The King not going on well by the bulletin; worse by the private account, which, however, I did not see.  He has lost his appetite and grows weaker.

The Duke has not yet read my Nagpore letter; but he will to-morrow.  He seems to agree with me in general views upon the subject of our policy towards the native States.

June 5.

Chairs at 11.  They are dissatisfied with Malcolm for sending a steam vessel into the Red Sea, because he had no important intelligence to communicate!  I shall never make these people feel they are at the head of a State!

The bulletin to-day is very alarming.  The Duke had not returned at half-past 4; but soon after he was seen coming into town looking very melancholy.  The Duchess of Gloucester arrived an hour later.  I thought the Duke had stayed to be there at the King’s death.  Knighton sent up to Goulburn to desire a warrant might be sent down to be stamped conveying the King’s fines, &c., belonging to the Privy Purse.

Goulburn very properly refused to send the warrant till he had seen the Duke.  This looks as if they did not expect 24 hours.

He was as ill as possible when Aberdeen saw him yesterday for a few minutes.

A Cabinet is summoned for half-past 3 to-morrow.

All is still again in the House of Commons, as well as with us.  They have found the Leopold line will not do.

June 6.

Cabinet at half-past 3.  They all say Scarlett did ill.  He did not fight gallantly, and he fought without judgment.

The Duke said he thought the King was really suffering yesterday; but from several circumstances he thought he would live three or four weeks.  The physicians said eight days.  He was better than when Aberdeen saw him on Friday.  No stamping was done.  Peel went down to-day.  It was hoped some papers would be stamped.  Peel had not returned when the Cabinet separated at 5.

Aberdeen brought forward the question of a Bill it is thought necessary to introduce in consequence of slave-dealing by Brazilian subjects having now become piracy.

Goulburn seems to be unable to fix any time for the conclusion of the Session in the event of a demise.  I fear it will be necessary to sit a long time to get the necessary votes.  There are no less than fifty subjects unvoted.

June 7.

House.  In going down met Goulburn, who said the account of the King was very bad.  Halford had suggested it would be better for the Duke to go down; which he did.  Peel thought the King very much changed indeed in the week which had elapsed since he last saw him.

June 8.

Cabinet at 3.  The diplomatic expenses were carried only by 18, and the abolition of the punishment of death for forgery was carried by 13.  This is a very serious state of things; with such a Parliament there is no depending upon the carrying of any measure, and Peel is quite disgusted.  As to the Forgery Bill it will be difficult to find juries to convict when a majority has decided against the punishment of death.  I am satisfied that the property of many will be exposed to much danger by the abolition of the punishment of death.