cing the latter. It is very
surprising that Peel should consent to this motion, and the more
so because his speech at the dinner yesterday is said to have
been extremely moderate in all respects.

[1] [Upon Lord John Russell bringing in a Bill for settling
the Irish Tithe question, Sir Thomas Acland moved, as a
preliminary step to this discussion, that the
celebrated resolution of the 8th of April, 1835, for
the appropriation of the surplus revenues of the Irish
Church should be rescinded. Upon a division the
Government proposal was carried by 317 to 298 votes.]

May 18th, 1838 {p.093}

At Newmarket all the week past. Since I have been away there was
the debate and division on Acland's motion. The Government talked
of 23, and the Opposition of 15 majority, and it turned just
between the two. It was a very ill-advised measure, and I have no
doubt was forced on Peel against his judgement, and that it was
not approved by the Duke; but the fact is, they cannot manage
their party. Peel's speech was anything but good, and smacked of
unwillingness; Stanley's was very poor; John Russell's was very
good in facts, but ill-judged in some respects, and it is neither
wise nor dignified, nor in good taste, to keep flinging at the
Bishop of Exeter as he does; Morpeth's was the best, brilliant
and effective. Peel said to him, when they were going out to
divide, 'I can appreciate a good speech when made against me as
well as when it is for me, and I must tell you that yours was the
best speech of the debate.' This was becoming and judicious, and
such courtesies soften the asperities of Parliamentary warfare.
The Government had much the best of the argument, and the Tories
contrived to afford them a triumph upon the Appropriation Clause,
and at the same time enabled them to shake it off (onerous and
inconvenient as it was) without further difficulty. There was
some ingenuity in doing this. I cannot help thinking Peel likes
to see his party defeated in this way. The Government think it
has been a very great thing for them, and no doubt it has done
them service. Peel's speech at the banquet was somewhat didactic,
and too much in the style of a political sermon; but it was very
good, full of excellent sense, couched in excellent language, but
it may be doubted if his moderation was palatable to the majority
of his hearers.[2]

[2] [A banquet was given to Sir R.