Preparations for the Coronation--Long Wellesley committed by the Chancellor for Contempt--Alderman Thompson and his Constituents--Prince Leopold goes to Belgium--Royal Tombs and Remains--The Lieutenancy of the Tower--The Cholera--The Belgian Fortresses--Secret Negotiations of Canning with the Whigs-- Transactions before the Close of the Liverpool Administration-- Duke of Wellington and Peel--The Dutch invade Belgium--Defeat of the Belgian Army--The French enter Belgium--Lord Grey's Composure--Audience at Windsor--Danger of Reform--Ellen Tree-- The French in Belgium--Goodwood--The Duke of Richmond--The Reform Bill in Difficulties--Duke of Wellington calls on Lord Grey--The King declines to be kissed by the Bishops-- Talleyrand's Conversation--State of Europe and France-- Coronation Squabbles--The King divides the old Great Seal between Brougham and Lyndhurst--Relations of the Duchess of Kent to George IV. and William IV.--The Coronation--Irritation of the King--The Cholera--A Dinner at St. James's--State of the Reform Bill--Sir Augustus d'Este--Madame Junot--State of France--Poland. Page 165 CHAPTER XVI. Whig and Tory Meetings on Reform--Resolution to carry the Bill-- Holland--Radical Jones--Reform Bill thrown out by the Lords-- Dorsetshire Election--Division among the Tories--Bishop Phillpotts--Prospects of Reform--Its Dangers--Riots at Bristol--The Cholera at Sunderland--An Attempt at a Compromise on Reform--Lord Wharncliffe negotiates with the Ministers-- Negotiation with Mr. Barnes--Proclamation against the Unions-- Barbarism of Sunderland--Disappointment of Lord Wharncliffe-- Bristol and Lyons--Commercial Negotiations with France--Poulett Thomson--Lord Wharncliffe's Proposal to Lord Grey--Disapproved by the Duke of Wellington--Moderation of Lord John Russell--The Appeal of Drax _v._ Grosvenor--The Second Reform Bill--Violence of Lord Durham--More Body-snatchers--Duke of Richmond and Sir Henry Parnell--Panshanger--Creation of Peers--Division of Opinion--Negotiation to avoid the Creation of Peers--Lord Wharncliffe's Interview with the King--Opposition of the Duke of Wellington--The Waverers resolve to separate from the Duke. Page 197 CHAPTER XVII.