Popularity of George IV.--The Duke of York's Racing Establishment--Clerk of the Council--Lord Liverpool and Mr. Sumner--Lady Conyngham--Death of Lady Worcester--Her Character--Ball at Devonshire House--The Duke of York's Aversion to the Duke of Wellington--The Pavilion at Brighton-- Lord Francis Conyngham--The King and the Duke of Wellington-- Death of the Marquis of Londonderry--His Policy--Sir B. Bloomfield sent to Stockholm--Mr. Canning's Foreign Secretary-- Queen Caroline and Brougham--Canning and George IV.--Lord William Bentinck aspires to go to India--His Disappointment-- The Duke of York's Duel with Colonel Lennox--George III.'s Will--George IV. appropriates the late King's Personal Property--The Duke of Wellington on the Congress of Verona and on the Politics of Europe--Intervention in Spain--Ferdinand VII.--M. de Villèle--The Duke's opinion of Napoleon--Sir William Knighton--The Duke of York's Anecdotes of George IV.-- Death of the Marquis of Titchfield--His character. 1821. London, February 7th, 1821 {p.043} The King went to the play last night (Drury Lane) for the first time, the Dukes of York and Clarence and a great suite with him. He was received with immense acclamations, the whole pit standing up, hurrahing and waving their hats. The boxes were very empty at first, for the mob occupied the avenues to the theatre, and those who had engaged boxes could not get to them. The crowd on the outside was very great. Lord Hertford dropped one of the candles as he was lighting the King in, and made a great confusion in the box. The King sat in Lady Bessborough's box, which was fitted up for him. He goes to Covent Garden to-night. A few people called 'The Queen,' but very few. A man in the gallery called out, 'Where's your wife, Georgy?' February 11th, 1821 {p.044} I came to town from Euston the end of last month. The debates were expected to be very stormy and the minorities very large, not that anybody expected Ministers to go out. It has all ended as such anticipations usually do, in everything going off very quietly and the Government obtaining large majorities. Their Parliamentary successes and the King's reception have greatly elated them, and they think (and with reason probably) that they are likely to enjoy their places for the term of their natural lives, not that they care about the King's popularity except in as much as it may add strength to their Administration. They do not conceal their contempt or dislike of him, and it is one of the phenomena of the present times that the King should have Ministers whom he abuses and hates, and who entertain corresponding sentiments of aversion to him; yet they defend all his errors and follies, and he affords them constant countenance and protection. However, the King was delighted by his reception at the theatres, and told Lady Bessborough, as he came downstairs, he never was more gratified.