uttered on occasions to bring the majority round when
they began to show a refractory disposition.

[12] [Afterwards Lord Stanley of Alderney.]

July 21st, 1834 {p.112}

[Page Head: LORD MELBOURNE'S ADMINISTRATION.]

The Chancellor and the Hollands urged Lord Grey to take the Privy
Seal. This Sefton told me as a great secret yesterday, but the
indignation of the Greys burst through all restraint, and they
told it 'a qui voulait les entendre,' with every expression of
rage and disgust, 'adding insult to injury.' Lord Grey was more
philosophical, and rather smiled at the proposition, but he did
not repress the pious resentment of his children. The Grey women
would murder the Chancellor if they could. It certainly was a
curious suggestion. The Hollands think of nothing on earth but
how they may best keep the Duchy of Lancaster, and they fancied
Lord Grey's holding the Privy Seal might be of service to the
Government, and if they could make him commit such a _bassesse_
so much the better. It is not always easy to discover the
Chancellor's motives, but as he is as vindictive as he is false
and tricking, he perhaps took this opportunity of revenging
himself for the old offer of the Attorney-Generalship, which he
has never forgiven.[13]

[13] [This view of the case is certainly unjust to Lord
Brougham, who had more respect and regard for Lord Grey
than for any other statesman of the time, as his
correspondence with the Earl, now recently published in
Brougham's 'Posthumous Memoirs' sufficiently proves.]
[The first Administration of Lord Melbourne was
thus constituted:
First Lord of the Treasury Viscount Melbourne.
Lord Chancellor Lord Brougham.
Lord President Marquis of Lansdowne.
Home Secretary Viscount Duncannon.
Foreign Secretary Viscount Palmerston.
Colonial Secretary Mr. Spring Rice.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Viscount Althorp.
Admiralty Lord Auckland.
Board of Control Mr. Charles Grant.
Board of Trade Mr. Poulett Thomson.
Duchy of Lancaster Lord Holland.
Paymaster of the Forces Lord John Russell.
Secretary-at-War Mr. Edward Ellice.
Lord Privy Seal