A letter from Lady Macdonald enclosing one from the Nain Muhan to herself, very complimentary and really pretty.  She is to be at Tabriz in October.

The King has had two good nights.

Peel’s letters to the Lord Lieutenant respecting the suppression of the new
Association and the appointment of Catholic King’s Counsel was circulated.

Sunday, April 25.

Read Aberdeen’s and the Duke’s speeches on the Terceira question, and afterwards wrote a memorandum for Hardinge’s use, bringing into a short compass all the strong points of the case.

Mr. Sullivan called upon me after church, and told me his son remained in India.  It is very extraordinary that he should be glad of this, as he must be without the hope of ever seeing him.

April 26.

Cabinet at 3.  The King has had another good night.  He has, however, had another attack.  His pulse is in a weak state.  He seems oppressed by fat.  He is become alarmed about himself, which much increases danger in such a complaint.  Consequently all the entourage is alarmed too.

The drawing-room and levee are to be postponed sine die.  Trade and agriculture are both flourishing.  The only embarrassment arises out of the uncertainty as to the King’s health.

Leopold is to have a loan of sixty millions, guaranteed in equal portions by the three Powers.  The loan to have a sinking fund of 3 per cent, to be paid in equal portions in eight years.  The guarantee is to Leopold and his descendants, being sovereigns of Greece.

Thus he has obtained almost all he asked, and what he most wanted, the money.

Peel seems to think the King’s death by no means improbable.  If it should take place, Parliament would adjourn till after the funeral, and then be dissolved.

In the House Lord Durham, in presenting a petition against the East Indian monopoly, said he gathered from what had fallen from His Majesty’s Ministers that they were determined to maintain it.

I said, ’I cannot admit that anything which has fallen from me, or, in my presence, from any of my noble colleagues, can justify the noble lord in assuming that His Majesty’s Government have formed any determined opinion upon the subject.’

April 27.

House.  East Retford case.  The Duke showed me a letter from Halford which gives a very alarming account of the King.  He went on much the same till half-past three this morning, when Halford was sent for and remained till half-past eight.  The embarrassment of breathing was considerable.  The King was rather better at half-past ten, when the bulletin was dated.  Halford says he can tell more than he can write.  He does write that there is water, and it is evident the King is very much alarmed.

From the letter I should say he could not live many weeks.

In the House Lord Strangford told me that Sir W. Seymour [Footnote:  Recently appointed a judge at Bombay.] was dead.  He died in December—­a short time after the birth of his son.