what
was to be done about the Catholics all along. Certainly she
contrives to make the Duke see a great deal of her, for he calls
on her, and writes to her perpetually, but I doubt whether he
tells her much of anything. Some of the household have made a
struggle to be exempted from the general obligation on all
members of Government to vote for the Bill, but the Duke will not
stand it, and they must all vote or go out. The Privy Seal was
offered to Lord Westmoreland, but he refused, and his answer was
good--that if he had been in the Cabinet, he might possibly have
seen the same grounds for changing his mind on the Catholic
question that the other Ministers did; but not having had those
opportunities, he retained his former opinions, and therefore
could not accept office.

[Page Head: CATHOLIC RELIEF BILL.]

February 22nd, 1829 {p.174}

Went to Newmarket last Sunday and came back on Thursday. Still
the Catholic question and nothing else. Everybody believed that
the Duke of Cumberland would support Government till he made
this last speech. He went to the King, who desired him to call
on the Duke, and when he got to town he went uninvited to dine
with him. There has been nothing of consequence in either House,
except the dressing which Lord Plunket gave Lord Eldon, though
that hard-bitten old dog shows capital fight. Peel has got a
most active and intelligent committee at Oxford, and they
consider his election safe. Inglis's committee, on the contrary,
is composed of men not much better than old women, except Fynes
Clinton, the chairman. Every day the majority promises to be
greater in the House of Lords, but it is very ridiculous to see
the faces many of these Tory Lords make at swallowing the
bitter pill. Too great a noise is made about Peel and his
sacrifices, but he must be supported and praised at this
juncture. It is not for those who have been labouring in this
cause, and want his assistance, to reject him or treat him
uncivilly now that he tenders it. But as to the body of the High
Tories, it is impossible not to regard their conduct with
disgust and contempt, for now they feel only for themselves,
and it is not apprehension of those dangers they have been
constantly crying out about that affects them, but the necessity
they are under of making such a sudden turn, and bitter
mortification at having been kept in total ignorance, and,
consequently, having been led to hold the same violent language
up to th