which have been made on him, seems
likely to urge him to the latter alternative.

July 25th, 1827 {p.102}

Canning is gone to Chiswick, where he has had the lumbago, and
could not go to the Council last week. He is very unwell, and in
a very precarious state, I think. I was at the Council last
Monday week; it was held for the appointment of Lords Lansdowne
and Carlisle, Lord Lansdowne having consented to take the Home
Office, and Lord Carlisle the Privy Seal; the only Cabinet
Ministers present were the four who changed places. It was the
first time the King had given Lord Lansdowne an audience, but I
believe he was very civil to him. The King gave him an account of
the Duke of Buckingham's visit to him (from Dropmore), the result
of which was that he sent his proxy to Lord Goderich, but not
with a good grace.

The Duke of Wellington has been to the Lodge, and great is the
speculation thereupon.[16] It is fiercely debated whether he went
by invitation or not, and how long he stayed. He was only with
the King twenty minutes, for so Prince Leopold, who was there,
told Lambton, who told me. I don't know if he was invited or no.
The King has taken from Prince Leopold the plate that was given,
or, as they now say, lent to him, on his marriage. The Chamberlain
sent to Sir E. Gardiner for it in the Prince's absence, and he
refused to give it up without his Royal Highness's orders, but
the Prince, as soon as he heard of it, ordered it to be sent to
the Chamberlain.

[16] [The causes and consequences of this visit, which was
by invitation from the King, are related in the Duke of
Wellington's 'Correspondence,' New Series, vol. iv.
p. 63 _et seq_.]

The Irish Chancellor has given way about Doherty's appointment,
and put the Great Seal to it before his own resignation. He did
it with a good grace, Lord Lansdowne told me.

We went all over the Castle the other day; his Majesty will not
let anybody see it now. I don't think enough is effected for the
enormous sums expended, though it is a fine and will be a good
house; still, how far (as a palace) from Versailles, St. Cloud,
and the other palaces in France! The external terrace has spoilt
the old one, and is altogether a frightful excrescence, and
should never have been made.

[Page Head: DEATH OF CANNING.]

August 9th, 1827 {p.103}

Canning died yesterday morning at four o'clock. His danger was
only announced on Sunday night, th