thought that the
Government would leave me at liberty to take my own line, but that he
must consult his colleagues. I told him that I asked for no favour; that
I knew what inconvenience would result if official men were allowed to
dissent from Ministerial measures, and yet to keep their places; and
that I should not think myself in the smallest degree ill-used if the
Cabinet accepted my resignation. This is the present posture of affairs.
In the meantime the two Houses are at daggers drawn. Whether the
Government will last to the end of the Session I neither know nor care.
I am sick of Boards, and of the House of Commons; and pine for a few
quiet days, a cool country breeze, and a little chatting with my dear
sister.

Ever yours

T. B. M.

To Hannah M. Macaulay

London: July 19, 1833.

My dear Sister,--I snatch a few minutes to write a single line to you.
We went into Committee on the India Bill at twelve this morning, sate
till three, and are just set at liberty for two hours. At five we
recommence, and shall be at work till midnight. In the interval between
three and five I have to despatch the current business of the office,
which, at present, is fortunately not heavy; to eat my dinner, which I
shall do at Grant's; and to write a short scrawl to my little sister.

My work, though laborious, has been highly satisfactory. No Bill, I
believe, of such importance,--certainly no important Bill in my time,
has been received with such general approbation. The very cause of the
negligence of the reporters, and of the thinness of the House, is that
we have framed our measure so carefully as to give little occasion for
debate. Littleton, Denison, and many other members, assure me that they
never remember to have seen a Bill better drawn or better conducted.

On Monday night, I hope, my work will be over. Our Bill will have been
discussed, I trust, for the last time in the House of Commons; and, in
all probability, I shall within forty-eight hours after that time be out
of office. I am fully determined not to give way about the West India
Bill; and I can hardly expect,--I am sure I do not wish,--that the
Ministers should suffer me to keep my place and oppose their measure.
Whatever may befall me or my party, I am much more desirous to come to
an end of this interminable Session than to stay either in office or
in Parliament. The Tories are quite welcome to take everything, if
they will only leave me my pen and my books