Volume II Part 9 (2/2)

I have just been to hear Benson preach at the Temple, but I was so distant that I heard ill Hisaha of all people!

February 15th, 1831 {p114}

Yesterdaynews cauilty and (by his counsel, Mr Perrin) pleaded guilty, to the unutterable astonishht

Sheil wrote word that his heart sank at the terror of a gaol, and 'hoould such a ate?' Everybody's impression was that it was a couilty on condition that he should not be brought up for judg days several indirect overtures to Lord Anglesey, ould listen to nothing, and told hi for hiland directly, and will be brought up for judgives out that he was forced to do this in order to hasten to England and repair in the House of Co what ard to hio down even with them

Sheil says 'O'Connell is fallen indeed' I trust, though hardly dare hope, that 'he sinks like stars that fall to rise no more'

It is impossible to form an idea of the astonishs, which have ended so triulesey, however, wrote word to Lady Anglesey that no one could form an idea of the state of that country: that fresh plots were discovered every day, that from circumstances he had been able to do more than another man would, but that it was not, he fire Head: LORD ALTHORP'S BUDGET]

There was a reed to withdraw the Transfer Tax, and that there should be no Property Tax A ure was never cut than his; but how should it be otherwise? A respectable country gentle and sporting, with all the integrity of 15,000 a year in possession and 50,000 in reversion, is all of a suddenable to speak, and Chancellor of the Exchequer without any knowledge, theoretical or practical, of finance By way of being discreet, and that his plan may be a secret, he consults nobody; and then he closets himself with his familiar Poulett Thomson, who puts this notable scheme into his head, and out he blurts it in the House of Co either preparations for defending it or for an alternative in case of its rejection If Althorp and Poulett Thos are likely to happen The Opposition cannot contain themselves; the women think they are to co as they left the House on Friday, 'Mr Baring, you said last year you thought ate that any Chancellor of the Exchequer had ever brought forward; I think you will now no longer say it was the _ht Praed[15] ood

[15] [Winthrop Mackworth Praed, a young reat proree in 1825, and was regarded by the Tories as the rival and coton Macaulay But unhappily he died in 1839]

February 17th, 1831 {p115}

The day before yesterday Duncannon called on ot up an opposition to him in Kilkenny; that he was of opinion that the recent events would diminish neither his power nor his popularity, and that in fact he was infallible with the Irish mob As Richard says, 'if this have no effect, he is iton called on my family yesterday; he says the Reform question will not be carried, and he thinks the Governs are certainly better (internally), and that the great fear is lest people should be too ht; a party; saw a vulgar-looking, fat , rather pretty pink and white woman, his wife The randdaughter What a host of associations, all confused and degraded! He is a son of Murat, the King of Naples, as said to be 'le dieu Mars jusqu'a six heures du soir' He was heir to a throne, and is now a lawyer in the United States, and his wife, whose nahter (This ton never had any children)[16]

[16] [Achille Murat and his ere living at this tient's Park It was said she was Washi+ngton's grand-niece, but I am not sure what the relationshi+p was, if any She was certainly not his granddaughter]

February 24th, 1831 {p116}

[Page Head: WEAKNESS OF THE GOVERNMENT]

At New out at eight o'clock every ht before last and foundin the House of Lords (which is a secondary consideration), is weak in the House of Coree which is contemptible and ridiculous Even Sefton now confesses that Althorp is wretched There he is _leading_ the House of Cohtest acquaintance with the various subjects that come under discussion, and hardly able to speak at all; not one of the Ministers exhibits anything like vigour, ability, or discretion As Althorp cannot speak, Grahaed to talk, or thinks he is, and, as I predicted, he is failing;[17] with some cleverness and plenty of fluency, he is unequal to the situation he is placed in, and his difference with Grant the other night and his apology to O'Gorman Mahon have been prejudicial to the Government and to his own character The exultation of the Opposition is unbounded, and Peel plays with his power in the House, only not putting it forth because it does not suit his convenience; but he does what he likes, and it is evident that the very existence of the Govername, however, is to display candour and moderation, and rather to protect them than not, so he defends many of their measures and restrains the fierce animosity of his friends, but with a sort of sarcastic civility, which, while it is put forth in their defence, is always done in such a manner as shall best exhibit his own authority and his contempt for their persons individually While he upholds the Govern each member of it into conte under his lash and their own i off a division which would show the world how feeble they are Neither the late nor any other Governure as this does

Palood, Althorp a great deal of haruished himself, and what he has had to do has done very well It is not, however, only in the House of Coet did their business in the City, and alienated the trading interest It is a curious circumstance that both Goulburn and Herries have been beset by deputations and individual applications for advice and assistance nearly as much since they left office as when they were in it by merchants and others, who coo to Lord Althorp, for they find that he has not the slightest acquaintance with any of the subjects and interests on which they addressed themselves to hi that he was a Whig in principle, and had been an opponent of the late and a supporter of the present Govern off fron While the Government is thus weak and powerless the ele fresh force, and without any fixed and loyal authority to check them will pursue their eccentric course till some public commotion arrives, or till the Conservative resources of the country are called into action and the antagonistic principles are fairly brought to trial

[17] It was on Lord Chandos's motion to take into consideration the state of the West Indies

The King went to the play the night before last; ell received in the house, but hooted and pelted co home, and a stone shi+vered aof his coach and fell into Prince George of cu was excessively annoyed, and sent for Baring, as the officer riding by his coach, and asked him if he kneho had thrown the stone; he said that it terrified the Queen, and 'was very disagreeable, as he should always be going somewhere'

In the House of Co the whole thing ridiculous by the sort of reductions they suggest Hume proposed to cut down the President of the Council to 1,000 a year, on which Stor, and this (which was intended to ridicule Hume's proposal) was carried, but will probably be rescinded There is no directing power anywhere, and the sort of anarchy that is fast increasing et confusion nobody has the least idea how reforo, or of the nature of what theysaid to Cecil Forrester yesterday, ent to resign his office of Groon?' He said he could not support Government or vote for Reforht have waited till it came on, for it probably will not be carried;' and this he repeated twice Lord Durhaive up his salary as Privy Seal, which is no great sacrifice, considering how long he is likely to enjoy it, and everybody gives hiested the relief to coals for his own interest Lady Holland, who has got a West Indian estate, attacked hiar duties, and asked him if they would not reduce them He said 'No' She retorted, 'That is because you have no West Indian estate; you have got your own job about coals done, and you don't care about us' In the House of Lords they have it all their oay The other night, on Lord Strangford's ham exhibited his wonderful powers in his very best style Without any preparation for the question, and after it had been exhausted in a very good speech of Goderich's, he got up, and in answer to Strangford and Ellenborough banged their heads together, and displayed all his power of ridicule, sarcasu The next night he brought forward his Chancery Reform measure in a speech of three hours, which, however lu for their Lordshi+ps, and before the end of it the House hadthis success, heremoved from his natural element and proper sphere of action, and hePeel riot and revel in his unopposed power, like Hector when Achilles would not fight, though this Achilles can never fight again, but he would give a great deal to go back to the field, and would require much less persuasion than Achilles did

February 25th, 1831 {p119}

[Page Head: LADY JERSEY AND LORD DURHAM]

A drawing-room yesterday, at which the Princess Victoria made her first appearance I was not there Lady Jersey ot up and crossed the room to his about me which are not true, and I desire that you will call upon me to- that you will not repeat any such things about me,' or, as the Irishman said, 'words to that effect' She was in a fury, and he, I suppose, in a still greater He ain, which she did not hear, as after delivering herself of her speech she flounced back again to her seat,that he should make Lady Durhas Lady Jersey had said of her and the other Whig ladies