The beach was particularly favourable for landing.  The weather fine, and there was plenty of time to prepare.

The thing best done was by General Valagi, who in eighteen hours raised a continued work of a mile and a half.  He had 1,600 sappers and miners.  Colonel Monteith is in admiration of this entrenchment, which was beautifully finished, and was capable of resisting 30,000 regular troops.

The Arabs are miserably mounted.  The Dey’s two best horses were not worth 30l. each.

Duperre he thought a man willing to do all, but quite overpowered by the management of 100 ships of war and 500 transports.  His reports are all lies.  Bourmont’s are nearest the truth.  The ships, with the exception of those which were in the Levant, were not in good order.  There seemed to be no discipline.

The army never wanted either water or provisions.  Water was within three feet of the surface everywhere.  In the gardens on the side of the hills towards Algiers the water was found at the depth of twenty feet.

Nothing could be more perfect than the equipment of the army.  They calculated the cost of the expedition at four millions.

I see by the newspapers that the Prince of Orange yielded the point of the colours to the deputation from Brussels.  He seems to have conceded a great deal, but to have acted with great personal courage and decision.  It is expected that the Commission he appointed have asked for the separation of Holland from Belgium, and the establishment of a Federal union only; two countries under one King with distinct legislatures, armies, &c.  The great towns are quiet.  Holland ready to march upon Brussels.

I shall not be satisfied unless some of the Bruxellois are hanged for pillage.

The answers of the King seem to have been firm and judicious.

It is impossible not to admire the constancy of the troops, who bivouacked for eight days in the park.

The French Government seems too weak or too timid to prevent outrage in Paris.  The printers’ devils will have no machinery for printing!  It is entertaining to see those who make all revolutions suffer by them.

September 7.

Saw Greville at the Treasury.  He told me he had got from Lord Chesterfield that Palmerston had no objection to come in.  Lord Melbourne had; but they required the sacrifice of Aberdeen, Bathurst, and Arbuthnot.  There must be some mistake about this condition.  I told Greville if he could get a fact to communicate it to the Duke.

It is feared the Prince of Orange is gone away to the Hague.  He promised Colonel Jones he would be firm.

September 8.

The Prince of Orange certainly went to the Hague.  He was received there enthusiastically.  The proposition he takes is for Federal union.  I fear he must submit to some modification of that, or encounter real opposition and civil war.