giana (Ld. W.'s daughter), Becket (Judge Advocate General), and Lady Ann (formerly Lady A. Lowther), Ld. Beauchamp, and Dr. Ainslie. The discourse chiefly about the Radicals. Ld. W. said the advices from Manchester were of a better complexion, and that things had so subsided that the magistrates had been able to collect evidence. Becket said, one of his former scouts (when he was Under-secretary in the Home Department) had called upon him to tell him how things were going on, that London was least to be depended upon of all the Radical places; that some delegates from the North had been just seen here, having only left town a day or two ago disgusted and angry at their little success; that they could not count upon more than a thousand men here. The Ld. Register (Colquhoun) writes from Glasgow that things had had the very worst aspect, but people were a little more assured from their having been able to set up a volunteer force. The D. of Hamilton frightened out of his wits and full of sorrow for his foolish compromising letter. The answer to it by the Radicals was, to survey his park, and to ascertain, that shared among them, it would give the weavers nine acres apiece.

Nov. 21st, 1819.-Walked with Peel. He asked, how I thought we were as to strength in the House. I said, very strong. But, added he, shall we have any of the Whigs? They mean, I understand, to rally on the dismissal of Ld. Fitzwilliam; I said, I thought that signified little; that there seemed a great reaction, and the loyal population preponderated

ten to one. True, said he, but don't you think the public opinion among the lower orders has undergone a change within these few years, as to the constitution of Parliament? I said, that could not be denied, but still, they wished not an invasion of property, by fellows with no property. He asked about the Duke of Wellington, and said, he heard he took a very gloomy view of things; I answered, he was on the alert, but not gloomy; and told him what we had been doing as to the depôts and militia arms. He approved it very much. He was in high spirits, and seemed to think we should do very well on Tuesday (the 23rd, when Parliament was to open); that the Whigs had a difficult card to play; all the Grenvilles would be with us. I mentioned * He laughed, and said, he was not a Whig. No! said I, he is himself, for he finds fault with everybody and everything, but is afraid of his acres. P. said, that would fix him; but he remembered when he was so strongly disposed to Government, that Perceval was going to send to him to move or second the address. Peel thought Hunt a clever fellow. Not so I.

Called on Ld. Mulgrave, who is only just arrived. Grieved to find him so feeble. He, however, walked with me to Sir Thomas Liddel's (Ld. Normanby had married Sir T.'s eldest daughter); bad accounts from the north. The miners about Ravensworth, to the number of fifteen hundred, all ready to rise. Their gardener had met some of them, who said, "Ah! we know where you come from, we shall soon pay

Ravensworth a visit." This looks like guerre aux châteaux. The lower orders at Newcastle had withdrawn all the silver they could lay their hands on, all that belonged to them in the Benefit Clubs, so that there was not a shilling in the shops. Wooler, it seems, had told them, that after the 24th no paper would be of any value.

Went home with Ld. as to want my support.

Mulgrave, who was so weak
He said there could be

no doubt things were critical, from the extraordinary organisation of the disaffected; that if there was the same spirit in other parts of the country, it could not stand for a moment. I asked, as much as I could, of the measures. He said, they were general, and he thought not strong enough. I mentioned what Ld. Sidmouth had said to me, that he wished he could get Ld. Liverpool to consent to local measures of severity and power, such as there were in Ireland. Then he has not succeeded, said Ld. M., for it was my wish too, and I said so to Ld. Liverpool on my arrival, but he replied, that, though he agreed in the wish, there were obstacles. Ld. M. lamented more than ever the having lowered the army, and complained again of the niggardly narrow system pursued. A volunteer force, he said, which might give play to a military spirit on the right side, would alone save the country; but ministers ought not to allow the expense of it to fall upon the loyal or private individuals; they should make it a public burthen.

Nov. 22nd, 1819. Ld. Kenyon called upon me. He had just arrived from Gridlington; of course full of politics. He had been most active in his anti-Radical labours, and very instrumental in setting on foot the volunteer and yeomanry force of Flint, Denbighshire, and Cheshire.

I told Ld. K. what Ld. M. had said of the expense not falling upon individuals; he said, he thought him right, and that his exertions had already cost him (Ld. K.) 500l. We canvassed the expected measures. He agreed with me as to the necessity for summary powers in the disturbed districts, but it will not be. He wished that a certain number of magistrates (a very large number) might have the power of proclaiming districts, as in Ireland. I told him what Ld. Sidmouth had hinted, of having been ready to resign, previous to this storm breaking out. He said, in that case, he supposed Peel would be the new Secretary, which would be an immense step for him, but nobody so fit for it. I agreed, for his best years had been given to the domestic peace in Ireland. Ld. K. thought Ld. Sidmouth very stout. Ld. Grenville, it seems, is at Fife House, in communication with Ld. Liverpool as to the measures, which he is to state to Ld. Lansdowne, who, it is supposed, will not support, on account of Ld. Fitzwilliam.

Dined at Ld. Castlereagh's. A numerous and brilliant party. The Speaker, Cocks, and Cust (the one

son of Ld. Somers, the other brother of Ld. Brownlow,) who move and second the address; all the Ministers in the H. of Commons (except Canning), Lds. Fitzroy Somerset, G. Beresford, Palmerston, Clive, Lowther, Binning, Ancrum, and a long et cætera of office people, Privy Counsellors, Heads of Departments, and Law Officers, the only persons out of office, besides the mover and seconder, being Ld. Clive, Peel, Halford, and Col. Wood, Ld. Castlereagh's brother-in-law. The dinner magnificent, but badly served; horribly profuse, yet not comfortable. I observed to Ld. Clive, to whom I sat next, that a mob was an uncomfortable thing, whether Radical or noble. He agreed, and said, he wondered what thing in the world could tempt him to be a Minister, forced one moment to give such a dinner as this, and the next to be slandered, abused, and condemned by wilful and ignorant blackguards. Ld. Castlereagh, however, looked remarkably well, and was in gay spirits. In the few words I had with him, I thanked him for sending my son* to Wellesley, at Madrid. He expressed himself very handsomely about it, and I think (for there was much noise) added, that Wellesley had written to him, that he was satisfied with him. I observed we should have a warm struggle. He said, it would be fuller of interest, and that it was always much better to have a great object to fight for, than to be lingering on

*

Henry G. Ward, late Secretary of the Admiralty, and now Governor of the Ionian Islands. In the diplomatic career with which he commenced public life he was at Stockholm, Madrid, and Mexico, in which latter place he particularly distinguished himself.