le to think upon it to-night, in the meantime I think
yours is a very just conjectural sketch. We have not got in cabinet
to-day to the really pinching part of the discussion, the Roman
catholic religious education. That comes on Monday. My mind does
not waver; pray for me, that I may do right. I have an appointment
with Peel to-morrow, and I rather think he means to say something
to me on the question.

_Nov. 23._--You will see that whatever turns up, I am sure to be in
the wrong. An invitation to Windsor for us came this morning, and I
am _sorry to say_ one including Sunday--Nov. 30 to Dec. 2. I have
had a long battle with Peel on the matters of my office; not
another syllable. So far as it goes this tends to make me think he
does not calculate on any change in me; yet on the whole I lean the
other way. Manning comes up on Monday.

_Nov. 25._--Events travel fast and not slow. My opinion is that I
shall be out on Friday evening. We have discussed Maynooth to-day.
An intermediate letter which Sir James Graham has to write to
Ireland for information causes thus much of delay. I have told them
that if I go, I shall go on the ground of what is required by my
personal character, and not because my mind is _made up_ that the
course which they propose can be avoided, far less because I
consider myself bound to resist it. I had the process of this
declaration to repeat. I think they were prepared for it, but they
would not assume that it was to be, and rather proceeded as if I
had never said a word before upon the subject. It was painful, but
not so painful as the last time, and by an effort I had altogether
prevented my mind from brooding upon it beforehand. At this moment
(61/4) I am sure they are talking about it over the way. I am going
to dine with Sir R. Peel. Under these circumstances the Windsor
visit will be strange enough! In the meantime my father writes to
me most urgently, desiring me to come to Liverpool. I _hope_ for
some further light from him on Wednesday morning....

_Nov. 26._--I have no more light to throw upon the matters which I
mentioned yesterday. The dinner at Peel's went off as well as could
be expected; I did not sit near him. Lord Aberdeen was with me
to-day, and said very kindly it _must_ be prevented. But I think it
ca