Then got up the Duke of Richmond, totally misrepresenting what I had said as to Lord Eldon and Lord Grey, and endeavouring to make them appear as personal attacks to which no gentleman could submit.  Lord Londonderry followed in the same tone. (After the Duke of Richmond I explained that I had not attributed improper motives to Lord Grey, nor attacked Lord Eldon’s character.) We had afterwards Lord Lansdowne, Lord Harewood giving his first vote for the Government after the Catholic Question, and that because it was the first measure of the new King.  A foolish reason, but I dare say many voted on the same ground.  Lord Wharncliffe spoke against us, Lords Bute and Wicklow and the Duke of Buckingham for us, Lord Radnor shortly against.  The Duke replied.  Then Lord Grey spoke, and observed, of course, upon what I had said, but not angrily, and I made an explanation which was satisfactory, and set us quite right again.  He had imagined me to say he owed a debt of gratitude to the Government for the measure of last session.  I said he had expressed gratitude, but we had not claimed it, because we only did our duty.  In the lobby during the debate Lord Jersey told me he was afraid Lord Grey might have misunderstood the meaning of what I said about gratitude, and begged me to set him right immediately if it was so.

We had 100 to 54.  A very good division.  We went, at ten, to Goulburn’s to dinner, and expected soon to see the members of the House of Commons, and to hear of as good a division there as in the Lords, but after an hour we heard the division had only been 185 to 139.  This made us a little flat, and Lord Bathurst drank no more champagne.

I intentionally committed the Government thoroughly with the Whigs, for after Lord Grey’s declaration it was idle to expect a vote from them, and our people were pleased, as I knew they would be.  The Duke of Bedford and Lord Jersey voted with us.  So did Dudley.

I shall have work enough now, as they have ten or twelve speakers, and we but three.

July 1.

Looked over the debates on the Forgery Bill this morning.  Committee at one.  Examined a manufacturer of camlets and bombazines from Norwich.  House.  Forgery Bill.  The Chancellor made an admirable speech, Lord Lansdowne followed him, then Lords Wynford, Tenterden, and Eldon all against the bill.  We divided 77 to 20.  The Duke was delighted, he said, ’How very right we were.’ So said the Chancellor.  Peel would have given it up.  Now, I think one large majority will set public opinion right again.  The Chancellor said all that was contained in Peel’s two speeches and much more.  Peel and Brougham were under the throne.

Lord Bathurst, with whom I walked home from the House at three, when we talked of Goulburn’s becoming Speaker, suggested Hardinge as Chancellor of the Exchequer.  He would be an excellent one.