Dined with the Duke. Cabinet dinner. Only the Peers there. The others detained by Lord Palmerston's motion on Portugal, on which there was a majority of two to one, 150 odd to 70 something. Huskisson made a very bad dull speech. We talked about a successor to the Speaker. They seem to think he will not resign now, as he would not get a good pension in the present temper of the House. The candidates are Sir J. Beckett, Littleton, G. Bankes, Wynn of course. I mentioned Frankland Lewis as a good man, which he would be. I dare say the Chairs will think he should be elected unanimously. It seems there must be a Bill of Indemnity for not taking the declaration, two Bishops, Chester and Oxford, not having taken it. The Duke finds he has at Dover, as Lord Warden. We had some little conversation about the income tax, which the Duke is very hostile to, and I am glad we shall not have it. _March 11._ The Russians have at last sent their reply to our expostulatory note. I have not had time to read it. Lord Heytesbury calculates that the last war cost them 12,000,000£, but they endeavour to conceal the amount. Peel told me the House was quite excited against the Bombay judges, and that the division fairly represented its real opinion. _March 12._ There was but one black ball in the election of Lord Clare, and the Chairs think that was put in by mistake; no one objected. _March 13._ Read Sir H. Parnell's pamphlet on taxation. Cabinet room at two. I had only got half through the Russian answer when the Cabinet met for the subject of taxation. I rather expected to find that the Duke had had communications with Goulburn, and that the idea of a property tax was given up. However, that seemed not to be the case. It was determined the whole beer duty should be given up in any case. £ The expected revenue is 50,250,000 The expected expenditure 47,930,000 ---------- Surplus 2,320,000 Add by reduction of Four per Cents 777,000 By 1_s_. 6_d_. on British, and 2_d_. on Irish and Scotch Spirits 400,000 By stamps in Ireland 220,000 3,717,000 Deduct beer tax, £3,200,000, but the loss to the revenue from the probable increase of malt, calculated at 2,500,000 ---------- 1,217,000 Probable increase of revenue 450,000 ---------- Sinking fund 1,667,000