obliged to pledge
themselves to measures of a dangerous tendency. He wishes,
therefore, to place Peel in such a situation as shall exonerate
him from the necessity of a dissolution, by giving him a fair
general though independent support; but the power to do this
depends much upon the temper that is displayed, and upon the mode
in which the change is effected; for if the Tories cannot be
restrained from the exhibition of an insulting and triumphant
demeanour, the exasperation and desire of revenge in the
discomfited party will be too great and general to admit of his
aiding the new Government with an imposing force, and he is
therefore solicitous that prudence and moderation should govern
the Conservative councils. I asked X. whether he thought that
there were many others likely to take this view and to follow
Lord John's example and advice, and he said that there were.

[9] [Adelaide, daughter of Thomas Lister, Esquire, and
widow of the second Lord Ribblesdale, was the first
wife of Lord John Russell: she died on the 1st November
1838, to the great grief of the Minister.]

All this, which is a brief abstract of our two conversations,
appeared to me of so much importance, and, above all, that it is
so desirable that the sentiments of the Whig leader should be
made known to the future Minister, that I asked X. whether there
would be any objection to my making known as much as it was
desirable to impart of our conversation without committing
anybody, and carefully abstaining from giving what I might say
the air of a communication between parties in any shape or way.
He said that it certainly might be very useful that there should
be some such knowledge of these sentiments conveyed to the proper
quarter, but he did not think the time was yet come, and that for
the present I had better say nothing; to which I replied that, as
it might have an important effect upon their deliberations which
would be held previously to the debate on the 15th, and upon the
conduct of Peel and his party on that occasion, I thought that
the sooner the communication took place the better, as there
could be no doubt that the temper displayed and the conduct
pursued by the different parties on that occasion would have a
very material effect upon all future arrangements, and upon the
condition, prospects, and necessities of the new administration.
I told X. that there was nothing I had such a horror of as
re