held his life at the Sultan's service. All the expressions 
 used by him do him honour, and it is humiliating to 
 see an Englisli officer obliged to ask a Turkish Pasha 
 to do what the Turk thinks, and the Englishman allows 
 to be, inconsistent with his honour as a soldier. This 
 is but one of the consequences of the fatal treaty. 
 
 I liad some conversation with Lord Grey about the 
 Test and Corporation Acts. He thinks that to gain the 
 principle established by the repeal would, of itself, be of 
 more use to the Catholics than the votes of the Dissen- 
 ters they may lose. 
 
 I cannot help thinking the repeal will injure the 
 Catholics. 
 
 I dined with Dudley. He read to me his reply to 
 Prince Lieven, wliich is pretty good, but he is a slow 
 worker. He has not yet replied to La Ferronays' 
 letter to Eoth. La Ferronays seems to agree as to 
 the effect of invading Turkey, but he thinks it better 
 that Eussia should do so with the sanction of the 
 AUies than by herself The Duke thinks the insurrec- 
 tion will be encouraged by the idea that the three 
 Powers have resolved on the destruction of the Ottoman 
 
RUSSIAN PREPARATIONS. 45 
 
 Empire. As to the self-denying ordinance, Eussia will 
 hardly be able to adhere to it, even should she be 
 inclined, which I do not believe. 
 
 February 29. 
 
 Peel seems to have lost his temper last night in the 
 House of Commons. Lord Milton said what was very 
 provoking. Peel endeavoured to get a Httle delay for 
 the purpose of consideration. It was refused, and he 
 did not divide, but seceded. 
 
 Cabinet at 2. Dudley's answer to Lieven read. It 
 is excellent. We talked a good deal about what took 
 place last night, and what was to be done in the Lords. 
 The Corn Bill is to be considered on Monday next. 
 
 Lord Eldon means to oppose the repeal on the same 
 grounds on which he has always done so. 
 
 A dispatch of Disbrowe's, from Petersburg, says 
 the Eussians are to have three corps cVarmee on the 
 Pruth, and expect to be at Constantinople in three 
 or four weeks. Witgenstein commands in chief. Woron- 
 zoifhas one of the corps. Diebitch is chef cVetat Major, 
 and will really direct under the Emperor. The general 
 commanding on the side of Persia has only 14,000 dis- 
 posable men, a force not considered sufficient to march 
 upon Trebizonde, but some diversion will be made on 
 the Asiatic frontier. The peace with Persia is not yet 
 signed. The general, Paskewitch, is unwilhng to con- 
 clude it, and wants more money. However, it will be 
 concluded, the Persians paying 1,800,000/. The Per- 
 sian Empire is represented as falHng to pieces. An 
 
46 DIAKY. 1828. 
 
 English officer, Macdonald, has been very instrumental 
 in bringing about an arrangement. ,-: 
 
 March 1. 
 
 Eead Macdonald's diary and dispatches. Offers 
 seem to have been made by the principal people in 
 all the provinces of Persia to place the Empire under 
 English protection. The Eussian General Paske witch 
 has 8,000 infantry, 7,000 very bad cavalry, and 1,000 
 artillery, with sixty guns at Tabreez. This army may 
 altogether consist of 20,000 men. It seems to be 
 wretchedly appointed in horses. All the chief officers 
 spoke freely of their despotic Government, and against 
 that and the service. I had heard before that the late 
 Emperor sent all the corps most infected by Liberal 
 principles to the Caucasus. The losses of the Eussians 
 there have been very great. Macdonald's account is 
 very curious, and worked up ri la ' Walter Scott.' 
 
 March 3. 
 
 In the House Lord Clifden began a talk about the 
 Test and Corporation Acts, which Lords Eedesdale and 
 Calthorpe took up. Dudley wishes to have the Acts 
 repealed. The Chancellor seems to me to wish so 
 too. Aberdeen, Huskisson, Pahnerston, and Melville 
 and Grant would, I should think, be the same way. 
 The Duke is adverse. Peel indifferent. Goulburn 
 rather for and against. Bathurst against repeal. Herries 
 I do not know. By-the-bye it is said Herries is very 
 unwell, and Huskisson too. 
 
THE eecorder's repoet. 47 
 
 The Bisliop of London ^ would be satisfied with a de- 
 claration or oath for the maintenance of the Church. 
 So would my uncle. ^ 
 
 The Duke is to see the Archbishop and the Bishops 
 of Durham and Chester on the subject. 
 
 It seems to me that our object should be to settle 
 the question. I care not how. 
 
 March 5. 
 
 Council at 3. Eecorder's report. The first I have 
 attended. The Duke of Buccleuch and Lord Eosslyn were 
 sworn in as Scotch Lord-Lieutenants. The appointment 
 of Lord Eosslyn gives offence to Lord Elgin and Lord 
 Leven, both having larger estates in the country, but it 
 was quite right to give the Lord-Lieutenancy to Lord 
 Eosslyn. I never cease regretting he is not in the 
 Cabinet. The King seemed souffrant fiom. the first ; but 
 he was placed in a thorough air in a very cold room, 
 which chilled even me who was nearest the fire. He 
 fell asleep, and latterly seemed really ill. The Duke 
 fell asleep, too, and looked like death. 
 
 The Duke of Leeds, Lords Winchester and Conyng- 
 ham stood behind the King's chair. The Eecorder sits 
 on the King's right hand on a stool. 
 
 We dined with the Chancellor. He gave us a good 
 dinner, and bad plate. The Duke had so bad a cold he 
 could not dine with us ; neither did Lord Melville nor 
 Mr. Herries. 
 
 After dinner we had some conversation on the sub- 
 
 ^ Dr. Howley, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury. 
 - George Law, Bishop of Bath and Wells. 
 
48 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 ject of tlie instructions to be sent by the Plenipoten- 
 tiaries of the AUies to the Admirals, and of the instruc- 
 tions to be given to Sir F. Adam. Of the last, read by 
 Huskisson, I entirely approved. 
 
 Dudley's proposed instructions by no means met 
 with general concurrence. It was suggested that they 
 should be remodelled on the plan of Huskisson. 
 
 March 6. 
 
 I made a draft of instructions to the Admirals on 
 the plan of Huskisson's, and sent it to Dudley. On 
 going to the Cabinet I found he had given his paper to 
 be remodelled by Huskisson. This paper was read and 
 after discussion approved. The Duke was not present, 
 being still ill. I called to inquire liow the King was, 
 and was told he was quite well. The manner of the 
 porter seemed to say. Why do you ask ? 
 
 The Consul at Alexandria, Barker, says the Turkish 
 fleet brought 5,500 slaves. The Captain of the Pelinus 
 says 675. It was proposed that we should endeavour 
 to get these slaves back, and agreed to ; but we are 
 not to assume a tone of war or menace. 
 
 Huskisson read a dispatch to Codrington, which, 
 after stating the passage of forty-five sail of Turkish and 
 Egyptian vessels from Navarino to Alexandria without 
 interruption (of which forty-five thirty were vessels of 
 war), refers Codrington to his instructions of October 16, 
 and desires him to transmit forthwith a detailed state- 
 ment of the orders he had issued in consequence, and 
 of the measures he has adopted for preventing the pas- 
 sage of Turkish and Egyptian ships from port to port. 
 
CABINET ON RUSSIAN AFFAIRS. 49 
 
 March 9. 
 
 Cabinet at 4. We were to have considered a new 
 Corn Bill, but Dudley began by suggesting a relaxation 
 of some strict resolutions not to allow the Eussians to 
 cross the Pruth. The French seem to wish to permit 
 the occupation of the Principalities by a small force ^ and 
 to this Dudley seemed to be inclined to accede, under 
 the idea that it might prevent the Eussians from going 
 further. 
 
 The Duke objected. His objections rested on prin- 
 ciple. We desired to effect the objects of the treaty in 
 the least dangerous and most direct manner, and to keep 
 within the treaty. I thought that by yielding at all we 
 gave the grounds of argument for further concession 
 and inducement to demand it. We gave up principle, 
 and made a case for further concession on the facts. It 
 was determined to adhere to our original answer. 
 
 It was considered whether Codrington should be re- 
 called. Huskisson's proposed letter, with some correc- 
 tions made by himself, was decided upon, and the letter 
 is to be shown to Lieven and Polignac. 
 
 The proposed joint instructions to Sir E. Codrington 
 and the others are in the hands of the Plenipotentiaries. 
 I^think the result of the letter to Codrington must be his 
 recall. Lord Exmouth will be sent. 
 
 The Duke proposed that we should reduce the 
 ' vague extreme ' of the treaty to specification (the 
 French having desired us to do so), and his idea was — 
 
 1. That the new Greece should be confined to the 
 Morea. 
 
 VOL. I. E 
 
50 DIAEY. 1828. 
 
 2. That 200,000/. a year should be fixed as the 
 annual sum to be paid to the Ottoman Government as 
 compensation for the revenue, and 2,500,000/. in one 
 sum as compensation for property. ^ 
 o '■ 3. That the Ottoman Government should select one 
 of three names as the chief of the new State. 
 
 Some (Palmerston, Dudley, Grant, and, I think, Hus- 
 kisson) were for a more extended limit than the Morea. 
 
 It was settled at last that Dudley should, in a confer- 
 ence upon another subject to-morrow, feel his way, 
 and find how far the Plenipotentiaries, if he projDOsed 
 any plan, were empowered to accede to it ; and, further, 
 should throw out that this was a matter which, under 
 the treaty, must sooner or later have been decided by 
 all the Plenipotentiaries, and therefore not one upon 
 which they have a right to call for the projet of any 
 one Power. 
 
 As to the compensation for revenue, he might sug- 
 gest the average of the seven years before the war; and 
 as to that for property, it could only be referred to 
 Commissioners on the spot. 
 
 Thus the Duke was, for the present, overruled. 
 He looks ill still. 
 
 , Wliile we were talking came dispatches from Corfu, 1 
 which Huskisson and Dudley had not time to read at 
 length ; but it seems that Colonel Cradock's mission to 
 Egypt has failed altogether, Mehemet Ah saying he is a 
 subject of the Porte, and must take his orders from 
 Constantinople. 
 
 Capo dTstrias has been received well at Egina. He 
 is in the greatest difficulty. There is no money, and the 
 
CORN BILL. 51 
 
 whole population of Napoli di Eomania, lately the seat 
 of government, has fled to the islands, the forts being in 
 the possession of men who do not acknowledge the Go- 
 vernment. Upon this disclosure, which I was aware of 
 before, Peel exclaimed at the state in which we are 
 placed. Should the Porte accede to all we demand, 
 how can we ever establish a regular Government in 
 Greece ? and what quarrels between the three Powers 
 in consequence of this undivided and tripartite posses- 
 sion of the Morea ? 
 
 March 10. 
 
 Cabinet at 3. Grant proposed his Corn Bill. The 
 only relaxation he proposed of the Bill of last year was 
 a diminution of duty shilling by shilling^ instead of two 
 shillings for one from 625. to 66.?. imperial. 
 
 The Duke proposed a duty of 30^. at 55^. Winches- • 
 ter diminishing shilling by shilling to 65<s., and then 
 more rapidly so as to expire at 72^. 
 
 Huskisson was wiUing that, if 200,000 quarters 
 should be entered for home consumption in any twelve 
 successive weeks, during which time the average price 
 should be below 64s., the duty should be increased one- 
 fourth during the six weeks following, provided the 
 price did not rise to 665. 
 
 Grant rather objected to this. 
 
 Thus the diflerence is very wide. Peel is rather for 
 the Bill of last year. This we cannot agree to who 
 opposed it in the Lords ; indeed we could not carry it. 
 However, Peel would adopt the Duke's proposition. 
 
 The House was full, there being a general idea that 
 
 E 2 
 
52 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 there would be a message to communicate a Eussian 
 declaration of war. 
 
 Aberdeen, with whom I walked home, seemed to 
 think Dudley, who has seemed to give in on the subject 
 of the Greek treaty, showed a different disposition yes- 
 terday, and was inclined to make a point of authorising 
 the entrance of the Eussians into the Principalities. I 
 do not think so. He seems to me to have gone on very 
 heartily with us, and he easily gave up his crotchet. 
 
 Cabinet at 3. We should have begun at once on 
 corn, but Dudley first wanted the opinion of the Cabi- 
 net on some points in the proposed instructions to the 
 Admirals. We then began on corn, and made no pro- 
 gress at all. > 
 
 I do not see how this is to end. Huskisson will go 
 out if the pivot is changed. He cannot agree to the 
 Duke's proposal. Grant is with Huskisson. Peel is 
 satisfied with the Bill of last year. Lord Melville seems 
 so too. Goulburn, Palmerston, and Dudley, I think, 
 incline for the old Bill ; Aberdeen, Bathurst, and I are 
 with the Duke. The Chancellor has not attended ; 
 Herries seems rather indifferent ; but certainly we seem 
 in a minority, and as Peel is the other w^ay our position 
 is awkward. I shall propose to-morrow an alteration 
 in Huskisson's clause, which mil make it more effi- 
 cacious. The Duke seems annoyed. Our position is 
 difficult, mine in particular. I opposed the Bill of last 
 year altogetlier. The others did not. I was wilhng to 
 agree to make 64.?. the pivot, rather than not pass any 
 Bill last year ; but below that I would not go. 
 
 The Duke depends on the agricultural interest. On 
 
THE CORN BILL. 53 
 
 the Corn Bill Lords Grey, Eosslyn, Lauderdale, and 
 others are with the Tories. 
 
 JIarch 12. 
 
 Before I went to the Cabinet I saw the Duke and 
 asked him what he meant to do. He said he should 
 adhere to his own plan. I told him, as I understood 
 it, I thought I could hardly agree to Huskisson's clause 
 with the Bill of last year. 
 
 Li Cabinet an explanation was given of Huskisson's 
 clause. It seems that it would be called into opera- 
 tion as soon as it should appear that 200,000 quar- 
 ters had been sold in the course of twelve weeks, during 
 which the average price should have been at or below 
 645. imperial, and once called into operation it would 
 last at least six weeks, and beyond that time, till the 
 average had been 66s. for six weeks ; that is, it might 
 be permanent. 
 
 The whole Cabinet, with the exception of the Duke, 
 acceded to this. The Duke has given up his idea of 
 half-a-crown on leaving the warehouses, in addition to 
 the duty fixed by the Act. 
 
 Lieven last night communicated to Dudley the Eus- 
 sian declaration of war against Turkey. It is motive 
 not only upon the closing of the Bosphorus and the 
 making of the Treaty of Akerman, but upon the Turks 
 having induced the King of Persia not to ratify the 
 treaty, and having marched troops on the Eussian 
 
 flank. 
 
 The Emperor declares he will continue the war till 
 he has received indemnity for all his losses, and for 
 
54 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 these hostile acts ; and if the Allies icill act in the man- 
 ner demanded of them in his projet^ he will then act 
 towards Greece according to the existing treaty ; other- 
 wise, as he thinks accords best with his own interests 
 and convenances. 
 
 The Duke saw the Prince de Polignac, and told him 
 he did not apprehend much mischief if France and 
 England would act together. Polignac assented. The 
 Duke thought Eussia gave up the treaty. Polignac 
 said not entirely. The Duke said, ' That is, one of the 
 parties to a tripartite treaty declares that, unless the 
 other two will act according to her dictates, she wiU 
 give up the treaty.' To this Polignac assented. 
 
 March 13. 
 
 When we separated last night there seemed every 
 prospect of the Government being broken up. The Duke 
 would not yield, tliough all were against him. I went 
 at 12 to-day to Peel. He thought I should see the 
 Duke. 
 
 Aberdeen, Melville, and Bathurst, whom I saw at 
 the Cabinet room, thought so too. I went and found 
 him disinclined to accede to the proposition I had 
 grounded on Peel's and Huskisson's, though I showed 
 him it gave more than the agriculturists themselves 
 asked in the Commons last year, more than he asked 
 below 665. (that is, after the introduction of 300,000 
 quarters), and a practical advance of 85. (under the 
 circumstances) upon the duty as proposed last year. 
 
 He renewed his proposition, which I modified in this 
 way. 1 closed with his idea that, as a basis, Grant's 
 
MR. HUSKISSON. 55 
 
 plan might be adopted (which makes the duty diminish 
 Is. for Is. for four turns after 62^. imperial), and sug- 
 gested that, after 200,000 quarters had been entered in 
 twelve weeks, during which the aggregate average had 
 been below 645. imperial, 55. additional duty should be 
 laid on. This he acceded to. 
 
 I took this to Huskisson, and succeeded in obtaining 
 his agreement, with the slight alteration in his original 
 clause, that the duty should cease when for twelve 
 weeks (commencing after the imposition of the duty) 
 the aggregate average price had been above 645. 
 
 The original proposal was that it should cease when 
 for six weeks the average had been at or above 665. 
 
 The only difficulty is with Grant, who doubts whether 
 he can propose this plan to the House of Commons. 
 
 I must say Huskisson has behaved very fairly, and 
 has made great concessions. The Duke thought yester- 
 day that there was an indisposition to make any conces- 
 sions to him, and a desire to demand them of him, and 
 he said to me, to-day, ' This shows how imprudent it is 
 to coalesce with those with whom there have been recent 
 subjects of difference.' 
 
 Huskisson said he was willing to make great conces- 
 sions, and to expose himself to much attack, rather than 
 break up the Government on such a point at such a 
 time. 
 
 Dudley, whom I met in the Park after the House 
 was up, was both surprised and delighted to hear the 
 matter seemed likely to be arranged. 
 
56 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 March 14. 
 
 Eeceived a note from Grant, stating that at present 
 lie did not think he could propose in the House of Com- 
 mons either Huskisson's amendment, or that which I 
 took to the Duke yesterday. 
 
 Eeceived a letter from the Duke expressing his re- 
 luctant consent to the plan agreed to yesterday by Hus- 
 kisson, but adding that it was very imjwrtant to make 
 the high duty cease on the conditions contained in 
 Huskisson's proposition, not on those contained in the 
 plan agreed to yesterday. 
 
 I went to Huskisson and endeavoured to persuade 
 him to accede to this ; but he, having in the meantime 
 seen Grant, had ascertained there would be great diffi- 
 culty in getting him to agree to either ; instead of con- 
 ceding what I asked, he seemed disposed to wish to go 
 back from what he agreed to yesterday ; but I would 
 not let him. I failed in inducing him to make any con- 
 cession. I then went to the Duke ; used every argu- 
 ment in my power, but could do nothing with him. 
 Aberdeen, Bathurst, Melville, and the Chancellor and 
 Dudley are all very much annoyed. In fact, the point 
 in dispute is worth nothing. I am not sure some far- 
 mers would not prefer the plan Huskisson agrees to 
 that the Duke wishes to have. It might certainly be 
 more beneficial to them under certain circumstances. 
 
 After dinner I wrote to Peel, Grant, and Huskisson. 
 It will not be my fault if we break to pieces. 
 
 Aberdeen thinks Huskisson will not stay in if Grant 
 goes out, and that Dudley would go with Huskisson. 
 
THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON. 57 
 
 The King is said to have been abusing us all to the 
 Duke of Devonshire ; and Aberdeen and Bathurst think 
 the King will send for Lord Lansdowne at once. 
 
 The Duke has been ill all the week. He is disap- 
 pointed at not carrying his own plan at once. He feels 
 he is looked up to by the great landed interest, and he 
 is afraid of being reproached by his friends. He thought 
 a strong Corn Bill would give us a weight in the House 
 and the country and strengthen the Administration. 
 He imagines Huskisson and the others will make no 
 concessions and expect them from him. In fact, they 
 have made great concessions, and, I believe, really wish 
 to keep the Government together. They have behaved 
 very fairly. If we break up, it will be the Duke's fault, 
 and his agricultural friends will be furious. The new 
 Government would force a worse Bill upon the country. 
 The Duke thinks they could not ; but he is mistaken, 
 and overcalculates his strength. He has only been ap- 
 proached by those who think as he does upon the Corn 
 question, and he mistakes their voice for that of the 
 nation. However, I beheve pubhc opinion is less favour- 
 able to the Bill than it was. 
 
 March 15. 
 
 Cabinet at 3. The Duke gave up his objection to 
 the clause as agreed to by Huskisson ; but, Huskisson 
 acknowledging he was bound by it, argued against it, 
 and said that, if Grant did not agree to it, he could 
 not. Indeed, generally he said he could support nothing 
 Grant did not feel he could propose, and must go out 
 if Grant did. 
 
58 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 Grant was very obstinate ; but Peel and Huskisson 
 told him they were as much responsible as he was for 
 
 the Bill of last year, Huskisson more so, and ^ more 
 
 so still. ' 
 
 Peel suggested, in order to obviate one of Grant's 
 objections, that, instead of adding ds. throughout, 
 Is. bd. should be added to the duty ; and, in order to 
 get rid of another objection, it was agreed that the new 
 duty should cease if the aggregate average price for, say, 
 six consecutive weeks, commencing after the imposition 
 of the duty, should not rise to ^^s. before December 
 31 next ensuing. This was to prevent the duty lasting, 
 as it might, for years. The other change was to prevent 
 the fall of duty being too sudden at last. ,7 
 
 Grant has taken these plans into consideration, and 
 I conclude we shall agree now. 
 
 I had some conversation at dinner with Gosford, 
 Camden, Stanhope, Falmouth, and the Duke of New- 
 castle, on the Corn Bill and politics generally. I find 
 much is expected — a change of pivot to 67. 
 
 The Duke of Newcastle seemed more reasonable 
 than the others, and talked more sense. 
 
 I should say, from what I heard from all these peers, 
 and particularly from Camden, who is very moderate, 
 and Gosford, who voted for the Bill last year, that we 
 cannot propose to one House less than we seem now to 
 agree upon, without creating much dissatisfaction, and 
 perhaps losing the Bill. .,. 
 
 ^ A name omitted in the Diary. 
 
 :.,4 
 
THE TREATY OF LONDON. 59 
 
 March 16. 
 
 Cabinet at 4. In the morning I sent to Lord 
 Bathurst and the Duke a clause I had drawn out for the 
 additional duty of 16*. oc?., and wrote a note to the 
 Duke to explain the mistake I had fallen into in suppos- 
 ing 5^. had been agreed to. The Duke wrote in answer 
 that he was much surprised, and had imagined bs. had 
 been acceded to. On asking the different members of 
 the Cabinet, I found most had thought 1^. bd. had been 
 agreed to. 
 
 Huskisson seems inchned to back out of this too. 
 First he agreed to 56*. ; yesterday to Is. bd., and now 
 he says 20^. is too high a price at 665. imperial. 
 
 I do not think the Duke will make any further con- 
 cessions, and I do not feel inclined to make any. It 
 must be settled to-morrow. 
 
 After that we talked about the Eussian war. I 
 strongly urged the expediency of declaring the Treaty 
 of London to be at an end whenever Eussia issued her 
 manifesto, on the ground that, being at war, she could 
 not give a joint instruction. Besides she has plainly 
 declared that, if we will not agree to the mode of opera- 
 tion she proposes, she will not consider herself bound 
 by the stipulations of the treaty ; and the real object 
 we had from the beginning having been the prevention 
 of a Eussian war, the commencement of that war makes 
 the attainment of that object quite impossible, and there- 
 fore absolves us from the obligation of the treaty. 
 However, I did not find the others agree with me. 
 
 I said our object now should be to get back our 
 
60 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 Ministers to Constantinople, and to connect ourselves 
 with France for the purpose of checking the advance of 
 Eussia by our joint influence. Absolved from the strict 
 obligations of the treaty, we are still morally bound by 
 our language to Greece and to Turkey. We must pur- 
 sue the same object, that of the pacification of Greece, 
 but in the spirit of peace and conciliation in which the 
 treaty was formed. 
 
 Dudley and the Chancellor seemed to think with me 
 that the declaration of war by Prussia would absolve us 
 from the treaty as regards Eussia. I doubt how far it 
 would as regards France. 
 
 France seems disposed to go all lengths with Eussia. 
 The change of Government there has been most unfor- 
 tunate. The Chambers are masters of the country. 
 The King is unpopular, and has no power ; the Ultras 
 desh^e war to strengthen their Government, the Bona- 
 partists to regain what France has lost. I believe they 
 will send troops to Greece. If they act by themselves, 
 the treaty will be quite broken. 
 
 March 17. 
 
 Cabinet at 3 on Corn. Agreement of all except 
 Grant on the plan of adding Is. 6d. to the duty on 
 Grant's scale. Grant still obstinate. If he goes out 
 Huskisson will. I now think Grant's going out, even if 
 followed by Huskisson's, would do no harm. Grant 
 would not return for some time. Huskisson would 
 come back in six months. I dare say Lord Bathurst 
 would hold his office" for him for that time with the 
 Presidency of the Council. 
 
GEEEK AFFAIRS. 61 
 
 At 10 we had another Cabinet on Greek affairs. I 
 wrote in the course of the day a paper containing my 
 views on the subject, and, to put them more clearly, a 
 draft of a reply to Nesselrode's letter, and of a letter to 
 Polignac. What was settled was this, that we should 
 say to Eussia in effect, ' We are very sorry you are 
 going to war. We will not. We refer you to what we 
 have already said on that subject. We do not see how 
 you, who are going to war, can co-operate with us who 
 will not go to war ; but we do not admit that your 
 going to war absolves you from the self-denying obh- 
 gations you have contracted with us. We are as desirous 
 as ever of accomphshing the objects of the treaty, and 
 we will endeavour to concert with France measures for 
 that purpose.' 
 
 It was determined at the Cabinet in the morning 
 that a Bill should be brought in authorising the giving 
 to the son of Mr. Canning the pension his father had 
 but never enjoyed. The Duke inclined to leaving the 
 measure in the hands of Spring Eice. I suggested it 
 should be taken up by the Government, and this will 
 be done. It is but a matter of common justice. 
 
 The worst possible accounts have been received to- 
 night from Lisbon. The English troops will have begun 
 to embark on the 11th. Their saihng will be the signal 
 for violent reaction. Villa Eeal has no hopes. 
 
 March 18. 
 
 Found Aberdeen at the Cabinet room. He did not 
 know whether Grant yielded or not ; nor did anybody 
 in the House. 
 
62 ^ DIARY. 1828. 
 
 Lamb has written doleful accounts of the state of 
 things at Lisbon, but he states no facts. It is all panic. 
 He has taken upon himself to detain the troops, that is, 
 3,000. The rest are gone, three regiments to the Medi- 
 terranean, and the cavalry and artillery horses. The 
 3,000 others left have only four guns. 
 
 We had a Cabinet at 10. At first all seemed for 
 withdrawing the troops immediately, till Huskisson 
 came in, and endeavoured to persuade us to keep them 
 there. He said we should do so for the protection of 
 the Constitutionalists to whom toe had promised our sup- 
 port^ and for the security of British property. In fact 
 he made an insidious attempt to obtain a continuance of. 
 Canning's policy. We had a skirmish. At last it was 
 carried that the troops should return in forty-eight' 
 hours ; that a line-of-battle ship should remain, and 
 the marines (300) keep fort St. Juhan, while the ship 
 remained. That the strongest language should be used 
 to Miguel. ■■" 
 
 The objections I felt and stated to keeping the troops 
 were, that they were not enough to act with effect, ' 
 even had they a right to interfere, and orders to do so. 
 That to interfere would be in violation of our declared 
 pohcy, and unwarrantable. That such interference 
 would lead to the continued occupation of the Spanish 
 fortresses by French troops. That it was impossible 
 to see all the consequences of the measures, and it was 
 most dangerous to take a first step witliout being able 
 to see our way to the second and third. 
 
 We went to Portugal to execute a treaty. We had 
 
THE PORTUGUESE QUESTION. 63 
 
 no right to promise our support to the Constitu- 
 tionahsts. 
 
 Sir F. Lamb reasoned against the troops remaining 
 on the 8th, and detained them on the 12th. He seems 
 quite panic-struck, and has fallen into the hands of the 
 Constitutionahsts . 
 
 Palmerston said if we allowed the Constitution to be 
 overthrown, we should appear to have been so many 
 dupes. I said I did not believe there were three dupes 
 in England. Dudley, who was on the other side, there 
 being some noise at the time, thought I said he had 
 been a dupe and was very angry. He desired to know 
 why he was a dupe ? &c. It was some time before the 
 noise allowed of his hearing. I had said the reverse of 
 what he supposed. 
 
 In fact I think he has done all that could be done to 
 maintain the tranquillity of Portugal by maintaining its 
 existing institutions. The perfidy of Miguel, if he be 
 perfidious, of which we have as yet no proof, is an ele- 
 ment over which we had no control. I always expected 
 the Constitution would be practically overthrown. 
 
 Huskisson receives communications of which he 
 makes use, which he does not lay before the Cabinet. I 
 imagine that the chief business of his office is conducted 
 through private letters, a bad practice which has 
 recently grown up, and which deprives a successor of 
 the knowledge he ought to possess. 
 
 March 19. 
 
 Cabinet dinner at Peel's. After dinner some conver- 
 sation about the mode of dealing with Penrhyn and East 
 
64 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 Eetford. Peel proposing the first for Manchester, the 
 V / second for the Hundreds. I only object to estabhsh- 
 ing a principle which may concede the necessity of 
 Parliamentary Eeform. Wliatever the Government 
 adopts in the Commons the Government should support 
 in the Lords ; but the Lords must first treat each ques- 
 tion judicially. 
 
 Peel does not much like his position in the Com- 
 mons. He is not sufficiently well supported. He will 
 fight anything, but then, he says, if he is defeated, he 
 will resififn. I said I thought there had seldom been 
 circumstances under which there was less of personal 
 pleasure in belonging to a Government ; but there had 
 seldom been circumstances under which to abandon the 
 administration on trifling grounds would have been 
 more criminal. The Corn question, the Kussian ques- 
 tion, and that of Portugal would all have been decided 
 differently had there been a Whig Government. 
 
 It is very odd Grant never shows himself. He says 
 nothing to the Duke. He was not at the last Cabinet, 
 nor at the dinner to-day. They think he will go out. 
 It would be a god-send for us if he would, and do more 
 than anything else to strengthen the Government. 
 
 March 20. 
 
 Grant has made no communication yet to the Duke 
 of Wellington. 
 
 In the House Lord Strangford asked some questions 
 of Dudley respecting the war between Brazil and 
 Buenos Ayres, which is a war maintained on both sides 
 solely for the purposes of piracy, under the name of 
 
CHARLES GRANT. 65 
 
 blockade. Lord Londonderry took occasion to attack 
 Canning's foreign policy. I walked home with Eosslyn, 
 who is very friendly to the Government. We talked 
 over Canning's legacies, 
 
 March 21. 
 
 Cabinet at 3. Dudley's answer to Lieven. Very 
 well written, but too long, and going into some unne- 
 cessary points. 
 
 The Duke has written a letter to Grant to bring the 
 matter of his staying in or going out to a point. 
 
 March 22. 
 
 Grant is not yet brought to a point, and his conduct 
 is most contradictory. He never comes to a Cabinet, 
 and yet he sits on the Treasury Bench, and was present 
 when there was some objection made to some business 
 coming on on Friday, the 28th, because Corn was lixed 
 for that day. There was only a majority of thirty-six 
 for throwing the representation of East Eetford into the 
 Hundred. This is not agreeable. 
 
 Cabinet at 4. We finished Dudley's paper. He 
 writes well, but he never embraces the whole reasoning 
 at one grasp of the mind. He ^mtes one day what is 
 inconsistent with what he wrote ten days before. His 
 papers give a great deal of trouble. In this paper he 
 has omitted the strongest point. He wanted to insert a 
 sort of defence of the Treaty of London, a defence cer- 
 tainly gratuitous in a paper addressed to Eussia. I am 
 afraid now that he will not argue the point of Eussia 
 being pledged to abstain from conquest, high enough. 
 He is stran^j^elv obstinate sometimes. 
 
 VOL. L F 
 
66 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 March 23. 
 
 Wrote a note to Dudley, urging liim to introduce 
 the passages in Nesselrode's note of Dec. 25, which 
 pledge the Emperor to abstain from conquest dans 
 aucun hyjjothhe^ in extenso. He called upon me in the 
 course of the day, and I understood from him that 
 he had done so. He told me, in answer to a question, 
 that he thought Grant meant to holt ; but I gathered 
 from his expressions that he intended to stay. 
 
 Lord Stuart de Eothesay called upon me. He told 
 me the questions Lord Strangford j^ut to Dudley the 
 other night had no other object than that of raising the 
 price of Brazilian Stock, in which Lord Strangford has 
 invested all his property. Indeed Lord Strangford con- 
 fessed as much to Lord Stuart. Lord Stuart thoroughly 
 hates Canning, and so does every one who served under 
 him. 
 
 March 24, 
 
 Found Aberdeen at the Cabinet room. Walked 
 with him to the House. Met Lord Bathurst, who had 
 been to see the Duke, and found him well, notwith- 
 standing the accident he had on Saturday night. He 
 fell out of his cabriolet on his face and found it neces- 
 sary to be cupped. 
 
 Grant was waiting for an audience. He saw the 
 Duke yesterday, and l^rought some inadmissible pro- 
 position. Aberdeen asked Dudley about it, and rather 
 understood he meant to go out if Huskisson did, and 
 he said he must if Grant did. Aberdeen thinks we 
 have hardly a day to live, and that the King will take 
 
DISAFFECTION TO GOVERNMENT. 67 
 
 the first opportunity of turning the Duke out, and 
 getting back Lansdowne and Lord Carhsle. The worst 
 of it is that our friends are out of humour and go 
 away. They will not vote. Some of them wish us 
 to dissolve Parhament. They are all out of humour 
 with Peel. They think he does not take a line high 
 enough. I had a long talk with Falmouth and endea- 
 voured to soothe him. He is more out of humour than 
 any. Amongst other things he wished Penrhyn to be 
 thrown into the Hundred. They say we should have 
 had a better division for throwing East Eetford into the 
 Hundred if we had endeavoured to throw Penrhyn into 
 it too ; but the idea of a compromise cooled all our 
 people. 
 
 Dispatches of the 16th have been received from 
 Lamb. He seems to think both parties are in such a 
 fright that they are ready to run away, but the Consti- 
 tutionalists are most frightened. Miguel has dissolved 
 his Chambers, and has not instanter convoked a new 
 Chamber, which it seems is contrary to the foohsh 
 Charter. Lamb talks of forcible interference on our 
 parts, sanctioned, as he expects, by the rest of Europe, 
 as a matter of course ; at least a measure of policy and 
 honour. The fact is, he, on his arrival, fell into the 
 hands of the Constitutionalists, and has seen only with 
 
 their eyes. 
 
 March 25. 
 
 Cabinet at 3. Before the Cabinet entered upon 
 other business the Duke read a letter from Grant, noti- 
 fying his resignation. Huskisson will resign too. 
 Whether Dudley and Palmerston will is uncertain. 
 
 p 2 
 
68 DIAKY. 1828. 
 
 Probably they will. They have no excuse for doing so, 
 and will be scandalised in the House. 
 
 The Chancellor thinks the King will regret Dudley,> 
 but that he will hold to the Duke, and that the Govern- 
 ment will be recomposed. If it should be, it is doubtful 
 how we can get on in the House of Commons. 
 
 After we had received this communication, and the 
 Duke had expressed his regret, and Huskisson, in a low 
 tone of voice, spoke of the consequences, Palmerston 
 made a feeble attempt to reconcile the difference, which 
 is in itself small. Grant wishes the new duty to cease 
 in sixteen weeks. The Cabinet agreed it should cease 
 on the first of January. 
 
 We then proceeded to other business. France 
 withdraws her proposition to assist Eussia, and only 
 wishes to send a few troops that we may get Ibrahim 
 Pasha out of the Morea, and then speak with authority 
 to Eussia and Turkey, and unite with Austria and' 
 Prussia. A note is written to Granville expressive of 
 the wish of our Government to continue united with 
 France, and in another note lie will be desired to draw 
 out their opinions as to union with Austria and Prussia. 
 
 Codrington has instructions to decline acting with 
 Count Heyden, should he receive orders to act as a 
 belhgerent. We do business quickly as we come near 
 our dissolution. 
 
 Dined with Janet at the Duke's. The Duke and 
 Duchess of Clarence were to have dined there ; but the 
 Duke of Clarence has been ill the last few days. He 
 has a rupture. He is exhausted, but upon the whole 
 better. 
 
DlSAGREEMEiXT IX THE CABINET. 69 
 
 There were at dinner the two Peels, two Aberdeens, 
 Lady Westmeath, Lady G. Bathurst, Lord Bathurst, 
 Lord Beresford, Lord Hill, Sir Byam Martin, Sir George 
 Cockburn, Sii^ E. Owen, Dudley, the two Lyndhursts, 
 the two Arbuthnots. 
 
 After dinner we had some conversation about our 
 situation. Grant has written to Huskisson saying that, 
 as he heard nothing, he supposed the question was still 
 open, and proposed taking a duty of 235. at 625. impe- 
 rial, instead of 20^. Sd. This duty to fall and rise by 
 two shiUings. This duty would give less at 655. and 
 665. than he proposed before. 
 
 
 Grant. 
 
 
 Bill, 
 
 New Proposal 
 
 s. 
 
 
 ,«. d. 
 
 s. d. 
 
 >«. 
 
 62 
 
 
 20 8 
 
 20 8 
 
 23 
 
 63 
 
 
 19 8 
 
 18 8 
 
 21 
 
 64 
 
 
 18 8 
 
 16 8 
 
 19 
 
 65 
 
 
 17 8 
 
 14 8 
 
 17 
 
 66 
 
 
 16 8 
 
 12 8 
 
 15 
 
 Peel wrote to Huskisson, su<?<TestiniT that we micfht 
 still find a permanent duty which would be equivalent 
 to the plan the Cabinet had now determined on, and 
 more simple, and which Grant might accede to. 
 
 Huskisson is to see the Duke at eleven to-morrow 
 on this point. I do not expect they will come to an 
 agreement. If we are to break ofi*, we cannot break off 
 at a better point than where we are now. 
 
 The Chancellor is confident the King will be firm 
 and faithful to the Duke. If he be so the sooner we 
 break off" the better for us, and I hope Dudley and Pal- 
 merston will accompany Huskisson. Huskisson we shall 
 get back by himself at the end of the Session, If Hus- 
 .kisson alone went out, Lord Batlmrst would be Secretary 
 
70 DIAKY. 1828. 
 
 for the Colonies, and President till the end of the Session, 
 and the Board of Trade wonld be filled np permanently. 
 
 March 26. 
 
 Heard from the Chancellor in the House that nothing 
 was yet settled, Grant having till late on Friday left to 
 him to decide. 
 
 Lord Carlisle and others, have had a meeting at 
 Holland House. 
 
 Dudley told the King to-day in what a state we 
 were. This he had no right to do. To tell the King 
 the Cabinet differences, which have not yet had any 
 result, is either betise or treachery. The Chancellor 
 saw the King too, to-day. The Chancellor's only wish 
 is to keep Dudley in. 
 
 We dined at Huskisson's. Not a word said about 
 corn. The dinner excellent, and tres recherche. The 
 plate, &c., very handsome. 
 
 The House to adjourn only to Easter Monday week, 
 as the business is much in arrear. 
 
 March 27. 
 
 Called on the Duke at 11. Eode down to Downing 
 Street with him. He told me Huskisson agreed yester- 
 day to the proposal he made, which is that of making 
 the duty at 62^., Is. id., and rising and falling by Is. 
 Peel saw Grant yesterday, but made nothing of him. 
 Palmerston saw him to-day. 
 
 The Duke said he should speak to the King to-day, 
 as Dudley had done so. We thought when this was over 
 we should go on better, as Huskisson and the others 
 
INTERVIEW WITH THE KING. 71 
 
 must feel tliey could not act as a party, and say, 'There 
 are four of us.' The Duke will speak to Huskisson on 
 the subject. 
 
 I went over to the Cabinet room and began drawing 
 the resolutions. If Grant goes out they will not be 
 moved till Monday. I think they should not be moved 
 till after Easter, when the Government will be resettled, 
 and all our friends in London. The Duke seemed to 
 doubt whether Frankland Lewis would remain if Grant 
 went. I have no doubt of his staying, and he will do 
 the business better than Grant. 
 
 Went to the levee. The Duke had an audience, and 
 told the King in what state we were, saying he should 
 not have mentioned it unless he had known that Dudley 
 had spoken of it to His Majesty, as he was unwilling to 
 trouble hun with a difference which might have no 
 result. He reminded the King that Huskisson had not 
 stipulated for Grant, and that therefore there could be 
 no reason for his going out with him. He told the 
 King they would all support the Bill. The King said 
 then Huskisson might go out, support the Bill, and re- 
 turn. The Duke said he had rather not think yet of 
 the measures to be pursued if an event occurred which 
 he still hoped would not take place. The King seemed 
 satisfied. I saw him receive Huskisson very graciously, 
 and he seemed to desire him to remain to speak to him 
 after the levee. 
 
 Huskisson, the day before yesterday, wrote to Grant, 
 and told him his conduct would be the occasion of his 
 terminating his public life in bitterness. 
 
 Madame de Lieven says of Dudley's last paper that 
 
72 ' DIARY. 1828. 
 
 it was, ' tres peu satisfaisant et tres dilatoire.' Lieven, 
 wlien lie got it, took out his watch and said ' quinze- 
 jours ! ' 
 
 March 28. 
 
 Went at 3 to Downing Street. The Duke, whom 
 I saw, had not yet heard anything decided from Grant ; 
 but expected him to go out. Huskisson was to go to 
 the King at 3, to be talked into staying if Grant bolted 
 (this is Dudley's expression). At half after 3 the 
 Duke sent Goulburn to Grant to know his final deter- 
 mination. His answer was that he was too unwell to 
 bring forward the resolutions to-day, but that he would 
 on Monday. The Duke sent to me to tell me of this, 
 which surprised him very much, and I told Lord Bath- 
 urst and Aberdeen, and afterwards, in the House, the 
 Chancellor and Lord Melville. The Chancellor had 
 written to Huskisson at one, and had for answer that 
 Grant's mind when he last heard from him was in a 
 hopeless state. 
 
 I much regret this termination. I had rather lead 
 the Opposition than continue Privy Seal ; and if the 
 Canning leaven had gone out we should have gone 
 on so comfortably together, and have been so much 
 stronger. It was a great error ever to admit them. 
 The King has a weakness for Dudley, but pretended he 
 only wished to keep Huskisson. Dudley amuses the 
 King. 
 
 In the House there was much disappointment at the 
 Corn question being put off, and there was a report we 
 were all quarrelling about it. 
 
PRINCE DE POLIGNAC. 73 
 
 March 29. 
 
 The Duke dined with me, and told me he had had a 
 very satisfactory conversation with Pohgnac. The King 
 of France and the French Government entirely agree 
 with us that, if France and England continue united, 
 the invasion of Turkey by Eussia becomes comparatively 
 harmless. They now seem to intend to direct their 
 powers against Algiers, instead of the Morea. They 
 must be moving, and they care httle where. 
 
 I had some conversation with Arbuthnot after din- 
 ner. He thinks the Duke is much annoyed at the con- 
 duct of the four^ and will be very glad to get rid of 
 them, or to break their union, whenever he can. He 
 thinks Grant will resign at last. So do I, and I doubt 
 his bringing the question forward on Monday. I think 
 he will be indisposed. That Peel will do it, and when 
 he sees his retirement cannot bring with it the resigna- 
 tion of the others, he will go out. I think he can 
 hardly show his face in the Cabinet after all that has 
 passed. He has shown such weakness ! 
 
 ' I do not think Dudley is comfortable. The King 
 returned to the Cottage to-day. 
 
 Maixh 30. 
 
 Cabinet at 10. Neither Grant nor Huskisson there. 
 Aberdeen made an ineffectual attempt to have the duty 
 on oats raised. . , ' - 
 
 March 31. 
 
 In the House the Duke, in moving for papers relating 
 to corn, opened the new Bill. Upon the whole the 
 
74 DIARY. 1828« 
 
 feeling of the House was favourable to the plan. Gode- 
 rich expressed his wish to take the most favourable 
 view of the measure, feeling the necessity of settling the 
 question. This sentiment was cheered by Lansdowne. 
 Falmouth said he was disappointed. King was outra- 
 geous, and did no good by abuse of the measure. The 
 Duke of Newcastle, Delawarr, Salisbury, were satisfied. 
 So were others who voted for the Bill of 1827, not lik- 
 ing it. Lauderdale and Eosslyn do not seem satisfied. 
 Upon the whole things looked well. The Duke made a 
 very judicious speech, and said much in favour of the 
 agricultural interest. This soothed many who would 
 otherwise have been hostile. The Duke of Newcastle is 
 more reasonable than most of the Ultras. 
 
 x' April 1. 
 
 The Corn resolutions were moved by Grant in the 
 House last night, in a speech which concluded by a 
 foolish flourish about that great man Canning, and which 
 showed he proposed the duties contre gre. In short he 
 showed we had gained the victory. 
 
 The civil war in Mexico is over, the Vice-President 
 General Bonar, who was at the head of the insurrection, 
 being taken. A Bill was brought in, in order to try him 
 for treason, and carried, but by a small majority, and it 
 seems the people are surprised he is to be tried at all. 
 So natural are revolutions in that country that treason 
 is hardly considered a crime. 
 
 Peel told me the agriculturists were well satisfied in 
 the House of Commons. I met Grant at the Foreign 
 Office. I beheve he means to stay in altogether now. 
 
TREATY OF LOXDOX. 75 
 
 Ajjril 2. 
 
 The Turks have proclaimed an armistice for three 
 months to enable the Greeks to consider terms of sub- 
 mission offered to them. The Turks offer amnesty, re- 
 lief from taxes for a year to come, all former privileges, 
 &c. The Duke thinks much may be made of this, and 
 that it will at any rate prevent the intended expedition 
 of French troops to the Morea. I think the chief ad- 
 vantage is that it makes all co-operation on our side 
 with Eussia still more impossible than it was before. 
 
 After the Cabinet dinner, which the Duke gave, as 
 no one had sent out invitations, thinking, I suppose, that 
 the Government would break up, we heard a paper of 
 Dudley's, addressed to Prince de Polignac, proposing a 
 definition of the Treaty of London. There was a dispo- 
 sition on Huskisson's part to accede to a proposal of 
 Austria, received this day, to effect the entire independ- 
 ence of Greece, if the Turks refused to accede to our 
 propositions for a qualified independence. The Duke 
 declared he would not go beyond the treaty. We had 
 a good deal of discussion respecting the meaning of the 
 word suzeraineU. Some wished Greece should not fol- 
 low Turkey in peace and war. Huskisson wished to 
 give more than a commercial character to the agents of 
 Greece. However, we ended by keeping within the 
 treaty, and where we could not agree upon a defi- 
 nition we repeated the words of the treaty, and left 
 it as obscure and as vague as before. 
 
 Huskisson reproduced a suggestion he made a week 
 ago, that the clause of the Foreign Enlistment Bill 
 
76 DIARY. 18:^8. 
 
 • 
 
 should be repealed, which prevents shipbiiildmg for 
 foreign Powers. I hate the whole Foreign Enlistment 
 Bill, but I believe it is a right measure. The Duke 
 objected to the proposed amendment, and at half-past 
 twelve I left him and Huskisson with a few others still 
 talking upon the subject. It seems Mr. Palmer intends 
 to put a question on the subject. There are orders from 
 Egypt and Algiers, &c., to the extent of 500,000^., 
 which cannot be executed as the Act stands. 
 
 Grant reappeared at the Cabinet dinner. I think 
 the Duke is disappointed at his remaining, and heartily 
 repents having ever brought him and the Canningites 
 into his Cabinet. I wish they were out. 
 
 April 3. 
 
 I sat as a Commissioner to give the Eoyal assent to 
 some bills. While I was there the Chancellor said to 
 me, ' We should have no Cabinets after dinner. We all 
 drink too much wine, and are not civil to each other. 
 Last night Huskisson went away much annoyed, and de- 
 claring if the repeal of the clause in the Foreign Enlist- 
 ment Bill was proposed lie could not oppose it. The 
 Duke, too, was rather out of humour.' ' 
 
 I think Huskisson is annoyed at his position. Every 
 one was disgusted with Grant's speech, and it was foolish, 
 for it showed we had not only brought the horse to the 
 water, but made him drink too. , ") 
 
 After the House I went to the Foreign Office with 
 the Duke, Aberdeen, and Dudley. Esterhazy is to see 
 all we have done since the Eussian note of Decem- 
 ber 25, and so is Bulow. The Austrians, having held 
 
THE 'CANNING PENSION.' 77 
 
 back a long time, are now, in ignorance of what we 
 have been doing, inchned or rather prepared to go 
 further than we wish. A very httle douce violence 
 will bring them back ; but if they should communicate 
 their readiness to declare the independence of Greece, 
 and effect it by force, should the Turks refuse to accede 
 to our propositions, they may undo all we have been 
 doing during the last fortnight. As it is, France and 
 England agree almost entirely. This has been effected 
 by the Duke's good sense and influence. 
 
 Miguel ordered his troops not to play the Consti- 
 tutional Hymn. Our troops continued to play it, and 
 to gather crowds around their barracks. This is very 
 offensive and very foolish. The Duke is very angry 
 with Clinton about it. 
 
 April 4. 
 
 The Cabinet met at 3. The first thing brought for-, 
 ward was the question of the ' Canning Pension.' It 
 seems Canning's son was well satisfied with the arrange- 
 ment made by the Government, but his mother was not. 
 She wrote letters and made her son write letters in 
 a very improper and intemperate style to Huskisson, 
 and they now insist on having the same provision made 
 for Canning's son that was made in the case of Lord 
 Chatham — a most extraordinary instance of infatuation. 
 Lord Morpeth is to make a motion on the subject on 
 May 13, unless something satisfactory should in the 
 meantime be done by the Government. He wants to 
 make a flashy speech, and it seems gave notice of this 
 motion without communication with his father and his 
 
78 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 friends. Lady Canning treats Huskisson as a traitor to 
 Canning's memory. 
 
 We had then a long discussion about the definition 
 of suzerainete, which may mean anything from the 
 paKrey ^ of the King of Naples up to real dominion. 
 Peel was particularly desirous that Greece should not 
 follow Turkey in war. The Duke's idea was that the 
 power of Turkey over Greece should be the same as 
 that she had over Eagusa. That indeed was the idea of 
 those who signed the Protocol. 
 
 Certainly it would be an embarrassment for Turkey 
 to be followed in war and in peace by Greece unless 
 she held the fortresses, which she is not to do ; and if 
 Turkey were to be answerable for all the piracies of the 
 Greeks she would be involved in continual quarrels. 
 Turkey, however, has a right to demand that Greece, 
 separated from her dominion, shall not be made a place 
 d'armes for Eussia. 
 
 Pohgnac asks, ' Is Eussia considered to have placed 
 herself out of the treaty? Do you refuse altogether to 
 act in concert with her ? ' Dudley seemed to think we 
 must answer directly these questions. Palmerston in- 
 clined to act with Eussia. Generally there is an indis- 
 position to declare Eussia out of the treaty. 
 
 I said, ' We have told Eussia we think she has made 
 co-operation difficult, if not impossible ; but that by de- 
 claring war on her own grounds she has not absolved 
 herself from the obligations of the treaty.' We have 
 told France ' This is the language we hold to Eussia ; 
 
 1 The kingdom of Naples was held of the Hol}^ See by the tribute of a 
 white palfrey. 
 
THE SLAVERY QUESTION. 79 
 
 but we are ready to discuss immediately, in concert with 
 you, the measures necessary for carrying the treaty into 
 effect.' Let us wait till we receive answers, and in the 
 meantime refer France to what we have said to Eussia, 
 telling her, if she can propose any mode of co-operation 
 with Eussia, Eussia being a beUigerent, we are ready 
 to consider it.' This seemed to be the opinion of the 
 Cabinet. 
 
 Peel wanted orders to be sent to Codrington ; the 
 Duke especially objected to our giving joint instructions 
 with Eussia. 
 
 Dudley has sent Esterhazy's memorandum to Lord 
 Granville, without any directions. He will communi- 
 cate it to the French Government ; and, if he does, he 
 will undo all we have been ten days in accomphshing. 
 Esterhazy and Bulow have seen the papers which have 
 passed since the changes of Government. They are 
 well pleased. 
 
 After we had disposed of these questions, Huskisson 
 stated the various questions connected with slavery. 
 The first is that of compulsory manumission. The 
 second that of allowing slaves to be transferred under 
 certain restrictions from one island to another. The 
 third that of fugitive slaves. 
 
 He was inchned to adhere to the course to which 
 the Government is pledged, and to enforce compulsory 
 manumission. He was of opinion that the Privy Council 
 might be enabled to authorise the transport of slaves 
 from one colony to another, on the condition of their 
 not being employed in opening new lands. It seems 
 that, as to the third point. Lord Bathurst had proposed 
 
80 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 that the fugitive slaves should be sent back to all 
 
 countries Avhere the offence of running away was not 
 
 punished with death. 100 slaves have gone over from 
 
 the Swedish Island of St. Martin's to our little Island of 
 
 Arquilla. These men are not slaves, and they have no 
 
 means of subsistence. 
 
 April 7. 
 
 The revenue is improving. The receipts of the 
 year just ended are one milhon beyond the receipts of 
 the last, and the receipts of the last quarter half a mil- 
 lion. I read Lamb's last dispatches of the 22nd. The 
 order of the day to the troops, issued by Miguel, is vio- 
 lent ; but his appointment of a commission to arrange 
 the mode of proceeding to the election of the new 
 Cortes is not contrary to the Charter, as Lamb says. 
 He cannot have read the document he encloses, or he 
 must be quite twisted by the representations of the 
 people into whose hands he fell on his arrival. He 
 wishes to kidnap and remove the Queen. 
 
 Esterhazy is dehghted with the papers we have sent 
 to Paris and Petersburg. He told me Lord London- 
 derry was talking very foohshly at Paris, holding very 
 anti-liberal language, and giving out that he was in 
 the confidence of the Duke of WeUington, and that the 
 feehng of our Government was anti-hberal. This before 
 Pozzo. 
 
 April 8. 
 
 In London I met Peel, who told me the Corn Bill 
 was succeeding very well. 
 
 Lord Hertford, whom I met at dinner at Esterhazy 's, 
 said he was quite satisfied with it ; but wished to have 
 
FRENCH VIEWS OF RUSSIA. 81 
 
 some tiling done in the matter of wool. They would be 
 satisfied with raising the duty from Id. to 3d. It was 
 once Qd. If we had no Huskisson in the Cabinet this 
 would be done. 
 
 Bulow told me he was very much pleased with what 
 we had done about Greece. 
 
 April 10. 
 
 The French regret our determination not to employ 
 any military force in the Morea, but they follow our 
 example. They regret, too, that we should think the 
 co-operation of Russia impossible. 
 
 April 12. 
 
 Went to Downing Street. While I was there Dudley 
 returned from Windsor. 
 
 Eead Lord Granville's dispatches of April 7. M. de 
 la Perronays is earnest that we should act with the 
 Eussian fleet in ' the prosecution' of the Greek treaty, 
 and so hold Eussia to her engagements, otherwise he 
 says we shaU be obliged to make war to prevent her 
 aggrandisement. He has asked from Eussia an expla- 
 nation of what she means by the word ' indemnity ' used 
 in Nesselrode's letter. 
 
 Eead Lamb's dispatches. The troops are arrived, 
 thank God! Lamb says the Enghsh are very unpo- 
 pular with both parties. The continued occupation of 
 the forts is a subject of much dissatisfaction. 
 
 Lamb saw Miguel on the 31st. He heard him 
 quietly, but when he asked him to dismiss his ministers, 
 Miguel said decidedly, 'Je ne les changerai pas. Je 
 VOL. I. G 
 
82 DIAKY. 1828. 
 
 siiis content d'eux. Je ne crois pas ce qu'on m'a dit 
 de voiTs. Pour les Ministres, je ne les changerai pas.' 
 His answer was so decided that Lamb made no further 
 observation than one of regret, and came away. 
 
 April 13. 
 
 Cabinet at 4. Orders are to be sent out imme- 
 diately for the evacuation of the forts, and the return 
 of the ships from the Tagus. A brig is to be left 
 cruising about, to return to Lisbon every now and then. 
 Lamb is to go to Cintra, leave his secretary of embassy 
 in Lisbon, have an eye on what is going on, but take no 
 part. If Miguel declares himself King, his powers 
 expire of course. If he commits any act of outrage 
 Lamb is to report, but not come away. 
 
 Dudley thinks Lamb is in a passion. Huskisson 
 did not say a word for him. He is very anxious to re- 
 turn; but he must not do so yet. Huskisson expects 
 Don Pedro in Europe before twelve months are over. I 
 think it very hkely. I suggested to Dudley that this 
 was his time for pressing Don Pedro to make peace with 
 
 Buenos Ayres. 
 
 April 14. 
 
 At Lady Hertford's Lord Beresford told me we had 
 done very wrong in keeping the forts in the Tagus, and 
 had made ourselves very unpopular by it, and put our- 
 selves in the wrong for no purpose, for the occupation 
 of them was of no use. However, at the time the order 
 for retaining them was given, we could hardly have 
 exposed Enghsh property to the risk of being quite un- 
 protected, and it was thought the ships could not remain 
 
THE WOOL QUESTION. 83 
 
 unless we had the forts. We were obhged to a certain 
 extent to give credit to our Ambassador's opinion. 
 However, the orders are gone out for withdrawino- 
 from the Tagus altogether. 
 
 Lord Longford told me he was satisfied mth the 
 Corn Bill, but he beheved the L-ish generally were not. 
 
 Littleton and Lord Talbot told me the Government 
 was gaining great strength in the country. 
 
 April 15. 
 
 House. Lord Grey moved the omission of an 
 amendment, introduced by Lord Lansdowne into the 
 Criminal Law Consohdation Bill, by which the bodies 
 of murderers were not to be dissected. 
 
 Told the Duke of Wellington I had been looking 
 into the facts relative to the wool question. Lord 
 Harewood has ivritten to Leeds for the information 
 I want relative to the price of woollen manufactures 
 at different periods, the expense of the manufacture, 
 and the quantity and cost of the wool, contained in a 
 given quantity of the manufactured article. 
 
 April 17. 
 
 Committee on coins and silver currency at 12. It 
 is proposed for the purpose of affording a market line 
 to the silver of South America (which cannot be said to 
 exist now, as little is used for plate, and silver is not re- 
 ceived for coinage at the Mint), of extending the metal- 
 He basis of the currency, and facihtating the adjustment 
 of the exchanges, to receive silver at the Mint, and to 
 give for it silver notes, the silver to be estimated at 15^ 
 
 G 2 
 
84 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 to the gold of our currency, which is the proportion 
 estabhshed in France. 
 
 The officers of tlie Mint will be examined, and the 
 Governor and Deputy-Governor of the Bank. 
 
 I am to read a paper of Huskisson's on the subject ; 
 and several books on coins. It seems to me that these 
 silver notes may displace a portion of our paper-cur- 
 rency, but I do not see how they will afford sohdity to 
 what remains. They will be exported in preference to 
 gold, to adjust the exchange, and so far prevent a run 
 upon the Bank, and a panic. Silver is not to be made 
 a concurrent tender by law, but the Government and 
 the Bank will receive silver notes. 
 
 House at 5. Eepeal of the Sacramental Test. Lord 
 Holland made a long historical speech ; he exaggerated 
 the grievance, and forgot the Indemnity Bills. Lord 
 Eldon exaggerated the security and forgot the Indemnity 
 Bills too. Durham,^ Chester,''^ York,^ and Kaye.* Kaye 
 best. Chester, like a schoolmaster. Durham in rather 
 a slovenly manner. Eldon was very solemn, but he 
 would not have divided ten. The Duke did not explain 
 the grounds on which the Government ]iad acted very 
 clearly. Godericli spoke, and all about liimself. He 
 seems to think it necessary he should always speak. 
 On the whole it was a dull debate. 
 
 Before tlie debate Dudley showed me the dispatches 
 he had just received from Lord Cowley and Lord Gran- 
 ville. Lord Cowley hears the Eussians mean to attack 
 Turkey at all points, and to bring the army from Persia 
 
 ^ Van Mildert. " Blomfield, afterwards Bishop of London. 
 = lion. E. "\>rnon. "* Lincoln. — Ed. 
 
WITH OR WITHOUT RUSSIA? 85 
 
 upon Trebizoude, which is a place valuable from its po- 
 sition, and the copper there. The Emperor of Austria 
 has written to the Emperor of Eussia deprecating war, 
 expressing a hope that the great Powers united may 
 still obtain from Turkey the concessions required by the 
 Treaty of London, and Hkewise the necessary satisfac- 
 tion to Eussia. 
 
 Lord Granville represents La Ferronays as very de- 
 sirous we sliould allow the Eussian fleet to act with ours 
 under common instructions (those before agreed to). 
 La Ferronaj^s seems to think that the refusal of Eussia 
 to do this would leave her bound by the self-denying 
 obhgations of the Greek treaty. We have already said 
 she is so bound, her own act having made co-operation 
 impossible, or at least nearly so. La Ferronays puts a 
 case which would certainly present much difficulty — 
 that of our having induced Ibrahim to leave the Morea, 
 and the Eussians attacking him on his voyage to Egypt. 
 It is not very likely to occur, but certainly the inconve- 
 niences of not acting with the Eussians may be as great 
 as those of acting with them. We must have a Cabinet 
 on this point. Dudley is for acting with them. 
 
 The French are going to increase their army and 
 navy and raise a loan of four millions. 
 
 The Duke, whom I saw in the House, is rather 
 annoyed at the naval as well as mihtary preparations 
 of France. He is very unwilhng to consent to the co- 
 operation of the Eussian fleet, now Eussia is at war. 
 
 The French army is to be increased 70,000 men. 
 
86 DIARY. 1828/ 
 
 April 19. 
 
 Committee on Coins at 12. Mr. Bingley, of the 
 Mint, examined. We liad afterwards some conversa- 
 tion about crrantinor a Committee on Wool in the Lords. 
 Huskisson has pledged himself against it in the Com- 
 mons. He thinks it would create great alarm amongst 
 the manufacturers, and that to lay on a duty would 
 ruin our export trade, which, even now, can hardly 
 maintain itself. 
 
 Littleton, whom I saw at Devonshire House last 
 night, says the Duke of Welhngton's examination on 
 military points struck the Finance Committee very 
 much. Hardinge did himself great credit, and the 
 general opinion was that he should hold a higher 
 situation than he does. 
 
 Brougham and the Whigs seem in better humour 
 than they were at first. 
 
 April 21. 
 
 House at 5. Sacramental Test Eepeal. We wished 
 to keep the Bill as it came up from the Commons with- 
 out alteration ; but the feeling in favour of giving some 
 more solemn sanction to the declaration was so strong 
 thai we were obhged to yield, and did it well. The 
 Duke moving, first, ' in the presence of God,' and after- 
 wards, ' upon the true faith of a Christian.' 
 
 We resisted converting the declaration into an oath, 
 and had 100 to 32. This decision, and our introduction 
 of the words, ' upon the true faith of a Christian,* 
 enabled us to resist Lord Winchelsea's amendment, ' in 
 
THREATENING RUSSIAN NOTE. 87 
 
 Jesus Christ the Son of God,' and another foohsh 
 amendment of Lord Tenterden's, which we did not 
 think it worth while to speak against. We managed to 
 keep the bishops with us, to divide with a great majo- 
 rity, to resist successfully amendments which would, 
 have nullified the measure, or converted it into a penal 
 law, and to have all the grace of concession. 
 
 I had to speak twice. I beheve I spoke at the 
 right time, and did well. 
 
 April 22. 
 
 Committee on Coins at 12. Examined the Governor 
 and Deputy-Governor of the Bank. The latter, a man 
 of some understanding ; the former, a dolt. 
 
 House at 6. The Eussians have sent a threatening 
 note in answer to our reply to theirs of December 20. 
 It has been read to the Duke and Dudley ; but not yet 
 dehvered to them. It is of great length — refers to con- 
 versations between Canning and Lieven — objects alto- 
 gether to our hmitation of Greece, and to the proposed 
 connection of Greece and Turkey, but still offers the 
 co-operation of the Eussian fleet in the blockade, to 
 which, however, objections are taken on the ground of 
 its insufficiency. The passage of the Pruth is deferred 
 till May 10, on account, it is said, of the state of the 
 weather. 
 
 April 24. 
 The Duke told me the Eussians had written in a 
 softer tone to France. 
 
 Young Prince George of Cumberland was behind 
 
88 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 tlie Woolsack in the House to-day. The Duke of Wel- 
 Imgton said he never saw a boy look so mad. 
 
 We went into the Test Eepeal Bill. Eldon proposed 
 a new preamble to the clause containing the declara- 
 tion, taking his preamble from the Act of Union with 
 Scotland — and announcing that he meant to move the 
 insertion, in the declaration, of the words, 'that I am a 
 Protestant.' The Chancellor was not ready in putting 
 the question of the first amendment, and consequently 
 we got into an irregular discussion, some talking of one 
 amendment, and some of another. Old Eldon fighting 
 hard and well. The argument was that without the 
 words he proposed Catholics might be admitted to Cor- 
 porations, as many of them would take the Oath of 
 Supremacy. We rejected the alteration of the preamble 
 by two to one, keeping our bishops. It was then pro- 
 posed to adjourn the further consideration till to-mor- 
 row, to give further time for considering the other 
 amendment. The Bishop of Chester wished to adjourn 
 till Monday. On a division we had two to one for to- 
 morrow, but only three bishops voted with us. The 
 others went away. 
 
 On coming home I wrote to the Master of the Eolls, 
 informing him of our difficulty, and asking his opinion 
 as to the best way of getting out of it. 
 
 Eldon is gathering strength, and, as he always does 
 wlien he is not well opposed in the first instance, he 
 becomes more mischievous and grasping. 
 
THE TEST ACT. 89 
 
 April 25. 
 
 I wrote to the Master of the Eolls and Lord Eosslyn 
 suggesting that the words might be admitted, and the 
 Test repealed only as to those who took the declaration, 
 leaving all others under the Bill of Indemnity as before. 
 This would not touch the Cathohcs and the Jews, who 
 are now excluded by the declaration, and it would give 
 the Dissenters all they ask ; that is, it would relieve 
 them from the necessity of being indemnified. 
 
 Saw Eosslyn, Leach, and Lord Holland. All of 
 opinion this amendment should not be received. Blount 
 and Battle say no Catholic can take the Oath of Supre- 
 macy, worded as it is now, without legislative explana- 
 tion. They are willing to give the State the same assur- 
 ance of loyalty, but in other words. 
 
 Cabinet at 3. The Chancellor decidedly of opinion 
 that the declaration against transubstantiation ought to 
 be taken by the governing members of Corporations by 
 the Test Act. The proviso excepting churchwardens, 
 &c., shows others than those deriving their authority 
 from the King must take it, and the enacting words 
 might bear that interpretation too. He had found, too, 
 by enquiry, that practically the Common Councihnen, 
 &c., in London, do take it. The Catholic therefore 
 would be effectually excluded by the declaration against 
 transubstantiation if he were not, as he is, by the Oath 
 of Supremacy. We had just determined to resist the 
 amendment when a letter came to the Duke from the 
 King, expressing liis wishes for the introduction of the 
 words. We got the Duke and the Chancellor to go to 
 
90 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 tlie King instantly. The Duke tlioiight it was too late. 
 It was a quarter to four, and the Chancellor seemed 
 rather unwilling to take upon himself the responsibility 
 of an interpretation contrary to Eldon's, and talked of 
 referring the question to the law officers. This would 
 have created delay, and we should have had general 
 defection and much clamour if the idea had got abroad 
 that there was a difference between the King and the 
 Government upon this point ; so I fairly pushed the 
 Chancellor out of his chair, and off they went. They 
 came back in an hour, the King having declared he was 
 satisfied to take the hue approved of by his Ministers. 
 
 The Duke of Cumberland had done this. In the 
 House the Chancellor made an admirable speech in 
 answer to Eldon. Eldon could not touch his argument, 
 but spoke very well and frightened the bishops ; so on a 
 division they all ratted except three — Fowler, Jenkinson,^ 
 and Kyder.^ Bloomfield and another went behind the 
 Woolsack. Almost all our friends voted with Eldon. 
 We had only Salisbury, Thomond, Clarendon, Ormond, 
 and two or three others beside the official men. I do 
 not think we had twenty in all of our own people, but 
 in the House we had seventy to forty-three, and with 
 proxies 117 to 55. We had another division better 
 than this on another point. 
 
 Huskisson and Grant wished to take some resolu- 
 tions on Corn proposed by Benett, instead of ours, 
 saying they should be pressed. These resolutions gave 
 a higher duty at the low prices, and a lower duty at the 
 high prices than ours. I said I would not yield unless 
 
 ^ Bishop of St. David. ^ Bishop of Lichfield. 
 
RUSSIAN PROPOSALS. 91 
 
 to a division. That it weakened a Government to 
 recede lightly from what it had adopted on full con- 
 sideration. That the reasoning in favour of our own 
 scale of duties was unanswerable. That Huskisson's 
 own speech could not be touched. That if we yielded 
 we should on every occasion have our friends advancing 
 their own conundrums. They went to a division upon 
 it, and had 2.30 to 32 ! 
 
 Cabinet at 4. It was decided, in consequence of the 
 receipt from Pohgnac of a dispatch informing the Go- 
 vernment ' that the French charge d'affaires at Peters- 
 burg had received assurances from Nesselrode that 
 Eussia, notwithstanding France and England should 
 not join in the war with her, would still consider herself 
 bound by the treaty, and act with them in it, giving 
 to her Admiral in the Levant the same instructions as 
 should be given by France and England to theirs, and 
 further that Eussia would only ash indemnity for the 
 losses of her subjects ; ' to ask Polignac's permission to 
 communicate this dispatch to Lieven, and to enquire 
 from Lieven whether he had authority to confirm these 
 assurances. On obtaining such assurances from Lieven 
 the conferences would be renewed. They were broken 
 off when the Eussians declared in their note (from 
 Petersburg), of February 26, that, if England and France 
 did not join in the war, the Emperor would arrange the 
 affairs of Greece ' selon ses interets et ses convenances.' 
 
 The Eussians say the treaty can only be defined as 
 to the hmits of Greece after an armistice, and iii con- 
 cert with the Greeks and Turks. They are correct in 
 point of strictness. They likewise say the tribute must 
 
92 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 be fixed after the limits are fixed, and that the only 
 thing to be reserved to Turkey is the part determinee 
 in the choice of the Chief of Greece. 
 
 The Duke told me at dinner that, after the House on 
 Thursday, he wrote to the King to tell him the House- 
 hold were not present. The King in his answer, re- 
 ceived while we were at the Cabinet, first expressed his 
 opinion as to Eldon's amendment. The Household did 
 not come o\\ Friday. 
 
 April 27. 
 
 G. Fortescue, whom I met riding in the Park, told 
 me the report in London was that the King would 
 refuse his assent to the Sacramental Test Eepeal Bill. I 
 laughed at the story. However, the Chancellor, who 
 dined with me, told me he had been a long time with 
 the King, and that it was of the utmost importance we 
 should cret the Bill through to-morrow. The Catholic 
 question, which was to have come on on Tuesday the 
 29th, is put off for ten days. This is to keep it clear of 
 the Dissenters' Bill. 
 
 April 28. 
 
 Cabinet room at 3. Eead dispatches till near five. 
 House. Sacramental Test Eepeal. The Duke had a sa- 
 tisfactory conversation with the King upon the subject. 
 Lord Grosvenor made a most foohsh speech, connecting 
 the Bill with the Cathohc question. Lord Eldon was 
 dehghted. I was obliged to speak a few words to 
 restore the Bill to its right position. The debate was 
 not very good. We had in the House 100 to 42, and 
 with proxies 150 to 52 on Lord Eldon's motion to insert 
 
COMPENSATION MONEY. 93 
 
 in the declaration ' I am a Protestant.' We had nine 
 bishops to seven, I think. 
 
 April 29. 
 
 Went at 3 to the Cabinet room to read a paper 
 transmitted by Lord Cowley, on the present state of 
 Greece. It is written by an agent of Metternich's. 
 There is nothing very new in it. It represents Capo 
 d'Istrias as having managed with much adroitness to 
 deprive Grivas, Colocotroni, and some other chiefs of 
 their power. Capo's plan is to throw troops into the 
 country north of the Morea, to excite insurrections 
 there, that there may be an excuse for desiring the 
 limits of Greece to be carried north of the Isthmus. 
 
 In the House I found from Dudley that Lieven had 
 no instructions which enabled him to give the assurances 
 we required ; of course, therefore, we do nothing. 
 
 The Duke told me the sum of 250,000/., respecting 
 which there is some talk now, was the surplus of the 
 French compensation to British subjects after the settle- 
 ment of all claims ; it belonged to the Crown as a droit, 
 and was lent to the Woods and Forests for the comple- 
 tion of Buckingham House. Lord Liverpool, Canning, 
 and Goderich were the only Ministers privy to this dis- 
 posal of the money. An account should have been laid 
 before Parhament. By a former Act the surplus of 
 the Woods and Forests was given to Buckingham House, 
 but the expenses in the parks have been so great that 
 there has been no surplus. I am very glad the Duke 
 had nothing to do with it. 
 
 The Eussians have fixed the day for passing the 
 
94 DIAEY. 1828. 
 
 Danube, and for the attack on Shumla. They have 
 about 120,000 infantry, 23,000 cavahy, and 400 pieces 
 of cannon for the active operations. There is besides an 
 army of reserve of 50,000 men. They have eight sail of 
 the hne, four large frigates, and four or five ships in 
 the Black Sea. Dudley tells me the Turks have only 
 51,000 men, and that the infatuation at Constantinople 
 is as great as ever. I think he much underrates the 
 Turkish forces. 
 
 I look forward with horror to the war, not only as 
 affecting the general interests of Europe, but as a war 
 shocking to humanity. 
 
 April 30. 
 
 Cabinet dinner at Palmerston's. Huskisson ill, and 
 not there. It seems that under Canning's Administra- 
 tion it was agreed to submit the question of American 
 boundary in Maine to some European Sovereign. As 
 the question goes to the security of our Canadian pos- 
 sessions, it should never have been let out of our own 
 hands. This was one of Canning's follies. Dudley pro- 
 posed the King of the Netherlands and the Swiss 
 Cantons as one name, to be sent in sealed ; it being 
 agreed, to avoid all discussion, if possible, that in the 
 first instance each party should send in two names ; if 
 both have chosen the same name, that Sovereign would 
 be the umpire. The Duke objected to the King of the 
 Netherlands, who, he said, was the most crotchety of 
 men. He proposed the Emperor of Austria and the 
 King of Sardinia as the only two Sovereigns who would 
 do us justice. He said he should have been very well 
 
THE WOOL TRADE. 95 
 
 satisfied with the Bang of Prance if he would decide for 
 himself, and not leave it to his Ministers. The Duke 
 said M. de la Torre was a very clever man, and an honest 
 man. He is the King of Sardinia's Minister. 
 
 They had a division in the Finance Committee to- 
 day on a vote of censure on Lord Bathurst, containing 
 the words ' culpable neglect,' moved by Mr. Stanley. 
 The motion was negatived by a good majority. 
 
 May 1. 
 
 At 3 met four woollen manufacturers at the Board 
 of Trade. Their information made me doubt very 
 much whether it would be prudent to lay any duty upon 
 wool. They were much alarmed at the idea of a Com- 
 mittee. They said a Committee published all the secrets 
 of trade, and this Committee would induce the with- 
 holding of orders, and disturb the trade, which was 
 going on slowly but quietly. They said the raising of 
 the price of English wool would lead to the greater use 
 of cottons. That by keeping back their wool the wool- 
 growers had given a premium upon foreign wool, and 
 were now obhged to take a lower price. That there 
 was now little pure Southdown wool. The Southdown 
 sheep has been crossed with the Leicestershire for the 
 purpose of enlarging the carcase and increasing the 
 quantity of the wool. They have succeeded in both 
 objects, but the wool is of an inferior quahty. The 
 sheep produces three-and-a-quarter, or three-and-a-half 
 pounds, instead of two-and-a-half, and the avooI has 
 more staple, but it is coarser. Machinery invented last 
 year enables them to comb this new Southdown wool, 
 
96 DIARY. ; 1828. 
 
 and it will be made into worsted. This is a new trade. 
 The wool has lost its clothing qualities and acquired 
 combing quahties. The manufacturers said the trade 
 scarcely maintained itself. That the smallest addition 
 of price would turn the market in favour of the German 
 and American. Including duty, 33 per cent., and 
 freight, woollen manufacturers must sell in America 
 50 per cent, beyond the cost price, to remunerate. 
 They say men look more to price than to quahty. A 
 man continues to give 12s. a yard for cloth, because 
 he has been accustomed to do so. He does not pay a 
 lower price for the same article he formerly used. The 
 lower the article the greater the fall of price. All this 
 shows the increase of wealtli and luxury. 
 
 Afterwards came on Lord Darnley's motion for a 
 Committee to enquire into the state of the distressed 
 people of Ireland. He made a long desultory speech, 
 and was answered by Lords Limerick and Longford. 
 His object was to have an equal assessment on the land 
 for the lame, sick, impotent, and aged. Lord Lorton 
 talked of the Association and of the Catholic question. 
 The Duke spoke discreetly and w^ell. He did not say a 
 word as to the Cathohc question. We had no division. 
 
 May 2. 
 
 Cabinet at 2. We first decided that the Cathohc 
 Association Bill should be allowed to expire. It has 
 been ineffectual, and no attempt has been made to carry 
 it into effect. It is too late to do so now. A stronger 
 measure could hardly be devised. For renewing it 
 there is no case, as this has not been executed, and 
 
THE CANNING PENSION. 97 
 
 latterly things have been quieter in Ireland. Should 
 the state of things become worse during the autumn 
 we can comQ^to Parliament with strong ground for new 
 powers ; especially if means are taken for enforcing the 
 Common Law and the Convention Act, Orders will be 
 sent to the Irish Government to this effect. It is con- 
 sidered in itself objectionable to renew a temporary 
 Act. It naturally excites the jealousy of Parliament. 
 
 The Duke of Portland has had communications with 
 Huskisson on the subject of the Canning pension. The 
 family want to have an address to the Crown, and on 
 that a Bill giving 3,000^. a year for the lives of Canning's 
 two sons. The family have the precedent of Lord 
 Chatham in their heads. They want the pension for 
 two hves, because the eldest son has bad health, and 
 they mean to sell the pension for 50,000/. It was de- 
 cided to adhere to our original plan. Huskisson said 
 he must vote for the other measure if it was pressed. 
 Palmerston and Grant seemed to intimate the same 
 intention. 
 
 We then entered upon foreign pohcy. Polignac 
 saw the Duke this ]norning. It seems the Committee to 
 which the projet of the loan was referred in France 
 have expressed a wish that a portion of it should be 
 given to the Greeks. The French Government is quite 
 in the hands of the Chamber of Deputies. The Liberals 
 have got an accession of twenty or thirty more votes by 
 the last elections. 
 
 We cannot renew the Conferences till we receive a 
 written answer to our last paper. The Eussian threat 
 that, if we would not adopt hostile measures in conjunc- 
 VOL. I. H 
 
98 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 tion witli them, tliey would dispose of Greece ' seloii 
 leiirs inter ets et leurs convenances,' still remains unex- 
 plained. ISTeither have they given us any official expla- 
 nation as to the nature of the ' indemnities ' they ask. 
 France agrees with Eussia as to the limitation of Greece 
 being a subject for the three Powers with Greece and 
 Turkey to decide, and so it is in the treaty. 
 
 We send the commercial agent, contrary to our rule 
 and the law of nations, but according to the treaty. As 
 to money we cannot think of it, and troops we shall 
 not send. We have a Cabinet on Sunday to consider 
 what detailed reply shall be made to the French note. 
 
 Thus Eussia has gone to war and has thus virtually 
 put herself out of the treaty. France, driven on by 
 the Liberals, adopts for herself the measures she pro- 
 poses, before she can receive an answer. The treaty, 
 in as far as it was intended to be tripartite, is at an end. 
 Each Power pursues her object in her own way. 
 
 The Duke complained to me in the House of the 
 manner in which i\\Q four hang together. He hoped 
 they would have ceased to do so after the Corn business. 
 He would not be sorry to get rid of Dudley, Grant, and 
 Palmerston. Our meeting with the manufacturers to- 
 morrow is not to take place. Lord Bathurst thought 
 there was no object in it, as the Duke of Eichmond was 
 resolved to bring on his motion and have his Committee, 
 at any rate. The Duke of Eichmond did not care about 
 it, so the meeting will not take place. 
 
GREEK LIMITATIONS. 99 
 
 Sunday, May 4. 
 
 I met Hardinge at Battersea and brought liim to 
 town. He told me I had disappointed the Whio-s. 
 They prophesied I should try to have everything my 
 own way in the Cabinet, be quite impracticable, and go 
 out in a huff in three weeks. They are much surprised 
 at hearing I have given no trouble. 
 
 May 5. 
 
 Went to the Cabinet room to read Polignac's last 
 paper. It is quite in a different tone from any we have 
 yet received — very Eussian — evidently written under 
 the fear of the Chamber of Deputies, and for them. The 
 French say they received avec etonnement our proposal 
 for communicating our limitation of Greece, &c., to 
 other Powers. 
 
 They consider it to be a violation of the treaty. 
 They say, as the Eussians did, that by the treaty the 
 Greeks and Turks must have a voice in fixing the hmits 
 of Greece, the tribute, &c. They object to our limita- 
 tion. They say nothing can be done without Eussia. 
 They propose sending commercial agents, giving money, 
 and sending 6,000 men each. In the meantime they 
 have named their agent and given their money. 
 
 I did not like the tone of Dudley's. It was not suffi- 
 ciently dignified — it was too long and diffuse. Substan- 
 tially it was right, because the Duke had sent him 
 sense. Peel wished to relever that expression of the 
 etonnement of the French] Government. I thought the 
 best mode of answering] the expressions to which we 
 
 h2 
 
100 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 objected was not by touching the expressions them- 
 selves, but by the general tone of grave dignity which 
 should pervade our reply. Dudley had omitted alto- 
 gether to notice the observations of the French upon 
 our proposal to communicate what we decided upon 
 as to Greece, to the other great Powers. 
 
 The arrangement now is that the pension should be 
 given for the life of the younger son of Mr. Canning, the 
 amount of it to be disposed of by Lady Canning and the 
 eldest son. They can sell the pension for 30,000/. We 
 are, as a Government, to oppose any further proposition 
 on the part of Canning's friends. Huskisson and the 
 others are satisfied with this arrangement. 
 
 The Duke gave me a long letter to read from Sir F. 
 Lamb. He is evidently thoroughly out of humour, and 
 very desirous of coming home. The latter part of his 
 letter has little to do with the subject, and is half mad. 
 
 May 6. 
 
 House at o. Game Bill. The Duke told me there 
 was a letter from Codrington declaring he had no in- 
 structions. It seems Nesselrode is satisfied with our 
 answer to the Eussian declaration! This is inexplicable, 
 as he was dissatisfied with our answer to his dispatch of 
 December 2-3, and is at the same time irreconcilable 
 with the tone of his last communication. 
 
 I went with Dudley to the Foreign Ofiice to look 
 over his answer to Polignac. It was afterwards sent 
 home to me, and I made many alterations in it, raising 
 its general tone, giving it, as I told Dudley, a httle more 
 of the toss of the head than it had at first, and making 
 
DINNER AT GOULBUEN's. 101 
 
 it shorter. There was a conversational, argumentative 
 tone in it at first, which was not suited to the occasion 
 or to the importance of the subject. It remains to be 
 seen whether he will adopt my suggestions. 
 
 May 7. 
 
 Called on Dudley at half-past twelve. He approved 
 of all my proposed alterations except one, which on 
 further consideration I disapproved of myself 
 
 Eecorder's report at 3. The King apparently very 
 well. The report very heavy. There were at least ten 
 cases in which the punishment of death 'ought to have 
 been inflicted. We chose six. 
 
 Cabinet dinner at Goulburn's. Codrington has 
 written to say he has no instructions, and particularly 
 that he has none on some specific points. His instruc- 
 tions were given on October 15. He acknowledged the 
 receipt of them on November 7 ; said he should particu- 
 larly attend to them, and actually issued orders on the 
 specific points on which he now says he had no instruc- 
 tions. He will be recalled. Lord Melville mentioned 
 Sir Thomas Williams as a fit man to succeed him. It 
 seems Lord Exmouth is gone by. 
 
 Miguel has in some instances, it seems, taken the 
 title of King ; but at the critical moment his courage 
 failed him, and he is as undecided as ever, saying one 
 thing and doing another. 
 
 Dudley read his altered dispatch to the Duke after 
 dinner. The Duke approved of it highly. 
 
 Peel mentioned the circumstance of the King having 
 signed no commissions for more than two years. He 
 
102 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 will not sign parchment. There can be no reason why 
 the commissions should not be on thick paper ; but 
 they say the King would sign them for the first few days 
 and then give it up. 
 
 May 8. 
 
 Went to Dudley's to finish the paper, then to the 
 Cabinet room. Codrington has written letters of de- 
 fence and inculpation to Dudley and the Admiralty. 
 They are well written ; and as far as regards the ques- 
 tion of the Greek slaves he has the best of the argu- 
 ment. 
 
 Lamb has written a letter to Dudley in rather an 
 impertinent tone, and is much out of humour. 
 
 May 9. 
 
 Foreign Office. Wrote a paper in reply to Codring- 
 ton's, as a ground for recalHng him. He will be recalled 
 without reasons assigned. Probably Sir P. Malcolm will 
 succeed him. 
 
 Lamb complains of Palmella's having communicated 
 to his Government the first intelligence of the intended 
 withdrawing of the troops ffom the forts, and of his 
 attributing it entirely to his requisition, to bring the 
 whole credit of it to himself From the whole tenor of 
 Lamb's dispatches he seems very much out of humour, 
 and desirous of picking a quarrel with the Government. 
 He wants to come back, having got the rank of Am- 
 bassador, and thus the claim to the higher pension. 
 
CO-OPERATION WITH RUSSIA. 103 
 
 May 10. 
 
 It was decided not to bring away at once our 
 Ambassador from Portugal, but to present a remon- 
 strance and order him not to go to Court. 
 
 May 11. 
 
 I sent Dudley a draft of a reply to Sir F. Lamb. 
 It shortly answers his observations, and then says, ' that 
 His Majesty's Government do not think it fitting that 
 dispatches of a controversial nature, addressed by His 
 Majesty's Ambassador to the Foreign Secretary, should 
 remain on the records of the office, and therefore has 
 directed that they should be withdrawn.' 
 
 Dudley read his protest against the events of April 
 25 at Lisbon, and a paper on Campazana's proposal 
 for drawing some Spanish troops to the frontier, and 
 releasing Miguel from his obHgations to the Courts of 
 England and Austria on the subject of the Constitu- 
 tion. Of course we cannot hear of either plan. This 
 paper, too, was well done, but there were some altera- 
 tions to make in it. 
 
 Just as we were coming away Huskisson began to 
 talk about co-operation with Eussia, a point settled long 
 ago, and on which we are pledged to one line of con- 
 duct by solemn pubhc declarations of our views. This 
 was got rid of ; but the never-ending return to the same 
 point annoys the Duke very much. I had some conver- 
 sation at Countess St. Antonio's with Arbuthnot on the 
 subject. He says the Duke is broken-hearted about his 
 Cabinet, and deeply regrets having taken in the Can- 
 
104 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 ningites. Palmerston is always pecking. Grant is ob- 
 stinate and useless. However, he is seldom there, and 
 takes little part. Dudley would never give the least 
 trouble if it were not for Huskisson, who sets him on. 
 Huskisson is not to be trusted. 
 
 May 12. 
 
 Lieven has communicated the Eussian declaration 
 of war. It expresses an absence of all ambition, and 
 declares tlie Eussian territory is large enough, a very 
 obvious truth. It claims pecuniary indemnity, not only 
 for the Eussian subjects (as they had told France), but 
 for the expenses of the war. This may be extended or 
 contracted at their pleasure. They must have security 
 for the maintenance of treaties, and the free navigation 
 of the Black Sea. The Duke thinks they mean to keep 
 the forts on the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. Some 
 fortresses, too, may be said to be necessary for the first 
 object. As to the Treaty of London they are to use 
 their influence to effect its objects ; but then they wish 
 to extend tlie Greek frontier, and tlieir notions of suze- 
 rainete seem different from ours. 
 
 Thus commences a war of which no statesman can 
 see ihe end or calculate the consequences ; but which, 
 whatever may be its result, will inflict upon the popula- 
 tion of the Turkish Empire calamities at which huma- 
 nity shudders. 
 
 I find Bathurst and tlie others very angry indeed at 
 Huskisson's revival of the old proposal for acting with 
 the Eussians. 
 
CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION. 105 
 
 May 13. 
 
 Sir Francis Biirdett's resolution in favour of the 
 Catholics was carried last night by 6 — 272 to 266. 
 Last year the number for was the same — against, 276. 
 I always had a presentiment the question would be 
 carried. They say Peel was much annoyed at the divi- 
 sion. The resolution is to be sent up to the Lords for 
 their consideration. 
 
 Wool Committee. A very inteUigent Lincolnshire 
 farmer was examined. The newspapers report Don 
 Pedro's having completed the act of abdication on 
 March 3. 
 
 The French papers have a telegraphic account that 
 Miguel was declared King in various places. The dis- 
 patch is dated Bay onne, May 10. We ought to have had 
 a Cabinet to-day, for really the affair of the Admiral 
 will not bear delay. I hear Huskisson begins to think 
 he cannot make a good case against the Admiral, and is 
 afraid of pressing his recall. 
 
 I had a long talk with Aberdeen about the state of 
 the Government. The Eussian circular says, ' No Power 
 has disputed the justice of their right of going to war ! ' 
 They want the approbation of other Powers. We should 
 send a circular declaring our views, and repeating the 
 language we have held. 
 
 There was a good deal of opposition, led by Lord 
 Althorp and Bankes, to the proposed pension to Can- 
 ning's son. They divided, more than fifty against it. 
 I am not sorry for it, though I consider the measure to 
 be an act of justice ; but I like to see men consistent, 
 
106 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 and anything is preferable to the humbug with which 
 we have been so long disquieted. I find Salisbury does 
 not Hke it, and, as for Lord Londonderry, he is mad 
 about it. 
 
 May 14. 
 
 Cabinet at 3. Decided to recall Sir E. Codrington. 
 
 Dudley readJiis answers to Lamb on two points, and 
 
 a dispatch explanatory of our conduct with regard to 
 
 the Constitution and its supporters. All good and 
 
 satisfactory. 
 
 May 16. 
 
 The Duke has seen the Duke of Clarence, who ap- 
 proves of Codrington's recall, and thinks Sir P. Malcolm 
 the best man to succeed him, but has some trifling ob- 
 jections which the Duke will get over. They relate to 
 some diflerence he had with Lord Melville, relative to 
 the duration of his command at St. Helena — trifles. 
 
 May 17. 
 
 Much talk about East Eetford. No decision come 
 to. Doubts how far Peel is pledged to give the repre- 
 sentation to Manchester if Pem'hyn should be thrown 
 out. Huskisson said he must vote for a town. Grant 
 and Palmerston seemed the same way. Dudley is so 
 too. 
 
 The Duke is very much dissatisfied with Planta and 
 Palmerston. The former has taken the measure of pub- 
 lishing his eulogy on Canning on the occasion of the 
 Pension Bill, and Palmerston took occasion to say, ' A 
 Government would only be entitled to support as it fol- 
 lowed the principles of Mr. Canning.' This has given 
 
MUTIJN^ IN THE CABINET. 107 
 
 great offence to our friends, and the Duke fears that, if 
 Lord Grey should oppose the Bill, it may be thrown 
 out in our House. I have no fears of that nature. 
 
 The Duke called the conduct of Planta and Palmer- 
 ston a mutiny. I think he will do nothing while the 
 Session lasts, but take the first opportunity of getting 
 rid of Palmerston and Grant. That is Arbuthnot's 
 idea. Hardinge, with whom I had some conversation 
 after dinner, says Sir E. Knatchbull is the best man to 
 be got in the House of Commons. V. Fitzgerald is the 
 cleverest and is useful but he is unpopular, and would 
 rather discredit a Government. Lord F. Leveson seems 
 disposed to work and likely to do well. I never heard 
 him speak. Hardinge told me the Duke said I was 
 the most reasonable man in the Cabinet, and Arbuth- 
 not, some days ago, told me the Duke was charmed 
 with me. I was always ready to work for him, &c. 
 
 May 18. 
 
 Went at one to Sir G. Cockburn. Made alterations 
 in the letter to Codrington by leaving out passages. 
 Eead Nesselrode's letter to Lieven. Cabinet at 4. Dud- 
 ley, &c., wish to renew the conferences and allow the 
 Eussians to co-operate. The Eussians propose that the 
 Plenipotentiaries should meet near the seat of the Greek 
 Government, and arrange in concert with Capo dTstrias 
 the limits of Greece, &c., and that the treaty should, 
 thus defined, be proposed to the Turks. Eussia says 
 she will carry forward her mihtary operations till 
 Turkey consents to what is proposed, and conclude a 
 general treaty, including the settlement of her own 
 
108 
 
 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 quarrel, and the Greek question. If we acceded to 
 this proposal, Capo dTstrias might, by refusing to ac- 
 quiesce in what we thought right, prevent Eussia 
 from making peace — he might enable her to avoid 
 making peace. Eussia might prevent the settlement 
 of the Greek question till she had settled her own quar- 
 rel (which is her object), or, having settled her own 
 quarrel, she might, by obstinately resolving to settle 
 both questions at once, make war for the Treaty of 
 London. We cannot sanction a war for that object. 
 
 Let the conditions on which the co-operation of the 
 Eussian Government with ours is to rest be what they 
 may, the moral effect will be the same. The various 
 nations of the Turkish Empire will see the three greatest 
 Powers of Europe apparently acting together for the 
 subversion of the Ottoman Empire. 
 
 After dinner I had some conversation with Lord 
 Grey. He said Palmerston's and Spring Eice's speeches 
 would make it necessary for him to explain the grounds 
 of his vote on the Canning Pension Bill. He thought it 
 indefensible. He said he approved of all he knew of 
 the Duke's measures, and differed from him only on 
 the Cathohc question. He thought the Duke was too 
 sensible a man not to see that that question must make 
 its way, and that he would not make a pertinacious 
 resistance to what was inevitable. 
 
 Eosslyn and Lord Grey were both desirous that, 
 if possible, all discussion should be avoided on the 
 Cathohc question this year. 
 
 Sir H. Parnell had suggested that a Committee might 
 be moved for ' to report in what manner the Eoman 
 
RUSSIAN PROPOSITIONS. 109 
 
 Catholics of England, Ireland, and Scotland were 
 effected by the existing laws.' This would be a proper 
 preliminary to the discussion of the question, and last 
 long enough to make the discussion impracticable this 
 year. They wished to know what the Duke thought 
 of their measure. I promised to ask him to-morrow. 
 
 May 19. 
 
 Saw the Duke at half-past twelve. He said he 
 would think of the proposed Committee. He seemed 
 rather against it. The King is very eager on the sub- 
 ject of the Catholics. 
 
 I read to him a paper I wrote this morning on the 
 subject of the Eussian propositions. He said it was all 
 true, but some part of it could not be said to Eussia. 
 He is angry with Palmerston for his speech, but there 
 is an awkwardness about coming to an explanation 
 with him about it, and he does not wish to come to 
 extremities. That speech has endangered the success 
 of the Pension Bill. The letter to Codrington he ap- 
 proved of entirely, and has sent it to Huskisson. 
 
 Cabinet at 3. Determined that the Penrhyn case 
 not being yet settled in the Lords, all those who voted 
 in the Commons for throwing East Eetford into the 
 Hundreds should vote for it to-night. 
 
 Dudley brought two sentences to the Cabinet and no 
 more ! He complained bitterly that we talked of things 
 of no real importance, while his concerns, Avhich affected 
 the peace of Europe, were left unsettled ; and yet he 
 comes to the Cabinet himself, with no fixed ideas, and 
 with nothing done, I gave him the paper I wrote this 
 
no 
 
 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 morning. The Duke said he would write a paper on 
 the subject. Dudley said it would be better to put 
 some person who had more weight than himself into his 
 situation. I think so, too. I advised him to go at 
 once to the Duke. He could settle everything with him 
 in half an hour, which in the Cabinet would not be 
 settled in five hours. He will take my advice. I did 
 not add, as I might have done, that I advised him never 
 to go to Huskisson. 
 
 The Duke saw the Lord High Admiral to-day. He 
 agrees to send Sir Pulteney Malcolm, but reluctantly. 
 He wanted to send Sir J. Gore, who really could not 
 have accepted the situation. It would have led to an 
 accusation of intrigue. '^'■ 
 
 We had our Conference with the Commons, and re- 
 ceived their resolution respecting the Catholics. Our 
 managers were the Lord President, Duke of Devonshire, 
 Earls of Eldon, Grey, Vane, Bishop of Durham, Lord 
 Colchester. Debate fixed for this day three weeks. 
 
 At Prince Leopold's Apsley told me there had been 
 a complete smash in the House of Commons. Peel with 
 a majority of only 18 for the Hundreds against Bir- 
 mingham — Huskisson and Palmerston votins: in the 
 minority — contrary to the understanding come to at the 
 Cabinet. G. Bankes told me he considered it a com- 
 plete break up. If things are allowed to go on in this 
 way our friends will not support us. Indeed, in the di- 
 vision I hear they said there was no use in their coming 
 down to support a Government which was divided. 
 
 Lord Howick and a number of men are for giving 
 the two members to Yorkshire, and then dividing York- 
 
EESIGNATION OF HUSKISSON. HI 
 
 shire into three. Apsley said he thought this was the 
 best course and the most hkely to succeed. 
 
 May 20. 
 
 Called at the Treasury. The Duke out. Went to 
 the Wool Committee. Afterwards called again on the 
 Duke, who was gone to the Horse Guards. Lord Bath- 
 urst seemed to treat Hghtly the affair in the House of 
 Commons last night. 
 
 House at 5. Aberdeen told me Lord Bathurst had 
 told him that Huskisson resigned this morning. The 
 Duke, as I afterwards learnt from AjDsley, called on 
 Lord Bathurst early, so Lord Bathurst knew Huskisson 
 had resigned when he affected to treat the division 
 of last night lightly. 
 
 The Duke was in the House for a short time and 
 left it with Palmerston. I suppose Palmerston has 
 resigned too. If he has, I do hope the Duke will not 
 ask him to remain. I do not think he will. As for 
 Huskisson, his going out would make all our friends re- 
 joice, and give us better divisions, but he is an able man. 
 Should he resign I know not where we could get a 
 proper person to hold his office. There are four or 
 five important questions pending in that department 
 which it would be impossible to bring forward this year. 
 Sir Edward Knatchbull, Leslie Foster, the Speaker, and 
 Calcraft, and Hardinge are the only men we can bring 
 forward in the Commons. 
 
 Salisbury, the Duke of Newcastle, Lord Shaftesbury, 
 Lord Cassihs, were all indignant and dehghted— hoping 
 this would end in the retirement of Huskisson and Co. 
 
112 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 May 21. 
 
 Called on Aberdeen. He had heard nothing. He 
 told me when Huskisson was going out before, Lamb 
 would have gone too. I should be sorry for that. It 
 would be difficult to replace him. Frankland Lewis 
 would be a good man. 
 
 It seems there are reports about of changes. It was 
 said Peel had resigned. He will, I dare say, be unwil- 
 ling to go on without Huskisson ; but still he is out of 
 humour with Huskisson, and may be disposed to try it 
 now, 
 
 Huskisson, Hardinge, 
 
 Palmerston, Knatchbull, 
 
 Grant, LesHe Foster, 
 
 Lamb, Cal craft. 
 
 Lord Francis Leveson, Littleton. 
 
 Mansion House dinner. The Duke was received 
 extremely well. He looked ill, and as if he had been 
 annoyed ; but he was quite in good spirits with his re- 
 ception, elated. Huskisson and Palmerston were not 
 there, nor Dudley, but he never meant to go. Lord 
 Melville was ill and could not go. The Cliancellor was 
 engaged. 
 
 May 22. 
 
 At Epsom races. Lord Eosslyn came and had a long 
 conversation with me. I gathered from it that there 
 would be little or no difficulty, if Huskisson went out, in 
 obtaining his accession and that of Lord Grey to the 
 Government. In any case they would support the 
 
CABINET DISSENSIONS. 113 
 
 Government if the secession of Huskisson should embar- 
 rass it. Eosslyn seemed to think there would be no diffi- 
 culty in getting Brougham, and that Mr. Stanley could 
 not refuse the Wsh secretaryship. I thought it right to 
 write a note to the Duke on my return to tell him this. 
 
 The disappointment will be universal if Huskisson 
 and Palmerston do not go out. I do not see how we 
 can go on comfortably and cordially with them again* 
 As the Duke certainly repented of having brought them 
 in, I should hope no want of firmness on Peel's part 
 will induce him to keep them now they have themselves 
 offered to go. How he will fill their places I cannot 
 imagine. Palmerston's loss can be easily supphed, but 
 Huskisson's not so easily. 
 
 I have not heard a word from the Duke, so I con- 
 clude nothing is settled definitively. The idea on the 
 Course was that Huskisson and Palmerston would go ; 
 Grant and Dudley remain. I may be mistaken, but I 
 cannot help thinking that if Dudley and I were to 
 change places the country would be no loser ; but the 
 King Hkes him and dishkes me, so I suppose things will 
 remain as they are as far as regards us. 
 
 May 23. ' 
 
 Called uj5on Aberdeen at 10. The Duke dined 
 with him yesterday. Nothing was settled at eleven 
 o'clock last night. The Duke had determined not to 
 make any advance or recede a step. If they are wilhng 
 to withdraw their resignations, he consents. If they 
 choose to go, he thinks he shall stand better without 
 them. Peel has made up his mind to try the House of 
 
 VOL. I. I 
 
114 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 Commons by himself. Dudley has been much with the 
 King, and then with the Chancellor, The King is 
 infatuated about him. - 
 
 The Duke said yesterday, ' I am no speaker, but if 
 I was in the House of Commons I think I could set 
 things to rights in three minutes.' 
 
 Just as I was setting off for Epsom I received a note 
 from the Duke desiring me to call upon him in the 
 course of the morning. So I gave up Epsom. The 
 Duke read to me the letters which have passed between 
 him and Huskisson. Huskisson walked home from the 
 House of Commons on Monday night with Planta, who 
 held very strong language to him on the vote he had 
 given, and told him the only thing he had left to do was 
 to resign. Under the influence of this conversation 
 Huskisson wrote to the Duke at two o'clock in the 
 morning, stating the vote he had been obhged to give 
 from a regard to his personal character, and placing 
 his resignation in the Duke's hands if he thought it 
 necessary to the character of the Government that he 
 should be replaced. I do not remember the words, but 
 the meaning was this ; and it was evident from the terms 
 of the letter that Huskisson thought his vote did mate- 
 rially injure the character of the Government. The 
 Duke in his answer said he had received the communica- 
 tion with surprise and concern, and should lay it before 
 the King. On Tuesday morning Dudley went to the 
 Duke and said Huskisson's letter had been quite mis- 
 conceived ; that he did not intend to resign. Would 
 the Duke see Huskisson ? but he was not desired by 
 Huskisson to express a wish to that effect. The Duke 
 
THE duke's quarrel WITH HUSKISSON. 115 
 
 said he had no objection to see him, but since Huskis- 
 son did not desire it he did not see why he should. 
 
 Then came a letter from Huskisson telhng the Duke 
 he had been misunderstood ; that all he intended was 
 to remove any difficulty of a personal nature, should 
 the Duke think it necessary to remove him, in conse- 
 quence of his vote. The Duke rephed. Huskisson re- 
 torted rather angrily. The Duke had the last word. 
 The Duke's letters are excellent. The King is quite sa- 
 tisfied, and regretting Huskisson's conduct stands by the 
 Duke firmly. The Duke will take no further step, nor 
 will he point out to Huskisson what step will be suffi- 
 cient on his part to replace things as they were. The 
 King enters into this feehng, and will suggest nothing. 
 
 The Duke's spirit is up, and he is quite determined. 
 He means to let this day pass over without doing any- 
 thing, and to-morrow he will consider what measures 
 to take for the purpose of replacing Huskisson, should 
 he not knock under. One thing the Duke said struck ' 
 me much. It was, ' I have done in this case what 
 I have observed in all things it is safest to do. I have 
 taken a moderate hne to which I can and will adhere. 
 When an exaggerated position is taken there is no hold- 
 ing it.' 
 
 He said he knew the men he had to deal with. The 
 Canningites all entertained an erroneous and exagge- 
 rated view of their own consequence, which existed in 
 the minds of none but themselves. They were always 
 endeavouring to lord it. In this case, if he had solicited 
 Huskisson to remain, Huskisson would have been Mi- 
 nister instead of himself. 
 
 I 2 
 
116 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 The Duke is completely roused, and seems to feel as 
 he did at Waterloo. 
 
 In riding home through the Park I passed Huskis- 
 son and Dudley. Dudley made a face, as much as to 
 say, ' Here's a pretty foolish business ! ' The Duke saw 
 Palmerston on Tuesday in the Painted Chamber. Pal- 
 merston two or three times said his resignation was in 
 the Duke's hands, of which the Duke took no notice. 
 He told me Palmerston must follow Huskisson, and he 
 did not choose to fire great guns at sparrows. How 
 pleased this expression would make Palmerston ! 
 
 Called again on Aberdeen and went down with him 
 to Downing Street. He went on to the House to a 
 Commission. I read dispatches from Codrington, just 
 arrived. On April 19 he did issue orders in the spirit 
 of his instructions, but not till then, and then only 
 to two ships, the ' Glasgow ' and Dartmouth,' the latter 
 off Candia, the former off Alexandria. The Turkish 
 fleet went to Candia for the purpose of sending supplies 
 in single vessels to Mod on. Two of these (corvettes of 
 20 guns) the Warspite turned back. 
 
 There was a letter, too, from Stratford Canning to 
 Huskisson, written on hearing Codrington was to be re- 
 called, and expressing an opinion that his recall would 
 induce the Turks to think we did not mean to proceed 
 with the treaty. He says the Turks look only to facts ; 
 when they look to the fact of the Morea being more 
 strictly blockaded under a new Admiral, they will be 
 satisfied we do mean to go on with the treaty. 
 
 Codrington's letter is in a better tone, and perhaps, 
 had it been received sooner, he might not have been 
 
codrington's recall. 117 
 
 recalled. The letter is not yet gone to the Lord High 
 Admiral, nor that to Codrington ! 
 
 Saw the Duke again in the Honse. He told me 
 the fact of Codrington's recall being in agitation was 
 known on Sunday last at Holland House at dinner, and 
 Lord Holland told Captain Spencer, who told the Duke 
 of Clarence. I took the dispatch to be copied to Back- 
 house. Lord Howard must have seen it, and told Lord 
 Holland. The Duke said he had frequently spoken on 
 the subject to Dudley, but just at present he did not 
 hke to mention it again. The Duke complained of 
 some proposition made to him, I did not understand 
 whether by Huskisson or Grant, to export bonded wheat 
 in the shape of flour. He complained propositions were 
 made to him which seemed at first sight plausible — none 
 of the objections were stated, and he was obhged to 
 cast about and endeavour to discover all the bearings 
 of the question himself. He is thoroughly out of 
 humour with Huskisson and Co., and if any accommo- 
 dation takes place now it cannot last long. 
 
 The Chancellor asked Aberdeen whether anything 
 had been done, and hearing nothing had been, concluded 
 Huskisson was out. He said the King would be very 
 sorry to lose Dudley. Eeally I think Dudley should be 
 Lord Chamberlain, and then he would be always about 
 the King's person. 
 
 Dudley was in the House to-day. People are much 
 on the qui vive. All very anxious. The Tories in 
 very good spirits at the idea of Huskisson's going out. 
 
 I have not the most remote idea how the Duke will 
 fill up the vacant office. I have some suspicion that I 
 
118 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 have been mentioned in the newspapers as Colonial 
 Secretary, but I should never have thought of it. The 
 office is one of great labour and importance, and there 
 are many questions now pending which require much 
 consideration. I should not like the situation, but it 
 is a great object of ambition. Will the Duke place 
 Goulburn there and make Herries Chancellor of the 
 Exchequer ? Goulburn knows the business, for he was 
 under-secretary in the Office. Will he make Lord Mel- 
 ville Colonial Secretary, and give me India ? Or will 
 Lord Bathurst take the office again ? Aberdeen says 
 not. I have exhausted all the propositions which occur 
 to me, and I dare say whatever is done will not be any 
 one of the things I have imagined. As for Palmerston's 
 office I rather think Hardinge will have it Avithout the 
 Cabinet, and very well he will do it. 
 
 Grant and Dudley will, I conclude, stay. At Lady 
 Londonderry's party saw the Duke, who at that time 
 had received no direct communication from Huskisson ; 
 but Dudley had been with him, and Lord F. Leveson 
 had written to him, and they both wished to get the 
 Duke to suggest to Huskisson some mode of getting out 
 of the difficulty. The Duke said when a gentleman got 
 into a difficulty he ought to know how to get out of it ; 
 and he would do nothing which would appear like col- 
 lusion to the pubhc. 
 
 Arbuthnot, whom I saw before the Duke came, was 
 very anxious I should tell the Duke what 1 thought was 
 the present state of the question, and the impression on 
 the public mind. I promised to do so, and had the op- 
 portunity when the Duke came. I told him the thing 
 
A NEW CABINET. 
 
 119 
 
 had gone on so long that there would be an universal 
 feehng of disappointment if Huskisson and Palmerston 
 did not go out. That it would be impossible to make 
 the country understand how the difference arose or how 
 it ended. That the result of a reconciliation would be 
 weakness in the House from want of character, union, 
 and confidence, and in the Cabinet from the recollection 
 of what had passed. He agreed in this, but said, which 
 is true, that if Huskisson said he was sorry for what 
 had happened, and made a proper excuse, he could 
 not refuse to take him back, though he should be 
 sorry to do so. 
 
 I should not be surprised if Dudley, Grant, P. Leve- 
 son, and the others, as a last resource, threatened to go 
 out if Huskisson went. The Duke is not to be buUied, 
 and he would tell them to go. I cannot imagine how 
 the offices will be filled up. Several modes occur to 
 me. 
 
 Colonies . 
 
 . Goulbui'n 
 
 Colonies . 
 
 . Melville 
 
 Exchequer 
 Secretary at War 
 Clerk of Office . 
 
 . Herries 
 . Hai'dinge 
 . Calcraft 
 
 India 
 Privy Seal 
 Duchy . 
 
 . EUenborough 
 . Aberdeen 
 . As above 
 
 Colonies . 
 
 . Bathurst 
 
 Colonies . 
 
 . Rosslyn 
 
 President 
 
 . Aberdeen 
 
 
 
 Duchy . 
 Paymaster 
 d;c. 
 
 . Fitzgerald 
 . Calcraft 
 
 Colonies . 
 Privy Seal 
 d'C. 
 
 . EUenborough 
 . Aberdeen 
 . As above. 
 
 We want strength in the Commons, and I think the 
 Duke will prefer keeping the Colonial Secretary there. 
 He might have an equal number of Ministers there by 
 sending the Duchy down. 
 
 If the Colonies were in the Lords, a good deal of 
 
120 . DIARY. 1828. 
 
 business might begin there which will now begin in the 
 
 Commons. I am sure we should do well to make the 
 
 Lords of more importance by beginning more business 
 
 there. 
 
 May 24. 
 
 Went to the Cabinet room. Met Lord Bathurst 
 there, who told me there had been a most extraordinary 
 proposal that morning, that Huskisson and the Duke 
 should go together to the King and state their case. 
 This was, of course, rejected, and cannot have facili- 
 tated a reconciliation by showing Huskisson considered 
 himself on a par with the Duke. 
 
 Met Aberdeen in the Park and told him what I had 
 heard. Aberdeen's opinion is that the King will impose 
 his commands on Huskisson, and that so some concession 
 will be made, and the matter settled. God forbid ! 
 
 At Salisbury's dinner I met Bathurst, Aberdeen, 
 Lothian, and the Duke of Dorset. The women are all 
 violent against Huskisson and Palmerston. 
 
 Went to Lady Cowper's, and met there Lord and 
 Lady Tankerville and Gwydyr. They are all for the 
 Duke, and, as far as I can judge, if Huskisson remains in 
 office, the world will think the Duke has lost the battle 
 of Retford (the name I have given to the affair). There 
 will be no means of explaining the matter to the country. 
 Our friends will be breast high with us again if Huskis- 
 son goes out. If he does not, there will be a degree of 
 irritation which will make it very difficult to carry on 
 the Government. Besides I do not see how after all 
 that has passed there can be unity of purpose and cor- 
 diality between the members of the Cabinet. The world 
 
, - POSITION OF THE GOVERNMENT. 121 
 
 begins to be very impatient for a denouement. The in- 
 convenience to the pubhc service has been great ah^eady. 
 The case is not the same as it was on Tuesday morning. 
 A new case has arisen which makes a chansje still more 
 essential to the character and efficiency of the Govern- 
 ment. The country looks to the Duke alone, and cares 
 .little who are the other Ministers ; but, should Huskis- 
 son remain in, it will not be easy to make it clear to the 
 country that the Duke is really Minister. 
 
 May 25. 
 
 I wrote a note to the Duke giving him the opinion I 
 have expressed above ; telling him I fully approved of 
 all he had done, and I was sure I should approve of all 
 he might do ; but I should be very sorry if it should not 
 be as evident to the public that he was right as it would 
 be to me. Beceived an answer from the Duke to say 
 he concurred with me in thinking delay an evil and a 
 concession in itself He should have made his commu- 
 nication to the King yesterday, had he not found it 
 necessary to postpone it till he could make known to 
 Dudley that he intended to speak to the King about an 
 arrangement before he made it. Dudley had been ap- 
 prised, and the Duke was to see the King at two o'clock. 
 
 As to our friends the Duke said they must allow 
 him to look at all the circumstances attending the situa- 
 tion of the country, in all its relations at home and 
 abroad. He did not mean to say that a quarrel with 
 Huskisson would do the Government much harm if 
 Huskisson should be in the wrong in the circumstances 
 and details of the affair from its commencement to its 
 
122 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 termination ; but of this he was very certain that we and 
 the country should feel severely the consequences of 
 any harsh or precipitate step. We must not take such 
 a one. His behef was we should be in a better position 
 after this affair, be its result what it might ; and he 
 added he was very little anxious about the result 
 although within two hours of the solution of so im- 
 portant a question. ■'" 
 
 May 26. , - . : 
 
 Heard nothing all the morning. The day very bad. 
 I did not go out. At 9 p.m. heard from Aberdeen that 
 Huskisson, W. Lamb, and Palmerston were certainly 
 out. Grant, being in great affliction for the death of 
 his sister, has taken no step yet ; but Aberdeen expected 
 one or two more resignations. Lord F. Leveson, I 
 should think, would certainly not remain in as Under- 
 Secretary. Dudley will make a motion as if he wished 
 to resign ; but I doubt his going out. 
 
 Went to the ball at St. James's. Saw the Duke, 
 who told me he had done it at half-past two yes- 
 terday. A letter had come from them in the morning, 
 which was quite inadmissible. I am to go to-morrow 
 morning to read the letters. Sir G. Murray succeeds 
 Huskisson. A better man could not have been found. 
 He is able ; a good man of business ; a good speaker (as 
 far as he is known), and he brings a high established 
 character into the service of the country. He is, besides, 
 a Cathohc. My expectation is that next session he will 
 be the most efficient man in the House of Commons. 
 
 Mrs. Arbuthnot told me she had suggested Hardinge 
 to the Duke for the Irish Secretaryship. The Duke 
 
LORD GREY. 123 
 
 was thinking of Wilmot Horton, who would be very- 
 unfit — he is a bore full of fancies. Hardinge had not 
 occurred to him ; but he was much struck with the 
 idea. 
 
 Lady Jersey told me Lord Grey was only afraid the 
 Government might assume a Tory character, and make 
 it impossible for him to support it as he really wished. 
 
 The Tories were all in high spirits, but Lord Mans- 
 field is not satisfied yet, and will never be satisfied till 
 he has a pure Anti-Catholic Administration, which he 
 never will see in this country again. 
 
 May 27. 
 
 Went to the Duke. He showed me the last letters.- 
 Huskisson sent through Dudley a letter which the Duke 
 returned unopened, because it came too late, that is, 
 after he had seen the King. Huskisson returned the 
 letter, which contained the substance of what he had 
 intended to say to the King, and requested the Duke 
 would lay it before the King, as he had not had an 
 audience. The Duke did so, and answered the letter. 
 Huskisson afterwards had an audience and dehvered up 
 the seals. . I told the Duke how pleased I was with Sir 
 G. Murray's appointment, and said I hoped he would be 
 able to do something for Hardinge. He said he thought 
 of him for Lreland, but the appointment of Sir G. 
 Murray, as a military man, created a difficulty. I said 
 it might occasion a debate, and be talked of for three 
 days ; but if the man appointed was a fit man, as Har- 
 dinge is, he would soon put down party clamour. He 
 agreed with me. I then said something against Wilmot 
 
124 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 Horton, Hardinge's competitor for Ireland, and the 
 Duke said he thought he was a man full of fancies, &c. 
 
 I told him what Lady Jersey said about Lord Grey, 
 and about Lord Howard's cfoin^ out. 
 
 Went to Mrs. Arbuthnot to tell her what had passed, 
 
 and found Hardinge with lier. I said nothing on his 
 
 subject before him. 
 
 Mmj 28. 
 
 Seeing in the ' Times ' that Dudley had resigned, I 
 drove to town from Eoehampton. Called at Aberdeen's, 
 who was out, and then went to Downing Street. I read 
 the last papers from Lisbon, till Mr. Greville came to 
 call me to the Duke. I went, and he began by telling 
 me they were all gone, except Lord F. Leveson, about 
 whom he was not yet sure. I said Lord F. Leveson 
 followed me into the office, and proposed his seeing him 
 at once, which he did. The result of the interview was 
 that Lord Francis gave in his resignation. Personally, 
 he would have had no objection to remain, but Lord 
 Stafford objects. The Duke asked if he thought Lord 
 Stafford would equally object to his being at the 
 Foreign Office. Lord F. said his father was old, and he 
 did not like to trouble him any more about it. 
 
 Dudley gave no opinion upon the letters, but said 
 he could not continue a member of a Cabinet constituted 
 in so different a manner from what it was when he first 
 belonged to it. The King expressed no particular 
 regret at Dudley's going out. He told the Duke he 
 would stick by him. 
 
 The Duke told me Peel was very anxious to have all 
 he could in the Commons ; that Wilmot Horton would 
 
LORD ELLENBOROUGH's DISSATISFACTION. 125 
 
 have the Secretaryship at War, not in the Cabinet ; V. 
 Fitzgerald be President of the Board of Trade ; Calcraft 
 is to have the office of the Paymastership ; Lord Low- 
 ther the Woods and Forests ; Arbuthnot, the Duchy ; 
 and Aberdeen the Foreign Office. V. Fitzgerald ^ is to 
 be in the Cabinet, which will thns consist of eleven 
 instead of thirteen. 
 
 The Duke said Lord Stuart and Lord Heytesbury 
 had been thought of for the Foreign Office, but they 
 thought on the whole Aberdeen was the best. 
 
 I expressed my opinion of Wilmot Horton's ap- 
 pointment, and Calcraft's, unfavourable to the in- 
 dividuals, as they were mentioned. When the Duke 
 had done speaking I told him I would fairly say I had 
 never hked the office of Privy Seal ; that I accepted 
 it with reluctance, after long consultation with Hard- 
 inge, that the rank was irksome to me, and that I 
 particularly dishked having nothing to do. That while 
 Dudley was at the Foreign Office I could do something, 
 because he was an old friend of mine, and had no false 
 pride, and was wilhng to receive any hints or sugges- 
 tions. In fact I had almost written the last dispatch to 
 Polignac. That no proposal having been made to 
 Grey or Eosslyn, I was now separated from them with- 
 out the chance of reunion. 
 
 The Duke said Lord Grey had no people in the 
 House of Commons, and that he did not like to make an 
 offer which would probably not have been entertained 
 without some concession on the subject of the Catholics 
 which he could not make. 
 
 1 Vesey Fitzgerald; afterwards Lord Fitzgerald. 
 
126 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 I told him I understood from Kosslyn that AJthoi^pe, 
 Tavistock, Duncannon, and others would willingly act 
 with the Government if Lord Grey belonged to it. I 
 thought I had told him so in my note, but I suppose J 
 did not. ; ). 
 
 As to myself the Duke said he felt all I said about 
 the Privy Seal. That he acknowledged I had been ^s 
 useful as any member of the Cabinet, both in discussing 
 all questions, and in concocting the papers; and he 
 should take the first opportunity of placing me in ai^ 
 efficient situation. . That the object :was to bring me 
 into the Cabinet, and there was no other place at the 
 time, and my position, was. not altered. , . j.:^;, 
 
 I asked about the Irish Secretaryship, and it seems 
 that is not yet given. The Duke thinks Hardinge the 
 fittest man bj^" far^ and agrees with me in considering 
 the fact of his being a mihtary man one of little import- 
 ance. It will be a subject of debate,, one night, and 
 Hardinge's good services will bring all round. But 
 Peel is afraid of that one debate. The Duke told him 
 to point out some other man. He is determmed not to 
 appoint an iinfit man, for he feels it to be one of the 
 most important situations in the country. 
 
 When the Duke said he had no office to propose to 
 Kosslyn, as Peel wanted them all in the House of Com- 
 mons, I said he might take the Privy Seal — it was really 
 disagreeable to me to hold it, I said the little work I 
 did with Dudley would be lost to me now, for Aberdeen 
 was by no means the same sort of person, nor would he 
 receive good-humouredly any suggestions which might 
 be given to him. 
 
LOKD ABERDEEN. 127 
 
 The Duke said tlie business of the Foreign Office, 
 however important, was but a portion of the pubhc 
 business ; that there was a great deal to do in the Colo- 
 nial Department, with the matters relating to the slaves. 
 I said that was not business I Hked. That the foreign 
 business I had always attended to. . 
 
 The Duke asked what I thought Lord Grey would 
 do. I said I thought he would be much indisposed to- 
 wards the Government. That he would be disgusted 
 with Wilmot Horton and Calcraft, and that he would 
 have been gratified by an offer, even if he had not 
 accepted it. 
 
 The idea of Lord Lansdowne ^ seems to have sug- 
 gested itself only to be rejected. I, told the Duke. I 
 would not have served with him. ■ . 
 
 Had Lord Heytesbury, Lord Melville, or Lord Bath- 
 urst, been made Foreign Secretary, I . should have ac- 
 knowledged their superior claims. Had either of the 
 latter been made, an office of some work might have 
 been opened for me, and Aberdeen, taking the Privy 
 Seal, his office would have gone to the Commons as 
 now. I cannot think Aberdeen a fitter man than my- 
 self. He has been useless to the Duke in the Cabinet, 
 and he failed as Ambassador to Austria. He cannot 
 speak at all. 
 
 I do not think the Duke acts wisely. I am more 
 popular with the Tories ; the Whigs would have con- 
 sidered my appointment (I mean Lord Grey and &c. ) 
 one of good omen for them, and -as far as a man is 
 capable of judging himself, I could have done the duty 
 of the office well. 
 
128 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 Aberdeen being known to be quite Austrian, his 
 appointment will create suspicion in tlie minds of 
 Eussia and Prance. I have no idea of his being able 
 to do the business even as well as Dudley, who, after 
 all, did all the ordinary business very well. He only 
 failed in his great papers, and he would have done 
 them better in time. 
 
 The Duke has thrown away an opportunity of mak- 
 ing a strong Government. He might have had Lord 
 Eosslyn, certainly, probably Lords Grey and Stanley. I 
 could have supported such a Government in any situa- 
 tion, but I have no satisfaction in supporting Aberdeen 
 as Foreign Secretary, and such men as Wilmot Horton 
 and Calcraft. Now Stanley will lead the Opposition 
 and terrify Peel, Lord Grey will soon join the Oppo- 
 sition in the Lords, and I shall have to fight against 
 all my old friends in a cause I dislike. For the Duke I 
 have the greatest regard, and in him, personally, I place 
 great confidence. I cannot desert his colours while 
 the enemy is in the field ; but my present feehng is to 
 fight by his side manfully while the session lasts, and to 
 resign on the day of the prorogation. 
 
 May 29. 
 
 Wrote a paper detailing my personal views of the 
 recent changes, and the draft of a letter to the Duke of 
 Wellington, stating my intention of resigning at the 
 end of the session, but accompanying that statement 
 with the warmest expressions of regard for him, and of 
 respect for his character, and assuring him I would 
 stand by him during the session. This I intended to 
 
INTERVIEWS WITH ABERDEEN AND HARDINGE. 129 
 
 leave at Hardinge's, should he not be at home, asking 
 his frank opinion. 
 
 Went to London and met Aberdeen. Walked with 
 him through the Park, and avowed to him my dissatis- 
 faction with the arrangements made,, with the exception 
 of that of Sir G. Murray. I explained what seemed to 
 me the disagreeable circumstances in my own position, 
 both in the Cabinet and with regard to my old pohtical 
 friends. He endeavoured to show the Duke could not 
 have done otherwise. His own appointment he spoke 
 of as a bore, and said he would not have accepted it had 
 he had the Privy Seal. It seems Wilmot Horton has 
 refused the Secretaryship at War and Calcraft the Pay- 
 mastership ; so the Duke, who feared a repulse from 
 Lord Grey, has received it from W. Horton and Calcraft. 
 The whole mischief arises from Peel's not taking a 
 manly view of things. 
 
 Called on Hardinge. Told him in substance what I 
 had written in the paper. He saw the Duke yesterday. 
 He expressed great regard for me ; said I had ten times 
 the abihty of Aberdeen : that I was as certain of rising 
 to be a Secretary of State as he ever was of rising in 
 the army; that I had more talent than any man in the 
 Cabinet, and had showed great temper and judgment — 
 but why are persons placed permanently in every office 
 I could occupy? It seems Peel wishes to have one 
 Cabinet Minister less in the Lords. This might have 
 been managed otherwise had it been desirable. 
 
 Hardinge said the idea was that on Lord Anglesey's 
 resignation (but he will not resign), either Aberdeen or 
 Melville might be induced to go to Ireland, and then 
 
 VOL. I. K 
 
ISO ■' DIARY. ' 1828. 
 
 tlie office of whoever went would be left for me. But 
 so was Dudley's, so was Huskisson's, so was Grant's 
 office left for me now. 
 
 I showed Hardhige my letter to the Duke. He said 
 it was very kind, but would still hurt him very much, 
 and, if known, do great mischief to the Government. 
 I might resign, if I pleased, on the same grounds two 
 months hence. I believe he is right. My doubt was 
 between resigning, if circumstances required it, then, 
 and intimating the resignation now. I must fight fairly 
 for the Duke now, so I had better defer my resignation. 
 
 Frankland Lewis is to be proposed to the King as 
 Secretary in Ireland. Hardinge will, I conclude, be 
 Secretary at War ; but he must ask Lord Londonderry 
 about his seat, and Lord Londonderry is dissatisfied be- 
 cause Sir G. Murray is preferred to him, and may dislike 
 two elections in one year. There are still to be filled 
 up the Paymastership, the Vice-Presidency of the Board 
 of Trade, and the two Under-Secretaries for Colonies 
 and Foreign Affairs. Hardinge cannot see daylight, or 
 guess where these are to be found. 
 
 Hardinge wishes the offer had been made to Lord 
 Grey. He thinks it might be made even now. 
 
 May 30. 
 
 Went to town. First to Downing Street, where I 
 saw Peel and his brother-in-law Dawson, and brother 
 Wilham at the Cabinet room. I told Peel I thought he 
 had managed ill, that he had united the Opposition, and 
 made a weak Government. 
 
SIR ROBERT PEEL. 131 
 
 I find Frankland Lewis resigns too. He mars his 
 fortune at the very moment when it would have been 
 made. 
 
 Came up with Lord Londonderry. He had been 
 with the Duke, to say he did not hke Hardinge's vacat- 
 ing his seat. It would cost him 10,000^. now, and 
 then there might be a general election soon. The 
 object was not sufficient to Hardinge, and he got nothing 
 for Castlereagh or for himself He had been putting 
 forward his own claims. He wants an embassy. 
 
 Went to the Council. Arbuthnot was there for the 
 Duchy. Lord Lowther for the Woods and Forests. 
 Hardinge as Secretary at War, Courtenay as Vice-Presi- 
 dent of the Board of Trade, and Sir George Murray as 
 Colonial Secretary. I had never seen Sir George 
 Murray before, and was introduced to him by Lord 
 Melville. I told him no one could rejoice more than I 
 did in his accession to the Government. I had some 
 talk with Aberdeen. He gave me to imderstand that I 
 should succeed him in three or four months. 
 
 Hardinge told me the Duke said he wished Aber- 
 deen would take the Privy Seal and give me the Poreign 
 Office. He had much rather see me there. 
 
 Aberdeen received the Seals to-day. He seems dis- 
 posed to give me as much business as I Hke. He asked 
 me, as we were going away, if I had thought of any 
 body for Paris in the event of Lord Granville's coming 
 away. I said I was afraid the Duke was hampered 
 with Lord Stuart de Eothesay, but I thought Lord 
 Bristol a good man. He would go into Opposition if 
 he was not prevented, for he was a Canningite. Aber- 
 
 K 2 
 
132 « DIARY. 1828. 
 
 deen thought Lord Bristol would do very well. He 
 had imagined Lord Londonderry might have been pro- 
 posed by the Duke. I am afraid Lord Bristol would 
 not go. 
 
 The King gave but short audiences to Dudley and 
 Huskisson. The latter told him he should be in the 
 House of Commons on Monday. Dudley wanted to 
 enter into a long detail, but the King stopped him by 
 saying ' that has nothing to do but with private feeling. 
 I think you were quite wrong.' 
 
 The King was not very well. He had taken some 
 laudanum, and when we went there at two he was in 
 bed. 
 
 I suggested to the Duke that we should do well to 
 get some young men who stood well in society, such as 
 H. Corry, or W. Ashley, that sort of man. He said, 
 ' Peel complains they do nothing — besides all the 
 women are with us. I sat between two at dinner yes- 
 terday, Lady Conyngham and Lady Cowper. I do not 
 beheve Lady Conyngham likes me, but I have never 
 enquired into that. I have always disregarded Court 
 intrigues. Well, I was good-humoured with them both, 
 and sent them both away in good humour. I called 
 Clanwilliam to me and said, " See what a little good 
 humour does — look at those two women." ' 
 
 Speaking of Lord Londonderry, the Duke said, ' I 
 beheve few men know their own position. He thinks 
 I can make him an ambassador to-morrow. I could 
 do no such thing.' 
 
 The Duke will keep the offices undisposed of, the 
 Paymastership, Clerkship of the Ordnance, and Secre- 
 
DISTRIBUTION OF OFFICES. 133 
 
 tarysliip for Ireland, in his own hands, till he sees his 
 way a little, and I hope he will go to Lord Grey, talk 
 cordially with him, and practically place the Irish 
 Secretaryship at his disposal. Then Lord Howick 
 might be made Clerk of the Ordnance, and Eosslyn 
 might be inchned to go as Governor-General to Canada. 
 
 If something is not done to concihate Lord Grey the 
 whole Opposition will be united in both Houses. 
 
 I fear it will be too late to induce Stanley to go to 
 Ireland. 
 
 Sir George Clerk is thought of as a possible man for 
 Ireland. 
 
 May 31. 
 
 We all seemed to feel comfortable at being so few. 
 Sir G. Murray was there for the first time. I hke 
 him. 
 
 We considered the heads of a letter to Lieven, and 
 determined on reopening this Conference. Our letter is 
 to restate the reasons for which we suspended them, and 
 to declare our understanding of the practical retracta- 
 tion contained in Nesselrode's last dispatch. It is hke- 
 wise to deny that we ever declared our opinion of the 
 justice of the War undertaken by Eussia. 
 
 We must observe, too, upon the very insidious pro- 
 positions of Eussia, as to the mode of fixing the hmits 
 of Greece, the suzerainete, &c. — as to marching forward 
 till the Turks accept the terms proposed, and as to 
 setthng simultaneously the differences arising out of the 
 treaty of July 6, and the separate differences of Eussia. 
 Co-operation is to be refused. I wrote a note to Dudley 
 
134 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 begging liim to send to Aberdeen a paper I gave 
 him on these points. He was at Wimbledon at the 
 Chancellor's. 
 
 He is much pleased at Aberdeen's taking Wrangham 
 as his private secretary. Aberdeen was, after the 
 Cabinet, to see Lord Douglas and declare him Under- 
 Secretary. He is a friend of the Duke's and a relation 
 of the Buccleuch. 
 
 Goulburn got througli hfty-one estimates last night. 
 The House seemed in good humour. They did the 
 business of a week. 
 
 In returning through the Park I met Arbuthnot^ 
 who began to talk about Lord Grey. He is very 
 anxious something should be done about him. He had 
 heard Lord Durham was outrageous at no proposal 
 having been made to Lord Grey. I am not surprised. 
 The Duke has no objection, but Arbuthnot says the 
 King would say, ' Send for Lord Lansdowne if you 
 want a Whig.' I am to see Arbuthnot to-morrow 
 about it. 
 
 I am told that the Whigs say the Government cannot 
 stand, and there will be a great opposition. I expect it. 
 It is our own fault. ^ We might have molhfied it. How- 
 ever, the King is firm. 
 
 June I. 
 
 Went to the Cabinet room. Met there Sir George 
 Murray, whom I put aufait of what had been done. I 
 like him of all things. 
 
 ^ i.e. By not ofFering office to Lord Grey or Lord Rosslyn. 
 
huskisson's explanation. 135 
 
 Aberdeen came in and said there were accounts 
 from Portugal, and Miguel seemed to be in a bad way. 
 
 June 2. 
 
 Wool Committee. Eead dispatches from Portugal. 
 Miguel wants courage to meet the dangers of his posi- 
 tion. 
 
 The Spanish Government is alarmed. We must 
 prevent their interference by teUing them at once we 
 will not permit it. 
 
 In the House of Commons Huskisson made his ex- 
 planation, and spoke in a tone of exacerbation, which 
 will do him no good. The Opposition did not take him 
 up. On a division we had 258 to 152, a majority of 
 106. The last majority was 18. Huskisson threw out 
 insinuations that his dismissal was to clear the way for 
 a chang-e of measures. This was denied. 
 
 June 3. 
 
 Went at 11 to the Cabinet room to finish the 
 second letter to Codrington, which I took to tlie Duke, 
 who approved of it. I then got the two copied. Aber- 
 deen read to me his first dispatch. It is not as well 
 written as Dudley's were. I thought he would have 
 been at least correct, but he is not, and, like Dudley, he 
 does not hold his object steadfastly before him, and give 
 one unbroken chain of argument. I altered the dis- 
 patch very materially. 
 
 The Foreign Ministers paid their compliments to 
 him to-day in grand costume, and each had his petit 
 
1S6 DIARY. 1828, 
 
 mot a dire There were twenty-one of them. I met 
 Esterhazy and Pohgnac as I was going in with drafts. 
 
 Aberdeen asked me to write a dispatch to Madrid, 
 which I did. Its object is to do everything short of 
 threatening war in the event of Spain's interfering in 
 the affairs of Portugal by force. I sent it to the Duke, 
 and we are to have a Cabinet upon it to-morrow. The 
 Duke goes to Ascot and will not be at the Cabinet. I 
 wrote another dispatch to Madrid on various matters. 
 
 The Duke is to look over the Portuguese dispatches 
 to-night, and make memoranda which we are to throw 
 into the form of dispatches to-morrow. I shall do as 
 much of the business of the Foreign Office as I can. 
 
 I had a long conversation with Eosslyn to-day. I 
 told him I communicated to the Duke the impression 
 produced upon my mind by my conversation with him 
 at Epsom. He said the Pitt dinner, and some of the 
 appointments liad induced people to apprehend the 
 Duke intended to go into extrenies, and form a Govern- 
 ment on exclusive principles. I assured him it was not 
 so. He told me Huskisson's speech was very bitter and 
 offensive in its tone. Brougham seems to have thrown 
 him over. 
 
 The ' Turks ' have risen one per cent, upon the 
 majority. 
 
 There was a telegraphic dispatch to-day to say that 
 all the regiments hut one in the north of Portugal had 
 declared for Don Pedro. 
 
 Dudley and Huskisson have advised Lord Granville 
 not to resign. Lord Bathurst thinks this advice was 
 given tliat Huskisson may know all that is going on. 
 
BLOCKADE OF OPORTO. 137 
 
 June 4. 
 
 Wrote a dispatch to Lord Granville, desiring him to 
 send full information as to the changes taking place in 
 the disposition of the Chambers, and two dispatches to 
 Sir F. Lamb. I took them to Aberdeen, but he was 
 engaged with Stratford Canning, Lord Heytesbury, &c., 
 and I did not see him till the Cabinet met at quarter to 
 four. 
 
 I found he had retained his defective phraseology, 
 though he had adopted all my suggestions of real im- 
 portance in the letter to Lieven. However, the Cabi- 
 net was of my opinion, and struck out the very words 
 I thought objectionable. 
 
 The dispatch to Madrid the Duke approved of; 
 but he thought a paragraph should be added to point 
 out the danger of contagion, should a Spanish army be 
 placed in an inactive state upon the frontier. This 
 I have added, and I have struck out a passage Avhicli 
 I beheve the Duke thought too strong. 
 
 The Portuguese Government has ordered a blockade 
 of Oporto. It seems it would be very inconvenient for 
 us to acknowledge this blockade. If Miguel has 
 assumed a title which is not his, his blockade has no 
 value, but he caUs himself Infant Regent in the decree 
 establishincr it. The Kino;'s advocate is to be consulted, 
 and he is to receive a hint as to the opinion the Go- 
 vernment wish him to give. This, it seems, is the usual 
 course. So much for law ! 
 
 The letter to Codrington was at last signed and 
 taken to the Lord High Admiral. Aberdeen was to 
 
138 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 read it to him, but not to give him a copy. He seemed 
 to think he might have a difficult business, and Dudley 
 shrank from it. 
 
 Dudley so much committed himself to Lawrence's 
 proposal of sending two names on each side for the 
 purpose of choosing the arbiter, that Lawrence says he 
 wrote to his Government to acquaint them with it. 
 
 Lord Anglesea certainly stays in Ireland. 
 
 June 5. 
 
 Saw Lord Bathurst at the Cabinet room. I told 
 him what Arbuthnot had told me, that the King was in 
 high good humour when the Duke saw him yesterday, 
 and very staunch. Huskisson's speech and the majority 
 of 106 have tos^ether done this for us. 
 
 Aberdeen saw Ofalia this morning. He is quite of 
 our mind as to sending Spanish troops to the frontier. 
 Aberdeen showed him the dispatch to Bosanquet, and 
 he approved of it. He was desirous of receiving an as- 
 surance that we would use our influence to prevent the 
 troubles in Portugal being made use of for the purpose 
 of reviving political divisions in Spain. This assurance 
 was willingly given to him. 
 
 The Duke of Clarence approved of every word of 
 the letter to Codrington. 
 
 Lord Granville has resis^ned. This is a godsend. 
 The Duke wishes it not to be known, that he may see if 
 he cannot make some political arrangement out of it. 
 Ireland, the Paymastership, and the Clerkship of the 
 Ordnance are still undisposed of. 
 
AT LADY ROSEBERY's. 139 
 
 I had some talk with the Duke about the lancfuage 
 he should hold on Monday. He says he has never been 
 committed strongly either way ; that he thinks the prac- 
 tical difficulties of the question have not been sufficiently 
 adverted to ; and that the King is now the most Protest- 
 ant man in his dominions. 
 
 Had some conversation with Lady Jersey at Lady 
 Eosebery's. She told me Stanley had wished to have 
 an Opposition meeting to organise assault upon the Go- 
 vernment ; but Lord Lansdowne and others had objected 
 to it, and begged he would at least wait till after the 
 Cathohc debate. They imagine the ehmination of Hus- 
 kisson and the others will lead to ultra-Protestantism, 
 being quite ignorant of the real state of things. I hope 
 the Duke will be very cautious in what he says on 
 Monday. 
 
 June 6. 
 
 Canning's Pension Bill in the House. Lord London- 
 derry had the bad taste and imprudence to accuse 
 Canning of refusing him his pension from personal 
 motives. Dudley answered him very well, but was 
 rather too long. His speech should have ended at 
 the words, ' Lord Liverpool,' when he showed that 
 the pensioD was refused not by Canning, but by Lord 
 Liverpool. 
 
 The Duke placed the Bill on excellent grounds. 
 Lord Liverpool's was a dull, prosy speech. Groderich's 
 was pompous and inane. We had no division. Lord 
 Plunket was in the House. I expressed my hope that 
 he would be very temperate on Monday. 
 
140 DIAEY. 1828. 
 
 Lord Londonderry wants to go to Ireland as Lord 
 Lieutenant ! 
 
 June 7. 
 
 Cabinet room. No new papers, and Aberdeen 
 eno'a^^ed Avitli Poliojnac, so I did not see liim. 
 
 A large political dinner at the Dake of Newcastle's. 
 Peers and Commoners mixed. Lords Thomond, Lon- 
 donderry, Melville, Kinnard, Hill, Strangford, Beres- 
 ford, Eolles, Salisbury, Wallace, G. Beresford, Brookes, 
 Sir Byam Martin, Sir Edward Knatclibull, Sir Alexan- 
 der Grant, &c. Lord Beresford told me to-day lie must 
 vote on the Catholic question in the House as hereto- 
 fore, but he was desirous of a settlement, and would be 
 satisfied with the arrangements made in other Protestant 
 States with Catholic subjects. It is my firm behef that 
 the general tendency of men's minds is to a settlement. 
 
 June 8. 
 
 Lord Durham told me at dinner (at Prince Leopold's) 
 that he had asked Lord Grey some time ago whether he 
 would refuse to belong [to any Government which did 
 not make the Catholic question a Cabinet measure. 
 Lord Grey said all lie asked was that the Government 
 should not be decidedly against it. That the Govern- 
 ment should be neutral. I told Lord Durham I really 
 believed no Government could be more entirely neutral 
 than the Duke's, who would, in the distribution of 
 offices, never consider whether a man was for or against 
 the Catholics. Lord Durham expressed the astonish- 
 
CATHOLIC DEBATE. 141 
 
 ment every one else lias at Huskisson's throwing the 
 affairs of Canada into the hands of a Committee of 
 the House of Commons. 
 
 June 10. 
 
 House at 5. CathoUc debate. Lord Haddington 
 made an excellent and very agreeable speech. The 
 Duke of Sussex spoke well. The Chancellor followed 
 him — acknowledged the difficulty and embarrassment of 
 our present position ; asked securities, and said those 
 given to Prussia were ample. Lord Plunket answered 
 him. He did not speak as well as I have heard liim 
 speak in the House of Commons, but still very ably. 
 Then Eldon. I should say Lord Plunket declared the 
 strongest opinion in favour of securities and of the Irish 
 Church. Eldon spoke well, and said he was not one of 
 those who thought the concessions would never be 
 made. Lord Wellesley declared his increased convic- 
 tion of the necessity of the measure. The Duke of 
 Wellington lamented he must differ in his vote from 
 Lord Wellesley, but said he did not believe their 
 opinions upon the subject were very different. He 
 would not hold out hopes till he saw his way. Depre- 
 cated the frequent agitation of the question. Eeferred 
 to the securities given to Hanover, and other countries, 
 and said they were not applicable to the peculiar cir- 
 cumstances of this country. Thought our present secu- 
 rities sufficient for the present, and that when we 
 proceeded to admit the Catholics, we should do it by 
 legislation, fearlessly, and with determination. 
 
 Lord Lansdowne congratulated the House on the 
 
142 DIAKY. 1828. 
 
 altered tone of debate, noticed Lord Salisbury's speech 
 (in which he said he only asked the Eoyal nomination 
 of the hierarchy), and then of the Chancellor and the 
 Duke. He said he could not but feel that it was 
 admitted there was an intention of endeavouring to ac- 
 complish a settlement, since it was admitted we were 
 in a difficulty, and that those were securities by the 
 obtaining of which we might extricate ourselves. The 
 Government, which would not let the House take up 
 the question, was, admitting these things, pledged to 
 take it up itself. 
 
 Below the Bar. I told Lord Lansdowne I thought 
 his conclusion fair. Lord Grey said after this the Duke 
 was bound to take it up, and he expected some measure 
 next year. I told him I thought he was hurrying the 
 Duke too much, and forgot the King. The Chancellor 
 admitted to me the King was the real difficulty. 
 
 I see we shall ask more securities than any other 
 State has. The Cathohcs will not give the same secu- 
 rities. Will the Pope ? It will be a very difficult ne- 
 gotiation. It must be done by previous arrangement 
 with the Pope, and by a Bull, of which the provisions 
 will be suspended till the Bill is passed. But without 
 repealing the laws against intercourse with Eome, we 
 cannot come to a regular agreement with the Pope. 
 
 With the Pope on our side we miglit laugh at the 
 agitators. They might bluster, but the measure would 
 work its way. I must get the Duke to look at the 
 question practically. 
 
 The Duke improves very much as a speaker. I did 
 not speak, and I believe I was right. I do not desire 
 
THE CATHOLIC QUESTION. 143 
 
 securities, and the desire of them is the fashion of the 
 day. Besides, the King might have been irritated, and I 
 should keep myself unpledged to any particular views of 
 the question. Thus, should I ever have the power, I 
 shall be able to do more good. The majority was 45 
 against the motion. The last majority was 48. 
 
 Lord Southampton, who thought it a bore to get his 
 writ, was brought down to take liis seat and vote for\ 
 Lord Forester, whose father died very lately, voted 
 against. Chesterfield for ; 319 voted, and there were 
 215 in the House, of which 92 for. All voted who 
 were in the House in the course of the night. There 
 was no pairing, but a word was said as to the division 
 of the Government upon the point, and generally the 
 debate was conducted with discretion. 
 
 June 11. 
 
 Cabinet dinner at the Duke's. The Duke said he 
 believed there was no one who desired tlie settlement of 
 the Catholic question more than he did ; but he con- 
 fessed he did not see daylight. 
 
 The conversation after dinner turned upon the 
 improper tone of Lamb's dispatches, and the co-opera- 
 tion with the Eussian fleet. Nothing was absolutely 
 fixed, and we are to have a Cabinet to-morrow. 
 
 The King gave a party at the Palace, and invited 
 fifty or one hundred people, leaving me out, and others 
 of the ministers. I know he cannot love me. He has 
 not spoken to me since he gave me the Seal. I care 
 httle about this. If I should ever hold a situation 
 which brings me into contact with him, I shall get on 
 
144 , DIARY. 1828. 
 
 very well with him, and his personal feeling will not 
 induce him to refuse to give me such an appointment. 
 
 Lady Jersey and G. Anson, whom I met at Almack's, 
 expressed regret that I did not speak on the Catholic 
 question. I said I was ready, but I could not have 
 been of use ; there was no good opportunity, and upon 
 the whole I thought it was better I should not speak. 
 I am still of that opinion. I find people are not so well 
 satisfied to-day with the debate as they were yesterday. 
 
 Vesey Fitzgerald was at the Cabinet dinner to-day 
 
 for the first time. 
 
 June 12. 
 
 House at 5. Lord Dundas put questions to Lord 
 Beresford as to his letters to the Duke de Cadaval. 
 Lord Beresford answered satisfactorily, but at length, 
 and in a loni?, twaddlino; manner. 
 
 At the Cabinet we understood from the Duke of 
 Welhngton that he had seen Lord Beresford this morn- 
 ing. Lord Beresford had not answered the Duke de 
 Cadaval's last letter, and promised to discontinue the 
 correspondence. 
 
 At breakfast I wrote two or three paragraphs, 
 reprehending Lamb for saying to M. Campazana, the 
 Spanish Minister at Lisbon, that ' we had been misled 
 by the lying assurances of Don Miguel, and that he 
 hoped our eyes would be opened.' 
 
 These I sent to Aberdeen, and he adopted them and 
 inserted them in his dispatch. They were rather stron^^. 
 We decided on co-operating with the Eussians in the 
 Levant, under the Treaty of London, provided the Eus- 
 sians would place their y)]iole fleet under tlie orders of 
 
LORD STUART DE ROTHESAY. 145 
 
 the Conference, and permit a communication to be made 
 to the Turkish Government of the circumstances under 
 which the co-operation took place. The Eussians are 
 to be required to consent that their Admiral shall not 
 command the alhed fleet. 
 
 By communications from Baron Ottenfels, at Con- 
 stantinople, the infatuation of the Turks seems to be 
 miraculous. They have made no adequate prepara- 
 tion, and have hardly 30,000 men of regular troops. 
 
 I had a meeting with the Chancellor, Peel, and the 
 Lord Chief Justice on the compensation clause in the 
 County Courts Bill. My clause, taken from the Writ 
 of Error Bill, was agreed to, and to be proposed in the 
 House of Commons. The measures to be adopted in 
 consequence of the Eeport of the Commissioners of Legal 
 Enquiry will probably lead to alterations in the mode 
 of proceeding, which will make it necessary to compen- 
 sate many officers for loss of fees. Peel is disposed to 
 take the Patent Offices into the hands of Government, 
 giving compensation as in Ireland. I have no objec- 
 tion. 
 
 June 13. 
 
 Lord Stuart de Eothesay succeeds Lord Granville at 
 Paris. This is the King's appointment. He insisted upon 
 it, and the Duke did not think it worth while to make a 
 quarrel about it. 
 
 Everything is very nearly settled for Lord Erancis 
 Leveson's going to Ireland as Secretary. His father 
 icrote that the Duke should be impeached for getting 
 rid of Huskisson, so it is rather awkward foi him to 
 consent so soon to his son's serving under the Duke ; 
 voT.. r. L 
 
146 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 but ambition carries it. The appointment is not a bad 
 one. 
 
 Lieven did not much hke the proposition that the 
 renouncing of belHgerent rights on the part of Eussia in 
 the Mediterranean should be declared. The Duke spoke 
 to me of this as his propositioii, and seemed pleased with 
 it, as doing away with all the great objections to a co- 
 operation. It is odd, but if I am certain of anything it 
 is that the proposition was mine, that I first mentioned 
 it to the Cabinet. 
 
 There were but twelve in the House for Stanhope, 
 and fifty-three for us.^ He would divide, and had but 
 seven proxies. So we had 86 to 19. At one moment 
 the House was so thin that they had a majority. Lords 
 Grey, Eldon, and Holland were not there. 
 
 Lord Bristol made a speech of much feeling in allu- 
 sion to Lord Liverpool. 
 
 Jime 14. 
 
 Cabinet at 3. Aberdeen read his instructions to 
 Lord Heytesbury. He fell into the same fault he had 
 imputed to Dudley, that of writing an essay. I could 
 not understand the reasons for which our Minister 
 might attend Russian Conferences for peace as a witness, 
 if the French Minister did, but not otherwise, and 
 might not attend at all if the Frenchman attended 
 otherwise than as a witness. 
 
 1 proposed that, as Lord Heytesbury was directed 
 
 u endeavour to ascertain the instructions of the French 
 
 Ambassador, and to act with him, he should pass by 
 
 1 On the Com Bill. 
 
THE GREEK QUESTION. 147 
 
 Paris, and see La Ferronays. It seems Lord Heytes- 
 bury does not msh to go by Paris. 
 
 I suggested that, as in all probability the progress 
 of events would bring Lord Heytesbury and Stratford 
 Canning near each other, Lord Heytesbury should have 
 given to him powers superior to those given to Canning, 
 that he might control him, and make our diplomacy 
 march mero intuitu. This will be done. 
 
 By the instructions, should Eussia propose the set- 
 tlement of the Greek question, Lord Heytesbury was to 
 say he had no orders. I suggested he should have at 
 least the power of acceding to the preliminaries of a 
 treaty, that is, that he should be empowered to accept 
 from the Turks their accession to the principle of the 
 Treaty of London, and to communicate that accession, 
 with orders to desist from blockade, to the English 
 Admiral. This will, I believe, be done. 
 
 I endeavoured to make the Cabinet feel that Lord 
 Heytesbury would arrive at head-quarters about two 
 months after our last intelligence from them, and that, 
 as events would proceed rapidly, he should have in- 
 structions as ample as possible. The Duke seemed to 
 think there was time enough. 
 
 As to attending the Conferences, he will never be in- 
 vited to assist at Conferences relating toEussian objects. 
 He will be invited to attend at Conferences on the Greek 
 question. Our orders, therefore, should be precise. 
 
 It seems Stratford Canning doubts about going. 
 
 We decided on accepting from the Spaniards 
 750,000/. for the claims of our merchants, and giving 
 
 L 2 
 
148 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 them 200,000/. for their claims. At first the Spaniards 
 offered 700,000/., and claimed 250,000/. 
 
 June 15. 
 
 Lord Stuart de Eothesay dined with me. He told 
 me the King promised him the situation when he saw 
 him at Ascot, provided Lord Granville resigned. His 
 Majesty must be more careful in future. This will not 
 do. 
 
 House at 5. Penrhyn Bill put off till Friday, on 
 account of Lord Carnarvon's having the gout. The 
 Chancellor complained of the Bill being put off. He 
 had taken down the evidence to Wimbledon, yester- 
 day, and had read, as I have done, the 500 foho pages. 
 The whole substance of them might be comprised in 
 
 ten or fifteen. 
 
 June 17. 
 
 On Eldon's speech the House refused to suspend 
 the standing orders as regarded the Earl of Shrewsbury's 
 Estate Bill. 
 
 The Duke of Wellington and most of our side went 
 behind the Woolsack. The Whigs had not the same 
 tender conscience, and all voted for suspending the 
 order. 
 
 The Duke begged me to see the declaration of neu- 
 trality we call upon Eussia to make. It seems the com- 
 missariat of the Eussian army is very bad. The Danube 
 is swollen so much that they cannot throw a bridge 
 over it. They cannot get to its banks. It is hardly 
 expected they will be able to do so before July. In 
 the meantime the troops are crowded together in Wal- 
 
STATE OP THE RUSSIAN ARMY. 149 
 
 lachia, a country intersected by streams in all direc- 
 tions, and they have little to eat. The Emperor is said 
 to be ill already. The troops must suffer horribly. 
 They will be obliged to move at last in the hot season ; 
 there is but one road ; they will have no water, and 
 malaria, probably the plague. It will be the judgment 
 of Providence on unprincipled ambition. 
 
 Croker is made a Privy Councillor, because he felt 
 himself passed over by the late appointments, and 
 thought his conduct last year had made him a marked 
 man. Calcraft is Paymaster. 
 
 June 18. 
 
 From what Lady Aberdeen said at the Duke of 
 Clarence's breakfast this morning, I do not think she 
 has the least idea of Aberdeen's having the Foreign 
 Office only for three or four months. He has lent the 
 house to Sir George Murray, and should I succeed, it 
 would be very awkward for me to put him out. This 
 I know, that I could do the business of the office better 
 than Aberdeen, and I know that the Duke thinks so. 
 It is very unlucky for me that there has been no busi- 
 ness in the House this session, because business is my 
 forte, and I should have stood forward prominently ior 
 the office if I had had the opportunity of speaking much 
 in defence of the Government. 
 
 June 20. 
 
 Wool Committee. Mr. Gott examined, who is one 
 of the men we had at the Board of Trade. A very 
 clever man. 
 
150 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 House. Penrliyn Disfranchisement Bill. The Chan- 
 cellor made an excellent speech and showed there was 
 no ground whatever for the charge of that extent of cor- 
 ruption which would alone justify a remedial measure. 
 No division. 
 
 I have advised Aberdeen to write two circular letters 
 to all the Foreign Ministers, and to desire them to send 
 copies of all the dispatches of which the receipt has not 
 been acknowledged. The other, to order them to ^vrite 
 only official letters upon all matters connected with 
 their public functions. The inconvenience of not adopt- 
 ing this course has been often felt. There is frequently 
 a lacuna in the public correspondence, which leaves 
 the Government in ignorance of important facts, and of 
 the chain of events. 
 
 Dispatches have been received from Portugal. Don 
 Miguel seems to be triumphant at the troops going 
 over to him. What a contemptible people ! 
 
 The Eussians have no forage in Wallachia, and the 
 peasants are already made hostile by their extortions. 
 They have no money, everything having been calcu- 
 lated for an immediate advance. They must be in 
 
 great difficulty. 
 
 June 21. 
 
 We had some conversation about Portugal. Lamb 
 has resigned. He has written as intemperately as ever. 
 The Duke is for accepting his resignation. The Cabinet 
 in general seems disposed to think he must, under pre- 
 sent circumstances, be retained. Lamb says it is ex- 
 pected that the Cortes will declare Miguel King, and 
 that he will refer the question to the foreign Courts, 
 
WAELIKE AMERICAN NOTE. 151 
 
 before lie assumes the title. Lamb wants to come 
 away on the latter declaring Miguel King. The cap- 
 tain of the Enghsh brigs at Oporto has violated the 
 blockade. We must disown him. 
 
 Aberdeen says the American Minister has sent in 
 a most warhke note on the subject of the punishment 
 of a subject of the United States by the British authori- 
 ties in the disputed districts in Maine. We say we have 
 always exercised authority there. The Americans say 
 not. 
 
 The Turks have shown, through the Minister of the 
 Netherlands, a desire to see the Ambassadors return to 
 Constantinople, and to have a reconcihation with the 
 Greeks. To the Eussians they say they are ready to 
 do all that can be required under the Treaty of Aker- 
 man, if the Emperor will tear up the Treaty of London. 
 We shall propose that through one of the Turkish 
 Commanders it shall be communicated to the Turks 
 that we are ready to treat, but only on the basis already 
 proposed. They must in the first instance accept the 
 mediation and declare an armistice. 
 
 June 23. 
 
 The Duke is for recalling Lamb, and for withdraw- 
 ing the mission on the declaration by the Cortes that 
 Miguel is the rightful King of Portugal. I gave him a 
 draft of a dispatch, with two ends, one recalhng Lamb, 
 the other telhng him he will be recalled as soon as the 
 public service permits. I gave Aberdeen a dispatch 
 desiring Lamb, if Miguel declared he should not assume 
 the Eoyal title till he had ascertained the sentiments of 
 
152 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 foreign Courts, to decline becoming tlie channel of a 
 communication to tliat effect, but not to come away, 
 leaving it to his Government to decide under all the 
 circumstances. I think this the safer course, for it 
 would be very embarrassing, if we should bring away 
 our Minister, and other Powers should leave theirs. 
 
 June 24. 
 
 The Duke was desirous of recalhng Lamb for his 
 offensive letters. Lords Melville, Bathurst, and I agreed 
 with him ; but Sir G. Murray, Peel, Aberdeen, and 
 Goulburn were the other way, and so was Herries. So 
 a letter is to be written to Lamb, teUing him the 
 Government have long thought his functions could be 
 better performed by another ; that they hoped the long 
 forbearance with wliich he has been treated would have 
 corrected his contentious tone and temper. That he 
 was only not recalled because it was proved his recall 
 at this moment might expose the pohcy of the Govern- 
 ment to misconstruction. 
 
 Aberdeen had prepared a dispatch, much too civil, 
 7'equesting him to remain. This we all disapproved of. 
 I then asked if he had mine, which he had, so I read 
 it, and it was approved of I have since made some 
 amendments in it, and dressed it up a httle. 
 
 Another dispatch of Aberdeen's was unnecessarily 
 severe. It intimated a doubt whether in one of his dis- 
 patches Lamb had been serious. 
 
 The Duke was very earnest for Lamb's recall, and 
 said we should find him quite unbearable, and counter- 
 acting us in every way. That no pubHc servant he 
 
DINNER AT THE CHANCELLOR'S. 153 
 
 ever knew had written half so offensively as Lamb, and 
 all others had been severely reprimanded for it. That 
 Lamb had ventured to use offensive expressions to Can- 
 ning once, and Canning had put an end to it at once ; 
 that in the same way the late Lord Melville had 
 silenced Sir G. Street, and Lord Londonderry Sir John 
 
 Moore. 
 
 June 25. 
 
 In the park Glengall told me O'Connell intended to 
 start for the County of Clare, and would come in ; that 
 Fitzgerald would be thrown out. 
 
 Cabinet dinner at the Chancellor's. Great discus- 
 sion about keeping or giving up the Lieutenant-General 
 of the Ordnance. Peel and Goulburn for giving up. 
 The Duke strongly for keeping him. I was for fighting 
 it boldly. I can see our friends want a good party 
 division. It would besides be very unwise to yield to 
 the Finance Committee a point fought in the Committee 
 by the Government, and carried by two against them. 
 I know the feehng of the House is against abdicating 
 the power of Government, and its responsibihty, and 
 placing both in the hands of a Committee. However, 
 Peel is quite of another way of thinking, and I think 
 I see that whatever I say against his opinion annoys 
 him. He answers captiously. He was dehghted to 
 have me as a member of the Government. Perhaps I 
 did not meet him with enough cordiahty, but he does 
 not suit me. I get on better with all the other members 
 of the Government than with him. 
 
 The Duke seemed much annoyed at Peel's indisposi- 
 tion to fight the question. I do not think he was quite 
 
154 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 well. Aberdeen lias made a dispatch to Lamb, out of his 
 own and mine. It will do, but I do not think it is all 
 on the same level. He sometimes goes too far, and some- 
 times not far enough. He did not at all like writing 
 the letter, as Lamb is a friend of his. He is no friend 
 
 of mine. 
 
 June 27. 
 
 Cabinet on the Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance. 
 
 Peel strongly against the Duke's wish to maintain 
 the office, but ready to fight it if it is thought that as 
 head of the Government the Duke is pledged upon it. 
 The Duke thinks he is, for he has given the strongest 
 evidence in favour of it before the Finance Committee, 
 and really thinks it ought to be maintained. We have 
 to read the evidence and decide on Monday. I think 
 the thing is decided, and that we shall endeavour to 
 maintain it. 
 
 Peel^ certainly has not the character suited to the 
 
 leader of a party, or to the command of a popular 
 
 assembly. 
 
 June 28. 
 
 The Eussians passed the Danube at Isatzka on the 9th. 
 
 Eecorder's report. Four people ordered for execu- 
 tion. One for forgery, one for burglary, two for beating 
 and robbing a man in a house of ill-fame. There was 
 a woman engaged, who was spared on account of her 
 sex, but she was the most guilty of all. I do not hke 
 Eecorder's reports. I am shocked by the inequality of 
 punishment. At one time a man is hanged for a crime 
 
 ^ Referring probably to his cold and stiff manner, which was always 
 admitted to be a drawback to his otherwise great parliamentary talent. 
 
INEQUALITY OF PUNISHMENT. 155 
 
 wHcli may be as two ; because there are few to be 
 hanged, and it is some time since an example has been 
 made of capital punishment for his particular offence. 
 At another time a man escapes for the same crime, 
 having the proportion of five to two to the other, be- 
 cause it is a heavy calendar, and there are many to be 
 executed. The actual dehnquency of the individual is 
 comparatively httle taken into consideration. Extra- 
 neous circumstances determine his fate. 
 
 July 1. 
 
 House. Lord Grey presented a petition on the 
 subject of the currency, and made a short speech. We 
 shall have a debate on the subject on Thursday. 
 
 Peel's manner was better to-day, but he has been 
 
 very disagreeable lately, and the Duke is annoyed. 
 
 I wish we had some one else to lead the House of 
 
 Commons. 
 
 July 2. 
 
 Cabinet dinner at Lord Bathurst's. The Chancellor 
 not there. I suspect he thought we should have an 
 angry discussion, and chose to be absent, and so clear 
 of it. 
 
 Doubts are thrown on the evidence affecting the 
 two men ordered for execution for the robbery in the 
 house of ill-fame, and I conclude they will be trans- 
 ported for hfe and not executed. 
 
 It was decided to ask for money on account of the 
 Canal, and the works at Kingston and Hahfax, and to 
 explain the extent of the estimates made ; but to say no 
 one was pledged to anything beyond the works on 
 
156 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 account of which an advance was now asked. We had 
 
 a great deal of useless talk, a large portion of which 
 
 originated in Lord Bathurst's being rather drunk. His 
 
 wine was excellent, and he is a generous host. Peel 
 
 was in better humour ; but he is not the man for his 
 
 station. 
 
 I wish Hardinge spoke a little better. He would 
 
 lead the House if he did. I hope Sir George Murray 
 
 will next year. 
 
 July 4. 
 
 O'Connell is returned for Clare. The Attorney and 
 Sohcitor-General have been desired to look into Acts of 
 Parhament to see the law, and state it to the Cabinet, 
 that we may learn what we are about, and have every- 
 thing arranged. He is expected to attempt to take his 
 seat on Monday. No riot. 
 
 Lamb's dispatches received to the 21st. He is in 
 very bad humour, and in one of them says that ' Seeing 
 what he does, to remain there is a disgrace.' 
 
 He is very angry with Dudley for having sent to 
 Paris and Madrid some dispatches of his marked secret 
 and confidential^ communicating a conversation with 
 Campazano. It has come to the knowledge of the 
 Spanish Court. Campazano has had a severe lecture, 
 and went to Lamb to reproach him. I dare say it is 
 by the indiscretion of Lord Granville or Bosanquet that 
 the substance of the dispatch became known. To send 
 it to them was a matter of course. 
 
 Lamb knows nothing, or tells nothing ; but from the 
 joy of the Miguelites he concludes things are going in 
 their favour. Some English subjects have been arrested. 
 
DANIEL O'CONNELL. 157 
 
 After all the bugbears Peel raised about the Lieu- 
 
 tenant-General of the Ordnance, we carried his salary by 
 
 202 to 95. I hope confidence in our strength will not 
 
 lead us to do things we ought not ; but we are very 
 
 strong. 
 
 July 5. 
 
 At the Cabinet room read Lamb's last dispatches, 
 and letters from several persons at Ennis, giving an 
 account of O'Connell's election. The freeholders to a 
 man deserted their landlords. They marched into the 
 town led by the priests in perfect order. They com- 
 mitted no outrage. If any one seemed disposed to offer 
 insult, others pinioned him, and carried him away. 
 They bivouacked in order in the neighbourhood of the 
 town. At night there was no one in the streets. The 
 poHce were stationed at every entrance to the town. 
 They put in motion the whole male population voting 
 and not voting. All the gentlemen supported Fitzgerald. 
 No whisky was allowed to the people, and the priests 
 had influence enough to prevent their drinking any ; 
 but it was said that at the end of the election they 
 would be permitted to drink. Fitzgerald spoke well. 
 The others ill. O'Connell like a blackguard. 
 
 By Lamb's dispatches it appears that several Enghsh- 
 
 men have been thrown into prison and ill-treated. In 
 
 this the Portuguese Government seems to have acted in 
 
 contravention of treaties, and the Enghshmen will be 
 
 claimed. 
 
 July 7. 
 
 The Kussians have lost 2,000 men in the assault 
 of Brailow. However, it surrendered afterwards. The 
 Turks fought well. 
 
158 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 Cabinet room. The Miguelites say they entered 
 Coimbra on the 25th, but this was not beheved at Lis- 
 bon on the 28th, nor known at Oporto on the 27th. 
 The Cortes declared Miguel King on the 28th. A 
 servant of Lamb's had been seized, and he threatened to 
 go away if he was not given back, yet he asks for his 
 instructions to authorise him to declare England would 
 protect the person of her own subjects ! 
 
 It is reported that O'Connell is returned. They 
 
 went on poUing as long as they could, and polled many 
 
 more than was thought possible. By far the most 
 
 serious position in the present state of the country is 
 
 the state of L^eland. 
 
 July 8. 
 
 The Duke showed me a letter he had written to 
 Aberdeen, and a corrected letter to Itabayana, dechn- 
 ing to have any other than an unofficial communication 
 with him on the subject of Portugal. 
 
 Codrinofton has written an able answer to the letter 
 recalling him. I have not seen it yet. 
 
 Lamb was to leave Lisbon on last Monday week. 
 He may be expected immediately. Aberdeen is nervous 
 about the recall of Codrington and Lamb. Madame de 
 Lieven, who sat not far from me at dinner at the Prince 
 de Pohgnac's, said responsibility always made men ner- 
 vous ; that Canning became quite timid when he was 
 Prime Minister. 
 
 Neither M. nor Mde. de Lieven would look my way. 
 
 I hear from all quarters that Hardinge lias done 
 admirably and is gaining weight in the House. I am 
 dehghted at this. 
 
THE DUKE OP CLARENCE. 159 
 
 The account of Sir George Murray is uniform — that 
 
 he is pleasing, and will be popular, but he has no power 
 
 as a speaker. 
 
 July 9. 
 
 Cabinet dinner at Aberdeen's. Peel not there. 
 
 The Lord High Admiral dates an order from his 
 yacht (he being at Bushey, and the order dated three 
 days hence), with the object of trying whether he can- 
 not do acts without his Council. He may by the law ; 
 but there was an understanding that he was to execute 
 the office in London, and with the Council, there being 
 a counter-signature to all his instruments. This was 
 settled in the presence of the Attorney-General last year, 
 and the Chancellor declared the necessity of counter- 
 signature in answer to a question from me last year. 
 We resist the Lord High Admiral's attempt. It is a 
 deUcate business, but it is a duty which must be 
 
 executed. 
 
 July 10. 
 
 At the Cabinet room read Codrington's letter. It is 
 not very dangerous. As soon as I have finished the 
 wool question I shaU write a memorandum upon it. 
 
 It seems the return of O'Connell is carried. The 
 
 election concluded quietly, and with civilities on both 
 
 sides. 
 
 July 11. 
 
 The Miguehtes are within two leagues of Oporto. 
 Saldanha has taken the command, and holds out hopes 
 of being able to maintain himself. Taipa has gone mad. 
 The Oporto merchants are in a terrible fright. 
 
 The accounts from Ireland are awful. It seems 
 
160 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 there are deputies from all parts of Ireland present 
 in Clare. The organisation is perfect, the obedience 
 imphcit. 
 
 The Duke read to me his letter to the King explain- 
 ing the difference between the Lord Hio^h Admiral and 
 his Council. The Lord High Admiral has written a 
 very harsh answer to Sir George Cockburn, who has 
 sent a very proper and respectful reply. I got from 
 Sir George Cockburn Codrington's letter, and all the 
 papers which throw light upon it, and was occupied in 
 writing a memorandum upon the subject till 3 o'clock 
 in the morning. It seems to me that our answer to his 
 letter is complete. 
 
 The Chancellor said to me, ' We must try if we can- 
 not set up the Duke during the vacation to endeavour 
 to settle the Catholic question.' He said, too, ' What 
 do you think of our seeing Hardinge some day leading 
 the House of Commons ? ' 
 
 July 12. 
 
 A very rainy day, Avith a westerly wind which we 
 hope brings rain in torrents to L^eland, and damps the 
 Orangemen. 
 
 Cabinet at 2. A very important letter read from 
 Lord Anglesey, pressing upon the Government the 
 danger of the present state of the Catholic question, ex- 
 pressing his repugnance to yield to the appearance of 
 force, and his opinion of the unpropitious circumstances 
 of the present moment for making any concessions ; 
 but still declaring his conviction that things cannot 
 remain as they are, and will become worse. The letter 
 
THE CATHOLIC QUESTION. 161 
 
 will be laid before tlie King. The Duke says the King 
 will be very Httle moved by it, and will swear a little. 
 
 On the subject of the Duke of Clarence the King is 
 breast high, and says the attempt must be resisted in 
 limine. 
 
 It is evident to me that nothing but the occurrence 
 of the most untoward events, and the utmost miscon- 
 duct of the Cathohcs in Ireland, can prevent the early 
 carrying of the Cathohc question. 
 
 Lord John EusselFs motion for an address to the 
 King will be met by the previous question, and an 
 attack upon himself, for having by a motion calculated 
 to provoke discussions mischievous to the qiiestion, en- 
 deavoured to give the effect of a party vote to one 
 which does not in reahty bear that character. 
 
 July 14. 
 
 At the Cabinet room read the Consul's account of 
 the entrance of Miguel's troops into Oporto. . Had 
 before read the captain of the ' Cordelia's.' The cow- 
 ardice of Palmella and his friends seems to have been 
 extravagant ; 4,600 soldiers were ready to fight, but 
 they had no leaders. Even Saldanha left them.^ The 
 troops marched through Oporto towards Braga. 
 
 Eead Lawrence's letter on the subject of the differ- 
 ences on the borders of Maine. It is rather a warhke 
 
 ^ According to tlie Oonde de Oarnota, Saldanlia intended to remain to 
 tlie last witli the troops. But having gone on board the * Belfast ' to confer 
 with Palmella and the Junta, who had taken refuge there, he found to his 
 surprise and indignation that while he was asleep the vessel had dropped 
 down the river en route for England. — Memoiis of Marshal Saldanha, vol. i. 
 p. 195. 
 
 VOL. I. M 
 
162 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 letter. This subject is one of great importance, and 
 must be deeply considered. ^ 
 
 At the Chancellor's. Had a conversation with 
 Baron Bulow about the imprisonment of Alcndia's 
 servant. It seems Eae, the magistrate, was foolish 
 enough to say pubhcly he should have treated his master 
 in the same way. This had alarmed all the Ministers, 
 and they mean to send their little notes. It seems they 
 would be satisfied with this — that in the event of a ser- 
 vant of theirs committing a criminal offence, he should 
 be taken up, notice given to them, they would dismiss 
 him, and then we might do as we hked. This is fair 
 enough. Dudley had settled a similar affair. 
 
 Had a long conversation with Pohgnac. He is very 
 anxious about getting Ibrahim Pasha out of the Morea, 
 and wants to send troops to estabhsh a land blockade. 
 He thinks without that we shall not get him out, and 
 that both he and his father only want an excuse. He 
 feels, as I do, that what we have to do now is to 
 get our ambassadors back to Constantinople — the 
 sooner the better. 
 
 Lord Duncannon told me he thous^ht O'Connell 
 
 would not be quiet. That he found it necessary to 
 
 keep the lead. He is not coming over this year. 
 
 Lord John Eussell does not bring on his motion. He 
 
 gives way to his friends' oj^inion without changing his 
 
 own. 
 
 July 15, 1828. 
 
 Cabinet at 3. Vesey Fitzgerald gave an awful ac- 
 count of the state of Ireland. He said, in addition to 
 all we already know of the organisation of the Catholics, 
 
THE DUKE OF CLARENCE. 163 
 
 that the universal opinion was that a Cathohc might 
 sit in Parhament. He was very desirous that measures 
 should immediately be taken for vacating O'Connell's seat, 
 on the ground of his dechning to take the oaths. This 
 measure to be followed up by a Bill making Cathohes 
 inehgible. The unanimous opinion of his colleagues 
 was against Vesey's. 
 
 We have now the chance of quiet ; we should then 
 have the certainty of convulsion. Next session O'Connell 
 must take the initiative, and then the course is easy. 
 Parhament must be kept sitting for the purpose. 
 
 I said I had more than the conviction arising from 
 a course of reasoning ; I had that of intuition that the 
 hne he proposed was wrong. In fact it would be mad- 
 ness. 
 
 The Duke of Clarence has desired Cockburn may 
 
 be turned out. Lord Brecknock and Clerk will resign 
 
 if Cockburn goes out. Sir E. Heron would stay, but 
 
 reluctantly. The way in which they had been going 
 
 on has long been disagreeable, the Duke endeavouring to 
 
 do all without his Council. Cockburn will be retained, 
 
 happen what may. The Duke of Clarence is a httle 
 
 mad. 
 
 July 16. 
 
 Lord Heytesbury finds he cannot pass through 
 Wallachia. The plague is there. He is obhged to go 
 by Yassy, and thence by Ismail and Galatz, to head- 
 quarters. The whole army of the Eussians encamps. 
 They are afraid of entering any Turkish house. Lord 
 Heytesbury is obhged to take with him a complete 
 camp equipage. 
 
 M 2 
 
164 . DIARY. 1828. 
 
 Lord Cowley says the Eussians at Yassy acknowledge 
 a loss of from 10,000 to 12,000 men at Ibraila. 
 This is hardly possible. The Turkish women came out 
 with axes, and the Turks made six salhes during the 
 storm. The Turks had only 3,000 men left when they 
 surrendered Ibraila on condition of retreating to Si- 
 hstria. It seems their plan is to defend all their 
 places. 
 
 House. Lord Holland made a motion for papers 
 relative to Greece and Portugal in order to speak at 
 length on both subjects. He said he made no charges, 
 but he insinuated a great many, and in speaking of the 
 Protocol was very bitter against the Duke. 
 
 Aberdeen answered him, and said all that was 
 necessary, and made a safe speech, but he rendered 
 the debate dull by his heavy manner. Then Goderich 
 spoke ; then the Duke, who was rather animated, but 
 did not answer the attack on the Protocol power- 
 fully. Then Dudley a few words ; then Lansdowne, who 
 made a speech intended to close the debate, and on 
 which it was impossible to hang an accusation. Thus I 
 had no opportunity of speaking, and the Session has 
 passed over without my having done anything. I cer- 
 tainly do not like my situation. However, next year it 
 is evident there will be opposition enough. 
 
 The King has written an admirable letter to the 
 Duke of Clarence. He tells him he has been in error 
 from the beginning ; that as a Privy Councillor Sir G. 
 Cock burn could not have done otherwise than he did ; 
 that the Duke must give way. 
 
 It seems the Duke of Clarence's family are desirous 
 
IBRAHIM PASHA IN THE MOREA. 165 
 
 lie should give up his office. He does too much. His 
 late illness is not by any means overcome. 
 The idea is that the Duke is rather mad. 
 ^ He must be so, or very iU-ad vised. He treats Sir 
 G. Cockburn's last letter to him as impertinent. It was 
 the most respectful letter a man could address to a 
 Prince. 
 
 The Duke's resignation would be inconvenient ; but 
 consistently with our pubhc duty it was impossible to 
 act otherwise than we have done. 
 
 July 17. 
 
 Cabinet at 2. Considered whether we should accede 
 to the Prench proposal of sending troops to drive 
 Ibrahim Pasha out of the Morea by a land blockade ; a 
 thing by-the-bye absurd. They must have fighting. 
 
 There is an objection to this measure on principle. 
 It is clearly a measure of war. However, the necessity 
 is so urgent of finishing the Greek business (which we 
 can never do while Ibrahim is in the Morea, for the 
 Turks will never cede what they hold), and of getting 
 back our Minister to Constantinople before the Eussians 
 approach it ; and it is so expedient to continue to act 
 in concert with France, and more especially not to 
 prevent a step which the French Government evidently 
 propose under the idea that it will be of advantage to 
 them in their position at home, that we have overlooked 
 all objections and given our consent. The French said 
 they would not send the troops without our consent. 
 
 All men begin now to see that this war will last 
 more than one campaign.. The Eussians are much 
 
166 DIAEY. 1828. 
 
 irritated by tlie opposition tliey have met mtli, and 
 spoiled by the bad example of the gratuity of 1,500,000/. 
 given to the troops in Persia out of the sum paid by 
 the Shah, that they talk of still larger gratuities and of 
 pillaging Constantinople. 
 
 Pozzo says the Emperor is no longer the master of 
 his army. There has been some sedition. It is even 
 said desertion. 
 
 The French think 8,000 men will be enough. The 
 Duke thinks they should have 20,000, and that 15,000 
 is the smallest number with which they should go. 
 Ibrahim has at least 20,000, some accounts say more 
 than 30,000, and his army rests upon Navarin, Modon, 
 and Coron, three fortresses open to the sea. Mahomet 
 Ali has siziteen ships ready for sea at Alexandria. 
 
 I suggested the expediency of blockading Alex^ 
 andria, and of bringing Church ^ from Dragomestre,^ and 
 the 2,000 men Capo has at Egina, to the Isthmus of 
 Corinth, where we might feed them and support them 
 on both sides. This would prevent Ibrahim Pasha from 
 leaving the Morea for the purpose of going to Eoumelia, 
 and the Turks about Missolonghi from joining him in 
 the Morea. More ships are to be sent for this purpose. 
 
 We have eleven battalions in the Mediterranean, 
 and could not spare above three for any operation ; that 
 is, 1,500 men. If we sent them from hence we could 
 not send above 6,000 men, and they would be too late. 
 Besides, we do not wish to burn our finefers. The 
 Prench will find it very expensive, and probably get the 
 plague, and some few hard blows. 
 
 1 The -well-linown General Churcli. ~ A port opposite Santa Maura. 
 
THE DUKE OF WELLII^GTON. 167 
 
 I advised Aberdeen to look at our despatches and 
 the language we have held on this subject, to keep our 
 present language as much the same as possible, and, if 
 not the same, to assign good reasons for the change. 
 We should appear to consent to a measure of war with 
 reluctance. 
 
 Metternich takes our view, and wishes to settle the 
 Greek question as soon as possible by getting Ibrahim 
 out of the Morea, no matter how. 
 
 House. The Duke looks very pale, and I think he 
 is by no means well. He is worn out. 
 
 I suggested to Aberdeen that we should come to 
 an understanding as soon as possible with France and 
 Austria as to what shall be done with regard to Miguel, 
 and as to what advice should be given to Pedro. We 
 must follow Pedro in recognising Dom Miguel. 
 
 There is a report of a Eussian general having de- 
 serted to the Turks with 7,000 men. It is incredible. 
 
 July 18. 
 
 Pohgnac is pleased at being allowed to send a 
 French army to the Morea, but he would rather have 
 had Enghsh co-operation. 
 
 I find there is no objection to Enghsh officers going 
 as volunteers, and I shall apply to Prince de Pohgnac 
 for leave for Henry to join the French army. I shall 
 make him write full details of what he sees. 
 
 . I gave Aberdeen some memoranda on the subject of 
 this French expedition. 
 
 The Duke of Clarence came to town immediately on 
 receiving the King's letter, and to-day he had an inter- 
 
168. DIARY. 1828. 
 
 view with the Duke of Welhngton, who soothed him 
 by showing him that even the Duke of York as Com- 
 mander-in-Chief coukl not move ten men without a 
 Secretary of State. However, the Duke of Clarence 
 went home, rather resigning than not, piu si chiar. He 
 had then a conference with Sir George Cockburn, which 
 ended stormily. However, after that he wrote a hasty 
 letter to the King, consenting to remain, and saw the 
 Council, told Cockburn to behave more properly in 
 future, and gave directions for business to be done in his 
 absence. He sets off for Portsmouth ae^ain to-morrow. 
 
 I gathered from Aberdeen that he expected Mel- 
 ville would have been restored. 
 
 Had some talk with Eosslyn about the Cathohc 
 question. He showed me a letter of Lord Donough- 
 more's to Sir E. Wilson, by which it seems that the 
 priests, who are described as being not more enlight- 
 ened than the peasants, are carried on by their flocks. 
 
 The Chancellor is very desirous of having the ques- 
 tion settled, and has hopes of the King. 
 
 As long as the Duke of Cumberland is in the 
 country I fear we shall do little good with the King, 
 unless by unanimity and resignation if he resists. 
 
 Eosslyn said we let Holland off very easily the 
 other night, and that Aberdeen made a very weak 
 speech. He acknowledged I had no good opportunity 
 of speaking. In fact, I was so exhausted that I could 
 not have spoken well; but I really had no opportunity 
 at all. I do not like my position at all. If there was 
 a regular opposition I should be useful, and stand for- 
 ward ; but in calm times I have nothing- to do. I feel 
 
THE AMERICA]^ QUESTION. 169 
 
 my situation a disparagement. I shall remain for the 
 present and do what I can for the Cathohcs ; but if I 
 find I can do nothing for them with the Cabinet, or if 
 any move should take place and I be left where I am, 
 I shall probably resign. I say probably^ because I 
 cannot foresee all the possible combinations ; but my 
 first feehng will be to resign. 
 
 July 19. 
 
 Cabinet room at 3 to read papers relating to 
 the American question before the Cabinet met. The 
 Americans demand the release of John Baker^ a man 
 who settled on land we claim, and over which we say 
 we have always exercised jurisdiction. He created a 
 riot, if it was no more, erected the American standard, 
 &c., and detained the Enghsh mail. They demand 
 compensation for him, too. This is their first demand. 
 The second is, that the disputed territory should not 
 be under British jurisdiction. They do not ask that it 
 should be placed under theirs, but propose its inhabit- 
 ants should be under no rule at all till the arbitration 
 is over — that is, for the next two years. 
 
 The Duke said we could only give up the jurisdic- 
 tion on one of two grounds — either because we thought 
 we had no right to it, or because we were afraid of the 
 consequences. He was not afraid of the consequences, 
 and thought we had the right. 
 
 Aberdeen had framed a despatch in conformity 
 with what he thought would be the feehng of the 
 Cabinet, but contrary to his own ; that is, he had ad- 
 hered to the hue we had hitherto taken, that of main- 
 
170 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 taining our rights and making no concession. Prom 
 the tone of Lawrence's note this line would lead to 
 war. 
 
 It seems the State of Maine has declared it will 
 not submit to the decision of the arbitrator should it be 
 adverse, and the general Government urge the point 
 because they are apprehensive of a quarrel with one of 
 the States which might lead to separation. 
 
 The despatch or answer to Lawrence places very 
 high our right to the territory and declares our con- 
 tinued jurisdiction. It says we shall maintain it, more 
 especially as the plan proposed by Lawrence is one 
 which is quite inadmissible, leaving the people in the 
 disputed territory without any government at all. 
 
 I asked if this last sentence was inserted to leave 
 an opening to further negotiation on the subject ? If 
 it was, it should be more clearly expressed. It should 
 not be an opening of which the Americans might 
 decline to take notice. If we got into a war our answer 
 would be criticised. We should be asked whether we 
 meant to leave the question open to further negotia- 
 tion? If we did, it would be asked why we did not 
 express ourselves so clearly as to force the Americans 
 to make another proposal? If, on the other hand, we 
 resolved to maintain the jurisdiction and run all the 
 chances, we should diminish those chances by speaking 
 very decidedly. The least appearance of wavering 
 would lead to further bullying on their part. The im- 
 pression is they only want a good opportunity of going 
 to war. 
 
 I am convinced this opportunity is not a good one 
 
LORD ABERDEEN. 171 
 
 for US. We are not prepared for it, and the country 
 would not stand by us if by leaving the question open 
 we could hy possibility have avoided war. 
 
 Aberdeen had understood a letter of Sir Howard 
 Douglas as advising a provisional arrangement. On 
 looking into the letter more closely it seemed his 
 opinion was not that. 
 
 At last we adjourned the final decision till we had 
 had time to look at the whole case. 
 
 Aberdeen, Peel, Lord Bathurst, and I are, I think, 
 for allowing the thing to train on, leaving a clear open- 
 ing for negotiation. But had it not been for me the 
 letter Aberdeen read would have been approved and 
 sent, and we should probably have had war. 
 
 Aberdeen is unfit for all the higher parts of his 
 duty. AU the ordinary work he does very well, but he 
 cannot grasp the argument on a great question. He 
 chose to assume that we had exercised exclusive juris- 
 diction. That point is by no means clear. We have 
 consented not to cut wood on the disputed lands, and 
 not to make grants. This is but reasonable that the 
 property in dispute may not be deteriorated. We have 
 engaged to leave everything as it is. 
 
 Peel read a letter from himself to Lord Anglesey, 
 asking whether he wanted any further powers to main- 
 tain tranquillity during the Eecess, Lord Anglesey says 
 decidedly not. 
 
 The Lord High Admiral had a most stormy conference 
 with the Duke and Cockburn, and behaved very ill to 
 Cockburn. Cockburn is to express regret that he wrote 
 on some occasion instead of speaking to the Lord High 
 Admiral. So this matter ends for the present. 
 
172 . DIARY. 1828. 
 
 July 21. 
 
 At the Cabinet room read papers relating to the 
 Boundary question. The Archbishop of Canterbury is 
 dead. There was no House to-day, the Speaker being 
 unable to attend. Palmella and the others are arrived 
 at Plymouth in their crazy steamboat. 
 
 A second day of constant rain, and great fears enter- 
 tained for the harvest. 
 
 July 22. 
 
 Cabinet. Arranged the Speech. It is very good. 
 The Eussians are now said to have lost 7,000 men at 
 Brailow. Wrote an answer to that fact of the American 
 note which regards the suspension of our jurisdic- 
 tion in the disputed territory during the arbitration. 
 My object has been to state in strong terms the objec- 
 tions to the arrangement they propose of leaving the 
 inhabitants of that territory without any government, 
 to object to their proposal on the ground of its own 
 demerits, and of its being contradictory to the ordinary 
 principles by which the conduct of equal States has 
 been regulated in similar cases, but to leave the door 
 open to a fresh proposition on their parts. 
 
 As the United States Government are supposed to 
 be much influenced by the fear of quarrelling with 
 Maine, and Maine seems to apprehend that its ac- 
 quiescence in the continuance of our jurisdiction might 
 be held by the arbitrator to be an admission of our 
 right, I have called that apprehension groundless, and 
 I am in hopes that such a declaration on our part will 
 go a great way towards quieting them. 
 
THE king's speech. 173 
 
 The King says lie took more pains to get on with 
 Aberdeen than he ever did with any one (that was at 
 Brighton), but all to no purpose. Aberdeen thinks the 
 King hates him, but does not care about it. He has 
 written to the King to tell him a Prince of Bavaria is 
 desirous of paying his respects to him, that Pohgnac 
 has a letter to deliver from the King of France, and 
 that the Swedish Minister is desirous of presenting his 
 credentials. To all these letters he has received no 
 answer. 
 
 Lord Harrowby told Aberdeen he was the King's 
 Minister eighteen years, and was never asked to the 
 Cottao^e till the King^ sent for him to be Prime Minister. 
 
 July 23. 
 
 Council at Windsor for the King's Speech. The 
 King objected to the paragraph which thanked the 
 House of Commons for the Finance Committee insti- 
 tuted at his recommendation, and likewise to the pledge 
 on his part that he would endeavour to reduce ex- 
 penditure as far as was consistent with the dignity of 
 his Crown and the interests of his people. However, 
 he was prevailed upon to allow the latter part of the 
 paragraph to stand, the former part being given up. 
 
 He was not well, having caught a bad cold, and 
 was much affected by the death of the Archbishop of 
 Canterbury. 
 
 The Bishop of London is to be Archbishop of 
 Canterbury, and Chester London. I told the Duke I 
 thought the last a dangerous appointment. The man 
 Chester is a proud, overbearing Churchman. He will 
 
174 DIAKY. 1828. 
 
 be a Thomas-^- Becket, and do infinite mischief in these 
 times. 
 
 His appointment will create a great deal of hostile 
 observation, and be considered as an indication of the 
 Duke's feeling as to the Catholic question. He will be 
 very troublesome. I told the Duke all this. 
 
 I told him, too, how important a diocese Chester 
 was, and named Hodgson and J. B. Sumner as very fit 
 men to be bishops, giving, however, the fair and true 
 character of the men. 
 
 The Duke spoke of Addington as the man to whom 
 Husldsson had intended to assign the task of bringing 
 our case before the arbitrator as to the north-east 
 boundary in America. I told him I knew Addington 
 formerly, and I was sure he was not a fit man. I hope 
 either Sir Howard Douglas or a lawyer man whose 
 name I forget, resident at Fredericton, will be made 
 our Commissioner. Hardinge should look into the case 
 afterwards. 
 
 From what Sir George Murray said I am afraid the 
 arbitrator must, under the words of the treaty, give 
 the case against us. The Duke always said the King 
 of the Netherlands was a bad man for us, and since he 
 has been made arbitrator it seems he has been dis- 
 covered to be in a flirtation with the Americans as to a 
 canal between the Pacific and Atlantic. 
 
 The Duke of Cumberland was at Windsor ; that is, 
 at the Eoyal Lodge in the park. He is a Mephisto- 
 pheles, and sure, wherever he can, to do any mischief. 
 However, thank God, he leaves England next week, 
 having not got his money. 
 
THE AiMERICAN DEMAND, 175 
 
 The Cabinet dined with me at Eoehampton. I 
 asked Peel to drink a glass of wine, and showed him 
 two or three pictures. The consequence was a cordi- 
 ahty of manner. I really beheve he is only rather a 
 proud, touchy man, and that the least attempt at 
 management would make him very cordial. 
 
 July 24. 
 
 Wrote a paper, according to the Duke's suggestion, 
 as an answer to the American demand that we should 
 suspend our jurisdiction in the disputed territory 
 pendente lite. All the reasoning had occurred to me 
 before, but I had not put it together so well in the 
 paper I read to the Duke yesterday as I did in the 
 one I wrote this morning. Took the paper to Aber- 
 deen. He had proposed nothing, giving up his own 
 opinion to what he conceived to be that of the Duke, 
 and waiting till the Cabinet had decided upon the 
 substance of the answer before he put pen to the paper. 
 It seems what he read the other day was chiefly 
 Dudley's, and I dare say Huskisson's. 
 
 The Duke objected to the term ' disputed territory ' 
 wliich I had used throughout, so I changed it to ' un- 
 determined hne of frontier.' I am incHned to think 
 my paper will be substantially adopted. 
 
 Aberdeen told lis to-day that Mr. Lawrence had 
 told him in conversation that they must first have 
 satisfaction for the injury done to an American citizen, 
 and then they might perhaps propose a concurrent 
 jurisdiction for the disputed territory. So we are to 
 put forward our answer to the demand of satisfaction 
 
176 DIAKY. 1828. 
 
 first, because that is our strongest point. That we 
 cannot yield in honour. 
 
 The Consul at Odessa has sent the march route of 
 the Eussian army. It marches in three columns. The 
 left goes along the shore. The right marches on 
 Shiimla. The three columns are to unite at Arna 
 Bourgas,^ and thence march on Constantinople. They 
 make twelve marches from Shumla to Constantinople. 
 I see by the map that the centre and left must pass 
 the Balkans before they can operate upon the com- 
 munications of Shumla. Each column may consist of 
 30,000 men, besides the guards in reserve. 
 
 The command of the sea, of which we deprived the 
 Turks at Navarino, would have made the Eussian enter- 
 prise abortive. 
 
 The Chancellor told me he had stated the same 
 objections I did to the appointment of Blomiield ; but 
 he thought Blomfield would be manageable about the 
 Catholics. I do not. 
 
 Eeceived a very civil letter from the Prince de 
 Polignac. He has written for leave for both Henry and 
 Wilham to join the French army in the Morea. I 
 asked Lord Hill to give Henry leave should the two 
 Governments do so, which he promised to do. I wrote 
 to Henry, and told him the arrangement I had made 
 for him. 
 
 Had some conversation on the Catholic question 
 with Sir G. Murray. He fears the measure will be 
 delayed till the Catholics have gone so far as to 
 make it impossible. 
 
 ^ Between Adrianople and Constantinople, 
 
HARDINGE ON PEEL. 177 
 
 July 26. 
 
 Cabinet room, Eead Zicliy's account of his con- 
 versation with the Emperor Nicholas in April. The 
 Emperor declared that he detested the Greeks, that he 
 considered them rebels, that he was attached to the 
 principles of the Holy Alliance, and should very un- 
 wilHngly see the Greeks free. He desired that there 
 should exist the Suzerainte of the Porte. He made 
 war for the honour of Eussia, and to open the debouches 
 of her southern provinces. 
 
 He declares the self-denying ordinance of the 
 Protocol was introduced at his desire, and he thinks 
 he did a great thing in getting England to adopt any 
 measure by which she was to gain nothing. He con- 
 sidered the Protocol as leading to the treaty, but 
 acknowledged the Duke of Welhngton always spoke 
 of war as a thing quite foreign to the object of the 
 Protocol. 
 
 It appears by the Due de Mortemar's letters from 
 Karson of July 5, that the Emperor was dead sick of 
 the war, and would be dehghted at receiving proposals 
 he could accept. 
 
 Hardinge said Peel had a sad want of moral courage 
 before the debate, but once in for it his physical 
 courage carried him on. 
 
 I told Hardinge the Chancellor looked upon him as 
 the future leader of the House of Commons. 
 
 Hardinge treated the idea as visionary ; but I ad- 
 vised him to speak on matters of finance and of the 
 subjects unconnected with his office, that the House 
 VOL. I. N 
 
178 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 might know tliere was somebody en second in tlie event 
 of Peel's failing them. 
 
 July 27. 
 
 Dined with the Duke of WelHngton. After dinner 
 there was some conversation respecting the Duke of 
 Marlborough and the campaigns in Spain, &c. The 
 Duke of Welhngton said the Duke of Marlborough first 
 marched his army in columns in the manoeuvres which 
 preceded the siege of Bouchain. The march to the 
 Danube was la grande guerre^ j)ohtical rather than 
 mihtary, and not executed in as short a period as it 
 would have been done in now. 
 
 The Duke seemed very much pleased at having 
 taken Cambray one day, and Peronne la Pucelle the next, 
 both by storm. In Peronne there were 600 or 700 
 regulars, and 2,500 or 3,000 National Guard. Its chief 
 defence is water, but it could always be attacked as the 
 Duke attacked it, and could only be taken in that way. 
 He took a hornwork first, and then placed a battery 
 of eighteen field-pieces which enfiladed a bastion, and 
 drove the men away. The guards then stormed, and 
 were much pleased at taking La Pucelle. 
 
 They spoke of Luxembourg, an impregnable fortress, 
 with underground communications with distant out- 
 works. The ground rocky, and the water bad ; but 
 it is placed in an impracticable country, leading to 
 nothing, and is always neglected. 
 
 The Duke said he had advised the putting the 
 fortresses of the Netherlands into such a state of de- 
 fence that the French, who liked broken heads more 
 
THE DUKE ON BONAPAETE. 179 
 
 than other people, miglit think twice before they at- 
 tacked them. I observed that with so many fortresses 
 the Netherlanders might have no force left in the field. 
 He said he thought that would be found. Coblentz 
 was spoken of as the best fortified place, but very 
 large. 
 
 The Duke said he thought Bonaparte's game was up 
 from the retreat of the French from the hues of Torres 
 Vedras. He subsisted by conquest ; and the moment it 
 was proved that the Enghsh could hold a point of the 
 Continent against all his force the charm was at an 
 end. 
 
 The news of the armistice was brought to the 
 Duke just after the blowing up of Burgos. The people 
 about him advised him not to pass the Ebro, but 
 he said he would at least try and drive them out of 
 Spain. 
 
 He passed the Ebro, and gained the battle of Vit- 
 toria. The news of that battle led to the denouncing 
 of the armistice.^ This latter fact is mentioned in 
 Savary's 'Memoirs.' Stadion, having got the news, 
 ran to the several doors of the Emperor of Eussia, 
 &c. (they were at a chateau in Silesia), and said, ' Levez 
 vous, levez vous ; on a gagne une grande bataille en 
 Espagne ! ' 
 
 The Duke said he by instinct knew one marshal 
 would not assist another, and often acted under that 
 impression ; but he did not know till afterwards that 
 
 ^ Between the Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia on one side 
 and Napoleon I. on the other, signed at Pleschwitz June 4, 1813. 
 
 N 2 
 
180 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 Bonaparte really had not the power to make one mar- 
 shal obey another. He had heard from the Archduke 
 Charles (a much more acute observer, he said, than 
 hhnself), or he had read or heard somewhere that the 
 Archduke had said, that the Eepublican marshals 
 quarrelled just Hke the Due de Burgogne and the 
 other French princes in the time of Louis XIY. and 
 XY. 
 
 Of Bonaparte he spoke with admiration. 
 
 There was some talk about Mallet's conspiracy, and 
 the view Bonaparte took very early of the unstable 
 character of his own power. 
 
 The Duke said the French had few sflasses and did 
 not use them much. All our officers had glasses con- 
 tinually at their eyes, and thus saw a great deal more 
 than the French, who trusted to their patrols and recon- 
 naissances. 
 
 The Duke told me he hoped he could diminish the 
 charge of collecting the revenue, and also of the navy 
 and army. He was very anxious for an efficient sinking 
 fund. 
 
 He thought the Americans would do nothing till we 
 were encfa2:ed with a foreign war. 
 
 I said, ' Or with a rebellion in Ireland.' 
 
 Jidy 31. 
 
 Council at St. James's. Met the Prince de Polignac, 
 whom I thanked for a letter I had just received from 
 him acquainting me with the permission of the French 
 Government to Henry and Wilham to join the French 
 army in the Morea. 
 
THE LIVING OF BISHOPSGATE. 181 
 
 The French send 18,000 men ; 12,000 in one body 
 first, and 6,000 afterwards. Count Maison commands 
 them. 
 
 I had some conversation with Pohgnac as to the 
 hospitals, provisions, quarantine, &c., and I promised 
 to mention these points again to the Cabinet. I did 
 immediately to Aberdeen. 
 
 There was a Bavarian prince to be presented to the 
 King — ^Prince Maximihan, a cousin of the King of Ba- 
 varia. The young man has been waiting three weeks 
 in London, keeping himself close, thinking he could not 
 properly appear till he had seen the King. 
 
 The Bishop of London kissed hands for Canterbury, 
 and Chester was sworn in a Privy Councillor, which the 
 Bishop of London always is. 
 
 The Duke told me he wished to give the Bishop of 
 Chester's hving of Bishopsgate to Lord Grey's brother ; 
 but he had been Evangelical, and before he gave him a 
 piece of preferment so conspicuous he wished to know 
 what his opinions really were. It was for Lord Grey's 
 credit as well as his own that there should be a profes- 
 sional fitness. I told him I thought Mr. Grey would com- 
 municate vdth Lord Grey, and not accept if his brother 
 thought he should be embarrassed by the favour. The 
 Duke said he abstained from communicating with Lord 
 Grey ; he made no conditions, he offered this as a mark 
 of respect to Lord Grey. If Mr. Grey could not take the 
 living of Bishopsgate — that is, was not a fit person for 
 it — he might do something else for him, but nothing so 
 good. He spoke of Mapledurham as vacant ; that it 
 belonged to Eton College, which would claim it ; that 
 
182 DIAEY. 1828. 
 
 he thought of giving it to Dr. Keate, the head master 
 of Eton. If Grey could not have Bishopsgate, Keate 
 might, and Grey Mapledurham. 
 
 I told him Keate could not properly hold Bishops- 
 gate and continue head master of Eton, and it would 
 be a great misfortune to deprive Eton of so good a 
 master. 
 
 By the Duke's speaking of Mapledurham as vacant 
 I hope my old tutor Sumner is the new bishop. I think 
 he has the hving of Mapledurham. 
 
 I told the Duke I had had no communication with 
 Lord Grey ; but my impression was that if the Govern- 
 ment did anytliing for the Catholics he would support, 
 in or out of office, and if they did not he would be in 
 opposition. I understood the Duke to say he had 
 abeady begun to take measures — that is, to feel his way 
 — about the Cathohcs. The great difficulty there is with 
 Peel — not with Peel's real opinions, but with his position 
 and reputation, which may throw great difficulties in the 
 way. He is so embarrassed by his Oxford connections, 
 ~7 and by being the head, in spite of himself, of the anti- 
 Cathohcs. " ^~~ 
 
 The Duke wishes to have the East India Charter 
 come on next year, to avoid all the meetings and 
 pamphlets and speeches we should hear if people had 
 a long time to prepare. He is against opening the 
 China trade, of which the profits enable the Company 
 to carry on the Government of India ; but if it be 
 necessary, which I doubt, to give the Company this 
 pecuniary aid to enable them to carry on the Govern- 
 ment of 50 miUions of people, I think the money can 
 
THE BANK CHAKTER. 183 
 
 hardly be raised in a worse manner than by a tax on 
 tea, which the Company's monopoly really is. 
 
 Lord Melville seemed to think the clamour for 
 opening the China trade would be irresistible. So I 
 think, and that it ought to be opened. 
 
 The Bank Charter is to be renewed next year too, 
 so we shall have enough to do. 
 
 August 1. 
 
 Lord Eosslyn saw EUice, and cross-examined him, 
 and he his wife.^ 
 
 Mr. Grrey, it seems, is learned, gentlemanhke, and 
 rather high ; has rather High Church dispositions, too, 
 and has quarrelled with Sir George and Lady Grey for 
 distributing tracts in his parish. He is a good parish 
 priest and popular preacher. In short, he is really as 
 good a man as can be found for the situation. He has 
 500Z. a year and twelve children. 
 
 I told all this to the Duke, who said he should be 
 the man, and he would write to him to-night. 
 
 Eosslyn has not written to Lord Grey, neither will 
 the Duke. 
 
 The Duke said he would do the thing handsomely 
 and not ask him to resign anything he might have ; but 
 as the preferment was so good he thought he ought to 
 do so. 
 
 This I told Lord Eosslyn. It seems he has a 
 hving from the Bishop of Durham, nominally 800/. a 
 year, but after paying a curate he receives not much 
 above 500/. 
 
 ^ i.e. ahoMt INIr. Grey, who was his brother-in-la-w. 
 
184 DIARY. .1828. 
 
 Cabinet. First, the Lord High Admiral, who is en- 
 deavouring to estabhsh a claim to be obeyed without 
 the intervention of his Council. He is gone to sea with 
 two three-deckers and some small vessels, and is not to 
 reappear till August 9. Nobody knows where he is 
 gone. He has ordered pilots to be ready to take the 
 to Copenhagen on the 10th from the Nore. 
 She is to stay there twenty-four hours, and return by 
 the Great and Little Belts. The orders are to be secret. 
 This expression of his opinion is conveyed in a letter 
 to the two naval lords, in which he tells them he may 
 not have an opportunity of writing again till he returns 
 to the Admiralty. The last order about the vessel 
 going to Copenhagen looks like madness, but it seems 
 it is to take G. Fitz-Clarence there for his pleasure. 
 The letters will be laid before the King, but nothing 
 done yet. 
 
 Then we had some talk about Lord Anglesey, who 
 seems to be very imprudent. He has made almost 
 pubhc by a memorandum addressed to Sir J. Byng 
 to be communicated to Lord Hill, and thus passing 
 through many hands, his opinion that the Catholic 
 soldiers are not to be trusted. He is out of humour. 
 
 Then came on the question of the East India 
 Charter. 
 
 The Duke's chief reasons for urging it on seem to 
 be that he thinks he could get the Company to take 
 Ceylon off our hands, and thus save 100, 000 Z. a year ; 
 that by bringing it on at once we should avoid all the 
 intrigues and talk and pamphlet-writing which would 
 otherwise embarrass us ; and that, come on when it may, 
 
EAST INDIA COMPANY. 185 
 
 the finances of the Company require the million they 
 get by the China trade to enable them to carry on the 
 Government of India. 
 
 The general feehng seemed to be in favour of delay, 
 and of depriving the Company of the China trade, 
 although by a paper drawn up by the accomptant of 
 the Board of Commissioners it seems their finances are 
 in a very bad state. 
 
 I said that if we meant to leave the China trade to 
 the Company we might renew the Charter now ; but 
 that if we meant to throw it open, the Company, witli 
 five years of their Charter to run, would be intractable. 
 
 All, but the East India Company, were opposed to 
 the China monopoly, because all suffered by it. It was 
 in fact a mode of enabhng the Company to govern India 
 by a tax levied on a necessary of life in England. 
 
 I thought there would be great difficulty in carrying 
 such a measure. 
 
 It would be said that the money obtained by the 
 monopoly of the China trade made the Company ex- 
 travagant. That the amount might be saved by 
 economy. 
 
 It was then proposed that the Bank Charter should 
 be renewed next year. Peel protested against having 
 both in the same year. The Duke thought he could 
 get some money from the Bank for the renewal of the 
 Charter ; perhaps get the management of the Debt done 
 for nothing. 
 
 It seems to me he is sacrificing future advantage 
 for present profit, and all to make a good financial show 
 next year. 
 
186 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 If the Bank is to be called upon to sacrifice its ex- 
 clusive privilege within a certain distance of London, 
 and to prevent the creation of other chartered banks, 
 it will not be much disposed to pay money for what is 
 of no value. So, if the East India Company should be 
 permitted to retain the monopoly of the China trade, it 
 cannot be expected to take upon itself any additional 
 charge — that of Ceylon, for instance, the reason of its 
 being allowed to retain the monopoly being its inabihty 
 without that monopoly to pay its way. 
 
 On the subject of the Bank Charter I said that the 
 subject of currency was one on which I always spoke 
 with diffidence, but that it seemed to me that the 
 solvency of a bank, and its trading upon good banking 
 principles, as it is called — that is, its lending its notes 
 on short credits — were no security against over-issue 
 or against the calamities attending sudden and great 
 variations in the amount of the circulating medium. 
 That, on the contrary, a bank acting on the safest 
 principles could and did contract the currency more 
 rapidly than another, disregarding altogether the injury 
 it inflicted by forcing the immediate payment of debts 
 and by withdrawing the accustomed and expected ac- 
 commodation. Hence the ruin of its customers. There 
 has been more distress in Scotland than in England on 
 this account. 
 
 In 1825 the Bank of England, seeing the exchanges 
 were against this country, in a few months withdrew 
 three milhons of its notes. The country banks during 
 the same period issued three miUions more. The ex- 
 changes continued unfavourable. The crash came ; 
 
DINNER AT ABERDEEN'S. 187 
 
 and the Bank suffered, in spite of its own prudence, 
 the penalty of the gambhng and dishonesty of the 
 country banks. So far from desiring that the circula- 
 tion of the Bank should be diminished and that of 
 country banks increased, I thought the contrary would 
 be most for the benefit of the country. 
 
 Peel thought the withdrawing of the 1^. notes 
 secured us against any future redundancy of currency. 
 I admitted it had a salutary effect, but observed that 
 in 1825 only one- third of the excess was in \l. notes. 
 The Bank is to be informed the subject may be brought 
 before Parhament next Session. 
 
 The blockade of Madeira must be respected. It 
 will be announced as that of Beleni was, not naming 
 Miguel as king. 
 
 I met Lieven at dinner at Aberdeen's. He told me 
 he expected the news of the attack on Schoumla be- 
 tween the 6th and the 8th. The whole army was to 
 move from Karson on July 6, and to be before 
 Schoumla on the 12th. They expected four days of 
 fighting. Hassan Pasha was at Schoumla with 40,000 
 men on the 6th. By the 12th they thought he would 
 have 50,000. The Eussians would have from 50,000 
 to 70,000, not more. 
 
 None of their best generals were there — neither 
 Langeron, Paulen, nor Woronzoff. Diebitch was 
 quartermaster-general. He was quartermaster-general 
 to Wittgenstein in the campaign of 1812. 
 
 AH the fortresses had hitherto been found well 
 garrisoned, and in every respect well provided. 
 
 The Sultan had set off for Adrianople. The day 
 
188 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 before he left Constantinople he went to the mosque in 
 a sort of foraging cap, having laid aside the turban for 
 the campaign. 
 
 Hassan Pasha is the man who destroyed the janis- 
 saries. 
 
 Lieven did not speak with any great exultation. 
 
 Lawrence, the American Minister, had agreed with 
 Aberdeen not to mention that the King of the Nether- 
 lands was the arbitrator chosen. (I suppose this silence 
 was to last till he got an answer from Washington.) 
 However, Lawrence wrote to Hughes, the American 
 Minister at Brussels, telhng him ; and this he did not 
 communicate to Aberdeen for more than a fortnight, 
 nor until a gentleman had arrived from Brussels who 
 knew the fact. Thus the King of the Netherlands will 
 have been first informed by the American Minister, and 
 been talked to by him three weeks before our Minister 
 at Brussels kn^w officially anything about the matter. 
 A very dirty American trick, which should be resented, 
 and Lawrence shown up and treated as a man who has 
 broken his word. 
 
 August 4t. 
 
 Cabinet at 4. Aberdeen read the proposed instruc- 
 tions to Lord Strangford, who is going to the Brazils. 
 The paper has rather the fault he used to attribute to 
 Dudley, that of being more an essay than an instruction. 
 However, substantially it is correct, and adduces good 
 reasons why Pedro should, on the condition of his com- 
 pleting the marriage, acknowledge Miguel as king, all 
 
THE WEST INDIES. 189 
 
 acts to be in the joint names of Miguel and Donna 
 Maria da Gloria. The almost unanimous decision of 
 the Portuguese in favour of Dom Miguel is insisted 
 on. Pedro is told his abdication is complete. That he 
 would have no assistance if he attempted to conquer 
 Portugal, and that he could not do it. That he must 
 not think of further dividing the monarchy ; that is, by- 
 separating Madeira, &c. 
 
 Lord Belmore is going out as Governor to Jamaica. 
 I am astonished he should take such an appointment. 
 He is a man of large fortune. 
 
 The Duke recommended strongly to Sir G. Murray 
 the writing in very strong terms to the several go- 
 vernors of the West India Islands, and pressing them 
 to urge the adoption by the local legislatures of the 
 recommendations of Parhament. 
 
 Peel felt very strongly, and so did the Duke, that 
 Parhament pressing the adoption of a measure in favour 
 of the slaves, which the local legislatures rejected, 
 would lead the slaves to a rebellion. The Duke re- 
 ferred to a book of a Mr. Prankhn on the 'EebeUion 
 in St. Domingo.' 
 
 The idea of Peel was that the governors would do 
 more by talking individually to the members of the 
 Assembhes than by any speech. 
 
 Goulburn, who was for a long time Under-Secretary 
 in the Colonial Department, said the members of the 
 Assembhes were generally managers of estates, who 
 had gone out as stable boys or in the lowest situations — 
 men who wanted to purchase their masters' estates, and 
 
190 DIAEY. 1828- 
 
 whose interests were opposed to those of the proprietors 
 resident in this country. 
 
 I suggested that the governors should have hints for 
 their speeches given to them. 
 
 The Duke recommended Fitzgerald to look into the 
 timber question and that of gloves. 
 
 All have something to do but me. Aberdeen told 
 me he was talking with Lord Wallace, who said no one 
 had made more progress than I had this Session by 
 knowing exactly when to speak and how much, and the 
 merit was greater in me than in many others, as I hked 
 speaking. 
 
 Aberdeen introduced the subject by saying, ' I dare 
 say you think this an unprofitable Session.' I said I 
 did. Then he told me what Lord Wallace had said. I 
 said, 'Those only could have expected otherwise who 
 did not know me. That I beheved, if I had anything, I 
 had Parhamentary tact, and I thought a good speech 
 made when nothing ought to be said, crushed a man 
 instead of making him.' 
 
 Our consent to the French going to the Morea has 
 been received as a personal favour by the Eang of 
 France. He thinks it of great importance to his Go- 
 vernment, the feehng was so strong in the country 
 and in the Chambers in favour of it. 
 
 It seems the French army is by no means at the 
 peace complement, nor are the fortresses well provided. 
 
 The King and the Government are very much in the 
 hands of the Liberals. 
 
 The new Bishop of London has already begun to be 
 troublesome. He has made objections to ]\ir. Grey's 
 
SIR ROBERT PEEL. 191 
 
 having the Hving of Bishopsgate, on the ground of his 
 Evangehcal opinions. The Duke told me he would 
 satisfy him on that subject. 
 
 August 6. 
 
 The Emperor of Brazil has broken his word to our 
 Minister at Eio, and will not now consent to negotiate 
 at Monte Video. We must put an end to this war, 
 which exists only for the plunder of neutrals. 
 
 Peel has asked Aberdeen to employ Cockburn, his 
 brother-in-law. This is wrong of Peel, for Cockburn 
 was most properly displaced by Dudley, and Aberdeen 
 will not employ liim. Cockburn expended 11,000/. of 
 the pubhc money, and then dechned going to Bogota. 
 
 August 7. 
 
 Met Pohgnac at dinner. He seemed very anxious 
 to reheve Portugal from the state of Coventry in 
 which it is now placed, and regretted the retirement of 
 the ambassadors. 
 
 I told him the Emperor still intended to send his 
 daughter to Europe, and would send her to Genoa about 
 the end of July, on her way to Vienna. He did not 
 know this, and was pleased to hear it. 
 
 How entirely morals and feehng are in this instance 
 made to give way to pohtical considerations. All 
 Europe combines to force the marriage of a man of 
 the worst character to an unhealthy child, nine years 
 old, that man being the child's uncle, and both being 
 descended from a madwoman. Miguel is very much in 
 love with a Princess of Bavaria, and she with him, and 
 
192 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 for this reason she refused his brother. The Emperor 
 
 will at last be married in all probability to a Princess of 
 
 Sardinia. 
 
 Aug-ust 8. 
 
 Cabinet at half-past 3. 
 
 Eothschild has received a letter from Corfu stating 
 that Ibrahim Pasha has evacuated the Morea. 
 
 The Eussian reserve not being yet in a condition to 
 take the charge of the sieges on the Danube, General 
 Eoth's corps has been ordered on that service, and is 
 ascending^ the Danube from Hirschova. Had the reserve 
 been in time, Eoth's corps would have observed Schoumla, 
 wliile two other corps advanced by Varna, and turned 
 it. Now these two corps march to attack Schoumla. 
 The Turks have not as yet done one foolish thing. 
 They have only thrown forward a strong reconnaissance 
 of 8,000 cavalry, which seems to have been well 
 managed. I cannot help anticipating a smash at 
 Schoumla. I have from the first had a presentiment 
 that this war would be terminated by some horrible 
 catastrophe. 
 
 At the Cabinet first we had a letter from the Duke 
 to the Lord High Admiral. He has behaved very ill to 
 Cockburn since his return, and the King takes up the 
 matter very warmly. He says, in speaking of the 
 Duke of Clarence, 'He is a great disciplinarian, and ne 
 must have discipline himself The Duke of Welling- 
 ton's letter begins by stating his regret at being obhged 
 to advert to tlie same topics after what passed recently. 
 It then states the charge : — 
 
 ' That the command of a squadron of manoeuvre 
 
THE LOED ADMIRAL. 193 
 
 having been given by his Majesty to Sir — — , the 
 Duke of Clarence, with his mihtary flag as Lord High 
 Admiral flying on board the ' Eoyal Sovereign ' yacht, 
 took the command of a part of that squadron which 
 had been assembled at Plymouth, before the arrival of 
 the oflicer to whom it had been entrusted, and went 
 to sea with it, the oflicer appointed to the command 
 reaching Plymouth after his departure and remaining 
 there some time ' (it might have been added, ' by the 
 Duke's orders '), ' to take in provisions, &c.' 
 
 The Duke then informs the Lord High Admiral 
 that such conduct is contrary to the constitution of the 
 country, and of the Board over which he presides, and 
 entreats him in future to make his communications, 
 through the regular official channels. 
 
 He is again referred to his Patent. I cannot help 
 thinking that now or very soon the Lord High Admiral 
 will resign. Spencer, his secretary, urges him forward. 
 BQs family are afraid the fatigue will kill him. He is 
 now and then mad — or very nearly so. The King 
 would be glad to oust him, thus removing from a pro- 
 minent situation a brother of whom he is jealous, and 
 creating ill blood between the Heir Presumptive and 
 his Ministers — a thing all Kings hke to do. 
 
 We read the Eeis Effendi's letter to the Duke of 
 WeUington and his answer. The letter is well written, 
 and the expressions are well chosen. It holds out 
 hopes that if we will send our Minister back to Con- 
 stantinople they will arrange everything respecting 
 Greece to our satisfaction — at the same time it says 
 nothing specific. The Duke's answer states in sub- 
 VOL. I. 
 
194 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 stance tliat we can only send back onr Minister when 
 the Sultan accedes to the armistice and to the prehmi- 
 naries proposed to him by the Allies. In this answer 
 our case is stated as well as it can be ; but the Duke 
 said, * It is all full of lies.' 
 
 The Lord High Admiral wished to send the 
 'Procris,' a ten-gun brig, to survey the Great and 
 Little Belt, It seems the pilots have not been there 
 lately, and forget the navigation. A month ago, on the 
 same ground, the Trinity House wished to send a sur- 
 veying vessel, and were told they must not, as the 
 survey of the Belts at the present moment might excite 
 suspicions on the part of Eussia. The Lord High 
 Admiral is to be told the ' Procris ' must not go, and 
 the same reason is to be given. 
 
 Aberdeen read his answer to the American note, 
 which I had already seen. The paragraph at the end, 
 which I had inserted, admitting ' that, had a case of 
 practical inconvenience arising out of the exercise of 
 our exclusive jurisdiction been alleged, we should have 
 been disposed to take into our mature consideration 
 any reasonable plan for the removal of such inconve- 
 nience,' was omitted. I saw the feeling of the Cabinet 
 was so strongly in favour of a more decided negative 
 that It was of no use for me to resist. I think the 
 real strength of our case has induced the Cabinet to 
 hold a more decided language than is prudent under 
 all the circumstances of our relative positions. Our 
 case is unanswerable. 
 
 We had some conversation about the war between 
 Buenos Ayres and Brazil. The Americans and the 
 
blocb:ade of eio. 195 
 
 French make the Brazilians restore their ships. We 
 alone are the sufferers. The Duke's feehng and that 
 of the Cabinet seemed to be that we should insist upon 
 the restoration of all our vessels, and blockade Eio if 
 the Emperor would not yield. This blockade of the 
 Eio de la Plata has been effective against Enghsh vessels 
 only. 
 
 The question was raised whether vessels manned 
 almost wholly by foreigners could be justly deemed 
 nationahsed by their flag. On this point the Eang's 
 Advocate's opinion will be taken, and should he decide 
 in favour of such a measure, all vessels of which three- 
 fourths, or two-thirds, or some large portion of the crew 
 are not natives, will be deemed pirates. This would be 
 a most valuable clause in national law. 
 
 The Duke told me he had seen Mr. Grey, and told 
 him he expected he would reside, and therefore he left 
 him his living that ne might have something to fall 
 back upon in the event of his residence in London 
 being prejudicial to his health. The late and present 
 Bishop of London both objected to him on the ground 
 of his Evangehcal opinions. The Duke desired them 
 to make their own enquiries. The new Bishop of 
 London did so, and was satisfied of Mr. Grey's fitness. 
 He examined him twice. Having thus found him 
 worthy^ the Bishop behaved handsomely by him, put 
 him au fait of his parish, and was hberal too about 
 the house, and some purchase he had made of premises 
 adjoining. Like a true parson, however, he advised 
 Mr. Grey by no means to give up his living till after 
 the harvest. 
 
 2 
 
196 , DIARY. 1828. 
 
 I called upon Lord Eosslyn, who was, I found, 
 already acquainted with these circumstances, and had 
 written last niglit to Lord Grey and Lady Jersey. 
 
 I told him he might tell Lord Grey that the Duke 
 seemed as much pleased at the final arrangement of 
 the thing as if it had been of some particular advantage 
 to himself. After all, the only real pleasure of power 
 is in obhging one's friends and in making people happy. 
 
 I told Lord Eosslyn the news from Bulgaria of the 
 state of the Eussian army, &c. 
 
 He said there was a report we meant to send French 
 
 troops in English ships, and seemed to think it very 
 
 shocking. I do not think it very shocking ; but it may 
 
 possibly be rather a dehcate transaction. I a little 
 
 distrust the prudence both of English seamen and 
 
 Erench soldiers. 
 
 August 16. 
 
 Met Vesey Fitzgerald. He told me the Duke of 
 Clarence was out. There was an interview at Windsor 
 on Tuesday between the King and the Duke of Clarence, 
 the Duke of Wellington being present. The Duke of 
 Clarence was wilhng to act according to his patent ; but 
 he would not act with Sir G. Cockburn. He has an 
 insane antipathy to Sir George. Of course it Avas im- 
 possible to sacrifice a meritorious public servant who 
 had not been wanting in respect to the Duke of 
 Clarence. 
 
 The Duke of WeUington is gone to Cheltenham for 
 a fortnight. I dare say the place Avill not be filled up 
 till his return. He would be unwilhng to appear to 
 be in a hurry to get rid of the Duke. In tlie mean- 
 
THE DUKi; OF CLARENCE. 197 
 
 time the Duke of Clarence does the biismess as usual. 
 Aberdeen told me he did not speak ill of the Duke of 
 Wellington, but said he could not do otherwise as Prime 
 Minister, nor he go on with Cockburn. 
 
 I think the place will be offered in the first instance 
 to Lord Melville. Should he refuse it, and prefer re- 
 maining where he is, I should not be in the least 
 surprised if Peel, wishing to have all the support he 
 can get in the House of Commons, pressed the Duke 
 to give the place to Cockburn, whose brother married 
 Peel's sister. 
 
 He has already made an application to Aberdeen in 
 favour of a Cockburn, the man who was in South 
 America, but not where he ought to have been. Nor 
 should I be surprised if the Duke yielded to Peel. 
 
 If Melville takes the Admiralty, to whom will they 
 give the Board of Control ? Will they give it to me, 
 or offer it to Eosslyn ? I think the latter ; but in this 
 manner I should be again passed by. As to the Foreign 
 Office, which, from what fell from Aberdeen, I expected 
 to have about the middle of October, I now think I 
 shall not have it. 
 
 Eead all the papers at the Cabinet room. Our 
 Consul at Bucharest says he finds the Eussian army on 
 the right of the Danube is not more than 75,000 men 
 There are 30,000 in Wallachia, 48,000 in the army of 
 reserve, which is not come up, and 30,000 Guards on 
 their march. Total, 183,000 men. 
 
 The locusts have destroyed all vegetation along the 
 Danube. 
 
 The Pashas who surrendered Isatscha and some other 
 
198 DIAEY. 1828. 
 
 place have been beheaded at Schumla by Hiissem Pasha. 
 The Pasha who defended Ibraila so well has been 
 afraid to go into Turkey. 
 
 Twenty thousand of the garrison of Ibraila have 
 entered Sihstria. 
 
 The Turks mean to bring their flotilla as high as 
 Sihstria. 
 
 The Asiatic army united in the Troad is dissolved 
 by desertion. Parties are placed at the mouths of the 
 defiles of the Balkans to catch deserters from the grand 
 army. 
 
 Paskewich has taken Kars in Armenia. He has 
 only 15,000 men, and I do not think he can do much 
 mischief. He can have no communications except by 
 the Black Sea. 
 
 The Porte is sending all the money it can to Ibra- 
 him Pasha. Of his agreement to evacuate the Morea 
 nothing is certainly known. Wliatever may happen 
 the French army will go to the Morea, not to save 
 Greece, but to save the Prench Government. 
 
 The Eussians are much alarmed by a report that 
 Austria is arming, and that she will have 400,000 men 
 soon. The Austrians have made weak efforts to recruit 
 their army, but not to that extent. 
 
 Aberdeen is much annoyed at the appointments of 
 Lord Stuart and Lord Strangford. Certainly both are 
 very bad. 
 
 Lord Stuart says Yillele, by the conduct he has 
 pursued since his secession, has indisposed all parties, 
 and shut himself out from office durino- this Kine^'s hfe. 
 Yillele remained at Paris, and dared his enemies to 
 
MR. DAWSON AT DERRY. 199 
 
 accuse him. He was beat, and tliey did. He cannot 
 defend himself without compromising the King's name. 
 
 August 19. 
 
 Lord Stuart says the instructions to Count Maison 
 say nothing about his returning with his army when 
 the Turkish troops are driven out. 
 
 The French have as yet only withdrawn 3,000 men 
 from Cadiz. I suggested to Aberdeen that we should 
 see that the whole force is withdrawn immediately. It 
 will never do to have a French garrison in Cadiz and in 
 the Morea. It does not seem clear what passed in the 
 conference between the admirals and Ibrahim. No 
 account of it has yet been received, 
 
 August 21. 
 
 Dawson's speech at Derry fait epoque. It was 
 rather incautious, I think ; for he might have prepared 
 the way for a change of vote without exhibiting Ireland 
 as under the government of the Association, and de- 
 claring that either the Association must be put down 
 or something done to settle the Cathohc question. His 
 picture of Ireland is, I believe, correct, but it was 
 strongly drawn — too strongly, considering his situation 
 in the Government, and that he will be supposed to 
 speak the sentiments of others. The Duke will be 
 annoyed, but he cannot displace Dawson. His speech 
 hastens the crisis. I think the question must be carried 
 next year. His speech will hurry the Duke, will 
 alarm the Protestants, and raise hopes, perhaps too 
 sanguine, in the Cathohcs. I fear the Protestants may 
 
200 .. DIAEY. 1828. 
 
 make the first hostile movement, and possibly bring on 
 a civil contest, which will make concession impossible. 
 This is what Lord Longford and many of the violent 
 Orangemen wish. 
 
 I am not at all sure it may not be expedient to call 
 Parliament together in November, to consider the 
 Cathohc question, and thus anticipate the violence of 
 both factions. 
 
 I suppose the new First Lord of the Admiralty and 
 President of the Board of Control will be sworn in 
 at the Council held about the 26th or 27th for further 
 proroguing Parliament. 
 
 If Melville goes back to the Admiralty, Eosslyn may 
 have the offer of Lidia ; but if Melville retains Lidia, 
 Eosslyn will hardly be sent to the Admiralty. 
 
 Things are hardly enough advanced as regards the 
 Catholic question for an offer to Lord Grey. If he 
 came in, he would have the Foreign Office, and Aber- 
 deen — what ? I should say the best arrangement would 
 be — 
 
 Grey, Foreign Office. 
 
 Eosslyn, India. 
 
 I, Admiralty. 
 
 Melville, Lord Lieutenant. 
 
 Aberdeen, Privy Seal. 
 
 The rest as they are. 
 
 Will Peel remain in office while the Catholic ques- 
 tion is carried ? He can hardly do so. Fitzgerald could 
 lead the House of Commons for the Session ; but if Peel 
 goes out, he must appear at least to go out in reality ^ 
 and not have his office held for him for six months. If 
 
THE RUSSIAN FLEET. 201 
 
 the latter course be adopted, it will not do much good 
 
 to Peel's reputation. 
 
 August 21. 
 
 The second in command at Schumla is HaHl Pacha, 
 a man of five-and-twenty, but a brave officer whom 
 Hussein had under him at the destruction of the Janis- 
 saries. -^ • 
 
 News of the 11th has been received from Vienna, 
 but none yet of the battle. 
 
 There are all sorts of stories of the Lord High 
 Admiral, and the world says he is mad. 
 
 Ashley, who is under Lord Melville at the India 
 Board, says he would not willingly return to the 
 Admiralty. 
 
 The Chancellor said incidentally, in speaking of my 
 office, that it certainly was not suited to me. I really, 
 am ashamed of it. 
 
 It is supposed that the Eussian admiral is gone 
 
 down in an 80-gun ship. He was burning blue lights 
 
 when the rest of the squadron left him. When they 
 
 were met at sea by the Lord High Admiral they were 
 
 endeavouring to work to windward, and missed stays 
 
 every time. ■[ 
 
 August 22. 
 
 Should I not be placed on this occasion in any 
 efficient office, and should I at the same time not re- 
 ceive any promise of an efficient office at an early 
 period, what conduct shall I adopt? I shall certainly 
 consult Hardinge before I take any decided step ; but 
 my own feeling is that I should resign. I will make 
 a draft of a letter of resignation. The Chancellor, in 
 
202 
 
 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 the course of conversation this evening, said I ought to 
 have some department. I made no reply. 
 
 Eead a number of papers sent home by Codrington. 
 Amongst them is a letter from De Eigny to him, in 
 which De Eigny claims equal responsibihty, and equal 
 blame. He says he was left to watch the Morea in the 
 ' Trident ' when Codrington's fleet was obhged to go to 
 Malta to refit. He does not know apparently that the 
 'Warspite' arrived at Malta about November 8, and 
 that Codrington had other ships at his disposal. I 
 should doubt Codrington's having communicated the 
 whole of Aberdeen's letter to De Eigny. I must look 
 over the instructions and make a memorandum of M. 
 de Eigny 's letter. 
 
 There was a conference with Ibrahim Pasha on July 6, 
 the result of wliich was that our Admiral and his col- 
 leagues Avere induced to think Ibrahim would evacuate 
 the Morea as soon as ships came to take him away. 
 Suleiman Bey (Colonel Siar) was present with other 
 colonels, and declared he and the others would force 
 Ibrahim on board, for they came to fight, not to starve. 
 Six thousand Albanians have marched off to Patras, 
 having revolted. It is said Ibrahim went after them 
 with 12,000 men, but there is no clear information on 
 this point. 
 
 Codrington speaks of an order from the Sultan for 
 Ibrahim to march upon Eoumelia, but I cannot find his 
 authority for this. 
 
 The plan is for the blockading squadron to leave 
 Alexandria when the Egyptian fleet is ready to sail, to 
 meet it at sea, and force it to come to Navarin. Then 
 
THE EGYPTIAN FLEET. 203 
 
 to agree with Ibrahim that the two fleets shall enter 
 the harbour at the same time. This seems a wild 
 scheme, and I suspect some deception. I should not 
 be surprised if Ibrahim marched to Koumelia, and the 
 Egyptian fleet sailed to the Dardanelles. It is what 
 they ought to do. If the Porte brought the whole of 
 its force to bear upon the Eussians, and agreed to the 
 terms of the Treaty of London, I really believe it 
 would be victorious. 
 
 The Egyptians have only three large frigates left, 
 ready for sea, and in good condition ; but they have 
 in all six or eight corvettes, and fifteen or eighteen 
 brigs. 
 
 A fever, as yet not declared to be infectious, has 
 broke out on board the 'Warspite.' On July 9 she 
 had twenty-three men on the sick hst, and on the 13th 
 sixty-two. She lay four or five days ofi* the low land 
 of Poros, and to this the fever is attributed. She is 
 gone to Malta. 
 
 I have had some conversation with the Chancellor 
 and Yesey Pitzgerald respecting Dawson's speech. 
 They are of the same opinion as myself. It hurries 
 on the question too rapidly, and places the two parties 
 in hostile positions. 
 
 The Chancellor and I am to look over the Bill I 
 have drawn, and to see how the thing can be done. 
 
 The King has had a bad cold. He parted with the 
 young Cumberland with great regret. 
 
 Dawkins is appointed our resident in Greece ! All 
 our appointments are bad. The French have sent 
 Inchereau de St. Denis. The Kussians a Count de 
 
204 . DIARY. 1828. 
 
 Bulgari, said to be a clever man. We are worse repre- 
 sented, and the French better than any. 
 
 Lord Stuart, Paris. 
 
 Lord Strangford, Eio Janeiro. 
 
 Lord Belmore, Jamaica. 
 
 Mr. Dawkins, Greece. 
 
 Lord F. Leveson, L-eland. 
 
 S. Perceval, Clerk of the Ordnance. 
 
 Aberdeen, Secretary for Foreign Affairs. 
 
 Blomfield, Bishop of London. 
 
 All these appointments are doubtful. 
 
 Aberdeen Avill do nothing very glaringly wrong ; 
 but he Avill conduct foreign affairs without ability, and 
 will commit a number of little errors which will let 
 down the character of our diplomacy, and materially 
 injure us. 
 
 August 25. 
 
 Council at Windsor Castle for proroguing Parlia- 
 ment to October 30. Present, Peel, Sir J. Murray, 
 Chancellor, Aberdeen, Y. Fitzgerald, and myself. The 
 Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop of London, and 
 Bishop of Chichester. Why these last were there I 
 do not know. The King looked very well indeed, and 
 seemed quite gay. There is no news. The Duke 
 returns on Saturday. I dare say he will be at Ciren- 
 cester on Friday on his way. 
 
 Had some conversation with the Chancellor on the 
 bad appointments of Lord F. Leveson, Strangford, &c., 
 and on the state of our diplomacy abroad. 
 
THE RUSSIANS BEFORE SCHUMLA. 205 
 
 August 27. 
 
 At the Foreign Office read a letter from Lord 
 Cowley, announcing the Emperor of Kussia's return to 
 Odessa. He arrived there on August 8. The Eussians 
 have not force enough to attack Schumla, and while the 
 reinforcements are coming up the Emperor goes to see 
 the Empress. Lord Heytesbury, who had got within 
 seventy miles of head-quarters, has been invited to go 
 to Odessa. He complains of want of horses, of pro- 
 vender for them, and even of food for himself, and of 
 bad water. He says all the officers he has met are 
 tii*ed of the war ; that he sees no enthusiasm. The 
 first of the Guards were to reach the Danube on the 
 10th. Even these could hardly be before Schumla be- 
 fore September 1. Other troops were coming up. 
 
 The Eussian steamboats were all out of order. The 
 Turks certainly had some success before Yarna. 
 
 If the Turks would order Ibrahim to march upon 
 Adrianople, bring the Egyptian fleet to the Bosphorus, 
 and accede to the Treaty of London, they might still 
 succeed against the Eussians. Their success now would, 
 I fear, induce them to be obstinate on the subject of 
 Greece, and lead to continued complications and em- 
 barrassments. Still their defence of the Balkans is an 
 event for Europe of the highest imjDortance. It assures 
 us of the existence of one barrier to the Eussian arms. 
 
 August 28. 
 
 The Duke of Wellington still thinks the Eussians 
 will succeed in the end. I confess I do not. I have a 
 
206 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 presentiment that tliey will fail. The army before 
 Schumla ought to be destroyed. 
 
 August 30. 
 
 Saw Mr. Angerstein, the young man whom Dudley 
 pointed out to me as a clever person. He told me De 
 Eigny thought the French were sending more troops 
 than were necessary. 
 
 The French intend to land at Arcadia and form a 
 cordon across the country to Calamata, thus cutting off 
 from provisions the three fortresses of Modon, Coron, 
 and ISTavarin. They intend, too, to occupy the Island of 
 Sphacteria, and another small island, not far from 
 Navarin, called Prodano. 
 
 September 1. 
 
 The Plenipotentiaries were all going to Poros, to 
 be near the Greek Government, and the Turks. The 
 instructions to the ambassadors, written originally in 
 Enghsh, have been ill-translated in some cases, so as 
 to give a different meaning. The words a fair propor- 
 tion (very ill-chosen words by-the-bye) have been trans- 
 lated la majeure partie, and the expression refers to 
 the islands and territory on the continent of Greece to 
 be made part of the new State. 
 
 Stratford Canning has the weakness of those who 
 call themselves Liberals in favour of the Greeks, desiring 
 to give the largest possible extent to the frontier to be 
 assigned to them. 
 
 I had a little conversation with Yesey Fitzgerald at 
 the Chancellor's, where I dined, on the subject of our 
 
OFFERED THE BOAED OF CONTROL. 207 
 
 diplomacy. He thinks it, as I do, miserable. In fact 
 the Government is very ill served, and Aberdeen is not 
 the man to make our Ministers do their duty, or to 
 change them if they do not. The Duke can only have 
 made him Foreign Minister under the idea that he 
 might manage him as he pleased — and so he does, 
 giving all the appointments of a higher order as if they 
 belonged to the Treasury. As far as patronage is con- 
 cerned I should have no objection to this ; but the 
 Foreign Minister ought not to permit the appointment 
 of a man he thinks unfit. 
 
 September 5. 
 
 On my return from Charlton I found a letter from 
 the Duke of Wellington, offering me the Board of 
 Control. Lord Melville has the Admiralty. I shall 
 accept and go to Strathfieldsaye to see the Duke to- 
 morrow. Under the circumstance of the approaching 
 renewal of the Charter I ought to make up my mind 
 to remain in the Board of Control and to endeavour to 
 reduce the expenditure of the East India Company, so 
 as to enable Parhament to renew the Charter and throw 
 open the China trade. 
 
 The Duke tells me it is not yet decided who should 
 succeed me as Privy Seal. 
 
 Upon the whole I am satisfied with this arrange- 
 ment. Undoubtedly the Foreign Office is the object of 
 my ambition, and had the late Administration been 
 beaten down in the field I must have had that office. 
 It is now placed in very weak hands ; but I may over- 
 estimate my own powers, and I excite less envy and 
 
208 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 jealousy by taking at first the incognito office of Presi- 
 dent of the Board of Control. 
 
 Saturday^ September 6. 
 
 Set off at a little before 9 for Strathlieldsaye. The 
 Duke received me very cordially. I gave him a letter 
 I had written, accepting the office, which he will send 
 to tlie King. 
 
 We walked in the o-arden and he brou<]fht down the 
 history of the Duke's resignation to the present time. 
 It seems the Duke of Wellington had some discussion 
 with Peel on the subject of the manner in which the 
 office should be filled up, and did not write to the King 
 till the 20th proposing any arrangement. This letter 
 crossed on the road one from the King, expressing sur- 
 prise at not having yet received any communication on 
 the subject. The King, having had in the interval some 
 reason to think the Duke of Clarence would remain, 
 wrote to the Duke of Wellington begging him to do 
 nothing further till he heard further from him. But 
 the Duke of Clarence would only remain if Sir G. 
 Cockburn was turned out, and the Duke of Wellington 
 told the King that he would not do, and if he did, all 
 the other members of the Board would resio-n. This 
 latter part Cockburn told Spencer, and Spencer the 
 Duke of Clarence, who thereupon, seeing the affair was 
 more serious than lie had imagined, sent for Cockburn 
 and the others, shook hands with them, and asked them 
 to dinner ; but at the same time sent Spencer to the 
 King to say he would not stay unless the powers given 
 by his patent were enlarged- This was out of the 
 
MR. Dawson's speech. 209 
 
 question, so he resigns. The story is rather confused, 
 but so his Eoyal Highness is. However, his retirement 
 now stands on the ground of his asking fuller powers 
 and being refused. 
 
 He was furious with the Duke of Wellington at first, 
 but is reasonable now, and does him justice. 
 
 The Privy Seal remains in my hands for the present, 
 as the Duke wishes to make his arrangements, and, as 
 I understood him, other offices would become vacant 
 from the state of the Catholic question — that is, Peel's. 
 
 He complains very much of Dawson's speech, which 
 has thrown him back with the King, and he is now 
 no further advanced than he was a week after he first 
 opened the subject to his Majesty. 
 
 The King now makes it a point of honour to 
 resist. 
 
 The Duke thinks that with the Irish proprietors it 
 is become a question of rents. He dreads the intem- 
 perance of the Orangemen, and beheves the Catholics 
 will be quiet. 
 
 He has represented to the King and others the* 
 difierent position of Ireland now and in '98. Then aUi 
 Protestant Ireland was united, and all England was. 
 with them. We had then a large army. Now we* 
 have hardly any army, the Catholics are increased^,, 
 they are united, and half England think they ought 
 to be emancipated. 
 
 The Duke begins to think the Eussians may fail. 
 
 Even their generals are dying, and he says things must 
 
 be very bad when generals die. The Emperor is gone 
 
 to avoid the sight of the horrors which surrounded 
 
 VOL. I. P 
 
210 DIAKY. 1828. 
 
 him at Schumla. The Turks are in force in Lesser 
 Wallachia, and surprise detached parties. 
 
 I do not think the Duke looking well ; but here 
 they say he is. 
 
 At six arrived despatches from Lords Cowley and 
 Heytesbury. Lord Cowley's enclosed a report from 
 Prince Phihp of Hesse-Homburg, who joined the army 
 before Schumla on July 31, and some observations of 
 an Austrian officer upon it. The Prince's despatch is 
 the 2 9 til bulletin of the Eussian army.^ He represents 
 its sufferings beyond those of the retreat from Moscow. 
 He speaks with horror of what he has seen. The 
 Emperor and all the army only desire to get out 
 of this disastrous war. The 40,000 or 50,000 men 
 they may bring up will only make things worse. They 
 may take Varna and Schumla, though it is more prob- 
 able they will not ; but the army will perish. 
 
 The Eussians give up all idea of going beyond the 
 Balkan this year. The Turks have 50,000 men in 
 Schumla, more than 12,000 at Varna, all fresh and 
 well. The Eussians have 40,000 before Schumla and 
 12,000 before Varna. 
 
 The Duke says they should have hugged the sea 
 the whole . way, and only masqued Schoumla. This 
 was their first intention. 
 
 Lord Heytesbury seems captivated by the Emperor* 
 He begins to take a Eussian view of things. The Em- 
 peror most improperly spoke of the Duke of Wellington 
 
 ' Alluding to the famous bulletin wliich. first revealed the losses of the 
 French army in Russia. Sir A. Alison observes that * AVittgenstein expe- 
 rienced in his turn the disasters inflicted by him upon Napoleon in his retreat 
 from Witebsk to the Beresina, in 1812.' 
 
RUSSIAN ENCKOACHMENTS, 211 
 
 personally, as distinguished from the Government and 
 the King. Said the Duke had misunderstood him. The 
 King alone knew him and his loyalty. Lord Heytes- 
 bury did not notice this impropriety, which, as the 
 despatches are all sent to the King, was very artful. 
 
 Lord Heytesbury thinks the Eussians mean to keep 
 Anapa and Poti. The latter town commands the en- 
 trance to the Phasis, and therefore its possession would 
 facihtate the communication of the Russians with their 
 new conquests. Yet Lord Heytesbury says ' it is of 
 no importance to the Turks,' whereas everything is of 
 importance to them to keep, which, in the hands of 
 the Russians, would facilitate or disembarrass their 
 operations in a future war. Poti is of importance to 
 us, as we are interested in embarrassing the Russian 
 communication with Persia. 
 
 Lord Heytesbury heard reflections on Metternich 
 without defending him. On the contrary, he filled up 
 a lacune in a sentence inculpatory of Metternich's 
 general character. 
 
 He says the Emperor cannot in honour make the 
 first proposals for peace. How much less can the 
 Turk? Lord Heytesbury always forgets that the 
 war on the part of the Russians is unnecessary and 
 therefore unjust. 
 
 So desirous are they of peace that they no longer 
 (many of them) consider the settlement of the Greek 
 question essential as a part of any peace to be made. 
 
 The Emperor and his people are dehghted with the 
 Erench expedition to the Morea. 
 
 The Emperor talks of not continuing to denationahse 
 
 P 2 
 
212 . DIARY. 1828. 
 
 his fleet should the war go on. He says he must bring 
 it to blockade the Dardanelles. This would break the 
 engagements he recently entered into. 
 
 Lord Heytesbury ought to have an admo7iitory letter, 
 but Aberdeen is not the man to write one. 
 
 I had some conversation with the Duke on the 
 subject of our diplomacy, and he agreed with me in 
 thinking it a nulhty. Why, then, did he make Aber- 
 deen ? 
 
 I am sorry to find the Duke still wishes to renew 
 the Charter next year, with two or three objects, none 
 of them of sufficient importance to justify such a 
 measure. He wislies to get the City of London with 
 the Government as Pitt had. This is more a private 
 than a public object. He wishes to forestall discussion, 
 which he sees be^T^inninjr, as to the terms of the re- 
 newal, and he is more than all desirous of saving the 
 150,000/. a year Ceylon costs us. He would transfer 
 it to the East India Company, because they would 
 govern it more cheaply. This is not a sufficient object 
 for which to sacrifice the advantao^es of the China 
 trade. 
 
 I must look thoroughly into all these subjects. 
 
 Lord Melville was written to on the 5th and desired 
 to come up immediately. He will hardly be in town 
 before the 14th or 15th, I think. 
 
 Sunday, September 7. 
 
 Had some conversation with Arbuthnot. Told 
 him I was sure the Duke would not be able to keep 
 Aberdeen. That he would find nothinir was done 
 
 o 
 
CHANGES IN THE CABINET. 213 
 
 very ill, but nothing well, and that our diplomacy was 
 let down. Besides, Aberdeen told me if he had been 
 Privy Seal he would not have taken the Foreign Office ; 
 and it seems when Arbuthnot lately asked him to lend 
 him liis gown as Chancellor of the Duchy, Aberdeen 
 said he might have it, for he supposed he should not 
 want it again unless he had the good fortune to return 
 to that office. I told Arbuthnot I thought the Duke 
 had better consider the Foreign Office at his disposal 
 than the Privy Seal ; that if the latter remained vacant 
 a month or two I believed Aberdeen would ask for it. 
 
 I said at the same time I thought Aberdeen better 
 than Dudley. 
 
 I said I feared the Duke might have embarrassed 
 himself by giving me the India Board ; that that office 
 would have suited Eosslyn better than the Privy Seal. 
 
 Arbuthnot seemed to think some means might be 
 taken for getting rid of Lord Beresford and putting 
 Eosslyn there — it was better not to bring military men 
 into the Cabinet in civil offices unnecessarily. I told 
 him people seemed to think Peel must go out if the 
 Government took up the CathoHc question, and that, 
 if Lord Grey was to come in, the Home Office would 
 suit him better than the Foreign. I expressed my 
 doubts whether Lord Grey's accession to the Govern- 
 ment would be an advantage. He was able, and would 
 be accommodating and practicable ; but now the Duke 
 is sole Minister, and decidedly superior to all, a dif- 
 ference, should any occur, between him and Lord Grey, 
 would be very serious. The accession of Eosslyn 
 would concihate Lord Grey, which is all we want. 
 
214 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 I am inclined to think the Duke is as anxious as 
 ever to bring in Eosslyn* This I gathered from Ar- 
 buthnot. I had no conversation with the Duke on the 
 subject. I never seek a confidence not freely given. 
 I imagine the Duke consults only Peel in making his 
 arrangements. 
 
 Arbuthnot told me the King's unwillingness to lose 
 the Duke of Clarence arose from his fear that Lord 
 Grey would be proposed to him. Arbuthnot thought 
 Lord Grey might possibly take the Privy Seal. I said 
 it could not be offered to him in the first instance — 
 possibly he might prefer it to a more active office, but 
 I hardly think he would. 
 
 The Duke will not have Lord Melbourne or any of 
 the Canningites. I am glad of it. I do not like them, 
 and I had rather be alone in the House of Lords. ■'■ 
 
 I gave the Duke my memorandum on the Catholic 
 question, and drafts of rephes to Lord Heytesbury. 
 
 I told Arbuthnot I always thought Aberdeen's ap- 
 pointment temporary ; that it was otherwise inexplicable ; 
 that I the more thought it was so from some expres- 
 sions of Aberdeen's, and from the circumstance of the 
 Duke having first thought of having Lord Stuart or 
 Lord Heytesbury, both of which appointments could 
 only have been provisional. Arbuthnbt neither affirmed 
 nor denied that it was so. 
 
 On my return to Eoehampton I wrote notes to Lord 
 Ashley, G. Barker, and Fitzgerald^ and Courtenay, in- 
 forming all of the appointment, asking the two first 
 
 ^ Alone, apparently, as an old advocate of Catholic Emancipation, which 
 Lord Ellenborough had always advocated. 
 
PATRONAGE. 215 
 
 when they came to town, and telHng them the Duke 
 seemed disposed to give us a good deal to do. The 
 two last I want to have some conversation with. 
 
 Eead the evidence relative to East India trade 
 before the Lords' Committee in 1820, both going to 
 Strathfieldsaye and returning. 
 
 The Duke told me he should trouble me for some 
 of my patronage, he was so pressed. I told him he 
 might have all he wanted. I did not know that I had 
 a single person I wished to give anything to. I men- 
 tioned the cadetships and writerships. He said the 
 law appointments were what he wanted. He did not 
 wish for the others ; but he did not know how good 
 they were. I had never thought of the law appoint- 
 ments. By-the-bye there is a bishoprick, &c., besides. 
 
 September 8. 
 
 Eode to town. No further news. Palmella^ was 
 with Aberdeen, in the receipt of a lecture. These 
 Pedroites seem disposed to levy war upon Miguel from 
 this country, and have landed 2,000 men here. This 
 is rather too bad. Last night I sent a note to Count 
 Munster, apologising for not having called upon him, 
 and telling him the accounts we received represented 
 the sufferings of the Eussians as equal to those of the 
 French in the retreat from Moscow. 
 
 He wrote to me this mornino^ and told me his 
 
 'O 
 
 ^ The Marquis of Palmella was the minister accredited for Donna Maria 
 and recognised as the Minister of Portugal. He was, however, as agent for 
 the Pedroite or Constitutional party, in constant collision with the Ministry as 
 to alleged violations of English neutrality in the internal struggle against 
 Don Miguel. 
 
216 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 accounts from General Dornberg, a Hanoverian who 
 lias entered tlie Eussian service, were silent as to dis- 
 tress and confident of ultimate success. These des- 
 patches are gone to the King, and Count Munster will 
 show them to me. 
 
 I saw Wrangham. He had observed the various 
 improprieties of Lord Heytesbury's despatch. It seems 
 Aberdeen read it to Esterhazy in extenso^ the part 
 relating to Metternich included. He was very wrong 
 in reading that passage, for now there is an end to 
 all good understanding between Metternich and Lord 
 Heytesbury. 
 
 It is thus, by Httle errors, that Aberdeen will let 
 down the diplomacy of the country. 
 
 I Avi'ote to Fitzgerald. He is going out of town. 
 Courtenay is in Devonshire. Ashley is out of town, 
 and Bankes. I read the debate in 1822 relative to the 
 India Board on a motion of Courcy's. Canning's and 
 Tierney's speeches give a clear account of the mode of 
 doing business in the office. 
 
 I met Esterhazy quite delighted with the last news 
 from Belgium. Wrote to the Duke, suggesting Captain 
 Seymour as a Lord of the Admiralty in the room of 
 Sir E. Owen, who retires to avoid a contest on his re- 
 election. 
 
 The newspapers think the Duke of Clarence is to 
 
 remain. 
 
 September 11. 
 
 The ' Courier ' announces the new arranc^ements. I 
 hear Lord Melville was very unwilling to leave the India 
 Board for the Admiralty, and only did so to accommo- 
 
LORD ABERDEEN. 217 
 
 date the Duke of Wellington. I do not see why so 
 great a point should have been made of it, for I mio-ht 
 just as well have had the Admiralty. 
 
 Nothing new at the Foreign Office. Saw Aberdeen, 
 who said he had kept the secret well, for he had known 
 the intended arrangement when the Duke left town on 
 the 12th. 
 
 I said I had not felt any great anxiety about it, for 
 I must have resigned the Privy Seal in two months. 
 It was a disparagement to me. He acknowledged I 
 was placed in a false position as Privy Seal, being a 
 working man. Thinking, as I do, that he is particularly 
 weU suited to the Privy Seal, I said there were persons, 
 &c., on whom it might be very properly conferred, but 
 that my age, my rank, and my fortune disqualified me 
 for it. 
 
 I find Aberdeen thinks there is much exaggeration 
 in the report of Prince Philip of Hesse-Hombourg. He 
 has the habit of denigreing everything. I am afraid 
 that, although he sees the impropriety of Lord Heytes- 
 bury's conduct at Odessa, he will not speak out enough 
 to him, and, if he does not, he will do no good. 
 
 September 12. 
 
 Met Count Munster riding. He seems annoyed at 
 General Dornberg's report from Belgium not being in 
 unison with those we have received, and seems to be- 
 lieve Dornberg, who is his nephew and dear friend, and 
 to think our informers exaggerate. In fact, I am in- 
 chned to think Dornberg is sold to the Eussians, and 
 that he wilfully deceives Munster and the King. 
 
218 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 The 'Times' makes a sally against Lord Melville 
 on his appointment to the Admiralty. As yet it says 
 nothing of me, I expect abuse as a dandy lord. It 
 will be said the affairs of India are given np to those 
 dandy lords, and a priggish lawyer. 
 
 September 13. 
 
 Eeceived at last a letter from Hardinge, in which 
 he says he did not congratulate me, because he ex- 
 pected my move would have been to the Foreign Office. 
 I have told him what I told Arbuthnot. 
 
 Had a note from Count Munster, with news from 
 Odessa to the 28th. Madame de Lieven's brother, 
 Count Constantine Benkendorff, is dead. So the war 
 strikes its authors. Prince Menshikoff is dangerously 
 Wounded. M. Woronzoff has received the command of 
 the corps before Varna. The Eussians have carried 
 the sap to the Ditch, and expect to have Yarna soon. 
 Nous verrons! General Eudiger, who was at Eski 
 Stamboul, on the road between Schumla and Con- 
 stantinople, has been cut off, and escaped with some 
 difficulty, having lost, as the Eussians allow, 300 or 400 
 men. Lord Heytesbury's despatches were brought by 
 a Eussian courier, and contain no further intelligence. 
 
 Lord Melville came to town yesterday. He was 
 with Aberdeen to-day. He said he could not let me 
 in for a week or ten days. He does not Hke his change 
 at all, nor does the navy. 
 
 News has been received that the transports have 
 left Alexandria for the removal of Ibrahim Pasha from 
 the Morea. 
 
LORD MELVILLE* 219 
 
 September 15. 
 * 
 Called on Lord Melville. Confirmed his promise of 
 
 a cadetstdp in November to the eldest son of Mr. Allan 
 
 Cunningham. By this I oblige Lord Melville, Mr. 
 
 Chantrey, and Sir W. Scott, and prefer the son, who 
 
 is, I hear, himself deserving, of a very worthy and 
 
 respectable man. 
 
 I hke the rooms of the India Board. They look 
 on the Thames, and are very comfortable. 
 
 Lord Melville tells me I shall not find the business 
 so very severe. It is less than it was twenty years ago 
 — that is, it is become so much greater that it is im- 
 possible for one man to do it, and consequently the 
 clerks, divided into departments, report upon the 
 vouchers sent with the different despatches, and upon 
 the despatches. The President refers to the vouchers 
 where he sees reason to doubt, and indeed he ought to 
 do so in many cases to verify the correctness of the 
 prices. 
 
 I spoke to Lord Melville on the subject of the 
 renewal of the Charter. He seems to think the East 
 India Company have not a sufficient case against open- 
 ing the China trade on the ground of danger to the 
 intercourse, or to their own trade. The fact is, the 
 monopoly is necessary as a means of finance, to enable 
 them to pay their debts. 
 
 I spoke to Lord Melville of the affairs of Persia, 
 to which I must direct my immediate attention. We 
 must bring our Persian diplomacy into a line with that 
 we adopt elsewhere with regard to Eussia. I dare say 
 
^20 . DIAKY. 1828. 
 
 I shall find our Eesident there is acting in the Eussian 
 interests under instructions given as far back as 1813, 
 or earlier. 
 
 A ]\lr. Alvey is secretary to Lord Melville, and was 
 secretary to his father. He is a clerk in the office, and 
 has been since 1795. He has just broke his leg in 
 Edinburgh ; but when he comes up I think I shall 
 make him my secretary. He has 300^. a year as 
 secretary. I told Lord Melville if he would give me 
 a hst of promises I would, as far as I could, perform 
 them. He did not seem to wish it. 
 
 He said he was much better off where he was than 
 he should be at the Admiralty. 
 
 The Duke of Clarence is very anxious to be super- 
 seded as soon as possible. Lord Melville will do some 
 unconcluded business before he leaves the office, and 
 particularly arrange with the East India Company the 
 new arrangements as to the rank to which their ser- 
 vants may rise in the army, and the reduction of their 
 mihtary force. I shall get in in about a week. 
 
 Saw Aberdeen. Lieven has announced the separa- 
 tion of the Eussian fleet, and seemed ashamed of him- 
 self I left my memorandum with Wrangham to send 
 to the Duke. Aberdeen does not know what to do. 
 
 I do. 
 
 Codrington's arrangement with Ibrahim sounds 
 better than it is. Ibrahim takes away men he cannot 
 feed, and leaves 1,500 Egyptians and all the Turks in 
 the fortresses. 
 
DUTIES OF MY OFFICE. 221 
 
 September 17. 
 
 Eode to town to have some conversation with Lord 
 Melville. I think I shall be a more active President 
 than he would have been. 
 
 He advised me to see the Chairs every week. 
 
 Told me they did not like verbal criticisms. 
 
 There are several troublesome and disagreeable 
 cases to be decided. It seems the chief labour of the 
 office consists in reading and deciding claims and 
 disputes. 
 
 The Treasury makes large demands on the patron- 
 age of the office. ' I shall be expected to perform all 
 Lord Melville's promises, none of which he cares about. 
 They are all Parliamentary jobs. I saw one letter from 
 a Dutch Irishman, one Van Homrigh, member for 
 Drogheda, which seemed to me very peremptory, and 
 demanding that a promise of a cadetship made by Lord 
 Melville to his son should be performed by me. It 
 seems Planta came to Lord Melville one day, saying he 
 must positively have two cadetships for Wood, patron 
 of Gatton. One of these Lord Melville got from a 
 director, and I have to repay. 
 
 I had a letter from Sir G. Clerk, begging a Mr. 
 Simon Eraser, a friend of his, who had been long on 
 Lord MelviUe's hst, might be a candidate for a cadet- 
 ship on mine. I answered I would place him on the 
 list ; but I heard there were such political demands 
 that I feared it would not be soon that I should be 
 able to do anything for him. 
 
 I caUed on the Duke of Welhngton and told him I 
 
222 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 had decided on offering my private secretaryship to J. 
 Bhgh, Lord Darnley's son. He seemed much pleased, 
 and said I could not have done better. That he was 
 clever, wrote well and fast, and was very agreeable. 
 
 Donna Maria da Gloria is comins: to Enjrland. She is 
 to be received as well as Don Miguel was. She will go 
 to Plymouth. What will be done with her is not 
 decided. Whether she will stay here or go to Austria, 
 
 September 23. 
 
 A messenger from the Privy Seal Office brought my 
 patent to Tunbridge Wells last night for the Privy Seal. 
 
 I went to the India Board at 2. Saw Lord Melville. 
 The cases I have to decide first are those of Mr. Hill, 
 removed from the office of chief secretary at Madras by 
 Mr. Lushington, and whom the Directors wish to replace ; 
 a Sir something Claridge, Eecorder of Prince of Wales 
 Island, whom they want to remove ; and a Begum who 
 has whipped her servant to death, and whom the 
 authorities in India say must be pardoned. 
 
 The Duke of Wellington wishes to put an end to 
 the practice of giving civil appointments to military 
 officers in India. The regiments are left without a 
 sufficient number of officers. The East India Company 
 are unwilling to change the system, because they make 
 the military pay go in part of the civil appointments, 
 and thus save about 200,000Z. at the expense of making 
 their army inefficient. 
 
 The clerks want me to receive the salary of both 
 my offices and pay as much of the salary of the Presi- 
 dent as is equal to that of Privy Seal, towards the 
 
THE BOAKD OF CONTROL. 223 
 
 discharge of tlie official debt, Avliich is about 800Z. 
 Tlie department is limited to 26,000/., which they have 
 exceeded. I must speak to Goulburn about this. 
 
 Lord Melville has appointed an eleventh clerk, 
 leaving it to me to appoint the twelfth or not. I 
 shall leave the situation vacant, for we have no 
 money for it. 
 
 There is an apphcation from Peel on behalf of a 
 Mr. Thomas Whitmore for a cadetship. He is a 
 member, and a good friend, and this his first ash. 
 
 Sejytember 24. 
 
 Found at the office Mr. Sulhvan, our old retired 
 Commissioner. I communicated to him and to Bankes 
 the line I intended to advise the Chairs to adopt for 
 the purpose of setting the Madras Government to 
 rights. I propose that their despatch, ordering the 
 reinstatement of Mr. Hill, the Chief Secretary, displaced 
 by Lushington, should contain no expressions inculpa- 
 tory of Lushington, or degrading to him, and I think I 
 might write a private letter to Lushington, and one of 
 the Directors or Chairs a private letter to Hill, giving 
 them hints as to their conduct. If Lushington is to be 
 retained, he must not be lowered in the eyes of his 
 subordinate officer — and with a view to the good con- 
 duct of the Madras Government it is essential that 
 everything should be done to make the members of 
 Council act cordially together. 
 
 Eeceived an application for a judgeship from a 
 Mr. Langston, and for a cadetship from the Duke of 
 Gordon. Told the Duke how I was situated, and said 
 
224 
 
 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 I should be on the look out for the first cadetship at 
 my own disposal for him. 
 
 Saw Mr. Cabell, the chief clerk in the Secret and 
 Pohtical Department. He has not been there long, and 
 could not give me much information. 
 
 Got the papers relative to Persia, and took them to 
 
 Koehampton. 
 
 September 25. 
 
 Eode to London. In the morning read a very 
 curious paper from Major Taylor, the Eesident at 
 Bassora, and a minute of Sir John Malcolm's, upon the 
 pohcy to be pursued with regard to Persia and the 
 Pasha of Bagdad. I am sure we have too much sacri- 
 ficed our interests on the side of India to a weakness 
 in favour of Eussia. All our exertions at Teheran have 
 been for Eussian interests. The possession of Erivan 
 gives them now the command of an entrance into both 
 Persia and Armenia. In the latter country they have 
 many Christian adherents on the road to Erzerum, by 
 which they are now advancing. They have by intimi- 
 dation, physical and moral, the latter through the 
 Bishop of Etzmiadzin, induced 70,000 Christians to 
 emirate from the Persian frontier into Eussian Georgia. 
 
 Sir J. Malcolm fears they will be compelled, as we 
 were in India, to make new conquests to secure those 
 they have already made. They have already been 
 within 300 miles of Mosul, where the Tigris becomes 
 navigable to the Persian Gulf, and there seeems to be 
 nothing to oppose him. 
 
 Eead the case of a Begum, daughter of the late 
 Nabob of the Carnatic, who pleaded guilty to a charge 
 
IRELAND. 225 
 
 of manslaughter rather than appear in pubhc, which 
 to her would have been the extreme of degradation. 
 The charge was that she, together with three slaves, 
 whipped a female slave to death. 
 
 It seemed very doubtful whether the slave died of 
 the chastisement inflicted. The judges thought she did 
 not. The operators were young girls, the eldest not 
 above thirteen, the youngest eight. 
 
 I am to write to the King for her pardon. 
 
 Went to the office. Sir J. Murray and I were 
 sworn in, the patent being there. 
 
 At the Cabinet room read a long letter from Lord 
 Anglesey, who begins to think the crisis is approaching, 
 and seems inclined to issue a proclamation against the 
 meetings in Ireland, which take place nominally for the 
 purpose of reconciling factions. The people come in 
 great numbers, regimented, with officers, dresses, and 
 bands. 
 
 I would not thus precipitate a crisis which may yet 
 be averted ; but concession alone can avert it. We 
 are to have a Cabinet to-morrow on the subject. 
 
 At night received a box with another defence of 
 Codrington, which I suppose I must answer. 
 
 Aberdeen puts it all upon me — fairly enough, as I 
 wrote the letter of recall. 
 
 Mr. Bligh declines being private secretary. I had a 
 letter from Lord Darnley, very civil, gratified, &c., but 
 circumstances prevent it. As he still looks forward to 
 employment at home for Mr. Bligh, it is evident he 
 thinks the private secretaryship not good enough. 
 VOL. I. . Q 
 
226 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 September 26. 
 
 Saw Lord F. Somerset at the India Board about the 
 King's troops in India. The company, with four regi- 
 ments sent for the war in Ava, to be withdrawn. 
 
 Cabinet at o. A proclamation decided upon de- 
 claring the illegality of the meetings lately held in 
 Ireland. They are to be prevented and dispersed. 
 Lord Anglesey is to be empowered to send at once for 
 the troops on the west coast without waiting for orders 
 from the Horse Guards. 
 
 The Chancellor of Ireland, who is in Kent, is 
 ordered to go back to Dublin immediately. The 
 Attorney-General is abroad. We had the Attorney- 
 and Solicitor-Generals of England and the Chancellor 
 to word the proclamation. 
 
 It was thought that those who are well-disposed 
 would be induced to join the agitators from fear, if 
 Government showed no disposition to act in preserva- 
 tion of the public peace, that the Protestants would act 
 for themselves. 
 
 That these meetings would derive strength, and the 
 attendants at them confidence from impunity and from 
 witnessing their own numbers and array. 
 
 That it would be more easy to j)ut them down now 
 than hereafter. These reasons prevailed. Still it is a 
 fearful step and may precipitate the crisis. I suggested 
 it would be better to send at once the troops which 
 are ready. They and the proclamation should appear 
 at the same time. 
 
 The Queen of Portugal is at Falmouth. 
 
OUR POLICY TOWARDS RUSSIA. 227 
 
 The Duke of Wellington thinks Varna will be taken. 
 I betted Lord Bathurst a crown it would not be. This 
 bet we made at dinner at the Duke's. 
 
 I spoke to the Duke on the subject of Lushington's 
 case, and Persia. He thinks it better to have the Eesi- 
 dent in Persia dependent on the East India Company. 
 He leaves him a freer scope as the representative of a 
 great Asiatic Power, and relieves our Indian policy 
 from the embarrassment to which our European con- 
 nections with Eussia may give rise. Indeed, now our 
 pohcy in Europe and in Asia ought to be the same — to 
 pull down the Eussian power. 
 
 September 27, 
 
 "Went to town at half-past 10 to receive the Chairs. 
 They came at 11. I laid myself out to comhier them, 
 I hope I partly succeeded. 
 
 We talked of Persia. They seemed to be aware of 
 the danger to them on that side, but felt they could 
 meet it. They had no objection to instructions being 
 given to Macdonald to obtain all possible information 
 on the subject of the countries lately subjected to the 
 Eussians, and on the neighbouring frontier of Turkey 
 and Persia. 
 
 They acknowledged the abihty of Sir J. Malcolm, ex- 
 pected him home in 1831, to assist them on the renewal 
 of the Charter ; attributed to him the wish of being 
 appointed provisionally Governor-General, and rejected 
 altogether his idea of the expediency of having always 
 provisional successors, in whom the country might have 
 confidence, to the Governors, &c. They said the law 
 
 Q 2 
 
228 DIAilT. 1828. 
 
 pointed out the provisional successors, and if a man 
 was unfit to succeed he should not be placed in the 
 Council — weak reasoning. I promised to take into 
 immediate consideration two questions they are anxious 
 about, one relative to the assimilation of the currency, 
 the other to the promotions, &c., in the Bengal army. 
 
 I told them I agreed to replace Mr. Hill as Secretary 
 to the Government at Madras; but as Lushington was 
 to be retained, they must not lower him in the eyes of 
 those who were to serve under him. This must pre- 
 pare them for alterations of their draft. On tlie sub- 
 ject of the King's troops to be kept in India I had 
 some difficulty in managing them. They yielded rather 
 to force than to reason, and I understood them to accede 
 to the arrangement proposed by the Horse Guards, 
 with the reservation that until the supernumerary 
 officers were absorbed no remplaqans were to be sent 
 "from England at their expense. I have to write a letter 
 -in answer to theirs to Lord Melville on the subject. I 
 told the Duke I should show it him on Monday. 
 
 We had some conversation as to their finance. 
 
 The Begum's petition for pardon I have forwarded 
 through Peel to the King. We parted very civilly, with 
 mutual professions of goodwill. They went afterwards 
 to Lord Melville. I should like to know what they 
 said of me. I asked them to dinner on Thursday next, 
 and have asked Bankes and his wife, Ashley, and all 
 the members of the Cabinet who will be in town to 
 meet them. If this does not do, I do not know what 
 will. 
 
 Cabinet at 2. Considered what should be done. 
 
RUSSIAN BREACH OF FAITH. 229 
 
 The Eussians having declared that, leaving a portion of 
 their fleet to act with ns under the treaty, they will 
 employ another portion in the blockade of Constanti- 
 nople. 
 
 This is contrary to the recent stipulation of neutrality 
 in the Mediterranean. We have told the Turks this 
 neutrahty will be preserved, and on the faith of it they 
 have sent ships for corn to Egypt, and drawn their troops 
 from the Dardanelles. What will become of Christian 
 honour if after this declaration on our part their ships 
 drawn out by the promise of neutrality are captured by 
 the Eussians on their return ? I do not think anything 
 very specific was determined by the Cabinet, but the 
 feeling was very strong against the Eussians. The 
 French seem to entertain the same feelincrs of indig- 
 nation at their breach of faith. I begin to see day- 
 light in this unfortunate Greek Treaty. I now think 
 we shall get out of it. I expect that this jealousy of 
 the Eussians will soon supersede with the French all 
 romantic absurdity in the cause of the strugghng 
 Greeks. 
 
 The Queen of Portugal, so Palmella calls her — the 
 Duchess of Oporto, so Itabayana styles her — is coming 
 to London, or at least very near it. We are to hire a 
 whole hotel for her. I said all I could in favour of her 
 remaining at some villa twelve miles off, as her j)eople 
 wished. I fear her arrival in London will create rows, 
 and crowds. 
 
 It is only by a lucky accident that collision has 
 twicQ been prevented in Ireland between the Protestants 
 and Catholics. The last occasion was at, Ballybay, 
 
230 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 where the Protestants had assembled in arms to resist 
 the entrance of Lawless and his Catholic cortege. 
 General Thornton persuaded Lawless to change his 
 route. 
 
 The Duke thinks Lawless's progress should be pre- 
 vented by holding him to bail, which will probably be 
 done. 
 
 I fear we are approaching the crisis. 
 ritzf?erald thinks the Orano-emen of the North 
 would drive the Catholics of the South into the sea. 
 
 The Kino' is not much better. He is still desirous 
 of losing more blood, and his right hand is swelled by 
 the gout to twice its natural size. He cannot sign his 
 initials. 
 
 The Conference on the Eussian question takes place 
 to-morrow. It seems Lieven has nothing to say, and 
 is thoroughly ashamed. 
 
 Lord Jersey tells me Stanley is very desirous of 
 leading the House of Commons, and wants Lord Lans- 
 downe to lead the House of Lords. 
 
 They are very bitter against the Duke. I must 
 confess the decisions taken by the Cabinet of late, 
 though contrary to my first impressions, are what my 
 better judgment has approved. I feel the advantage 
 of being brought into contact with able men. I am 
 sure nothing has so strong a tendency to produce 
 wroncrheadedness and erroneous views as livinof alone. 
 A man never knows his own just value till he measures 
 himself with able men. 
 
 Took my letter to the Chairs to the Duke, He 
 approved of it* 
 
THE DAEDANELLES. 231 
 
 The King is better. 
 
 The Conference was to be renewed to-day. It 
 separated without doing anything the other day* 
 
 September 30. 
 
 Eode to the office. Signed despatch relative to 
 Madras promotions, the draft privately communicated 
 relative to the brevet rank of officers in the East India 
 Service, and the reductions proposed in the Indian 
 army. 
 
 Had a long conversation with Mr. Leach, the chief 
 clerk in the Department of Accounts, relative to the 
 question of making the currency of the Company's 
 dominions uniform. 
 
 Wrangham, whom I saw at the Foreign Office, told 
 me Lieven could not change the orders given to the 
 Eussian Admiral. 
 
 In walking up from the office met K. Chve, who is 
 now very eager for Catholic emancipation. I have 
 asked him to meet the Chairs on Thursday. 
 
 October 1. 
 
 The Eussians are to blockade the Dardanelles. We 
 are to take care our own vessels, which have sailed 
 under the idea they would be neutral, should not 
 suffer ; but to the Turks we only make a declaration! 
 We do not co-operate with the Eussians, but we are to 
 consult ! All this cannot stand discussion. There is a 
 feebleness in our foreign policy which surprises me. 
 Indecisive as Aberdeen is, I thought the Duke would 
 have been more decided. It seems they were afraid of 
 
232 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 breaking with France. I believe they would have run 
 no danger of that. The French are more jealous of 
 the Eussians than they are desirous of vain-glory in 
 Greece ; besides, they are more afraid of breaking 
 with us than we of breaking with them. 
 
 I desired Aberdeen would give a hint to Lord Hey- 
 tesbury not to throw Poti, which is at the mouth of 
 the Phasis, into the lap of the Emperor, and tell him 
 we attached much importance to it. The possession of 
 it would o^ive immediate communication with the new 
 conquests in Persia. 
 
 In the evening I read Colonel Macdonald's accounts 
 from Persia, going back to the beginning of the war. 
 
 The Shah has destroyed the ancient aristocracy 
 which had influence with the people, and has placed 
 his numerous sons and grandsons in the command of 
 the different provinces. These are all jealous of and 
 hostile to each other, and he foments their jealousy 
 that he may reign securely for his life. He could bring 
 more than 100,000 cavalry into the field ; but parsi- 
 mony made him refuse all supplies to his son, who was 
 thus obhged to make war with the strength of Azer- 
 bijan. alone. The Eussians are odious to their Ma- 
 hometan subjects. When the Persians advanced into 
 Georgia the people rose upon the Eussians. They have 
 made themselves detested in Persia too. The Armenian 
 and other Christians may just now prefer the Eussian 
 to the Persian yoke, as the former are conquerors ; but 
 there are evidently the means of doing much against 
 Eussia in that quarter. Georgia is poor, and the 
 frontier unhealthy. The cost of bringing artillery and 
 
OUR POSITION TOWARDS RUSSIA. 233 
 
 provisions is enormous. In Persia, if it was really 
 
 defended by the people, a large army would starve and 
 
 a small army be beaten. The possession of Erivan lies 
 
 upon the frontiers of Turkey and of Persia. Our 
 
 influence in Persia has been much weakened by our 
 
 vacillating conduct. I must endeavour to retrieve our 
 
 affairs there. 
 
 October 2. 
 
 The Duke of Welhngton dined at Eoehampton. 
 After dinner he told me how we stood with Eussia. 
 We are to send out two line-of-battle ships to reinforce 
 our fleet in the Levant (this will give us six, and we 
 have as many large frigates there), and to order our 
 admiral to give protection to all British vessels which 
 may ha\e cleared out from England before the notifica- 
 tion of the blockade. This is to be done by force if 
 necessary. 
 
 So far this is well ; but we should provide that no 
 vessel of whatever nation should incur capture or deten- 
 tion which may have cleared out on her voyage on the 
 faith of our declaration in the King's Speech, and to 
 Turkey that Eussia had deposed her belligerent rights 
 in the Levant. I have written the sketch of a paper to 
 this effect. 
 
 Nothing more has been done. The Duke seems to 
 doubt what France will do. We say we can no longer 
 co-operate with Eussia. If France says the same 
 Eussia is voted out, and France goes on with us. If 
 France co-operates with Eussia, we are voted out, and 
 free. In one way or the other the Duke thinks we shall 
 get rid of Eussia. 
 
234 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 The Frencli begin to be tired of their campaign in 
 the Morea. 
 
 The Duke thinks with me that piibhc feehng is turn- 
 ing against the Eussians, and that the feehng in France 
 win be one of jealousy of Eussia, rather than of foohsh 
 vanity respecting Greece. Wliatever the feehng is 
 there, the Government must follow it. I am convinced 
 that if we speak and act friendly, France will be with us. 
 
 The Duke fears Lord Anglesey will not issue the 
 proclamation when he finds it must have the signatures 
 of Lord Norbury, Saurin, &c. 
 
 They really mean to have one regiment sent to 
 Ireland to reheve troops sent from thence. They say 
 they do not want more. However, the Guards march 
 from London. It is better to show there is a deter- 
 mination to have force ready. 
 
 The Duke has had a conversation with Barbacena, 
 and gave him a good rowing for bringing the Queen of 
 Portugal here without previous communication. She is 
 to stay here till they hear from Eio. 
 
 The Duke is very angry with Itabayana and Pal- 
 mella for 7iewspaj)eri7ig, as he calls it, and will hold no 
 communication with them except officially. This he 
 told Barbacena, and the cause of it.^ 
 
 I had the Chairs to dinner, and the late Gover- 
 nor-General, E. Chve, Ashley, Graham, Bankes, the 
 Duke, Lord Melville, and Sir G. Murray to meet them. 
 Lady Amherst and Mrs. Bankes dined with us too. 
 
 1 * Bar'bacena is not more exempt tlian the others from the practice of 
 appealing to the newspapers.' — Letter of the Duke of Wellington, October 
 28, 1828, in Welli'ngton Corresjyondence, v. 178. 
 
LOKD ABERDEEN. 235 
 
 October 3. 
 
 Eode to town. Went to the Foreign Office. Saw 
 Aberdeen. In the letter to ' Lloyd's ' announcmg the 
 blockade, Aberdeen uses the expression ' in the opinion 
 of his Majesty's Government^ vessels of his Majesty's 
 subjects which have cleared out on the faith of his 
 Majesty's declaration to Parliament will not be liable to 
 it.' I told him I disapproved of the weakness of these 
 expressions. At least he should have said, his Majesty 
 will take measures, &c., which would have appHed to 
 measures of negotiation as well as measures of force. 
 To my surprise he said he thought so too, but he could 
 not induce the Duke to use any other expressions than 
 those inserted in the letter. This I do not understand. 
 To Lieven and to Lord Heytesbury all is said that 
 should be said, and Lord Heytesbury is directed, in a 
 secret despatch, to declare to the Emperor, should 
 reasoning fail, that the additional force we are sending 
 to the Mediterranean has orders to protect all our 
 vessels cleared from hence by October 1, and from any 
 Mediterranean port by October 30. 
 
 In a quiet way, and not knowing the strength of 
 his expressions, Aberdeen now and then uses words 
 which go far beyond what would be used by a man of 
 more passionate feeling. Some of the observations 
 Lord Heytesbury is desired to make to the Emperor of 
 Eussia will make him jump six feet high. He can 
 never have heard such language before. 
 
 The mischief is, that the meek expressions used in 
 the letter disparage us in public opinion, while if we 
 
236 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 at once said what we really do, the country would be 
 with us. 
 
 The French had by September 5 landed, 11,000 
 men in the Morea. More were in siofht. 
 
 The Sultan has declared Ibrahim an infidel for his 
 treaty. 
 
 Ibrahim, too much pressed by the French, declared 
 if they moved a step further he would not go. He 
 would go by the treaty, but not by force. 
 
 At Constantinople the arrival of the French expedi- 
 tion has made them furious, and the Sultan lias ordered 
 troops to the Morea. Eeally the spirit with which he 
 faces every new danger is magnificent. 
 
 The Catholic Association seems to have had the 
 power to prevent any more large meetings. I am in 
 hopes Ireland will be quiet still. 
 
 October 4. 
 
 Had a long letter from Lady Jersey. They are 
 endeavouring to organise an Opposition, and are angry 
 about Ireland and Foreign Affairs. I do not wonder 
 at it. 
 
 Octoher 5. 
 
 Wrote a letter to the Duke of Wellington, to whom 
 I shall send Lady Jersey's letter. 
 
 October 6. 
 
 Sent the letter to the Duke, such papers as bear upon 
 the subject of our policy in Persia, and my two drafts 
 of despatches to Colonel Macdonald. 
 
 Saw Mr. Leach relative to East Indian Finance. He 
 
THE RUSSO-TURKISH WAR. 237 
 
 lias got together perfect accounts, which will give me all 
 the information I can desire ; but I must finish one thiner 
 before I begin another, and act on the principle my 
 father was always recommending, Hoc age. 
 
 Eead again with attention Lord Combermere's 
 memorandum on the Bengal army. 
 
 The Prussians have entered into an engagement 
 with Eussia to prevent the Austrians from acting. 
 Nostiz, a Prussian general with the Emperor, let it 
 out incautiously to Dornberg, who told Lord Heytes- 
 bury. I receive with doubt all Dornberg says. 
 
 The Eussians have retreated from before Schumla. 
 The Turks are taking the offensive, and scour the 
 country in all directions. The Eussians are said to 
 have lost the heights at Sihstria. At Varna they have 
 their guards, and expect to take it. It is feared they 
 will. The Turks have attacked the Eussians at Prasadi. 
 If Varna should be taken, the Eussians cannot now 
 advance with the Turks in force on their right flank 
 and even in the rear. 
 
 General Paskewitsh advances, but as there is no 
 one to deny what he says he may tell great lies ; and it 
 is clear he does tell some. 
 
 Henry has joined the French army. 
 
 October 7. 
 
 Ireland seems quieter. The proclamation, of which 
 Lord Anglesey gets all the credit, has been well 
 received. 
 
 The ambiguity of our conduct respecting the 
 blockade of the Dardanelles does us harm. 
 
238 
 
 DIAEY. 1828. 
 
 October 10. 
 
 Looked over a number of despatches. Wrote a 
 memorandum for Bankes, laying down some general 
 principles to govern the alterations of the Privy 
 Council sent up. 
 
 The first is, never to make verbal alterations where 
 the words originally used express a meaning to which 
 
 we as^ree. 
 
 The second, to soften all expressions of censure, in 
 which the Court is too apt to indulge, where there is 
 no intention of punishing ; indiscriminate censure makes 
 men callous. 
 
 The third, to strike out altogether paragraphs 
 which are merely conversational, neither expressing 
 censure, nor approbation, nor giving any direction. 
 
 The Court evidently has its favourites, and the men 
 of whom it is composed, once servants of the Company, 
 are very ready to exercise their power of answering 
 men who are in the situation they once held them- 
 selves. 
 
 Eeceived two letters from the Duke. One as to the 
 separation of the civil from the mihtary staff ; the other 
 as to Persian politics. He is for the more pacific line, 
 and would have the Persians give their great neigh- 
 bour no justifiable ground for interference with them. 
 I would, in Persia and everywhere, endeavour to create 
 the means of throwing the whole world in arms upon 
 Eussia at the first convenient time. 
 
 An application for a writership for a nephew from 
 Lady M. Boss, and from the everlasting Sir Compton 
 
THE TKEATY OF LONDO]^. 239 
 
 Domville for a writersliip, because he cannot have a 
 cadetship. I could hardly answer the man with 
 civility. 
 
 October 13. 
 
 Saw Aberdeen. He is quite enchanted with the 
 situation into which he thinks he has brought us. 
 The French act with us, and no longer co-operate with 
 Eussia under the Treaty of London. But, what I 
 cannot understand, Eussia not co-operating, is still to 
 have her voice in the settlement of the Greek question. 
 This is as if a man should be allowed to have a voice 
 in the conduct in the affairs of a partnership, after he 
 had withdrawn his money. To be sure, the French 
 and we outvote the Eussians in the Conference. 
 
 It seems Metternich has communicated some over- 
 ture from the Turks which nearly amounts to a recog- 
 nition of the principle of the Treaty of London. 
 Nothing is done till we have our Ministers again at 
 Constantinople. 
 
 The Eussians bluster and say they will take Varna 
 and advance, making a winter campaign. In the mean- 
 time Moldavia and WaUachia are exhausted, and the 
 peasants are flying to Transylvania. 
 
 October 16. 
 
 The Chairs have written an ill-tempered letter on 
 the subject of the King's troops. They do not ac- 
 quiesce. 
 
 It appears by the financial despatch I read last 
 night that there has been a great increase in the civil 
 
240 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 expenditure of India since 1817. The expense of col- 
 lecting tlie revenue has increased very largely in pro- 
 portion to the revenue, 
 
 Madras is the best regulated settlement. This it 
 owed to Sir Thomas Munro. 
 
 Although the trade to India has increased, the 
 return to England has decreased. It is now less than 
 a million a year clear 'profit^ including everything. It 
 has fallen off since 1813-14 about 210,000/. 
 
 It appears to me that the directors will not make 
 their servants in India reduce the expenditure by 
 merely talking to them. They must punish those who 
 are extravagant, refuse to sanction increase of salary 
 and creation of office. I believe they must send out 
 commissioners with full powers. I doubt their doing all 
 that may be done otherwise. 
 
 Saw the last despatches from Lord Cowley with the 
 enclosures. 
 
 The army before Schumla, or rather at Jeni Bazar, 
 is reduced to 20,000. That before Sihstria to 8,000. 
 There are 50,000 sick, and 20,000 have fallen by the 
 sword. The original army was not above 120,000. 
 The guards are 18,000 or 20,000. The army now to 
 the south of the Danube is nominally 110,000, but not 
 much more than 70,000. The Cossacks have disap- 
 peared. The cavalry is ruined. The country produces 
 nothing. The commissariat is miserably conducted. 
 They sent lately from Odessa to Varna fifty vessels 
 laden with hay. It was not pressed, but tiecj up in 
 bundles. The whole only fed the cavalry one day. 
 Diebitch is out of favour. Woronzoff is most trusted. 
 
THE RUSSO-TUEKISH WAR. 241 
 
 A General de Witt is the only man who talks of movino- 
 on to Aidos should they take Varna. 
 
 In the meantime the Turks improve, and in the last 
 sortie from Yarna fought well with the bayonet, charging 
 like regular troops. 
 
 This war checks the progress of Ptussian power, and 
 makes the Turks a mihtary people again. One great 
 man has restored them. 
 
 October 18. 
 
 Wrote to Lord Camden, expressing my satisfaction 
 at hearing he intended to go to the great meeting, 
 telling him Lord Jersey, Baring, &c., would be there, 
 suggesting to him the proposing a resolution himself 
 to this effect : ' That this meeting earnestly desires the 
 settlement of the Catholic question on conditions con- 
 sistent with the security of the Protestant Establish- 
 ment.' Wrote to tell Lady Jersey I had done so, and 
 to Lady Londonderry, that she may write to Lord 
 Camden and put him up to it. 
 
 Hardinge is making considerable reductions, and 
 will do a great deal of good. 
 
 Saw the Duke. He came to town last night. It 
 seems he had written to me about Mr. Hill's being 
 restored, in consequence of some letter he had received 
 on the subject. He recommended great caution in so 
 delicate a proceeding. I satisfied him nothing had been 
 done wrong. I am to write a private letter to Lush- 
 ington, softening it. This was my own first idea. 
 
 I told the Duke of the great increase of estabhsh- 
 ment and expenditure in India, and said I feared the 
 
 VOL. I. E 
 
242 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 reductions the directors had ordered would not take 
 place without sending a commission out. He did not 
 like a commission, as it superseded the Governor- 
 General ; but he thought the Court might order reduc- 
 tions of officers and salaries, and tell the Governor- 
 General he should be recalled if he did not obey. I 
 have sent for returns which will bring the whole sub- 
 ject before me. 
 
 The Duke approves entirely of the despatch to 
 Persia as now written. He thinks Persia might be 
 induced to pay for the officers. We can tell Colonel 
 Macdonald to try what he can do, but the officers 
 must be kept at all events. 
 
 He had not yet read the letter respecting the In- 
 dian army. He thinks the longer the Eussians stay 
 in Bulgaria the worse it will be for them, and they 
 will at last lose their artillery, and waggons, and sick. 
 
 October 21. 
 
 Pinished my letter to the Chairs in answer to theirs. 
 I put an end to the discussion. Sent the letter to the 
 Duke. 
 
 The Turks have advanced to relieve Yarna with an 
 army of 30,000 men, placing the corps the Eussians 
 had thrown on the south of Yarna (which is separated 
 from the main army by a lake and mountain almost 
 impassable) between two fires. There have been 
 several actions. The Eussians were driven back on 
 the 30th, when they attacked the Turkish redoubts 
 raised by the reheving army. They allow a great loss 
 of officers, four generals, &c. The loss has fallen' 
 
THE GREEK TREATr. 243 
 
 principally on the guards, which will make the war 
 more unpopular than ever at Petersburg. 
 
 Aberdeen has written a despatch to Lord Stuart for 
 communication to M. de la Perronays. It contains our 
 views with regard to what should be done in the 
 Turkish and Greek business. It is not a despatch, but 
 an essay, long, and with very httle in it. It ends with 
 a hope the Eussians will let us off from the Greek 
 Treaty and permit France and England to settle the 
 matter as they can with the Turks. The Eussians can 
 hardly be such fools ; but we shall be still greater fools 
 if we do not let ourselves off. 
 
 Saw Mr. Leach and arranged what financial accounts 
 should be prepared. 
 
 In their letter to me the Chairs bring forward a 
 pretension which struck me as new, and Mr. Leach says 
 he never heard of it before, namely, that the total 
 number of troops payable by the Company, whether in 
 India, here in depot, or on the sea, going and returning, 
 is 20,000 by the Act. This would give only 17,000 
 effective in India. I have said it is an interpretation 
 which I apprehend to be now given to the Act for the 
 first time, and in which it is not probable that Parlia- 
 ment will be disposed to concur. 
 
 October 24. 
 
 The Duke has written a memorandum on my letter 
 to the Chairs respecting the King's army in India. He 
 suggests many things I did not and could not know, 
 and seems indisposed to put an end in so peremptory 
 a manner to the discussion. I must work his sugges-r 
 
 R 2 
 
244 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 tions into my letter. I found Drummond copying the 
 Duke's memorandum, and had to wait till it was 
 finished. The Duke is satisfied with the draft I sent 
 him of that part of the despatch to Macdonald which 
 relates to the payment by Persia of the British officers. 
 
 Saw Aberdeen. He is mightily ^vell satisfied with 
 his own diplomacy. He thinks France will act with us, 
 and enable us to settle the Greek question in spite of 
 Eussia. He must measure better than he has hitherto 
 if this is to be accomplished. He is dissatisfied with 
 S. Canning for having agreed with the other ambassa- 
 dors in rejecting altogether the overture in the Vizier's 
 letter, which, in fact, offered us what we wanted sub- 
 stantially ; and still more, for having, in conjunction 
 with the others, given orders to the admirals to con- 
 tinue the blockade of Candia, and to effect an armistice 
 there. By their instructions, the ambassadors had no 
 power to give orders to the admirals, and every con- 
 sideration of policy should have deterred Canning from 
 agreeing with them in opening a Candian question when 
 we have enough to do with a Greek one in the Morea. 
 
 Aberdeen says the King is more wrongheaded than 
 ever about the Catholics. 
 
 There is a beautiful account in the newspapers of 
 the Sultan leaving Constantinople with the standard of 
 Mahomet. It must have been a splendid and heart- 
 stirring spectacle. 
 
 October 25. 
 
 Employed all the morning in arranging the Duke's 
 memorandum on the King's army in India, and in 
 
MEETIXG OX TENENDEX HEATH. 245 
 
 working tlie facts and reasonings it contains into such 
 part of my original letter as it seems desirable to retain. 
 The meeting at Penenden Heatli seems to have ended 
 with some confusion, occasioned by the intervention of 
 Hunt, Cobbett, and Shiel. However, the Anti-Catholics 
 had a force of two to one. Lord Camden did not pro- 
 pose any amendment, and made a weak speech about 
 himself, reading a letter, &c. There appears to have 
 been no previous concert on the part of the friends of 
 the CathoHcs. The petition voted was very moderate. 
 Cobbett could not obtain a hearing. 
 
 October 26. 
 
 Last night and to-day I read an interesting minute 
 of the late Sir Thomas Munro on the policy to be 
 adopted with regard to the Hindoos. The minute 
 enters at some length into the state of the revenue 
 derived from land, and the ancient tenures. It advo- 
 cates the Eyotwari system — that is, the system of taking 
 the land tax at once from the actual proprietor and 
 occupier of the soil, in preference to the Bengal system 
 of creating, where they are not found, middlemen under 
 the name of Zemindars. He is in favour of .a per- 
 manent settlement of revenue, but says that there 
 must be a previous survey. He argues that the land 
 revenue being once fixed, and at a moderate rate, 
 landed property will be created by the cultivation en- 
 couraged. This is already the case in some districts 
 where the Eyotwari system has been estabhshed. 
 Where the Zemindari system is estabhshed, it is the 
 interest of the Zemindar to make the Eyot pay as much 
 
246 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 as lie can beyond the sum fixed for tlie tax, and the Eyot 
 has no sufficient protection against extortion. He says 
 that what is in fact made over to the Zemindar, where 
 once Zemindar is created, is a portion of the revenue 
 of the State. 
 
 Sir T. Munro says we know very httle indeed of the 
 laws and customs of the Hindoos. 
 
 He thinks our judicial arrangements better than 
 those we have established for the collection of the 
 revenue, because we have established native judges for 
 causes to the amount of 500 rupees. 
 
 He advocates the employment of the natives in all 
 situations in which they can be employed consistently 
 with the preservation of our supremacy. It is an able, 
 eloquent, and statesmanlike paper. No man knew so 
 much of the real state of India. 
 
 October 27. 
 
 Went to a Council at Windsor. The Duke, the 
 Chancellor, Aberdeen, Sir Gr. Murray, and Yesey Eitz- 
 gerald were there, and Croker had been sent for to 
 make up the number six. He was not wanted. 
 
 Esterhazy was there with Lebzelteru, who is come 
 for the Queen of Portugal, and Itabayana,^ who pre- 
 sented to the King the Order of Brazil. 
 
 I saw my old tutor, the Bishop of Chester,^ and had 
 some conversation with him. He is rather altered. I 
 have not seen him since 1810. 
 
 ^ Minister Plenipotentiary of the Emperor of Brazil, fatlier of tlie Queen 
 
 of Portugal. 
 
 2 Sumner, afterwards Arclil)isliop of Canterbury. 
 
LORD IIEYTESBURY. 247 
 
 The Duke tliouglit my letter to the Chairs, as it 
 stands now, perfect. He thought too that we had done 
 quite right in restoring Mr. Hill, but had some doubts 
 as to the law. That, however, is clear. 
 
 I read Lord Heytesbury's despatches of the 2nd 
 and 10th. On the 10th there was no news at Odessa 
 of a later date than the 1st, though the bulletin of th^ 
 1st reached Odessa by the steamboat on the 2nd. 
 
 The loss of the Eussians on the 30th had been most 
 severe, when Prince Eugene of Wurtemburg was driven 
 back. 
 
 There was a report at Belgrade on the 13th that the 
 Eussians had stormed Yarna and had actually entered 
 the town when the Turks from Schoumla attacked 
 their reserves and rear and ruined them utterly. There 
 is some doubt as to this, in consequence of some con- 
 fusion of dates, but the Duke beheves it. 
 
 Lord Heytesbury takes very well the censure he 
 received for his conversation with the Emperor, which 
 I must have mentioned about the 6tli or 7th of Sep- 
 tember. 
 
 In the first reconnaissance of the Guards on the 
 20th the regiment of the Chasseurs was quite destroyed. 
 In the action of the 30th the Guards lost one of the 
 celebrated standards of St. George. 
 
 I cannot help thinking there is no easy communica- 
 tion, except by sea, between the Eussian grand army 
 and the 8,000 Guards on the south of Yarna. The 
 Duke seems to think tliere is a passage between Yarna 
 and the Lake. 
 
248 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 October 28. 
 
 The Company wish to dispose of Mergui and 
 Tenasserim, keeping Arracan. I wish they could sell 
 the countries to the King of Ava. Unfortunately they 
 have received refugees from the Burman territories 
 whom they must protect or carry away. 
 
 I am to dine with them on November 12. 
 
 They have consented to make several regulations 
 which will have the effect of keeping their native 
 regiments more efficient in East Africa ; but they de- 
 chne separating the civil staff on the ground of the 
 expense. I shall answer their letter, but I have little 
 hope of succeeding with them. 
 
 They make no further fight about the Ejng's army, 
 having vented their ill-humoar in their last letter. 
 They rather wished to avoid my reply, and thus to 
 have the last word. However, I sent my letter. 
 
 A Mr. Kennedy, who is come from Petersburg by 
 the steamer from Hamburg, has written to the Foreign 
 Office to say that, after he was on board, a supplement 
 to the ' Berlin Gazette ' was brought, in which there 
 was an account of the capture of Varna by the 
 Eussians on the 11th. The account is so circumstantial 
 that I fear it may be true. It mentions incidentally 
 that the Eussian troops had been in the town on the 
 7th, which is in unison with part of the report from 
 Belgrade, but it gives no details of the storm of the 
 7th. It says the Turks were so much alarmed by what 
 took place on the 7th that Jussef Pasha on the 11th 
 came out and laid down his arms. The Capitan Pasha 
 
CAPTURE OF VARNA. 249 
 
 threw himself into the citadel, but had surrendered. 
 There had been 22,000 men in the place at the com- 
 mencement of the siege, including the armed inhabi- 
 tants. Only 6,000 men remained. The Eussians 
 marched in at the breach. I dare say the place had 
 long been nothing more than a position. The fc»rtifica- 
 tions were never good, and they had been knocked to 
 pieces long ago. 
 
 The war is more than ever unpopular at Peters- 
 burg, and the losses of the Guards will make it more 
 so. I should not be in the least surprised by a revo- 
 lution. 
 
 October 29. 
 
 It seems the account of the capture of Yarna is not 
 in the ' Berhn Gazette,' but only in two German news- 
 papers. "We have no other account of it. 
 
 November 1. 
 
 Yarna is certainly taken. The Capitan Pasha seems 
 to have thrown himself into the citadel and to have had 
 leave to retire with 300 men. 
 
 Sent my letter to the Chairs. The Duke is not in 
 town, and it was not worth while to send it to him. 
 
 Eeceived a letter from Henry,^ dated Navarino, 
 October 3 and 4. He seems to be established in the 
 family of General Maison. He had gone with the 
 General over the works of Navarin, though it is yet 
 uncertain whether Navarin will defend itself or not. 
 All the Egyptians have embarked. The Greek women 
 
 1 The Hon. Plenry Spencer Law, brotlier of Lord Ellenborough, who 
 was then with General Maison's staff. 
 
250 DIAKY. 1828. 
 
 and children preferred going with them to staying in 
 
 the Morea. Ibrahim had ^one incosjnito to a review 
 
 of the French army, but his curiosity was such that he 
 
 went very near, at last accepted a horse, and rode with 
 
 the General and the Admirals. He was very attentive 
 
 and very inquisitive. After the review there was a 
 
 breakfast at General Maison's, and Ibrahim drank too 
 
 much wine and became very entertaining. He asked 
 
 whether some of the French regiments had not come 
 
 from Spain, and on being told that the greatest part of 
 
 the army had been in that country, he said the French 
 
 were a curious people, to send the same army to estabhsh 
 
 slavery in Spain and liberty in the Morea. 
 
 I shall send a copy of Henry's letter to the Duke 
 
 and Lord Hill, not for its importance, but to keep him 
 
 in their minds. 
 
 November 4. 
 
 The French Minister of War has given orders to 
 General Maison to march to Athens and Negropont. 
 Sir Pulteney Malcolm has sent a copy of the orders 
 home. He declared them to be contrary to the express 
 stipulation of the French Government, 
 
 Aberdeen sent for Polignac, who denied all know- 
 ledge of these orders, and allowed they were contrary 
 to the declarations of the French Government and to 
 its intentions. Aberdeen has sent for the Duke, who is 
 at Strathfieldsaye. 
 
 The French have taken Navarino, Coron, Modon, 
 and Patras without resistance. They, however, went 
 through all the formalities of a regular storm, and 
 Henry and William have seen war without fighting. 
 
LOEP CAMDEK 261 
 
 Eead the last three days accounts of Mergiii, Tavay, 
 and Martaban, which the Directors wish to get rid of. 
 My first impression is that it would be wise to do so ; 
 but the subject must be very well considered. 
 
 Eeceived a letter from Sir E. Parquhar desiring to 
 see me on the subject of his claims. I dechned seeing 
 him. I said that I must decide judicially upon all 
 claims against the Company. That I could not give 
 a full and correct report of a conversation, and yet 
 ought to make the Directors acquainted with all that 
 was urged in support of a claim that they might offer 
 observations and reply. I must therefore have written 
 communications on all subjects of that nature, which I 
 should transmit to the Dbectors. 
 
 Letter from W. Wynne, enclosing one from the 
 Bishop of Calcutta, deprecating a reported intention 
 of sending a Scotch clergyman to Malacca. 
 
 Letter from Lord Camden, enclosing an authentic 
 report of his speech at the Kent meeting. 
 
 November 5. 
 
 Met Prince Pohgnac at the Foreign Office. The 
 French will not go beyond the Morea. I fear, however, 
 Maison will have got to Athens before the orders reach 
 him. 
 
 La Ferronays wants to get the army back again. 
 
 The Ambassadors at Poros have ordered the blockade 
 of Candia because the Turks of the island, who had 
 lost their leader in an ambuscade, rose headed by his 
 son, a boy of fourteen, and massacred the Greeks. 
 
252 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 The only account of this comes through Capo d'lstria, 
 and is probably much exaggerated. How a blockade 
 is to put an end to hostilities I cannot see. 
 
 The Eussian army is to go into winter quarters, and 
 the Emperor is gone oif to Petersburg. The capture 
 of Varna has not turned their heads, and has made 
 them more disposed to accede to terms than they might 
 have been before. What they call Russian honour is 
 safe. I am convinced the thing which would lead most 
 directly to peace would be the return of our Minister 
 to Constantinople. The moment France and England 
 have their hands free, Eussia will see the time is not 
 favourable for war. Eussia will never set us loose. 
 We must extricate ourselves. 
 
 The apparent objects of the Treaty of London are 
 obtained. The Turks are out of the Morea, and piracy 
 is put down. It would be too foolish, when we have 
 got our object practically, to go on quarrelling with 
 Turkey about forms. 
 
 November 6. 
 
 They will allow Lord Combermere to buy the King 
 of Oude's picture at 5.000 rupees. 
 
 Enclose to the Governor of Bengal a copy of Sir 
 Thomas Munro's opinion in favour of continuing under 
 proper regulations the custom of giving presents. 
 
 We had some conversation on the subject of Mergui 
 and Tavay. I told them I had already begun to read 
 papers on the subject, and that my first impression was 
 in favour of their suggestion, that it would be advisable 
 to get rid of the territory to avoid the occurrence of 
 
INDIAN AFFAIRS. 253 
 
 conflict witli the Burmese and Siamese, and to save 
 160,000^. a year. 
 
 I have desired to see two gentlemen who are sup- 
 posed to know most of the country. 
 
 Bankes told me he had read Prendergast's case, and 
 thought the point upon which he laid most stress, 
 namel)% that the East India Company so entirely 
 directed the affairs of Oude at the time the debts were 
 incurred as to be responsible for the payment of them, 
 was untenable. 
 
 The doubtful point is whether the debt is charge- 
 able upon the King or upon the kingdom of Oude. If 
 on the territory, the Company, having taken half, would 
 be liable to one half of the debt ; but this Prendergast 
 dqes not urge, because on his first point he thinks he 
 should get the whole repaid, and on the second point he 
 could only get half. 
 
 I must look into the case at Brighton. 
 
 The Directors hke their patronage too weU to be 
 disposed to take the King's assistant surgeons. They 
 might leave sixteen of them now in India, and save the 
 expense of sending them home. 
 
 The proposal of having stations for invahd soldiers 
 instead of sending them home, they seem disposed to 
 entertain. I may make something of this. 
 
 Upon the whole the Chairs seem to be in good 
 humour, at least with me. 
 
 At the Foreign Office I saw Lord Heytesbury's 
 despatch of the 17th from Odessa. 
 
 The only thing really well done by the Eussians 
 seems to have been the night attack of General 
 
254 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 Grismar upon the Turldsli army which advanced from 
 Widdin upon Crajova. 
 
 The Eussians seems to have got possession of Varna 
 only by bribery, and the Emperor very appropriately 
 gives Count Woronzoff a golden sword. 
 
 They have actually lost from 70,000 to 80,000 men 
 in the campaign. They have neither commissariat, 
 hospital staff, nor engineers. 
 
 It appears that even Admiral de Eigny told General 
 Maison he could have no authority to advance upon 
 Athens. The French expedition was strictly confined 
 to the Morea. Maison was going to act on a private 
 letter of the Minister of War, written before the 
 protocols were settled. It is to be hoped he may have 
 been arrested by the representations of the Ambassadors 
 and of his Admiral, but otherwise he may have got to 
 Athens before the first orders can have reached him. 
 He intended to employ on the expedition General 
 Schneider's corps which was at Patras, and about 2,500 
 men besides. 
 
 The French seem to have behaved very well about 
 it. Stratford Canning wrote directly to M. de la 
 Ferronays, and he immediately, before any communi- 
 cation had been had with England, sent a telegraphic 
 message to Toulon, ordering out a fast saihng vessel 
 with instructions to Maison. 
 
 November 8. 
 
 Saw Aberdeen. His private letter to Stratford 
 Canning was just in time to prevent him from agreeing 
 to the blockade of Candia by British ships, and to 
 
THE DUKE AT GUILDHALL. 255 
 
 General Maison's marcli upon Athens, which has been 
 arrested. 
 
 Novemher 10. 
 
 The Duke and the Mmisters very well received at 
 the dinner at Guildhall. 
 
 Sat by the Duke at dinner. He told me he had 
 written a memorandum on the subject of Greece, and 
 had proposed a way out of the treaty. 
 
 He said he knew that three Aveeks ago the Opposi- 
 tion had not been able to form themselves. They 
 want to rally under Lord Grey. 
 
 I talked to him on matters connected with the 
 office, and gave Falmouth's almost forgotten message, 
 that he was friendly to Government. 
 
 November 11. 
 
 Eead Stratford Canning's last despatches dated 
 October 13, 14, and 16. He should be told that, what- 
 ever his opinions may be, it is his duty undoubtedly 
 to make them known to his Government ; but as an 
 Ambassador he should always make it appear that his 
 personal opinions coincide with those of his Govern- 
 ment. He otherwise, as far as in him hes, nuUifies by 
 his private conversation the effect of the arguments he 
 uses as a Minister, and subjects his country to disad- 
 vantage while he disparages himself. 
 
 The Duke's memorandum is in answer to reasoning 
 of Canning's on the future hmits of Greece, and on the 
 meaning of the Treaty of London, which is throwing away 
 a great deal of good powder. In conclusion he suggests 
 that we should in conference point out the many incon- 
 
256 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 veniences which result from the suspicion of diplo- 
 matic communication with the Porte — say, that the 
 Porte has practically acquiesced in the evacuation of 
 the Morea ; that after our declaration that the French 
 troops should not go beyond the Isthmus, to do so 
 would be a breach of faith, and without that the 
 Greeks can do nothini^ • that the liberation of the 
 Morea accomplishes the object of the treaty ; that the 
 armistice exists de facto \ that the Turks seem disposed 
 practically to acquiesce ; that therefore our Ambassa- 
 dor, who should never have left Constantinople, should 
 now return there. 
 
 In this measure he hopes to carry the French along 
 with him. 
 
 I agree entirely in all this. It is what I should 
 myself have suggested, and did, a day or two ago, in 
 conversation with Aberdeen. But I go further, and so 
 I told him. I would, being once with the French at 
 Constantinople, resolve that peace should be made on 
 the basis of the Treaty of Akerman ; or, that if they 
 chose to pursue the war, the Eussians should not pass the 
 Balkan. This they cannot do if we prevent them from 
 navigating the Black Sea. By sending ten sail of the 
 line into that sea with as many frigates and steamboats, 
 each armed with eight 68-pounders, we should shut 
 up the Russian squadron and enable the Turks to act. 
 We should likewise convey Ibrahim with 25,000 men 
 to Constantinople. This would be giving the Eussians 
 a Treaty of London. It would be war, if they pleased 
 to make it so ; but war at sea with Eussia, and France 
 on our side, would be nothing. The question is, how 
 
LORD ANGLESEY. 257 
 
 far the French wiU go on along with us ? Will they 
 adopt the proposal to be made to them at the next 
 Conference ? I think they would if we would consent 
 to add Attica to the Morea ; but to this there are great 
 objections. The Turks would not give up Athens as 
 they did Modon, &c. As the Duke expresses it, they 
 would make a Varna of it. This would lead to war 
 between them and the French, into which we might be 
 dragged. Besides, if the Greeks have Attica, it is ar- 
 gued they must have Negropont, which is Turkish, and 
 has never been Greek. If we once pass the Isthmus 
 we embark in a war unjust and without object. 
 
 The memorandum observes the Greeks want no 
 frontier. Against the Turks they will be protected by 
 guarantee, and by the Turks against all others. The 
 Turks are still to have the Suzerainete. 
 
 November 12. 
 
 The Duke told me that the King was every day 
 urging him to recall Lord Anglesey. He read to me 
 a letter he had written to Lord Anglesey expressing 
 his disappointment at his not having had O'Gorman 
 Mahon, and Steele, removed from Commission of the 
 Peace for attending a meeting of an illegal character, 
 and telling him very seriously that his conduct in 
 visiting and treating equally well persons attached to 
 the Association, and those who were quiet subjects, 
 placed him in a situation of the greatest embarrassment 
 with the King.^ 
 
 ^ See Wellington Correspondence, vol. v. 240 ; O'Gorman Mahon's name 
 is not given at length. The visit alluded to was to Lord Cloncurry. Lord 
 Anglesey's defence may he foimd, ihid., p. 255, and seq. 
 
 VOL. I. S 
 
258 DIARY, 1828. 
 
 The letter was admirably written. 
 
 Dined with the Directors, the dinner being given to 
 me. Ninety were asked, and eighty-five were there. 
 Of official men, the Duke, Peel, Sh' G. Murray, Goul- 
 burn, Yesey Fitzgerald, Lord Bathurst, Hardinge, 
 Planta, Holmes, Arbuthnot, Lord Grenville, Somerset, 
 Ashley, Graham, and Bankes. Besides these. Lord 
 Tenterden, the Yice-Chancellor, the Chief Baron of 
 Scotland, Serjeant Bosanquet, the late and the present 
 Lord Mayor. All the rest, except Mr. Eobarts, I did 
 not know. There were most of the Directors, and I 
 beheve the rest were principally servants of the Com- 
 pany. I was introduced to Smith, Toone, Lindsay, 
 Clarke, Lushington, Alexander, and Farquhar, of the 
 Directors, and to Serjeant Bosanquet. I was glad to 
 meet Captain Woolmer of the Trinity House. 
 
 In returning thanks when his health was drunk 
 the Duke spoke in very high terms of me. When 
 my health was given I made a speech, in which I 
 endeavoured to please all and to make all pleased with 
 me. I succeeded, at least mth Astell, for he thanked me 
 when I sat down, and came up again to thank me when 
 I was coming away. Yesey Fitzgerald congratulated 
 me very cordially on having so spoken, and on having 
 been so spoken of. Hardinge told me too that I had 
 done admirably, and I believe I did just what I in- 
 tended. I did not say all I intended because I 
 found the meeting was not in the state of excitement 
 which could alone have enabled me to say eloquently 
 and impressively part of what I wished to say. Peel 
 said he was surprised,, and made a set speech. 
 
THE duke's policy. 259 
 
 I sat between the Chairman and the Duke, and had 
 a good deal of conversation with the latter. His idea 
 is that the best way to bring the Eussians and Turks to 
 reason and to peace will be to say nothing to either. 
 I said that if we were satisfied the Turks could stand 
 then- ground in another campaign that plan might be 
 very well ; but if a smash came we should not forgive 
 ourselves for our inactivity. He seems to underrate 
 their numerical force of regular troops, not placing it 
 higher than 30,000 men. I suggested that the moment 
 we got our Minister back to Constantinople we should 
 take measures for obtaining information. I told him I 
 thought, if his memorandum was acted upon, Canning 
 would resign. 
 
 Canning wished lately to be allowed to go to Naples, 
 and Mrs. Canning was to join him there. He asked 
 this on the plea that he had nothing more to do at 
 For OS, and in the present state of things could get no 
 further. His request has been refused. 
 
 Binghton^ November 14. 
 
 Eeceived a letter from Aberdeen. The Cabinet was 
 nearly unanimous as to the limits of Greece, and the 
 return of the Ambassadors ; but some difficulty arose 
 from our previous admissions and declarations. These, 
 however, will not signify if France goes with us. 
 
 Aberdeen says the accounts from Faris are still 
 more satisfactory, and they now only throw out an idea 
 that a part of Attica should be annexed to the Morea. 
 
 S 2 
 
260 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 November 15. 
 
 Eeceived from the Chairs a memorandum of the 
 nominations they wish to make this year — 28 writers, 
 112 cadets, 56 medicaL 
 
 Eeceived a letter from Mr. Jackson, enclosing one 
 from Mr. Wyatt, begging to have a clerical error cor- 
 rected in Mr. Lnsh's patent. The Signet Bills are at 
 Koehampton, and it is very inconvenient to me to send 
 the key of my blue box. 
 
 I have cautioned Mr. Jackson to see that it is only 
 a clerical error. This is, I suspect, the patent which 
 Wyatt hurried through to anticipate some other man 
 who wanted a patent for the same thing. ^ I have told 
 Mr. Jackson to be careful. 
 
 November 18. 
 
 Eeceived a letter from Aberdeen. He says, 'We 
 had one Conference yesterday (the 16th). All went 
 off well.' The French troops are to be withdrawn im- 
 mediately, and we are to guarantee the Morea and the 
 islands against the invasion of the Turks. Lieven 
 took the proposal ad referendum ; but I suppose he 
 will agree. 
 
 Nothing final was settled about the return of the 
 Ambassadors. The French wish that it should be to 
 some place near Constantinople, but are evidently pre- 
 pared to go to Constantinople if the Turks insist. 
 
 Although the guarantee does not necessarily com- 
 prise what may ultimately be Greece, by means of 
 negotiation I think the question of limits may be 
 
STATE OF THE GOVERXMEXT. 261 
 
 considered as settled. The French made a fight for 
 Attica ; but we were Go thick and prevailed. 
 
 I wrote to Aberdeen to offer him my congratula- 
 tions on the fair prospect before him. 
 
 Undoubtedly the Duke has managed very well to 
 keep the French constantly with us. 
 
 I told Aberdeen that if, as the Duke seems to think 
 advisable, we are to leave the Turks and Eussians to 
 do what they like, saying nothing to either, under the 
 idea that when left to themselves they will sooner see 
 the folly of their going on, we ought to have full in- 
 formation as to the probability of the Turks being able 
 to hold out for another campaign. We should have 
 information not only as to their armies on the Balkans, 
 but in the neighbourhood of Erzeroum. We should 
 never forgive ourselves or be forgiven or deserve to be 
 forgiven if a smash should take place and the Eussians 
 get to Constantinople. 
 
 Lord Essex told W. Ashley yesterday he thought 
 the Government could not last. It seems he thinks 
 the Cathohc question will ruin us. It will bother us ; 
 but we shall stand. 
 
 W. Ashley met Ward, the member for the city, at 
 dinner there. He said we had the elite of the city at 
 the Directors' dinner. It seems Ward spoke in very 
 hio^h terms of me. So much the better. He is a ^reat 
 citizen. 
 
 November 19. 
 
 Eead the remainder of the papers relative to the 
 uniform currency of India. 
 
262 DIAEY. 1828. 
 
 I concur in Mr. Leach's opinion tliat the best thing 
 that can be done is to do nothing^. 
 
 November 21. 
 
 Went to the office. A letter from the Prince 
 Eegent of the Carnatic to the King, containing nothing 
 but praises of Lushington, and evidently obtained by 
 him through his son, who is a Government agent at the 
 court of the Nawab. 
 
 The Duke thinks the last letter of the Chairs in 
 reply to mine on the subject of the King's army is 
 very unfair, and must be answered if it is not with- 
 drawn.^ 
 
 I shall o'et the facts contradicting it from Lord F. 
 Somerset, and endeavour to make them withdraw it ; 
 but I do not think I shall succeed. 
 
 November 22. 
 
 Saw Aberdeen. Lord Bingham describes the Turldsh 
 army as miserable in equipment ; some with bayonets, 
 some without ; the muskets of all cahbres. However, 
 they hg]it, which the Ru'^sians do not! I suppose the 
 want of food and eau de vie had taken away their 
 spirit ; but in the last engagement with Prince Eugene 
 of Yfurtemburg the men lay down. The Chasseurs of 
 the Guard were destroyed, all but 180, in a wood. The 
 Turkish cavalry killed them man by man, the Eussians 
 making no resistance. Lord Bingham says they lost 
 15,000 men before Varna. The Capitan Pasha would 
 not surrender on the conditions offered, or at all, as 
 Youssouf Pasha did on worse conditions than the 
 
 1 See Wellington Correspondence, vol. v. p. 269, 
 
THE CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION. 263 
 
 Capital! Paslia might have obtained, for Yoiissonff's 
 people became prisoners and the Eussians would have 
 allowed them all to join the Grand Vizier. The loss 
 sustained by Prince Eugene was not avowed ; but it 
 was very great. The non-commissioned officers in the 
 Chasseurs of the Guard are gentlemen. Lord Bingham 
 says there is not a man in the Eussian army who does 
 not desire peace as much as we can. If the Turks can 
 make a good fight, I do not desire peace. 
 
 Beresford seems to be extremely unpopular with 
 the artillery. 
 
 November 24. 
 
 Went to a Eecorder's report at Windsor Castle. 
 The Duke, Peel, Aberdeen, Sir G. Murray, Goulburn, 
 and the Chancellor were there. Aberdeen had the new 
 Spanish Minister, Leo, to present, and Mr. Barbour, 
 the American Minister. The latter seems a very 
 gentlemanlike, well-conditioned man. We all walked 
 over the Castle. The King's apartments are finished. 
 Pires were hghted, and the carpets put down. The 
 corridor is beautiful. The American was enchanted. 
 
 The Duke showed me the opinion of the law 
 officers in Ireland, which is, that the Catholic Associa- 
 tion will come under the enacting part of the Conven- 
 tion Act, though not described in the preamble — that 
 is, as assuming to represent though not elected. They 
 likewise think indictments might be laid for conspiracy. 
 The latter, I think, will not do. The former may ; but 
 it seems not to be enough that men should claim to 
 represent unless that claim is acquiesced in. Perhaps 
 it may be shown that it is. The opinion of the L-ish 
 
264 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 law officers is now before tlie Attorney- and Solicitor- 
 General here, and if they concur in the opinion, pro- 
 ceedings will be instituted. 
 
 The King is very desirous of recalhng Lord Angle- 
 sey. No progress has been made with him on the 
 Catholic question. 
 
 The Duke told me he would send me his corre- 
 spondence with Lord Anglesey. His letter I have seen. 
 
 The Duke thinks he shall get out of the Greek 
 Treaty by the meeting of Parliament, and he hopes to 
 get out of the Portuguese business too. 
 
 Saw Hardinge. He has in contemplation a j^lan for 
 giving men their discharge before their pension becomes 
 due, by Avhich he hopes to get a man's service for 
 eighteen of the best years of his life for very httle, and 
 to make a good settler at Van Dieman's Land or in 
 Canada of him afterwards. I have no doubt Hardinge 
 will do great things at the War Office, and some day 
 or other he will be Chancellor of the Exchequer, and 
 a very good one. 
 
 Don Miguel has fractured and splintered his leg 
 severely. Bad surgeons may bother him very much, 
 and he may be more amenable to reason. 
 
 I sent to the Duke my memorandum on Tenasserim 
 with the Chairs' letter, and the necessary maps, as well 
 as the letter from Moulmein received to-day. 
 
 No news at the Foreign Office. Aberdeen gone to 
 the Antiquarian Society. 
 
 I told the Duke of Montrose yesterday that I had 
 a letter from the Nabob of the Carnatic to forward as, 
 I was told, through his office, that of the Lord Cliam- 
 
ME. STRATFORD CANNING. 265 
 
 berlain. To-day Sir W. Knighton called when I was 
 with the Chairs, and left a verbal message that I was to 
 send the letter to, I forget what number, in Pall Mall. 
 Courtenay told Waterfield the President communi- 
 cated directly with the King, and that I should send 
 the Nabob's letter and the suggested answer, which I 
 shall do. 
 
 November 26. 
 
 Sent my letter to the King, the draft of the King's 
 answer, and the translation of the Nabob's letter, to- 
 gether with the original letter in its large tin box. 
 
 Heard from Mary ^ that in consequence of a general 
 order of Lord Beresford's, censuring the horse artillery 
 in very severe terms, four lieutenant -colonels had re- 
 signed. I thought it right the Duke should know this. 
 
 Eead and made amendments in the ' Civil Despatch ' 
 to Bengal. It is a collection of very indifferent essays. 
 I have added a paragraph which in effect tells the 
 Governor-General if he will not make the reductions 
 some one else shall. 
 
 Looked over the despatch with Bankes at the office. 
 
 Saw Aberdeen. Eead his late despatches to S. 
 Canning. I told him I thought they would bring 
 Canning home. The language is very civil; but it 
 practically tells him what he suggested was dishonest — 
 These despatches are better written than those Aber- 
 deen wrote at first. The Duke, however, gives the 
 substance. 
 
 There is a report that Lord Sidmouth is to have the 
 
 ^ His sister, the Hon. Mrs. Dynely, R.A., wife of Major Dynely, after- 
 wards Lieut.-Kjeneral Dynele}', C.B. 
 
266 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 Privy Seal. I hope not. It would show the Duke 
 despaired of bringing the King round upon the Catholic 
 question. 
 
 November 28. 
 
 Wrote a despatch to Bengal, entering into the ques- 
 tion of the pohcy to be pursued with regard to Turkey 
 and Persia. 
 
 Eeceived a letter from the Duke. He has enquired 
 into the Woolwich case and finds that Lord Beresford 
 was in the right. I think, however, that his enquiries 
 have only extended to the complaint respecting ' the 
 range firing ' and not to the letter in orders reflecting 
 generally on the horse artillery. 
 
 I was occupied with business to-day for ten hours. 
 
 I have a good account of Captain Eathborne's 
 services, and shall give him the cadetship he asks. 
 
 November 29. 
 
 Wrote to Caj)tain Eathborne to tell him so. I said 
 I had much satisfaction in placing in the service of the 
 East India Company a gentleman who, I had no doubt, 
 would imitate the conduct of his gallant and respected 
 father. I hope I have made the old man happy. 
 
 Called on Lady Jersey. By her account Lord 
 Eosslyn has taken a correct view of Dawson's conduct 
 and Lord Anglesey's. The absurd thing is that Lord 
 Anglesey thinks he alone can pacify L^eland, and that 
 if it was not for his influence with the King all sorts of 
 mischievous things would be done in Ireland. It seems 
 Lord John Eussell mshed Lord Grey to countenance 
 Catholic clubs, which he prudently decHned. He said 
 
THE recorder's REPORT. 267 
 
 lie had just the same constitutional objection to Catholic 
 clubs which he had to Brunswick clubs, and that they 
 would only embarrass the Government. Lord John 
 wants sadly to hook him in to Opposition. 
 
 Lord Melbourne is very eager in Opposition. 
 
 The Duke manages to get from Lady all the 
 
 secrets of the Opposition, and while he does all his own 
 business, all Aberdeen's, and overlooks the business 
 of all the departments, he finds time to call upon 
 ladies and to secure them to his party. 
 
 December 1. 
 
 Went to Windsor. Eecorder's report. Two men 
 to be executed for burglary ; one for endeavouring to 
 cut his wife's throat, a case of jealousy, and jealousy not 
 without reason ; but the man had continued to live 
 with his wife some months, indeed, I think, more than 
 a year after she had admitted her infidelity. Still it is 
 a melancholy case, for the poor man had been very 
 happy, and the wife's conduct seems to have changed 
 his character altogether long before he attempted her 
 hfe. The woman seems to have had no compunction 
 in ffivino^ her evidence ao^ainst her husband. The 
 fourth person ordered for execution was Munton for 
 forgery. A strong case. 
 
 The thing that distresses me in all these cases, 
 however, is that men are punished not with reference 
 to the extent of their own crimes, unless they be very 
 great, but with reference to the number and circum- 
 stances of similar crimes committed by others at the 
 same time. Our laws are so framed that all cannot be 
 
268 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 executed who incur the penalty of deatli — and wisely 
 and humanely so framed, I think ; but still the conse- 
 quence is that in every case it is not the law but indi- 
 viduals who decide whether a man shall suffer or not, 
 a very difficult and painful duty, executed, I beheve, 
 most conscientiously ; but I wish it did not fall to the 
 King's Ministers to execute it. 
 
 The Eussians have acceded to our proposed modi- 
 fication of the blockade as regards Enghsh vessels, 
 which may have left England before the 1st, or any 
 Mediterranean port before October 30. 
 
 The sickness increases in the Eussian army. The 
 troops are moving towards Sihstria. YoussoufF Pasha 
 attacked tliem, and according to the Eussian account 
 was repulsed. 
 
 The despatches from Lord Heytesbury are dated 
 November 14. 
 
 By the newspapers it seems that the Capitan Pasha 
 has been made Grand Vizier, the former Grand Vizier, 
 who never was a soldier, having been supposed not to 
 have made sufficient efforts to relieve Varna. 
 
 Heard from Henry. He says the French are for 
 the Turks but not much disposed to quarrel with 
 Eussia. He has had fourteen days of dysentery and 
 is now at Zante — that is, on November 13. 
 
 Eeceived a letter from Planta enclosincr one from 
 Mr. McKinnon, who wishes to be an East India 
 Director. Told him I did not know wherein the in- 
 fluence of the India Board consisted, that I was the 
 only man in England who could not ask a favour of the 
 Directors. That all I wished was that the best and 
 
SIEGE OF SILISTRIA. 269 
 
 most capable man should be elected. Of Mr. M. 
 I knew nothing, and I could not know him to be the 
 fittest till I knew all the candidates. 
 
 At the Eecorder's report to-day the King walked 
 well and seemed well, but rather in a hurry. I should 
 say, as regards the head, not so well as last Monday. 
 
 Lieven had an audience. The Eussians are in a 
 great fright lest we and the Erench should go back to 
 Constantinople alone. 
 
 December 5. 
 
 I told the Chairman we were precluded from re - 
 ducing the Persian mission to its former standard by 
 Canning's understanding with the Persian Government. 
 The Persians were assured when we transferred the 
 mission from the King to the Governor-General that the 
 mission should be maintained on a scale of increased 
 splendour. 
 
 December 8. 
 
 Foreign Office. Eead Lord Cowley's despatches. The 
 Eussians have raised the siege of Silistria. They had 
 brought up thek whole army except about 8,000 men 
 left at Varna ; but they had no provisions. The rain 
 had made the country nearly impracticable, and a 
 storm of hail and snow came on, with the glass at 8°. 
 They marched off and passed the Danube at Hirsova. 
 This was on the 12th. There is some account of their 
 having experienced a serious attack on the 8th. 
 Hussein Pasha had ordered the Turks at Kalafat to 
 countermarch by the right bank of the Danube upon 
 
270 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 Silistria, upon wliicli place he marched from Schumla. 
 This fine movement seems to have had deserved suc- 
 cess. The Eussians have left behind them their heavy 
 guns. The few remaining horses were harnessed to the 
 baggage. The hghter guns were buried. They expect 
 to dig them up in the spring ! 
 
 At Bucharest the Eussians have what they call a 
 hospital — that is, thousands of men lying on hay, 
 without medicine or a surgeon, and ill-supphed with 
 provisions. The two Bucharest apothecaries who were 
 ordered to attend the hospital are dead. The only 
 medicines are procured from the chemist's shoj)s of 
 Bucharest. Witgenstein is gone to his estates. Die- 
 bitch to Yassy, where the head-quarters will be es- 
 tabhshed. There are not less than five or six generals 
 at Odessa. Langeron is at Bucharest. They all seem 
 to have deserted the army. In Wallachia they specu- 
 late upon the evacuation of Yarna and even of the 
 Principalities. The Eussians, who at the Treaty of 
 Akerman obtained for the Principahties the remission 
 of two years' contributions, now say the Treaty of 
 Akerman is at an end and the arrears must be paid up 
 to them ! The country, however, is exhausted. 
 
 The Prussians have urged the Sultan to make pro- 
 posals to Eussia. The Eeis EfTendi charges the Prussian 
 Minister with overlooking the interests of his own 
 country and acting in a sense purely Eussian. Truly 
 enough. The conduct of the Eussian Cabinet is dis- 
 
 gusting. 
 
 Zuylen de Nyvett, the Netherland Minister at the 
 Porte, has been guilty of an impudent gaucherie which 
 
AUSTRIAN POLICY. 271 
 
 has made tlie Sultan indignant, and will occasion his 
 recall. 
 
 The Sultan is more magnificent and the Turks more 
 sturdy than ever. I fear we shall not act boldly 
 enough, and so lose the opportunity of getting our 
 Minister back to Constantinople. The Sultan will make 
 no concession in favour of the Greeks by treaty ; but 
 he will yield practically what he will not yield in 
 words, and we should be insane if we did not look 
 to what is practically a fulfilment of the unfortunate 
 Treaty of London. 
 
 In the meantime 10,000 Asiatic cavalry have passed 
 the Bosphorus. My hope is that the Eussians in Varna 
 will be taken prisoners. 
 
 Munster has, at the instigation of Lieven, whose 
 tool he is, been setting the King against Metternich on 
 account of the affair of the Duke of Brunswick, in which 
 it is quite impossible that Metternich should not have 
 acted for the best for us, for he can have no interest 
 or feehng the other way. 
 
 The Austrians have been playing too fine a game. 
 They have made both Eussians and French most hostile 
 to them, and they may suffer for it. 
 
 I called at Hardinge's to tell him all I had just 
 heard about the Eussian army ; but I did not see him. 
 I told Emily ^ to repeat my news to him. 
 
 ^ Lady Emily (afterwards Viscountess) Hardinge. She was sister of 
 Lady Victoria Stewart, Lord Ellenboroiigli's first wife, and of the second 
 Marquis of Londonderry, "better known as Lord Castlereagh. 
 
272 . DIARY. 1828. 
 
 December 8. 
 
 Saw Aberdeen. The Frencli seem backward in 
 bringing Church and Ipsilanti back into Greece. Capo 
 d'lstria wanted Maison to lend him some light troops ; 
 but Maison would not. They go on blockading Candia, 
 althouo'h the orders not to do so must have been re- 
 ceived long ago. IVIiguel is getting better. 
 
 Saw Lord Darnley. He wants the Duke to 
 frighten the King about Ireland. There is to be a 
 grand Liberal dinner at Maidstone on the 21st, Lord 
 Darialey in the chair. 
 
 Eeceived back from the King the letter to the 
 Nabob of the Carnatic, approved. I began to think his 
 Majesty meant to keep my box and take no notice of 
 my letter. 
 
 December 10. 
 
 Despatches as late as October 5 from Colonel 
 Macdonald (in Persia). The Shah seems much alarmed ; 
 at the dissolution of our treaty with him, to which the 
 Prince Abbas Mirza was pledged — the East India Com- 
 pany paying a sum of money to get rid of the obhga- 
 tion imposed upon us. The Shah thinks he is aban- 
 doned by his only ally. The Prince seems determined 
 to go to Petersburg. He will throw himself into the 
 hands of the Russians. He wrote to get Bagdad, 
 Bassorah, &c., from the Turks. 
 
 There is a rebelhon in Khorasan and in Kerman. 
 In the former the Persian Government seems to be 
 very weak. The Eussians are going to send a splendid 
 mission to Teheran, mth fifty Cossacks of the Guard, 
 
OUR POLICY IN PERSIA. 273 
 
 while, under the directions of the miserable Govern- 
 ment of Bengal during the interregnum, our guard of 
 Poonah Horse has been withdrawn and the Envoy 
 severely censured for his extravagance. His allowances 
 for the gentlemen of his mission and everything have 
 been reduced to 10,000 rupees a month. 
 
 The rebellion in Kerman seems to have been put 
 down to a certain extent by one of the King's sons, but 
 with infinite cruelty. 
 
 Paskewitch has 30,000 men effective out of 110,000 
 men under his orders. He has 100 light guns. He- 
 lost a great many men at Akiska. He seems to have 
 the talent of conceahng his movements. The Eussians 
 wish to keep all they have conquered or may conquer 
 on that side. 
 
 With 200,000/. I could stop General Paskewitch. 
 
 December 11. 
 
 Saw the Chairs. They seem not to like some of the 
 alterations in the joint letter to Bengal. Perhaps the 
 last may be premature and too strong. It tells the 
 Governor-General practically that, if he should not be 
 economical, one will be found who is. 
 
 I talked a great deal to them about Persia. After- 
 wards saw the Duke upon the subject. He sees the 
 importance of preventing the Persians from moving 
 against the Turks, and I have this evening written a 
 despatch to Macdonald, explaining our reasons for 
 wishing to be released from the 3rd and 4th articles of 
 our treaty, but declaring that our friendship for Persia 
 is unchanged, adding^ however, that we can do nothing 
 VOL. I. T 
 
274 DIAEY. 1828. 
 
 for her if she quarrels with her neighbours and engages 
 in European contests. 
 
 December 13. 
 
 Found at the office a letter to the Envoy in Persia, 
 unaltered and approved. Accordingly I sent it to the 
 India House for immediate transmission. 
 
 Yesterday the Chairman told me it was reported 
 Sir John Malcolm had fallen asleep at church, and 
 waked, having lost his memory. The non-arrival of 
 my despatches by the last ships gives some credit to 
 the report. I mentioned it to the Duke, who was 
 much shocked. It was what he expected. He had 
 told Malcolm he would die if he returned to India. 
 He had had a paralytic attack once when he was on 
 service with him, and I hear too that some tendency 
 of that sort had been perceived before he left England.-^ 
 He will be a great loss to the Company. 
 
 December 15. 
 
 Went to Windsor to a Council. Parhament to 
 meet on February 5. Had some conversation with the 
 Duke. 
 
 The Duke has sent me memoranda on the question 
 of giving up Tenasserim and on that of maintaining 
 Hill. He is for giving up Tenasserim, as the retention 
 of it would lead to a new system. 
 
 I told him I should ask his opinion about Cutch. 
 He inquired if I had a good map. I told him that was 
 exactly one of the things I had in my memorandum 
 
 1 He lived tiU 1832. 
 
ABEEDEEN AND CANNING. 275 
 
 suggested the expediency of obtaining. We have not 
 information enough. 
 
 Present at the Council, Aberdeen, V. Fitzgerald, 
 Goulburn, the Duke, Sir G. Cockburn, and myself. I 
 asked Sir G. Cockburn if he knew Captain Eathborne. 
 He did not ; but he said he was a very old officer, very 
 respectable, and torn to pieces by wounds. He seemed 
 very glad to hear I had given his son a cadetship. 
 
 Aberdeen told me Canning was worse than ever, 
 and that the Ambassadors had bothered the Admiral, 
 and led him, in spite of his instructions, to continue the 
 blockade of Candia. 
 
 Aberdeen had a long audience of the IQng, who, 
 he told me, was quite with us on the Greek question, 
 though I have no doubt Munster, instigated by Lieven, 
 has been doing all the mischief he can. 
 
 Goulburn promised that if he found the Govern- 
 ment had ever paid for presents to Indian princes, he 
 would buy six black dray horses for Eunjeet Singh if 
 we could not get the Company to pay for them. The 
 Duke saw no objection to it. 
 
 At 9 o'clock received a letter from the Chairman 
 saying he had no messenger, and begging me to ask 
 Aberdeen to lend them one. 
 
 I wrote to him, to Aberdeen, and to Lord Cowley, 
 to whom the despatch should go under flying seal. 
 
 December 17. 
 
 The despatch to Colonel Macdonald goes by a 
 Foreign Office messenger to Lord Cowley to-day. He 
 will forward it to Constantinople. 
 
 T 2 
 
276 . DIARY. 1828. 
 
 I have no doubt tliat the Court of Directors and 
 the Board have the power of ParHament in all revenue 
 matters within the Presidency. However, Mr. Groom 
 and Mr. Bankes seem a little to doubt whether, the tax 
 having once been discontinued, though not in conse- 
 quence of any doubt as to its legality, it can be legally 
 re-enacted. I believe the only person who would en- 
 tertain any doubts upon this point is the Eecorder. 
 However, it will be submitted to the Counsel to the East 
 India Company, Serjeant Bosanquet. 
 
 December 18. 
 
 Eead at the Foreign Office Canning's despatches and 
 protocols. He is hostile to the views of his Govern- 
 ment ; but being so, he behaves more like a gentleman 
 than Lamb did. 
 
 Asked Backhouse to let me know on what grounds 
 Sir J. Malcolm and Sir H. Willock were permitted to 
 wear the order of the Lion and Sun given to them by 
 the Shah of Persia. Colonel Macdonald is very desirous 
 of being allowed to wear not only the order, but that 
 given to him by the Emperor of Eussia. The rule in 
 the King's service is that no foreign order shall be per- 
 mitted to be worn except for military services ; and I 
 think it a very good one. I fear, however, that if 
 Colonel Macdonald is not allowed to have these orders 
 I can get no other honour for him, as he is not in a 
 situation to deserve the Grand Cross of the Bath. 
 
 Saw the Chancellor at the House of Lords, where I 
 sat as a Commissioner for the prorogation. He pro- 
 mised he would write to Lord Bathurst about the 
 
LORD. DUDLEY. 277 
 
 course to be adopted in Sir Claridge's case. It seems 
 the Privy Council had at first desired him to send his 
 answer to the charges. They thought that to order 
 him home would be productive of great inconvenience. 
 
 Sir Gwyllym, a Welsh puisne judge at Madras, 
 was ordered home, but there were other judges left. 
 The Eecorder is alone. I told the Chancellor we 
 thought we could do without a Eecorder there, and 
 rather wished to try the experiment quietly. He saw 
 the use of this, and promised to write to Lord Bathurst 
 about it. 
 
 Met Lord Melville at the House. The Chairs went 
 to him to-day after they had seen me. I asked if they 
 were in good humour. He said Yes. I am sure they 
 ou^ht to be. 
 
 There is a report of Dudley's being the intended 
 Privy Seal. I told W. Ashley, who mentioned it to me, 
 I did not believe it. I did not beheve any of the 
 Canningites would ever be admitted, although to 
 Dudley personally there was no objection, and the King 
 liked him. 
 
 The Chairs wish me to write to the Chief Justice of 
 Bengal upon the subject of his very indiscriminate ad- 
 mission of persons resident in India as barristers and 
 attorneys. I desired to have the opinions of the two 
 late Chief Justices on the subject. It will not do for 
 me to interfere upon this matter unless I have very 
 strong ground, and can do it with effect. 
 
278 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 December 20. 
 
 Office. Found my letter to the Madras Government 
 returned by the Duke, unaltered and concurred in. 
 
 Foreign Office. A letter from Lord Stuart, by 
 which it appears that of 157,000 men who passed the 
 Danube there are but 54,000 in existence, and the 
 Eussians have besides lost all their material and 47,000 
 horses. The Emperor is ready to agree to any terms, 
 and asks no money. At first the money payment was 
 to cover the expenses of the war. The Turks, on the 
 other hand, say they will hear of no treaty not made in 
 Congress^ that so long as treaties exist between them 
 only and the Eussians, the latter will always be picking 
 quarrels. They require the guarantee and interven- 
 tion of other Powers. Further, they say they will 
 make no peace till the Eussians have passed the Prutli. 
 
 Saw Lord Melville. Lushington, who in April was 
 writing to Wynne, and declaring that he could not 
 express his anxiety for the success of the Goderich 
 Government, now writes to Lord Melville,^ rejoicing in 
 the retreat of the Whigs, and in the estabhshment of a 
 Protestant Government^ which he hopes will last for 
 ever. This to Lord Melville, who has always voted for 
 the Cathohcs ! Can anything be at once more stupid ! 
 
 Lord W. Bentinck seems to have thought Lushing- 
 ton did wrong about Hill. 
 
 Eeceived back from Lord Graham the memorandum 
 on Cutch without any observations. 
 
 ^ Lord Melville, wlien a member of tlie Liverpool Cabinet, was a sup- 
 porter of ' Catholic Emancipation/ wbile in everything else acting with the 
 ultra section of his colleagues. He was thus, as Stapleton describes him, 
 the exact reverse of Lord Liverpool (' Life of Canning,' i. 127). 
 
JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS IN INDIA. 279 
 
 December 21. 
 
 Eead tlie papers relating to the question of admitting 
 barristers and attorneys at Calcutta. It seems to me 
 tliat the judges wish to keep the patronage all in their 
 own hands. This must be guarded against. I think 
 the barristers should be appointed from hence by the 
 Directors with the approbation of the Board ; the 
 certificate of two judges and some years' practice at 
 the bar being required to make a man eligible. I am 
 sure the judges should have nothing to do with it. 
 One judge appointed his own son a barrister. They 
 have, by the regulation of 1799, retained the power of 
 making their own clerks. This is unseemly. I per- 
 fectly recollect my father's being very angry with a 
 judge at Calcutta for having nominated his son as a 
 barrister. 
 
 December 22. 
 
 Eeceived the despatch relative to Tenasserim from 
 the Duke. He thinks the retaining of the islands and 
 the arrangement of the exchange should be left to the 
 Local Government. I have altered the despatch ac- 
 cordingly, giving a strong opinion at the same time as 
 to keeping the islands. The Duke not having read the 
 papers does not know their value, and that the farm 
 of the edible birds' nests will pay any expense the 
 retention of these may occasion. 
 
 Lushington quite disgusts me. Having in his letter 
 to Wynne expressed the deepest anxiety for the success 
 of the Government, of which he was a member, in 
 his letter to Lord Melville he congratulates him on 
 
280 , DIARY. 1828. 
 
 again belonging to a Tory and Peotestant Administra- 
 tion, and hopes the Wliigs are out for ever. 
 
 Eeceived a letter from Lord Londonderry requesting 
 rather drily to have his papers back. I have sent 
 them. He wants them that he may determine what 
 hue he shall take about the Catholic question. I have 
 told him in reply that of course he will take what hne 
 he thinks best, but that as the question is in the only 
 hands which can do it any good I think the best course 
 for its friends is to be quiet. He will not be quiet, 
 because he is vain. 
 
 Talked over with Bankes the admission of at- 
 torneys at Calcutta. He agreed with me in thinldng 
 an Act of Parliament should settle it. 
 
 Went to the Foreign Office. Bead Lord Cowley's 
 last despatches. It seems that two-thirds of the 
 Eussian army have been employed in Bulgaria and 
 Georgia. Of this force they have lost two-thirds, and 
 it does not appear probable that the recruits will fill up 
 the vacancies. At Yarna there is one brigade. At 
 Pravadi another. The works of Yarna are put into 
 repair. The troops have bread and meat enough, but 
 no forage. However, they have no horses, Yarna is 
 represented as being quite ruined. The houses are 
 none of them water-tight. The number of dead bodies 
 embarrassed tlie Eussians very much. Half the 
 Turkish prisoners taken there died on their march. 
 Even the Eussians thought this looked ill and had an 
 inquiry ; but the result was that they died of distress 
 which could not be avoided. The people are all leaving 
 Yarna and dying on the road. The situation of the 
 
COERESPONDENCE WITH LOED ANGLESEY. 281 
 
 troops before Silistria must have been dreadful. The 
 cold was premature and violent. It snowed for three 
 days, and the troops had no cover. Numbers died. On 
 the two last days of their retreat they were hard 
 pressed by the Turks. They had but 15.000 men at 
 Sihstria, the worst of their army. There is some idea 
 of Paskewitch's beincf brous^ht from Georgia to conduct 
 the next campaign. 
 
 December 24. 
 
 Cabinet. The Duke read the correspondence be- 
 tween him and Lord Anglesey. It is evident from the 
 tone the correspondence had assumed on Lord Angle- 
 sey's part that it would be impossible to look for any 
 future cordial co-operation between him and the Go- 
 vernment, and therefore he will be recalled. 
 
 Lord Anglesey's conduct has long been particularly 
 obnoxious to the King, and his Majesty has repeatedly 
 urged the Duke to recall him. This the Duke objected 
 to, even after the very improper step Lord Anglesey took 
 in issuing the proclamation^ without the concurrence of 
 his council. There is a letter from the Duke to the 
 King, written from Sudbourne,^ on that subject. The 
 Duke, however, wrote a strong letter to Lord Anglesey 
 (which I have in its place mentioned, I think, as being 
 read by the Duke to me), to which he received a justi- 
 ficatory reply, well written. The Duke answered. Lord 
 Anglesey rephed, and since that time he has hardly 
 
 ^ A proclamation against illegal meetings. The objection was to its 
 being found witbout the Iiish Privj Council by the Lord Lieutenant singly. 
 See Wellington Correspondence, vol. v. 105-7, 
 
 ^ Wellington Correspondence, v. 133, where this letter is given in ex- 
 tenso. 
 
282 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 written at all to Peel, never to tlie Duke. The removal 
 from the magistracy of O'Gorman Mahon, in part the 
 subject of discussion, he never mentioned to Peel when 
 he had adopted the measure. I think the dates of the 
 last letters are November 11th, 14th, and 18th. 
 
 We had much discussion as to Lord Anglesey's 
 successor. The Duke proposed Lord Grantham, saying 
 that the fittest man would have been Lord Melville, 
 but that could not be. I cannot make out why. There 
 seems to be some odd sort of mystery about it. The 
 objection to Lord Grantham is that he would ask 
 Lord Goderich's opinion, that he is not friendly to 
 the Government, and would require explanations it 
 would be very difficult to give as to the situation of 
 the Government with respect to the Catholic question, 
 and very hazardous to give where there would be a 
 certainty of their being communicated to the most 
 hostile faction, that of Huskisson, &c. 1 thought of Lord 
 Bristol and Lord Eosslyn. The Duke mentioned Lord 
 Verulam ; Peel, Lord Amherst. The Duke and Peel both 
 said Lord Tweeddale would have been the best, but 
 he is at Eome. The general feelino^ seemed to be that 
 the successor should be a Catholic,-^ and that it was 
 highly expedient to select a man with whom Lord 
 P. Leveson will remain. I care little about Lord 
 Francis's remaining. I beheve Lord Amherst would be 
 the best. I look with much apprehension to the expla- 
 nations the offer to Lord Grantham might bring on. I 
 think he would decline after all. The Duke said : ' I 
 will oppose the question till it can be brought on by a 
 
 ^ That is, as supporter of ' Catholic Emancipation.' 
 
SIR EDWAED CODRINGTON. 283 
 
 Government, and, as a Minister, I must bring it on 
 without the King.' The Cabinet is divided upon it, but 
 it is evident that those who oppose do not object to the 
 Duke's doing all he can with the King. Unfortunately, 
 the conduct of Lord Anglesey has made the King more 
 hostile than he ever was. 
 
 It seemed to be admitted that the Cabinet must in 
 the course of the next three weeks determine upon its 
 hne. Yesey Fitzgerald expresses himself well. He 
 takes a good deal of part, and does everything in a 
 very gentlemanhke and unassuming manner. 
 
 Sir Edward Codrington has written to the Admi- 
 ralty to inquire whether, after the explanations given 
 by him, the Government disapproves of his conduct as 
 a naval ojSicer. It is very difficult to know what answer 
 to give, as it is desirable to avoid the necessity of a 
 court-martial. I am to look through all the papers and 
 report upon the case on Sunday at three. 
 
 December 25. 
 
 Wrote a note to the Duke, suggesting that he might 
 gain time to choose a successor to Lord Anglesey more 
 dehberately by allowing the Government to remain for 
 a few weeks in the hands of Lords Justices. I re- 
 newed my objections to Lord Grantham, and said 
 something in favour of Lord Amherst and Lord 
 Verulam. 
 
 December 26. 
 
 Eeading Codrington papers all day. 
 
284 DIARY. 1828. 
 
 December 27. 
 
 Saw the Chancellor. He suggested that the Admi- 
 ralty should merely say, in reply to Sir E. Codrington's 
 letter, that he was recalled in consequence of the re- 
 ceipt of a letter from Sir J. Murray, of which the sub- 
 , stance may be stated. He will then ask Aberdeen 
 whether his explanations have been satisfactory, and 
 Aberdeen will say No. There may be a question in 
 the House of Commons, which does not much signify. 
 
 I had some serious conversation w^ith the Chancellor 
 about the Cathohc question. He says the Duke must 
 see the King soon, and tell him what he wishes to do. 
 The King's Speech must be considered in a fortnight. 
 The Chancellor expects the King will send for him and 
 Peel. 
 
 The Chancellor will tell his Majesty it is much 
 better to concede quietly and with good terms what 
 cannot be prevented. That if the Ministers meet the 
 question and are beat, as they would be, they must go 
 out, and His Majesty would only be able to find Ministers 
 resolved to carry the measure in any manner. 
 
 The Chancellor thinks Peel will not be a member of 
 the Government which brings forward the question. 
 
 In the meantime the Catholics have got hold of a 
 letter written on December 11 by the Duke to Dr. 
 Curtis, the Cathohc primate. In reality the letter says 
 no more than the Duke said last session in the House, 
 but they make much of it. 
 
 The Chancellor says the Master of the EoUs cannot 
 live. He deprecates having Wetherall there, who 
 
LETTER TO THE ORANGE LODGES. 285 
 
 would ruin the Court of Chancery and be a most mis- 
 chievous man in the House of Commons, a great Tory, 
 and bigoted Protestant. He proposes to make Alex- 
 ander Master of the EoUs, and Wetherall Chief Baron. 
 Then he would try to get Scarlett as Attorney-general. 
 The Chancellor approves of my notion of governing 
 Ireland by Lords Justices till the Duke can fix upon a 
 good Lord Lieutenant. 
 
 December 28. 
 
 Went to town to the Cabinet at three. I h'ad written 
 nothing I could do more than refer to, so I told in 
 conversation all I had observed in reading the papers. 
 The Chancellor's idea was not approved, and it was de- 
 termined a letter should be written from Aberdeen to 
 the Admiralty, stating that his Majesty's Government 
 did not feel themselves called upon to pronounce an 
 opinion upon the professional character of Sir E. Cod- 
 rington. That, observing in the explanations required 
 from Sir E. Codrington, and in the communications made 
 by him, that his conception of the instructions under 
 which he was acting was erroneous, they had decided 
 he might be reheved in his command. 
 
 We expect a question in the House of Commons 
 upon this subject. 
 
 There is a letter from the Duke of Cumberland to 
 the Orange lodges, in which he declares the King's 
 opinion upon the Cathohc question. This will be a 
 most awkward thing to fight when it is brought for- 
 ward. The Duke is clearly wrong, but I suppose it is 
 
286 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 the duty of a Minister to defend all the Eoyal family. 
 It seemed to be the general opinion that there ought to 
 be some precis of the Codrington correspondence, or 
 some memorandum. I suppose I must write one. 
 
 December 29. 
 
 At Brighton dined with Lord Shaftesbury. Met the 
 Lord Chancellor and Lords Granville and Dudley. 
 Had some conversation with the Chancellor. He is, I 
 see, seriously alarmed about the effect the CathoHc 
 question may have upon the Government. 
 
 December 30. 
 
 Occupied all the evening in writing a memorandum 
 on Codrington's case. I thought it over in my own mind 
 first, and then wrote it currente calamo — ten sheets. I 
 am sure that is the best way of writing a reasoned 
 paper. 
 
 January 2. 
 
 Eeceived a letter from a Mr. Eowe applying for a 
 judicial situation at Bombay. He tells me Sir Edward 
 West is dead. I shall not be sorry if he is, for he has 
 been a most mischievous judge. 
 
 I have written to the Duke, stating the circum- 
 stance, and my opinion of the extreme importance of 
 selecting a fit man. 
 
 January 3. 
 
 Eeceived a letter from the Duke, who is very hos- 
 tile to giving Macdonald permission to wear the Eussian 
 and Persian orders. He thinks, as I do, that the rule 
 
THE BISHOPRIC OP CALCUTTA. 287 
 
 against tlie King's subjects looking to any sovereio-n 
 but their own for their reward is one which ought to be 
 adhered to. It is only in the case of military service 
 performed in the field that it is allowable for a man to 
 receive an order from a foreign Sovereign, and then he 
 must have his own Sovereign's permission. The Duke 
 says he has fought many a battle upon this point ; and, 
 in spite of the rule, the King has recently allowed Lord 
 Mountcharles to receive an order from Miguel ! 
 
 The Duke says he thinks Macdonald ought to be 
 rewarded, and he has thought of a way of doing it, 
 which he will talk over with me when he sees me. 
 
 January 5. 
 
 Lord Anglesey has pubhshed an answer to Dr. 
 Curtis's communication to him of the Duke's letter. 
 The answer is dated the 23rd. It justifies his removal. 
 
 I hear the Bishop of Calcutta has resigned. Wrote 
 to the Duke to teU him. I said the only persons who 
 occurred to me were Calvert, Warden of Manchester, 
 and Turner, Castlereagh's tutor. That the latter was 
 the fittest of the two. I mentioned all the particulars 
 respecting both, and that I did not think Calvert would 
 take it. By giving the bishopric to Calvert the warden- 
 ship of Manchester would be placed at the Duke's dis- 
 posal, and by giving it to Turner Lord Londonderry 
 would be obhged. Turner is a very fit man. 
 
 The Emperor of Brazil wishes to leave the settle- 
 ment of the Portuguese question to the Emperor of 
 Austria, having the wish thereby to save his dignity 
 should concessions be required, and desiring more than 
 
288 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 anything else to obtain a Eoyal wife througli the 
 Emperor of Austria's means. Barbacena seems to have 
 Pedro's entire confidence.^ 
 
 The Greek Plenipotentiaries, Canning, Eibeaupierre, 
 and Guilleminot, are gone to Naples, having recom- 
 mended the most extended delimitation of Greece. 
 
 Eussia has not yet answered our suggestion that 
 the conduct of the negotiation relative to Greece should 
 be left to England and France. 
 
 There seems to be no doubt that, in the event 
 of a conflict between Eussia and Austria, the Prussians 
 would take the side of the Eussians, although the King 
 of Prussia wishes for peace. 
 
 M. de la Ferronays, who was once ambassador at 
 Petersburg, is very much afraid of displeasing Nicholas. 
 He therefore seems to insist on a recognition of the 
 armistice required by the treaty before we sent our 
 Ambassadors to Constantinople, but he wishes to get 
 them there. 
 
 The Emperor Nicholas is said to be bloody-minded 
 and very obstinate. The Turks seem to be full of en- 
 thusiasm, and the Asiatics are coming forward en masse 
 since the SandjakSherif has been taken from Constanti- 
 nople. 
 
 There is a sort of opening offered directly with 
 the Porte through the Pasha of Eoumelia. Hitherto we 
 have only communicated through the Internuncio, the 
 Prussian, and the Netherlands Ministers, who are all 
 quarreUing. 
 
 ^ The Marquis de Barbaceua was commissioned by the Emperor of Brazil 
 to accompany his daughter Donna Maria to Europe. 
 
THE CATHOLIC QUESTION. 
 
 289 
 
 Polignac seems disposed to take advantage of the 
 opening, but he has written to his Court for instructions. 
 
 Had some talk with Aberdeen about the CathoHc 
 question. He seems very much out of humour, and 
 not to care a fig about it. 
 
 Codrington has repHed upon Lord Melville, and 
 well. I do not think we shall get rid of him. How- 
 ever, I believe our case to be a good one. 
 
 My idea as to the Cathohc question is that we might 
 have a committee in the Lords, composed of all the 
 influential peers — twenty-one — and in that endeavour to 
 come to an understanding. I do not think the King 
 could resist or would wish to resist the opinion of such a 
 committee, which would save him harmless, and there 
 is no longer time for the Duke to prepare any measure 
 of his own with the King's concurrence. If the King 
 would consent to a committee, all the rest would fol- 
 low. I think these peers would do for the committee : 
 
 Archbishop of Canterbury, 
 Bishop of London, 
 Bishop of Durham, 
 Bishop of Lincoln, 
 Archbishop of York, (?) 
 Eldon, 
 
 
 Lord Chancellor, 
 Lord President, 
 Dnke of Wellington, 
 MelvHle, 
 EUenborough, 
 Lansdowne, 
 
 Colchester, 
 Holland, 
 
 
 
 Grey, 
 Lauderdale, 
 
 Bosslyn, 
 W ellesley, 
 Harrowby. 
 
 
 
 Goderich, 
 Camden, 
 
 
 SuppUant. 
 
 Londonderry, 
 
 Clare, 
 
 Gosford, 
 
 OL. I. 
 
 
 u 
 
 Charlemont (if he was in 
 
 England), 
 Anglesey. 
 
290 DIARY. 1829, 
 
 An Irish bisliop of the session, instead of the Arch- 
 bishop of York, for ^ve bishops would be enough. 
 
 Called by appointment on Mr. Bebb, an old India 
 Director. He is bhnd and deaf. He seems, however, to 
 be an able man, and to have much information. I 
 heard him talk for an hour. His conversation seemed 
 to be the substance of a paper he gave me, which he 
 said he had transmitted to the Court of Directors. His 
 object is to have the duties taken off raw cotton on its 
 introduction into our territories in India, and generally 
 to facihtate the transfer to England of fortunes made in 
 the East Indies by increasing the number of articles of 
 commerce in which the transmission can take place. 
 
 As to cotton, he says he beheves the long confine- 
 ment of the cotton during the passage must necessarily 
 diminish its value in comparison with the American 
 cotton, which has a shorter transit. It seems, too, that 
 the clouds of dust which cover the country in which 
 the cotton plant grows in India injure it very much. A 
 great deal of mischief is done, too, by careless cleaning. 
 Besides, the cotton of India, coming from the northern 
 provinces, is a year old before it is shipped. I fear 
 there are natural difficulties it v/ill be impossible to 
 overcome. 
 
 January 7. 
 
 Called at the Treasury. The Duke is at Gorhambury. 
 He is expected to-morrow or next day. He had written 
 to me, saying he entirely concurred in my views as to 
 the sort of person who should be placed on the judicial 
 bench in India, but the Privy Seal did not forward the 
 letter, as he had imagined Sir E. West returned^ whereas 
 
BISHOPRIC OF CALCUTTA. 291 
 
 lie is dead. There was an inclosure to tell me Sir J, Mal- 
 colm was well at Ahmednuggar on tlie day on which 
 he was said to have been taken ill at Poonah. 
 
 Aberdeen is at Gorhambury. I am rather disposed 
 to think that Lord Yerulam's going to Ireland as Lord 
 Lieutenant may be settled there. The Times talks of 
 the Duke of Northumberland — in most respects a very 
 good man. 
 
 January 8. 
 
 Saw Hardinge. He has made great reductions in 
 the staff of the inilitia, and saves this year 40,000/., and 
 in subsequent years 75,000/. The frauds he has dis- 
 covered in the pension hst are enormous. He saves 
 18,000/. this year, and in the course of five or six years 
 the savings will amount to 200,000/. a year. He means 
 to place floggahle men in a different class in the army. 
 It seems about thirty have been punished in each 
 regiment. 
 
 Eeceived a letter from the Duke. He has no objec- 
 tion to either of the clergymen I had mentioned for 
 the Bishopric of Calcutta, but recommends my seeing 
 the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London 
 on the subject, either with him or by myself. 
 
 He likewise recommends my seeing the Chancellor 
 and the Chief Justice about the judges' appointments. 
 This I had intended to do, but not the other, thinking 
 that bishops have not such means of knowing parsons 
 as judges have of knowing lawyers. However, I have 
 no objection. 
 
 It seems the late Lord Londonderry had made a 
 
 u 2 
 
292 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 point with Lord Liverpool of Turner's being provided 
 for, and the Hving he has, which was given to him by 
 Government, is claimed by the Catholic patron. I have 
 thought of Everard if Turner should not do. In the 
 meantime I find the Bishop of Calcutta's resignation is 
 not perfect. It must be by writing, under hand and 
 seal, delivered to the King's Commissioner Delegate, and 
 by him accepted and registered. However, the poor 
 bishop will, I think, die. 
 
 January 9. 
 
 Office. Eeceived from W. Ashley the paper I de- 
 sired him to make out, containing a list of the lawyers 
 who have apphed for Indian judgeships. He has done 
 it well, giving the dates of the applications, the persons 
 referred to, &c. 
 
 Mr. Backhouse is to answer about the 2,000Z. belong- 
 ing to the Shah of Persia. 
 
 Cabinet. The question whether Lord Anglesey 
 should be recalled immediately for his letter to Dr. 
 Curtis. Decided he should be, and Lords Justices ap- 
 pointed. He is told in Peel's letter that ' Her Majesty's 
 •Government have had under their consideration a letter 
 published in the newspapers, and purporting to have 
 been written by Governor-General-^ to the Eev. Dr. Curtis, 
 and of which the authenticity has not to this day been 
 denied. Her Majesty's Government cannot think that 
 it was consistent with the Governor-General's '^ duty as 
 her Majesty's representative to write such a letter, and 
 tlierefore,' &c. 
 
 ^ Obviously should lie Lord Lieutenant. 
 ^ Le. Lord Lieutenant. 
 
SIR EGBERT PEEL AND THE ' TIMES.' 293 
 
 Nothing determined or to be determined yet as to 
 his successor. 
 
 The Slave Bill Huskisson rejected two years ago 
 has now been read a first time in the Assembly of 
 Jamaica, by a majority of one only. I congratulated 
 Sir George Murray on his strength in the Assembly. 
 
 Aberdeen gave me a letter of his to read addressed 
 to Barbacena, in reply to a demand made by him for 
 effectual succours to place Donna Maria on the throne of 
 Portugal. I corrected the style for him, and in one or 
 two instances made the argument more clear and 
 forcible. 
 
 January 10. 
 
 Aberdeen told me he had adopted almost all my 
 alterations, and that I had improved his style. 
 
 There is a letter to Peel in the Times, very wicked, 
 and very well written. It asks him how he reconciles 
 his remaining a member of the Duke's Government after 
 his letter to Dr. Curtis with his declaration in 1827 
 that he could not remain a member of Canning's Govern- 
 ment, when he entertained as Minister a similar design 
 of carrying the Cathohc question whenever he could. 
 Aberdeen tells me he knows Peel has used language 
 similar to that in the letters to his confidential friends. 
 
 January 12. 
 
 Ofiice. Bankes not there. Saw Mr. Leach. He is 
 to make out a statement of the exact terms under which 
 every portion of the Indian debt has been contracted. 
 
 Wrote a rough memorandum, which Bankes will 
 convert into a letter, requiring information from the 
 
294 DIAEY. 1829. 
 
 Consuls in all countries liavino' commercial intercourse 
 with India and China. 
 
 Foreign Office. Eead the protocol of the three 
 Ambassadors relative to the limits of Greece, and all 
 the other points left to them, indemnity, &c. The 
 whole proceeding is Russian. There is a want of com- 
 mon justice throughout which is disgusting. I do not 
 think the protocol or any of the papers have been 
 written by him. I think Guilleminot wrote the pro- 
 tocol, at least as far as it regards the future hmits of 
 Greece. There ought to be a memorandum on these 
 documents forming the basis of a reply. 
 
 We should really determine as soon as possible upon 
 the language to be held upon all points, the Cathohcs, 
 Greece, and Portugal. It is so much better to know 
 long beforehand what is to be the hue taken. Then one 
 may consider at leisure all that may be said, and, what 
 is more important, all that should 7iot he said, for I am 
 convinced it is of much more importance to learn what 
 it is expedient not to say than what should be said. 
 
 I wrote to the Eecorder, reminding him that several 
 
 members of the Cabinet had expressed a wish to have 
 
 printed copies of the evidence on the trial of the person 
 
 whose cases were to be decided upon at the Council 
 
 sent to them some days before. Eeceived an answer 
 
 that he had, in consequence of my note, given directions 
 
 accordingly. 
 
 January 14. 
 
 Finished the alterations to the new part of the 
 protocol to Lushington. I hope it will recall him. 
 Bankes has put into very good language the hints I 
 
IJfFLUENCE OF THE COIfTNGHAMES. 295 
 
 gave him yesterday, but he has added nothing. What 
 he has done could not have been done better. 
 
 Met the Duke of WeUington. Told him I had 
 written a sketch paragraph for the Speech respecting 
 Ireland. He said he had done so too, and he should 
 be much obhged to me to show him mine. The first 
 thing was to get the King's consent. I told him I had 
 written my paragraph with that view. So had the Duke. 
 
 January 15. 
 
 On my way to Windsor read the sessions paper and 
 the greatest part of the paper relative to the higher 
 salaries granted to some persons in the Mint at Madras. 
 
 The rooms were cruelly cold at Windsor. All the 
 Cabinet there but Sir J. Murray and Vesey Fitzgerald. 
 Sir George is, I beheve, not well. I am not sure 
 whether Goulburn and Harris dined and slept at the 
 Castle. All the others did. The King has hterally not 
 spoken to me since I received the Privy Seal from him. 
 The Conjmghames never forgive. However, it is of no 
 great consequence, since it does not prevent, or has not 
 prevented, my pohtical advancement. Whether the 
 King would consent to my holding an ofiice which 
 brought me of necessity into personal communication 
 with him I do not know. 
 
 He seemed very well. 
 
 I thought Aberdeen seemed afraid of carrying the 
 Cathohc question, under the idea that we should then 
 have nothing to keep together a Protestant party. The 
 Chancellor seemed, to my surprise, to entertain for the 
 first time similar ax)T)rehensions> Aberdeen thinks of 
 
296 . DIARY. ]829. 
 
 nothing but of keeping his place, and is terribly afraid 
 of every wind that blows. 
 
 The Duke is staunch, and, Hardinge tells me, and 
 I beheve, more desirous of carrying the question than 
 any one. The Duke told me he did not like the allusion 
 to the coronation oath in the sketch paragraph I sent him. 
 He had written something avoiding that subject. He and 
 the Chancellor were to see the King that evening. He 
 seemed to speak as if he thought he should bring the 
 King round. 
 
 I do not think he had read attentively the sketch 
 I sent him. It was written on the assumption that the 
 Kjng had mis en avant his coronation oath, and wished 
 to throw upon Parhament the onus of his departing 
 from the interpretation he had given to it. I believe 
 this to be a true view. However, I told the Duke I 
 merely mentioned the coronation oath because I thought 
 the King would require it. If he could get him to agree 
 to anything without the mention of it so much the 
 better. 
 
 Lord Liverpool was at the Council to deliver the 
 garter of the late lord, his brother. 
 
 This new Lord Liverpool has no son and three girls, 
 the prettiest and the best educated in London, and great 
 fortunes. 
 
 Two men will be executed, one for having in his 
 possession the implements of coining, the other for rob- 
 bery with violence. One other was to have been exe- 
 cuted, but on further consideration we thought his was 
 not a sufficiently bad case. 
 
CONDUCT OF THE BISHOPS. 297 
 
 January 16. 
 
 All the Ministers, except myself, dined with the 
 King. Lord Tenterden too. This is rather a marked 
 shght on his Majesty's part, but he is at hberty to choose 
 his own private society. It would be hard to deprive 
 him of the privilege of every gentleman. 
 
 Saw the Duke. We are to have a Cabinet to-mor- 
 row. He will then state all he has been about. The 
 bishops at one time seemed satisfied with what he pro- 
 posed, but they are off. They are afraid of doing any- 
 thing, because they have been abused for their conduct 
 respecting the Dissenters. They brought contempt upon 
 themselves by their weak and vacillating conduct. 
 They promised to support the Government. Eldon 
 frightened them. They lost their heads — one day voted 
 one way, and the next day another. If they promised 
 to support the Duke now, they would desert him. 
 
 Eead Codrington's memorandum, dated January 2, 
 1829. I think he means to pubhsh. He is still in the 
 same error, imagining that the instructions of October 
 16 only confirmed and explained those of July 12. 
 
 A note from Hardinge suggesting some arrangement 
 for mutual saving between the company and the Crown 
 as to invahding. 
 
 A letter from Lord Cowley acknowledging mine, and 
 telhng me he has sent on the despatch to Macdonald. 
 
 January 17, 1829. 
 
 Cabinet. The Duke gave a detail of all he had 
 been doing during the summer on the subject of the 
 Catholic question. On Thursday last, the 15th, the 
 
298 DIAHY. 1829. 
 
 King relieved the Government from the sort of under- 
 standing which prevailed when it was formed, and the 
 Catholic question may now be considered as a Govern- 
 ment question, the King only desiring that he may 
 know what is the opinion of the Cabinet as to the 
 details of the intended measure, and be enabled to 
 exercise his judgment upon them. 
 
 It seems the Duke has been in communication with 
 the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Bishops of 
 London, Durham, Winchester, Lincoln, Chester, and 
 Oxford, and has communicated to them his plan, which 
 they admitted was more satisfactory than any they had 
 yet seen. At first they seemed disposed to acquiesce, 
 but latterly they have been induced by apprehensions 
 as to the opinion of their clergy to refuse their sup- 
 port. Therefore the Duke said we must consider 
 that we approach the subject without the support 
 of the bishops. 
 
 The Duke's idea is that we should beg^in bv endea- 
 vouring to put down the Catholic Association — that 
 that should be the preliminary. He thinks the measure 
 should either be a final settlement, or one leading to it. 
 A suspension of the oaths would lead to it. 
 
 The permission of any sort of intercourse with the 
 See of Eome, futile in itself, would be contrary to the 
 whole tenor of our legislation for the English Church, 
 which prohibits such intercourse. 
 
 A State provision may be an ultimate arrangement ; 
 but could not succeed now. 
 
 To require more than the taking of the oath of 
 allegiance from existing Catholic clergymen would be a 
 
THE CATHOLIC QUESTION. 299 
 
 measure of persecution, but all future Catholic priests 
 might be required to take out a license. 
 
 Such is the practice in Sweden, and in all those 
 parts of Germany which were not Cathohc at the 
 Treaty of Munster. 
 
 Bishops of the Catholic church might be prohibited 
 from assuming any title in Ireland. They might be 
 bishops in Ireland, Bishop Doyle, Bishop Carter, and so 
 on, but not titular bishops. 
 
 The King is very desirous of putting down the 405. 
 freeholders. 
 
 The Duke too. He thinks some further quahfication 
 besides the freehold might be required, such as pay- 
 ment of cess, &c. 
 
 Catholics to be admitted to Parliament and great 
 offices, with the exception of those connected with the 
 patronage of the English Church. 
 
 I think this was all. Much of it was in the memo- 
 randum I gave the Duke in September. 
 
 The Duke proposed we should not discuss it to-day. 
 
 Peel then stated that he had, since the carrying of 
 tlie question by a new Parliament, been of opinion that 
 the wise course was to prevent the recurrence of colli- 
 sion on so important a subject between the two Houses. 
 He had opposed the question as long as there was a 
 chance of opposing it, on principle. It was now a ques- 
 tion of detail. Considering his pecuHar situation, he 
 had intended to resign ; but resigning, he should still 
 have supported the measure. 
 
 Now the bishops had refused their concurrence and 
 Lord Anglesey had been recalled, he felt the difficulties 
 
300 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 of the Government were increased, and he had put 
 himself in the Duke's hands. 
 
 The Duke said that not only did he think the diffi- 
 culties of the Government would be increased tenfold 
 by Peel's resigning, but their means of meeting those 
 difficulties diminished in an equal degree. He had 
 therefore, from a sense of duty, and equally from incli- 
 nation, requested Mr. Peel to remain and conduct the 
 measure, which he had consented to do. 
 
 Goulburn begged it might be understood that he 
 reserved himself for the details, before he divided in 
 favour of the measure. 
 
 I then suggested that we might at once look into 
 the means of effecting the preliminary object, that of 
 putting down the Association. This, the Chancellor 
 said, had been to a degree done. 
 
 Vesey Fitzgerald seemed to misunderstand me, 
 and to suppose I thought it possible the preliminary 
 question alone might be proposed. 
 
 I said I understood the principle was admitted, that 
 we were now to discuss the details. This was the 
 second reading. To-morrow we should be in committee. 
 
 It was proposed by Peel that we should to-morrow 
 consider in what terms the two questions should be 
 mentioned together in the King's speech, and the new 
 position of the Government revealed to the public. 
 This will be done. We meet at four, and shall sit de 
 die in diem. 
 
 All this is much better than I expected. The great 
 difficulty will be about the 40^. freeholders. Many 
 of the Whigs are against that measure, and I fear 
 
THE king's speech. 301 
 
 those who are against the measure of emancipation will 
 join the Whigs in endeavouring to defeat the whole 
 Bill by attacking that detail which many will think 
 indispensable as a security. 
 
 I do not fear much opposition from the bishops. 
 The mention of the subject in the King's speech, and 
 the intimation of the intention of Government to bring 
 forward a measure, will soon make them reasonable. 
 They have now refused their sanction solely on extra- 
 neous grounds. 
 
 Peel has acted nobly as well as wisely, and I wrote 
 a note to tell him I thought so. He was much pleased. 
 
 January 18. 
 
 In the morning wrote sketch paragraphs for the 
 King's speech relative to Ireland ; two memoranda, one 
 on the 4O5. freeholds, the other on the mode of sup- 
 pressing the Cathohc Association, and a sketch of a Bill 
 for the latter purpose. 
 
 Sent the sketch paragraphs to the Duke. 
 
 Cabinet. It was decided that the King's speech 
 should mention Ireland, recommend the suppression of 
 the Catholic Association, and the consideration of the 
 law affecting the Eoman Cathohcs. In some respects I 
 think the Duke's sketch and Peel's, which were not 
 substantially different, were better than mine. 
 
 We then considered the mode of putting down the 
 Association. Peel read his sketch Bill, which gave to 
 the Lord Lieutenant the power of issuing a proclamation 
 declaring any association unlawful. I read mine, which 
 gave to the Secretaries of State, the Lord Lieutenant, 
 
302 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 the Lords Justices, and the Chief Secretary to the Lord 
 Lieutenant, the power of issuing warrants to dissolve and 
 disperse any meeting they might, or any of them, con- 
 sider as tending to create disaffection or disquietude in 
 the mind of the King's hege subjects. Persons not 
 separating within fifteen minutes after the reading of 
 such warrant to be hable, on proof of the fact before a 
 magistrate, to be imprisoned for three months. The 
 issuing of the warrant and the names of the persons 
 arrested to be communicated to Parhament, if sitting, 
 in fourteen days ; if not, in fourteen days from its next 
 meeting. 
 
 Lord Melville thought the old Act for the suppres- 
 sion of the Association might do with amendments. I 
 and others were against this. The old Act has been 
 evaded, it has been slurred, and has never been exe- 
 cuted. It would be better to take the amendment and 
 not the Bill. It seems two clauses, which it was in- 
 tended to insert in the old Bill, were omitted on the 
 suggestion of Lord Wellesley. The Chancellor seemed 
 to think any Bill might be evaded. 
 
 It seemed decided that no recourse should be had 
 to a jury. It was doubted whether any discretion 
 should be left to magistrates. I was for leaving none to 
 them — throwing everything on the Government, and 
 making the magistrates mere instruments of execution 
 on the proof of a simple fact. 
 
 I think the result was that the Lord-Lieutenant 
 should have the power of issuing a proclamation, declar- 
 ing any meeting to be illegal. That persons subse- 
 quently attending such a meeting should be liable to 
 
THE FORTY-SHILLING FREEHOLDERS. 30 
 
 o 
 
 pimisliment for a misdemeanour. That the Secretary, 
 &c., might issue a warrant for the dispersion of any- 
 meeting, not previously declared to be illegal. Persons 
 not dispersing in fifteen minutes to be imprisoned on 
 summary process. 
 
 I am sure we must, in order to carry the measure, 
 really put down the Association, and instanter, and we 
 must, besides, make the King speak very decidedly in 
 his speech, both against the Association and for a final 
 settlement. 
 
 The matter, with Peel's instructions, will be referred 
 to the law officers. 
 
 We then considered the question of abofishing the 
 4O5. freeholders. I was in favour of meeting the evil 
 rather by precautions and safeguards. I rather object 
 to disfranchisement now, though I should have voted 
 for it in 1825, and have no indisposition to effect the 
 objects of the measure now ; but there has been such a 
 clamour against it, and the 40^. freeholders have come 
 forward in such a new character of late, that the whole 
 question has changed its aspect. I am in favour of as- 
 certaining a man's right to vote before his vote should 
 be admitted. This I would effect by requiring a year's 
 notice of the intention to register, and having sworn 
 officers to ascertain during that year the real value of a 
 man's freehold. By allowing the freeholder to vote im- 
 mediately on registration, he would stand in point of 
 time as he does now. Now he cannot vote till a year 
 after registration. I see no objection to demanding 
 proof of the payment of cess, or of land tax, if it should 
 be estabHshed in Ireland ; nor do I see any objection to 
 
304 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 requiring proof of the payment of the last half year's 
 rate, for the object of the law in permitting freeholders 
 to vote is to secure an independent constituency. I 
 thought that by multiplying the votes of the 405. free- 
 holders, by giving up to 50/. a vote for every 405., we 
 should avoid the constitutional objection to disqualify- 
 ing the freeholder. However, there seemed to be ob- 
 jections stated to the mode of doing it. Peel advised 
 us all to read a letter he has received from LesHe 
 Foster on the subject. 
 
 I have sent for my evidence before the Irish Com- 
 mittees in both Houses in 1825, for the purpose of 
 looking into this particular subject. We are to meet 
 again upon it on Tuesday. 
 
 As really fictitious freeholds have been created by 
 recent statute, there seems to be no objection to dealing 
 with such. 
 
 In England proof of payment of the land tax is 
 required ; but the imposition of the land tax was sub- 
 sequent to the existence of freehold quahfications. In 
 boroughs those only can vote who have paid their poor 
 rates. A pauper cannot vote, but poor laws are subse- 
 quent to the existence of freehold quahfications. The 
 law only looks to the freehold as the proof that its pos- 
 sessor is an independent man. 
 
 We had some talk after the Cabinet respecting the 
 movers and seconders. 
 
 The Duke mentioned Lord Sahsbury, who would do 
 very well. 
 
 There is an idea of having the Duke of Northumber- 
 land, and if the Bill should be carried, we all agreed 
 
THE ADDRESS. 305 
 
 that a great Protestant Peer voting for the Bill would 
 be the fittest Lord-Lieutenant, and the Duke of North- 
 umberland might be the best man. Goulburn talked 
 of the advantage of doing away with the Lord Lieute- 
 nant at some not distant time. 
 
 Lord Farnham, it appears, is favourable to the 
 settlement. He is an able man, and Peel is to consult 
 with him respecting the 405. freeholders. Aberdeen 
 proposed Wicklow as seconder. He has always voted 
 for the Cathohcs, and Lord Farnham would be much 
 better. 
 
 Peel thought of Castlereagh for the Commons, but 
 
 he is not to be trusted. He could not make a decent 
 
 speech, and that is what we want. Otherwise it would 
 
 be a fit comphment to his name. I think Lord Clive 
 
 would be better. 
 
 It really is hke a dream. How beyond hope it is 
 
 that this question should be taken up by a Government 
 
 in this King's life ! y'" 
 
 January 20. 
 
 Went to London from Hatfield expecting a Cabinet- 
 There was none. Found at the Cabinet-room Sir G. 
 Murray, and Herries. Sir G. Murray seemed to me to 
 put several points on the Catholic question extremely 
 well. Aberdeen showed me his sketch of that part 
 of the King's speech which must refer to foreign affairs. 
 The idea was not bad, but it was too long a performance, 
 and he had omitted several things ; for instance, to state 
 the reasons for our departing, in consenting to the 
 French expedition to the Morea, from the pacific hue 
 we had hitherto followed. 
 VOL. I. X 
 
306 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 At Hatfield in the evening H. de Eos told me Lord 
 Holland liad got hold of the idea that the sealed orders 
 given to the captain of the ship which accompanied the 
 Portuguese when they left Plymouth, were to the effect 
 that he should prevent their going to Terceira/ and that 
 he intended to inveii?li ao-ainst this as a breach of neu- 
 trahty. 
 
 January 21. 
 
 Came to town. Before the Cabinet saw the Duke, 
 and arranged with him that Dr. Barnes, formerly Arch- 
 deacon of Bombay, should have the first offer of the 
 bishopric of Calcutta. The Duke has no objection to 
 Turner, if Dr. Barnes should refuse the situation. 
 
 Goulburn, whom I saw at the Cabinet-room, asked 
 me about the bishopric, and spoke against a Mr. Mill, 
 who is a very clever man and a good man, but a con- 
 troversiahst. He highly approved of Barnes, but he 
 told me Lord Liverpool had offered the bishopric to 
 Barnes on Heber's death, and that Barnes had then re- 
 fused it. I should not be very sorry if Barnes refused 
 it again. 
 
 I told the Duke Mjl. Mackinnon had desired to see 
 me, and it was about the Directorship. I said I had 
 given the same reply to him and Sir W. Young, that I 
 knew not what the influence of the Board of Control 
 would be ; that I could not act in favour of a Director, 
 as I was bound to control them ; that I only wished the 
 best man should be chosen a Director, and for that pur- 
 pose, as I could not know who would be candidates, 
 
 * Terceira was holding out for Donna Maria against Don Miguel, now in 
 possession of Portugal. 
 
QUESTIONS OF DISFRANCHISEMENT. 307 
 
 desired to reserve myself till the last moment. He said 
 I had better contimie to do the same. He would ask 
 Planta about it. He had heard something against Sir 
 W. Young. 
 
 I told the Duke I had heard Mr. Mackinnon had 
 induced people at Ipswich to vote for him by telling 
 them he was a candidate for the Directorship, and 
 should come in as a friend of Government ; that then 
 he should distribute his patronage amongst them. I 
 said I did not think this looked well, and the Duke 
 agreed with me. 
 
 Cabinet. First we considered the question of the 
 disfranchisement of the 40^. freeholders. It was agreed 
 that Lord Farnham, Leslie Foster, and Vesey Fitzgerald 
 should be a committee to report. A fourth from the 
 southern counties was wanted ; but the name was not 
 decided upon. 
 
 The ideas thrown out were that there should be no 
 disfranchisement because it would be violently opposed 
 as un-constitutional, and because, there being no de- 
 pendence upon either, it was reaUy delusive. The man 
 who really had not a 40^. freehold would swear to one 
 of 201. as easily as to one of 40^. 
 
 There must be some other security than that of the 
 man's oath for his having a 40<§. freehold. It was con- 
 sistent with the practice of England to attach some 
 further condition to the right of voting than mere pos- 
 session. In towns paying scot and lot in counties as- 
 sessment to the land tax, the pauper would not vote, 
 nor the exciseman, &c. 
 
 Thus the law endeavours to find an independent 
 
 X2 
 
308 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 man. In England the 405. freeholder usually is so ; in 
 Ireland he is not, and collateral securities must be 
 found. 
 
 By some it has been suggested that a receipt for 
 the last half year's rent should be required. 
 
 In removing one grievance affecting the higher 
 orders we must take care not to inflict another, more 
 real, perhaps, which affects the great mass of the 
 people. 
 
 The measure of disfranchisement, or of dealing with 
 the 40^. freeholder, has two objects, not only the re- 
 duction of Catholic influence, but the diminution of the 
 present inducement to make small freeholders. 
 
 Peel thinks the Catholic influence would not be 
 diminished. That the only thing done would be the 
 placing a landlord-ridden man in the place of the priest- 
 ridden tenant. 
 
 This being referred, we considered the question 
 which some think most difl[icult and most important ; 
 that of the connection which is -to exist between the 
 Cathohc Church and the State. 
 
 The Duke adheres to his original idea of Hcenses, 
 which was mine. The Chancellor modifies that, and I 
 think, beneficially, by requiring registration, not licenses, 
 and by giving the Crown the power of striking a priest's 
 name off the Eegister. The penalty to be imprison- 
 ment on summary process before two magistrates. 
 
 Peel suggested the putting down of Jesuitical and 
 other colleges ; a very good thing, which will carry 
 many votes. 
 
 He likewise threw out the giving a power to the 
 
DIPLOMATIC INTERCOUKSE WITH ROME. 309 
 
 Crown of requiring the disclosure of all communications 
 from the Pope, whether on spiritual or other matters. 
 This was objected to. 
 
 Peel said he did not value the hcensing, and would 
 be rather without it. It was for others not for himself. 
 He spoke of the thunderclap the announcement in the 
 JQng's speech would be, and the very doubtful effect of 
 it on pubhc opinion. I believe we are treading on very 
 dangerous orround. However, Forward I 
 
 The Duke spoke again of all the enactments of 
 English law to prevent all communication with the See 
 of Eome, and thought that permitting it in any case 
 would break in upon, rather than add to, the security 
 of the Church. 
 
 The general feehngwas against subjecting the inter- 
 course with the See of Eome to inspection. 
 
 An important question is, what the new oath shall 
 be? Peel has had a memorandum made on all the 
 oaths now in force, which will be on the Cabinet table 
 to-morrow. 
 
 There was some conversation respecting the Oath of 
 Supremacy. Some CathoHcs have declared their readi- 
 ness to take it. The Chancellor thought the word Ju- 
 risdiction meant Legal Jurisdiction, and that any Catho- 
 hc might take it, and it seemed allowed that it originally 
 intended that Cathohcs should take it.-^ It would be a 
 great convenience if we could have it. 
 
 We meet again to-morrow and next day. 
 
 1 It may Tae remembered that after the 'Papal Aggression ' of 1851, one 
 or two Protestant peers ohjected to the oath on the ground that the Pope 
 now ' had, ' though he ' ought not to have jui-isdiction in this realm of Eng- 
 land.' 
 
<> 
 
 10 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 It was fully understood that the outhnes of the 
 measure must be communicated to the King before he 
 could be called upon to consent to the words of his 
 speech announcing it. 
 
 The Duke said the King might be brought to hear 
 it, but that was all. 
 
 I thought Fitzgerald seemed rather Irish to-day. 
 He hates the 40^. freeholders, who ousted him. 
 
 He is very desirous of givmg a pecuniary provision 
 to the clergy. This we cannot do now ; but the regis- 
 tration will lay the foundation of it. 
 
 Aberdeen was not present. 
 
 The Duke of Northumberland goes to Ireland as 
 Lord Lieutenant. He takes our view of the Cathohc 
 question. He reported himself ready to set out in a 
 fortnight, and in no time had arranged his household. 
 He carries to Dubhn all his splendid outfit as Ambassa- 
 dor at Paris, and means to assume the state of a Sove- 
 reign, keeping himself aloof from pohtics and parties. 
 He is the beau ideal of a Lord Lieutenant. He will be 
 very popular too. 
 
 Peel has, without teUing everything to Lord F. 
 Leveson, made known to him that the Ejng has per- 
 mitted his Government to consider the whole question 
 of Ireland. 
 
 Lord Francis is all joy. 
 
 January 22. 
 
 Lord Anglesey's procession to Kingstown was a 
 failure. He was attended by a rabble, and O'Connell 
 shared his triumph. There was no riot. 
 
CATHOLIC DISABILITIES. 311 
 
 Cabinet. Eead a memorandum of Peel's upon the 
 subject of the oaths to be required. 
 
 He is for repeahng the Declaration against Transub- 
 stantiation, for retaining the Oath of Supremacy if the 
 Cathohcs will take it, and for requiring a long oath 
 compounded of others, and amended to meet objections 
 that have been raised, and flaws that have been disco- 
 vered. 
 
 My idea is that we should do away with all distinc- 
 tion between Protestant and Catholic by requiring the 
 same oath from both. 
 
 It was apparently decided to adopt Peel's proposi- 
 tion. We then considered the exceptions of offices to 
 be made. The only question was as to the office of 
 Pirst Lord of the Treasury and Home Secretary. At 
 first the feehng was not to except either, but to require 
 the placing of the Church patronage in the disposal of 
 the persons holding these offices in other hands, when 
 the offices should be held by Catholics. Not only was 
 this overruled, but the exception was extended to the 
 two other Secretaries of State, on the ground that the 
 three secretaries formed but one, and that there would 
 be an idea of seciirity attached to such exceptions. 
 
 The Duke of Cumberland has written to the King 
 requesting to be permitted to come over for the 5th. 
 The King referred his letter to the Duke of Wellington, 
 who informed his Majesty that the Cabinet were em- 
 ployed every day in considering the question his 
 Majesty had permitted them to consider, but that he 
 was not yet able to submit anything specific and defi- 
 nite for his Majesty's approval. 
 
312 DIAET. 1829. 
 
 We entered but little into the second question, of 
 the relation in which the Church of Eome should here- 
 after stand to the Government. It seemed, however, 
 to be decided that registration should be required of all 
 existing ecclesiastics of the Eoman Catholic Church in 
 Ireland, and an oath. They now take oaths, and 
 regAster the taking of the oath. 
 
 I do not see that much would be added to the 
 security by this enactment. As to those hereafter to 
 be ordained, their registration, or taking an oath, will 
 be a matter of course, and the Crown have the power 
 of removing them for cause. The penalty is not fixed 
 upon. 
 
 While we are thus working every day at the work 
 of emancipation, the high Protestants, misled by the 
 recall of Lord Anglesey, imagine the Government is 
 Protestant, and Sir Thomas Lethbridge has offered him- 
 self to Peel to second the address ! There is a difficulty 
 about the movers and seconders. It is desirable to get 
 Protestants who wish for a settlement. In the House 
 of Commons Lord Chve would do perfectly. Peel thinks 
 of Ward, the member for the City, as seconder. The 
 awkwardness is, that it is necessary to let the mover 
 and seconder a little into the secret. 
 
 In our House Lord Thomond and Lord Salisbury 
 are thought of; both very good, particularly the latter. 
 
 It is certainly quite impossible to calculate the 
 effect that will be produced when it is known that the 
 Government have resolved to bring forward the ques- 
 tion. There may be a violent reaction which will make 
 it almost impossible to carry the measure. The King, 
 
POSITION OF SIR EOBERT PEEL. 313 
 
 with the Duke of Cumberland at his back, would per- 
 haps turn us to the right about. He could hardly, 
 however, form another Government on opposite prin- 
 ciples, and the union of the Duke, Peel, &c., in favour 
 of the measure, would, I hope, deaden opposition. 
 Peel must expect to have strong things said against 
 him. , He should rise as soon as he^'can and speak very 
 boldly. He may thus put the Protestants down by a 
 single speech. 
 
 The Chancellor seems to think our idea of hcenses 
 hardly enough to meet the pubhc eye in the way of 
 securities, and asked me to try if I could not find some 
 other. 
 
 1 am for adding to the oath proposed by Peel 
 words to this effect : ' I do sincerely promise and swear 
 that I will not disturb the Protestant bishops and 
 clergy of this realm, or the churches committed to 
 their charges in the possession of any rights and privi- 
 leges as by law, &c., &c., as shall appertain to them or 
 any of them.' 
 
 They are nearly the words of the Coronation oath, 
 and the King should be satisfied if the Catholics will 
 swear not to disturb that which he swears to preserve. 
 
 Eead a letter of Nesselrode to Lieven. It is the 
 best written of Eussian papers ; very cunning. The 
 Eussians are in a great fright at the idea of our sending 
 our ambassador to Constantinople before theirs. Their 
 alarm shows the advantage the treaty gives them, and 
 its wickedness. 
 
314 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 January 23. 
 
 Saw tlie Chairs. They promise me a very satisfac- 
 tory draft on the subject of cotton. The letter to Dr. 
 Barnes was sent, offering him the Bishopric of Cal- 
 cutta. He lives at Sowton Eectory, near Exeter. Sent 
 the Eecorder of Prince of Wales' Island letter to the 
 Privy Council. 
 
 Told Mr. Alves I was disposed to say as little as 
 possible on the subject of the judicial system at Madras 
 till I had considered the whole subject. The paragraph 
 suggested by him in the P. C. ties up Lushington's 
 hands and so far does good ; but in writing to such a 
 man we must be very careful not to lead him to imagine 
 we disapprove of any part of the existing system, for 
 the least hint would induce him to overturn it all. 
 
 Cabinet-room. There was a curious paper there, 
 procured by Lord Ileytesbury from a Eussian employe 
 giving an account of their financial state. The war is 
 represented as having cost them in all ten millions of 
 our money, and the next campaign will be more expen- 
 sive. They got sixty millions of roubles from the 
 assignees of different establishments last year, and thirty- 
 six millions from a loan raised in Holland. They will 
 have to pay back the sixty milhons this year, and I 
 should think they must raise a loan of 200 milhons of 
 roubles. 
 
 I wrote last night sketch paragraphs imposing an 
 oath upon every Privy Councillor of the Eoman Catho- 
 hc religion not to offer any advice to His Majesty touch- 
 
THE CATHOLIC QUESTION. 315 
 
 ing the government or discipline of the Church of 
 England, and not to use directly or indirectly the patron- 
 age or influence of his office to nominate to benefices 
 in the Church of England. I think a provision of this 
 sort would supersede the necessity of excluding the 
 Eoman CathoHcs from the offices of Eirst Lord of the 
 Treasury, &c. In the event of these offices being held 
 by a Eoman Cathohc the patronage would be placed in 
 the hands of a Protestant Commission. I merely loosely 
 allude to the substance of any papers I write, because I 
 preserve them all. 
 
 I hkewise threw into the form of a Bill the provision 
 suggested by the Duke for striking names out of the 
 register. 
 
 Eitzgerald and Peel, and indeed the Chancellor, were 
 hostile to the proposed form of making the registration. 
 
 It appears to be a power never yet exercised in this 
 country, that of punishing a Eoman C?itholic priest for 
 the exercise of his sjoiritual function.^ 
 
 It is feared there would be general resistance to the 
 enactment — that those punished would be martyrs — 
 that if you imprisoned or punished severely by fine, the 
 whole measure, instead of being one of peace, would be 
 one of persecution. That it would be discussed every 
 year on petitions praying the removal of a spiritual griev- 
 ance. That the priest left at large must exercise his 
 
 ^ Except, of course, wlien the anti-popery laws were in full vigour. 
 Under Elizatetli many persons suffered death for exercising priestly func- 
 tions, though the capital sentence was usually reserved for those suspected 
 of participation in treasonable plots. But these laws had prohahly been 
 hardly ever put in force in Ireland. 
 
o 
 
 16 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 spiritual functions ; must administer the sacrament when 
 called upon. Would you punish a man for doing that 
 which he is bound to do by his conscience ? 
 
 Should the power of removal be absolute or limited 
 by words ? If absolute, there would be the appearance 
 of endeavouring to assume arbitrary power ; and if 
 limited, you must go before some tribunal to have 
 proof that the offence for which the priest was removed 
 came within the limiting words. 
 
 It was said the power would be seldom, if ever, 
 exercised. That there was the greatest difficulty in 
 exercising that of the Ahen Bill. You might, if you 
 legislated in this manner, take away one grievance, but 
 you would create a greater. 
 
 On the other hand it was said, this is a new security 
 and effectual. It does not apply to the existing mass, 
 but to those who are annually ordained. The Govern- 
 ment would therefore have to contend, not against the 
 mass, but against individuals. 
 
 The law now punishes the Eoman Catholic priest 
 who performs spiritual functions without having taken 
 a certain oath. The priest not taking the oath is not 
 deprived of his spiritual functions, and therefore the 
 same difficulty may occur now, as it has been argued 
 would occur under the proposed regulation, that of a 
 priest bound by his conscience to do one thing, and by 
 the law to abstain from doing it. 
 
 Licenses are required previous to the performing of 
 spiritual functions, in all Protestant countries on the 
 Continent, but are they revocable ? The Duke says so. 
 I see no traces of any provision to that effect, although 
 
THE CATHOLIC QUESTION. 317 
 
 I have no doubt they would be revoked if they were 
 abused.^ 
 
 It is clearly consistent with the ordinary practice of 
 nations to require such securities as may satisfy the go- 
 verning power that the spiritual functions of priests not 
 professing the religion of the State shall not be abused. 
 
 I suggested the placing of the power of revocation 
 in the hands of a Commission, or the limiting the power 
 by words such as these : ' Who shall have abused his 
 spiritual functions for political or civil purposes.' 
 
 On the giving to the Government the power of in- 
 flicting deprivation on such priests only as should have 
 been guilty of a civil offence, and convicted thereof in 
 the ordinary manner, Fitzgerald was strongly for a 
 pecuniary provision. 
 
 The Chancellor, Peel, and I think all thought this, 
 if advisable, could not be carried — that greater opposi- 
 tion would be made to it in the country than in Parha- 
 ment. That hereafter it might be ; but that the late 
 Lord Liverpool and others had thought a State provision 
 for the Eoman Catholic clergy inconsistent with the 
 Coronation oath. 
 
 Finally the general opinion seemed to be against 
 the giving to Government the power of striking the 
 names of priests from the register. The Duke yielded 
 very reluctantly. So did L I think it is the best secu- 
 rity. The Duke seems to think it the only one. 
 
 Peel suggested a number of little securities. The 
 
 ^ See Wdlington Correspondence, v. 496, for account, by Baron de 
 Fahnenberg, of the laws of the Grand Duchy of Baden on this subject. 
 They included the right of appointing or confirming the ministers of any 
 Church, but not, apparently, of deposing or removing them. 
 
o 
 
 18 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 permitting no bishop to officiate without license. The 
 penalty, banishment. (This was in Grattan's Bill.) The 
 suppression of monks, Jesuits, monastic houses, of reli- 
 gious habits worn in pubhc, of religious processions, of 
 the use of steeple and bell ! of the use of titles of dio- 
 ceses and parishes, the taking of the whole question of 
 the Irish clergy into our own hands. 
 
 It was thought the Hcensing of bishops would gra- 
 dually lead to an understanding with the Pope, who 
 would only name those who were hkely to be approved, 
 and ultimately to a pecuniary provision. 
 
 Peel read a memorandum he had written on the 
 laws as they affect differently English and Msh Eoman 
 Catholic priests. He had looked through all the Acts 
 of Parhament. 
 
 It is remarkable how little we all know of what Par- 
 hament has already done. 
 
 Before the Cabinet began, the Chancellor said he 
 had seen Sir W. Knighton, and that he understood the 
 King had expressed some surprise he had not yet re- 
 ceived a memorandum j)romised to him of what passed 
 on Thursday week. 
 
 The Chancellor and Peel had some recollection of 
 the Kino:'s liavino- mentioned this ; but the Duke said he 
 had not mentioned it to him. Peel's idea was that the 
 memorandum was to state that the King, acting under 
 the advice of his Protestant Ministers, had permitted 
 his Cabinet to take the subject into consideration. 
 
 I drew their attention to the words Protestant 
 Ministers and permitted^ and I suggested the Protestant 
 Ministers should be described (others said named) ^ and 
 
THE CATHOLIC QUESTIOJf. 819 
 
 that the King had, under their advice, acquiesced in the 
 subject being taken into consideration. 
 
 Directed would have been a better word ; but it 
 seems that it would go beyond what was the fact. 
 
 The word permitted imphes that we were before 
 precluded ; which by our oath we could not be. We 
 might, as I understood, advise the King if we pleased 
 individually at any time, or propose the subject in the 
 Cabinet ; but the King's opinion being known, and the 
 divided state of the Cabinet, it became a question of 
 expediency whether the proposal should be made or 
 not. 
 
 The word acquiesced will be used, and the Ministers 
 advising the King will be named. 
 
 We meet again to-morrow. 
 
 January 24. 
 
 The Chancellor wrote the memorandum for the 
 King ; it was approved by the Duke and Peel, and sent. 
 The terms were unexceptionable. 
 
 Cabinet at half-past 3. In the morning I had sent 
 to the Duke sketch clauses which I thought might be 
 inserted if his suggestion of the revocable license was 
 not adopted. These clauses made the abuse of spirit- 
 ual functions for election purposes, and the occasioning 
 any civil injury or damage by means of such functions, 
 a misdemeanour ; and then interdicted the exercise of 
 any such functions during the King's pleasure, on the 
 conviction of any Eoman Cathohc priest of any misde- 
 meanour created by the Act, or any other misdemean- 
 our. 
 
320 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 We had a great deal of conversation whicli ended 
 in nothing. The conclusion seemed to be that any 
 Eoman Cathohc Bishop hereafter consecrated, should 
 give notice of his intention to exercise episcopal func- 
 tions, and during two months from the receipt of such 
 notice the King should have the power of interdicting 
 such exercise. 
 
 Peel proposed the taking away of the Charter of 
 Maynooth, and bringing the education of the priests 
 under the influence of Government. I said, ' You have 
 provided masters, but where would you get your scho- 
 lars ? If you evince a design to draw into your hands 
 the whole education of the Cathohc priesthood, no scho- 
 lars will be sent there. You must in that case interdict 
 in future the exercise of spiritual functions by any 
 priest not educated at Maynooth, and if you do that 
 you will meet with general resistance. Besides, it is a 
 strong thing to repeal a Charter. It would be better 
 to withdraw the grant, and to constitute a new college. 
 Your arrangements relative to Maynooth should not 
 favour a part of the general measure.' 
 
 Difficulties were started as to preventing the regular 
 clergy from performing spiritual functions, and it was 
 thought that regulations enacted for the suppression of 
 Jesuitical establishments, and of future convents, might 
 be evaded. 
 
 The Duke is to-morrow to bring a resume of all that 
 has been decided to the Cabinet, and I should think 
 that on Monday he w^ould go to the King. 
 
 It seems that as soon as the King has approved of 
 what is proposed, we may allow the world to know the 
 
POSSIBILITY OF KESIGNATIONS. 321 
 
 change that has been effected in the principle of the 
 Government. 
 
 January 25. — Sunday. 
 
 Cabinet. Peel told us he had seen LesHe Foster, 
 who was for a settlement ; but strongly against paying 
 the Eonian CathoHc clergy. He will therefore support 
 the Bill. 
 
 LesHe Foster is to be introduced privately to-mor- 
 row by the Park into the Foreign Office, and thence 
 into the Cabinet-room, where he is to be examined ! 
 Leshe Foster consulting with the Cabinet how Catholic 
 emancipation may best be brought about ! 
 
 Peel, after the Cabinet, spoke of the probable resig- 
 nations. He thought Wetherell might resign. I hope 
 he will. 
 
 He is a discredit to the Government ; but Peel 
 thought the weak state of the Master of the Bolls' 
 health might possibly induce honest Wetherell to protest 
 his Protestantism.^ He had some doubts as to Tindal. 
 I have none. The fact is, the old Protestants think 
 the Government will take that Hue, and begin to talk 
 foolishly. Peel thought Lord Lowther would not re- 
 sign — that the Duke of Montrose would vote against it. 
 I dare say he will and not resign. Sir G. Hill will 
 not. I fear Bankes will ; but I can go on without 
 him for three months very easily. 
 
 What will Lord Shaftesbury do.^ I think Lord 
 Beresford will remain ; but if he goes, there is a place 
 for Lord Eosslyn. 
 
 1 It is due to Sir C Wefherell to observe that, as the sequel will show, 
 he stuck doggedly to the convictions which he professed. 
 
 VOL. L Y 
 
322 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 After all, we cannot tell wliat the King will say. 
 We all speak as if lie would agree to our proposals, 
 and probably he may ; but this is not certain. 
 
 The Colpo, when the denouement takes place, will 
 be curious. To-morrow the Duke brings forward 
 his memorandum to be submitted to the King, and the 
 words of the proposed speech upon the Cathohc ques- 
 tion. 
 
 The memorandum must be worded with great pre- 
 cision. 
 
 On Tuesday the Duke goes to Windsor, and on 
 Wednesday we dine with Lord Melville, when we shall 
 know how the King received the first overture. 
 
 If the King accedes, on Thursday communications 
 will be made privately to the members of Government. 
 
 The Duke is annoyed, I think, at his first security 
 not being adopted. I fear we may have run the secu- 
 rities too close, and that there may not be enough to 
 satisfy the King and the Protestants. 
 
 January 26. 
 
 Ofiice. Saw Bankes. The Government of Bombay 
 has sent overland representations against the conduct 
 of the Chief Justice. 
 
 The Chancellor tells me this Chief Justice did very 
 ill once before, and that the best thing is to recall him. 
 I shall read the papers as I go to Brighton to-morrow. 
 
 Eeceived a visit from Mr. Fergusson. He came, I 
 beheve, to speak about his election to the Dbectorship ; 
 but I had some conversation on the subject of the 
 admission of attornies, &c., in Calcutta. I gave him the 
 
EXAMINATION OF LESLIE FOSTER. 323 
 
 same answer I had given the others, as to the Direc- 
 torship. In fact he is, I beheve, the best man, and as 
 we Could not reject him, we had better elect him, and 
 make a favour of what we cannot prevent. In future 
 cases we may adopt a general principle. 
 
 Cabinet. Leshe Foster was brought through the 
 Park to the Foreign Office by Yesey Fitzgerald, and 
 thence through all the dark passages to the Cabinet- 
 room, where we examined him as to the expediency of 
 giving to the Crown a power of prohibiting the exercise 
 of the spiritual functions of any priest. Such power to 
 be exercised within two months of his ordination. 
 
 I think his evidence showed the inutihty of the 
 exercise of such a power. The priest's character is not 
 formed when he is ordained. Such a power is only 
 important in connection with the plan of educating aU 
 the priests. If we show the disposition to educate aU 
 the priests, and to provide that they shall aU have a good 
 education by appointing, and by retaining the power of 
 displacing, their instructors, and have no power of in- 
 terdicting the exercise of spiritual functions by priests 
 not educated at our coUege, we shall have masters, but 
 no scholars. Leshe Foster thinks if we can secure the 
 bishops, the priests will follow ; and that the attempt to 
 influence the appointment of priests in this manner is not 
 worth the excitement and opposition it would occasion. 
 
 The Duke will only state to the King in conversation 
 the points upon which the Cabinet is agreed, and give 
 him no copy. He will only make pencil memoranda of 
 the several heads for his own convenience. 
 
 We divided upon the general tone of the King's 
 
 Y 2 
 
324 DIAEY. 1820. 
 
 speech, relative to the Catholic question. Peel's first 
 idea was better than the Duke's, but the Duke was very 
 fond of his own. They are to settle it together. 
 
 The King returned the memorandum written by 
 the Chancellor, and desired it might be sent back to 
 him when it had been read to the Cabinet. 
 
 January 27. 
 
 On my way to Brighton read the American pamph- 
 let which gives a history of the several negotiations 
 between the United States and England, relative to the 
 trade with the West Indian Islands. It is ably written, 
 and oversets Mr. Adams. 
 
 Eead again the papers from Bombay, relative to the 
 conduct of Sir Charles Chambers and Sir John Grant. 
 It seems that they issued writs of habeas corpus to bring 
 up the persons of chiefs to whom privileges had been 
 guaranteed, and when the Governor in Council addressed 
 n letter to them representing the public mischief which 
 would result from the measure, they libelled the 
 Government from the Bench, and published their 
 speeches executed by themselves — these speeches being 
 calculated to bring the Government into contempt. 
 
 January 28. 
 
 Office. Sir Charles Chambers, one of the puisne 
 Judges at Bombay, is dead. It seems probable that Sir 
 Edward West is dead too. Archdeacon Barnes declines 
 going to India as bishop. 
 
 The King agrees to the words proposed for his 
 speech ; but he seemed very reluctant when the Duke 
 
LORD ELLENBOROUGH's ADVICE TO PEEL. 325 
 
 mentioned that the Catholics were to be excluded from 
 judicial offices connected with the Church. The King 
 said, ' What, do you mean a Catholic to hold any judi- 
 cial office ? To be a Judge of the King's Bench ? ' 
 
 When seats in Parhament were mentioned, he said, 
 ' Damn it, &c., you mean to let them into Parhament ? ' 
 If he should be able he will take an opportunity of 
 turning us out ; but I do not think he will have the 
 opportunity. The Duke thinks he can make the King 
 prevent the Duke of Cumberland from coming over. 
 
 At the Cabinet dinner (at Lord Melville's), we had 
 the several parts of the speech considered, and were 
 occupied a long time in altering them. Aberdeen's 
 part was very bad. 
 
 Peel has asked Lord Clive and Lord Corry to move 
 and second in the Commons. The Duke will ask Lord 
 Sahsbury and probably Lord O'Neil in the Lords. If 
 Lord Corry refuses, Castlereagh will be asked. 
 
 Peel and the Duke will see individually the Protes- 
 tant members of the Administration. 
 
 I advised Peel to speak as early as he could, and to 
 make a great speech at once, taking a very high tone, 
 not at all apologetic. 
 
 January 29. 
 
 Saw Bankes. Had some conversation with him re- 
 specting the dispute at Bombay. It seems to me on 
 reading the papers, which I did this evening, that the 
 whole question is one of jurisdiction over natives not 
 in the service of the Company, nor in the employment of 
 Europeans, nor within the recognised hmits of the Pre- 
 
326 DIAEY. 1829. 
 
 sidency. The power now claimed by the Court has 
 never been exercised before. That its exercise would 
 be inconsistent with the maintenance of our authority 
 in India I firmly beheve — for it would supersede the 
 power of the provincial courts, and expose the Govern- 
 ment to contempt — it would violate all the prejudices 
 of the natives, and our pledges to them that they should 
 be governed according to their usages — it would hold 
 up our Government as divided. The more I think upon 
 the subject, the more satisfied I am that on the renewal 
 of the Charter we must make all the Company's officers 
 King's officers, and govern India in the King's name, re- 
 taining all the machinery of the present system. 
 
 Sir Charles Chambers seems to have acted with 
 great intemperance ; Sir J. Grant more moderately and 
 in a more dignified manner. I am not sure that there 
 will be found anything in his conduct that will require 
 exemplary punishment ; but it may be necessary to 
 remove him to Madras or Calcutta. Sir J. Malcolm has 
 shown great firmness. 
 
 Besides this question of jurisdiction, which we must 
 settle by Act of Parliament, there has arisen another 
 question, very inconvenient under present circumstan- 
 ces — that of the press. 
 
 There does not seem to be as yet any idea of the 
 course we intend to pursue on the Cathohc question. 
 Peel had not spoken to Bankes when I saw him to-day. 
 
 The King of Prance's Speech to the Chambers is 
 much better than the one we were concocting yesterday. 
 Indeed we must alter ours now. I sketched some para- 
 graphs to-day relative to the Greek question. 
 
CHIEF-JUSTICESHIP AT BOMBAY. 327 
 
 January 30. 
 
 Three new applications for judgeships in India. 
 Saw the Duke. He agrees with me in thinking that the 
 Government should support Fergusson for the Director- 
 ship. I hope to manage to concihate Fergusson, and 
 to bring him into our views as to the judicial adminis- 
 tration of India. At any rate as a member of the 
 Court of Directors, he is much more hkely to take mo- 
 derate and reasonable views than he is if excluded from 
 the Court by our means. I do not believe we could 
 exclude him, and we should only show our teeth with- 
 out biting, and convert an independent man into an 
 enemy. 
 
 I found the Duke agreed with me, too, in thinking 
 the best man for the Chief-Justiceship at Bombay is 
 Dewar, the Advocate-General. He seems to be an able 
 man, and a discreet man. He is personally a friend of 
 Sir J. Malcolm's, and has apparently been really of 
 opinion that the view he took professionally of the ju- 
 risdiction of the Supreme Court was correct. His ap- 
 pointment, and the placing him over the head of Sir 
 J. P. Grant, will do more to re-estabhsh the Government 
 in pubhc opinion than any measure we could adopt. 
 
 He has taken the right view of the jurisdiction of 
 the Court. 
 
 I desired Bankes to send Dewar 's questions to the 
 law officers of the Crown, with a request that an imme- 
 diate answer might be given. 
 
 Dewar's argument wiU be sent to them at the same 
 time. 
 
328 DIARY. ]829. 
 
 The Duke perfectly concurs in the Bishopric of 
 Calcutta being offered to Turner. Accordingly I wrote 
 to him, and to Lord Londonderry, and to old Lady 
 Londonderry. — Lord Londonderry is much out of 
 humour — I beheve because he has not been made Lord 
 Lieutenant of Ireland. He received very coldly, and 
 even grumpily^ the offer of the Down Militia which was 
 made to Castlereagh. He is not, or was not, coming up 
 till March. 
 
 Lord Beresford is pleased with the prospect of a 
 settlement. The Attorney and Solicitor-General are 
 delighted, and think that the coercive measure for put- 
 ting down the Association could not well be carried 
 without the measures of rehef. 
 
 The only thing communicated has been the speech. 
 No details of the plan have been given. 
 
 I am to see Peel before I communicate to Fergusson 
 that the Government takes him up. 
 
 The Duke said he was quite prepared upon the sub- 
 ject of Portugal. 
 
 I told him I thought the speech of the King of 
 France made some change expedient in ours. The 
 Times fires a good random shot to-day, but I do not 
 think it has any information as to the course Govern- 
 ment will pursue on the Cathohc question. 
 
 January 31. 
 
 Cabinet. We went through the King's speech and 
 Hcked it into form. The part relating to foreign policy 
 is the worst. That relating to L^eland is well done now. 
 
 A question as to the vacating of the seats of the 
 
THE ADDRESS. 329 
 
 Lords of tlie Admiralty was considered. In law their 
 seats are vacated by their transfer from the situation of 
 Counsellors to the Lord High Admiral, to that of Lords 
 Commissioners, and I think it would be very foolish to 
 try to pass a Bill which would be much opposed for the 
 sole purpose of saving the Commissioners some money. 
 
 Told Lord Melville what I had thought of for Bom- 
 bay — the making Dewar Chief Justice. When I told 
 the Chancellor I thought he seemed not to hke it ; but 
 he only said he did not know anything of him, and 
 begged to be informed in what year he went out. If 
 his character here answered to his character in India 
 there could be no objection. I must write to Astell for 
 the vouchers he has. 
 
 Lord Chve has written an excellent letter to Peel 
 accepting the offer of moving the address. Lord Corry 
 came up thinking the speech was to be anti-Catholic, 
 and was a httle taken aback on finding it recommended 
 a review of the laws affecting the Eoman Catholics with 
 civil disabihties. However, he acknowledged he thought 
 a settlement desirable, and agreed to second, reserving 
 his judgment as to the details. 
 
 Lord Salisbury has not yet answered the Duke's 
 letter, and will not see him till Tuesday. The Duke 
 decides upon Lord Wallace as the seconder if he can 
 get him, which is doubtful. 
 
 Dined at Lord Beresford's. Sir Alexander Grant 
 was there, and evidently knew nothing. He made a 
 desperate fish by saying Sir F. Lamb had offered to bet 
 him 100 guineas that a Bill for emancipation was already 
 prepared. This he said to Lord Beresford and me. I 
 
330 DIAEY. 1829. 
 
 said it was wonderful how mucli people knew. O'Con- 
 nell said the same thing six months ago. I think Grant 
 acquired no new hght. 
 
 The Times having felt its way yesterday, and none 
 of the ne>vspapers having positively denied its statement, 
 to-day grows bolder and speaks of the thing as certain, 
 and as announced by itself yesterday. It evidently 
 knows nothing. 
 
 Sir A. Grant said Lord Grey and Lord Lauderdale 
 were not coming up till March. 
 
 Arranged with Peel that Fergusson should be sup- 
 ported by the Government, and that Mackinnon should 
 have a civil letter. Li all future cases we are to make 
 head and name the Directors. 
 
 The Chairs are well satisfied with the proposed 
 arrangement for sending our assessor to Prince of 
 Wales' Island as soon as Sir J. Claridge comes away. 
 
 Astell told me that Sir John Malcolm represented 
 himself to have had three learnings, and to be very 
 anxious to return to Lady Malcolm and his daughter 
 who has been obhged to return to England for her 
 health. He proposed that Sir Charles Metcalfe should 
 be made provisional successor to Sir J. Malcolm. 
 
 Saw Colonel Salmond, who is a claimant, in the 
 name of his nephews, on the Bencoolen Compensation 
 Fund. It seems that British subjects were encouraged 
 to cultivate the nutmeg, &c. On the cession of Ben- 
 coolen to the Dutch the value of the property of these 
 persons was not only in all cases much deteriorated, but 
 in some lost. 
 
 It was agreed that 22,500^. should be given by the 
 
MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. 331 
 
 Company, and the same sum by Government. The 
 sum of 45,000/. being the estimated value of J of the 
 property, and it being thought that the property would 
 be depreciated ^ ; but it has in many cases been alto- 
 gether lost. 
 
 February 1. 
 
 Called on Lord Camden. Found Lord Bathurst 
 there. Lord Camden seems in very good humour, and 
 evidently knows a good deal, but I think not all. I 
 consider myself bound to secrecy, and therefore said 
 nothing. Hardinge came in, knowing, I suppose, some- 
 thing. It is a bad arrangement this, or rather a bad 
 want of arrangement which leaves none at hberty to 
 speak, even to their most confidential friends, who keep 
 the agreement, while those who do not keep it acquire 
 the reputation of frankness. 
 
 Adm. Digby, who dined with us, had heard some- 
 thing at the clubs. I did not add to his knowledge. 
 
 February 2. 
 
 I had not intended to go to the Council to-day, for 
 I thought the King would be just as well pleased if 
 he saw none but his Protestant ^ Ministers ; but in the 
 morning I got a note from the Duke begging me to 
 turn the speech into an address as I went, and to take 
 the Privy Seal with me, as he might probably ask me to 
 resign it. 
 
 I found all the Ministers at the Council. We made 
 before the Council a good many verbal alterations in 
 the speech, and as the King's copy had not been altered 
 
 ^ I.e. those who had hitherto opposed the ' Catholic question.' 
 
332 * DIARY. 1829. 
 
 he was rather annoyed. When we came to the passage 
 he had hhnself inserted, in which the Association was 
 represented as ' having assumed functions which the 
 Constitutioi^ had reserved to Parhament alone,' and 
 found it omitted, he made a httle fight for it ; however, 
 as the words ' inconsistent with the spirit of the Consti- 
 tution ' were apphed to the Association before, and 
 expressed the King's meaning, he was satisfied. 
 
 He made a much more mischievous proposal after- 
 wards. 
 
 The speech, after expressing the confidence of the 
 King that Parhament would give him power to put 
 down the Association, proceeded thus : ' His Majesty 
 recommends that when this essential object shall have 
 been accomplished, you should take into your deliberate 
 consideration the whole condition of Ireland, and that 
 you should review the laws which impose civil disabili- 
 ties on His Majesty's Eoman Catholic subjects.' 
 
 The King said: 'The whole condition of Ireland 
 includes the Catholic question, and I see no reason why 
 that part of the paragraph should not be omitted.' The 
 Duke said : 'Your Majesty has Eoman Cathohc subjects 
 in other parts of your dominions besides Ireland.' The 
 King acquiesced, and at the end of the speech he 
 expressed himself quite satisfied with it. 
 
 An order in Council was made for the return of Sir 
 J. T. Claridge from Prince of Wales' Island. 
 
 I found the Privy Seal had been offered to old West- 
 moreland ; ^ but he could not quite make up his mind to 
 
 ^ He had originally been left out of the Cabinet on account of his ultra- 
 opinions on all questions. 
 
THE ADDRESS. 333 
 
 vote for the Catholics. Poor man, it must have been a 
 cruel contest ! So I brought the Seal back again. It 
 is not yet quite certain that Lord Westmoreland will 
 not take it. 
 
 Lord Sahsbury moves in the Lords, Lord Wicklow 
 seconds. Lord Wallace broke down as a mover or 
 seconder in his youth, and has such a horror of the 
 thing that he said at once, ' If you mean to speak to me 
 about moving or seconding I cannot do it.' 
 
 Peel saw Lord Lowther to-day, who is quiet, but 
 not favourable. He was pleased at being sent for, and 
 said that on hearing the reports he had written to his 
 father to know his opinion. It was a matter of much 
 dehcacy to take a different line from that upon which 
 his family and himself had acted so long, and on which 
 their interest was supported. 
 
 Pinding Peel had not yet seen Bankes I wrote to 
 him on my return to town, and told him I thought he 
 would have seen Peel before ; that I thought a commu- 
 nication with Peel would be made satisfactory to him ; 
 that he would probably see Peel to-morrow ; but if he 
 wished to know to-night the line we meant to take, if 
 he would come up to me I would tell him. 
 
 Bankes came a httle before 11. I gave him a full 
 detail of all the steps which have been [taken, and read 
 to him that part of the speech which relates to Ireland. 
 He seemed much affected, breathed hard, and was very 
 nearly in tears. At last he told me that he was per- 
 fectly free to act as lie pleased, his father having 
 imposed no restrictions upon him, but that he feared he 
 should be obliged to leave us. He thought he should 
 
334 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 not be able to approve of the Bill, and that we should 
 find it impossible to arrange it satisfactorily. To the 
 speech he had no objection. In any case he should re- 
 tire if he found it necessary, quietly, and in such a man- 
 ner as to do no injury to the Government. He was 
 very much obliged to me for the confidence I had 
 placed in him, and said he would rather communicate 
 confidentially with me upon the subject than with any 
 one. He seemed very cordial indeed. 
 
 February 3. 
 
 Saw the Chairs, at the Treasury, with the Duke of 
 Wellinorton. The Duke assured them he thought a de- 
 claratory Bill necessary, and that the existence of the 
 authority desired by the Judges would ruin India. 
 
 Eead the speech to Hardinge. Ashley and Wm. 
 Ashley are delighted with it. H. Corry, too. The 
 Ashleys do not know what line their father will take — 
 they think he will not be very hostile. He has sepa- 
 rated himself from Eldon since the latter has been out. 
 
 Lord Anglesey saw the King on Sunday. The King 
 says Lord A. expressed his intention of reading the 
 correspondence between the Duke and himself The 
 King laissait entrevoir that he disapproved of his doing 
 so, but he did not prohibit him, neither did he permit 
 him to read the letters ; and he authorised the Duke to 
 say he had not permitted it. If Lord Anglesey com- 
 mences by saying he has the King's permission, the 
 Duke is to interrupt him. If he reads the letters with- 
 out saying whether he has permission or not, the Duke 
 
CATHOLIC DISABILITIES. 335 
 
 is only to say he has not in his reply. This was settled 
 in Cabinet. 
 
 It was likewise settled that the Lords of the Admi- 
 ralty must be re-elected. 
 
 In Cabinet we decided that we should enter into no 
 details respecting our plan, but merely say that H. M.'s 
 Government intended, early in the session, to bring in 
 Bills for the removal of the Cathohc disabilities, with 
 such exceptions as seemed to be required on special 
 grounds, and with such securities as the removal of the 
 disabihties might appear to render expedient. 
 
 We had a long talk as to our conduct with regard 
 to Greece and to Portugal, and I think we stand well 
 on both points. 
 
 Dinner at Lord Bathurst's to prick the sheriffs. The 
 Duke was not there, nor Aberdeen. 
 
 The Protestant newspapers are most violent against 
 
 the Duke. 
 
 February 4. 
 
 Wrote to Lord Grey enclosing a copy of that part 
 of the speech relating to Ireland, and telhng him, nearly 
 in the words I have used above, all we mean to say as 
 to our Bills. Wrote to Lord Eosslyn too. 
 
 Met Fitzgerald, Peel, Goulburn, and Planta at Peel's 
 to settle the Address. Went afterwards to the Duke's 
 to read it to him. 
 
 The Duke told me he heard Lord Anglesey meant to 
 state that he was permitted by the King to make his 
 defence. The Duke has well considered all Lord Angle- 
 sey's possible modes of action, and has decided upon his 
 own line in every event. 
 
336 DIAKY. ^ 1829. 
 
 Saw Bankes, who lias had an interview with Peel. I 
 fear we shall lose Bankes, but I advised him to continue 
 as long as he could. 
 
 W. Ashley has copied a good many letters for me 
 the last few days. 
 
 Dined at the Duke's. Besides the Ministers, there 
 were at dinner the Dukes of Dorset and Manchester, 
 Lords Sidmouth, Shaftesbury, Hill, Bexley, Wallace, 
 Farnborough, Sahsbury, Wicklow, Beresford, Chester- 
 field, Sydney, Maryborough. There may have been 
 others. I think the Protestants looked a little sulky. 
 
 There can be no doubt that the speech read to-day 
 
 is more important than any since the Ee volution. All 
 
 feel it to be so. 
 
 February 5. 
 
 At 12 went to the Duke, and read the letters which 
 have passed between him and Barbacena and Itabayana. 
 I think our case is a good one. 
 
 Eeceived a letter from Mr. Mackinnon, thanking 
 me for a supposed promise to support him on the 
 next vacancy. I never gave any such promise, nor did 
 I use any words from which it could be deduced that 
 I did. I have written to tell him how surprised I am 
 at the interpretation he has put upon my letter, and 
 to say, if possibly, still more distinctly than I did 
 before, that I will not pledge myself 
 
 At 2 went to the House. The Duke of Clarence was 
 there, and perhaps 30 Peers, but not so many in the 
 House, 70 or 80 ladies, all ugly. The Chancellor was 
 so nervous on reading the passage relating to Ireland 
 that he did not give it its full effect. 
 
MEETING OF PARLIAMENT. 337 
 
 Salisbury moved the Address. He did it very ill 
 indeed, and was hardly audible. Lord Wicklow did 
 well. 
 
 The Duke of Newcastle then asked the Duke of 
 WeUington whether he meant to proceed by Committee 
 or by Bill. The Duke gave the explanation we had agreed 
 upon. We had then Winchelsea, Farnham, and Eldon, 
 the latter very game and threatening. Lord Bathurst 
 spoke pretty well. We had then Lord Anglesey, saying 
 he put aside his private wrongs — and rejoicing in the 
 announcement made in the speech. Lord Eedesdale 
 spoke. The Duke said a few sentences, much better 
 than his reply to the Duke of Newcastle's question. 
 Evidently Goderich and Lansdowne had intended to 
 make Portugal the cheval de hataille, but the surpassing 
 importance of the question opened by the speech cut 
 down their orations very much. Both Goderich and 
 Lansdowne made very unhandsome speeches, saying 
 httle of their satisfaction and nothing in praise of us. 
 Lord Aberdeen, in reply to Lansdowne, only said he was; 
 ready to meet enquiry, and thus Lord Holland had 
 no opportunity of making his harangue. We shall have 
 it another day. 
 
 I would say on the whole that the Whigs were very 
 sulky. They see the measure brought forward by those 
 they cannot bear, and they know the carrying of it will 
 destroy their party, by leaving it no bond of union. 
 
 Saw Castlereagh. He told me Turner was come to 
 town, but requested two days before he answered my 
 letter. I gave him a week. 
 VOL. I. Z 
 
338 DIAEY. 1829. 
 
 February 6. 
 
 The House of Commons seems to have been much 
 more favourably disposed than our House; but the 
 debate was dull, and there was no excitement. 
 
 Saw Hardinge. He said all went on very well there. 
 So Wood told me. I saw Agar EUis to-day. He seemed 
 very much dehghted. He observed the speech was very 
 well written, and more correctly than it usually has 
 been. He thought he saw in it the hand of the writer 
 of the resolutions of the 69 Peers in 1825. That is 
 mine. I told him no, and that Vesey Fitzgerald was 
 more critical than I was. 
 
 Bankes told me he had written a letter of resignation 
 to the Duke. I said he should have waited till he was 
 obhged to vote against the Government ; that he did 
 not object to the consideration of the question; that he 
 would approve of all the securities, and only feel called 
 upon to vote against the Bill if, on the third reading, it 
 should not be satisfactory to him. I said a great deal 
 more, all to no purpose. 
 
 I saw the Duke, who was much annoyed. He said 
 he did not know what to do with Bankes's letter. That 
 it put him into a situation of much difficulty. That if 
 he resigned others would — that Lord Lowther, Lord Gr. 
 Somerset might. That if Bankes thought it necessary 
 to resign he should be obliged to turn out some man 
 or other who voted against him, whose vote he might 
 otherwise have overlooked. That it would oblige him 
 to break with some of the first families. He wished to 
 keep the Government together. He said with great 
 
GOVERNMENT PROSPECTS. 339 
 
 warmtli, 'There is Bankes, like most other men, looking 
 only to himself, and not caring about the pubhc ! ' The 
 Duke said Lord EHot had written to him some six weeks 
 ago saying he must resign if the Government did not 
 take up the Catholic question. The Duke had a great 
 mind to turn him out now. 
 
 The Duke seems to have thought the aspect of our 
 
 House last night very bad, and that if the Opposition 
 
 had moved an amendment respecting Portugal, they 
 
 would have carried it by the absence of our people. 
 
 . I do not think this. 
 
 Lord Eldon and Lord Eedesdale begged the Duke 
 not to mention them in his report to the King as having 
 spoken against the Address. 
 
 Bankes is to see the Duke at 12 to-morrow. It is' 
 very inconvenient to him to resign, for on taking his 
 office he gave up a Commissionership of Bankrupts, 
 worth 200L or 300Z. a year. I went to the House of 
 Commons to speak to him a second time ; but I fear he 
 has made his resignation known at least to his father ; 
 and that pride may induce him to adhere to it. He 
 gave me no hopes of his yielding. I am sorry for it, 
 for I shall hardly find a person with whom I shall go 
 on better, and a more efficient servant of the public. 
 
 I admire the manner in which the Duke always rises 
 in proportion to the difficulty he has to encounter. 
 
 February 8. 
 
 Eead Aberdeen's correspondence with Barbacena. 
 At half-past two went to the Cabinet room. Eead the 
 Duke's correspondence with Palmella^ both referring to 
 
 Z2 
 
o 
 
 40 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 the Portuguese question, upon which we shall, I dare 
 say, have a question this week. We have a good case. 
 The broad principle I lay down is this — that ' we are 
 justified in preventing any act, which, if we permitted 
 it, would give a just ground of war against us.' 
 
 The facts of the case present certain capabihties, and 
 I think a good speech may be made out of them ; but 
 our strongest ground is that of treating the Portu- 
 guese refugees at Plymouth as under Brazilian command, 
 and Palmella as a man of straw. 
 
 I am sure we ought to take a high tone, and to 
 carry the war into the enemy's quarters. We should 
 show the consequences of adopting a different line of 
 conduct from that we pursued, and charge them with 
 endeavouring to engage the country in the sort of war 
 Canning rather threatened than deprecated, a war of 
 opinions.^ 
 
 Cabinet. The Duke said he had had a most satis- 
 factory letter from the King, and that he thought things 
 looked better in the Lords. It is thought the Duke of 
 Beaufort will be with us. The Duke of Eutland and 
 Lord Lowther usually go with him. They settle their 
 course together. His family say that Lord Lonsdale 
 will be stubborn. It seems Lord Lowther is quiet. 
 Some time must be allowed to enable our people to 
 come^ round. It has been a great shock to them. Most, 
 however, begin to confess the Government could not 
 have acted otherwise. 
 
 A memorandum, similar in substance to the Duke's 
 
 ■^ See bis famous speech on Portugal, 1826, and on France and Spain, 
 1823. 
 
OXFORIX ELECTION. 341 
 
 letter to the Duke of Eutland, will be sent to Lord 
 Hertford. 
 
 We liad the Attorney and Solicitor-General of Eno-- 
 land, and the Solicitor-General of Ireland, in the Cabinet 
 to talk over the Bill for the suppression of the Associa- 
 tion. I think we shall make a stronger measure and 
 one more efficacious than the last. 
 
 The Eehef Bill has made no progress. 
 
 I told Peel I thought in case of necessity, or even of 
 difficulty, there would be no harm in making a declara- 
 tion similar to that contained in the last paragraph of 
 the Duke's letter to the Duke of Eutland, namely that 
 if our friends w^ould not support us, we would go out, 
 rather than depend upon the Eump of the Whigs and 
 of the Canningites. -Peel seemed to agree with me. He 
 said he could not remain in office after the hue he had 
 taken, if he did not succeed. 
 
 The Fellows of Oxford have left it to Peel to con- 
 sult his own convenience as to the time of his giving 
 up his seat. They are properly punished ! They had 
 just agreed to a silly address against the Gathohcs when 
 Peel's letter was read to them. I should have hked to 
 see the changes of countenance. God forgive me if I 
 am wrong, but from what I saw of them at Cambridge, 
 the persons I least respect are Pellows of Colleges, and 
 I beheve the Oxonians are even less liberal than the 
 people of Cambridge.^ 
 
 ^ Lord Ellenborougli liad unfavourable recollections of the Fellows of 
 St. John's, Cambridge, wbo, when he was an undergraduate early in the cen- 
 tuiy, had perhaps much of the traditional character of the eighteenth-cen- 
 tury college FeUow. As to the Oxford Masters of Arts at this crisis, it must 
 be remembered that, however conscientious Sir R. Peel's change of policy, it 
 
o 
 
 42 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 Cabinet. First considered the Terceira^ question, 
 upon which questions were expected to-day in both 
 Houses. 
 
 Then called in the law officers and Leshe Foster, and 
 settled with them the Bill for suppressing the Associa- 
 tion. 
 
 I afterwards asked Leslie Foster how he got on with 
 his 4:0s. Freeholders Bill. He told me they were pro- 
 ceeding on my suggestion of ascertaining previously to 
 the vote being given by some scrutiny whether a man 
 had a vote or no. They mean it should be done by a 
 jury. I think they will find that cumbrous and not 
 effectual. Leshe Foster told me my suggestion of the 
 previous scrutiny was a very valuable one. I am sorry 
 they superadd the disfranchisement. I had much rather 
 effect that object circuitously. 
 
 House. Lord Holland very imprudently began 
 speaking about the Catholic question. Eldon did so, 
 too, and others. 
 
 My uncle ^ was the first bishop who declared he 
 was unchanged, Durham followed. 
 
 The Duke has a good account of our friends. They 
 are ready to support us generally, though they are still 
 stubborn upon the Cathohc question. However, I sup- 
 
 could hardly fail to startle and irritate them, as be Lad owed his seat for the 
 University to his pronounced ' anti-Catholic ' principles. Canning had always 
 "been excluded from the University representation hy his opposite opinions 
 on that question. 
 
 ^ The question of the expedition to" the relief of Terceira, projected by 
 Donna Maria's adherents in England, which the Government regarded as a 
 yiolation of our neutrality. 
 
 2 G. Law, Bishop of Bath and Wells, 
 
EARL GREY. 343 
 
 pose in spite of the bisliops we shall have a majority in 
 the Lords, but a small one. 
 
 Eeceived a letter from Lord Grey, thanking me for 
 the communication of the King's Speech relative to L:e- 
 land. He did not speak very warmly, but he said 
 it would give him the truest pleasure if the measure 
 should be accompHshed by the Duke's Government. I 
 met Kosslyn in the House. He is very friendly. 
 
 February 10. 
 
 House. The Archbishop of Canterbury and the 
 Bishop of London, in presenting petitions, declared their 
 opinions to be unaltered. The Duke of Eutland made a 
 friendly and useful speech, declaring that he waited for 
 the Bill, and should in any case support the Govern- 
 ment. 
 
 Lord Longford made an attack on the Duke for 
 having taken the Protestants by surprise. The Duke 
 answered that he could not say anything before he had 
 the Ejng's consent. 
 
 Lord Eosslyn suggested to me that we should lose 
 no time in looking over the lists and sending for people. 
 I am to meet him at 2 to-morrow. 
 
 February 11. 
 
 Went to Lord Eosslyn at 2. We went over the Hst 
 together. He reckons upon more than I do. 
 
 Drummond, whom I met at old Lady Salisbury's in 
 the evening, told me the Duke now counted twenty-six 
 transfers. Lord Bath and Lord Carteret vote with us. 
 
 We must, however, bring up every vote. 
 
o 
 
 44 , DIARY. 1829. 
 
 I did not go to the Eecorder's report at Windsor. 
 This is the first time I have been absent from a Council. 
 
 February 12. 
 
 Called on Lord Camden at 2 to look over the hst of 
 peers for the CathoHc question. Saw Aberdeen on the 
 same subject, and the Duke. The Duke thinks he is 
 already sure of a majority of 12. 
 
 Office. Saw Mr. Turner. He accepts the bishopric 
 of Calcutta, and seems quite aware of the difficulty of 
 the duties imposed upon him, and quite resolved to do 
 his duty. I told him to connect himself with neither 
 party, but to rule both. He will endeavour to do so. 
 
 Lord Camden told me he heard the Archbishop of 
 Canterbury was rather hurt at not being consulted 
 with respect to Mr. Turner's appointment. I therefore 
 took an opportunity of speaking to the Archbishop in 
 the House, and of explaining to him that I only did not 
 speak to him because I knew he would not be acquainted 
 with Mr. Turner. The Archbishop seemed satisfied. 
 He told me the Bishop of London thought highly of 
 Mr. Turner, and he believed he was a very fit man. 
 
 In the House Falmouth attacked the Duke and was 
 well answered by him. 
 
 February 13. 
 
 House of Lords. Lord Sidmouth,^ whom the Duke 
 reckoned upon, declared his opinions were unchanged. 
 
 ^ As Lord Sidmouth had broken witli his colleagues in the 'Talents 
 Administration ' of 1806-7 on a similar question, it might seem more sur- 
 prising that the Duke should have reckoned on him than that he should have 
 been disappointed. But the crisis was one at which no man's career could 
 be foretold. 
 
THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND. 345 
 
 Lord Westmoreland, in presenting a petition, made 
 an excellent speech. The Whigs could not help laugh- 
 ing as old Wessy ratted, but he really spoke extremely 
 well, and made a very useful speech. I suppose the 
 attraction of the Privy Seal is too powerful. 
 
 Lord Winchelsea presented the petition agreed upon 
 at Penenden Heath. He made a bold loud speech, with 
 nothing in it. He would be a perfect Eolla at a country 
 theatre. After some trash from Darnley and Lord Clan- 
 ricarde. Lord Grey spoke, and at length. He answered 
 Lord Winchelsea, which was rather like wasting great 
 guns upon sparrows. He made a speech, very hand- 
 some indeed as regarded the Ministers, and particularly 
 Peel ; but he was rather diffuse, not very strong or 
 pointed in any part, and I was sorry to observe that 
 his voice was thicker than it used to be. I fear he is 
 faihng. It was, however, tlie first appearance I ever 
 observed of age. 
 
 We send off a messenger to-morrow to collect proxies 
 in Italy. I beheve we shall have a majority ; but I 
 doubt whether it will be a large one. Cumberland is 
 commg over. The Duke had written to stop him. It 
 is feared the letter may miss him on the road. He 
 sees the King every day. The King is afraid of him, 
 and God knows what mischief he may do. How- 
 ever, there is no possibility of forming an anti-Cathohc 
 Government, and that the King must feel. 
 
 Cabinet. It was decided against voting the thanks 
 of the House to Lord Amherst, the Government in 1827 
 having deliberately abstained from doing so on the 
 ground of his not having been present with the army. 
 
r» 
 
 46 DIAEY. 1829., 
 
 I am inclined to think the Government in 1827 forgot 
 Lord Minto's case, or wished to avoid a debate.^ 
 
 Determined to adhere to the hne we have adopted 
 as to Greece. The French Government has not yet 
 wavered. The Chambers do, and the Government is 
 weak. What we hope to do is to get the French to 
 send their Ambassador with ours to Constantinople, 
 leaving Greece as it is for the present, if the Eiissians 
 will not send a Minister or the Turks receive one. All 
 the real objects of the treaty are accomplished. Things 
 are to remain as they are de facto^ until we have the 
 opportunity of making them so de jure. 
 
 Sir W. Knighton went on Monday last to meet the 
 Duke of Cumberland and prevent his coming here. He 
 carried a letter from the Duke. I conclude one from 
 the King, too. It is to be feared the Duke of Cumber- 
 land may have set off sooner than he intended, and may 
 so have been far advanced before he met Knighton, or 
 he may have missed him. I asked, ' Suppose members 
 holding offices should vote against us, what will you do 
 with them ? ' This seems to be considered a very serious 
 question. We are to hold very high language, but 
 I suspect we should do little. If we do not punish 
 those who go against us in the Commons there may be 
 a majority against us in the Lords, and then it will be 
 too late. 
 
 The Duke said, ' Let me take the Bill to the King, 
 get his approval, and then I will answer for his making 
 
 ^ See, however, letter in Wellington CorresjpoTidence, v. 503, wliere Lord 
 Minto's case is alluded to as difi'ering from Lord Amherst's, Lord Minto 
 haying gone to Java. 
 
AREIVAL OF THE DUKE OP CUMBERLAND. 347 
 
 the household vote ; but it will not do to hold a pistol 
 to his head now.' 
 
 I fear our House does not stand as well as it should. 
 
 February 15. 
 
 Cabinet. The Duke of Cumberland arrived in town 
 last night and went to Windsor early this morning. He 
 must have passed or have missed Knighton on the road. 
 Peel and the Duke are now rather glad he is come. 
 They say his arrival will frighten the Whigs, and make 
 them quiet about the 40^. freeholders' Disfranchisement 
 Bill. However, I think this view of things proceeds 
 from the Duke's disposition to see all events en beau. 
 I wish he had not come, or was gone. 
 
 In walking down to the Cabinet I met Eosslyn, and 
 talked to him about the numbers for and against in our 
 House. He is much too sanguine. He expects 60 
 majority. Lord Grey expects 50. I shall be glad if 
 we have 30. 
 
 The Duke said he would speak to Shaftesbury, who 
 has been canvassing against us. 
 
 February 16. 
 
 Cabinet. Considered again the 40<§. freeholder Dis- 
 franchisement Bill. The Duke, Peel, Sir J. Murray, 
 indeed I think all but Pitzgerald, are afraid of the violent 
 measure of open disfranchisement ; although willing to 
 adopt collateral regulations which would practically 
 hmit the franchise. I fear we should shipwreck the 
 whole measure upon a Disfranchisement Bill, and I am 
 anxious that in putting an. end to a Catholic question 
 
348 . DIARY. 1829. 
 
 we might, if we carried a Disfranchisement Bill, create 
 ;■ a new and real grievance, which would give us as much 
 
 trouble as the other. The great object is to settle the 
 question altogether. There is no settlement if we create 
 a just ground of complaint. 
 
 Peel, Fitzgerald, Goulburn, North, Doherty, and 
 Lord F. Gower and I are to meet to-morrow at ten 
 upon this point at Peel's house. 
 
 The Duke's idea is that we might require the colla- 
 teral security of a certain payment, 20<§. a year, to the 
 county cess. This might prove a 10/. freehold. The 
 objection to this is, that at present the assessment is un- 
 equal. Some counties pay, in proportion to their real 
 ! produce, more than others. Some districts are not 
 
 ^^ rated at all, having been uncultivated when this valua- 
 i t lion was made. But, as the survey is comphcated, these 
 , ; aJ^ objections would subside. Time would rectify the ine- 
 
 . 0^*' ^ qualities. My notion is that, taking a fixed sum, say 
 
 jlii ^ one million, as the amount of county cess, and the gene- 
 
 ral valuation being made, each county should be rated 
 in proportion to the valuation, each being supposed to 
 bear its fair part in the payment of one million. 
 
 Then in each county the assessment would be 
 allotted and those would have votes who would pay 
 20s. a year. 
 
 In addition to this security there might be the 
 necessity on the part of the voter of producing the 
 receipt for his last half-year's gale. 
 
 Lord Eosslyn, whom I saw in the House, told me he 
 hoped we should not incorporate the 405. freeholders 
 Bill with the Eehef Bill. That in that case Grey would 
 
 
THE DUKE .OP CUMBERLAND. 349 
 
 Yote against it, and even he should doubt. That the 
 main measure being carried he thought Lord Grey would 
 vote for the regulation which might be proposed of the 
 Irish franchises. 
 
 Lord Eosslyn said the same thing to the Chancellor. 
 We are in the midst of great difficulties. I wish we 
 were well through them. 
 
 The Duke of Cumberland arrived on Saturday night 
 and went on Sunday morning early to Windsor. The 
 Chancellor had fortunately been sent for. They returned 
 together and dined with the Duke of Wellington, the 
 Duke of Cumberland being self-invited. He spoke little 
 during dinner. 
 
 This morning he had another conference with the 
 Duke of Wellington of three hours. He says his opinions 
 are unchanged, but he will not canvass, or attempt to 
 put himself at the head of a party. The Duke of Wel- 
 lington wrote to the King stating the substance of the 
 conversation, and his advice to the Duke of Cumberland. 
 
 The Duke of Cumberland was in the House to-day. 
 
 The Duke made a speech very useful, as the Duke 
 of Cumberland heard it. Of course he gave no ex- 
 planation. 
 
 Lord Holland then made a most imprudent histori- 
 cal speech, mooting five or six points, each of which 
 would require ^we or six hours to argue. After a few 
 words from Lord Eldon we got away. 
 
 February 17. 
 
 At ten o'clock met Goulburn, Herries, Fitzgerald, 
 the Chancellor, Lord F. Leveson, Mr. North, LesHe 
 
350 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 Foster, Dolierty, and Dawson at Peel's. We were to 
 settle the 405. freeholders Bill. After mucli conversation 
 it was decided to fix the value of the freehold, which 
 should give a vote, at ten pounds, and to have previous 
 investigation as to the value before the assistant barris- 
 ter and by jury. Magistrates to attend if they pleased. 
 The existing freeholders to be entitled to vote for a 
 time to be fixed, two or three months, leaving that in- 
 terval for the formation of the new constituency. The 
 Lord-Lieutenant to be empowered to direct at once 
 special sessions for the purpose of registration. Here- 
 after registration to take place at the regular Quarter 
 Sessions. 
 
 The idea of requiring some visible test of value, 
 instead of the investigation by a jury, and placing that 
 test so high as to disfranchise freeholds under 10^. (such 
 as proof of payment of 205. to the county cess), was re- 
 jected as not affording a real criterion of a man's solvency, 
 as very unequal under the present valuation of Lxland, 
 and as effecting the object of disfranchisement in a 
 roundabout way, not so effectually, and without real 
 concealment. It was thought better to do the thing 
 openly, if it was to be done at all. I beheve words 
 have sometimes more weight than things, and I fear the 
 open disfranchisement will create the means of defeating 
 the Bill. Doherty, North, Leslie Foster, and Fitzgerald 
 all think the jury will work well. I cannot help think- 
 ing it will cause too much delay. 
 
 Dawson, and indeed all the Irishmen, wanted 20/. at 
 first, but they came round to 10/., and allowed that 10/. 
 
CORPORATE RIGHTS. 351 
 
 with the previous investigation would be equal to 201. 
 with no security but an oath. 
 
 The cities and towns are to be left as they are. 
 The freeholders balance the freemen. There are gross 
 abuses in the mode of creating both, but we are afraid 
 to touch corporate rights. Yet the Corporation of 
 Dubhn lately elected as members the President, Vice- 
 President, Treasurers, and all the officers of all the 
 Brunswick clubs in Ireland — about 1,200 persons. If 
 the quahiication for a vote from a freehold was raised 
 to 10^. in cities and towns, it would be necessary to 
 balance that disadvantage to the Cathohc freeholder by 
 depriving non-resident freemen of their votes. The 
 fight would continue the same, but between smaller 
 numbers. No one seems to be able to guess what the 
 practical effect of the proposed measure will ultimately 
 be upon Protestant influence ; but they seem to think 
 that the 101. freeholder will be more free from the 
 influence of the priest. 
 
 If the measure produces ferment, it wiU not be exclu- 
 sively Cathohc, for the intention is to make its opera- 
 tion general. 
 
 House at 5. Falmouth made a speech which Lord 
 Grey answered, throwing away his shot upon a sparrow. 
 The Duke spoke too, well, but unnecessarily. The 
 Duke of Newcastle put some questions it was not neces- 
 sary to answer, and then Lord Darnley talked again 
 about Penenden Heath. It was all very dull ; but the 
 House of Commons must have been duller, for the space 
 under the throne is always filled by members. 
 
 There is that degree of animosity on the cross- 
 
^^2 
 
 OO^ DIARY. 1829. 
 
 benches that I know not when we shall all be friends 
 again. 
 
 February 18. 
 
 Peel seems to doubt whether he can have a majority 
 to resist the motion for a Committee on East Indian 
 affairs. I am to tell the Chairs, they had better see 
 him. 
 
 February 19. 
 
 Second reading Catholic Association Bill. Before the 
 order of the day the Duke of Cumberland rose and 
 made a violent declaration of his opinions. He said the 
 question was whether the Parliament should be Popish 
 or Protestant. If a Roman Catholic was admitted it 
 would be a Popish Parliament. 
 
 He might as well have said if a drop of wine was 
 poured into a glass of water it became a glass of wine. 
 Lord Grey answered the Duke of Cumberland, but not 
 powerfully. Then Eldon came on gallantly to his 
 defence. Lord Plunket followed, and the Chancellor 
 concluded. There was mere assertion on both sides. 
 
 Lord Plunket made part of a speech I have heard 
 before. 
 
 The second reading then came on. 
 
 The Duke made an opening speech which, if the 
 old Opposition had been ill-naturedly inclined, would 
 have exposed him to a severe attack. He insisted upon 
 all the mischievous consequences of the divided Gov- 
 ernment of which he was so long a member, and attri- 
 buted to that division the non-execution of the law in 
 Ireland and the progress of the Catholic Association. It 
 
EAJRL GREY. 353 
 
 may be true, but it is an awkward admission. There 
 lias been no really good speech this year. 
 
 Lord Grey has been wordy and has never hit hard. 
 There has been no elan. 
 
 Lord Darnley came up to me and asked if there 
 was not a move in my office by Bankes' going out. I 
 said he still did his work and we should be very 
 imwilhng to replace him. 
 
 Lord Darnley wanted his son, who dechned being 
 my private secretary, to be placed there. This would 
 never do. The secretary must be a member of Parlia- 
 ment, and a good speaker as well as an able man. 
 
 February 20. 
 
 Cabinet at 1. Considered the question of obhging 
 hereafter all Eoman Cathohc bishops to give two 
 months' notice before they exercised episcopal jurisdic- 
 tion, the Crown during the two months to have the 
 power of issuing an interdict. 
 
 It seems Parliament has never interfered except 
 with the jurisdiction of Eoman Catholic prelates, never 
 with their orders. After talking a long time in a very 
 desultory and unsatisfactory manner, we separated. We 
 are to meet again to-morrow. 
 
 In reahty, securities there are none of an ecclesiasti- 
 cal nature. If we should find any, the Eoman Catholics 
 would resist. If we should find none, how are we to 
 carry a majority in the Lords ? We are not through 
 our difficulties. 
 
 The wisest course to pursue would be to act as liber- 
 ally now as possible. In a few years we should then 
 VOL. I. A A 
 
354 DIAEY. 1829. 
 
 be able to connect tlie Eoman Catholic Church, with the 
 State. That is our best security against its wishing to 
 injure the State. However, at the present moment 
 men's minds are in such a state that any attempt to 
 give a State provision to the Eoman Catholic clergy 
 would excite resistance, both on the part of the Eoman 
 Catholics and of the Protestants. 
 
 The Bill for the suppression of the Association went 
 through the Committee without a word. 
 
 Lord G , who made so offensive a speech 
 
 yesterday, was induced to do so by the refusal of the 
 Duke to give his sisters the rank of earl's daughters. 
 
 F has been out of humour for a year because he 
 
 was not sent to Ireland. The more I know of the 
 interior of politics the more shabby and personal the 
 motives of men appear. 
 
 February 21. 
 
 Cabinet at 2. I think the conclusion to which we 
 come is that we can hardly attempt to control the 
 Eoman Catholic Church, without in some manner recog- 
 nising it. To this the Protestants of this country have 
 strong objections, and my own opinion is, that although 
 now the absence of such control may seem to leave us 
 without security, yet the recognition to which such 
 control must lead, would, fifty years hence, be more 
 prejudicial. We must not attempt to restrain the 
 Eoman Catholic Church in the exercise of its spiritual 
 functions ; but we must protect the Protestant Church 
 from their aggression. I think we should do this by 
 making it penal to do that which we force men to swear 
 
THE DUKE OF CLARENCE. 355 
 
 they will not do, by exacting that which we swear, and 
 by making it penal to assert the contrary of what we 
 exact, &c. 
 
 Leslie Foster was introduced. 
 
 The Attorney-General^ is to be asked to-morrow 
 whether he will prepare the Bill. I hope he will not. 
 I should be very glad to get in Scarlett ^ in his place. 
 
 I hear Lord Mansfield, who is just come up from 
 Scotland, reports that he finds the opinions of the people 
 much changed, that is, in favour of the measure. 
 
 February 22. 
 
 It is said the Duke of Clarence intends to make his 
 profession of faith to-morrow in favour of the Cathohc 
 Bill, and Lord Holland to make a foohsh speech defend- 
 ing the Association. 
 
 Cabinet at half-past 3. The Duke looked very 
 much pulled. He has had a long conference with 
 Wetherell, the Attorney-General, who does not so much 
 seem to object to the Bill as to being abused for sup- 
 porting it. Eldon has frightened him. He is to give 
 his answer to-morrow. I sincerely hope he will go. 
 The Duke of Newcastle has told Sir William Chnton he 
 must go out. The Duke is more hostile to our Govern- 
 ment than he was to Canning's, for he allowed Sir 
 W. Chnton to remain in office and vote with Canning. 
 
 We had a long and not very fruitful discussion on 
 the everlasting Bill and the securities. It was decided 
 
 1 Sir 0. Wetherell. 
 
 - Sir James Scarlett, afterwards first Lord Abinger. 
 
 A A 2 
 
356 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 that the assumption of any local title of an ecclesiastical 
 nature, contrary to law, should be punishable. 
 
 Jesuits are not to be admitted to this country hence- 
 forward. If we can prevent the introduction of new 
 recruits we shall gradually do away with the convents, 
 &c. They will die for want of inhabitants. There will 
 be no objection to prohibit, in the same manner, the in- 
 troduction of monks of any order, if it should be pressed 
 upon us. The difficulty is this, that the service is in 
 England principally performed by Eegulars. 
 
 The open display of symbols, &c., will be prohibited 
 in Ireland. It is already in England. 
 
 Peel suggested an alteration of the oath taken by 
 members of Parhament and persons taking office, which 
 should bind them to maintain the Union. I should 
 prefer an oath binding them to maintain the Protestant 
 church as established by the Act of Union. 
 
 In fact all that legislation can do has been already 
 done. I beheve the best thing we could have done 
 would have been to repeal all the existing laws, and to 
 consolidate their enactments, or such of them as we 
 wished to preserve, together with any new enactments 
 we mig;ht think it advisable to make, in the Belief Bill. 
 The country would then have known the extent of our 
 securities. 
 
 If we protect by law the existing settlement, and 
 make men who become members of Parliament or take 
 office swear they will maintain it, I really know not 
 how we can throw greater securities round the Protes- 
 tant church. 
 
 Aberdeen and Lord Bathurst, with whom I came 
 
THE DUKES OF CUMBERLAND AND CLARENCE. 357 
 
 home, said they expected that in twenty years the 
 Cathohc would be the estabhshed rehgion of Ireland. 
 I should not care if it did become the religion of that 
 part of Ireland which is Catholic. It is but just.^ 
 
 February 23. 
 
 House at ^yq. The Duke of Clarence declared hi^ 
 intention of supporting the Bill for the Catholics, and 
 denounced the opposition to it as unjust and infamous. 
 He got into a long story about Lord St. Vincent, and I 
 know not how many other admirals, with httle episodes 
 attached to each, and supposed them all to ' put up 
 their heads,' and express their delight at seeing the 
 Irish sailors who had fought the lower deck guns 
 emancipated. 
 
 The Duke of Cumberland followed, and defended 
 himself against the suj)posed charge of making a fac- 
 tious and — he could not recollect the other epithet — or 
 would not, so the Duke of Clarence said aloud across 
 the House, infamous. 
 
 The Duke of Sussex explained for the Duke of 
 Clarence that the terms were apphed generally— if his 
 noble brother took them to himself, it was a matter of 
 taste. The Duke of Clarence said he thought his noble 
 brother had been so long abroad that he had forgotten 
 
 ^ Lord Ellenborough must not be taken as having approved the disesta- 
 blishment of the Protestant Church in Ireland. He was rather inclined^ to 
 the idea of concurrent endowment, and so expressed himself at the opening 
 of the Session of 1868. But he had prepared a speech against the Bill of , 
 1869, in which he intended, as the last survivor of the Cabinet who passed 
 the Relief BiU, to protest against the departure from the understanding on 
 which it passed. He did not, however, speak, saying^ that the Bishop of 
 Peterborough's speech had exhausted the arguments against the measure. 
 
358 DIAEY. 
 
 1829. 
 
 tlie freedom of debate. I never witnessed such a scene. 
 It was discreditable to all there, and they all seemed 
 insane. 
 
 Eldon got up, and spoke gravely and well, but 
 rather defended the obnoxious words used by the Duke 
 of Cumberland the other night, ' That it was a question 
 whether it should be a Popish or a Protestant Parlia- 
 ment.' 
 
 Lord Grey answered him, and spoke better than he 
 has done this year. He is very active, and fights the 
 whole battle for us. 
 
 The Bishop of Chester laissait entrevoh\ in presenting 
 a petition that he intended to vote for the Bill. He 
 could not have expressed himself better. 
 
 The Bishop of Calcutta is dead. So Turner will go 
 
 immediately. 
 
 February 24. 
 
 Cabinet. Mentioned what Lord Eosslyn said the 
 night before. The Duke was for doing what he thought 
 right. So am I, but to propose with the expectation of 
 defeat, is not to do. Pitzgerald is so acharne against 
 the 4S)s. freeholders. Lord Bathurst, Herries, and Goul- 
 burn are so determined to have what they think a 
 security that I cannot stand the clamour. 
 
 The Duke, Peel, the Chancellor, Aberdeen, are all in 
 reality against disfranchisement — that is, they fear it, as 
 I do, for I think the measure would be most beneficial 
 to Ireland. 
 
 After much talk it seemed to be decided that we 
 could not call upon the Cathohcs to swear they would 
 maintain the Protestant estabhshment, though they will 
 
LORD ANGLESEY. 359 
 
 willingly swear they will not injure or weaken it. I 
 had sketched two drafts of oaths, one embodying the 
 Coronation oath, the other the 5th Article of Union. 
 
 House. 3rd reading of the Catholic Association 
 Bill. Lord Anglesey made an injudicious speech, in 
 which he attributed the Relief Bill to the Catholic 
 Association, and said the Eehef Bill alone would have 
 extinguished them. Take away the cause, and you take 
 away the effect. Goderich used the same language as 
 to cause and effect, and said he was not enamoured of 
 the principle and details of the Bill. I said, ' Neither 
 were we. The object of all our measures was to esta- 
 blish such a state of things in Ireland as might enable 
 us to govern that country by the ordinary course of 
 law. We would not have proposed the Bill had we 
 not thought it absolutely necessary, and we should be 
 most happy when we could dispense with the power it 
 gave us. But not only was it essential to the character 
 of Parhament that the Association should not be allowed 
 to beard it, that Parhament should not go cap in hand 
 to those who had acted in contempt of its declared in- 
 tentions, but no statesman could have thought of pro- 
 posing the Belief Bill without preceding it by this of 
 coercion. This Bill was necessary for the satisfaction 
 of the Protestant mind. 
 
 ' I had heard with regret some expressions which fell 
 from Lord Anglesey. He represented the Eehef BiU as 
 one of grace. This as one of coercion. Yet he said 
 the Bill of grace was forced upon us by the Cathohc 
 Association. Thus taking from that Bill altogether the 
 character of grace which he before attributed to it. 
 
360 DIAEY. 1829. 
 
 ' In reality His Majesty's Ministers, in advising His 
 Majesty to make that recommendation from the throne 
 for the consideration of the laws affectino: the Eoman 
 Catholics, in which the great body of the people of 
 England had acquiesced^ looked to the whole condition of 
 Ireland, to existing dangers, and to those which would 
 grow up, and increase under existing laws. The Bill on 
 the table would put down the Catholic Association. The 
 Eehef Bill would keep it down. Each was necessary to 
 the other. The noble lords on the cross bench must 
 feel that without the Eelief Bill this could not have 
 been proposed. The King's Ministers felt that without 
 both Bills they could not keep the peace of Ireland. 
 
 ' Both Lord Anglesey and Lord Goderich had been 
 in error when they said the effect would cease when the 
 cause ceased. That was not true in politics. Men who, 
 by the means of a real grievance, had obtained power, 
 would make efforts to retain it when the cause which 
 enabled them to obtain it was removed.' 
 
 I had not spoken for so long a time, and the discus- 
 sion was so httle animated, that I did not speak to my 
 own satisfaction. However, the Chancellor told me I 
 had spoken well, and that my speech was so well 
 timed. It is true it was the first occasion I had seen 
 on which I could speak with advantage. 
 
 Lord Mansfield spoke very spitefully. Lord Mel- 
 bourne not hostilely. I thought his manner had been 
 
 better. 
 
 February 25. 
 
 ■ I did not go to the Council at Windsor. The King 
 never asks me to dinner, yet I think he has asked all 
 
OXFORD ELECTIOX. 361 
 
 the otliers, unless, perhaps, Fitzgerald, and I think my 
 colleagues imagine it must annoy me. I really do not 
 care about it. I daresay all those who went there 
 to-day w^ill dine there. 
 
 Office. Turner wishes to have Australasia excepted 
 from his diocese, as he can never go there. 
 
 Foreign Office. The French Ministry is so weak and 
 so hard pushed by the Opposition that it begins to 
 diverge a little from us, and to talk of making further 
 conquests in Greece. 
 
 Lord Stuart has been desired, I think prudently, to 
 be quiet ; not to press them ; and to wait the turn which 
 will take place probably, for the King and the Ministers 
 are really with us. 
 
 Peel's election begins to-morrow. It is expec4;ed to 
 
 last three days. I beheve he is sure, but his majority 
 
 will not be large. 
 
 February 26. 
 
 Cabinet at 2. The Duke said his conversation with 
 the King had been very disagreeable. The King begged 
 he would not speak to the household, and seemed to in- 
 timate that they were to vote against the Government. 
 The King's conversation before mixed companies and 
 his servants has been most imprudent. The Duke of 
 Cumberland has had a great effect upon him. 
 
 The Duke of Wellington consequently wrote to 
 the King last night, telling him that he would commu- 
 nicate the heads of the Bill to him to-morrow, instead 
 of Monday, and at the same time that the Govern- 
 ment could not go on unless the Bill had His Majesty's 
 support. 
 
362 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 I do not tliink these were tlie words ; but the mean- 
 ing was, that the Government were committed to the 
 measure, and must resign, if the King did not go with 
 them. 
 
 The King seems to have been very nervous at 
 dinner, and absent. He seems to have intended to say 
 more to the Duke than he did ; but being interrupted 
 by the Duke, he perhaps regretted he had abeady said 
 so much. 
 
 An Oxford voter, who had promised to vote for Peel, 
 wrote to him to say that, as he understood the King 
 was hostile, he must retract his promise. This letter 
 the Duke to-day sent to the King, to show him the evil 
 effects of unguarded conversation. 
 
 The Duke at the same time wrote to Knighton to 
 say that if the Duke of Cumberland thought he could 
 make a Grovernment, he had better give that advice to 
 the King at once, and so end matters. 
 
 The Duke goes to Windsor with the heads of the 
 Bill to-morrow, and will bring the question to a point. 
 
 In the meantime it is beginning to be known that 
 the King is shaken. The Manners ^^ are off. The King is 
 supposed to have said more to Sir John Beckett than 
 he did to the Mnisters. Lord Lowther talks very 
 violently. 
 
 A good deal depends upon the interview the King 
 will have had with the Duke of Cumberland to-day. If 
 the Duke of Cumberland has told the Ejng he can make 
 a Government, the King may be firm. Lords Mansfield, 
 
 ^ See correspondence between the Duke of Wellington and tlie Duke of 
 Butland, Wellington Correspondence, vol. v. 489-493. 
 
CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION BILL. 363 
 
 Winclielsea, and Colchester, probably Lord Eldon, cer- 
 tainly the Duke of Newcastle, would have nerve enough 
 to form a Government.^ They would do well enough 
 for our House, where httle is required, but what could 
 be done in the House of Commons ? There is George 
 Bankes, who would succeed me, Lord Lowther, and 
 really I do not know who else there would be. 
 
 K the King should yield, and it should be known 
 with what difficulty he has been brought to do so, the 
 Whigs must, if they mean fairly by the Eehef Bill, sup- 
 port the securities. 
 
 Planta calculates 289. I think with Government 
 120 against concession, and 180 against securities. 
 
 The difficulty is in our House ; but if the Whigs 
 joined the anti-Cathohcs they would beat us on the 
 Eranchise Bill. 
 
 The Association Suppression Bill came up from the 
 Commons to-day. We have determined that we will 
 not advise the putting of the Great Seal to it till the 
 King has acceded to the Bill of Eelief. To do otherwise 
 would be a fraud upon Parliament. 
 
 The King yesterday suggested the bringing in of the 
 Franchise Bill before the Eelief Bill, that is, Eldon has 
 moved Cumberland to suggest that we should be exposed 
 to all the unpopularity of the two coercive measures, 
 and then be turned out for the purpose of defeating the 
 Bill of Eehef. 
 
 ^ Almost the same words are used by Lord Palmerston (Ashley's Life of 
 Loi'd Palmerston, p. 193) : ^ In the Lords they might get on with Eldon, 
 Colchester, MansiSeld, Sidmouth, and some others, but in our House it would 
 be absolutely impossible. The Speaker (Manners Sutton) is the only man in 
 the whole House who is not pledged the other way.' 
 
364 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 They want, too, to get our plan out of us, to have 
 that to expose, to make the King break upon that. 
 All this will be defeated by the Duke of Wellington's 
 straightforward conduct, and if we go out I hope we 
 shall go out before our plan is proposed. 
 
 We had some discussion as to parts of the plan to- 
 day ; but it was languid, as the idea of our being turned 
 out before we could introduce it made us naturally a 
 little inattentive. 
 
 In the House Lord Londonderry made a foolish 
 attack on Lord Anglesey for a speech he did not hear. 
 Lord Anglesey made a gentlemanlike rejDly, and re- 
 served his defence of his conduct till the Bill should 
 have passed. 
 
 Lord Plunket then defended himself against an 
 attack made upon him and upon the Government under 
 which he had acted, for not enforcing^ and executing? the 
 Bill of 1825. In the course of his speech Lord Plunket 
 spoke in favour of the Bill for disfranchising the 40<s. 
 freeholders. His sujDport will be of great value should 
 we hve to bring that Bill in. He gave it to be under- 
 stood that he would not have brought in the Associa- 
 tion Bill of 1825, unless he had expected that it would 
 have been accompanied by a Bill of Belief — that Bill to 
 be proposed by the Government. After a few words 
 from the Duke of Wellington Lord Plunket acknow- 
 ledged it was only his private opinion^ that there was no 
 pledge on the part of the Government. 
 
 Lord Longford answered Lord Plunket and really 
 well. In point of fact the Bill of 1825 was never exe- 
 cuted, because Lord Plunket used in the House of 
 
A PROTESTANT GOVERNMENT. 365 
 
 Commons expressions stronger than those used by Shell 
 and others in the Association. 
 
 Lord Pkmket's was a good and useful speech to us. 
 The House was not full. It rained so hard that people 
 were not much inclined to go down. 
 
 February 27. 
 
 Eeceived a summons to a Cabinet at 4. We sat till 
 ,5 doing nothing. The Duke did not arrive. Went to 
 ,the House. Lord Longford made a prepared speech of 
 2 J hours, not so good by any means as his speech of 
 2 minutes yesterday. Lord Plunket answered him, and 
 went too far, representing the Brunswick Clubs as worse 
 than the Association. 
 
 Eeturned to the Cabinet room. The Duke had not 
 returned at 7 when I came away. 
 
 Both Peel's friends and Sir E. Inghs's are sanguine. 
 
 In the House of Commons Goulburn said a member 
 of the Government would bring forward the Catholic 
 Eehef Bill on Thursday. Much clieermg. This was in 
 reply to a question from Lord John Eussell. 
 
 Our House adjourned as usual over Saturday that 
 the circumstance of there being no commission to pass 
 the Association Suppression Bill might be less observed. 
 
 Pitzgerald had been making a Protestant Govern- 
 ment this morning. 
 
 Sir R. Inglis, India Board. 
 
 Exmouth, Admiralty. 
 
 G. Bankes, Chancellor of the Exchequer. 
 
 Mansfield, Foreign Office. 
 
 KnatchbuU, Home. 
 
 Eldon, President. 
 
366 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 The difficulty they would find would be in the 
 House of Commons. In our House they would make a 
 fair show. 
 
 At 11 heard from Lord Bathurst that at 4 Sir E. 
 Inglis was 119 a head ; at 12, that the Duke had had 
 entire success at Windsor. 
 
 February 28. 
 
 At the close of the poll Peel was 126 below Inghs. 
 It is now much to be regretted that Peel ever stood. 
 The violence of the parsons was beyond behef, and far 
 beyond decency ; they made faces at and abused each 
 other ; but the Protestants were the boldest and the 
 most violent. Now 700 parsons, flushed with triumph, 
 mil return to their parishes like firebrands, and excite 
 the whole country. Peel is himself perfectly indifferent, 
 and really I must confess that he has shown himself a 
 great man by his equanimity in all that has taken 
 place. 
 
 Cabinet at 4. The Duke said he had an interview 
 of 5^ hours with the King. The King ultimately yielded 
 all i^oints, even to the extent of desiring the Duke of 
 Cumberland to leave England. The King declared 
 himself more satisfied with the Bill than with anything 
 he had seen. He had great unwilhngness to write him- 
 self to the household, desiring their attendance in the 
 House of Lords during the Cathohc measures, but he 
 had no objection to the Duke of Welhngton writing 
 to them in his name. That is, he acquiesced in this, but 
 he did not much like it. 
 
 Accordingly the Duke read to the Cabinet a letter 
 
THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND. 367 
 
 which he proposed to submit to the King before he 
 sent it, in which, referring to his general request that 
 they would attend the House, made to them at the 
 beginning of the session, he informed them, that it being 
 the intention of His Majesty's Ministers to introduce 
 measures in conformity with the gracious recommenda- 
 tion in His Majesty's Speech, he had His Majesty's com- 
 mands to desire their attendance in their places during 
 the progress of those measures. 
 
 The Duke of Cumberland was to have seen the 
 Duke of Welhngton at 12 to-day. He managed to 
 arrive in town at one, and then wrote to the Duke to 
 say that, as he came up to town, he had thought that 
 under present circumstances he could not see the Duke, 
 or the Duke call on him, without exciting public atten- 
 tion. He therefore wished, before he saw the Duke, to 
 know whether he had any objection to his communicat- 
 ing the substance of their conversation to Lord Eldon 
 and others of his friends. The Duke wrote in reply 
 that he did not care who knew what passed between 
 them. He was going to ride out, and should be home 
 at such an hour.^ The Duke of Cumberland called and 
 they talked of the badness of the roads, &c. 
 
 The Duke had intended to recommend the Duke of 
 Cumberland's retirmg to Hanover. 
 
 Copies of these letters will be sent to the King. 
 
 I suggested that, although the King could not force 
 the Duke of Cumberland out of the country, he might 
 prevent his going so often to Windsor. The Duke of 
 
 1 These letters are to he found in Wellington Correspondence, vol. v. 613. 
 
168 DIARY. 
 
 1829. 
 
 Cumberland's remaining makes the Duke of Wellington's 
 letter to tlie household the more necessary. 
 
 Wetherell's letter was read. He stated that he 
 could not support the measure. I hope the Duke will 
 replace him immediately. It is quite essential to give 
 some unequivocal proof that the Government has life 
 in it. 
 
 The Duke represents his interview with the King to 
 have been very painful indeed. The King was in a 
 very agitated state, and even spoke of abdicating. The 
 Duke said it was the more painful in consequence of the 
 very peremptory language he was obliged to hold to 
 him. However, the King was very kind, and kissed him 
 when he left him. 
 
 The Duke, before he left the Castle, wrote a note 
 to the King expressing his gratitude for His Majesty's 
 kindness during the painful interview he had had with 
 him, assuring His Majesty that nothing but a deep sense 
 of the importance of the objects at stake would have 
 led him to insist as he did upon the several points he 
 had submitted to His Majesty, and declaring that His 
 Majesty's kindness would induce him to guard with in- 
 creased anxiety the interests His Majesty had justly so 
 much at heart. 
 
 It seems, I suppose by communication from Knighton, 
 that the King was much pleased by this letter. 
 
 The Duke spoke with much feehng of the painful- 
 ness of this interview. 
 
 After having received this communication we pro- 
 ceeded to the consideration of the Bill, and went through 
 a large part of it. 
 
THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND. 369 
 
 I heard from the Ashley s that Peel's Oxford com- 
 mittee had been very weak, apologising for asking votes 
 on the ground of securities promised ! The other side 
 sent a chaise and four for a man with a letter conjur- 
 ing him to come forward in defence of his rehgion. 
 
 March 1. 
 
 Cabinet at 4. The Duke absent. He went to Strath- 
 fieldsaye to receive the Judges. The Chancellor received 
 at the Cabinet a letter from the King which arrived in 
 town at one^ but which he did not get till past four, de- 
 siring him to go to Wifidsor immediately. 
 
 It's unlucky he did not get it sooner. He would 
 arrive just as the Eang was going to dress for dinner. 
 This looks ill, and as if the result of the Oxford election 
 had made the King waver. We have not heard what 
 answer the King gave to the Duke's letter, nor whether 
 he approved of the intended letter to the Household. 
 
 The great object is to remove the Duke of Cumber- 
 land from Windsor. This might be done. 
 
 Lord Plunket having complained that we kept the 
 secret of our intentions rather too well, it was consi- 
 dered right to remove the interdict from Lord F. Gower, 
 and he may now tell Lord Plunket confidentially what 
 our intentions are with regard to the 40.9. franchise. 
 
 I shall tell Lord Eosslyn to-morrow, and at the same 
 time put him au fait of our position at Windsor, and 
 show him the necessity of adhering to it. 
 
 The Oxford election and the sensation produced in 
 the country makes it necessary for us to have stronger 
 VOL. I. B B 
 
370 DIAEY. • 1829. 
 
 securities, and at the same time enables us to carry 
 tliem. 
 
 In the meantime the reports are that the King is ill, 
 if not mad. In fact the excitement in which he is may 
 lead to insanity, and nothing but the removal of the 
 Duke of Cumberland from his presence will restore him 
 to peace. The Duke of Cumberland takes to him Lord 
 Eldon's suggestions. 
 
 In Cabinet we went over the Bill till we came to the 
 clause respecting the Regulars of the Church of Eome, 
 whom the Solicitor-General mistook for Regulars of the 
 Army, and so solvuntur risu tahulw. 
 
 Lord E. Gower was present. He said nothing. 
 
 We have no new Attorney-General yet. This is a 
 great error. 
 
 The only proof we can give of having Windsor with 
 us, and of an expectation of surviving, is that which 
 is afforded by cashiering a recreant servant. It would 
 besides be such a good thing to get rid of the man. 
 
 If I had to write a Cathohc Eelief Bill it would 
 be very short. In the first clause I should repeal the 
 Acts or parts of Acts requiring the oath of supremacy, 
 and the declaration against Transubstantiation. In the 
 second I should specify the excepted offices. In the 
 third I should write the fifth Article of the Irish Union, 
 and then insert that, in heu of the oaths and declarations 
 repealed, an oath should be taken to maintain the 
 United Church of England and Ireland, according to 
 that Article. 
 
THE king's letter TO THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND. 371 
 
 March 2. 
 
 Eode down at 12 to the House of Lords to see the 
 Chancellor. He told me he had arrived at Windsor 
 just as the King was going to dinner. The King 
 desired him to sit down as he was. At dinner the Kins 
 was in excellent spirits. The only people there were 
 Strathearn, Keppel, two other men of the household, 
 and the three women. 
 
 After dinner the 'King was alone with the Chancellor ; 
 only Knighton was sent for and was present a part of 
 the time. The 'King began quietly, but at last he was 
 very vehement.' He wanted the Chancellor to take a 
 letter to the Duke of Cumberland which he showed to 
 him. This letter requested the Duke to leave England 
 — referred to the expression of a similar wish before 
 conveyed to him by Knighton — but at the same time 
 declared that his mind was not made up — that he waited 
 to hear the opinions of the bishops and law officers, that 
 he might at a subsequent period require the Duke of 
 Cumberland's assistance and support. / 
 
 The letter was full of the most tender expressions of 
 regard for the Duke of Cumberland, spoke of the rela- 
 tion in which the Duke had stood to the late King, 
 and of their opinions being blended upon this question. 
 
 The Chancellor declined taking the letter. The 
 King said there was a copy made of it, which was in 
 Watson's ^ handwriting, which he might show to Lord 
 Eldon I The Chancellor begged he might communicate 
 with the Duke of Welhngton, The King did not like 
 
 1 Sir F. Watson, Master of tlie Household. 
 
 B B 2 
 
372 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 this, but at last consented. The Chancellor did not 
 reach Strathfieldsaye till 3 in the morning. He saw the 
 Duke, who of course took exactly the same view of the 
 matter that he had done. The Chancellor went to bed 
 for two hours, and then set off at twenty minutes after 
 six and arrived in four hours at the House of Lords, to 
 sit on the trial of causes. 
 
 Srathfieldsaye was full of people who had been 
 invited to meet the Judges — amongst others, Palmerston 
 and Sturges Boiirne were there. Of course the Chan- 
 cellor's nocturnal visit must have been known. 
 
 The Duke called at Windsor on his return to town. 
 The Kino- could not be broufyht to consent to the Duke's 
 writing the letter he proposed to the household. He 
 became quite violent. He declared he was better satis- 
 fied Avith his present Ministers than with any he had 
 ever had ; that he could not go to Lord Lansdowne. He 
 would pass theKehef Bill without that for putting down 
 the Association. 
 
 He asked the Duke if he thought he could trust old 
 Eldon ! The Duke shook his head and laughed, and 
 said he would not advise His Majesty to do so. 
 
 The Kinof confessed he had looked round, and could 
 find no Minister but himself He then spoke of abdicat- 
 ing-, and said he should retire to Hanover with his pre- 
 sent income. He had thought of desiring Lord Bexley 
 to take a message to that effect to the House of Lords. 
 The Duke told him any person bearing such a message 
 must advise it, and he would find no one willing to 
 make himself responsible. 
 
 The King then desired the Duke to take the opinion 
 
THE chaivgellor's eeport. 373 
 
 of the Cabinet upon the affixmg the Great Seal to the 
 Commission for giving the Eoyal Assent to the Associa- 
 tion Suppression Act. 
 
 We had met at a quarter to 2, and having heard the 
 Chancellor's report, and determined that we could not go 
 on with the Bill without communicating the heads of it 
 to the King, and having his approval in writing, we set 
 to work with the Elective Franchise Bill. 
 
 The Duke arrived about 4. He reported what I 
 have already mentioned. We then considered the terms 
 in which the Cabinet should signify its opinion. 
 
 I made a draft, which was superseded by Peel's. 
 The substance of both was, that there had been an un- 
 derstanding that the Suppression Bill was only the first 
 of a series of measures of which the measure of Eehef 
 must be one, that in consequence of that understanding 
 the Bill had passed without opposition ; that we could 
 not advise ffis Majesty to give the Eoyal Assent to that 
 measure, without having the assurance of his Eoyal ap- 
 proval, or that he continued to approve, of the course of 
 measures of which the consideration had been recom- 
 mended by His Majesty's Speech, and that in the pro- 
 gress of those measures His Majesty's Government 
 would have the Avhole influence of the Crown with them. 
 
 This is only the substance. 
 
 In the Lords made a very mischievous 
 
 speech, though a very bad one. The Duke answered 
 .him admirably. I never heard him speak so well or 
 so effectively. 
 
 The Duke is, however, much exhausted. He was 
 three hours with the King tliis morning. The King 
 
374 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 was in bed, and throughout was very kind to him. He 
 kissed him when he went away. 
 
 The Duke has a very kind heart, and I really believe 
 the King works upon it and takes advantage of it. The 
 Duke cannot bear to see the King in distress. He told 
 me the other day the King was, he beheved, attached 
 to him, and would be very sorry to hurt him, but he 
 did not fear him. This seems to be the case. One 
 would have expected that the Duke would have drawn 
 the Popihan^ circle round the Eang, and would not have 
 left him without an assurance in writing of his determi- 
 nation to support the Bill. 
 
 It is dreadful to think what the result of a change 
 of Ministers may be. In Ireland, I fear, general disor- 
 ganisation, and a system of rapine and murderous out- 
 rage. In Europe our influence will be lost, and the 
 weak Government of France may plunge the nations in 
 war. The Church of England may be safe ; but the 
 Church of Ireland will fall. 
 
 March 3. 
 
 Office. Cabinet at 2. While we were there at four 
 arrived a letter from the King to the Duke, acknow- 
 ledging the receipt of his letter, and saying he must 
 take some time to collect his thoughts, before he could 
 answer it. 
 
 We had Leslie Foster, Doherty, the Solicitor-General, 
 and North at the Cabinet, and considered the Bill. 
 North objected strongly to the clause relative to titles 
 
 ^ Alluding to tlie story of the Roman general Popilius and Antioclius 
 Epiphanes. 
 
LETTTER FROM THE KING. 375 
 
 assumed by Popish Archbishops, &c. He thought the 
 assumption of such titles essential to the performance of 
 their functions. 
 
 House. The Duke's speech of last night has done 
 much good. In the first place it overset the Bishop 
 altogether. Besides it showed a conciliatory spirit, 
 and the Duke of Eichmond told me he was glad to hear 
 it, as he saw we should all shake hands and be friends 
 again when the Bill was passed. We had nothing but 
 petitions. Lord Lansdowne went out of his way to 
 rejoice in the existence of a united Government, and to 
 declare the impossibiHty of ever returning to a system 
 of neutrahty. He seemed to ajDprehend we might give 
 way and unite with Eldon. Eld on dexterously intro- 
 duced an allusion to the India Bill, and the dissolution 
 of Parhament consequent upon it. 
 
 In the Commons Brougham and Huskisson held the 
 same lano-uacre as to a neutral Grovernment, which had 
 been held by Lord Lansdowne. 
 
 Cabinet at half-past 9. We went on with the Bill, 
 and determined to adhere to the clause preventing the 
 Assumption of titles, but to abandon that preventing the 
 giving of them. Peel, Sir G. Murray, and Pitzgerald 
 were for giving up both ; but we resolved to maintain 
 the first on the King's account, as well as for effect. 
 
 At 10 came a letter from the King to say he was 
 much embarrassed by the letter the Duke had written, 
 and wished to see him, the Chancellor, and Peel together 
 at 12 to-morrow. 
 
 They think the King sent a copy of the Duke's 
 letter to the Duke of Cumberland, and that he and 
 
376 . DIARY. 1829. 
 
 Eldon Avere not re^dy to tell the King they could form 
 a Government. 
 
 The Archbishop of York presented a petition, and 
 said he waited to see the securities, and should be sorry 
 not to be able to vote for the Bill. 
 
 I do not think much of our Solicitor-General Tindal. 
 He is evidently not fit to be made Attorney. 
 
 March 4. 
 
 Office. Saw Aberdeen. The Austrians wish to be 
 placed on the footing of the most favoured nation in 
 India. I must desire some one at the office to make 
 a memorandum on the subject of the intercourse of 
 European nations, not having settlements in India, with 
 the territories of the East India Company. 
 
 Cabinet dinner at Lord Bathurst's. The Duke hav- 
 iuo^ gone down to Windsor with the Chancellor and 
 Peel, they joined us at a quarter before 10. 
 
 The Duke told us that the result of the interview 
 was that Peel would . to-morrow declare in the House 
 of Commons that he could not bring on the Kehef Bill 
 because he was no longer Minister. 
 
 The King talked for six hours. 
 
 The Duke says he never witnessed a more painful 
 scene. He was so evidently insane. He had taken 
 some brandy-and -water before he joined them, and sent 
 for some more, which he continued to drink during the 
 Conference. During six hours they did not speak 
 15 minutes. The King objected to every part of the 
 Bill. He would not hear it. The Duke most earnestly 
 entreated him to avoid all reference to his Coronation 
 
STATE OP THE KIXG's MIND. 377 
 
 oath. The King at one moment talked of postponing 
 the consideration of the Bill till he had seen the Arch- 
 bishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London — but 
 he gave np that idea of himself. It seems that he 
 really does not know what his Coronation oath is. He 
 has confused it with the oath of Supremacy. 
 
 The Duke saw Knighton after he had left the Kino-. 
 Knighton said the King was in a deplorable state, and 
 declared he had not a friend left in the world. Knigh- 
 ton wanted the Duke to see Lady Conyngham, but he 
 was afraid of meeting the King there, as he usually goes 
 there after a scene. 
 
 The Duke's idea is that he may be sent for on 
 Tuesday, on their finding they cannot make a Govern- 
 ment, and he thinks that is the King's expectation ; but 
 that he wishes to obtain popularity, and to seem to be 
 forced. 
 
 It is impossible not to feel the most perfect contempt 
 for the King's conduct. We should be justified in de- 
 clarinof we will have no further intercourse with one 
 who has not treated us like a gentleman. 
 
 I dread the effect of this overthrow of the Govern- 
 ment. We may possibly come in again in ten days, but 
 under what different circumstances — the King having 
 declared his dissent, and having made an appeal to the 
 people. The me^asure, if carried by us, would have a 
 very different effect from what it would have had, had 
 we carried it at once as Ministers. 
 
 There are two money bills now waiting for a third 
 reading in our House, and likewise the Cathohc Asso- 
 ciation Bill. The last .we will not pass : but it came up 
 
378 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 first, and my belief is that tlie precedent would be most 
 dangerous and unconstitutional of putting aside a Bill 
 coming up in order, without taking any notice of it. I 
 hold the King to be obliged to say either that he assents 
 or tliat he tvill consider of, which is held to be a dissent 
 to, a Bill brought up from Parhament. The question 
 will be looked into before to-morrow, when we have 
 a Cabinet, if indeed the meeting of 11 gentlemen no 
 longer His Majesty's Ministers can bear that appellation. 
 
 I think Aberdeen was much annoyed at our discom- 
 fiture. It is a serious inconvenience to Goulburn and 
 Sir George Murray, should it continue. 
 
 It is not convenient to me. However I like Opposi- 
 tion so much better than ofiice that I shall console 
 myself. 
 
 There seems to have been a curious scene when the 
 lawyers went away at 2 o'clock this morning. The So- 
 hcitor-General then first heard the Chancellor, the 
 Duke, and Peel were to go to Windsor to-day, and 
 that there was a hitch. He was quite astonished and 
 shocked, and cried out, ' Lord, I am committed, I am 
 pledged. We shall all fall together ! ' Doherty en- 
 joyed the joke, and said, ' Well, I shall have the conso- 
 lation of thinkino; that I was encrao-ed with Tindal and 
 Leshe Foster in drawing a Cathohc Eehef Bill ! ' Cer- 
 tainly the two last men we should have expected to 
 have been associated with on such a business. 
 
 March 5. 
 
 At a quarter past 12 received a message from the 
 Duke to go to him immediately. I went, thinking he 
 
COJS^SENT OF THE KmG. 379 
 
 had to announce the King's insanity. He, however, had 
 to announce a complete victory. A quarter of an hour 
 after he got home last night he received a letter from the 
 King declaring that to avoid the mischief of having no 
 Administration he consented to the Bill proceeding as 
 a measure of Government, but with infinite pain. The 
 Duke immediately wrote an answer, in which he stated 
 clearly and strongly his understanding of the King's 
 letter. The King rephed that his understanding of it 
 was correct. 
 
 So the Commission was immediately sent down to 
 Windsor for signature, and the Association Bill will be 
 passed to-day, if we get the Commission in time. 
 
 I went to the office and saw Bankes. I told him our 
 victory was complete, and had some conversation with 
 him upon the general subject. I showed him all the 
 dangers which would have attended a change of Govern- 
 ment, or even a temporary suspension of our functions. 
 He has behaved very well, and has abstained from 
 going to any meeting of the enemies of the Bill on the 
 ground that, as a member of the Government, he knew 
 more than he otherwise should have done. His conduct 
 has been very honourable. 
 
 Sat on the Commission at half-23ast 4. Peel and Planta 
 had begun to be very anxious about the arrival of the 
 Commission. 
 
 House very dull. Lord Winchelsea put off his 
 motion because everybody went to the House of Com- 
 mons. 
 
 Lord Eosslyn seems to be in some alarm about the 
 
 Eranchise Bill. 
 
S80 . DIARY. 1829. 
 
 Salisbury appeared not to like our securities. I did 
 not tell him all ; but lie wished to have some control 
 over the priests. I told him that we had considered 
 the several securities proposed for many days ; that 
 several which at first sight seemed most plausible, 
 appeared, on further consideration, to be really inju- 
 rious ; that I was convinced, even had it been possible 
 to carry it now, that a State provision for the clergy of 
 the Catholic Church would ultimately have proved most 
 fatal to the security of the Protestant Establishment. 
 
 The man I like best, and who seems to have more the 
 talent of speaking in him than any other great person, 
 is the Duke of Eichmond.^ I should be very glad if he 
 w^ere made Privy Seal when the Bill is passed. It is an 
 office which should be given to a man of high rank. 
 
 March 6. 
 
 Peel spoke for 4^ hours. He spoke very well 
 indeed — better than he ever did before. The House 
 was with him, and cheered him enthusiastically. The 
 Whigs are quite satisfied, and had a meeting to-day at 
 which they determined to give full support to the whole 
 measure. 
 
 O'Connell is satisfied with it, and so are tlie priests. 
 
 Lord Grey is rather sulky about the Franchise. It 
 is said the Canningites are too. 
 
 The Duke of Cumberland is most venomous. He 
 has hitherto been in good spirits, thinking he should 
 beat us, but the event of last night has made him mad. 
 
 ^ His opposition to the 'Catholic Relief Act' was so great as to make 
 him temporarily coalesce with the Whigs and take part in carrying the 
 Reform BiU of 1832. > 
 
SIE ROBERT PEEL. 381 
 
 I fear Salisbury will vote against us. 
 
 Lord Bathurst said to-day he believed the King to' 
 be quite capable of pretending to be mad in order to 
 carry his point. His yielding only two hours after he 
 had dismissed the Duke looks a httle hke it. 
 
 I received to-day, signed by the King, the confirma- 
 tion of Lord Dalhousie's appointment and the nomination 
 of Mr. Turner as Bishop of Calcutta. I wrote to Mr. 
 Turner announcing it, and directed my letter to him as 
 Bishop appointed of Calcutta. 
 
 Lord MountCharles went to the Chancellerie at 
 Esterhazy's yesterday, and related all the Ejng's conver- 
 sations at table, respecting the Bill and the votes of the 
 household. He even said, ' yesterday the King was 
 mad.' 
 
 I never saw the world in better humour than it was 
 to-nie^ht in the House. Even the Protestants did not 
 seem very ill-humoured. Such is the effect of a good 
 speech. 
 
 Sir G. Murray sjDoke admirably. Sir E. Lighs, the 
 new bigot elected at Oxford, most particularly ill. 
 
 March 7. 
 
 At half-past 3 I received a note from Mr. Fergusson 
 to tell me the House had divided on the Speaker's leav- 
 ing the Chair. Ayes, 348. Noes, 160. Majority, 188. I 
 had expected more. Mr. Fergusson says the minority 
 had 20 or 30 more than was expected. The House- 
 was not so full by 50 members as I thought it would 
 have been. As the Protestants intended, or said they 
 intended, to have a five nights' debate, I think there 
 
382 DIAKY. 1829. 
 
 must have been some trick in coming to a division. I 
 am very glad they did divide. A majority of 188 will 
 settle the feeling of the country. 
 
 I told Belfast they would not be able to hear a five 
 nights' debate. They would be bored to death by the 
 dulness of their own speeches. 
 
 Cabinet at 2. Leshe Foster, North, the Advocate of 
 Scotland, and the Solicitor-Generals of England and 
 Ireland were there. We went through the Elective 
 Franchise Bill. 
 
 Afterwards we had some conversation respecting 
 Wetherell and the others who voted against us last 
 night. The Duke is for doing nothing yet. He thinks 
 we are strong enough in the Lords, and may risk one 
 chance of recovering our friends if we adopt any measure 
 of severity. Lord Lowther voted against us, and has 
 resio-ned. Lord O'lSTeil has intimated that he intends to 
 vote against us, which is an intimation that he resigns. 
 The two Corrys voted against, and Sir Alexander Grant. 
 Planta miscalculated twenty or thirty. 
 
 Had at dinner the new Bishop of Calcutta, the 
 Chairs, Hardinge, the Bishop of Bath, and Fitzgerald. 
 We talked of nothing but the Catholic question. The 
 Bishop of Calcutta gave me his hst of the Bishops. 
 London and Chester have been won by the repudiation 
 of the Cathohc Church. On the whole he makes 11 
 certainly against, 3 to stay away, 9 certainly for, 2 
 with the King, 2 with the Duke of Northumberland, 
 2 doubtful. y 
 
LIST OF VOTEES. 383 
 
 March 8. 
 
 The Duke of Wellington read liis list of voters in the 
 lords. 
 
 He makes 13 certain transfers, 22 more probable, 
 11 micertain, besides 15 new votes ; as 44 are to be 
 worked down in the first event, we should have a mino- 
 rity of 3 ; in the 2nd, a majority of 41 ; in the 3rd, of 
 63. This is without counting any Enghsh Bishops ; 
 but it is on the supposition that all who voted in 1828 
 for the resolution will be brought to the vote now. Under 
 these circumstances, relying upon a majority, he thinks 
 it better not to have any question with the King about 
 displacing any of the men who have voted against us, 
 till the Bill is passed. It is a difficult point. The fear 
 is that many Peers not holding offices may think they 
 may as well please the King if they can do it with- 
 out displeasing the Government. The Whigs are indig- 
 nant at Wetherell's being suffered to continue in office. 
 They wish to convert the 160 Tories into an Opposition 
 and to join the Government. They will come over as 
 soon as the Bill is passed, and take their seats on our 
 side ; but if they see an indisposition to break with the 
 Tories they will, I dare say, be more hostile than ever. 
 Our pohcy, however, is to get back the Tories. We 
 never could get on with the Whigs. 
 
 Sahsbury votes against us. He says the majority 
 will be 30 less from the want of securities. I believe 
 he is altogether wrong. 
 
 W. Bankes gives a majority of 6. He thinks we 
 shall have 5 bishops. I think we shall have ten cer- 
 tainly. 
 
384 DIARY. 
 
 1829. 
 
 At the Cabinet we went through the Kehef Bill. It 
 was very dull. The feehng against excluding O'Connell 
 is universal. I was always against it. 
 
 33 members of the House of Commons voted against 
 Peel who were expected to vote for us. Belfast told me 
 at dinner that they expected to divide 200. That would 
 leave us 458. Still the same proportional majority. We 
 have clearly 2 to 1. 
 
 March 9. 
 
 Cabinet at 1. The Duke said he had had a sood 
 account from Windsor, that is, from Sir W. Knighton. 
 It seems the palace was in rebellion after the three 
 Ministers had left the King on Wednesday. Knighton, 
 finding they were gone, went into the room and found 
 the King lying on the sofa. The King began to tell 
 what had passed. Knighton accompanied him to his 
 room, and, guessing the purport of the communication, 
 thought he had better get what had passed from the 
 Ministers than from the King. Accordingly he went to 
 them as the Duke mentioned on Wednesday. He re- 
 turned to the King. The Conynghams went to him 
 too. They all told him he could not make another 
 Government ; that he was left alone ; that if he put his 
 breaking off upon his oath, as he had intended to do, he 
 would be unable to retract, and would be ruined. He 
 hesitated some time, but at half-past 9 wrote the letter 
 he sent to the Duke, and which he dated 8 o'clock. The 
 Duke's answer he received in bed on Thursday morn- 
 ing, and replied to it without any communication with 
 any one, and without keeping a copy. 
 
THE DUKE » OF CUMBERLAND. 385 
 
 After all the excitement of the interview, and of the 
 family insurrection which followed, he eat a good dinner, 
 not sitting down to it till 10 o'clock, and was as gay as 
 ever. 
 
 The Duke of Cumberland went down to Windsor 
 early on Saturday morning with an account of the divi- 
 sion and debate. He stayed there aU Saturday and 
 Sunday. When the King took leave of him he said, 
 ' My dear Ernest, don't talk to me any more about it ; 
 I am committed, and I must go through with it.' 
 
 The Duke of WeUington did not seem at all well to- 
 day. He looked very pale, and was languid and silent. 
 We sat in Cabinet, making httle progress with the BiU, 
 from a httle after one till ^ve. The Bill will not be 
 brought in till to-morrow, and I fear it will be very 
 ill-drawn. Lord F. Gower, North, Tindal, and Doherty 
 were present. 
 
 Lord F. Gower tears the Franchise Bill may lose aU 
 the support which has been promised to it, if the writs, 
 are to be suspended till the new registry is completed. 
 It is a matter of httle real importance, for probably no. 
 election will take place. 
 
 The universal feeling is against excluding 'Council 
 from the benefit of the Act, and forcing him to take the- 
 present oaths ; but I fear the Bill wiU stand so. 
 
 In the House I found Lord Harrowby, Camden, and 
 Eosslyn shocked and alarmed at the non-acceptance of 
 the resignations offered. Last night Sir J. Beckett re- 
 signed. Lord Lowther on Saturday. Wetherell is to 
 make a violent speech against us to-night. The Chan- 
 cellor agrees with me, and thinks that execution should 
 VOL. I. C C 
 
386 DIAEY. 1829. 
 
 be done, or at least tlie resignations accepted. He 
 intended to go after the House to speak to the Duke 
 about it. 
 
 Lord Grey told me he disapproved of the elective 
 Franchise Bill, and of the two oaths, one for the Protes- 
 tant and one for the Catholic. Of the latter I disap- 
 prove ; but it was necessary for the King's satisfaction. 
 
 At the Cabinet we did not know the Duke had been 
 blooded, but Lord Jersey, Lord Grey, and others knew 
 it in the House. 
 
 Lord Winchelsea offered to postpone his motion, 
 which stands for to-morrow ; but Lord Bathurst told him 
 the Duke would not hke to have it postponed on his 
 account. I rather doubt, however, whether he will be 
 able to be there. 
 
 March 10. 
 
 Cabinet at 12. At last finished the two Bills. We 
 had a long discussion relative to the question whether 
 the issuing of writs for Irish counties should be sus- 
 pended until the registration of the new freeholders 
 was complete, or whether, until it should be complete, 
 the 40.S*. freeholders should vote. I was from the first 
 against legislating for an individual case. I wished to 
 keep things quiet, and to allow O'Connell quietly to 
 take his seat on taking the new oath. That having 
 been overruled this new difficulty occurs. 
 
 I doubt our carrying the suspension of the writ, 
 although no doubt it is better that the writ should be 
 suspended than that the election should be confined to 
 the 20/. and 60/. freeholders, until the registration of 
 
LORD WINCHELSEA. 387 
 
 the new 10/. freeholders is completed. But tlie House 
 of Commons cannot endure what seems to be the perse- 
 cution of an individuaL 
 
 In the Morning Journal is an account, wrong as to 
 dates, but still substantially correct, of what took place 
 at Windsor relative to the Eehef Bill. The Duke says 
 the account, although inaccurate, is as accurate as any- 
 account could be that proceeded from the King, or the 
 Duke of Cumberland, and that he has no doubt they 
 think it accurate. 
 
 House. Lord Winchelsea made his motion for a re- 
 turn of Catholic priests, &c., and a very foohsh speech, 
 in which he declared his opinion that a Government 
 could be easily formed, that a dissolution should take 
 place, and that there should be a reform of Parha- 
 ment ! The Duke in answering him took occasion to 
 say that in introducing the Cathohc Bills he had the 
 sanction and support of His Majesty, and that he had no 
 doubt the perseverance, the honest perseverance of the 
 Government, would lead to a satisfactory conclusion. In 
 saying he had the sanction and support of His Majesty 
 the Duke looked at the Duke of Cumberland, who sat 
 down at the end of our bench. We all cheered, so did 
 the Whigs, so did the doubtfuls, and I think since 1819 
 I have not heard so good a cheer in the Lords. The 
 Duke's declaration has gained us ten votes. Downshire, 
 Darnley, Eossljm, and others, all came to express their 
 satisfaction. I asked Falmouth and the Duke of Eich- 
 mond if Eeform in Parhament was a measure of their 
 new Cabinet. They said no, and afterwards both got up 
 and declared they only agreed with Lord Winchelsea in 
 
 c c 2 
 
388 DIARY. 1820. 
 
 thinking the Bill a bad Bill. Old Eldon seemed 
 •bothered by the Duke's speech, and made a formal 
 declaration of opposition to the Bill, to be conducted 
 however in a very Parliamentary manner. The Duke 
 of Eichmond spoke in a very gentlemanlike and good 
 style. 
 
 A number of persons, perhaps 100, collects every 
 day at the door of the House. The word is given to 
 cheer or hiss. It is a Cumberland trick, but others in 
 the opposite faction are sent down, and he got some 
 hisses to-day. The Duke of Wellington got more cheers 
 than hisses. 
 
 Eldon is to make a motion for a return of Cathohc 
 priests who have taken the oath since 1813, on Friday. 
 
 March 11. 
 
 Occupied all the morning in looking through Acts 
 of Parhament relative to Lord Eldon's motion. 
 
 The Cabinet dined with me. Goulburn was absent. 
 He has a bad cold. 
 
 The Seraskier, who lately through Consul Meyer 
 made some pacific overtures, has been created Grand 
 Vizier. 
 
 The gallant defender of Varna has been displaced. 
 
 After dinner I asked the Duke who he wished to 
 go out as Governor to Bombay. He said Courtney. He 
 thought he would do very well, and he wanted a Privy 
 Councillor's place. 
 
 V. Eitzgerald said the Whigs were very much 
 annoyed at the vacant places not being filled up. The 
 Chancellor wants to make Scarlett Attorney-General. 
 
THE DUKE. OF NEWCASTLE. 389 
 
 The Duke of Atliol announced his adhesion, and 
 that of Lord Strath allan to-day. This is a consequence 
 of the Duke's Speech of last night. 
 
 March 12. 
 
 Occupied all the morning in looking into Acts of 
 Parliament. House. Only petitions. The Duke of 
 Newcastle went to Windsor yesterday. It is not yet 
 known whether he saw the King. In presenting a pe- 
 tition the Duke of Newcastle complained of the Opposi- 
 tion continuing to occupy their seats when they were 
 the only supporters of Government. This is throw- 
 ing away the scabbard ; but I apprehend few feel as 
 he does. 
 
 March 13. 
 
 The Duke- of Newcastle presented his petition and 
 said his say to the King ; but got no answer. The King 
 was made so angry by him two years ago, that he was 
 the worst man they could have employed. 
 
 I was occupied all the morning in looking over the 
 several Enghsh and Irish Acts of Parliament relative to 
 the taking of oaths by the Eoman Catholics to reheve 
 them from the Penal Code. 
 
 Called upon the Duke as I went down to the House, 
 to tell him the substance of what I had gleaned. 
 
 Lord Lansdowne made a speech of an hour in pre- 
 senting a petition. Very useless, and partly mischievous, 
 that is, as regarded the Franchise Bill, to which he 
 seemed to ssij,piu No che SI, on account of the principle 
 as apphcable to England. 
 
 Lord Eldon moved for returns of the Eoman Catho- 
 
390 DIAKY. 1829. 
 
 lies wlio liad taken tlie oaths required by tlie Act of 
 '91. In the course of his speech he read paragraphs 
 from the King's, and said, the King teas pledged to 
 nothing — the King's own words, which he has got from 
 the Duke of Cumberland. He seemed to say that the 
 King must, in giving his assent to the Bill, act for him- 
 self, without his Ministers, a notion Aberdeen has too, 
 and which appears to me to be most unconstitutional. 
 The Ejncr can do nothine' without an adviser. It is on 
 that ground that he can do no wrong. His adviser 
 does it for him. Lord Eldon alluded to the half-decla- 
 ration the present Archbishop of Canterbury made of 
 His Majesty's opinions in 1827, and said the King should 
 refuse his assent if he thought the Bill contrary to the 
 Constitution. 
 
 No notice was taken of this. The Duke could not 
 say more than he did the other day. Lord Gort, who 
 was once for the Bill, is now against it, because it does 
 not disfranchise freeholders in towns, and give him a 
 borough » 
 
 The Lord Chancellor accused Lord Eldon of insinuat- 
 ing^ which made Lord E. very angry. Lord Plunket 
 made a very good attack upon Eldon and Eedesdale. 
 The Duke got Eldon and Plunket to withdraw their 
 motions, and we are to have a BiU of Indemnity. 
 
 March 14. 
 
 Chairs at 11. Proposed to them Courtney as 
 Governor of Bombay. They received the proposition 
 very unfavourably, and said they thought the Court 
 would not be brought to consent to it. He had made 
 
THE GREEK TREATY. 391 
 
 himself very unpopular during the time he was Secre- 
 tary of the Board, and he was a man of undignified 
 manners and appearance. I said what I could for him. 
 He knows Indian affairs well, and is certainly a clever 
 man. 
 
 They think he does not fill a sufficient station in 
 this country, having been but lately made a Privy 
 Councillor, and they consider his unfortunate declara- 
 tion, that the minds of himself and his colleague were 
 sheets of wastepaper^ has let him down. They would 
 hke to have a good general officer or a peer. 
 
 Cabinet at half-past 3. 
 
 We heard a paper of Aberdeen's which is to be 
 placed on the protocol at a conference to-morrow. 
 
 Lieven will place his paper, in which he consents to 
 charge the Prench and Enghsh Ambassadors with the 
 negotiations relative to the Greek treaty at Constanti- 
 nople, provided we all agree first as to what propositions 
 shall be made to the Turks. The Eussians require the 
 extended frontier from Volo to Arta, and the estabhsh- 
 ment of an hereditary government. 
 
 The French, having once acceded to our proposition 
 for confining the hmits of the new State to the Morea, 
 have gone over to the Eussians in consequence of the 
 weakness of their Government, and the strength of the 
 party in the Chambers. Pohgnac will place on the 
 protocol a paper declaring their adhesion to the Eussian 
 proposition. 
 
 Aberdeen's paper repeated our unanswerable rea- 
 soning against the extended frontier, and then suddenly 
 fell into a conditional acquiescence in making a first 
 
392 DIAEY. 1829. 
 
 proposition on that basis to the Turkish Government. 
 The condition annexed being that the Turkish answer 
 should be fairly considered. 
 
 Aberdeen has been led to believe by Pohgnac that 
 Prance will accept the conditions annexed by us to our 
 acquiescence. 
 
 The paper contained several expressions of ill-temper 
 reflecting upon the conduct of all the alhes in the exe- 
 cution of the treaty, which others observed. I put my 
 finger at once upon the acquiescence in the Eussian 
 proposition as to the extended frontier. If we once 
 made such a proposition we should never get out of the 
 treaty. France was much more likely to come round 
 to our opinion, which has once been her own, if we 
 showed ourselves determined to adhere to it, and gave 
 good reasons for doing so, than if we evinced a vacil- 
 lation of purpose, and a disposition to go with the 
 majority. 
 
 The Turkish Government had reason to suppose we 
 should ask no more than the Morea, and would probably 
 give such an answer to our first proposition as would 
 put an end to all negotiation. 
 
 The Duke and all disapproved of the sudden dip to 
 acquiescence, and it will be made less sudden and more 
 reasoned ; but the mischief will be done. 
 
 Lord Heytesbury, in one of his recent dispatches, 
 said Eussia was more anxious about estabhshing an he- 
 reditary Government in Greece than about the hne of 
 frontier. I said the plan of our paper should have 
 been this. We should have placed in the foreground 
 all the unanswerable arguments in favour of our own 
 
THE TURKISH QUESTION. 393 
 
 proposition. We should then have shown the objec- 
 tions to the enlarged frontier, and pressed very strongly 
 indeed upon the hereditary Government being hardly 
 reconcilable with the terms of the treaty ; just leaving 
 an opening in our argument upon that point sufficient 
 to enable us to conclude by expressing a most reluctant 
 acquiescence in the making of a proposition to that 
 effect to Turkey. We should then have said that the 
 objections Turkey might reasonably make to that pro- 
 position were such that it would be idle to hope to 
 overcome them, unless we adhered to what she had 
 some right to expect on other points, and even showed a 
 concihatory disposition, leading to adjustment. 
 
 The object of the allies was not to throw insuperable 
 difficulties in the way of the execution of the treaty ; 
 but to get out of it, and therefore propositions must be 
 made which Turkey might accept. 
 
 This would have led to a return to the hne of 
 the Morea, which should have been our condition for 
 acceding to the hereditary Government. Thus we 
 might have broucrht round Russia. 
 
 Aberdeen said Matusckewitz did not seem to care so 
 much about the hereditary Government. Of course he 
 would not press that point and appear anxious for it 
 when he saw Aberdeen showed facihty upon it. 
 
 I am quite out of heart about our diplomacy. I 
 see Matusckewitz has succeeded entirely. The Greek 
 question will be kept open as long as it suits the inte- 
 rests of Russia ; her armies will pour down irresistibly 
 •upon the diminished foices of the Turks, for I fear the 
 Turks have latterly suffered more than the Russians 
 
394 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 from cold and want, and Constantinoj^le will be occu- 
 pied after a carnage from which human nature shrinks 
 shuddering. We shall have done nothing to avert this 
 dreadful catastrophe. 
 
 Aberdeen seemed to have shown his papers to the 
 Duke, but not to have written it from his suggestion. 
 II commence a s'emancipei\ and everything will only go 
 on worse. 
 
 The Duke of Newcastle had an interview of two 
 hours with the King. He read a long paper which 
 bored the King very much, and the King finished by 
 advising him if he had any further communications to 
 make, to make them to the Duke of Welhngton. This 
 is Lord MountCharles's account. The Duke of Wel- 
 hngton, however, says a great deal more passed. That 
 the Eang discussed Lords Eldon, Manners, Bexley, and 
 Colchester^ as Ministers, and rejected them all, and con- 
 cluded by asking the Duke of Newcastle if he could 
 even make a Government in the Lords, how would he 
 even conduct the ordinary business of Government in 
 the House of Commons ? 
 
 The Duke of Cumberland is gone down to Windsor, 
 and of this we shall feel the effects on Monday. 
 
 Peel is very angry with old Eldon, and says all he 
 stated the other night respecting his conduct in the 
 Cabinet as to the Catholic Association was false. 
 
 Our accounts from Lreland are good. The Catho- 
 lics have shown no indecent or intemperate exultation^ 
 
 ^ These were tlie principal peers who could have heen included in a 
 Cahinet opposed to the ^Catholic Relief Bill.' Lord Colchester's health 
 would, in any case, have precluded his taking office, as it prevented his 
 attending the subsequent debates. He died in May following. 
 
LORD WINCHELSEA's LETTER. 395 
 
 The Protestants have overcome the first shock, and are 
 in good humour. All begin to look forward mth satis- 
 faction to the end of a state of things which has disor- 
 ganised society. 
 
 Money has been abeady remitted to a large amount 
 for investment on mortora^e. 
 
 '^D^'to' 
 
 March 15. 
 
 Met Lord Beresford, who told me he heard, that is, 
 from the Primate of Ireland, that all the Enghsh Bishops 
 were to have a meeting to-morrow. I doubt it ; but I 
 told him he had better ascertain the fact, and let the 
 Duke know immediately if it was so. Wrote to tell 
 the Duke. 
 
 March 16. 
 
 At the House of Lords met the Bishop of London, 
 who wishes the Mauritius and the Cape to be annexed 
 to the See of Calcutta, and Australasia to that of 
 London. 
 
 House. A speech from Lord Kenyon about the 
 Coronation Oath. It seems to be the hne the Bruns- 
 wickers ^ take now. Old Eldon made a very disgraceful 
 speech, holding out that he might be driven to take 
 that hne himself, never having yet expressed an opinion 
 on the subject. 
 
 Lord Winchelsea has pubhshed a letter to the Secre- 
 tary of King's College, in which he announces his inten- 
 tion of withdrawing his name as a subscriber. He says 
 
 ^ This was a name given to the determined opponents of ' Catholic 
 Emancipation,' who had formed what were called 'Brunswick Clubs' 
 in allusion to the Protestant succession to the Crown in the House of 
 Brunswick. 
 
396 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 lie never felt very sanguine as to the good ejSect of esta- 
 blishing such a College, when he saw the Duke of Wel- 
 lington come forward in a new character^ as the Advocate 
 of Morality and Religion. He says this was done insidi- 
 ously, to make a show of a zeal for Protestantism, in 
 order to introduce Popery. 
 
 I do not know how the Duke will bear this. It 
 seems to me to be an attack unjustifiable, and not 
 within the hmits of pohtical hostility as it refers to 
 his private character. 
 
 Lord Eosslyn says he cannot make a less majority 
 in the Lords than 60. Drummond says 51. I shall be 
 satisfied with 30.- 
 
 The Bishops meet to-morrow. It seems they have 
 always hitherto had a meeting on the Catholic Bill, and 
 some of the violent ones desired they might have one 
 now. The Archbishop, not adverting to the mischief 
 which might result from it, acceded. The Duke had 
 some conversation with him about it in the House. I 
 know not with what efiect. 
 
 The Archbishop of Canterbury is a weak man. 
 
 March 17. 
 
 Office. Found a letter from Ashley complaining of 
 my not having shown him enough official confidence. 
 He thought the Writers' Bill had been introduced into 
 the House of Commons by Astell, and that there was to 
 be something in the House of Commons respecting the 
 Bencoolen case, he not having been consulted. I set 
 him right as to the facts. 
 
 In the House we heard the Bishop of Meath had 
 
THE KECOJIDER's REPORT. 397 
 
 ratted to-day at the meeting of Bishops ; but we know 
 no more. 
 
 Chester and Llandaff presented petitions, and gave 
 us to understand their opinions were in favour of the 
 Bill. I asked the Duke as to the Bencoolen case. He 
 considers it, as I do, closed. I am to let Courtney 
 drop for a time. 
 
 Went to the House of Commons. Second reading of 
 the EeHef Bill. Heard Gf. Bankes, Castlereagh, Sir E. 
 Knatchbull, Sadler, the Duke of Newcastle's new man 
 for Newark, and Goulburn. 
 
 Goulburn mouthed. Castlereagh was prepared in 
 bad taste. G. Bankes would speak better if he adopted 
 the conversation style. Sir E. Knatchbull was about as 
 good as I expected, the best of them. As for Sadler, he 
 made some good hits, but he will never have power, nor 
 have any of them. They all speak abroad of the point, 
 and are unimpressive. 
 
 I met Hardinge in the House, and had a long con- 
 versation with him and A. Stewart. 
 
 March 18. 
 
 I did not go to Windsor. The others did, to the 
 Eecorder's Eeport. The King seemed not well. He 
 has recurred to doses of laudanum. He leaves his 
 bed at 5 and returns to it at half-past 10. He had a 
 short interview with the Duke. The Duke told him that 
 if he was attacked by the Duke of Cumberland to-mor- 
 row he must defend himself as weU as he could. To 
 this the King made no objection. 
 
 The Duke spoke to the King of the intended visit of 
 
o 
 
 98 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 the Msli Bishops. The King said he should hear them 
 as he did the Duke of Newcastle, and say nothing. The 
 Duke told him he should receive them surrounded by 
 his household. To this the King neither assented nor 
 objected, and therefore it is expected that he will re- 
 ceive them alone, and make them a speech, telhng them 
 he would turn out the Government if he could find 
 another. 
 
 The Elng complained of being very unwell, and 
 seemed to be so. 
 
 Knighton finds Windsor so uncomfortable a resid- 
 ence that he has quitted it, and remains in London ; 
 but he will be told he really must go back. The 
 King's health requires it, as well as his pohcy. 
 
 The King evidently receives the most exaggerated 
 and absurd statements of what passes in the House. The 
 Duke told him he heard from Goulburn that there was 
 no violence. The King said, ' Why, there was a violent 
 altercation between Sir E. Inglis and that damned fellow 
 Lord Howick ! ' damned because he is the son of Lord 
 Grey. It was just nothing at all. 
 
 The Duke said he was convinced we ought to keep 
 the vote of Supply in our hands, and he would speak 
 to Goulburn about it to-morrow. 
 
 I am glad he has come to this opinion. I have 
 always thought that Herries was pushing on the votes 
 very unnecessarily. I distrust him, and have ever done 
 so. 
 
 I am sure we must keep the King and the Bruns- 
 wickers in our power. 
 
 The Duke has received the proxy of the Duke of 
 
ATTACK VYO^ THE CHANCELLOR. 399 
 
 Cambridge. It is sent to Lord Shaftesbury to be 
 entered to the Duke; and the Duke has received a 
 letter from the Duke of Cambridge to tell him so ; but 
 perhaps Shaftesbury may make a demur ; in which 
 case a messenger will be sent to Hanover immediately. 
 KLord Shaftesbury makes no objection the proxy will 
 be entered to the Duke's name to-morrow. 
 
 All this I heard at Aberdeen's, where we dined after 
 their return from Windsor. 
 
 March 19. 
 
 The Duke of Cambridge's proxy was entered to the 
 Duke of Wellington. 
 
 The Duke has desired Goulburn not to proceed so 
 rapidly with the Supply. 
 
 Wetherell last night attacked the Chancellor in 
 the most violent and vulgar manner. I am glad of it. 
 He has justified us in maldng a distinction between 
 him and every one else. He was a discredit to the 
 Government, and I am dehghted at our prospect of 
 getting rid of him. 
 
 In the House to-day the Chancellor had not yet 
 read his speech. Palmerston spoke admirably. K. 
 Grant very well. The numbers were 353 and 173. 
 They have gained 13, we 5. 
 
 Colonel Wood met Sir E. Knatchbull in the lobby. 
 Sir E. said he was glad to see him there. Wood said 
 he was there reluctantly, in obedience to his constituents. 
 Sir E. said that was in reahty his case ; and yet he made 
 a violent speech against the BiU ! 
 
 We had expected in our House a skrimmage, to be 
 
400 . DIARY. 1829. 
 
 begun by the Duke of Cumberland ; but he made a 
 quiet speech, that of a beaten man. Eldon said nothing 
 violent. Winchelsea was not in the House, nor the 
 Duke of Newcastle. They seem to give it up. 
 
 We had a speech from Lord Grey on the Newcastle 
 petition, unnecessarily long, but bothering to Eldon, to 
 whom it first communicated the fact that the Newcastle 
 petitions said nothing of ' Protestant Establishment in 
 Church and State,' because the Wesleyan Methodists, 
 by whose assistance alone the parsons could carry their 
 petition at all, would not consent to insert these words. 
 
 I have got some votes for Fergusson, but I fear he 
 will not succeed. To-morrow is the day of election. 
 W. Ashley told me he had given my letter to his 
 brother, who was satisfied with it. He did not come to- 
 day when Mr. Prince came by appointment on the Ben- 
 coolen case, nor has he, which he should have done, 
 written to me to say he had before written under a mis- 
 conception. 
 
 I cannot help thinking the Duke of Cumberland had 
 
 had a hint from the King that ' those who play at bowls 
 
 must expect rubbers.' Certainly between the giving of 
 
 his notice and to-day something must have occurred to 
 
 quiet him. 
 
 March 20. 
 
 Cabinet. Discussed the expediency of removing 
 Wetherell. He betrayed official confidence by men- 
 tioning the time at which Peel first made a communi- 
 cation to him of the intentions of Government. He 
 certainly kept us in ignorance of what he intended to 
 do till the 23rd of February, and I know I feared he 
 
THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAJSD. 401 
 
 meant to support it. His dismissal is to be placed, not 
 distinctly upon the Catholic question, but upon his 
 conduct in abusing the Chancellor, betraying confid- 
 ence, &c. I expect that the King will make no 
 objection to displacing Wether ell, but he will wish to 
 fill his place (with Scarlett) immediately. However, 
 it is thought we had better defer that till the Bill is 
 passed. K the King should resist we are not to go out 
 upon it now, but sacrifice everything to the carrying 
 of the Bill, and deal with Wetherell afterwards. It 
 is thought that should the King refuse to turn out 
 Wetherell we shall hardly stand worse than we should 
 if we did not notice his conduct. The Duke, and 
 indeed many, seem to think that the King will now 
 go through the measure with us, and take his revenge 
 by turning us out afterwards. I care very httle about 
 what happens afterwards. We must do all we can to 
 carry the Bill, happen what may. 
 
 In the House we had nothing but petitions. 
 
 The Duke of Cumberland said to the Chancellor, 
 ' The Duke is a bold man, but I do not think he will 
 dare to turn out Wetherell. It will create such a feel- 
 ing in the country.' 
 
 The Duke of Cumberland dined at Prince Ester- 
 hazy 's yesterday, and was quite flat, contrary to his 
 usual habits, for generally he is quite buoyant there. I 
 cannot help thinking he begins to feel he shall be 
 beaten. 
 
 The accounts we ■ have from the country are very 
 good. All the intelligent part of the people seem to be 
 in favour of the Bill. People begin to accustom them- 
 voL. I. D D 
 
402 DIARY. 
 
 1829. 
 
 selves to the contemplation of it, and to rejoice in the 
 prospect of general union. 
 
 In the House of Commons we divided, 223 to 19 on 
 the Franchise Bill. Palmerston, Bankes, and Herries, 
 each with his httle band of people, voted in the minority. 
 
 The ' Times ' very well calls the minority on the Eehef 
 Bill ' the forty shilhngers ' of the House of Commons. 
 
 March 21. 
 
 Chairs at 11. Astell said I was not to consider the 
 opinion expressed on the subject of Courtney as more 
 than the opinion of himself and the Deputy ; but they 
 thought the Court would never consent to appoint him. 
 
 I was in hopes Fergusson would have come in ; but 
 he is beaten by a majority of more than 400 — ^Astell 
 having been the leader of Sir W. Young's people. 
 
 Wrote to Planta suggesting the immediate adoption 
 of measures for securing Fergusson's return on the next 
 vacancy. 
 
 We must break through the phalanx of Directors 
 and Indian agents, who now make the Court a self- 
 elected body. 
 
 While I was expecting the Bencoolen claimants, I 
 received a note from Hardinge, desiring me to call im- 
 mediately at the War Office to hear the account of the 
 meeting with Lord Winchelsea. 
 
 I concluded the Duke had had a meeting with Lord 
 Winchelsea. I went immediately. By Hardinge's man- 
 ner I saw nothing had happened. He was the Duke's 
 second. The correspondence had been going on ever 
 
DUEL BETWEEN THE DUKE AND LORD WINCHELSEA. 403 
 
 since Tuesday. Falmouth was second to Lord Winchel- 
 sea. 
 
 He thought Lord Winchelsea's letter to Coleridge 
 imjustifiable, but still went out as Lord Winchelsea's 
 friend, which he should not have done. He should 
 have forced Lord Winchelsea to apologise. 
 
 The first feehng of every one is that the Duke should 
 not have gone out ; but when they read the letters they 
 think he was right, as somehow or other he always is. 
 
 Throughout he gave every opening to Lord Win- 
 chelsea to get out of the scrape. Lord Winchelsea be- 
 haved like a gentleman and a man of courage on the 
 field. The Duke said no one could have behaved 
 better. 
 
 Ealmouth wanted to have 18 paces, but Hardinge 
 insisted on 12. 
 
 Lord Winchelsea was placed so near a ditch that 
 the Duke said he was on the point of cvjing out, ' Damn 
 it, if you place him there, he will fall' into the ditch.' 
 The Duke said he considered all the morning whether 
 he should fire at him or no. He thought if he killed 
 him he should be tried, and confined until he was tried, 
 which he did not hke, so he determined to fire at his 
 leo"s. He did hit his coat. Lord Winchelsea fired in 
 the air, and then presented a paper already prepared, 
 expressing regret at what he had unadvisedly written. 
 Hardinge insisted on the insertion of the words in 
 apology, which, after discussion, were adopted and 
 
 inserted. 
 
 I found Hardinge with Sir H. Taylor. Sir W. Gordon 
 came in. I went to the Treasury to read the papers, 
 
 D D 2 
 
404 DIAKY. 1829. 
 
 where I found Arbuthnot, Drummond, and Greville 
 copying. The copies Avere not ready, so I went to the 
 office to receive the Bencoolenites. I then returned to 
 the Treasury, and followed the papers to Peel's, where 
 we arranged them for pubhcation in the Courier. 
 
 The Duke went to Windsor. The King seemed 
 colpito at first by the proposal respecting Sir Charles 
 Wetherell, but acquiesced. The Duke then said, 'I 
 have another subject to mention to your Majesty, per- 
 sonal to myself. I have been fighting a duel this 
 morning.' The King said he was glad of it. 
 
 He afterwards said he had heard of Lord Whichel- 
 sea's letter but had not read it. The Duke showed it to 
 him ; then the King said it was atrocious, and if he had 
 seen it he should have recommended it to the Duke's 
 notice. It is lucky the Duke saw the King before 
 Eldon, or that rascal the Duke of Cumberland had 
 an opportunity of infusing poison into his mind. The 
 Duke read to the King all the letters. 
 
 The King is in better health, and everything was 
 couleur de rose. 
 
 I heard all this from the Duke, whom I met at 
 Arbuthnot's at dinner. 
 
 March 22. — Sunday. 
 
 Cabinet. The King has sent for the memorandum 
 which was written by the Chancellor, and sent to him 
 on the 24th of January. The memorandum was in 
 Knighton's possession. The King at the same time de- 
 sired to have the letter he had intended to send to the 
 Duke of Cumberland on the 2nd of March. This letter 
 
SIR CHARLES WETHERELL. 405 
 
 the Duke advised the King not to send. It is thought 
 the King now intends to show the memorandum to the 
 Duke of Cumberland, and to give him the letter as a 
 set-off against the dismissal of Wetherell. 
 
 The Chancellor has no copy of the memorandum. 
 Knighton came for it in a hurry on the 26th of January 
 and carried it off before a copy was made. The Chan- 
 cellor was to have made one that night. 
 
 The Chancellor told me this when I met him at Sir 
 J. Beckett's at dinner, but he said he would that even- 
 ing get a copy from Knighton. 
 
 Various alterations have been made in the Belief 
 Bill. 
 
 The Duke writes to-day to Wetherell, and directs 
 his letter to Sir Charles, acquainting him that his recent 
 conduct having been inconsistent with his duty as an 
 ojfficial servant of the Crown in a situation which he had 
 not intimated his intention of resigning, he had thought it 
 his duty to represent it to His Majesty, and had received 
 the King's commands to inform him that His Majesty had 
 no further occasion for his services. 
 
 Peel intends to be very severe upon Wetherell should 
 any notice be taken of his removal. 
 
 We rest it principally upon his betrayal of official 
 confidence in mentioning in the House of Commons the 
 day on which he first had the intentions of Government 
 communicated to him. I thought Peel should not enter 
 the Hsts with him as an equal, but treat him with scorn. 
 
 This Wetherell unbuttoned his braces when he 
 began to speak, and put his hands into the waistband of 
 his breeches. He almost swept the ground with his 
 
406 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 head, and stood in the middle of the House. His repe- 
 titions were more numerous than ever. Horace Twiss 
 said he was very mad, and had but one hicid interval, 
 which was between his breeches and waistcoat. 
 
 Much doubt arose as to dates at the Cabinet. I 
 promised to make for the Duke an extract from my 
 memoranda, Avhich I have done. 
 
 Saw Fergusson to-day. He had 1,100 or 1,200 
 promises, and polled not 700 votes. He says the 
 Chairman has the votes of the tradesmen, &c., about 
 70. The Jews under Eothschild, 70. The Alexanders 30 
 of their own, and in all about 70. The total number of 
 votes about 2,500. 
 
 March 23. 
 
 Occupied all the morning in writing out extracts ^ 
 from my memoranda to put before the Duke the history 
 of all that has taken place since the 15th of January. 
 
 The Duke has found a copy of the Memorandum of 
 the 24th of January, upon which the King had put the 
 date. 
 
 House. Peel sent to the Chancellor for the Attorney- 
 General's oath. The Chancellor sent to the Crown 
 office for it, and it seems that Wetherell had sent for 
 the same thing five minutes before. 
 
 Nothing but petitions. 
 
 Dined at home, and went to the House of Commons 
 at a quarter to 11. The House was in Committee on the 
 Eehef Bill. Before I had been there 10 minutes they 
 divided on the silliest of points, and I went away. 
 
 ^ These extracts are to be found in Wellington Correspondence^ vol. v. 
 548-553. 
 
STEATFORD CANNING. 407 
 
 Aberdeen told me he wanted to have a Cabmet 
 respecting the removal of Stratford Canning. 
 
 March 24. 
 
 In riding down to the office received a note from 
 Peel telHng me it was to be proposed to insert the 
 Governors of Indian Presidencies among the excepted 
 offices. He intended to oppose it, and asked for reasons. 
 I sent him facts. They now may be Cathohc. They 
 take no oath excluding them. They translate, but they 
 do not appoint chaplains, and they only translate with 
 the advice of the bishop. 
 
 The majorities increase. 
 
 Lord Londonderry asked some questions about the 
 coal trade. The Duke promised a committee, which 
 will be moved for on Thursday. It will be a bore, 
 
 March 25. 
 
 Dined with the East India Company. Lord Camden, 
 Bishop of Bath, Lord Melville, Graham, Ashley, Bankes, 
 Sir T. Acland were there. Was introduced to Major 
 Barnewall, who has brought over the dispatches from 
 Sir John Malcolm. I told him I would see him when- 
 ever I had received the Solicitor-General's opinion. 
 
 The new Bishop of Calcutta made a good speech. 
 His manner was excellent and impressive. Astell said 
 he did one credit. I think he did. 
 
 March 26. 
 
 The Chancellor wrote to Wetherell to know whether 
 he would resign his patent or have it revoked. He 
 
408 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 answered sulkily he would do nothing in the matter. 
 This is the man who pretended he had resigned ! This 
 patent must be revoked. 
 
 Lord Eosslyn told me Lord Chandos said they meant 
 to divide on the first reading in the Lords, and take us 
 by surprise. They will divide on fixing the day for the 
 second reading. However, we shall be prepared. 
 
 Lord Morley told me Lord Chatham's vote might be 
 got by a httle civihty. I told the Duke, who is going 
 to call upon him. 
 
 The Chancellor told me the Bishop of Winchester's 
 speech was excellent. 
 
 An advertisement has been circulated, calhng a 
 
 meeting in Hyde Park on the 7 th of April to reassure 
 
 the timid, &c. This will not answer. They think 
 
 Tuesday will be the day of the division on the second 
 
 reading. 
 
 March 27. 
 
 Cabinet. We met in consequence of news having 
 arrived that the Eussians had seized two Turkish ves- 
 sels, or rather Egyptian, off Candia, and that they had 
 established a blockade of Alexandria. They had recently 
 raised the blockade of Candia as parties to the Treaty 
 of London. My position is that we cannot act in con- 
 cert with them under the Treaty of London, if they so 
 use their belligerent rights as to lead to results different 
 from those which they propose to themselves as parties 
 to the Treaty of London. We cannot allow them as 
 belligerents against Turkey to adopt measures subver- 
 sive of the engagements they enter into as our allies. 
 
 Shall we carry France with us in resistance to this 
 
OUR COISTDUCT, TOWARDS FRANCE. 409 
 
 measure ? Aberdeen says Polignac seems to think we 
 cannot submit to it ; but Polignac does not know what 
 orders he may receive. 
 
 It seems to me that we ask France to go with us, but 
 do nothing to lead her to take our views. Here we have 
 every advantage. France deprecates the blockade of 
 Alexandria as injurious to her commerce. Every French 
 statesman must be jealous of the encroachments of 
 Eussia, and Eussia, having agreed to exclude Candia 
 from the proposed limits of new Greece, having on that 
 account agreed to raise the blockade of Candia, as a 
 party to the treaty of London, now estabhshes a block- 
 ade of Alexandria and Candia, with the double object of 
 serving her own cause immediately, by preventing the 
 throwing of supplies into Constantinople, and indirectly 
 by separating Candia from Turkey. The French should 
 dread, much more than we have any reason to do, the 
 annexation of Candia to Eussia. It is impossible that we 
 should not be able to work upon their national feelings 
 so as to induce them to view the conduct of Eussia 
 with jealousy. But nothing of this will or can Aberdeen 
 do. I declare I think we are unjustifiable before God 
 and man for having done nothing, and permitted, what 
 we might have prevented, the horrors of the campaign 
 which is now about to commence. 
 
 The idea seems to be that the French Chambers are 
 in such a state that the King could not form a Govern- 
 ment which would have a certain majority. 
 
 Sir G. Murray thinks the wounds of the Eevolution 
 are not yet closed, and that France will yet suffer con- 
 vulsion. . ■ 
 
410 . DIAEY. 1829. 
 
 Aberdeen thinks their prevalent feeling is hatred of 
 US. 
 
 I believe that if we carry the Catholic Bill and 
 remain a Government, we shall feel our power doubled. 
 Prance and America will no longer see a vulnerable 
 point. All the world will know that we are a united 
 people. The Foreign Ministers form, what Aberdeen 
 calls, vain and exaggerated ideas of the value to us of 
 the settlement of this question. I do not beheve their 
 ideas are exaggerated. I believe that in ten years the 
 \ influx of capital into Ireland will make that country re- 
 / semble England. As we have not yet received oflicial 
 intelhgence of the blockade, nothing was decided upon. 
 In the meantime Pohgnac is to be approached quietly. 
 
 I am quite indignant at seeing the entire success of 
 Matusckewitz. The object of Eussia was to prevent 
 the return of our Ambassadors to Constantinople. Their 
 return has been delayed till it will be no longer useful, 
 and they go to make demands to which Turkey cannot 
 accede, and which -will only make her desperate. 
 
 The King saw Lord Mansfield yesterday for two 
 hours. The King says Lord Mansfield told him the 
 Bill would only be carried by five in the Lords, in 
 which case he said he would not give his consent. 
 
 There has been a meeting of Peers at Lord Kenyon's 
 — the Duke of Cumberland in the chair. Lord Chandos 
 secretary. Violent resolutions were agreed to, and a 
 petition to the King. 
 
 Old Eldon was not in the House to-night. Perhaps 
 he may be gone to Windsor with the petition. 
 
 We are to vote as little money as we can. They 
 
LORD ELDON GOES TO WINDSOR. 411 
 
 think one safeguard against dissolution is the circum- 
 stance of the Franchise Bill not coming into operation, 
 in the event of a general election, until the new registry 
 is completed. This would require three months. It is 
 imagined they would fear to dissolve, Ireland remaining 
 as it is. I do not beheve they would. They are too 
 stupid to have the fears of rational men.^ 
 
 I heard somewhere a day or two ago that the Duke 
 of Montrose had gone back. ' 
 
 The Duke says if that be so, the King has spoken 
 to him, as he has been given to imderstand what the 
 Bang's wishes are. 
 
 Lord Kosslyn expects a majority of 70. I shaU be 
 quite satisfied with 50. 
 
 March 29. 
 
 Met Lord Hill at dinner. 
 
 Sir J. Oswald has declined the command at Bombay; 
 
 so I have succeeded in getting him to offer it to Sir 
 
 Sidney Beckwith. This will please the Duke. Lord 
 
 Hill has heard nothing more of the supposed mutiny, 
 
 but what he had heard referred to a regiment at 
 
 Madras. The mutiny now reported was at Cawnpore — 
 
 the 11th Dragoons. Lord Hill's story was about the 
 
 13th Foot. 
 
 March 30. 
 
 I see Lord Eldon went to Windsor on Saturday and 
 was four hours with the King. EeaUy the King's con- 
 
 ^ In fairness to this party, it may he supposed that they felt resistance to 
 he less dangerous than concession avowedly made from fear of civil war. 
 But the conduct of those who coalesced with their old opponents from a 
 feeling of revenge on the Ministry might justly he called irrational. 
 
412 DIAEY. 1829. 
 
 duct is most dishonourable towards the Government.^ 
 Provided we all go out together, and upon this question, 
 I care little about the loss of office ; but it is awful to 
 think what might be the consequences to the country of 
 a change of Government, and of disappointment on this 
 question. 
 
 The Duke is gone to Windsor. A handbill has 
 been circulated intimating that many persons having 
 expressed a wish to meet or accompany the Duke of 
 Newcastle in their carriages when he goes with a peti- 
 tion to Windsor on Wednesday, the King has permitted 
 they should do so. Lord Bathurst told me the substance 
 of it. It is said to be cautiously worded. 
 
 House. Nothing done. Lord Grey asked me 
 whether it was true Stratford Canning had been re- 
 called and Gordon appointed. Not knowing whether 
 the King's pleasure had been taken, I made as good an 
 answer as I could. I afterwards asked Aberdeen, and 
 found it was so. Stratford Canning had sent a condi- 
 tional resignation, which was accepted — the condition 
 being, I believe, that his instructions should be in tenor 
 and spirit precisely the same as those of his colleagues. 
 Whether Gordon has abihty I do not know, but he will 
 at any rate be faithful. Canning had had views directly 
 contrary to those of the Government. 
 
 March 31. 
 
 The division on the 3rd reading of the Belief Bill 
 was 320 to 142 — majority, 178. So the foolish Protes- 
 
 ^ The Ministers "believed him to he secretly encouraging opposition to 
 the Relief Bill, in the introduction of which he had, though reluctantly, 
 acquiesced. 
 
THE jyUK^ AT WINDSOR. 413 
 
 tants must have paired off to the number of 40 or 50. 
 The most unwise thing a minority can do. However, 
 our majority should have been greater. 
 
 Saw the Duke, who was at Windsor yesterday. The 
 handbill invited persons to go to Windsor on Wednes- 
 day, there to dehver the petition of the inhabitants of 
 London, &c., to the Duke of Newcastle, who was to 
 present it to the King. It stated that this intention 
 had been communicated to His Majesty. 
 
 The King told the Duke it had not been. The 
 Duke impressed upon the King the danger of the prece- 
 dent ; and showed the object was to collect a mob to 
 overawe Lady Conyngham and persons residing under 
 his protection. He showed the King the Act of 
 Charles H. limiting the number of persons who might 
 present a petition. 
 
 He obtained from the King authority to write to 
 the Duke of Newcastle and inform him that the meet- 
 ing announced in the handbill had not been communi- 
 cated to the King ; that the King desired the petition 
 might be sent through the Secretary of State, and that 
 the King would receive the Duke if he desired an audi- 
 ence as a peer. 
 
 The Duke of Newcastle replied that the handbill 
 had only been shown to him last night, the 30th ; that 
 he did not entirely approve of it ; that he was not going 
 to present the petition ; that he understood the idea of 
 presenting it had been abandoned, as it had been ascer- 
 tained it would not be agreeable to the King, which 
 would account for the King being ignorant of it. An 
 odd conclusion. 
 
414 DIARY. 1829. 
 
 The Duke of Wellington wrote to the King, and 
 sent his Majesty his letter to the Duke of Newcastle, 
 and his answer. Again impressed upon the King the 
 danger of the precedent of allowing peers to present 
 petitions at audiences. That if they gave answers in 
 the King's name they became responsible for those 
 answers, and in fact usurped the functions of the Secre- 
 tary of State. The Duke told the King the petition in 
 question was, he heard, to be presented by four peers, 
 and he repeated his advice that it should only be 
 received through the Secretary of State. 
 
 The Duke of Wellington says the five minutes Lord 
 Camden thought would be sufficient for him to obtain 
 Lord Chatham's vote would be Jive hours, and he could 
 as httle afford five hours as five days. 
 
 House. 173 members present. Bills brought up. 
 Peel, followed by Government members. On the motion 
 for printing, question asked as to mode of proceeding. 
 On the Duke's saying he should propose the second 
 reading on Thursday, there was much dissatisfaction 
 and some talk, which ended, however, without any di- 
 vision. I spoke, and just said what I wished. I gave 
 Lord Eldon a shght touch, but was very temperate. 
 
 Lord Eldon threatens to produce all his petitions on 
 Thursday to create delay. 
 
 The Duke is indifferent whether Sir Sidney Beckwith 
 or Sir James Lyon goes to Bombay. If Sir James Lyon 
 goes Sir Sidney Beckwith will succeed him at Bar- 
 badoes. 
 
 We had a long discussion about having the galleries 
 put up in the House of Lords, We decided against 
 
PREPARATIOKS FOR THE DEBATE. 415 
 
 having tliem, because it would have been necessary to 
 have an address to the King. 
 
 The heat will be intolerable. The largest number 
 of peers who ever divided in the House was 206. We 
 expect 260. 
 
 Benches have been placed before the fireplace, which 
 is blocked up. This gives us twenty more seats, and 
 makes the House look handsomer. It is much more 
 convenient, too, as we keep more of our friends near 
 us, and avoid the collecting of httle mobs near the 
 table. 
 
 THE END OF THE FIEST VOLUME. 
 
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