Volume I Part 3 (1/2)
February 18th, 1819 {p017}
Yesterday Lamb was only seven behind Hobhouse on the poll; everybody thinks he is sure to win, even if Burdett should coreat uproar and s Burdett made a shameful speech full of blasphemy and Jacobinisreat uards of West and dull; he did not speak like a clever man, and if the people would have heard Lamb, and he has any dexterity in reply, he must have crushed him--it was so answerable a speech
I went to the Berrys[31] in the evening, where the blues and the ere asseed,' but there was nothing re
[31] [Miss Berry's well-known _salon_, No 8 Curzon Street, which was for more than a half a century the resort of the best coe Head: PARTY SPIRIT]
February 25th, 1819 {p018}
The debate on the 10,000 to the Duke of York on Monday produced four very good speeches--Peel and the Solicitor-General on one part, and Tierney and Scarlett[32] on the other This latter spoke for the first time, and in reply to the two former The Opposition came to Brookes' full of admiration of his speech, which is said to be the best _first speech_ that ever was made in the House of Commons I, who hear all parties and care for none, have been amused with the different accounts of the debate; one ht and the finest that has been th of time; another prefers the Solicitor-General's; then on the other side it is said that Tierney was excellent, Mr Scarlett beyond all praise
The friends of Governreat merit to the two latter speakers, but declare that Peel was unanswerable, besides having been beautifully eloquent, and that Scarlett's speech was a fallacy froood; his was a speech for effect, evidently prepared, showy, but not argu
Thus it is that a fair judgment is never formed upon any question; the spirit of party influences every man's opinions It is not extraordinary that each individual of a party connected by general sireat body, even in cases where he ree with the his own view for the great object of unanimity; but it is very improbable that on a particular question, unconnected with any general systeuments are adduced frouments which are looked upon as satisfactory and unanswerable by one set of men should be deemed without exception utterly fallacious by another If any proof were requisite of the hty influence of party spirit, it would be found in a still stronger light in the State trials in the House of Lords I have in my mind the trial of Lord Melville; when each Peer had to deliver his judicial opinion upon the evidence adduced in a e of a duty so sacred, it s would be laid aside, and that a htened conscience would alone have regulated the conduct of every individual Yet either by an extraordinary accident or by the influence of party spirit we beheld all the Peers on the Ministerial side of the House declaring Lord Melville innocent, and all those of the Opposition pronouncing hiuilty
[32] [Sir Jaer and Lord Chief Baron It is remarkable that his first speech in the House of Co side of the House He afterwards becae Lamb was to have been chaired on the day he was elected, but the eous and would not suffer it They broke into his committee room, and he and McDonald were forced to creep out of a two pair of stairsinto the churchyard His partisans, who assembled on horseback, were attacked and pelted, and forced to retreat after receivingthe h's and Lord Sefton's houses
The other night Sir James Mackintosh[33] made a splendid speech on the Criminal Laws; it was temperate and eloquent, and excited universal adhly of it as the Opposition thes, and they say it was the finest speech he ever made, in the best taste, the clearest narrative, and the e
[33] [Sir James Mackintosh's motion for the appointainst the Government on the 2nd of March by 148 to 128]
June 12th, 1819 {p020}
I have been at Oatlands for the Ascot party On the course I did nothing Ever since the Derby ill fortune has pursued me, and I cannot win anywhere Play is a detestable occupation; it absorbs all our thoughts and renders us unfit for everything else in life It is hurtful to the s; it incapacitates us for study and application of every sort; it htful and nervous; and our cheerfulness depends upon the uncertain event of our nightly occupation How anyone can play who is not in want of ely frahten his pleasures So from habit, and may not wish to throw off the habit fro fresh employment for the mind at an advanced period of life Some a a-table all men are equal; no superiority of birth, accoreat noblemen, merchants, orators, jockies, states confusion; the only pre-eminence is that of success, the only superiority that of temper But why does a man play who is blessed with fortune, endoith understanding, and adorned with accoht ensure his success in any pursuit which taste or fancy ht incite him to follow? It is contrary to reason, but we see such instances every day The passion of play is not artificial; it ; at least some must have been so constituted that they yield at once to the attraction, and enter with avidity into a pursuit in which other men can never take the least interest
June 14th, 1819 {p020}
The other night in the House of Con Enlistment Bill Sir Jaree in co answered hiton told ood debate in the House of Lords the night before on the Catholic question, but he thought his side had the worst of it; he acknowledged that Lord Grey's speech had done much to shake his opinion, and that he had not conceived that his propositions would have been framed in so unobjectionable a manner[34]
[34] [On the 10th of June Earl Grey submitted to the House of Lords a Bill to relieve Roainst Transubstantiation and the Invocation of Saints On this occasion, for the first time, Lord Grenville supported the Catholic claie Head: PERSIAN AMBassADOR AND THE REGENT]
June 25th, 1819 {p021}
The Persian Ambassador has had a quarrel with the Court He wanted to have precedence over all other Ambassadors, and because this was not allowed he was affronted and would not go to Court
This nified to him that his presence would be dispensed with at Carlton House, and that the Ministers could no longer receive hient went to Lady Salisbury's, where he iven offence, had y, and said that illness had prevented hient caood friend, how are you? I hope you are better?' He said, 'Oh, sir, I ahness by not going to Court Now, sir, ress, about which I know nothing, say Ito his head) when I go back to Persia' The Regent said, 'Well, nify' He answered, 'Oh yes, sir; but your Royal Highness still angry with ht' The Regent laughed and said, 'I was only going to have a few children to dance, but if you like to coly he went to Carlton House, and they are very good friends again
August 11th, 1819 {p021}