Prince
Talleyrand--Death and Character of Lady Harrowby--Government
defeated on Emancipation of Slaves--Dispute of Mr. Handley and
Lord Brougham--Dinner at Lambeth--Arrangement of Irish
Questions--Settlement of Irish Questions--O'Connell declines
the Rolls--Naval Intervention in Spain--Duke of Wellington's
Moderation--Marshal Soult arrives--Preparations for the
Coronation of Queen Victoria--The Wellington Statue--The
Coronation--Coleridge and John Sterling--Lord Durham's Mission
to Canada--Lord Brougham contrasted with the Duke--Macaulay on
his return from India--Soult in London--Duke of Sussex quarrels
with Ministers--Lord Burghersh's Opera--High Church Sermons--
Lord Palmerston and Mr. Urquhart--The Ecclesiastical Discipline
Bill--The Duke's Despatches--Macaulay's Plan of Life--Lord
Durham's Canada Ordinance--Mr. Barnes--Canada Indemnity Bill--
Lord Durham's Ordinance disallowed--Irish Corporation Bill--
Review of the Session.

May 11th, 1838 {p.91}

Last night I was at the ball at the Palace--a poor affair in
comparison with the Tuileries. Gallery ill-lit; rest of the rooms
tolerable. The Queen's manner and bearing perfect. She danced,
first with Prince George, then young Esterhazy, then Lord
FitzAlan. Before supper, and after dancing, she sat on a sofa
somewhat elevated in the drawing-room, looking at the waltzing;
she did not waltz herself. Her mother sat on one side of her, and
the Princess Augusta on the other; then the Duchesses of
Gloucester and Cambridge and the Princess of Cambridge; her
household, with their wands, standing all round; her manners
exceedingly graceful, and, blended with dignity and cordiality, a
simplicity and good humour, when she talks to people, which are
mighty captivating. When supper was announced she moved from her
seat, all her officers going before her--she, first, alone, and
the Royal Family following; her exceeding youth strikingly
contrasted with their mature ages, but she did it well. I was
struck last night for the first time with the great change in the
Duke of Wellington's looks; others have noted it before. He is no
longer so straight and upright, and old age is taking possession
of his features in a way that is distressing to see. He has lived
long enough for his own renown, but he cannot live long enough
for the good of his country, let what will happen and when it
may. It is a fine sight to regard the noble manner in which he is
play