The Ministers and the old leading members of the Chamber of Deputies act manfully against the crowd.  Their declarations of intention are satisfactory.  I really believe they mean to act honestly if they can.

Austria seems to have hesitated about the acknowledgment of the King of the French after the receipt of a dispatch from Petersburg, and Metternich, who seems to be growing weak, wavered after he had received General Belliard very cordially.

Prussia, that is the King, hesitated about signing the letter to Louis Philippe when he heard of the doubts of Austria.  The result, however, is that all entraines by us will acknowledge; the Emperor of Russia, who was the most reluctant, having determined to do so if the others did.  I should say there is this satisfactory conclusion to be drawn from what we have seen, that if France showed a disposition to aggrandise herself all Europe would be against her.

The object of the French Government is to place France exactly in the position in which she stood a fortnight before the ordonnances—­that is, Talleyrand’s wish, and he has redige his own instructions.

Read Aberdeen’s letter, dated the 17th, stating the necessity of maintaining cordial intercourse with and between Spain and Portugal, and intimating that on the promulgation of an amnesty according to the terms recently communicated England will resume diplomatic relations with Miguel, but not otherwise.

Spain seems to be sensible.  There was a movement of folly about Royalist volunteers which was put down, and the Government seems by no means disposed to give way to Absolutists.  If the Queen should have a son Spain will probably be tranquil.

Talleyrand pretends the French will be reasonable about Algiers.  I do not wish them to be so.  I believe they could not have made a worse purchase.  They will find the possession very expensive.  Their troops will hate it, they will have nothing beyond their outposts, and it is no port.

My first opinion is strengthened, that they could not be worse than if they were left as they are.

September 24.

The populace and the burghers at Brussels have quarrelled, and fought a little.  It seems the Liberals and the Catholics, [Footnote:  They have formed the two opposing parties in the Belgian Chambers since the country became an independent State.  They had temporarily united against Protestant Holland.] as the others are called, have been long diverging.  The deputies and men of property, excepting M. de Stassart, have become alarmed.  The Prince de Ligne and D’Aremberg and others have left Brussels.  On the 21st, probably the 20th, in the evening a proclamation was published at Antwerp by Prince Frederick of Orange, noticing the excesses of the populace, and announcing that the troops would relieve the burgher guard.  This must have been done in concert with the influential persons of the town who are alarmed for their property.  The Liegeois are very violent.  They will be expelled from Brussels.  No more can get there, as the road is interrupted.