We are to have a Cabinet on Saturday for the King’s speech.  On Monday or Tuesday Parliament will be up.  On Wednesday we dine at the India House, and on the Monday following, the 29th, will be the fish dinner.

June 18.

Called to compliment the Duke on the anniversary of Waterloo.  Left with him Lord W. Bentinck’s minute and despatch on transferring the Supreme Government Departments and all pro tempore to Meerut, and a proposed letter, censuring the Governor for having done this without previous sanction, and directing the members of Council and the Departments to return.

The Duke objects to any removal of the seat of government to the upper provinces.  It would there be exposed to the sudden inroads of cavalry.  In India a cloud of cavalry rises like a squall in the Mediterranean.  At Calcutta the Government, protected by the rivers, is safe, and always accessible from England.

June 19.

Rode to town.  Met Rosslyn.  He told me Lord Clanrickarde [Footnote:  Lord Clanrickarde was son-in-law of Mr. Canning.] intended to make some observations on foreign policy this evening.

Had some conversation with the Duke.  He doubted whether the Supreme Government could leave Calcutta and preserve its powers.  I told him of the newspaper report of to-day that leases for sixty years were to be given to indigo planters, and this without any authority from home.  He seems to have suspected from the first that Lord W. would do some monstrous thing, and certainly he does seem to be emancipating himself.

House.  Lord Clanrickarde made his little speech.  Aberdeen his.  Then Lord Holland, and then the Duke.  Afterwards Goderich.  Lord Holland talked as usual very vaguely.  No notice had been given, and few people knew there was anything to be done.  So ends the House for this year.

June 20, 1829.

Cabinet.  King’s speech.  Some time occupied in wording it, but no material alterations.  Aberdeen’s the worst part.  The King is made to auspicate and to pray, but not to trust that the Franchise Bill and the Relief Bill will be productive of good.

The Chancellor has prosecuted the ‘Morning Journal’ for a libel accusing him of having taken money for Sugden’s appointment as Solicitor-General.  I heard him tell Lord Bathurst, with reference to another calumny against him, that he had fortunately preserved through his secretary the grounds on which he had given every living he had disposed of.

June 21.

Had a visit from Loch.  He wishes the despatch to Lord William to be worded more gently, as he thinks Lord William meant well.  This shall be done.

June 22.

Wrote draft paragraphs to the effect above stated to Lord W. Bentinck, and added a paragraph giving the Duke’s reasoning against the removal of the Government from Calcutta to the north-west provinces.