nnot, and friendly efforts to prolong the day only aggravate the
pain. Manning was with me all this morning; he is well, and is to
come back to-morrow.

_Jan. 9, '45._--Another postponement; but our explanations were as
satisfactory as could possibly be made under such circumstances.
The tone and manner as kind as at any time--nothing like murmur. At
the same time Peel said he thought it right to intimate a belief
that the government might very probably be shipwrecked upon the
Maynooth question, partly in connection with my retirement, but
also as he intimated from the uncertainty whether there might not
be a very strong popular feeling against it. _He_ takes upon
himself all responsibility for any inconvenience to which the
government may possibly be put from the delay and a consequent
abrupt retirement, and says I have given him the fullest and
fairest notice.... I saw Manning for two hours this morning, and
let the cat out of the bag to him in part. Have a note from
Lockhart saying the Bishop of London had sent his chaplain to
Murray to express high approval of the article on Ward--and
enclosing the vulgar addition of L63.

AT WINDSOR CASTLE

_Windsor Castle, Jan. 10._--First, owing to the Spanish
ambassador's not appearing, Lady Lyttelton was suddenly invited,
and fell to my lot to hand in and sit by, which was very pleasant.
I am, as you know, a shockingly bad witness to looks, but she
appeared to me, I confess, a little worn and aged. She ought to
have at least two months' holiday every year. After dinner the
Queen inquired as usual about you, and rather particularly with
much interest about Lady Glynne. I told her plainly all I could.
This rather helped the Queen through the conversation, as it kept
me talking, and she was evidently hard pressed at the gaps. Then we
went to cards, and played commerce; fortunately I was never the
worst hand, and so was not called upon to pay, for I had locked up
my purse before going to dinner; but I found I had won 2s. 2d. at
the end, 8d. of which was paid me by the Prince. I mean to keep the
2d. piece (the 6d. I cannot identify) accordingly, unless I lose it
again to-night. I had rather a nice conversation with him about the
international copyright convention with Prussia....