“Heaven’s arm strike with us—­’tis a fearful odds."[99]

Yet with health and continued popularity there are chances in my favour.

Dine at James Ballantyne’s, and happy man is he at the result of the sale; indeed it must have been the making or marring of him.  Sir Henry Steuart there, who “fooled me to the top of my bent.”

December 21.—­A very sweet pretty-looking young lady, the Prima Donna of the Italian Opera, now performing here, by name Miss Ayton,[100] came to breakfast this morning, with her father, (a bore, after the manner of all fathers, mothers, aunts, and other chaperons of pretty actresses)!  Miss Ayton talks very prettily, and, I dare say, sings beautifully, though too much in the Italian manner, I fear, to be a great favourite of mine.  But I did not hear her, being called away by the Clerk’s coach.  I am like Jeremy in Love for Love[101]—­have a reasonable good ear for a jig, but your solos and sonatas give me the spleen.

Called at Cadell’s, who is still enamoured of his bargain, and with good reason, as the London booksellers were offering him L1000 or L2000 to give it up to them.  He also ascertained that all the copies with which Hurst and Robinson loaded the market would be off in a half year.  Make us thankful! the weather is clearing to windward.  Cadell is cautious, steady, and hears good counsel; and Gibson quite inclined, were I too confident, to keep a good look-out ahead.

December 22.—­Public affairs look awkward.  The present Ministry are neither Whig nor Tory, and, divested of the support of either of the great parties of the State, stand supported by the will of the sovereign alone.  This is not constitutional, and though it may be a temporary augmentation of the sovereign’s personal influence, yet it cannot but prove hurtful to the Crown upon the whole, by tending to throw that responsibility on the Sovereign of which the law has deprived him.  I pray to God I may be wrong, but an attempt to govern par bascule—­by trimming betwixt the opposite parties—­is equally unsafe for the crown and detrimental to the country, and cannot do for a long time.  The fact seems to be that Lord Goderich, a well-meaning and timid man, finds himself on a precipice—­that his head is grown dizzy and he endeavours to cling to the person next him.  This person is Lord Lansdowne, who he hopes may support him in the House of Lords against Lord Grey, so he proposes to bring Lord Lansdowne into the Cabinet.  Lord G. resigns, and his resignation is accepted.  Lord Harrowby is then asked to place himself at the head of a new Administration,—­declines.  The tried abilities of Marquis Wellesley are next applied to; it seems he also declines, and then Lord Goderich comes back, his point about Lord Lansdowne having failed, and his threatened resignation goes for nothing.  This must lower the Premier in the eyes of every one.  It is plain the K. will not accept the Whigs; it is equally plain that he has not made a move towards the Tories, and that with a neutral administration, this country, hard ruled at anytime, can he long governed, I, for one, cannot believe.  God send the good King, to whom I owe so much, as safe and honourable extrication as the circumstances render possible.[102]