Volume III Part 15 (1/2)

[5] [The injustice of this remark has since become very obvious, for no man was better qualified to enter upon official life, or to run a great career in it, than Sydney Herbert It must also be said of Sir Robert Peel that he was ever on the watch for the young and rising statesovern the country; and a very large proportion of the men who have since played a most conspicuous and useful part were introduced by Sir Robert Peel to public life--Sydney Herbert, the Duke of Newcastle, Mr Gladstone, Lord Cardwell, and others]

I very h Peel says he is satisfied with the returns, he does not expect the thing will last, and that upon this conviction he is determined to secure a retreat with such a force as shall make him formidable hereafter

Such as the appointments are at ho, Stuart to Vienna, and in all probability Strangford to Constantinople--the three reat upholders of the Anti-Liberal system

(Stuart told everybody he had the offer, but it was not true)

The Duke of Leuchtenberg arrived last night The picture of the young Queen of Portugal (which is probably flattered) does not

January 15th, 1835 {p195}

[Page Head: SIR JOHN HOBHOUSE'S VIEW OF AFFAIRS]

The day before yesterday I fell in with Hobhouse, and alked together for some time He said he could not understand what the Govern a h returns the Opposition had a majority of 100 more or less, but that the difference could only be accounted for by one party including all those who call thes, and who supported the late Governh not supporters, would be disposed to give them a trial He wondered at and blamed the constitution of the Govern Peel, acknowledged that he saw no possibility of any other Govern formed on the dissolution of this, and had no conception ould happen--that another dissolution would be indispensable

I said that I did not see any ot Peel out; that their junction with the Radicals must end there, unless (which I could not believe) theyand carrying all the measures they had opposed last year He said, 'I for one will go no farther than I did then; no, that is out of the question' He said the restoration of Melbourne's Government was impossible after what had passed; they could not look the King in the face again, nor he them, after such a clear intimation on his part that he disliked them, and dreaded their principles Soon after, however, he said that any other Government must be formed on a ement_ of the House of Lords a condition, for it was is were, between the two houses; that it ht have been discovered when the Reform Bill was proposed that this would be the inevitable consequence of passing that measure, but that all this he did not expect to be accomplished without a violent collision, which would very likely lead to a republic; that he should be sorry for the disturbance, but was prepared for it, and if a sacrifice was to bethe object of it

YesterdayI met Duncannon, and talked it all over I asked hiured to hi would do 'Yes,' he said, 'he will send for Stanley' 'What next?' 'He may send for Lord Grey'

'Will Lord Grey propose such measures as you think indispensable?'

'If he will not return, or won't go the length, he --must be prepared for a more Radical Government' I said, 'I don't think he will ever consent to take such a one, or to agree to the measures they will propose to him' 'Oh, but he must, he can't help himself'

'Well, but my belief is that, happen what may, he will not' 'Why, you don't think he will abdicate?' 'Yes, I do, rather than agree to certain things' 'Well, but then he e of the leaders of the other party, and so calmly do they contemplate the possibility of such a consummation The point on which all this turns is evidently the destruction of the House of Lords The Whigs find it necessary to finish the work they began, and to destroy the last bulwark of Conservative power Stanley's speech at his election, which was very able and eloquent, has evidently disappointed them They had cherished a hope that he would unite with them at last, which they now find he will not do

There has been a great debate in their camp whether they shall attack the Speaker or not, but it seems fixed that they shall, and probably they will be beaten I alad they do this

Theodore Hook, whom I met at dinner the other day, and who is an _aive up the chair if it was thought iht for it; he also said (which I don't believe) that the Home Office had been offered him, and that he had declined it because he could not quit the chair without a peerage, and that he should be of more use in it than in the House of Lords

Theodore Hook _i, the burthen of which was 'Good Night,' iniht have been written down I heard two good things at dinner yesterday, one of Spankie's In his canvass he met with a refusal from some tradesman, who told him he should vote for Duncombe and Wakley Spankie said, 'Well, my friend, I am sorry you won't vote for me, and I can only say that I hope you may have Tom Duncombe for your customer, and Wakley for your tenant'[6] The other is attributed to Alvanley So for the expulsion of the Bishops froo; he would leave two: 'To keep up the breed, I suppose,' said the other

[6] [The one was celebrated for non-pay fire to his house Wakley's house was burnt, and he brought an action against the Insurance Office, which declined to pay his policy I forget as the result of the trial, but that of the evidence was a conviction of his own instrue Head: THE COUNTY ELECTIONS]

The Middlesex election terot a majority of about 250 at first, but could not sustain it It would have been a capital thing to turn out Hume, but I never expected it

January 20th, 1835 {p197}

Sir George Murray is beaten at Perth; James Wortley at Forfar--blows to the Government On the other hand, Palmerston is beaten in Hants, at which everybody rejoices, for he is marvellously unpopular; they would have liked to illun Office Lord Harrowby called on me yesterday; he told me my pamphlet had been attributed to Croker in some company where he had been Jonathan Peel toldthat Lady Alice Kennedy had sent word to his wife that the Queen is with child; if it be true, and a queer thing if it is, it will hardly coe, and with her health; but what a difference it would make!

January 23rd, 1834 {p197}