The Sultan begins to affect European manners.  Calls upon ladies and talks about education!  Dines with a merchant!  After all, considering his education and his entourage, Sultan Mahmoud is the most remarkable man in Europe.

July 9.

Office at 2.  Met Herries.  Told him I should send him a statement of our Indian loans, and place Leach at his disposal.  We could then talk them over, and see whether we could effect any financial operation.  My idea is that by offering some little higher interest in.  India we might induce the holders of the remittable loan to give up that privilege of receiving the interest in England if resident here.

Saw Major Cunningham.  He looks more than forty, well, certainly, but I should doubt his doing much hard work.  He does not think himself a good person to command Irregulars.  His Rohillas were almost in as good order as Regulars.

He told me Lieutenant-Colonel Skinner was a man of large landed property.  He had raised his corps very much from his own estate and neighbourhood, and was a sort of feudal chieftain.  He has been educated like a native, though the son of a Colonel in the Company’s service.

Saw Sir Murray Maxwell. [Footnote:  He had commanded the ‘Alceste,’ which took out Lord Amherst as Ambassador to China twelve years before.] It seemed to me Sir Murray wanted to be sent with a frigate to try to open a commercial communication with Pekin.  He thinks even Japan might be induced to trade.  The instant the Chinese found the ship was gone and Lord Amherst meant to return by land they would have nothing to say to him.  They probably took him for a spy.

Sir Murray thinks the Chinese might be led to give a port to the northward.

He describes the Spanish population of Manilla as being very small—­the native population large.  It is but four days’ sail, with a good breeze, from Manilla to Canton.  Always a favourable wind.  The harbour magnificent.

I think the whole object of his visit was to get a ship, and a sort of half embassy.

July 10.

Received a letter from Lord Clare, who saw the Duke yesterday.  He says the Duke was very kind and told him he should get all the information he could before the Committee of next year.  I shall most willingly assist him.

July 11.

Cabinet.  Talked of Ireland.  The disposition to outrage seems increasing.  The Duke said we were responsible for the success of the measure of this year, and we must put down the armed meetings.  Warburton must be ordered to do so.  The Duke said emphatically if we do not preserve the peace of Ireland we shall not be a Government.  Peel is to write immediately.  He thinks the first appearance of a determination to put down these meetings will have the effect of crushing them.  We spoke of Poor Laws, Education, and Grand Juries.  Lord F. Leveson despairs as to the two first.  Upon both the Government will form its opinion.  I am glad to see that the more the question of Poor Laws is considered the more the introduction of them appears unadvisable, or of any approach to them.  I have ever held this opinion.