Chapter 5

The Catholic Relief Bill--Inconsistency of the Tories--The Catholic Association--Dinner at Charles Grant's--The Terceira Expedition--Tory Discontent--Peel resigns his Seat for Oxford University--A Blunder in Chancery--The Oxford Election-- Influence of the Duke of Wellington--Debate of Royal Dukes-- Peel beaten--Sir Edward Codrington--Violence of the King-- Intrigues to defeat the Catholic Bill--The Duke of Cumberland-- Furious State of Parties--Matuscewitz--Peel's Speech on Catholic Emancipation--Exclusion of O'Connell from his Seat for Clare--Pitt's View of Catholic Emancipation--'Musae Cateatonenses'--'Thorough'--Mr. Lowther not turned out--Duke of Newcastle's Audience of George IV.--The King's Personal Habits--The Debate--Mr. Sadler--Hardness of the Duke of Wellington--His Duel with Lord Winchelsea--The Bishops and the Bill--Sir Charles Wetherell--The King on the Duel--Lord Winchelsea's Pocket-handkerchief--Debate on the Catholic Bill-- The Duke of Richmond--Effects of Dawson's Speech on the King-- The Bill in Jeopardy--Lady Jersey and Lord Anglesey--Lord Falmouth and Lord Grey--O'Connell at Dinner--The Duke breaks with Lord Eldon--Hibner the Murderess--Theatrical Fund--The Levee--The Duke's Carriage stopped--The King's Health--Lady Conyngham--O'Connell's Seat--Child's Ball at Court--Princess Victoria--Legal Appointments--Lord Palmerston on Foreign Affairs--The King and Lord Sefton--The King's Speech on the Prorogation--Madame Du Cayla--George IV.'s Inaccuracy-- Conversation of the Duke of Wellington on the King and the Duke of Cumberland Page 166