[Sidenote: LORD LANSDOWNE’S DEATH] _22nd Nov._--It is too distant from this present period to make a review of all the occurrences from that time to this. Mr. Canning and Ld. Castlereagh fought on 21st Sept. Ld. Wellesley has accepted his recall,[328] and is daily expected; many believe he is coming upon the misapprehension that the Premiership has been offered to him. Lord Lansdowne[329] died on 14th Nov., which event is fatal to the Opposition by removing Petty from the H. of Commons. He has endeavoured to annoy Petty by his will and much disrespect for his father’s family, by making the remainder over to Ld. Winchilsea, and then to Ly. Lansdowne and her 2nd daughter.[330] To the latter, they say, a lease for 21 years is granted of L. H. On 7th Nov. I was brought to bed of a daughter.[331] Tuesday, 21st Nov., 1809, Ld. H. on this day completed his thirty-six years. He dined at Ld. Winchilsea’s.[332] Mr. Allen and I alone. He read in eve. Berington’s _Life of Henry II._, a work not without merit, tho’ the language is frequently barbarous.[333] The character of Becket is well drawn, and from his close researches into monkish chronicles he gives many interesting anecdotes which throw light upon the manners and mode of life in those times. He is a Roman Catholic priest, and tho’ one sees a bias, yet he has more liberality than usual with persons of his class. Indeed, at Rome he was suspected of giving up the cause of the Church too much: accordingly for some time he was suspended from his clerical functions by a papal mandate. He is also the author of a life of _Abelard and Eloïsa_, and possesses in manuscript, which he dare not publish, a history of the revival of learning. Mr. Canning wrote to Ld. G. Leveson: ‘Lord Chuckle [_sic_] is, I hear, sufficiently recovered to take his prescription; accordingly, I shall send my letter to-morrow, and the other shall go abroad the day following.’ So we may expect to-morrow to see this long announced and much looked-for _second_ statement.[334] Henry and his tutor, Mr. Shuttleworth, left us on Sunday for Hinckley. _Wednesday, 22nd._--Mr. Tierney, Mr. Grenville, and Ld. Darnley dined. _Thursday, 23rd Nov._--Ministerial papers announce very triumphantly that Ld. Wellesley has accepted the office offered to him by them, and is to come home immediately and fill his place. Ly. Eliz.[335] came, the first time I have seen her since her marriage with Duke of Devonshire; I could not utter a congratulation upon the occasion. The Lambs, Mr. Windham, S. Lockington, Sr. Robt. Wilson, Mr. Stuart, Duke of Argyle, Ld. Robt. FitzGerald, Ly. Affleck dined. Mr. C.’s statement is not yet out. My mother returned from Gosport with Charles, whom she had been to see on acct. of his illness. _Friday, 24th Nov._--Ld. Wellesley has written to Mr. Canning assigning his reasons for accepting, but what they are I know not. [Sidenote: PANSHANGER]