Went to Brookes' yesterday, and found all the Whigs very merry at the Catholic news. Most of them were just come to town and had heard nothing till they arrived. The old Tories dreadfully dejected, but obliged to own it was all true; intense curiosity to hear what Peel will say for himself. The general opinion seems to be that the Duke has managed the matter extremely well, which I am disposed to think too, but there is always a disposition to heap praise upon him whenever it is possible. Nobody yet knows who are converted and who are not; they talk of nine bishops; I think he will have them all, and I expect a very great majority in the House of Lords. Many people expect that Wilmot's plan will be adopted, restraining the Catholics from voting in matters concerning the Church, which I do not believe, for Wilmot is at a discount and his plan is absurd and impracticable. Lord Harrowby, however, is all for it. I hear many of the Liberals are exceedingly provoked, and not unnaturally, at the Duke's effecting this measure, at which they have been so long labouring in vain, and give as many spiteful flings at him as they can about the insincerity of his letter to Curtis. It matters very little now whether he was sincere or not. It evidently was part of his plan to keep it all secret till it was matured, and as Curtis chose to ask him questions he was quite right to throw dust in his eyes. CHAPTER V. The Catholic Relief Bill--Inconsistency of the Tories--The Catholic Association--Dinner at Charles Grant's--The Terceira Expedition--Tory Discontent--Peel resigns his Seat for Oxford University--A Blunder in Chancery--The Oxford Election-- Influence of the Duke of Wellington--Debate of Royal Dukes-- Peel beaten--Sir Edward Codrington--Violence of the King-- Intrigues to defeat the Catholic Bill--The Duke of Cumberland-- Furious State of Parties--Matuscewitz--Peel's Speech on Catholic Emancipation--Exclusion of O'Connell from his Seat for Clare--Pitt's View of Catholic Emancipation--'Musae Cateatonenses'--'Thorough'--Mr. Lowther not turned out--Duke of Newcastle's Audience of George IV.--The King's Personal Habits--The Debate--Mr. Sadler--Hardness of the Duke of Wellington--His Duel with Lord Winchelsea--The Bishops and the Bill--Sir Charles Wetherell--The King on the Duel--Lord Winchelsea's Pocket-handkerchief--Debate on the Catholic Bill-- The Duke of Richmond--Effects of Dawson's Speech on the King-- The Bill in Jeopardy--Lady Jersey and Lord Anglesey--Lord Falmouth and Lord Grey--O'Connell at Dinner--The Duke breaks with Lord Eldon--Hibner the Murderess--Theatrical Fund--The Levee--The Duke's Carriage stopped--The King's Health--Lady Conyngham--O'Connell's Seat--Child's Ball at Court--Princess Victoria--Legal Appointments--Lord Palmerston on Foreign Affairs--The King and Lord Sefton--The King's Speech on the Prorogation--Madame du Cayla--George IV.'s Inaccuracy--