nt to himself. So little
public spirit has he, and so much selfishness, that he would
rather his Government was weak than strong, that they may be the
more dependent upon him; though he only wishes to be powerful in
order to exercise the most puerile caprices, gratify ridiculous
resentments, indulge vulgar prejudices, and amass or squander
money; not one great object connected with national glory or
prosperity ever enters his brain. I am convinced he would turn
out the Duke to-morrow if he could see any means of replacing
him. I don't think I mentioned that when he talked of giving the
child's ball Lady Maria Conyngham said, 'Oh, do, it will be so
nice to see the _two little Queens_ dancing together' (the little
Queen of Portugal and the Princess Victoria), at which he was
beyond measure provoked.

[22] [Right Hon. Manners Sutton, Speaker of the House of
Commons. He retained that office till 1835, when he was
beaten on the great contest with Mr. Abercromby, and
raised to the peerage as Lord Canterbury.]

[Page Head: MADAME DU CAYLA.]

July 10th, 1829 {p.214}

I dined with the Duke of Wellington yesterday; a very large party
for Mesdames the Duchesse d'Escars and Madame du Cayla; the first
is the widow of the Duc d'Escars, who was Premier Maitre d'Hotel
of Louis XVIII., and who was said to have died of one of the
King's good dinners, and the joke was, 'Hier sa Majeste a eu une
indigestion, dont M. le Duc d'Escars est mort.' Madame du
Cayla[23] is come over to prosecute some claim upon this
Government, which the Duke has discovered to be unfounded, and he
had the bluntness to tell her so as they were going to dinner.
She must have been good-looking in her youth; her countenance is
lively, her eyes are piercing, clear complexion, and very
handsome hands and arms; but the best part about her seemed to be
the magnificent pearls she wore, though these are not so fine as
Lady Conyngham's. All king's mistresses seem to have a rage for
pearls; I remember Madame Narischkin's were splendid. Madame du
Cayla is said to be very rich and clever.

[23] [Madame du Cayla had been the _soi-disant_ mistress of
Louis XVIII., or rather the favourite of his declining
years. 'Il fallait une Esther,' to use her own
expression, 'a cet Assuerus.' She was the daughter of
M. Talon, brought up by Madam Campan, and an early
friend of Hortense Beauharn