_19th Feb._--Went to Brighton to see my children, who are living there for the sake of the good air, or rather to avoid the thick, bad air of London and its neighbourhood. Mr. Allen only went with us. We stayed Friday and Saturday; returned to town on Sunday. The Norfolk Committee unseated Coke and Windham; Serjeant Lens made an admirable speech. Petty wrote to me that the Princess had determined to publish, and that on my return I should find the ‘fire burning and cauldron bubbling’ with all the inflammable ingredients I knew of already. Dined on Monday with Ld. Granville Leveson to meet Lady Stafford,[269] whom I had not seen for many years except in a crowd. Seized at night with a violent headache and cold, and some indications of fever. Confined from that night until this day, the 2nd March, and not yet recovered. [Sidenote: ABOLITION OF SLAVE TRADE] _2nd March._--The abolition of Slave Trade was carried in the H. of C. by an immense majority, nearly 18 to 1; the opposition only 16. Mr. Windham came to town to attend, but was prevented by a hoarseness; wrote to Ld. Howick to notify he should oppose it in the Committee. Ld. Castlereagh and Rose[270] absent. The Doctor’s men intended to oppose some part in the Committee. Catholics becoming more reasonable in Ireland. The Petition is to be sent to Mr. Grattan instead of Ld. Howick, and it is to be brought over by Lord Fingall[271] alone, and not by a Catholic Committee. This will be advantageous to Ministers, as Ld. F. is open to various modes of conciliation. Ld. Ponsonby’s[272] private letters to Ld. Howick throw blame on the Irish Governt. He says, ‘His uncle George, the Chancellor, is stark mad, and as rank an Orangeman as any in Ireland’: that Elliot,[273] who knew of the Petition since July, has been greatly to blame, and has by his cold manner repulsed the Catholics: that Plunket,[274] the Attorney-General, is a secret enemy to the Administration: that the Solicitor-General[275] is not good for much, and Curran is so bad in his office, where he has almost nothing to do, that he ought to be removed. Secret abuses are every day discovered by the investigating accountants, but are kept very secret, especially the two following. Mr. Eden, since his succession to Ld. Thurlow’s Tellership, it appears, has compelled his deputy, whose place is 1000_l._ pr. ann. and was always considered as one held for life, under a threat of dismissal, to give him 400_l._ pr. ann. for his brother. The deed was Ld. Auckland’s, so the poor fellow is sconced of his 400_l._ pr. ann., a scandalous transaction, and one that the honest will suffer by, as Ld. Howick swears the American Commission shall not be paid as he originally designed, thus Mr. Allen will suffer for his colleague’s dirtiness.[276] This proceeding will not be revealed, as Ld. Buckingham was guilty of a similar action in favour of Ld. Grenville’s family. [Sidenote: PUBLIC ACCOUNTS INQUIRY]