Aberdeen says Leopold is quite aware of all he will have to go through.
He has written to Lord Stuart to ascertain whether there is any truth in the report of his being engaged to the daughter of the Duke of Orleans.
I cannot help thinking that is so, and that the French proposition originates in that.
January 16.
Read last night a very interesting report by Captain Wade of his mission to
Runjeet Singh in 1827.
Received a box from the Duke with a circular note saying the King is not well enough to see him before Tuesday. He has seen no one since he saw the Duke, and the Duke hears he was not mistaken in his judgment of the effect he thought he had produced upon the King's mind; so I suppose this matter, which looked threatening at first, may be considered as settled, although not yet formally terminated.
The King will, I dare say, make another plunge when he finds Claremont will not be at his personal disposal, as he seems to have imagined.
January 19.
Read all day Sir Thomas Munro's Life, which contains a great deal of interesting and valuable information. He was a very great man.
Talked to Hardinge of various matters. He was at Stowe when Lord Chandos in the middle of the night received a note from his father, communicating one from Sir. W. Fremantle, which informed him that the King was going to turn us all to the right about. Lord Chandos said to Hardinge he would never belong to a Government of which the Duke of Wellington was not a member.