situation of Chief of Prince
Albert's establishment, for they can get none who is eligible.
They want a Peer, a Whig, and a man of good sense, character and
education, something rather better than common, and such an one
willing to put on Court trappings they find not easily to be had.
We made out a list, to be shown to Melbourne, who had consulted
the Duke of Bedford, and asked him for a man. We talked over the
bitter hostility between the Queen and the Tories, and he said,
that Melbourne did everything he could to mitigate her feelings,
and to make her understand that she must not involve the whole
party in the reproach which justly attaches to a few foolish or
mischievous zealots, so much so that lately when the Queen was
inveighing against the Tories to somebody (he would not say to
whom), and complaining of their behaviour to her, she added, 'It
is very odd, but I cannot get Lord Melbourne to see it in that
light.'

[19] John, sixth Duke of Bedford, had died on the 20th
October, 1839, and my friend Tavistock had become Duke
of Bedford.

January 24th, 1840

[Page Head: THE PRIVILEGE QUESTION.]

The Privilege question[20] occupies everybody's thoughts, and
there is much interest and curiosity to see the sequel of it. The
state of the House of Commons upon it is curious: all the Whigs
for Privilege, and the chiefs of the Tories with them; with some
of the lawyers (except Sugden) the same way; but Follett, who at
first was heartily with Peel, has latterly taken no part, though
he has voted with the majority. On the other side are the great
bulk of the Tories and all the second-rate lawyers--the only
eminent ones that way being Sugden, Pemberton, and Kelly. The
debates have elicited some admirable speeches on both sides, of
which Peel's three nights ago, when he explained the law better
than the lawyers could, has been the most remarkable. The Tories
are very angry with him for taking it up so warmly, and they will
not be the more pleased at the complimentary speech of John
Russell, in which he told him that nothing but his taking the
course he had done had enabled the House to assert its privilege
at all, as it could not have been made a mere party question. The
Government are getting into better spirits about their prospects,
and so many of the Tories acknowledge that there would be danger
and difficulty in changes just now, that there will probably be
none. Mr. Walter was beaten ho