is colleagues,
who induced him to accept the Government by promising their
support and adherence, and that when he had taken the final step
they left him to make the arrangements and fill up their places
as he could. This, however, is not the case. I saw George
Dawson[9] this evening, and he assured me that Canning had
received ample notice from all these Ministers that they would
not hold office under him, and that if he was appointed Prime
Minister they should resign. Peel told him this three weeks ago:
'that he could not, with a due regard to his own character,
continue in office under a man whose opinions are so diametrically
opposite to his own upon the most important question; that he had
no views of personal ambition, but that as the administration of
Ireland was his peculiar province it was impossible they should
not come into constant collision upon that subject.' They had no
objection to act with Canning, always considering him as one of
the most influential members of the Cabinet, but they could not
hold offices _under_ him. He said that he could not imagine how
Canning with his knowledge could take such a step, and it is
evident that he has no idea of his being able to carry on the
Government at all.

[9] The Right Hon. George Robert Dawson was Secretary of
the Treasury from 1828 to 1830, and was made a Privy
Councillor on resigning that office. He married in 1816
Mary, the eldest daughter of the first Sir Robert Peel,
and was consequently the brother-in-law of Mr. Peel,
the Minister.

April 30th, 1827 {p.095}

From the period of Canning's acceptance of office up to Thursday
night there have been continual negotiations between Canning and
the Whigs, and it is not possible to imagine greater curiosity
and more intense anxiety than have been exhibited during the
interval. The violence and confusion of parties have been
extreme--the new Ministers furious with their old colleagues, the
ex-Ministers equally indignant with those they left behind them.

May 12th, 1827 {p.095}

It is necessary to go back to the first formation of the
Government.[10] As soon as Canning had got the King's commission
he began to negotiate, and the Whigs readily enough entered into
negotiation. The friends of Ministers resigned one after another,
and for some time it seemed very doubtful whether Canning would
be able to form a Government at all. His first measure was,