it would be a wise and popular thing to
keep him there and load him with civilities--do good to the
Queen, encourage others to do their duty--and send him back
rejoicing to his province, to spread far and wide the fame of his
gracious reception. He said, that etiquette would not permit one
of his rank in life to be invited to the Royal table. I said,
that this was all nonsense: if he was good enough to come and be
knighted, he was good enough to dine there, and that it was a
little outlay for a large return. He was convinced; spoke to
Melbourne, who settled it, and Phillips stayed. Nothing could
answer better, everybody approved of it, and the man behaved as
if his whole life had been spent in Courts, perfectly at his ease
without rudeness or forwardness, quiet, unobtrusive, but with
complete self-possession, and a _nil admirari_ manner which had
something distinguished in it. The Queen was very civil to him,
and he was delighted. The next morning he went to Normanby, and
expressed his apprehension that he might not have conducted
himself as he ought, together with his grateful sense of his
reception; but the apology was quite needless.[12]

[12] [On the 4th November a Chartist riot occurred at
Newport in Monmouthshire. The leaders were John Frost
and Zephaniah Williams. The Mayor, Mr. T. Phillips,
behaved with great gallantry, and ordered the troops to
load. The mob, said to be 20,000 strong, first fired on
the troops, who then returned the fire with effect and
dispersed the assemblage. John Frost, the leader of
this disturbance, had unluckily been made a magistrate
by Lord John Russell some time before. His trial is
subsequently adverted to.]

December 25th, 1839 {p.250}

At Ampthill (Baron Parke's) last Friday. Took down with me David
Dundas, a Whig lawyer, and a very agreeable accomplished man,
plenty of pleasant talk. Went over to Wrest, Lord de Grey's new
house--built, decorated, and furnished by himself--and very
perfect in all ways. Heard on Sunday a Mr. Howorth preach--an
admirable preacher, who ought to be promoted in the Church, just
as Dundas ought in the State.[13]

[13] [Sir David Dundas afterwards became Solicitor-General
and declined a judgeship.]

December 31st, 1839 {p.250}

We are arrived at the end of the year, and the next will begin
with the Chartist trials. Parliament is abo