as Christians, but more peculiarly that of the Ministers, to advance objects intimately connected with the individual happiness of the people and with the stability of the State.  I said something too of the intrinsic strength of the Protestant Church—­of its rising in proportion to the difficulties which might surround it, to the dangers—­if dangers there were (the Primate had spoken of them)—­of its security in the zeal and ability of its ministers, and in the purity of its doctrines.

On the whole I did well.  I was loudly cheered—­indeed, so much interrupted as to be enabled to think what I should say next.

Indian business in the morning—­Coal Committee.

May 20.

Dined at the London Tavern with the Directors, at what is called a family dinner, to meet Mr. Elphinstone, the late Governor of Bombay.  He has been thirty-three years absent from England, having left it at fifteen.  He is one of the most distinguished servants the Company has ever had.  He seems to be a quiet, mild, temperate man.  I had some conversation with him, and have fixed that he should come to the Indian Board on Tuesday.  I wish to have his opinion as to the expediency of governing India in the King’s name.

The Duke told Lord Bathurst and me the King had been very angry with him for going to the Duke of Norfolk’s dinner, and now openly expressed his wish to get rid of his Ministers.  The Duke wrote to the King and told him it really was not a subject he thought it necessary to speak to him about, that he dined with everybody and asked everybody to dinner, that had he known beforehand who were to dine with the Duke of Norfolk, which he did not, he could not have objected to any one of them.  That the King himself had dined with the Duke of Norfolk.  That most of the persons invited were either in his Majesty’s service, or had been.

It seems the king desired it might be intimated to the Duke that he was much displeased at the dinner, and that he and Cumberland damned us all.

I told the Duke and Lord Bathurst what occurred at the dinner yesterday, with which they were much gratified.

May 21.

Went to the Cabinet room at 2.  Read papers, by which it seems that the Russian army is very little stronger than at the commencement of the last campaign, and that its materials are not so good.  It has as yet no medical staff.  The resources of the principalities are exhausted; the cattle of the peasants have been put in requisition; the ordinary cultivation of the land has been neglected.  The river is worse than last year.  There are reports of the successes of the Turks near Varna, and of that place being in danger.

The recruiting of the Turkish army goes on well.

House of Lords.  The Chancellor’s Bill, which creates a new Chancery judge.  Opposition from Lord Eldon, Lord Redesdale, and Lord Holland, all saying they wished to see the whole plan before they agree to a part.  Lord Tenterden approved of the making of the new judge, but wished his functions had been better defined.