May 18.

Committee.  Examined Colonel Briggs, who gave very good evidence indeed.  Ordered the attendance of six witnesses for Tuesday, whom we shall endeavour to despatch, and that will enable everybody to go to Epsom on Thursday and Friday.

The King much better.  All his symptoms alleviated.

To-morrow the Duke will get from him his signature to the message for a stamper.  There are to be three signatures of Ministers, that is, of Privy Councillors, to authorise the stamper, who is to be nominated by the King to affix the royal stamp to instruments in the King’s presence.

By the account from Marseilles, it appears that there are 11 sail of the line and 28 frigates in the French expedition, in all 97 sails—­about 350 transports, carrying 75,000 tons.  There will be 30,500 infantry, besides a very complete equipment of artillery, &c., 75 battering guns, 4,000 horses.  The Luke of Angouleme’s (the Dauphin’s) visit has delayed the expedition four days.  They will probably be on the sea to-day.

Rosslyn was talking yesterday of the danger from this expedition, and the annexation of Algiers to France.  I do not fear it—­we can, if we manage well, make it very costly by bringing forward the people of Tunis and Morocco, not near the coast, but almost from the desert.  We must take care to secure Tunis, and then the French will be no gainers by their move.

Lord Londonderry made a very foolish speech about foreign policy in putting off his motion, which stood for the 25th.  Aberdeen promised the Greek papers on Monday next.

May 19.

The Duke saw the King to-day and found him looking better than he did at the last Council.

The drain from the legs is now very small.  He was annoyed last night by them and sent for Halford, who sent off for Brodie; but there was nothing of importance.  They cannot yet say that he will not ultimately die of this complaint.  Knighton thinks he will be an invalid all his life.  Tierney says they cannot tell for a week whether there is any mischief remaining about the chest.  The Duke wished to speak to him about the stamp; but he made an excuse about his legs requiring some dressing, and the Duke, seeing he did not choose to talk about business, went away.

It seems clear that Leopold means to abdicate.

The Attorney-General has made his libel preventive measure a poor weak inoperative thing, ridiculous, and unconciliating.

The French Chambers are dissolved as a coup de theatre on the sailing of the expedition, and they are to meet on August 3, by which time they expect to hear of its success.

A union of parties is expected on the Greek affair.  I am not sorry for it.  The Huskissonians and Whigs are drawing nearer together.  The Tories, on the other hand, are rather approximating to us—­so that by the beginning of next Session men will be at last in their right places.