Volume III Part 13 (1/2)
Brougha to be Chief Baron It matters not what he does for the present; his star is totally eclipsed, but not, I think, for ever quenched; his vast abilities must find scope and produce effect It is true he can never thoroughly inspire confidence, but if adversity teaches hiination, nothing can prevent his political resurrection, thought not in 'all his original brightness'
December 6th, 1834 {p170}
The Chancellor called onDisraeli into Parliae Bentinck)[5]
for Lynn I had told hi out Williaentleman, whom he called a friend of Chandos His political principles must, however, be in abeyance, for he said that Durhaet him by the offer of a seat, and so forth; if, therefore, he is undecided and wavering between Chandos and Durhae I don't think such a h just such as Lyndhurst would be connected with
[5] [Lord George Bentinck was is It is curious that this, the first inated with the man who afterwards became his most powerful coadjutor and ally]
Melbourne's two speeches at Derby, and the history connected with them, exhibit him in a very discreditable and lamentable point of view--compelled by the menaces and reproaches of Duncannon and the rest to eat his words; and all this transacted by a sort of negotiation and through the , and Mrs Lane Fox Such a thing it is to be without firentlehtforward, with no ue, but he is habitually careless and _insouciant_, loves ease, and hates contests and squabbles, and though he would never tell a lie, he has probably not that stern and rigid regard for truth which wouldor suffering a false impression to be forht be concerned in
Lyndhurst told me that Peel's letter was short and cautious, but satisfactory He (Lyndhurst) is doing all he can to draw closer the connexion between the 'Times' and the Government, and communicates constantly with Barnes He said they must make a liberal and comprehensive Government, and sketched an outline of such a Cabinet as he would like--four Stanleys, six of their own people, and two High Tories, Chandos certainly, and Knatchbull probably; but even if Stanley's other scruples can be got over, how he is to be induced to unite with Chandos and Knatchbull or any suchvery near
December 7th, 1834 {p171}
In a letter froe Bentinck yesterday he says that the Duke of Newcastle had been there the day before, had talked politics, and declared that in his opinion the leaders of his party ought not to give way upon any one point This is so different froton understood from his letter to him that I sent the letter to the Duke, and afterwards I ht the Duke of Portland must be mistaken, for the Duke of Newcastle's letter to him was quite in another sense This is one of the silliest of the High Tories, but there will yet be some trouble with the tribe John Russell, in a speech somewhere, has made assertions still more positive and unqualified than Melbourne's, which, if correct, throw over the King and his case There is a fearful lie somewhere, which I suppose will come out in time It is impossible to make up one's mind in the e Bentinck sent to Sturges Bourne to know if he would come in for Lynn, but he declined
Disraeli he won't hear of
Decee Head: LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S SPEECH AT TOTNESS]
[Page Head: INCONSISTENCIES OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON]
I read John Russell's speech at Totness last night; it was a very masterly performance, suitable to the occasion, and effective He endeavoured to establish these points: first, that the Duke of Wellington had continually opposed all Reform measures and been the enemy of all Reform principles; secondly, that they (the late Govern too much; and thirdly, that there really had occurred no circu, sufficient to account for their su that his first position is incontrovertible, that he ureat doubt upon thepreviously had no doubt that the King had a good case to show to the world It is not so much the Duke's opposition to this or that particular measure, but the whole tenor of his conduct and opinions, which it puts one in despair to look at There would be no gross inconsistency in his n relations in their present state, notwithstanding his repeated attacks upon Palislative interference with the Church, English or Irish, reat, by the way, as I always thought that blunder was, and as events will prove it to have been), but in his opposition to the one or the other we look in vain for so declaration to prove that it is to the specific measure he is hostile, and not to the principles from which it emanates If he now coations that have been set on foot, and to propose various measures of refor to circu from the fact that his conduct in opposition and in office is as different as light from darkness, and that he adopts when in office those principles in the gross which he utterly repudiates and opposes with all his ht when he is out I should like much to have a conversation with the Duke, and (if it were possible to speak so freely to him) to set before him all the _apparent_ inconsistencies of his conduct, to trace his political career step by step, and tell hih a hundred newspapers, and then hear what he would say, what his notions are of political honour and consistency, and how he reconciles his general conduct with these maxims I am persuaded that he deludes hi, and that the habits of intense volition, jumbled up with party prejudices, old associations, and exposure to never-ceasing flattery, have produced the re the enorrant inconsistencies, he has never lost his confidence in himself, and what is more curious, has contrived to retain that of a host of followers In each particular act, and on every fresh occasion, there appear in hihtforwardness which are inseparable froht, and he never seems to apprehend for a moment that he can be liable to the ie and paradoxical as it may appear, I do not think he is justly liable to it except when he is under the influence of so Such was his jealousy and dislike of Canning, and this led him into perhaps the most enormous of all his political misdeeds, the overthrow of the Corn Bill of 1827 Upon other occasions I attribute his conduct to the circu idea, and to his incapability of taking enlarged and comprehensive views of political affairs, such as embrace not only the complex relations of the present, but the ostensible probabilities of the future
His judg detere of history, and accurate acquaintance with human nature, seems to be wholly influenced by his oishes and his own conception of what the exigencies of the moment require It would not be difficult, I think, and perhaps I may hereafter attempt to apply this delineation of his disposition to the events of his life, and to sho the leading idea in his uide which he has followed, sometimes to the detriment of the best interests of the country and sometimes to that of his own reputation
CHAPTER XXVI
Sir R Peel arrives--The First Council--The King's Address--Lord Stanley and Sir J Graham decline to join the Government--Lord Wharncliffe and Sir E Knatchbull join--The Ministers sworn in--Peel's Address to his Constituents--Dinner at the Mansion House--Offer to Lord Roden--Prospects of the Election-- Stanley's Want of Influence--Pozzo di Borgo's Views--Russia and England--No-- Parliament dissolved--State of the Constituencies--A Governor-General for India--Sebastiani and St Aulaire--Anecdote of Princess Metternich--The City Elections--Lord Lyndhurst's View of the Government--Violence of the Opposition--Close Contest at Rochester-- Sidney Herbert--Sir John Hobhouse's Views--Anecdotes--County Elections--The Queen supposed to be with Child--Church Refor's Crotchets
Decee Head: LORD STANLEY DECLINES TO JOIN SIR R PEEL]
Sir Robert arrived yesterdayhis clan; there were the Ross's, the Plantas, and all of the before his door while he was still closeted with the Duke Sefton caht, and declares that Lord Stanley has announced his intention of supporting Wood for Lancashi+re and opposing Francis Egerton, which, if true, is oainst a junction with Peel
Dece insisted upon giving Peel the seal of the Exchequer in Council, though it was not necessary His object was toa cause at Weste was sent to fetch him Peel made his first appearance full of spirits and cordiality to the nus which hailed him He told me that he had seen the letter which I had written to his brother Jonathan, that he agreed to every word of it, and that he had written to Stanley in exact conformity to what I had said This was a letter I had written to Jonathan Peel, giving hi at soht to do When Sir Robert got to Paris he gave it to him, and as he approves of it I ah; but then the Irish Church! Stanley's answer may come to-day, but they expect him in town at all events When Denave up the seal