CHAPTER XIII.

Anecdotes about the Exchequer Bill Forgery--M. de St. Aulaire Ambassador in London--Morbid Irritability of the Duke--Macaulay on Street Ballads--Sir Edmund Head, Poor Law Commissioner--The Duke's Delusion--The Lord Chief Justice closes the Term--Armorial Bearings of the Prince of Wales--Relations of Ministers with the Queen--Lord William Russell recalled from Berlin--Arbitrary Appointment of Magistrates--Anecdote of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough--Lord Spencer on the Corn Laws--Lord Lieutenancy of Northamptonshire--Visit to Bowood--Mrs. Fanny Kemble--Macaulay's Conversation--Macaulay's Departure--Lord Ashburton's Mission--The Chinese War--Unpopularity of Lord Palmerston--A Diplomatic Squabble--Prussian Treatment of Newspapers--Fire at Woburn Abbey--Duke of Wellington himself again--King of Prussia arrives--Proceedings of the Government--The Duke of Buckingham resigns--Relations with France--Opening of the New Parliament--King of Prussia's Visit--The Speech from the Throne--Lord Palmerston's Hostility to France--The Queen and Her Ministers--Dispute about a Scotch Judge--Corn Laws--A Letter from Jellalabad--The Corn Law Debate--The Battersea Schools--A Calm--Sir Robert Peel's Budget--The Disaster at Cabul--Death and Funeral of the Marquis of Hertford--Sir Robert Peel's Financial Measures--The Whig View of Peel--Archdeacon Singleton--Lord Munster's Death--Colonel Armstrong--Theatricals at Bridgewater House--Summary of the Session--The Occupation of Afghanistan--Lord Wellesley's Opinion--Afghan Policy of the Government--Lord Ashburton's Treaty--The Missing Map _page_ 55