It seems to me that obstinacy, and the fear of being again accused of ratting, lead to this determination to resist when resistance is, in his own opinion, fruitless.

Clive, whom I saw to-day, is for a modified Reform; but he will vote for us in order to keep the Duke in.

We had a long conversation about the Regency, and agreed upon the substance and form of the Bill.  Aberdeen wanted again to open the whole question, on which he has no fixed opinion.  He has come round entirely.  First he thought the right was in the presumptive heir; now he thinks it must be in the child in utero.

It appears certain that at Carlisle the 9th was looked to as the day of signal to them and to all England.  It seems the plan was to attack the Guildhall and massacre all in it.  There would have been a smash, but a most signal defeat, for there would have been 250 cavalry, and from 700 to 800 Volunteers there (the East India Volunteers and the Artillery Company), besides a battalion within reach.

Sir Claudius Hunter has published in the Sunday Times a denial of the speeches attributed to him, and a statement of the City force.  Their ordinary force is fifty-four men!  With Volunteers, Artillery Company, Picket men, Firemen, Lumber Troop, &c., they would have had about 2,250.

November 15.

House.  A very temperate speech of Lord Durham, and a very good one of Lord Suffield, respecting the new police.  Lord Bathurst observed to me they spoke as if they expected to come in.  I mentioned Salisbury’s motion for a Committee which is to be made on Monday next, and Lord Bathurst said ’Shall we be alive then?’ He has a serious apprehension of being out.

The Chancellor made a most excellent speech in moving the first reading of the Regency Bill, and was cheered on both sides of the House.  It seems as if the measure would be unanimously approved.  Lord Eldon seemed to say he should advise the Duke of Cumberland to acquiesce in it.

The ultra Tories were to have a meeting to-day—­thirty-eight of them—­to decide what they should do about Reform.  Yesterday the report was they joined us; but the Duke of Richmond will do all he can to make them go against us, and, if they do, I suppose we shall be obliged to make our bows.

November 16.

Goulburn opposed the submitting the Civil List accounts to a Committee, and was defeated.  We had 204 to 233.  Majority against us, 29.  Hobhouse asked Peel whether Ministers would resign, to which he got no answer.  Brougham rose and said Ministers would have time for consideration.

I suppose this division must be considered to be fatal to us.  Henry is going off to take chambers.  He means to apply himself to the Law.  He is rather in a hurry.  For my own part I am by no means sorry to be out of office.  I think I shall be better able to regain my proper station in Opposition than I could have done in office, and the emoluments are of no value to me now.