Much talk at the Cabinet dinner as to what should be done as to dissolution; but all depends on the time of the King’s death, and the state of public business then.

Peel, Herries, and all seem to think the Low Party gains, and will gain strength.  Hume, on Whitbread’s retirement, is to come in for Middlesex.

June 24.

House.  Galway Franchise Bill read second time Counsel were to have been heard; but the petitioners declined having them.  I fear we shall have a sharp debate about it to-morrow, and Lord Grey be directly opposed to the Duke, and the worst of it is I do not believe our case is very good.

Hardinge and Wortley both say we are in a great scrape with these sugar duties, and Ireland, which was all with us, is hostile again on account of the spirit and stamp duties.

Walked as far as Mrs. Arbuthnot’s with the Duke.  He told me his view of the Galway Franchise Bill, and is very certain of his case.  He feels Goulburn has satisfied no one with his sugar duties.

The King seems much worse by the bulletin; but the private account was not much so.  He was said to be worse when Lord Hill left Windsor.  I really believe that we are so bothered with sugar duties and other things that an immediate demise and immediate dissolution would be best for us, and for the country.

June 25.

Went to the Duke about the Galway Bill before the House met.  The Duke spoke very well and made a very good case.  Lord Grey well, but the Chancellor demolished his speech, and placed the question on such good grounds that it was useless to speak afterwards; nor was there much subsequent debate.  The Duke of Buckingham made a speech against us, in which he mistook every point, and gave me a great disposition to follow him; but I knew if I did I should have a whole hornet’s nest upon me, and I wished to keep Durham and Radnor in check, or answer them.  Had I spoken the debate would have lasted three hours more.  As it was we got away by nine.  On the division we had 62 to 47.  Not brilliant.  Our case was excellent.  I had feared it would be indifferent.  The Chancellor had got it up admirably.  Lord Londonderry, the Dukes of Newcastle and Richmond, Calthorpe, all the Canningites, of course voted against us.  Dudley was in the House at one time, but he did not vote against us, nor has he once since he went out.

The King much weaker.

June 26.

At half-past eight this morning I received a Cabinet box containing the bulletin signed by Halford and Tierney of the King’s death, and Halford’s private letter to the Duke of Wellington.  The letter stated that the King had slept for about two hours and woke a little before three.  Soon afterwards, Sir W. Waller only being in the room, he suddenly put his hand to his breast, and said, ‘Good God, what is the matter?  This is death?’ He then sent for Halford.  He and the others came, and so soon afterwards as I have said, he expired without the least struggle or pain.