n Russell's choice. He was
not only a good magistrate, but member for Birmingham
for many years, and a useful member. He was the first
man who, in our time, wore a long beard in the House.]

July 25th, 1839 {p.227}

Lord Clarendon made his first appearance in the House of Lords
the night before last in reply to Lord Londonderry on Spanish
affairs, with great success and excellent effect, and has
completely landed himself as a Parliamentary speaker, in which,
as he is certain to improve with time and practice, he will
eventually acquire considerable eminence; and nothing can prevent
his arriving at the highest posts. He is already marked out by
the public voice for the Foreign Office, for which he is
peculiarly well fitted, and there is no reason why he should not
look forward to being Prime Minister in some future combination
of parties, a post which he would fill better than any of the
statesmen who now play the principal parts in the political
drama. The Government have at last taken fright, and have
proposed troops and police to afford the country some sort of
security during the recess and the winter. They have sent down
Maule (the Solicitor to the Treasury) to Birmingham to
investigate the evidence adducible against the magistrates, but I
do not much expect that they will proceed to any extremities
against them. It is too probable that 'silebitur toto judicio de
maximis et notissimis injuriis,' for 'non potest in accusando
socios vere defendere is, qui cum reo criminum societate
conjunctus est.'

August 9th, 1839 {p.228}

[Page Head: FREAKS OF LORD BROUGHAM.]

Brougham brought on his motion on Tuesday,[7] in spite of various
attempts to dissuade him; but he could not resist the temptation
of making a speech, which he said he expected would be the best
he had ever delivered. He spoke for three hours in opening, and
an hour and a quarter in reply, and a great performance by all
accounts it was. The Duke of Wellington said it was the finest
speech he had ever heard in Parliament. Normanby was miserably
feeble in reply, and exhibited, by common consent, a sad failure,
both on this occasion and on that of the Canada Bill. He is quite
unequal to the office which has been thrust upon him, and he
cannot speak upon great subjects, having no oratorical art or
power of dealing skilfully and forcibly with a question. It was a
very damaging night to the Government as far as reputation[