Mr. Paget--first,
because he was a man of violent political opinions; and,
secondly, because he was a Dissenter. The Chancellor told him
that Mr. Paget was not a man of violent political opinions, and
as to his being a Dissenter, he considered that no objection, and
that he should therefore appoint him, together with the gentlemen
recommended by the Duke. The Duke wrote a most violent answer, in
which he said that his lordship had the power of making this
appointment if he chose to do so, and if he did, he would have
the satisfaction of knowing that he had done very wrong, and he
informed him that for the future he should hold no confidential
communication with him. The Chancellor (the Duke of Wellington
said) behaved in the most gentlemanlike manner possible; nobody
could behave better. He sent to the Duke of Newcastle to say that
he must be aware, on reflexion, that he ought not to have written
such a letter, and he would therefore return it to him, that he
might, if he pleased, put it in the fire, and let it be
considered as not having been written at all. The Duke replied
that he had no objection to withdraw the letter, _provided the
Chancellor would cancel the appointment_. Upon this, Lord John
Russell wrote him word that 'Her Majesty had no further occasion
for his services as Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of the
county of Notts.' Yesterday morning the Duke of Newcastle went to
Apsley House, and said to the Duke of Wellington, 'You have heard
what has happened to me?' 'Not I,' said the Duke, 'I have heard
nothing;' and then the Duke of Newcastle gave him Lord John's
letter to read. 'Well,' said he, 'but there is a correspondence
alluded to in this letter: where is it?' and then the Duke of
Newcastle put into his hands the correspondence with the
Chancellor. As soon as the Duke of Wellington had read it, he
said, 'They could not do otherwise; no Government could be
carried on if such a letter as this was submitted to.' 'What
shall I do?' said the Duke of Newcastle. 'Do?' said the Duke: 'Do
nothing.'

May 5th, 1939 {p.196}

Lord John Russell's letter to the electors of Stroud[14] came out
late on Friday evening, and three editions were sold of it
yesterday, and not a copy to be had. It is very sound and
temperate, will be a bitter pill to the Radicals, and a source of
vexation to his own people, but will be hailed with exceeding
satisfaction by all moderate and really conservative men of
whatever par