ess and habits of business. The Duke seems to think
of Elphinstone. He said he was a very clever man. I told him I had been an
hour and a half with Elphinstone last night. I told the Duke all my notions
respecting individual responsibility, members of Council, &c., and that I
had begged Elphinstone to think of them. The Duke seemed generally to
approve of them. It seems Lord Wellesley never would go to Council. I do
not wonder at it; but the Duke used to tell him he was Governor-General _in
Council_--that he ought always to go there.

_March 10._

Dined with the Duke. Cabinet dinner. Only the Peers there. The others
detained by Lord Palmerston's motion on Portugal, on which there was a
majority of two to one, 150 odd to 70 something. Huskisson made a very bad
dull speech. We talked about a successor to the Speaker. They seem to think
he will not resign now, as he would not get a good pension in the present
temper of the House.

The candidates are Sir J. Beckett, Littleton, G. Bankes, Wynn of course. I
mentioned Frankland Lewis as a good man, which he would be. I dare say the
Chairs will think he should be elected unanimously.

It seems there must be a Bill of Indemnity for not taking the declaration,
two Bishops, Chester and Oxford, not having taken it. The Duke finds he has
at Dover, as Lord Warden.

We had some little conversation about the income tax, which the Duke is
very hostile to, and I am glad we shall not have it.

_March 11._

The Russians have at last sent their reply to our expostulatory note. I
have not had time to read it. Lord Heytesbury calculates that the last war
cost them 12,000,000L, but they endeavour to conceal the amount.

Peel told me the House was quite excited against the Bombay judges, and
that the division fairly represented its real opinion.

_March 12._

There was but one black ball in the election of Lord Clare, and the Chairs
think that was put in by mistake; no one objected.

_March 13._

Read Sir H. Parnell's pamphlet on taxation.

Cabinet room at two. I had only got half through the Russian answer when
the Cabinet met for the subject of taxation.

I rather expected to find that the Duke had had communications with
Goulburn, and that the idea of a property tax was given up. However, that
seemed not to be the case. It was determined the whole beer duty should be
given up in any case.

L
The expected reve