it must have
been a bitter ceremony to him. He made no speeches and took no
particular notice of anybody except Lord Howick, to whom he was
very civil, on account probably of his father, and because he is
a new man. The threatened contests of most of them ended in
smoke. Devonshire and Yorkshire will, however, be important and
severe. Of all the appointments those that are most severely
criticised are Mulgrave's and Morpeth's. It is said that Charles
Kemble and Liston might as well have been sent, as the former has
always imitated the one, and the latter involuntarily resembles
the other. Mulgrave, however he may be sneered at, has been tried
and found capable, and I think he will do very well; he has
courage and firmness and no want of ability. He is besides
hospitable, generous, courteous, and agreeable in private
life.[3]

[3] [Lord Melbourne's second Administration was composed as
follows:--

First Lord of the Treasury Viscount Melbourne.
Lord President of the Council Marquis of Lansdowne.
First Lord of the Admiralty Lord Auckland.
Lord Privy Seal Viscount Duncannon.
Home Secretary Lord John Russell.
Foreign Secretary Viscount Palmerston.
Colonial Secretary Lord Glenelg.
Board of Control Sir John Cam Hobhouse.
Secretary at War Viscount Howick.
Board of Trade Mr. Poulett Thomson.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr. Spring Rice.
Irish Secretary Viscount Morpeth.
The Earl of Mulgrave was Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland,
The Great Seal was put in Commission.]

May 1st, 1835 {p.256}

Morpeth made an excellent speech on introducing his Irish Tithe
Bill, and has raised himself considerably. Morpeth is (as it
appears to me) ill selected for the difficult post he occupies;
he has very fair ability of a showy kind, but I doubt the
solidity and strength of his material for the rough work which is
allotted to him.

[Page Head: LORD ALVANLEY'S DUEL.]

The last day of Parliament was distinguished by a worse attack of
O'Connell upon Alvanley for what he had said the day before in
the House of Lords. Alvanley has sent him a message through
Dawson Damer demanding an apology or satisfaction, and the result
I don't yet know.[4]