Volume I Part 17 (1/2)
Went froainst O'Connell and wants to have a provision in the Bill to prevent his sitting for Clare, which I trust is only her folly, and that there is no chance of such a thing The Duke came in while I was there He said he had no doubt he should do very well in the House of Lords, but up to that time he could only (that he knew of for certain) reduce the majority of last year to twenty He did not count bishops, of who, but the three Irish bishops would vote with him There were many others he did not doubt would, but he could only count upon that number
He held some proxies, which he said he would not ford's, as he could not hear from him in time, and would not use anybody's proxy for this question who had voted against it before I told him how peevish the Duke of Rutland, and Beaufort, and others of the High Tories were, but he only laughed In the evening Fitzgerald told nation of his seat for the University, but left the tied In the first instance Peel wrote to the Dean of Christ Church, but he and Lloyd[2] agreed that he ought to write to the Vice-Chancellor, which he did The Vice-Chancellor did not read his letter till after they had voted the address to Parliament by three to one, after which it was difficult for the but disapprobation of Peel's conduct; whereas if the Vice-Chancellor had read it first, probably the petition would not have been carried, or at any rate not by so large a h and then resigned, when I have no doubt he would have been re-elected; very likely he may be as it is
[2] [The Bishop of Oxford, one of Sir Robert Peel'sto make another appearance on the boards of St Stephen's, on the Terceira business, and he is to give notice to-night He has been with Pal up his case, and he expects to be supported by sos and by the Huskissonians, which latter are evidently anxious to do anything they can to e of the case, which, _priainst Governreat pending affair, that I think they will reat fool for his pains, for in claainst the pricks As to Duncoed on by La about theI have no idea but that Duncoure when he steps out of the line of personal abuse and ie Head: CATHOLIC RELIEF BILL]
February 11th, 1829 {p172}
Nothing is thought of or talked of but the Catholic question; what Peers and bishops will vote for it? who voted before against it? There is hardly any other feeling than that of satisfaction, except on the part of the ultra-Tories, who do not attee and vexation; thebeen told of as going on; and Huskisson's party, ould have been glad to have a share in the business, and who now see themselves in all probability excluded for ever O'Connell arrived yesterday; it is supposed he will not take his seat, but he does not sees quiet However, his real disposition is not yet known, and probably he has not made up histhe declaration of the bishops, I do not believe they will vote against Governht, and severely trireat pleasure, so e of h I have nothing to do with politics, I cannot help being influenced to an extraordinary degree by what has passed, and can understand froed may be biassed by the prejudices and attachainst their sincerity or judgreatly disapprove, all their actions and motives are suspected by us, and _vice versa_ We lend a willing ear to imputations of vanity, interest, and other unworthy motives, and e cannot explain or coe them unfavourably while we are opposed to their s very differently, and begin to hesitate about the justice of our censures and the suspicions which we previously entertained
It is pretty clear that the Duke will have a good majority in the House of Lords, and that many Peers and bishops will find excuses between this and then for voting with hi happened the other day in the Vice-Chancellor's Court Sugden had taken a brief on each side of a case without knowing it Home, who opened on one side and was followed by another lawyer, was to be answered by Sugden; but he, having got hold of the wrong brief, spoke the saden is with you?' 'Sir,'
said Hoed on the other side' Finding himself in a scrape, he said 'it was true he held a brief for the other party, but for no client would he ever argue against what he knew to be a clear rule of law' However, the Court decided against them all
February 13th, 1829 {p173}
Still the Catholic question and the probable nu else Lord Winchelsea makes an ass of himself, and would like to be sent to the Tower, but nobody willsuch a blockhead says Lord Holland talks of a ton to O'Connell's door the other day; he went in The next day I asked hily to dissolve the association; O'Connell said he could not press it himself, but would write to Ireland that it was the unanimous opinion of all the friends of the cause here that it should be done The fact is, he does not dare to acquiesce in all the h there is little doubt but that he desires to see an end to associations and agitations Lady Jersey affects to be entirely in the Duke's confidence She said to Lord Granville at Madaht that 'she made it a rule never to talk to the Duke about affairs in public,' and she said to ht that she had knoas to be done about the Catholics all along Certainly she contrives to reat deal of her, for he calls on her, and writes to her perpetually, but I doubt whether he tells her le to be exeation on all members of Government to vote for the Bill, but the Duke will not stand it, and they o out The Privy Seal was offered to Lord Westood--that if he had been in the Cabinet, hehis mind on the Catholic question that the other Ministers did; but not having had those opportunities, he retained his former opinions, and therefore could not accept office
[Page Head: CATHOLIC RELIEF BILL]
February 22nd, 1829 {p174}
Went to Newmarket last Sunday and ca else Everybody believed that the Duke of cumberland would support Govern, who desired hiot to town he went uninvited to dine with hi of consequence in either House, except the dressing which Lord Plunket gave Lord Eldon, though that hard-bitten old dog shows capital fight Peel has got a ent colis's committee, on the contrary, is composed of men not much better than old women, except Fynes Clinton, the chairreater in the House of Lords, but it is very ridiculous to see the facesthe bitter pill Too great a noise is made about Peel and his sacrifices, but he must be supported and praised at this juncture It is not for those who have been labouring in this cause, and want his assistance, to reject him or treat him uncivilly now that he tenders it But as to the body of the High Tories, it is iust and contempt, for now they feel only for theers they have been constantly crying out about that affects the such a sudden turn, and bitter norance, and, consequently, having been led to hold the sa had lived, God knoould have happened, for they never would have turned round for him as they are now about to do for the Duke The circua on in Ireland, and in the same manner, and the Clare election was only what had happened at Waterford before All this has given a blow to the aristocracy, which h at now, but of which the effects will be felt some day or other
Who will have any dependence hereafter on the steadiness and consistency of public iven to professions and declarations? I ah the mire, as far as the individuals are concerned, but I am sorry for the effect that such conduct is likely to produce
There was a capital paper of Cobbett's yesterday, in his best style Many Liberals are uneasy about what are called the securities, and when the Duke tells Lord Colchester that if he ait he will be satisfied with the Bill, it is enough to make them so; but erald said that 'we had not yet seen what soht consider the objectionable parts of the ht be necessary, the Govern the Catholic question behind theo through with it;' and I think he said distinctly that Catholics and Protestantsto that effect He went off into a panegyric on the Duke, and said that seeing him as he did for several hours every day, he had opportunities of finding out what an extraordinary man he was, and that it was remarkable what complete ascendency he had acquired over all ere about hilish of this is (what everybody knew) that he dictates to his Cabinet The fact is, he is a y, decision, and authority, and his character has been formed by the events of his life, and by the extraordinary circuher than any subject has attained in reat influence is indispensable to carry this question, and therefore most useful at this ti in a style which no other Minister could adopt He treats with hi stands co before a correct and impartial estimate is formed of the Duke's character and abilities; his talents, however,description Whatever he may be, he is at this moment one of the reatest Ministers have been obliged to bend to the King, or the aristocracy, or the Commons, but he co, but that he heard he was as sulky as a bear, and that he was sure he would be very glad if anything happened to defeat this h he is tooto thwart it
The Ee of the newspapers here, and desired his Minister to complain of it, and the Duke wrote the answer hith into the character and utility of the press in this country, a dissertation affording a proof certainly of his quickness and industry, overwhelive up his Garter, but the Duke would not take it back
[Page Head: DEBATE OF THE ROYAL DUKES]
February 26th, 1829 {p177}
The debate on Monday night in the House of Lords was very a It was understood the Duke of Clarence was to speak, and there was a good deal of curiosity to hear hiht lest he should be violent and foolish He ood deal of stuff in it, but such as it was it has exceedingly disconcerted the other party The three royal Dukes Clarence, cuot up one after another, and attacked each other (that is, Clarence and Sussex attacked cumberland, and he thee that nobody else could have ventured to employ; so it was a very droll scene The Duke of Clarence said the attacks on the Duke [of Wellington] had been _infamous_; the Duke of cuan to answer it could not recollect the expression, which the Duke of Clarence directly supplied 'I said ”infamous”' The Duke of Sussex said that the Duke of Clarence had not intended to apply the word to the Duke of cuht Then the Duke of Clarence said that the Duke of cuotten there was such a thing as freedom of debate
February 27th, 1829 {p177}
They say Plunket ht, and Lord Anglesey spoke very well There was hardly anybody in the House Peel's election [Oxford University] is going on ill The Convocation presents a raceful scene of riot and uproar I went to the Coht at twelve, and found nobody there but Dr Russell, the head- for Hobhouse and a his boys' exercises He knew h he had not seen me for nearly twenty years, when I was at school I shall be sorry if Peel does not come in, not that I care much for him, but because I cannot bear that his opponents should have a triureat scene with the Duke of cuo back to Gerument and many reproaches they made it up, embraced, and he shed a flood of tears
I er), which are very applicable to the Duke in his dealings with his Cabinet and his old friends the Tories:--
You never heard the e course? No; these are cabinet councils, And not to be communicated but To such as are his own and sure Alas!