s a good head of hair, with no grey hairs in it;
his health, faculties, and memory perfect; is Irish, and has not
lived with greater temperance than other people. I sat next to
Palmerston, and had a great deal of conversation with him, and
from the tenour of his language infer that he has no idea of
joining Government. Agar Ellis assured me the other day that there
was not a word of truth in the reported junction between Lord Grey
and Huskisson. The Duke has got two months to make his arrangements,
but I am afraid he is not prepared for all the sacrifices his
position requires. It is now said that the exasperation against
the late Ministers (particularly Polignac) is so great in France
that it is doubtful whether they will be able to save their lives.

CHAPTER XII.

The Belgian Revolution--The Duke of Wellington and Canning--The
King's Plate--Gloomy Forebodings--Retreat of the Prince of
Orange--Prince Talleyrand--Position of the Government--Death of
Huskisson--His Character--The Duke of Wellington and Peel--
Meeting of Parliament--The Duke's Declaration--The King's Visit
to the City abandoned--Disturbances in London--Duchesse de
Dino--The Cholera--Southey, Henry Taylor, John Stuart Mill--
Dinner at Talleyrand's--The Duke of Wellington resigns--Mr.
Bathurst made Junior Clerk of the Council--Lord Spencer and
Lord Grey sent for--Formation of Lord Grey's Administration--
Discontent of Brougham--Brougham takes the Great Seal--
Character of the New Ministers--Prospects of the Opposition--
Disturbances in Sussex and Hampshire--Lord Grey and Lord
Brougham--Lord Sefton's Dinner--The New Ministers sworn at a
Council.

Stoke, August 31st, 1830 {p.040}

On Sunday I met Prince Esterhazy[1] in Oxford Street with a face
a yard long. He turned back with me, and told me that there had
been disturbances at Brussels, but that they had been put down by
the gendarmerie. He was mightily alarmed, but said that his
Government would recognise the French King directly, and in
return for such general and prompt recognition as he was
receiving he must restrain France from countenancing revolutions
in other countries, and that, indeed, he had lost no time in
declaring his intention to abstain from any meddling. In the
evening Vaudreuil told me the same thing, and that he had
received a despatch from M. Mole desiring him to refuse passports
to the Spaniards who wanted, on the stre