.

[9] [The editor of the 'Times' newspaper.]

May 26th, 1840 {p.287}

At Newmarket last week. While there the debate took place on the
Registration Bill, carried by a majority of only three, by the
defection of Howick and Charles Wood, which was caused, as is
said, entirely by the influence of Lord Grey, who is always out
of humour with the Government, glad to give them a knock, though
ostensibly their friend. However this may be, there was nothing
inconsistent in their conduct, and Wood accounted for his vote
very fairly. The Tories were triumphant for a moment, but these
defeats are now so common and so unproductive of any
consequences, that after the first shouting was over nobody
seemed to attach much importance to it. The Cambridge and Ludlow
elections having gone against them is of greater consequence,
because they show that the tide is running that way, and that a
dissolution must in all probability be ruinous to them. The
Chancellor of the Exchequer's budget seems to have been very
successful, and all agree that he did his part exceedingly well.

Yesterday I met the Duke of Wellington. He was walking in the
garden of the park adjoining his own, promenading two young
ladies--Lord Salisbury's daughters--arm in arm. He left them and
took me to walk with him to Lansdowne House. He began discoursing
about the state of affairs, and lamenting that there was, and
could be, no strong Government, and that there never would be
till people were convinced by experience of the necessity of
having one. He then said, 'If other people would do as I do,
support the Government when they can, and when the Government
ought to be supported, it would be much better.' I said I agreed
with him, and that it had given me the greatest pleasure to read
his speech on China. He said, 'All I know is, that it is
absolutely necessary that question should be settled, and the
justice of our cause be made manifest.' I said, I was sure it was
what he would feel, and that he had done just what I expected,
but that he must be aware there were many of his own people who
were by no means so well pleased, but, on the contrary, to the
last degree annoyed and provoked at his speech. He replied, 'I
know that well enough, and I don't care _one damn_. I was afraid
Lord Stanhope would have a majority, and _I have not time not to
do what is right_.'

June 12th, 1840 {p.288}

[Page Head: THE QUEEN SHOT AT.]

On Wednesday afternoon, as the