The debate on the Address went off very triumphantly for the Opposition in the Lords, and, as far as the negative success of the failure of Ministers in making an impression, did so in the Commons. Ld. Grenville made a masterly speech in which he pressed strongly the atrocity of the Copenhagen business, the impolicy of their conduct with regard to the U. States, rather depreciated the prospect of the advantages of the emigration of the Portuguese to _Brésil_, and touched lightly upon peace. The novelty of the night was Ld. Kenyon,[314] who did not acquit himself _formidably_. Some considered Mr. G. Ponsonby’s speech as a complete failure, but more temperate judges say it was not so, and the accident of not moving the Amendment arose from a misapprehension of more protests than his alone. Mr. Canning appears to have assumed the lead, and by an endeavour to appear dignified he was heavy and obscure, instead of being, as formerly, pretty flippant. Perceval excelled him much, but the fair ones allow there was not a good speech made in the whole debate. Mr. C. professed that Governt. had laid down a rule, which was to act directly contrary to what they found had been the conduct of their predecessors, and hitherto they had not erred. On Monday, the 1st of Feb., we moved to Pall Mall. I had been confined many days with a smart inflammation in my eyes. On Wednesday, 3rd Feb., a long debate in the Commons on Mr. Ponsonby’s motion for further papers on the Danish Expedition.[315] Altho’ he had spoken before, yet this was considered as a debut; his friends were rather anxious, as his forte lies more in reply than in the opening of a business. However, he acquitted himself well, and people seem to be generally satisfied with him. He was answered by Mr. Canning in a speech remarkable chiefly from its length, and the abundance of gross untruths; he read extracts out of those very despatches he refused to give to the House, and in one instance (a dispatch of Ld. Howick’s to Mr. Garlike) read a sentence which, if he had read the context, would have given a different colour to the whole matter. He was very flippant and offensive, and showed neither more nor less ability than usual. Mr. Mills[316] [_sic_], his _élève_, was quite extinguished; it was the first occasion on which he had attempted to speak without previously writing his speech, so he is completely given up by all and laughed at by his own party. Ld. Palmerston’s maiden speech was not attended either with the bad or good qualities of a young beginner; he had practised in debating societies, and formed an unimpressive, bad manner. Some of Opposition who are for the expedition yet voted upon this question, but would not if it had been a vote against the Ministry for that measure. Upon the whole the effect of the debate was rather against Opposition. Sick of, and indifferent to the measures of a hopeless Opposition, I have omitted noticing any occurrence.