April 21.

Wrote to Astell to ask if he would buy the Russian China papers.  I told him at the same time that a Russian ship was going at the charge of the Russian Government to India, Swan River, and China as a commercial feeler.

Cabinet at 2.  The King is rather better, but in a precarious state.  The embarrassment in his breathing comes on in spasms.  His digestion is good, and they think there is no water.  The Duke will urge him to have regular bulletins published.  He goes down tomorrow.  He has not seen him since this day week.  The King is in excellent humour with everybody, and never was more kind to the Duke.

There has been a short difference between the King and Peel.  The King having sent a pardon to Ireland for a Mr. Comyn, who burnt his house to defraud his landlord, &c., Peel insisted, and the man will be hanged; the Lord Lieutenant having taken upon himself to give a reprieve only, and not to promulgate the pardon.

The Duke described the King as a bold man, afraid of nothing if his Ministers would stand by him, and certainly neither afraid of pain or of death.  I did not think this of the King.  In general he has been supposed to be a coward.

In Cabinet it was decided to authorise and advise the Lord Lieutenant to put into execution the law for suppressing the association against that which O’Connell is now endeavouring to organise, and at the same time to give silk gowns to Shiel and two or three other Roman Catholic barristers, omitting O’Connell.  However, this last measure will be mentioned to the King, although a King’s letter is not required.

We had afterwards a talk, and a long one, about Algiers.

Prince Polignac sent a despatch to the Duc de Laval, giving explanations satisfactory upon the whole, but mixed up with matter accusatory of us.  Of this despatch the Duc de Laval was not authorised to give a copy.  We want a written declaration of their views, none other being official.  They are afraid of their Chambers, and of giving a pledge to England different from that which they have given to other Powers, and with which other Powers have been satisfied.  Peel thinks they will promise to abstain from permanent occupation, and exact an amount of indemnity so large, with occupation as a security, as to make that occupation permanent.  If they got possession of Algiers, I do not believe they will ever give it up—­say what they may.

Peel objected to me saying what declaration would satisfy us, as in the event of their deceiving us, or quibbling, it would then seem to be our folly which had led to it.

All seem to view the comparative statement of the prices of teas in the same light that I do, as fatal to the monopoly.

April 23.

Rode to the Treasury to enquire after the King; but there were so many waiting to see the Duke I did not wait.  The King is rather better.

April 24.