Volume II Part 11 (2/2)
He also toldan account of the scene when Brougha theha that the Usher of the Black Rod (Tyrwhit) was at his elbow saying, 'My Lord Chancellor, you ; you ed out of the House in this hurry and without having tie Head: THE KING DISSOLVES PARLIAMENT]
Such has been the termination of this Parliament and of the first act of the new Ministerial dranoher pretensions, greater professions, and better prospects than the present, but nothing ever corresponded less than their performances with their pretensions The composition of the Governood deal of loose talent there was so ether with inexperience and ignorancethey cut the sorriest possible figure Such men as Richmond, Durhah to spoil any Cabinet, and consequently their course has been marked by a series of blunders and defeats Up to the moment of the dissolution few people expected it would happen, so would not consent, others that the Govern is weak and the Ministry reckless That disposition, which at first appeared so laudable, of putting himself implicitly into the hands of his Ministers, and which seemed the more so fro, as always thwarting his Ministers, throwing difficulties in their way, and playing a double part, beco all free action and free opinion on his part, and of suffering himself to be made the instrument of any measures, however violent It rees with these men, and has opinions coincident with theirs, but this is not probable; and e remember his unlination, it is impossible to believe that he can have so rapidly imbibed principles the very reverse of those which the Duke maintained[2] It is more likely that he has no opinions, and is really a mere puppet in the hands into which he ave him his sentiments upon the state of affairs He will not say what passed between the was extreainst it ever since it was first proposed to him in March See Lord Grey's letter in the 'Times' of March 26, 1866
The Queen and the Royal Fas, but the for
In the meantime there are very different opinions as to the result of the elections, soain much by the dissolution, others that they (or at least Refor It see, but tiained to the other side The census of 1831 will be out, and the chapter of accidents may and mustthe progress of Reform, and whether this Bill or another like it passes isThe Government have made it up with O'Connell, which is onethey have had to s, as one of their own friends said of thee Head: THE GENERAL ELECTION]
Last night at the Queen's ball; heaps of people of all sorts; everybody talking of the elections Both parties pretend to be confident, but the Government with the best reason The countyabout like nine-pins, and though it seehs, they reatly in the counties; and we must not only look to the relative numbers, but to the coe h no of what is called independence would not look well Large sums have been subscribed on both sides, but on that of the Opposition there is a want of candidates more than of places to send theht, and asked him what it was he said in the House of Lords He said it was nothing very violent, but that it was not heard The Duke of Richmond had spoken to the point of order, and said in a veryby a _junior_ Baron' This was Lyndhurst, as offended at the sneer upon his want of _anciennete_, and who retorted that before the noble Duke made such speeches on points of order he would do well to make himself acquainted with the orders of the House, of which it was obvious he knew nothing The Duke of Devonshi+re told Lady Lyndhurst that her husband ought to resign his judicial situation because he had displayed hostility to Governht, but it would be a new es were to be amenable to the Minister for their political opinions and Parliaht before last there was an illuot up by the foolish Lord Mayor, which of course produced an uproar and a general breaking of obnoxious s Lord Mansfield and the Duke of Buccleuch went to Melbourne in thewhat protection he un (with powder only) was fired over the heads of the ain The Governed this manifestation of triu the popular excite as they can keep the people in a ferree to hear their joy and exultation at the success of their ood prospects held out to them by the elections; all of which may turn out very well, but if it does not 'who shall set hoddy-doddy up again?' Lord Cleveland has subscribed 10,000 to the election fund
Lord Yarborough, by a very questionable piece of political ht to Governhter, whose guardian he is as well as executor under the will In this capacity he has the disposal of the boroughs, and he gives them to the Ministers to fill with e price is paid for theht votes, and if the Bill is carried they will be worth nothing The elections prohs, as I was persuaded they would
O'Connell has put forth a procla peace, order, and support of the Bill's supporters To He said that he was a Reformer and liked the Bill, but he was fully aware of all that it ht produce of evil to the present system He owned frankly that he felt like an Irishs of Ireland and the obstinacy of the faction who had oppressed her still rankled in his heart, and that he should not be sorry at any vengeance which ht overtake them at last I hear renewed co, cowardly policy; that we are indebted to him principally for our present condition I have no doubt--to his obstinacy and to his conduct in the Catholic question first, to his opposition and then to his support of it
Opposing all and every sort of Reform _totis viribus_ while he dared, now hewhich should be ust people inconceivably, and it is not the less melancholy that he is our only resource, and his capacity for business and power in the House of Commons places him so far above all his competitors that if we are to have a Conservative party we must look to hie Head: THE QUEEN ALARMED IN THE CITY]
Nothing could go on worse than the elections--Reformers returned everywhere, so much so that the contest is over, and we have only to await the event and see what the House of Lords will do In the House of Commons the Bill is already carried It is supposed that the Ministers thein to be alarmed at the devil they have let loose, and well theyhas put off his visit to the City because he is ill, as the Government would have it believed, but really because he is furious with the Lord Mayor at all the riots and uproar on the night of the illuht the Queen went to the Ancient Concert, and on her return the uards, and the footed to beat the people off with their canes to prevent their thrusting their heads into the coach She was frightened and the King very much annoyed He heard the noise and tu for her return When she came back Lord Howe, her cha said, 'How is the Queen?' and went down to er anti-Reforhtened, sir,'
and made the worst of it She was in fact terrified, and as she detests the whole of these proceedings, the ry and io to the City at all It is supposed that Governe batch of Peers to secure the Bill in the House of Lords, but the press have already begun to attack that House, declaring that if they pass the Bill it will be from compulsion, and if they do not that they are the enemies of the people
May 11th, 1831 {p142}
The elections are going on universally in favour of Reforreat interests in the counties are everywhere broken, and old connexions dissevered In Worcestershi+re Captain Spencer, who has nothing to do with the county, and was brought there by his brother-in-law, Lord Lyttelton, has beaten Lygon, backed by all the wealth of his family; the Manners have withdrawn froeshi+re, and Lord E Somerset from Gloucestershi+re; Lord Worcester too is beaten at Monmouth
Everywhere the tide is irresistible; all considerations are sacrificed to the success of the measure At the last Essex election Colonel Tyrrell saved Western, ould have been beaten by Long Wellesley, and now Western has coalesced with Wellesley against Tyrrell, and will throw hied hi forward another candidate on his side, and Milton joins him and stands
The state of excitement, doubt, and apprehension which prevails will not quickly subside, for the battle is only beginning; when the Bill is carried we must prepare for the second act
May 14th, 1831 {p142}
[Page Head: LORD MUNSTER'S PEERAGE]
The elections are still going for Reform They count upon a majority of 140 in the House of Commons, but the Tories meditate resistance in the House of Lords, which it is to be hoped will be fruitless, and it is probable the Peers will trot round as they did about the Catholic question when it coreat hubbub at Northaiven not to bring forward another candidate against Cartwright which the anti-Refor up Milton, and moreover that such conduct is very dishonest; and as his honesty was his principal recommendation, if he should have forfeited that ould reave no such pledge, that he expressed a hope there ht be no contest, but the people would have Milton, and though Althorp regretted his standing, as he did stand they were obliged to join for their co squabble, of which tiht I went to Prince Leopold's, where was George Fitzclarence receiving congratulations on his new dignity (Earl of Munster) He told , Lord Grey, his friends, and the public He had told Lord Grey he was anxious his brothers and sisters should have the rank of ive them titles) Grey had only objected that their titles would then represent a higher rank than his own,[3] but that he laid no stress on that objection, and it would be done directly Melbourne has written a letter to the Lord Mayor assuring hi's visit to the City, and that there is no foundation for the report of his displeasure, the Lord Mayor's explanation having proved quite satisfactory This is not true, I believe, but they make him say so
[3] [If Lord Grey said this it was a hters of marquises take rank after earls]
May 22nd, 1831 {p143}
[Page Head: LORD BROUGHAM AS A JUDGE]