_

CLAREMONT, _5th December 1836._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--... I have begun since a few days Lord Clive's
Life, by Sir John Malcolm,[20] which is very interesting, as it gives
much insight into the affairs of India, over parts of which, I fear,
it would be well to throw a _veil_. I am reading it by myself, _et je
vous le recommande_....

[Footnote 20: The book reviewed by Macaulay, who spoke of
Sir John Malcolm as one whose "love passes the love of
biographers, and who can see nothing but wisdom and justice in
the actions of his idol."]

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER VI

The closing months of the reign of William IV. were not marked by any
stirring events at home. The Conservative opposition to the Melbourne
Ministry was strengthened before the meeting of Parliament by a great
speech by Sir Robert Peel at Glasgow, and Lord Brougham later on
emerged from his retirement to become the able and venomous critic of
his former friends. The Government failed to carry important measures
on Church Rates and Irish Municipal Corporations, while the Radical
group pressed persistently their favourite motions in support of
the Ballot, and against the Property qualification of members,
Primogeniture, the Septennial Act, the Bishops' seats and Proxy Voting
in the House of Lords. The Ministry was saved from shipwreck by the
demise of the Crown and by the accession of the Princess Victoria,
who, on attaining her legal majority a month earlier, had received
marked signs of enthusiastic popular favour.

The General Election in the Autumn did not materially affect the
position of parties, the Radicals losing and O'Connell gaining
seats; but the prestige of Lord Melbourne was increased by the unique
position he now held in reference to the Sovereign. Parliament was
opened in person by the Queen on 20th November, and the Civil List
dealt with, the amount allocated being L385,000 as against L510,000 in
the late reign (of which L75,000, formerly paid in pensions, was now
struck off, and other arrangements made).

For some time past the state of Canada had caused grave anxiety. By
an Act of 1791, it had been divided into Upper and Lower Canada, each
with a Governor, Council, and House of Representatives, Lower Canada
being in the main French, while Upper Canada was occupied by British
settlers. Friction first arose in the former, between the nominee
Council and the popular Assembly, the Assembly declining to pay the