232 A Century of Family Letters [CHAP, xvi 



" Never was there an event so singular as the overthrow 

 of the Duke by the first resolution 1 of a H. of C. chosen under 

 his reign. It is probable that if he and his accomplices 

 had done their worst, they might have delayed it. But 

 from despairing of more than a fortnight's painful struggle 

 it is likely that they were wearied into submission. Some 

 of the minority were so stupid as not to be aware of the 

 consequence of their votes to their friends in power. 

 Brougham has in the last 18 days shown his strength and 

 his lunacy. He had a dreadful scene with Lord Grey the 

 exact object of which I could not make out. But after 

 an altercation so violent, and such language of disregard 

 towards the new ministers in the H. of C. by B., it was 

 thought impossible that he should now join them. At ten 

 o'clock last night I received a note from Lady Holland 

 closing with these words, marked as I shall mark them. 

 Brougham is Chancellor ! ! ! Brougham's possession of the 

 Great Seal has, I am told by Dr Holland, produced the 

 most intense alarm among lawyers and parsons. With him 

 he brings rashness and odium, but without him in either 

 house there could not have been a fortnight's administra- 

 tion. Lord Melbourne, a lazy and singular man, will be a 

 bad secretary in the Home department. . . . Every living 

 soul thinks that Lyndhurst would have been a scandal." 



So far Mackintosh's letter, which I have copied thinking 

 it would at once let you into the state of things, and as I 

 suppose it is confidential you may perhaps avoid quoting 

 M.'s name to any English or foreigners who would repeat 

 him over again. I must add that M. himself has the ap- 

 pointment of a seat in the Board of Control under Charles 

 Grant, who is President. This last is not quite as we 

 could have wished for him, but it is 1,500 per an., and it 

 would be senseless to grumble at getting the 10,000 prize 

 in the Lottery because we do not get the 20,000; and he 

 will have solid comfort, and leisure in his present appoint- 



1 The motion by Sir Henry Parnell on the Civil List, which was 

 carried against Wellington's Ministry on 15 Nov., by a majority 

 of 29. The new Parliament had been elected on the death of 

 George IV. whilst Wellington was Prime Minister. 



