Prince Philip of Hesse Homburgh, Prince John of Saxony, Prince Frederick of
Orange, Prince Charles of Bavaria, Prince Otho of Bavaria, the Archduke
Maximilian, Prince Paul of Wurtemburgh, Prince Leopold, Prince Emilius of
Hesse Darmstadt, and Prince Charles of Mecklenburgh.
The seven first either declined or were rejected. Prince Emilius of Hesse
Darmstadt was an aide-de-camp of Bonaparte, and the King would not have
him, and with regard to the last, Prince Charles of Mecklenburgh, the Duke
showed the King he was much more nearly connected with Prussia, and so with
Russia, than with England. The King admitted this, and seemed to have been
brought into good humour, when he became so ill that he was obliged to beg
the Duke to leave him, and soon after sent him word he would see him in two
days. The Duke says he was really unwell, and in fact was taking physic all
the time he was with him.
The Duke showed the King that _he alone_ had not the power of nomination.
He had one voice out of three, and there were ten candidates.
'At any rate,' said the King, 'Claremont reverts to the Crown.' The Duke,
fearing he might wish to give it to the Duke of Cumberland, or somebody,
asked the Chancellor to-day to look at the Act of Parliament and tell us
what becomes of Claremont in the event of Leopold's being made King of
Greece. The Chancellor looked and thought Claremont would certainly remain
to Leopold, and if he died or gave it up go, not to the Crown, that is, not
to the King, but, by specific enactment, become a portion of the revenue
under the Woods and Forests. Of course Leopold will give up Claremont,
which is in fact a source of expense. The Duke said Leopold would be at
least innocuous, and he might be of use. The King asked how we could be
such fools as to think he would be of any use.
While the Duke was with the King the Duke of Cumberland was with Lady
Conyngham, and told her, amongst other things, that the 'Times' was the
Duke of Wellington's paper.
The 'Morning Journal' is _his_ paper, and uses the expressions he puts into
the King's mouth.
Aberdeen says Leopold is quite aware of all he will have to go through.
He has written to Lord Stuart to ascertain whether there is any truth in
the report of his being engaged to the daughter of the Duke of Orleans.
I cannot help thinking that is so, and that the French proposition
originates in that.
_January 16._
Read last night a very interesting report by Captain Wade of his mission to
Runjeet Singh in 1827.
Received a box from the Duke with a circular note saying the King is not
well enough to see him before Tuesday. He has seen no one since he saw the
Duke, and the Duke hears he was not mistaken in his judgment of the effect
he thought he had produced upon the King's mind; so I suppose this matter,
which looked threatening at first, may be considered as settled, although
not yet formally terminated.
The King will, I dare say, make another plunge when he finds Claremont will
not be at his personal disposal, as he seems to have imagined.
_January 19._
Read all day Sir Thomas Munro's Life, which contains a great deal of
interesting and valuable information. He was a very great man.
Talked to Hardinge of various matters. He was at Stowe when Lord Chandos in
the middle of the night received a note from his father, communicating one
from Sir. W. Fremantle, which informed him that the King was going to turn
us all to the right about. Lord Chandos said to Hardinge he would never
belong to a Government of which the Duke of Wellington was not a member.
_January 19._
Read the rest of the 'Life of Sir Thomas Munro,' a most valuable book. I
believe there are no books so really useful as the lives of great and good
men.
On my arrival in town, found a note from Hardinge, who thinks the despatch
as to watching the Russians and navigating the Indus quite perfect.
The Duke went to-day to Windsor. About eight he sent round a box containing
a note, saying that the King consented to Prince Leopold's being King of
Greece. So for the present, at least, we are safe again. I never had much
apprehension.
_January 20._
Cabinet dinner. Lord Bathurst not there. We had very little talk upon
public matters. The Duke had a bad cold. The opinion seemed to be that the
press of the session would be upon domestic matters, for the reduction of
establishments and taxation.
The King wrote to the Duke and _grumpily acceded_ to Leopold's appointment.
Leopold is very _uppish_ upon the subject. He was at Cobham to-day and
yesterday.