It seems that last night the leaders came down to make an attack, but the followers, not having been consulted, would not support.  R. Gordon came over to Herries and said he should vote with Government.  Hume, who in the morning had sent to ask Planta whether Government intended to oppose him for Middlesex (a question Planta was desired not to answer till the end of next week), was very civil, and disposed to let business pass.  It is not impossible that the House of Commons may have done their business by this day week.

I am to look at the Beer Bill, and have already begun to read the Commons’ debates upon it.

July 4.

Read all the debates on the Beer Bill, made notes, and considered the subject.  The Queen seems to have selected her maids of honour from the neighbourhood of Bushey.  This is amiable and very right.

July 5.

I proposed to Wortley, as Edward Stanley was an acquaintance of his, to give him a hint not to commit himself against the Government just now; but he says he does not know Stanley intimately enough.

I asked him whether he did not find the Duke of Wellington very kind.  He really had the kindest heart of any man I ever knew.  When I looked up I saw the tears in his eyes.

Clare told me he heard all the Whigs in our House, except Lord Lansdowne, were determined to push us a l’outrance; but Lord Lansdowne thought the Duke must endeavour to strengthen himself during the vacation.  He could not do it now, as it would be a confession of weakness; but he thought he would do it before Parliament met.  However, the others would not hear him.

There was a meeting at Lord Althorpe’s yesterday, but I have not heard the result.

Talked to Clare about the affairs of Kattywar, and promised to give him precise instructions before he left England.

He will remain at Bombay, I think.  He tells his mother three years, but he will remain till he has made some money and done something worth going there to do.  He has got Elphinstone to make a list of the civil servants with their characters.

The King took the sacrament yesterday with the Royal Family, and afterwards received the bishops and the judges.  He made long speeches to both.  Thirty minutes to the first, and twenty to the second.

Polignac seems quite firm, although certain he shall be in a minority of 1 to 2 or 3.  It is expected he will evade, and that Villele may be able to go on with the new Chamber.

No news from Algiers. 15,000 men are assembled at Toulon as a reserve.

July 6.

Cabinet.  Peel said the Lord Advocate would resign if we did not pass the
Scotch Judicature Bill, so we must struggle through with it.  The Welsh
Judicature Bill is to be passed too.  This will keep us sitting some time. 
The Commons will have finished on Friday.

House.  We had the second reading of the Beer Bill.  I said a few words to show the inaccuracy of one of Lord Malmesbury’s conclusions; but I must speak in detail in the Committee.