term
of peace, compensation for the opium surrendered to her.'... He
agreed that it was best to mention it; observed that in consequence
of the shape in which the Chinese affair came into the hands of the
new government, they would not be wholly unfettered; seemed to hint
that under any other circumstances the vice-president of board of
trade need not so much mind what was done in the other departments,
but remarked that at present every question of foreign relations
and many more would be very apt to mix themselves with the
department of trade. He thought I had better leave the question
suspended.

I hesitated a moment before coming away and said it was only from
my anxiety to review what I had said, and to be sure that I had
made a clean breast on the subject of my unfitness for the
department of trade. Nothing could be more friendly and warm than
his whole language and demeanour. It has always been my hope, that
I might be able to avoid this class of public employment. On this
account I have not endeavoured to train myself for them. The place
is very distasteful to me, and what is of more importance, I fear I
may hereafter demonstrate the unfitness I have to-day only stated.
However, it comes to me, I think, as a matter of plain duty; it may
be all the better for not being according to my own bent and
leaning; I must forthwith go to work, as a reluctant schoolboy
meaning well.

_Sept. 3._--This day I went to Claremont to be sworn in. When the
council was constructed, the Duke of Buckingham and Lord Liverpool
were first called in to take their oaths and seats; then the
remaining four followed, Lincoln, Eliot, Ernest Bruce, and I. The
Queen sat at the head of the table, composed but dejected--one
could not but feel for her, all through the ceremonial. We knelt
down to take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy and stood up to
take (I think) the councillor's oath, then kissed the Queen's hand,
then went round the table shaking hands with each member, beginning
from Prince Albert who sat on the Queen's right, and ending with
Lord Wharncliffe on her left. We then sat at the lower end of the
table, excepting Lord E. Bruce, who went to his place behind the
Queen as vice-chamberlain. Then the chancellor first and next the
Duke of Buckingham