It is like paying money in consequence of a threatening letter.  If it is done once there is no stopping.

I said I believed the dissolution of the Acarnanian army, happen as it might, would be better than its maintenance, and that the state of anarchy into which it was pretended Greece would fall if it had not money, would be a better foundation of improvement than the state of military thraldom in which it is now held.

Peel proposed that Dawkins should be instructed under circumstances of imminent danger to advance money not exceeding 20,000L, and this would be the best way of doing it.  The Duke has great repugnance to giving anything, and objects to doing what might be considered an unconstitutional act.  He hopes Aberdeen will be able to persuade the other Powers to give 30,000L each, leaving us out of the subscription.

The thing was left undetermined.  I suggested that it was by no means impossible a question might be asked by some ‘friend of Greece’ whether we intended to give or had given money in consequence of Capo d’Istria’s representations, and then what we had done would come out.  In fact if the King was well the matter would be brought before Parliament.

His illness creates great embarrassment.  It is doubtful whether the Government can command majorities on questions on which a defeat under ordinary circumstances would lead them to resign; but it is known that now they cannot resign and cannot dissolve, and the Opposition has no other effect than that of interfering with the conduct of public business.

A powerful man would place this strongly before the country and bring the House to a sense of its duty.

The Duke showed me the letter he had written to Lord Combermere in reply to his, upon my Memorandum.  It is excellent.

There is to be a great fight upon sugar.  Charles Grant makes a proposition, and Goulburn proposes to modify his original proposition by suggesting the addition of 6_d_. a gallon to Scotch and Irish spirits and to rum, thus leaving the proportional burthen nearly the same.  In addition to this he proposes lowering the duty on the inferior kinds of sugar.

The French Expedition was in Palma Bay on May 31, awaiting the arrival of the last division, which was expected the next day.

June 15.

The King much better.  He has been in good spirits about himself, and has expectorated, which is thought a good sign.

In the House of Commons Goulburn’s altered plans seem to have succeeded with all parties as far as first impression goes.

June 16.

At the Cabinet dinner spoke to Lord Melville and Goulburn about the embarrassments of the civil servants.  Both are very much indisposed to grant the papers asked for by Hume on the subject.  I shall write to Arbuthnot to do what he can to prevent their being given.

The Duke got a number of papers stamped—­indeed all the arrears, about 400.  The King paid more attention to them than he ever did while he was well.  He recollected everything.