CHAPTER XXXI.
Moore and O’Connell — Defeat of the Opposition — The Carlow Election — Lord Alvanley’s Speech to the Tory Peers — Norton v. Lord Melbourne — Catastrophe after Epsom — Mendizabal and Queen Christina — Lord John Russell’s Moderation in the Ecclesiastical Commission — Theatricals at Bridgewater House — Irish Church — Ministerial Difficulties — Deplorable State of Spain — What was thought of Lord Palmerston in 1836 — Weakness of Government — Lord Lyndhurst’s Summary of the Session — Balance of Parties — Lady Augusta Kennedy’s Marriage — King’s Speech to Princess Victoria — Revolution of La Granja — Rudeness of the King to Ministers — Irritation of the King at the Duchess of Kent — Scene at Windsor on the King’s Birthday — Prince Esterhazy’s View of the Affairs of Europe — Emperor Nicholas at Vienna — A Crisis in Trade — State of the Court at Vienna — Duc de Reichstadt.
March 8th, 1836
It is impossible to conceive anything like the stagnation in the political world—the Government secure in their seats, the Opposition aware of the helplessness of their efforts. I met Moore[1] at dinner a day or two ago, not having seen him for a long time. He told us some amusing anecdotes of his own reception in Ireland, which was very enthusiastic, in spite of his having quarrelled with O’Connell. Of this quarrel he likewise narrated the beginning and the end. He was indignant at O’Connell’s manner of prosecuting his political objects, and resolved to put his feelings on record. This he did, and he afterwards wrote some letters to a mutual friend explanatory of his sentiments and motives, and these were shown (intentionally) to O’Connell. Moore declined to retract or qualify, and a rupture consequently took place. When they met at Brookes’ O’Connell averted his face. So things remained till a short time ago, when the OPPOSITION DEFEATED. editor of a new quarterly review, which has been established for Catholic and Irish objects, wrote to Moore for his support, and O’Connell, whom he told of it, said, ‘Oh, pray let me frank the letter to Mr. Moore.’ This was repeated, and when Moore met O’Connell the other day at Brookes’, he went up to him and put out his hand. He said O’Connell was mightily moved, but accepted the proffered reconciliation, and they are again on good terms.
[1] [Thomas Moore, the poet.]
March 10th, 1836
Majority of 64 for Government on Tuesday night; unexpected by the public, but not, I take it, by the Whig managers, who make their people attend. It is an irrecoverable blow to the other side, and shows that the contest is hopeless there. O’Connell and Stanley made good speeches. It is remarkable that the Tory numbers are precisely what they were last year (243). At the levee yesterday they were all very gay at this victory; and Hobhouse said to me, ‘What fools they are; they don’t know their own interest; they are beaten in the House of Commons, their people won’t attend, they won’t see that they can’t resist these questions and that it is for their own interest they should be carried; why, when the appropriation clauses and these Bills are carried there will remain no difference between Peel and us. As for me, I care not who is in, or whether I am in or out of office; I care for peace and quietness, and that the country should go on. The Tories have rung the changes on this O’Connell cry till they can do no more, and it has failed them entirely; they have had every chance, and must now give it up;’ and a good deal more he said, till we were interrupted. I agree about the O’Connell cry; the subject is worn threadbare, it has been argued and ranted upon usque ad nauseam, and in spite of the mistakes O’Connell has made, the anti-Popery prejudices which prevail, and the blots upon his personal character, I doubt if he is as much hated in England as the Tories would have him. They have overdone their attacks on him, and as it has unluckily been their sole cheval de bataille, they have ridden it till it has not a leg to stand upon.
March 12th, 1836
Fell in with Lyndhurst in the street yesterday returning from Philips’, where he had been sitting for his portrait. ‘Well,’ he said, in his laughing, off-hand way, ‘we are done, entirely done.’ ‘What do you mean to do?’ ‘Oh, we shall pass Peel’s Bill, and they will be very glad of it; it will give the Government all the power which O’Connell would otherwise obtain, and they don’t want to see his power increase, and will prefer the augmentation of their own.’