axims of Molesworth and others, he should not let these
ultra-Radicals be the organs of the party, as the world did not
and could not distinguish between them, especially as the
Moderates took no steps to clear themselves and establish juster
notions of the character and tendency of their principles. He did
not deny this, but they dread an appearance of disunion; so, as
always happens when this is the case, the most exalted and
exaggerated of the party, who will not be silenced and are
reckless of consequences, take the lead and keep it.

[17] [It cannot fail to strike the reader that all the
measures which were regarded as the tests of Radicalism
in 1837 have long since been carried, and have now the
general assent of the nation.]

December 12th, 1837 {p.032}

On the debate about Pensions the other night Whittle Harvey
outdid himself; by all accounts it was inimitable, dramatic to
the greatest degree, and acted to perfection. Peel was heavy,
Stanley very smart, the Ministers were beaten hollow in the
argument, but got a respectable division, of which they make the
most; but it proves nothing as to their real strength, which has
not yet been tested. John Russell made a wretched speech, being
obliged to vote in the teeth of his former opinions and conduct.

December 14th, 1837 {p.032}

[Page Head: LORD BROUGHAM AND LORD MELBOURNE.]

There was a grand breeze in the House of Lords the night before
last between Melbourne and Brougham. The latter is said to have
been in a towering passion, and he vociferated and gesticulated
with might and main. Jonathan Peel was in the Lobby, and being
attracted by the noise, ran to the House, and found Brougham not
only on his legs, but on tip-toes in the middle of his indignant
rejoinder. Melbourne's attack upon him seemed hardly called for,
but I heard he had declared he would not much longer endure the
continual twittings and punchings that Brougham every day dealt
out to some one or other of the Ministers. The Chancellor, Lord
Lansdowne, and Glenelg, had all suffered in their turns, and so
when Brougham taunted him with his courtly habits, he could not
restrain himself, and retorted savagely though not very well.
What he said was nothing but a _tu quoque_, and only remarkable
for the bitter tone in which it was uttered and the sort of
reproach it conveyed. Probably Melbourne thought it as well to
put an end at once to the half hostile, ha