Return from Paris--Possibility of a Tory Government--Hostility to Lord Palmerston--Lord Aberdeen's Dissatisfaction--The Duke's short View of the Case--Sir Robert Peel's Repugnance to take Office--Lord John Russell--Further Disputes of Guizot and Lord Normanby--The Quarrel with the Embassy--Lord Stanley attacks the Government--The Normanby Quarrel--Lord Palmerston threatens to break off Diplomatic Relations with France--Sir Robert Peel's Opinion of Lord Palmerston--Mr. Walter--The 'Times'--The Normanby Quarrel made up--Mr. Greville's Opinion of his own Journals--Income of the Royal Family--Lord George Bentinck--Lord Normanby's _…tourderies_--The Government gains Strength--The Irish Poor Law--The Czar places a large Sum with the Bank of France--State of Ireland--Lord George Bentinck as a Leader--Foreign Affairs--Archbishop Whately--Birthday Reflexions--Lord Dudley's Diary--Power of the Press--Mr. Disraeli and Mr. Moxon--The Defence of the Country--Troubles in Portugal--Illness of Lord Bessborough--The Duke of Wellington on the Army--Spain and Portugal--Abolition of the Lord-Lieutenancy contemplated by Lord John--Difficulty of abolishing the Lord-Lieutenancy--Deaths of Lord Bessborough and of O'Connell--Lord Clarendon's Appointment--The End of O'Connell--The Governor-Generalship of India--Sir James Graham thought of--Failure of Debates on the Portuguese Question--The Duke's Statue--The Governor-Generalship of India offered to Sir James Graham--Sir Robert Peel's Position--Failures of the Government--The Duke of Wellington's Popularity--Opinion in Liverpool--Bitter Hostility of Mr. Croker to Peel. _London, February 3rd, 1847._--I got to town on Monday; one hour and fifty minutes crossing the sea, which was like a duck-pond. Saw Lord Clarendon the same night for a long time, and Lord Lansdowne yesterday for a shorter. Told the first all I knew and thought, and gave the latter a succinct account of affairs in France, but did not say a word of Normanby and Guizot. He has heard of it, however, as I find others have likewise; and he asked Clarendon if I had said anything to him about Normanby's goings on at Paris. But Clarendon said he had not asked me, as living as I had done in Normanby's house I should not like (if it were the case) to say anything about it. I have not yet had time to look round me and see the state of things here. It is determined not to have any discussion on foreign affairs if they can possibly prevent it. [Sidenote: LORD STANLEY'S VIEWS OF OFFICE.]