rst Council'--Small _v._ Attwood--Immediate
Emancipation--Birthday Reflexions--Lord Charles Fitzroy turned
out--Vote on Lord Durham's Expenses--Lord Durham's Irritation--
Wolff the Missionary--Newmarket--The Coronation--Lord
Brougham's Reviews.

London, January 28th, 1838 {p.051}

I came to town on Wednesday night, and have been laid up with the
gout ever since. Found all things prepared for a fight in the
House of Commons on Thursday, upon Peel's two amendments to the
Canada Bill. The Tories had mustered in large force, and the
Irishmen had not arrived, so that there was a very good chance of
the Government being beaten. In this emergency Edward Ellice made
a very convenient and dexterous speech, in which he begged Lord
John Russell, for the sake of unanimity, to give way. Lord John
said he would consult his colleagues and give an answer the next
day. It was clear enough what he would do, and accordingly he
came down the next day, and amidst shouts of triumph, and what
was intended for ridicule from the Tory mob, announced his
intention to accept both amendments. Peel next fell upon the
Instructions to Durham, which he treated very scornfully, and
predicted that they would be compelled to withdraw them. The
Tories were in high dudgeon with the Duke at his speech in the
House of Lords, which they showed in a sort of undergrowl and
with rueful faces, for they stand in awe of the great man, and
don't dare openly to remonstrate with him or blame his actions.
There is no doubt that his speech was essentially serviceable to
the Government, and upset one of the most promising topics of its
opponents. Francis Egerton came up from the Carlton Club to his
own home after it, and said with deep melancholy that 'the Duke
had floored the coach,' and he described the consternation and
mortification which were prevalent throughout that patriotic and
disinterested society. They were in consequence the more anxious
to urge on Peel to make an attack of some sort upon the Ministers
in the House of Commons, and he gratified them by moving these
amendments, and vilipending the Instructions.[1] It may be
questionable whether it was right to attack the Government upon
the details of their measures when no difference exists between
the opposite parties as to the principle; but granting that it
was, he acted with great skill as a party tactician. He was
certainly right upon every point. The Bill will be improved by
his alteration