that kind
would be utterly opposed to what with him, as we shall soon discover,
was then a fundamental principle of national polity. Happily the fatal
leap was not needed, but if either small men like the government whips,
or great men like Peel and Aberdeen, could have known what was passing,
they would have shaken grave heads over this spirit of unseasonable
scruple at the very start of the race in a brilliant man with all his
life before him.

_Feb. 4 or 5._--Charles Canning told me Peel had offered him the
vacant lordship of the treasury, through his mother. They were, he
said, very much gratified with the manner in which it had been
done, though the offer was declined, upon the ground stated in the
reply, that though he did not anticipate any discrepancy in
political sentiments to separate him from the present government,
yet he should prefer in some sense deserving an official station by
parliamentary conduct.... Peel's letter was written at some length,
very friendly, without any statesmanlike reserve or sensitive
attention to nicety of style. In the last paragraph it spoke with
amiable embarrassment of Mr. Canning; stating that his 'respect,
regard, and admiration' (I think even), apparently interrupted by
circumstances, continued fresh and vivid, and that those very
circumstances made him more desirous of thus publicly testifying
his real sentiments.

_March 30._--Wished to speak on Irish church. No opportunity. Wrote
on it. A noble-minded speech from Sir J. Graham. _March 31._--Spoke
on the Irish church--under forty minutes. I cannot help here
recording that this matter of speaking is really my strongest
religious exercise. On all occasions, and to-day especially, was
forced upon me the humiliating sense of my inability to exercise my
reason in the face of the H. of C., and of the necessity of my
utterly failing, unless God gave me the strength and language. It
was after all a poor performance, but would have been poorer had He
never been in my thoughts as a present and powerful aid. But this
is what I am as yet totally incompetent to effect--to realise, in
speaking, anything, however small, which at all satisfies my mind.
Debating seems to me less difficult, though unattained. But to hold
in serene contemplative action the mental faculties in the turbid
excit