Lord Eldon died last week full of years and wealth. He had for some time past quitted the political stage, but his name was still venerated by the dregs of that party to whom consistent bigotry and intolerance are dear. Like his more brilliant brother, Lord Stowell, he was the artificer of his own fortune, and few men ever ran a course of more unchequered prosperity. As a politician, he appears to have been consistent throughout, and to have offered a determined and uniform opposition to every measure of a Liberal description. He knew of no principles but those (if they merit the name of principles) of the narrowest Toryism and of High Church, and as soon as more enlarged and enlightened views began to obtain ascendency, he quitted (and for ever) public life. I suppose he was a very great lawyer, but he was certainly a contemptible statesman. He was a very cheerful, good-natured old man, loving to talk, and telling anecdotes with considerable humour and point. I remember very often during the many tedious hours the Prince Regent kept the Lords of the Council waiting at Carlton House, that the Chancellor used to beguile the time with amusing stories of his early professional life, and anecdotes of celebrated lawyers, which he told extremely well. He lived long enough to see the overthrow of the system of which he had been one of the most strenuous supporters, the triumph of all the principles which he dreaded and abhorred, and the elevation of all the men to whom, through life, he had been most adverse, both personally and politically. He little expected in 1820, when he was presiding at Queen Caroline's trial, that he should live to see her Attorney-General on the Woolsack, and her Solicitor-General Chief Justice of England. CHAPTER II. Debates on the Canada Bill--Moderation of the Duke of Wellington--State of Canada--Lord Durham's Position--Weakness of the Government--Parallel of Hannibal and the Duke of Wellington--The Ballot--Lord Brougham on the Ballot--Position of the Government--Policy of Sir Robert Peel--Death of Mr. Creevey--Knighthood of General Evans--Lord Brougham's Conversation--A Skirmish in the House of Commons--Defeat of Government--Skirmish in the House of Lords--Annoyance of Peel at these Proceedings--Brougham's Anti-Slavery Speech-- Opposition Tactics--Brougham on the Coolie Trade--Ministerial Success--Sir Robert Peel's Tactics--Composition of Parties--A Dinner at Buckingham Palace--Men of Science--The Lord Mayor at a Council--The Queen at a Levee--The Guiana Apprentices--Small _v._ Attwood reversed--Character of the Queen--Wilkie's Picture of the 'First Council'--Small _v._ Attwood--Immediate Emancipation--Birthday Reflexions--Lord Charles Fitzroy turned out--Vote on Lord Durham's Expenses--Lord Durham's Irritation-- Wolff the Missionary--Newmarket--The Coronation--Lord Brougham's Reviews. London, January 28th, 1838 {p.051}