kely to
take part with him against the Duke.

March 2nd, 1829 {p.179}

Saw M---- yesterday; he has been at Windsor for several days, and
confirmed all that I had heard before about the King. The Duke of
Cumberland has worked him into a state of frenzy, and he talks of
nothing but the Catholic question in the most violent strain.
M---- told me that his Majesty desired him to tell his household
that he wished them to vote against the Bill, which M---- of
course refused to do. I asked him if he had told the Duke of
Wellington this; he said he had not, but that the day the
Ministers came to Windsor for the Council (Thursday last, I
think) he did speak to Peel, and told him the King's violence was
quite alarming. Peel said he was afraid the King was greatly
excited, or something to this effect, but seemed embarrassed and
not very willing to talk about it. The result, however, was that
the Duke went to him on Friday, and was with him six hours, and
spoke to his Majesty so seriously and so firmly that he will now
be quiet. Why the Duke does not insist upon his not seeing the
Duke of Cumberland I cannot imagine. There never was such a man,
or behaviour so atrocious as his--a mixture of narrow-mindedness,
selfishness, truckling, blustering, and duplicity, with no object
but self, his own ease, and the gratification of his own fancies
and prejudices, without regard to the advice and opinion of the
wisest and best informed men or to the interests and tranquillity
of the country.

March 3rd, 1829 {p.180}

Called on H. de Ros yesterday morning, who told me that the Duke
of Cumberland and his party are still active and very sanguine.
Madame de Lieven is in all his confidence, who, out of hatred to
the Duke, would do anything to contribute to his overthrow. The
Duke of Cumberland tells her everything, and makes her a medium
of communication with the Huskisson party, who, being animated by
similar sentiments towards the Duke, the Tories think would
gladly join them in making a party when the way is clear for
them. The Chancellor went to Windsor on Sunday, and on to
Strathfieldsaye at night, where he arrived at three in the
morning. Yesterday the Duke came to town, but called at Windsor
on his way. Dawson, however, told me that he believed the Duke in
_his_ interview on Friday had settled everything with the King,
and had received most positive assurances from him that no
further difficulties should be made; but it is quite