It was
pleasing to see the deference with which he was received as he
entered the library; at the sound of his name everybody rose; he is
addressed by all with a respectful manner. He met Peel most
cordially, and seized both Lady Peel's hands. I now recollect that
it was with _glee_ Sir R. Peel said to me on Monday, 'I am glad to
say you will meet the duke here,' which had reference, I doubt not,
partly to the anticipated pleasure of seeing him, partly to the
dissipation of unworthy suspicions. He reported that government are
still labouring at a church measure without appropriation. _Jan.
20._--The Duke of Wellington appears to speak little; and never for
speaking's sake, but only to convey an idea, commonly worth
conveying. He receives remarks made to him very frequently with no
more than 'Ha,' a convenient, suspensive expression, which
acknowledges the arrival of the observation and no more. Of the two
days which he spent here he hunted on Thursday, shot on Friday, and
to-day travelled to Strathfieldsay, more, I believe, than 100
miles, to entertain a party of friends to dinner. With this bodily
exertion he mixes at 66 or 67 a constant attention to business. Sir
R. Peel mentioned to me to-night a very remarkable example of his
[the duke's] perhaps excessive precision. Whenever he signs a draft
on Coutts's, he addresses to them at the same time a note apprising
them that he has done so. This perfect facility of transition from
one class of occupation to their opposites, and their habitual
intermixture without any apparent encroachments on either side, is,
I think, a very remarkable evidence of self-command, and a mental
power of singular utility. Sir Robert is also, I conceive, a
thrifty dealer with his time, but in a man of his age [Peel now 48]
this is less beyond expectation.

He said good-bye on the last night with regret. In the midst of the
great company he found time to read Bossuet on Variations, remarking
rather oddly, 'some of Bossuet's theology seems to me very good.'

MIXED AVOCATIONS

On Jan. 30th is the entry of his journey from Liverpool, '1 to 4 to
Hawarden Castle.' [I suppose his first visit to his future home.]
Got to Chester (Feb. 1) five minutes after the mail had started.
Got on by Albion. Outside all night; fr