The reply of Lamartine to the Irish deputation, which has been so anxiously expected, came yesterday, and excellent it was. He gave a lecture to the Irish much stronger than any they have had here; and if his speech does no good, it will certainly do no harm. There is now an increasing opinion that the French will be driven to go to war somewhere as a relief from the intolerable distress in which the country will soon be plunged. Beggary and anarchy are striding on at a fearful rate, and the present bloodless but most agitated and frightened state will in all probability soon be changed into scenes of violence brought about by the ferocity of every kind of unchained passion. _April 6th._--Ireland now absorbs all other interests. I saw Grey yesterday, who told me they did not mean to do anything till after Monday next, but then they would. It has not yet been determined whether they should stop the Chartists from entering London or not, but a Cabinet was to be held to decide the matter to-day.[42] He thought they should prevent their crossing the bridges. I saw the Duke in the morning at Apsley House in a prodigious state of excitement; said he had plenty of troops, and would answer for keeping everything quiet if the Government would only be firm and vigorous, and announce by a proclamation that the mob should not be permitted to occupy the town. He wanted to prevent _groups_ from going into the Park and assembling there, but this would be impossible. [Footnote 42: [These were the preparations for the Great Chartist meeting announced to be held by Feargus O'Connor on Kennington Common on April 10, when a Chartist Petition, signed by five millions of persons, was to be presented by a huge procession of the people to the House of Commons. On April 7 Sir George Grey brought in a Bill for the better security of the Crown and Government of the United Kingdom, directed against all persons who sought to accomplish seditious ends by open speaking. The Duke of Wellington explained to the Cabinet on the 6th, with admirable lucidity, the details of his preparations.]] [Sidenote: SIR ROBERT PEEL ON OBSTRUCTION.]