That Prince Leopold will make an efficient King of Greece I do not believe; but he is not likely to be hostile to England.  Prince Charles of Mecklenburgh, named by Prussia, would be really Russian, and the tool of States not friendly to us.

Prince Leopold hopes, if he goes to Greece, that Government will purchase the lands he has bought, for which he has given 40,000L or 50,000L.

Determined to have my letter respecting the acquisition of information in Central Asia and the navigation of the Indus sent to the Chairs to-morrow, that it may be sent, and be on record as mine, in the event of His Majesty turning me out the next day, as he will very possibly do.

January 12.

Henry [Footnote:  The Honourable H. S, Law, Lord Ellenborough’s brother.] copied for transmission the letter in the Secret Department, and I took care it should be sent to the India House in the course of the day, that if I should be out to-morrow, I may have the credit of having originated a measure which, if effected, will be of incalculable value.

Cabinet at 2.  Aberdeen was gone to the King at Windsor.  It seemed to be expected he would do nothing, and that the Duke would be obliged to go down to-morrow—­the Duke thinks he shall succeed—­and no one seems to dread a turn out.  I am not quite so sure.  The mischief is that these secousses make a weak Government.

I found in the box of drafts the letter to Sir Brook Taylor respecting Duke Charles of Mecklenburgh, which the King says he never saw or sanctioned.  It bears his initials and approval, which have been traced out in ink over his pencil.

The Duke of Cumberland wants, if it be but for a week, a friendly administration that he may get out of the Exchequer 30,000L set apart for the annuity for his son’s education, but to which he is not legally entitled, his son having been educated abroad.  It is out of revenge for a hostile cheer, and to get this money, to which Lord Eldon and Lord Wynford have told him he has no right, that he is endeavouring to overthrow the Government.

January 13.

After I came home read the minutes of the Governor-General and Council on the college at Calcutta.  There is nothing so important as to preserve young men, who are to govern an Empire, from idleness, dissipation, and debt.  This must be done.  The Governor-General’s own superintendence may effect much.  The suspension of the incompetent may do more; but while the habits of expense are given at Hayleybury, and continued by their residence without any control in the midst of a dissipated capital, nothing will reform the system.

Cabinet dinner at Aberdeen’s.  He was an hour and a half with the King yesterday.  The King was much agitated in dressing himself for the interview.  The man who shaved thought he should have cut him twenty times.  He had taken 100 drops of laudanum to prepare himself for the interview.