Volume III Part 17 (1/2)

The debate was opened by Sandon in a speech feebly delivered, but containing goodthe a a total failure It was expected the House would adjourn, if not divide, and the Speaker put the question, when Peel got up It was curious to see the lulling of the uproar, and the shuffling and scra into seats, till all was quiet and the whole coast clear He spoke very ably for nearly two hours and a half, his speech not containing much oratory, but in a tone at once lofty and firm, yet discreet, calculated to inspire confidence and to make an impression on all who are i into details of speeches which are now reported with such perfect fidelity Thisto-day, and his speech will be listened to with intense anxiety to-night The Opposition (as Duncannon told me) expected a majority of between thirty and forty, so that if it is considerably less than that, it will be tantamount to a defeat

February 26th, 1835 {p221}

Stanley spoke last night, attacking both sides, not violently, but announcing his intention to vote against the amendment The Govern soton, which he would have done well to omit, for many reasons Lord John Russell, by universal admission even of his enemies, made an excellent speech I did not hear either him or Stanley John has surpassed all expectations hitherto, as leader, which is reat exultation to his party, but the tide is already beginning to turn, and there are evident syeneous body he is at the head of

Tavistock ca, and toldhimself in difficulties' He did not particularise them, but said that naturally, in a situation of such novelty, he found considerable difficulties to contend with

He owned that theat Lichfield House, which O'Connell had attended by invitation, had alars, and it was settled there should be no s

Then there has been some little correspondence between Ward and Lord John about the Irish Church question, the forht forward last year, and he wrote to John about it, who replied rather shortly, that he himself intended to submit a motion on the subject This is a trifle, but trifles like these contribute to forinning of disunion or weakness in such a party, a very short tie Head: POSITION OF LORD STANLEY]

Lord Stanley asseain yesterday to the number of about fifty; other adhesions, and half-adhesions, occurred in the course of the evening, and the result is an expectation that the boasted majority of thirty or forty will dwindle down to four or five, or perhaps be no majority at all

The erection of this standard will therefore, in all probability, save the Govern and Radical coalition; but I distrust Stanley hireat chance there is of his vanity and selfish a other difficulties, the pressure of which, though he may not feel it noill some time hence becoather to hih he may lead theo, and the design of his friends is to show the Tories, to save this Government, not from love to it, but from fear of its opponents and of the alternative He certainly reat questions, and actually be so to a certain degree, but as his ultimate object must be his return to office, he can only hope to return (at least with any prospects of success) with Peel and the Tories It is, therefore, egregious folly in him, by an affectation of neutrality and independence, to shock and disgust that great body, which th of a Conservative Govern with sarcasms or reproaches certain measures or omissions, or particular members of Government, and especially the Duke himself The Duke is, after all, the idol of the Tories, and they will not endure that a youth like Stanley shall avail hireat man with levity and disrespect; and all this he has not coolness, sagacity, and te and dignified course would be to conduct hiravity suitable to the importance of the crisis and of the part he aspires to play and the nitude of the interests which are at stake If he believes in his conscience that the Opposition are animated with a spirit of faction, and that their triumph would be the forerunner of revolution or confusion, he should take his stand on a great principle, and support the Governht best enable it to confound the sche to be called a Tory, and he does not certainly give up the hope and notion of reuniting hiues He endeavours to keep up an amicable intercourse with them, and tohiuous conduct, and his occasional asperities and incivilities, have begun already to disgust and alienate the Tories; and though they have too ed to restrain the expression of their feelings, the time may come when he will have need of them, and he will then find the inconvenient consequences of his present behaviour

February 27th, 1835 {p223}

They divided at half-past one this , 309 to 302 I went over the list before dinner, and made out a majority of six (correct all but one) Gisborne, Howick, and Grahaood for the first ten minutes, and very bad all the rest I was not there Certainly Stanley's conduct is queer Notwithstanding the sharp things he said against Government in his speech on Wednesday, and various little marks of scorn he throws out here and there, he said to Francis Egerton on Tuesday, after all the Opposition et up, or at least put up one of the Government, to put an end to all this balderdash?' Francis went and told Peel, as very much out of sorts (at the state of the debate I suppose), and asked rather angrily for Sir G

Clerk Francis went to look for Clerk, and when he returned Peel was on his legs This he told

March 5th, 1835 {p224}

Met Mulgrave at dinner at Seaford's, and he still talks with confidence of turning the Government out; that five or six of Stanley's tail have whisked round again to the Whigs; that they can beat the Governreater majorities than on the two they have already tried, which were the worst for theet through the business of the session

March 11th, 1835 {p224}

The repeal of the malt tax was defeated by a ht that Government would have done wisely, when they found they were sure of not being beaten, to allow their friends to redeees (or as many of them as stood deeply committed), for it will be found that several of thereatly from this vote in their counties Peel (as usual) uish hiereat effect both in the House of Commons and the country There is nobody who approaches hiovernment and undoubted fitness for the situation he is in He cannot help being a great reat mind can make anybody Even some of the violent Radicals say that if Peel's associates could be disposed of, they would not object to hi of the Opposition at Lichfield House yesterday, to consider what they should do about Hurant the supplies for three n should be abandoned Thus they have shown their teeth without daring to bite Many of their people would not have gone with therand project failed _now_ thus early in the session, still less chance will it have at a later period

Peel's skill and great superiority, and the disunion and uncertainty of the vast unwieldy body opposed to hih

March 14th, 1835 {p225}

[Page Head: APPOINTMENT OF LORD LONDONDERRY]

Last night was a terribly daht to the Government, and fully justifies all that I, in coht of that ht it forward, and a storainst it, and Mahon totally broke down