on hearing a speech of O'Connell. To have so
strong an impulse and not obey it seems unnatural; it seems like an
inflicted dumbness. _28th._--Spoke 30 to 35 minutes on University
bill, with more ease than I had hoped, having been more mindful or
less unmindful of Divine aid. Divided in 75 v. 164. [To his father
next day.] You will see by your _Post_ that I held forth last night
on the Universities bill. The House I am glad to say heard me with
the utmost kindness, for they had been listening previously to an
Indian discussion in which very few people took any interest,
though indeed it was both curious and interesting. But the change
of subject was no doubt felt as a relief, and their disposition to
listen set me infinitely more at my ease than I should otherwise
have been. _29th._--Pleasant house dinner at Carlton. Lincoln got
up the party. Sir R. Peel was in good spirits and very agreeable.

It was on this occasion that he wrote to his mother,--'Sir Robert Peel
caused me much gratification by the way in which he spoke to me of my
speech, and particularly the great warmth of his manner. He told me he
cheered me loudly, and I said in return that I had heard his voice under
me while speaking, and was much encouraged thereby.' He ends the note
already cited (Sept. 6, 1897) on the old House of Commons, which was
burned down this year, with what he calls a curious incident concerning
Sir Robert Peel, and with a sentence or two upon the government of Lord
Grey:--

Cobbett made a motion alike wordy and absurd, praying the king to
remove him [Peel] from the privy council as the author of the act
for the re-establishment of the gold standard in 1819. The entire
House was against him, except his colleague Fielden of Oldham, who
made a second teller.[62] After the division I think Lord Althorp
at once rose and moved the expunction of the proceedings from the
votes or journals; a severe rebuke to the mover. Sir Robert in his
speech said, 'I am at a loss, sir, to conceive what can be the
cause of the strong hostility to me which the honourable gentleman
exhibits. _I_ never conferred on him an obligation.' This stroke
was not original. But what struck me at the time as singular was
this, that notwithstanding the state of feeling which I have
described, Sir R. Peel was greatly excited in dealing with one w