_April 8._

Cabinet at 2. The Committee on the Bank Charter to be taken out of
Huskisson's hands.

The King was not well yesterday. The Duke recollected Clare's appointment,
and thinks I shall have the warrant in a day or two.

_April 9._

Wrote to Wrangham, begging him to send me the Cabinet box I desired the
Cabinet messenger to take to my house yesterday. I think it contained the
papers relative to Russian projects against India.

I have been so unwell the last two days I have been unable to do any public
business.

_April 12._

Had some conversation with Hardinge. He thinks the Duke will not remain in
office above a year more, and that Peel will then be Minister, and that
Peel looks forward to that now. I said I feared he would be a very Radical
Minister.

Hardinge thinks Sir G. Murray would be very well satisfied to be Master-
General, that he feels the Colonial Office is above him. I doubt, however,
if he would like leaving it. If Peel was Minister he would have all the
Ministers he could in the House of Commons.

From what Hardinge heard from Croker I am inclined to think that foolish
fellow and others imagine they could go on without Peel.

I do not think it impossible we may have a dissolution of Parliament if
there should be a good harvest.

_April 12._

Sent the letter and list of Russian papers about China to the Duke. Wrote
to Aberdeen and told him so. Observed at the same time that I should be
very glad to make some arrangement with the Portuguese for excluding opium
from their Indian ports; but I feared the present state of our relations
with Portugal was not favourable for our doing so.

_April 13._

Found in London the papers I had sent to the Duke. He says he is sorry he
has read them. He had thought better of Sir Ch. Metcalfe. The only one of
the four who writes _common sense_ is Elphinstone.

_April 15._

The King was apparently very ill indeed yesterday.

Received a medal struck for the native troops engaged in the Burmese war
from Loch, and another to be transmitted to the King.

_April 16._

Saw Hardinge, who called upon me at R.

The King has really been very ill, but certainly not worse than the
bulletin made him.

Sir H. Halford does not go down to-day, nor will there be any more
bulletins.

Hardinge seems to be dissatisfied with Peel, who he says is cold and never
encourages any one. All this is very true.

I think Hardinge rather looks to the C