Lord Plunket drew, with great power, a picture of the state of society in Ireland as affected by the laws.  The whole of his speech was powerful.

His speech and Lord Grey’s were excellent.

After a few sentences from Lord Farnham we divided.

Present for 149
Against 79
——­
Majority 68
Proxies for 70
Against 33
——­
Total Content 217
Not Content 112
——­
Majority 105

This will quiet Windsor.  The King was to have received a number of petitions to be presented by peers to-day.  The Primate of Ireland was to have gone, and the Irish Bishops.  The latter went.  If they had not gone, the King would have made some excuse for not receiving them.

The majority must put an end to all agitation in England, and tranquillise Ireland.  Indeed as regards this question Ireland is tranquil.  The conduct of the Catholics has been as excellent as that of the Protestants.  Hitherto the announcement of the measure has produced effects beyond what was anticipated from its adoption.

The Duke of Rutland, who was not expected, and indeed every doubtful vote was with us.

The Protestants are subdued.

Lord Grey’s speech, but still more Lord Plunket’s, will have a greater effect upon the public mind, than any which have yet been delivered.

Really it seems like a dream!  That I should, if I lived, live to see this I did expect; but that I should see it so soon, and that I should happen to be a member of the Government that carried it, I did not expect.  I must say with what delight I view the prospect of having Catholics in Parliament.  I am sure it will do more for the happiness of Ireland, and for the strength of the Empire, than any measure that could have been adopted.

April 5.

Dined with Lady Sandwich and met the Arbuthnots, with whom I had a long talk.  She told me the Duke wanted to bring in Lord Chandos, by way of conciliating the Tories.  She thought Lord Rosslyn ought to have the Privy Seal, and that, considering their late conduct, the Whigs should be preferred to the Tories, whom we should have at any rate.  That it was enough not to punish them by depriving them of their offices.

In all this I agree.  I think if the Duke should go to the Tories and turn his back upon the Whigs after what has taken place, he will make Opposition very acrimonious, and our debates very disagreeable.

I told her if the Privy Seal was to be a Tory, I thought the Duke of Richmond the best.  He is the most popular man in the House of Lords, and a good debater.  The Duke and Lord Bathurst say he is cunning; but as far as I can judge he acts fairly.

April 6.

House.  Second reading Franchise Bill.  Opposed by the Duke of Richmond, Lord Malmesbury, Winchelsea, and Clanricarde.  Lord Holland spoke in favour of the Bill as connected with the Relief Bill.  The Whigs voted with us.  Dudley spoke in favour, just to separate himself from the Canningites, for whom Haddington spoke, more reluctant than the Whigs.