ossed by Newmarket, with the
same mixed feelings of disgust at the nature of the occupation,
and satisfaction at the success attending it. I won L2,000 by the
two weeks, and if I meet with no reverse am rapidly acquiring the
means of paying off my debts. Then I propose to live not for
myself alone (as I earnestly hope), but that I may feel the
desire of contributing to the enjoyments of others. I hope as I
become rich (and if I get out of debt I shall be rich) I may not
become grasping and avaricious, and acquire a taste for hoarding
money merely for hoarding's sake. When I see how insensibly, and
under what plausible pretexts, this passion steals upon others, I
tremble lest I should become a victim to it myself.

I know of nothing, in the world of politics. There has been much
foolish chatter about the Coronation, and whether there should be
a banquet or no; the Tories calling out for one because the Whig
Government have settled that there should not be any. The Duke of
Wellington, as usual, sensible, and above such nonsense; says it
will all do very well, and that the Palace of Westminster having
been destroyed by fire, a banquet and procession would not be
feasible, as there exist no apartments in which the arrangements
could be made. He rebuked his Tory Lords the other night when
they made a foolish attack on Melbourne about M'Hale signing
himself John _Tuam_. Every day he appears a greater man.

I have read hardly anything all this time but two reviews in the
'Edinburgh'--Brougham's most remarkable paper upon Lady Charlotte
Bury's book, the composition of which I saw with my own eyes; the
other is Stephen's review of Wilberforce's Life. Nothing can be
more admirable than the characters which Brougham has given of
the celebrated people of that day--George III., George IV.,
Eldon, Perceval, and others; and when I think of the manner in
which they were written, with what inconceivable rapidity, and in
the midst of what occupation--for his attention was perpetually
divided between what he was writing and what the counsel was
saying--it is an astonishing exhibition of facility and
fertility. Stephen's review is as good as possible in a very
different style, and his description of the end of Wilberforce's
life strikes me as singularly eloquent and pathetic.

CHAPTER III.

A Ball at the Palace--Aspect of Foreign Affairs--Irish Tithe
Bill--Debate on Sir T. Acland's Motion--Death of