28th, Brocket.—Large family party with the addition of Messrs, Luttrell and Nugent. Ld. Kinnaird dined one day, grave, good-humoured, and agreeable; his illness has subdued and softened his naturally irritable character. We were to have set off again on the 1st January for Woburn, but I was seized with such a severe headache that I was compelled to return to my bed; sent an excuse for that day to the D. of B. by Aleck, who was to meet us at St. Albans on the following day.
Monday, 2nd January, 1810.—Very much alarmed at the account brought by Aleck of Charles having met with a severe fall. Contrary to a promise given me by Lady Anne (and his uncle),[339] she allowed him to go out with her to a fox chase. He cut the inside of his leg between ham and knee dreadfully. Reached Woburn late, and after a hasty dinner Mr. A. and I set off to see Charles; found him with fever. Went again next day to see the wound; found it a most dreadful gash, as bad as anything can be which has not touched a vital part, and may not perhaps do him a permanent injury.
Sunday, 7th.—Ld. H. was so much pressed to go to town that he went to see Lds. Grey and Grenville, and dined at Mr. Grenville’s. Duke of B. went next day and returned to dinner, bringing Lord Holland down with him. Ld. Kinnaird, Mr. Chester, Delmé Gunning, Morrice, General Fitzpatrick, Tavistocks, &c., compose off and on the party.
10th Jan.—We this day brought Charles over from Ampthill, who bore the motion of the carriage tolerably. He will oblige us to defer going away much longer than we intended to be absent from home.
DEBATE ON THE ADDRESS
Left Woburn on ——. Stayed at H.H. until Monday, 22nd Jan., the eve of the meeting of Parlt., and on that day took possession of our former dirty habitation in Pall Mall. On 23rd there were very sanguine expectations entertained of not only a good division, but even of a majority of 13 in the Commons, it being confidently asserted that many of the stoutest adherents of the former Ministry would keep away, such as the Lascelles’, Pagets, Ld. Newark, &c. However, every one of these came up, and after a flat debate the majority was all on the wrong side. Numbers, 167 to 263.[340]
Mr. Ward made a brilliant display, and all the young gentlemen, movers and seconders, acquitted themselves with propriety. Mr. Canning voted for the Address in a bad, blundering speech, in which he did not redeem the pledge he had made of justifying himself in his place in Parlt. It was rather a whimsical coincidence that Ld. G. Leveson could not vote, not being in time to take his seat. This is the third time in his Parliamentary life that he has been baffled in voting upon dubious occasions however. In the Lords the attempt to stir Ld. Wellesley failed. Lord Grey’s speech was a most finished oration. The division was great, 92; numbers which would formerly have broken up any Administration.[341]
On Friday Lord Porchester’s motion of inquiry into the Walcheren expedition was most unexpectedly carried by a majority of 9 against Ministers.[342] Wilberforce behaved in the most flagrant but sanctified manner; he deserted his friend Perceval at the critical pinch. Mr. Ponsonby is recovering his reputation; he made a sharp, sarcastic speech which produced a considerable effect and reconciled those who had snouched most at him. Mr. Canning acted against inquiry, and upon observing to Ld. Temple that he (Ld. Temple) was in a majority, was answered, ‘Yes, and the best part of it is that it was without yr. assistance.’ Ld. Castlereagh, whose manly conduct and being considered as an injured man by the House has conciliated him much public esteem, voted for the inquiry.
Ld. Wellesley made his debut in the character of Minister upon the thanks of the House being moved to Ld. Wellington. Some commend, and others disparage his speech; perhaps the middle line of praise would be nearest the truth. He was rather oriental in his style of praising his brother, but much may be owing to his feelings upon such a subject as that of his brother’s merits undergoing a slighting review.
Poor Hoppner, the painter, is dead. Public attention and sympathy has been fixed by the sudden and mysterious disappearance of Mr. Eden,[343] who left his father’s house in Old Palace Yard on Friday eve., having previously told his servant he should return in an hour, and from that time to this, an interval of ten days has elapsed without any tidings. A man was seen on that Friday, at 9 o’clock, scrambling upon the ice on the Thames, who, upon being called upon to stop, rushed on and plunged into the stream. Poor young man, he was to all appearance the last person in the world likely to lay violent hands upon himself.