whole, as a whole, was therefore untrue. Mr. Cobden has throughout
argued the corn question on the principle of holding up the
landlords of England to the people, as plunderers and as knaves for
maintaining the corn law to save their rents, and as fools because
it was not necessary for that purpose. This was passed by, while he
was praised for sincerity, eloquence, indefatigable zeal.

On Thursday the 2nd I saw Lord Aberdeen. He agreed in the general
regret at the tone of that part of the speech. He said he feared it
was designed with a view to its effects, for the purpose of making
it impossible that Peel should ever again be placed in connection
with the conservative party as a party. He said that Peel had
absolutely made up his mind never again to lead it, never again to
enter office; that he had indeed made up his mind, at one time, to
quit parliament, but that probably on the Queen's account, and in
deference to her wishes, he had abandoned this part of his
intentions. But that he was fixed in the idea to maintain his
independent and separate position, taking part in public questions
as his views of public interests might from time to time seem to
require. I represented that this for _him_, and in the House of
Commons, was an intention absolutely impossible to fulfil; that
with his greatness he could not remain there overshadowing and
eclipsing all governments, and yet have to do with no governments;
that acts cannot for such a man be isolated, they must be in
series, and his view of public affairs must coincide with one body
of men rather than another, and that the attraction must place him
in relations with them. Lord Aberdeen said that Earl Spencer in his
later days was Sir R. Peel's ideal,--rare appearances for serious
purposes, and without compromise generally to the independence of
his personal habits. I put it that this was possible in the House
of Lords, but only there.... On Saturday I saw him again as he came
from the palace. He represented that the Queen was sorely grieved
at this change; which indeed I had already heard from Catherine
through Lady Lyttelton, but this showed that it continued. And
again on Monday we heard through Lady Lyttelton that the Queen said
it was a comfort to think that the work of that day would soon be