nt
heart, possessed so much influence both in and out of Parliament. His
temper is an absolute miracle. He has been worse used than any Minister
ever was in debate; and he has never said one thing inconsistent, I do
not say with gentlemanlike courtesy, but with real benevolence. Lord
North, perhaps, was his equal in suavity and good-nature; but Lord North
was not a man of strict principles. His administration was not only
an administration hostile to liberty, but it was supported by vile and
corrupt means,--by direct bribery, I fear, in many cases. Lord Althorp
has the temper of Lord North with the principles of Romilly. If he had
the oratorical powers of either of those men, he might do anything. But
his understanding, though just, is slow, and his elocution painfully
defective. It is, however, only justice to him to say that he has done
more service to the Reform Bill even as a debater than all the other
Ministers together, Stanley excepted.

We are going,--by we I mean the Members of Parliament who are for
reform,--as soon as the Bill is through the Commons, to give a grand
dinner to Lord Althorp and Lord John Russell, as a mark of our respect.
Some people wished to have the other Cabinet Ministers included; but
Grant and Palmerston are not in sufficiently high esteem among the Whigs
to be honoured with such a compliment.

Ever yours

T. B. M.

To Hannah M. Macaulay.

London: September 9, 1835.

My dear Sister,--I scarcely know where to begin, or where to end, my
story of the magnificence of yesterday. No pageant can be conceived more
splendid. The newspapers will happily save me the trouble of relating
minute particulars. I will therefore give you an account of my own
proceedings, and mention what struck me most. I rose at six. The cannon
awaked me; and, as soon as I got up, I heard the bells pealing on every
side from all the steeples in London. I put on my court-dress, and
looked a perfect Lovelace in it. At seven the glass coach, which I had
ordered for myself and some of my friends, came to the door. I called in
Hill Street for William Marshall, M.P. for Beverley, and in Cork Street
for Strutt the Member for Derby, and Hawkins the Member for Tavistock.
Our party being complete, we drove through crowds of people, and ranks
of horseguards in cuirasses and helmets, to Westminster Hall, which we
reached as the clock struck eight.

The House of Commons was crowded, and the whole assembly was in uniform.
Aft