At Newmarket all last week, here since Monday. I know nothing of politics but from newspapers and my letters; racing and hawking are my present occupations. There seems to be an impression that the present Government will not last very long, but as the grounds of that opinion are the badness of its composition, I do not see that its speedy dissolution is so certain; the public seems to have got very indifferent as to who governs the country. I was curious to hear how the Council went off at which the Ministers took their seats, and how the King comported himself. He seems to have got through it tolerably, though it must have been a bitter ceremony to him. He made no speeches and took no particular notice of anybody except Lord Howick, to whom he was very civil, on account probably of his father, and because he is a new man. The threatened contests of most of them ended in smoke. Devonshire and Yorkshire will, however, be important and severe. Of all the appointments those that are most severely criticised are Mulgrave's and Morpeth's. It is said that Charles Kemble and Liston might as well have been sent, as the former has always imitated the one, and the latter involuntarily resembles the other. Mulgrave, however he may be sneered at, has been tried and found capable, and I think he will do very well; he has courage and firmness and no want of ability. He is besides hospitable, generous, courteous, and agreeable in private life.[3] [3] [Lord Melbourne's second Administration was composed as follows:-- First Lord of the Treasury Viscount Melbourne. Lord President of the Council Marquis of Lansdowne. First Lord of the Admiralty Lord Auckland. Lord Privy Seal Viscount Duncannon. Home Secretary Lord John Russell. Foreign Secretary Viscount Palmerston. Colonial Secretary Lord Glenelg. Board of Control Sir John Cam Hobhouse. Secretary at War Viscount Howick. Board of Trade Mr. Poulett Thomson. Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr. Spring Rice. Irish Secretary Viscount Morpeth. The Earl of Mulgrave was Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, The Great Seal was put in Commission.] May 1st, 1835 {p.256} Morpeth made an excellent speech on introducing his Irish Tithe Bill, and has raised himself considerably. Morpeth is (as it appears to me) ill selected for the difficult post he occupies; he has very fair ability of a showy kind, but I doubt the solidity and strength of his material for the rough work which is allotted to him. [Page Head: LORD ALVANLEY'S DUEL.]