May 2.

I rode as fast as I could to town as soon as church was over (for the Duke had wished to see me before he went to church, thinking I was in town), and in Brompton met Lord Rosslyn, who told me there was no Cabinet, and that the Duke had found the King better than he expected.

Rode at once to Apsley House.  The Duke was gone out, having left word he should be back soon if I came.  I waited an hour.  When he returned he told me he had no idea I was out of town, or he would not have written.  Lord Combermere had asked to see him, which he could not refuse.

The Duke said that on Friday the King was much better.  The miracle which the physicians had said could alone save him seemed accomplished.  Great quantities of ether-quantities much greater than are usually given-had apparently restored him, and all were in good spirits, when, feeling himself much better, he drank a great deal and was actually sick!  Thence the indifferent night of Friday.  On Saturday he was better again, and when the Duke saw him, seemingly very well, quite alive—­in very good humour with everybody, and quite without nervousness.  However, he passed a bad night, as the bulletin says, probably in consequence of having drunk again.  Sir H. Halford was quite in tears on Saturday, not more on account of the King’s state than on account of his own professional disappointment.  He had thought on the Friday that he had accomplished a miracle.  They have treated the King as if he had been a hospital patient, and have epuise’d the resources of art boldly applied to his case.

The King did not express the least apprehension to the Duke; but to the women he speaks of his danger, and as if he was a dying man.  The Duke thinks he does this to try and vex Lady Conyngham.

The thing most surprising to me is the Duke’s opinion of the King’s firm courage.  He said he had seen him not only now, but before, when he was considered not to have twenty-four hours of life in him, yet he, knowing his situation, was perfectly firm.

Before the Duke came I had some talk with Holmes, whom I met with Drummond.  Holmes said they could finish the session by the end of July if they acted with that view.  I fear it will last much longer if the King lives, and if he dies, that we shall have a six weeks’ session in August and September.  Holmes said he did not think the King’s illness by any means diminished the strength of Government.  He thought the friends of Government were rather more disposed to come down, and he could on any great question get 300.

He had gone round on Wednesday to the reporters, and had told them they would never have a holiday if they reported speeches on a Wednesday, so they did not, and they will not.  This will put an end to all speechifying on holidays.

May 3.

Cabinet.  Saw a letter from Halford to the Duke.  The King was ’in a most distressing, not to say alarming, state’ from eight to-day evening to half-past three.  He cannot get sleep.  Halford says it was ‘a gigantic struggle.’