en surprised if he had foregone the
levee; and assuredly he has not reckoned without reason; for a more
splendid or flattering pageant could not be witnessed than that which
his rooms exhibited. Unquestionably the most remarkable man in the
empire at this moment, it is his fortune to attract the honourable
regards of all who are distinguished as compeers. It is not my
intention to offer any estimate of what I conceive to be his genuine
worth, as he may be appreciated in a more dispassionate time; I
speak of him only as a great man filling a very large space in the
consideration of the empire. Judging from the throng of all classes
upon this occasion, whose favour is desirable, no man is more popular
* * *. The Chancellor took his place at a corner of the room, backed
by his chaplain, and was soon encircled by the visitants; his dress
remarkably plain, being a simple suit of velvet in the court cut. The
names were announced from the bottom of the stairs, and each person as
he entered walked up to the Chancellor and offered his respects. The
numbers were so great that it was impossible to devote any marked
attention to each; as soon, therefore, as the visiter had made his
bow, he retired into the throng, or took his departure through the
adjoining room. I was not present at the first of the levees which
were held, and at which the attendance was very distinguished; but
a friend who was, spoke very highly of the manner in which the
Chancellor performed his noviciate. The Archbishop of Canterbury came
early, and was very kindly received: he was followed by the Archbishop
of York, and several other bishops, whose attendance gave proof that,
differ as they might from Lord Brougham, they surely did not consider
him an enemy to the Church * * *. The most remarkable visiter of that
evening was the Duke of Wellington;--the crowd was astonished, and
I dare say the Chancellor himself was surprised, when his name was
sent up--I doubt if they had ever met in the same room before. Their
political lives, with the exception of the Catholic Question, were one
unvarying course of opposition, if not enmity. I suspect that for a
time the Duke despised the talk of the lawyer; and, on the other hand,
Brougham had often declared, that the respect which he entertained
for military glory was not very lofty. Some of his bitterest tirades
were levelled at the Duke personally. No one will deny that it was
high-minded in the Duke to lay aside resentm