ore the Close of the Liverpool Administration--
Duke of Wellington and Peel--The Dutch invade Belgium--Defeat
of the Belgian Army--The French enter Belgium--Lord Grey's
Composure--Audience at Windsor--Danger of Reform--Ellen Tree--
The French in Belgium--Goodwood--The Duke of Richmond--The
Reform Bill in Difficulties--Duke of Wellington calls on Lord
Grey--The King declines to be kissed by the Bishops--
Talleyrand's Conversation--State of Europe and France--
Coronation Squabbles--The King divides the old Great Seal
between Brougham and Lyndhurst--Relations of the Duchess of
Kent to George IV. and William IV.--The Coronation--Irritation
of the King--The Cholera--A Dinner at St. James's--State of the
Reform Bill--Sir Augustus d'Este--Madame Junot--State of
France--Poland.

July 15th, 1831 {p.165}

A Committee of Council sat yesterday at the Office about the
coronation; present, the Cabinet, Dukes of Gloucester and Sussex,
Archbishop and Bishop of London; much discussion and nothing
done. Brougham raised every sort of objection about the services
and the dispensing with them, and would have it the King _could_
not dispense with them; finally, the Attorney-General and
Solicitor-General were sent for to the House of Lords and desired
to reconsider the Proclamation.

July 20th, 1831 {p.165}

I have been laid up with the gout these last few days, unable to
move, but without violent pain. The Committee of Council met
again on Friday last, when the Proclamation was settled. A Court
of Claims is to sit, but to be prohibited from receiving any
claims except those relating to the ceremonies in the Abbey. The
Lords went to St. James's and held the Council, at which the King
made a little speech, to the effect that he would be crowned to
satisfy the tender consciences of those who thought it necessary,
but that he thought that it was his duty (as this country, in
common with every other, was labouring under distress) to make it
as economical as possible. A difficulty arose about the
publication of the Proclamation, usually done by heralds with
certain ceremonies. The first proclamation is not the one to be
acted on; the second does not announce the coronation, but refers
to the first. I asked Brougham what was to be done. He said both
must be read. Lord Grey suggested neither, which was done.

The other day Long Wellesley carried off his daughter, a ward in
Chancery, from her guardians, and secr