Chapter 8

Debate in the House of Lords--Lord Harrowby's Position--Hopes of a Compromise--Lord Melbourne's View--Disturbances caused by the Cholera--The Disfranchisement Clause--The Number '56'--Peers contemplated--The King's Hesitation--'The Hunchback'--Critical Position of the Waverers--Bill carried by Nine in the Lords-- The Cholera in Paris--Moderate Speech of Lord Grey--End of the Secession--Conciliatory Overtures--Negotiations carried on at Newmarket--Hostile Division in the Lords--Lord Wharncliffe's Account of his Failure--Lord Grey resigns--The Duke of Wellington attempts to form a Ministry--Peel declines-- Hostility of the Court to the Whigs--A Change of Scene--The Duke fails--History of the Crisis--Lord Grey returns to Office--The King's Excitement--The King writes to the Opposition Peers--Defeat and Disgrace of the Tories-- Conversation of the Duke of Wellington--Louis XVIII.--Madame du Cayla--Weakness of the King--Mortality among Great Men-- Petition against Lord W. Bentinck's Prohibition of Suttee heard by the Privy Council--O'Connell and the Cholera--Irish Tithe Bill--Irish Difficulties--Mr. Stanley--Concluding Debates of the Parliament--Quarrel between Brougham and Sugden--Holland and Belgium--Brougham's Revenge and Apology--Dinner at Holland House--Anecdotes of Johnson--Death of Mr. Greville's Father-- Madame de Flahaut's Account of the Princess Charlotte--Prince Augustus of Prussia--Captain Hess--Hostilities in Holland and in Portugal--The Duchesse de Berri--Conversation with Lord Melbourne on the State of the Government. Page 274