njoying himself at Brighton. He wished he would show himself more."[47]

[47] Ibid. p. 73.

The same authority affords many other peeps behind the political
curtain. We quote one:--

"On leaving Pole, I met Hammond, my quondam colleague when we were
Under Secretaries of State together. He told me it was certain Lord
Grenville would support the Bill, and then asked me, with much
concern, whether the report was true that, if it did not pass,
Ministers had resolved to resign? I answered, that what they had
resolved in their own minds no one could tell, but that I thought I
could answer that no such resolution had been made a Cabinet
measure. He said he was very glad. I related this to ----, who said
with some vehemence, there was no reason on earth why they should
resign. They had been right and straightforward from the beginning,
and for one, he never would consent to it. ---- said, Hammond being
the mouthpiece of Canning, he had no doubt this was set on foot by
his party. I thought this was going too far; nevertheless, it is
surprising what industry they are showing against the Bill."[48]

[48] Phipps's "Memoirs of R. Plumer Ward," vol. ii. p. 73.

"Lord Grenville," adds the diarist, "voted for the second reading, and
spoke very ably, but so as to make us regret he had not spoken
earlier."[49]

[49] Ibid. p. 77.

The second reading of the Bill was carried, and this, according to Lord
Grey, stamped the Queen with a verdict of guilty. Having done this,
Ministers prepared to get rid of the proceedings as soon as possible.

How the affair terminated is well described in Plumer Ward's "Diary,"
under the date November 10th. We can only afford space for a few
lines:--

"The debate was now drawing to a close, and most of the peers who
were speaking, whether for or against the third reading (the Duke
of Northumberland very emphatically), were declaring their
conviction that the Queen was guilty. At length the division was
called, and Lord Gage enforced the standing order, that each peer
should give his vote in his place, _seriatim_. The result was the
small majority of 9; the numbers being 108 to 99. Lord Liverpool
then got up and withdrew the Bill, resting it upon so small a
majority _in the circumstances of the country_."[50]

[50] "Memoirs," by Phipps, vol. ii. p. 91.

The Opposition were, of course,