34 LORD LILFORD 



' April 7, 1829. — The Catholic question 

 passed the Lords by a majority of 105. Last 

 Saturday I had the good fortune, the happiness, 

 to be in the House of Lords on April 2nd, 3rd, 

 and 4th, and I was indeed gratified beyond 

 all power of expression. I heard the Duke of 

 Wellington's speech on bringing forward the 

 measure ; it was frank, manly, well reasoned, 

 and what from him I did not expect, in parts 

 full of feeling, his description of civil war 

 particularly so. I had the pleasure of hearing 

 Lord Lansdowne, who spoke well, and with 

 great effect ; the Bishop of Oxford made a very 

 good speech in favour of concession, the Arch- 

 bishop of Armagh as good against. The next 

 day we heard the Chancellor (Lord Lyndhurst), 

 who spoke admirably in point of talent, argu- 

 ment, and wit, but he must be a man of nerve 

 to have made so daring, so impudent a recanta- 

 tion of what it seems were his opinions but very 

 lately ; his manner I thought dignified and calm ; 

 one is forced to admire, to respect him is im- 

 possible. The next day we were much amused 

 by a clever, strange, ddcousu speech from Lord 

 Westmoreland. He spared neither friend nor 



