n meme temps sa
constante preoccupation pour son propre pays, son
devouement si tendre pour la Reine, son attachement si
fidele pour ses collegues. Je n'ai rencontre personne
qui sut concilier a ce point tous les devoirs, tous les
sentiments, toutes les idees. Dans la confiance de nos
entretiens j'ai bien souvent regrette que tout le monde
ne fut pas la pour l'entendre, tout le monde, Anglais,
Francais, ceux dont il ne partageait pas les opinions
comme ceux qui etaient de son avis. Il aurait exerce
sur tout le monde une influence bien salutaire, et les
absurdes propos qui out ete tenus, depuis qu'il n'est
plus la, auraient ete completement impossibles.']

February 1st, 1841 {p.371}

The Sheriffs' dinner at the Lord President's on Saturday.[6] It
must be owned they decide very conscientiously. One man asked for
exemption because he had, by keeping away Conservative votes,
decided an election in favour of a Whig candidate, and, though
otherwise disposed to let him off, they made him Sheriff directly
on reading this excuse. I sat next to Palmerston. It was amusing
to see how everything is blown over, and how success and the
necessity of making common cause has reconciled all jarring
sentiments; and it was amusing to hear Melbourne in one house and
John Russell in the other vigorously defending and praising
Palmerston's policy. It must be owned that Palmerston has
conducted himself well under the circumstances, without any air
of triumph or boasting either over his colleagues or his
opponents or the French. He has deserved his success by the
moderation with which he has taken it. I saw Bourqueney last
night, delighted with all that was said in Parliament,
especially, of course, by the Duke and Peel, but well satisfied
with John Russell and Palmerston, and he owned the tone of the
latter was unexceptionable.

[6] [The list of Sheriffs for the ensuing year is settled
at an annual dinner attended by the Cabinet Ministers,
when the three names designated by the judges for each
county are passed in review, excuses considered, and
one of the number chosen to be submitted to the Queen.]

February 4th, 1841 {p.372}

Went the night before last to Exeter Hall, to hear Mr. Hullah[7]
give a lecture on the teaching of vocal music in the Poor Law
schools (and el