had been pointed out by Captain Henry Duncan, R.N., as being a measure which would be particularly agreeable to the officers of the service.  This is too high a compliment.  In returning I called to see the repairs at Lambeth, which are proceeding under the able direction of Blore, who met me there.  They are in the best Gothic taste, and executed at the expense of a large sum, to be secured by way of mortgage, payable in fifty years; each incumbent within the time paying a proportion of about L4000 a year.  I was pleased to see this splendour of church architecture returning again.

Lord Mahon, a very amiable as well as a clever young man, comes to dinner with Mr. Croker; Lady Louisa Stuart in the afternoon, or, more properly, at night.

October 12.—­Misty morning—­looks like a yellow fog, which is the curse of London.  I would hardly take my share of it for a share of its wealth and its curiosity—­a vile double-distilled fog of the most intolerable kind.  Children scarce stirring yet, but baby and the Macaw beginning their Macaw notes.  Among other feats of the mob on Monday, a gentleman who saw the onslaught told me two men got on Lord Londonderry’s carriage and struck him; the chief constable came to the rescue and belaboured the rascals, who ran and roared.  I should have liked to have seen the onslaught—­Dry beating, and plenty of it, is a great operator of a reform among these gentry.  At the same time Lord Londonderry is a brain-sick man, very unlike his brother.  He horsewhipped a sentinel under arms at Vienna for obeying his consigne, which was madness.  On the other side all seems to be prepared.  Heavy bodies of the police are stationed in all the squares and places supporting each other regularly.  The men themselves say that their numbers amount to 3000, and that they are supported by troops in still greater numbers, so that the Conservative force is sufficiently strong.  Four o’clock—­a letter from the Duke saying the party is put off by command of the King, and probably the day will be put off until the Duke’s return from Scotland, so our hopes of seeing the fine ceremony are all ended.

October 13.—­Nocte pluit tota—­an excellent recipe for a mob, so they have been quiet accordingly, as we are informed.  Two or three other wet nights would do much to weary them out with inactivity.  Milman, whom I remember a fine gentlemanlike young man, dined here yesterday.  He says the fires have never ceased in his country, but that the oppressions and sufferings occasioned by the poor’s rates are very great, and there is no persuading the English farmer that an amended system is comfortable both for rich and poor.  The plan of ministers is to keep their places maugre Peers and Commons both, while they have the countenance of the crown; but if a Prince shelters, by authority of the prerogative, ministers against the will of the other authority of the state, does he not quit the defence which supposes