hief is related below, p.
198 (March 29th, 1829).]

I met the Bishop of Oxford in the Park this morning; he said nine
bishops, and probably ten, would vote for the Bill. He said he
was not at the meeting at Lambeth, but the Archbishop sent for
him, and despatched him to the Duke with an account of their
proceedings. The Archbishop summoned the bishops to consult upon
the course they should pursue, and see if there was any chance of
their acting with unanimity. Finding this was not possible, they
resolved that each should take his own line; and a proposal to
address the King, which was urged by one or two of the most
violent (he did not name them), was overruled. The anti-Catholic
papers and men lavish the most extravagant encomiums on
Wetherell's speech, and call it 'the finest oration ever
delivered in the House of Commons,' 'the best since the second
Philippic.' He was drunk, they say. The Speaker said 'the only
lucid interval he had was that between his waistcoat and his
breeches.' When he speaks he unbuttons his braces, and in his
vehement action his breeches fall down and his waistcoat runs up,
so that there is a great interregnum. He is half mad, eccentric,
ingenious, with great and varied information and a coarse, vulgar
mind, delighting in ribaldry and abuse, besides being an
enthusiast. The first time he distinguished himself was in
Watson's trial, when he and Copley were his counsel, and both
made very able speeches. He was then a trading lawyer and
politician, till the Queen came over, when he made a very
powerful speech in the House of Commons, full of research, in
favour of inserting her name in the Liturgy. He was then engaged
by Chancellor Eldon for the Court, soon after made Solicitor-General,
much abused for ratting, became Attorney-General, and resigned
when Canning became Minister. He was restored when the Duke was
made Prime Minister, and now he will have to retire again.

[Page Head: THE KING ON THE DUEL.]

March 26th, 1829 {p.195}

Everything is getting on very quietly in the House of Commons,
and the Opposition are beginning to squabble among themselves,
some wishing to create delay, and others not choosing to join in
these tricks, when they know it is useless. The Duke came here
the night before last, but I was not at home. He talked over the
whole matter with his usual simplicity. The King, it seems, was
highly pleased with the Winchelsea affair, and he said, 'I did
not see t