476 STATE OF PARTIES. [1826. 



(at Ellice's) till yesterday ; and this morning, when 

 1 called on my way to Westminster, he had not come 

 down. I hope, however, to see him before he leaves 

 town. He is so amiable and modest that I feel 

 certain he requires urging to come forward. As it 

 happens, there has been nothing like an opportunity 

 since Parliament met. Indeed, I have only been 

 three times in the House myself since the first night. 

 Committees there will be but are not yet, except the 

 bubble one on which I could easily have put him ; 

 but I purposely avoided it, as being of a personal 

 nature, and because one did not exactly know what 

 Waithman might do in it. I am going to make Little- 

 ton put him down as one of the seventy who are to 

 be on private bills ; and the Corn question cannot go 

 on without a committee. Hume is certainly damaged 

 more than I expected, but I still think he will weather 

 it. If he had common-sense, I could insure him doing 

 so ; but he provokes right-thinking people by taking 

 up every subject, and spoiling half those he touches. 

 His uses are, however, great ; and whenever it is pos- 

 sible to defend him I shall continue to do so, in spite 

 of himself. Canning will be well bv Tuesday. I feel 



O i/ J 



all you say on Portugal very strongly, and cannot help 

 being alarmed that the peace is in danger owing to our 

 credulity and feebleness. Villele is well disposed, but 

 has no real power ; and the Ultras and Jesuits do as 

 they please. 



" I believe the Duke of York going to Belvoir is a 

 pure romance, and do not expect him ever to walk out 

 of his house. Yours ever, II. BROUGHAM," 



It had for some time appeared manifest that there 



