Chapter 2

The Speaker a Knight of the Bath--Lord Wellesley Lord Lieutenant of Ireland--M. Thiers in England--Prince Esterhazy's Opinion of the State of England--Queen of Portugal at Windsor--The Duke of Leuchtenberg--Macaulay and Sydney Smith--Brougham's Anecdotes of Queen Caroline--Judicial Committee of the Privy Council--Sir Stratford Canning and M. Dedel--Sydney Smith and the 'Siege of Saragossa'--Edward Irving--The Unknown Tongues--Tribute to Lord Eldon--W. J. Fox--Lord Tavistock on the Prospects of his Party--Moore at the State Paper Office--Russia and England-- Belvoir Castle--The Duke of Wellington at Belvoir--Visit to Mrs. Arkwright--Sir Thomas Lawrence and the Misses Siddons--A Murder at Runton--Sandon--Lord and Lady Harrowby--Burghley-- Railroads talked of--Gloomy Tory Prognostications--State of Spain--Parliament opens--Quarrel of Sheil and Lord Althorp-- Unpopularity of Lord Palmerston--Mrs. Somerville--O'Connell's Attack on Baron Smith--Lord Althorp's Budget--The Pension List--Lord Althorp as Leader of the House--Sir R. Peel's Position in the House--Meeting of Supporters of Government--Mr. Villiers on the State of Spain--Predicament of Horne, the Attorney-General. Page 30