I know of nothing, in the world of politics. There has been much foolish chatter about the Coronation, and whether there should be a banquet or no; the Tories calling out for one because the Whig Government have settled that there should not be any. The Duke of Wellington, as usual, sensible, and above such nonsense; says it will all do very well, and that the Palace of Westminster having been destroyed by fire, a banquet and procession would not be feasible, as there exist no apartments in which the arrangements could be made. He rebuked his Tory Lords the other night when they made a foolish attack on Melbourne about M'Hale signing himself John _Tuam_. Every day he appears a greater man. I have read hardly anything all this time but two reviews in the 'Edinburgh'--Brougham's most remarkable paper upon Lady Charlotte Bury's book, the composition of which I saw with my own eyes; the other is Stephen's review of Wilberforce's Life. Nothing can be more admirable than the characters which Brougham has given of the celebrated people of that day--George III., George IV., Eldon, Perceval, and others; and when I think of the manner in which they were written, with what inconceivable rapidity, and in the midst of what occupation--for his attention was perpetually divided between what he was writing and what the counsel was saying--it is an astonishing exhibition of facility and fertility. Stephen's review is as good as possible in a very different style, and his description of the end of Wilberforce's life strikes me as singularly eloquent and pathetic. CHAPTER III. A Ball at the Palace--Aspect of Foreign Affairs--Irish Tithe Bill--Debate on Sir T. Acland's Motion--Death of Prince Talleyrand--Death and Character of Lady Harrowby--Government defeated on Emancipation of Slaves--Dispute of Mr. Handley and Lord Brougham--Dinner at Lambeth--Arrangement of Irish Questions--Settlement of Irish Questions--O'Connell declines the Rolls--Naval Intervention in Spain--Duke of Wellington's Moderation--Marshal Soult arrives--Preparations for the Coronation of Queen Victoria--The Wellington Statue--The Coronation--Coleridge and John Sterling--Lord Durham's Mission to Canada--Lord Brougham contrasted with the Duke--Macaulay on his return from India--Soult in London--Duke of Sussex quarrels with Ministers--Lord Burghersh's Opera--High Church Sermons-- Lord Palmerston and Mr. Urquhart--The Ecclesiastical Discipline Bill--The Duke's Despatches--Macaulay's Plan of Life--Lord Durham's Canada Ordinance--Mr. Barnes--Canada Indemnity Bill-- Lord Durham's Ordinance disallowed--Irish Corporation Bill-- Review of the Session. May 11th, 1838 {p.91}