d class of those who were always welcome, passed much of my
time there, and have been continually treated with the greatest
cordiality and kindness, and I partake largely and sincerely of
the regret that must be so deep and universal.

[9] Lord Holland said, just before he died, to the page,
'Edgar, these Syrian affairs will be too much for me.
Mehemet Ali will kill me.'

Downham, October 24th, 1840 {p.341}

I have a letter from Clarendon this morning from Windsor,
overwhelmed with the news of Lord Holland's death (which he had
just received)

'when his mind was as vigorous and his perceptions as
clear as ever, and when his advice, and the weight of his
experience, were more necessary to his country than at
any period of his life. To myself I feel that the loss is
irreparable. He was the only one in the Cabinet with whom
I had any real sympathy, and upon the great question now
in dispute I feel almost powerless, for, with the anility
of Melbourne, the vacillation of John, and the
indifference of all the rest, Palmerston is now more
completely master of the ground than ever.'

He goes on to say:

'Guizot came down here last night; he goes to Paris on
Sunday, to be present at the opening of the Chambers, and
to defend himself. More, however, than that is in his
mind, I am sure, and his feelings towards Thiers are
anything but friendly. Thiers, it seems, means to put up
Odillon Barrot (Guizot's favourite aversion) for the
presidency of the Chamber, and, it is said, to resign if
he is beaten. This, Guizot told me, was an inconceivable
_faiblesse_, or an unpardonable _legerete_; but that
whichever it was, he should oppose it, and had written to
tell the Duke de Broglie so, in order that he might not
be accused of taking the Government by surprise. He said
to me, "_Donnez-moi quelque chose a dire_, let it be ever
so small, provided it is satisfactory. I will impose it
on Thiers, or break up his administration; but unless I
can have something of the kind, and, above all, something
wherewith to _resserrer les liens entre les deux pays_,
which is my great ambition, I shall neither be able to
_calmer les esprits_ nor to take on myself the
government."'

He then goes on to say that Guizot tells him--and his own letters
confirm it--that the late _attentat_ on the King had m