The Greville Memoirs, Part 1 (of 3), Volume 1 (of 3): A Journal of the Reigns of King George IV and King William IVGreville, Charles
History
The Greville Memoirs, Part 1 (of 3), Volume 1 (of 3): A Journal of the Reigns of King George IV and King William IV
Greville, Charles
Great Britain -- History -- George IV, 1820-1830; Great Britain -- History -- William IV, 1830-1837
Went to Newmarket last Sunday and came back on Thursday. Still
the Catholic question and nothing else. Everybody believed that
the Duke of Cumberland would support Government till he made
this last speech. He went to the King, who desired him to call
on the Duke, and when he got to town he went uninvited to dine
with him. There has been nothing of consequence in either House,
except the dressing which Lord Plunket gave Lord Eldon, though
that hard-bitten old dog shows capital fight. Peel has got a
most active and intelligent committee at Oxford, and they
consider his election safe. Inglis's committee, on the contrary,
is composed of men not much better than old women, except Fynes
Clinton, the chairman. Every day the majority promises to be
greater in the House of Lords, but it is very ridiculous to see
the faces many of these Tory Lords make at swallowing the
bitter pill. Too great a noise is made about Peel and his
sacrifices, but he must be supported and praised at this
juncture. It is not for those who have been labouring in this
cause, and want his assistance, to reject him or treat him
uncivilly now that he tenders it. But as to the body of the High
Tories, it is impossible not to regard their conduct with
disgust and contempt, for now they feel only for themselves,
and it is not apprehension of those dangers they have been
constantly crying out about that affects them, but the necessity
they are under of making such a sudden turn, and bitter
mortification at having been kept in total ignorance, and,
consequently, having been led to hold the same violent language
up to the last moment. If Canning had lived, God knows what
would have happened, for they never would have turned round for
him as they are now about to do for the Duke. The circumstances
of the case are just the same; since 1825 the same game has been
going on in Ireland, and in the same manner, and the Clare
election was only what had happened at Waterford before. All
this has given a blow to the aristocracy, which men only laugh
at now, but of which the effects will be felt some day or other.
Who will have any dependence hereafter on the steadiness and
consistency of public men, and what credit will be given to
professions and declarations? I am glad to see them dragged
through the mire, as far as the individuals are concerned, but I
am sorry for the effect that such conduct is likely to produce.
There was a capital paper of Cobbett's yesterday, in his best
style. Many Liberals are uneasy about what are called the
securities, and when the Duke tells Lord Colchester that if he
will wait he will be satisfied with the Bill, it is enough to
make them so; but my hopes predominate over my fears. Yesterday
Vesey Fitzgerald said that 'we had not yet seen what some people
might consider the objectionable parts of the measure, but that,
though certain things might be necessary, the Government are
impressed with the paramount necessity of not leaving the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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