July 18th, 1838 {p.113}

[Page Head: CLAIM OF THE DUKE OF SUSSEX.]

The Duke of Sussex has quarrelled with the Government on account
of their refusal to apply to Parliament for an increased
allowance, and his partisans are very angry with Melbourne, and
talk of withdrawing their support. The Duke began by requesting
Melbourne to bring the matter before the Cabinet, which he did,
and the result was that they informed his Royal Highness it could
not be done. He was very angry, and the rest of the Royal family
(glad to make bad blood between him and the Whigs) fomented his
discontent. The Duke of Cambridge went to Melbourne and begged
that he might not stand in the way of his brother's wishes, from
its being supposed that if they were complied with, his own
claims could likewise be urged. The Duke, finding he could do
nothing with the Government, determined to do what he could for
himself, and began to canvass and exert all the influence he
possessed among Members of Parliament, and (as he thought) with
such success, that he counted upon 250 votes in his favour. He
then employed Mr. Gillon to move the matter in the House of
Commons, having previously conveyed to Melbourne his intention to
do what he could for himself, but not making any communication to
Lord John Russell, and directing his confidants to conceal from
him what it was intended to do. Accordingly John Russell paid
very little attention to the motion of Mr. Gillon, which he saw
entered on the Order Book, and when it came on, he opposed it.
Peel pronounced a very warm eulogium upon John Russell's conduct,
and the motion was rejected by ninety to forty, the Duke's
anticipated supporters having dwindled away to that paltry
number. Bitter was his mortification and violent his resentment
at this result. He wrote an angry letter to John Russell, to
which John sent a temperate and respectful reply, but his Royal
Highness has since informed Melbourne that he shall withdraw his
support from the Government, and the Duke of Cleveland has
likewise given notice that the conduct of Government to the Duke
'makes the whole difference' in his disposition to support them.
The Duke's friends generally have expressed so much
dissatisfaction, that it is matter of considerable embarrassment
and annoyance to the Government, and if this was to be carried to
the length of opposition, or even neutrality, it might be
productive of serious consequences, weak as they are. But as th