The Duke goes to Windsor to-morrow respecting the late King's papers, the
Duke of Cumberland having meditated an _enlèvement_.
Peel thinks Brougham really rather mad, and would not be surprised to hear
he was confined. Last year he was melancholy, and his friends and _he
himself_ feared he might commit suicide. Now he is in an excited state.
Peel speaks of him as a most wonderful man in ability.
It seems that last night the leaders came down to make an attack, but the
followers, not having been consulted, would not support. R. Gordon came
over to Herries and said he should vote with Government. Hume, who in the
morning had sent to ask Planta whether Government intended to oppose him
for Middlesex (a question Planta was desired not to answer till the end of
next week), was very civil, and disposed to let business pass. It is not
impossible that the House of Commons may have done their business by this
day week.
I am to look at the Beer Bill, and have already begun to read the Commons'
debates upon it.
_July 4._
Read all the debates on the Beer Bill, made notes, and considered the
subject. The Queen seems to have selected her maids of honour from the
neighbourhood of Bushey. This is amiable and very right.
_July 5._
I proposed to Wortley, as Edward Stanley was an acquaintance of his, to
give him a hint not to commit himself against the Government just now; but
he says he does not know Stanley intimately enough.
I asked him whether he did not find the Duke of Wellington very kind. He
really had the kindest heart of any man I ever knew. When I looked up I saw
the tears in his eyes.
Clare told me he heard all the Whigs in our House, except Lord Lansdowne,
were determined to push us _à l'outrance_; but Lord Lansdowne thought the
Duke must endeavour to strengthen himself during the vacation. He could not
do it now, as it would be a confession of weakness; but he thought he would
do it before Parliament met. However, the others would not hear him.
There was a meeting at Lord Althorpe's yesterday, but I have not heard the
result.
Talked to Clare about the affairs of Kattywar, and promised to give him
precise instructions before he left England.
He will remain at Bombay, I think. He tells his mother three years, but he
will remain till he has made some money and done something worth going
there to do. He has got Elphinstone to make a list of the civil servants
_with their characters_.
The King took the sacrament yesterday with the Royal Family, and afterwards
received the bishops and the judges. He made long speeches to both. Thirty
minutes to the first, and twenty to the second.
Polignac seems quite firm, although certain he shall be in a minority of 1
to 2 or 3. It is expected he will _evade_, and that Villele may be able to
go on with the new Chamber.
No news from Algiers. 15,000 men are assembled at Toulon as a reserve.
_July 6._
Cabinet. Peel said the Lord Advocate would resign if we did not pass the
Scotch Judicature Bill, so we must struggle through with it. The Welsh
Judicature Bill is to be passed too. This will keep us sitting some time.
The Commons will have finished on Friday.
House. We had the second reading of the Beer Bill. I said a few words to
show the inaccuracy of one of Lord Malmesbury's conclusions; but I must
speak in detail in the Committee.
_July 7._
Last night we had 247 to 93, a great division. The Tories in general voting
with us.
Looked over again all the papers relative to the Beer Bill.
In my way back from Roehampton met Lord Ravensworth, who told me the King
had the gout, and that he had given the Guelphic ribbon to his three sons-
in-law. He likewise told me what I knew before, that the Duke of Montrose
had resigned.