ey had announced that he
considered it a vote of censure, and threw out a sort of threat
of resigning. He and Brougham (after a Cabinet) went down to the
King. The King was very much annoyed at this fresh dilemma into
which the Tories had brought him, and consented to whatever Lord
Grey required. In the meantime the House of Commons flew to arms,
and Colonel Dawes gave notice of a motion of confidence in
Ministers upon their foreign policy. This was carried by an
immense majority after a weak debate, in which some very cowardly
menaces were thrown out against the Bishops, and this settled the
question. Ministers did not resign, no Peers were made, and
everything goes on as before. It has been, however, a disastrous
business. How the Duke of Wellington could take this course after
the conversation I had with him in this room, when he told me he
would support the Government because he wished it to be _strong_,
I can't conceive. At all events he seems resolved that his
Parliamentary victories should be as injurious as his military
ones were glorious to his country. Some of his friends say that
he was _provoked_ by Lord Grey's supercilious answer to him the
other day, when he said he knew nothing of what was going on but
from what he read in the newspapers, others that he 'feels so
very strongly' about Portugal, others that he cannot manage the
Tories, and that they were determined to fight; in short, that he
has not the same authority as leader of a party that he had as
general of an army, for nobody would have forced him to fight the
battle of Salamanca or Vittoria if he had not fancied it himself.
The effect, however, has been this: the House of Lords has had a
rap on the knuckles from the King, their legislative functions
are practically in abeyance, and his Majesty is more tied than
ever to his Ministers. The House of Lords is paralysed; it exists
upon sufferance, and cannot venture to throw out or materially
alter any Bill (such as the India, Bank, Negro, Church Reform,
&c.) which may come up to it without the certainty of being
instantly swamped, and the measures, however obnoxious, crammed
down its throat. This Government has lost ground in public
opinion, they were daily falling lower, and these predestinated
idiots come and bolster them up just when they most want it.
Tavistock acknowledged to me that they were unpopular, and that
this freak had been of vast service to them; consequently they
are all elated to t