Cabinet at 3.  Waited a long time for the Duke.  He came smiling and victorious.  The King said he would manage Best.  To Rosslyn he made some objection, and suggested Lord Dudley or Melbourne.  This was referred to and rejected by such of the Cabinet as could be on a sudden collected at the Foreign Office.  I was not there.  I should certainly have rejected both, although very willing to have Dudley.  The other would never have done.  With Lord E. Somerset and Trench the King was well pleased.  As the Duke left the room the King said, ’Come, you must acknowledge I have behaved well to you.’  This he said frankly and good-humouredly.  The Duke said, ’I assure your Majesty I am very sensible of it, and I feel very grateful to you.’

Having thus established ourselves as a Government we were going to break our necks by attempting to pass the Chancellor’s Bill, which the House of Commons does not like.  However, after a talk, it was resolved to give it up.

It seems the Tories have deserted us again.  We are much in want of winter quarters.

In the House we had the City of London petition.  I took a more active part than usual in the conversation.

Lord Rosslyn, having just lost his son, is gone to Tunbridge Wells, and the offer of the Privy Seal will be postponed till after to-morrow, when the King is to see Best at two, and it is hoped the Duke may be able to tell Rosslyn that Scarlett is to be Attorney-General.

May 26.

The King sent Knighton for Chief Justice Best, and desired him not to tell the Duke of Cumberland; Best was sent for.  So Best went, and accepted the terms offered.  Thus we shall get Scarlett, and the King and the Duke be separated a little.

Yesterday the Duke of Wellington did his business with the King while the Duke of Cumberland was hearing a clause in the House of Lords.  The Chancellor, knowing how the Duke of Wellington was occupied, kept the Duke of Cumberland as long as he could.

May 27.

Committee on London Bridge.  Lord Londonderry, who came from the review in his uniform just covered by a frock coat, spoke against time on a collateral point for an hour and a half, and disgusted the Committee.

May 28.

London Bridge Committee.  Lord Londonderry a little better than before, but not much.  He is running down his character altogether.  He has now formed an alliance with the Duke of Cumberland, and through him made his peace with the King.  The Duke of Cumberland wishes to be reconciled to the Duke of Wellington.  In the House of Commons there is a small Ultra-Tory party, not fifty.  In our House I doubt whether there are twenty.

May 30.

Chairs.  Lord W. Bentinck seems to be so ill as to make it doubtful whether he can remain in India should he recover.  The letter is dated January 27.  He was then in danger.  The vessel did not leave Calcutta till the 30th.  The news then was that he was better, and had sat up for six hours.  It was a coup de soleil.