unequal to the exigencies of the times in which he was
placed at the head of affairs, the purity of his motives and the
noble character of his ambition will be amply acknowledged.

[8] [The Rt. Hon. E. J. Littleton, M.P. for Staffordshire,
and afterwards first Lord Hatherton.
It was Lord John Russell who advised Lord Grey to
make Littleton Irish Secretary. He told me so in May
1871, but added, 'I think I made a mistake.' The
appointment was wholly unsolicited and unexpected by
Mr. Littleton himself, who happened to be laid up at
the time by an accident. On the receipt of the letter
from Lord Grey offering him the Secretaryship of
Ireland, and requesting him to take it, Mr. Littleton
consulted Mr. Fazakerly, who was of opinion that he
ought to accept the offer. This therefore he did,
though not, as I know from his own journals, without
great diffidence and hesitation; and he intimated to
Lord Grey that he would only retain his office until
some other man could be found to accept it.]

The Duke of Orleans is here, and very well received by the Court
and the world. He is good-looking, dull, has good manners and
little conversation, goes everywhere, and dances all night. At
the ball at Court the Queen waltzed with the two Dukes of Orleans
and Brunswick.

Peel compelled old Cobbett to bring on his motion for getting him
erased from the Privy Council, which Cobbett wished to shirk
from. He gave him a terrible dressing, and it all went off for
Peel in the most flattering way. He gains every day more
authority and influence in the House of Commons. It must end in
Peel and Stanley, unless everything ends.

May 27th, 1833 {p.373}

[Page Head: ANECDOTE OF THE DERBY.]

All last week at Epsom, and now, thank God, these races are over.
I have had all the trouble and excitement and worry, and have
neither won nor lost; nothing but the hope of gain would induce
me to go through this demoralising drudgery, which I am conscious
reduces me to the level of all that is most disreputable and
despicable, for my thoughts are eternally absorbed by it.
Jockeys, trainers, and blacklegs are my companions, and it is
like dram-drinking; having once entered upon it I cannot leave it
off, though I am disgusted with the occupation all the time. Let
no man who has no need, who is not