rties at
the present moment, and it would puzzle the most sagacious
observer and most experienced actor in political life to predict
the result of the ensuing session. There is quite enough,
however, in the general aspect of affairs both at home and abroad
to moderate the rancour of mere party violence.

December 15th, 1838 {p.145}

Went on Wednesday to a Council at Windsor, and after the Council
was invited to stay that night; rode with the Queen, and after
riding Melbourne came to me and said Her Majesty wished me to
stay the next day also. This was very gracious and very
considerate, because it was done for the express purpose of
showing that she was not displeased at my not staying when asked
on a former occasion, and as she can have no object whatever in
being civil to me, it was a proof of her good-nature and
thoughtfulness about other people's little vanities, even those
of the most insignificant. Accordingly I remained till Friday
morning, when I went with the rest of her suite to see the hounds
throw off, which she herself saw for the first time. The Court is
certainly not gay, but it is perhaps impossible that any Court
should be gay where there is no social equality; where some
ceremony, and a continual air of deference and respect must be
observed, there can be no ease, and without ease there can be no
real pleasure. The Queen is natural, good-humoured, and cheerful,
but still she is Queen, and by her must the social habits and the
tone of conversation be regulated, and for this she is too young
and inexperienced. She sits at a large round table, her guests
around it, and Melbourne always in a chair beside her, where two
mortal hours are consumed in such conversation as can be found,
which appears to be, and really is, very up-hill work. This,
however, is the only bad part of the whole; the rest of the day
is passed without the slightest constraint, trouble, or annoyance
to anybody; each person is at liberty to employ himself or
herself as best pleases them, though very little is done in
common, and in this respect Windsor is totally unlike any other
place. There is none of the sociability which makes the
agreeableness of an English country house; there is no room in
which the guests assemble, sit, lounge, and talk as they please
and when they please; there is a billiard table, but in such a
remote corner of the Castle that it might as well be in the town
of Windsor; and there is a library well stocke