Chapter 26
February 13th, 1830 {p.276}
In the House of Lords last night: Lord Holland's motion on Greece; his speech was amusing, but not so good as he generally is; Aberdeen wretched, the worst speaker I ever heard and incapable of a reply; I had no idea he was so bad. The Duke made a very clever speech, answering Holland and Melbourne, availing himself with great dexterity of the vulnerable parts of their speeches and leaving the rest alone. I was sitting by Robert Grant on the steps of the throne, and said to him, 'That is a good speech of the Duke's,' and he said, 'He speaks like a great man;' and so he did; it was bold and manly, and a high tone, not like a practised debater, but a man with a vigorous mind and determined character.
In the House of Commons Graham spoke for two hours; Burdett said not well, but others said the contrary. The Government resolution moved as an amendment by Dawson was better than his, so it was adopted without difficulty. Burdett said Peel made the best speech he ever heard him make, and threw over the Tories. Dined afterwards with Cowper, Durham, and Glengall. Durham said that Lord Grey's politics were the same as his, and that before Easter he thought an Opposition would be formed, and that the elements, though scattered, exist of a strong one. I doubt it.
[Page Head: THE ENGLISH OPERA HOUSE BURNT]
February 16th, 1830 {p.277}
Last night the English Opera House was burnt down--a magnificent fire. I was playing at whist at the 'Travellers' with Lord Granville, Lord Auckland, and Ross, when we saw the whole sky illuminated and a volume of fire rising in the air. We thought it was Covent Garden, and directly set off to the spot. We found the Opera House and several houses in Catherine Street on fire (sixteen houses), and, though it was three in the morning, the streets filled by an immense mult.i.tude. Nothing could be more picturesque than the scene, for the flames made it as light as day and threw a glare upon the strange and motley figures moving about. All the gentility of London was there from Princess Esterhazy's ball and all the clubs; gentlemen in their fur cloaks, pumps, and velvet waistcoats mixed with objects like the _sans-culottes_ in the French Revolution--men and women half-dressed, covered with rags and dirt, some with nightcaps or handkerchiefs round their heads--then the soldiers, the firemen, and the engines, and the new police running and bustling, and clearing the way, and clattering along, and all with that intense interest and restless curiosity produced by the event, and which received fresh stimulus at every renewed burst of the flames as they rose in a shower of sparks like gold dust. Poor Arnold lost everything and was not insured. I trust the paraphernalia of the Beefsteak Club perished with the rest, for the enmity I bear that society for the dinner they gave me last year.
February 19th, 1830 {p.277}
In the House of Lords last night to hear Melbourne's motion about Portugal--a rather long and very bad debate. Melbourne spoke very ill--case very negligently got up, weakly stated, confused, and indiscreet--in the same sense as his brother's pamphlet, with part of which (the first part) none of the members of Canning's Administration or of G.o.derich's agree, and consequently it was answered by Lansdowne and G.o.derich. The latter made an excellent speech, the only good one that was made. Aberdeen was wretched; it is really too bad that a man should be Secretary for Foreign Affairs who cannot speak better. The Duke made no case for the Terceira business, and delivered a very poor speech; but I like his speaking--it is so much to the point, no nonsense and verbiage about it, and he says strongly and simply what he has to say. The other night on Greece there was a very brisk skirmish between Palmerston and Peel, and the former spoke, they say, remarkably well; the latter, as usual, was in a pa.s.sion.
February 21st, 1830 {p.278}
Dined with the Chancellor; Granvilles, Hollands, Moore, Luttrell, Lord Lansdowne, Auckland, and one or two more; very agreeable.
Lord Holland told stories of Lord Thurlow, whom he mimicks, they say, exactly. When Lord Mansfield died, Thurlow said, 'I hesitated a long time between Kenyon and Buller. Kenyon was very intemperate, but Buller was so d.a.m.ned corrupt, and I thought upon the whole that intemperance was a less fault in a judge than corruption, not but what there was a d.a.m.ned deal of corruption in Kenyon's intemperance.' Lady Holland and I very friendly; the first time I have met her in company since our separation (for we have never quarrelled). She is mighty anxious to get me back, for no other reason than because I won't go. Everybody is surprised at Melbourne's failure the other night; some say he was not well, some that he did not like the business. I doubt if he is up to it; he did not speak like a man that has much in him.
February 23rd, 1830 {p.278}
Dined with Lord Bathurst and a dull party; but after dinner Lady Bathurst began talking about the King, and told me one or two anecdotes. When the account of Lord Liverpool's seizure reached the King at Brighton, Peel was at the Pavilion; the King got into one of his nervous ways, and sent for him in the middle of the night, desiring he would not dress; so he went down in his bedgown and sat by the side of the King's bed. Peel has got an awkward way of thrusting out his hands while he talks, which at length provoked the King so much that he said, 'Mr. Peel, it is no use going on so (taking him off) and thrusting out your hands, which is no answer to my question.'
Went to Esterhazy's ball; talked to old Rothschild, who was there with his wife and a dandy little Jew son. He says that Polignac's Government will stand by the King's support and Polignac's own courage; offered to give me a letter to his brother, who would give me any information I wanted, squeezed my hand, and looked like what he is.
[Page Head: WINDSOR CASTLE]
February 25th, 1830 {p.279}
Yesterday at Windsor
February 26th, 1830 {p.279}
Intended to go to the House of Lords to hear the debate on Lord Stanhope's motion (state of the nation), but went to see f.a.n.n.y Kemble in 'Mrs. Beverley' instead. She had a very great success-- house crowded and plenty of emotion--but she does not touch me, though she did more than in her other parts; however, she is very good and will be much better.
The debate in the Lords was not lively, and the Duke, they say, made a most execrable speech. The fact is that he is not up to a great speech on a great question; he wants the information and preparation, the discipline of mind, that is necessary, and accordingly he exposes himself dreadfully, and entirely lost all the advantages he had gained by the excellent speeches he had previously made on other and more confined questions. He was very angry with the Duke of Richmond, whose opposition to him is considered by the Duke's adherents as a sort of political parricide. Old Eldon spoke very well, and Radnor; the rest but moderate.
February 27th, 1830 {p.280}
Dined at Lord Lansdowne's; Moore, Rogers, J. Russell, Spring Rice, Charles Kemble, Auckland, and Doherty; very agreeable, but Rogers was overpowered by numbers and loud voices. Doherty told some good professional stories, and they all agreed that Irish courts of justice afforded the finest materials for novels and romances. The 'Mertons' and 'Collegians' are both founded on facts; the stories are in the 'New Monthly Magazine;' they said the author had not made the most of the 'Collegians' story. Very odd nervousness of Moore; he could not tell that story (of Crampton's), which I begged him to do, and which would not have been lugged in neck and shoulders, because everybody was telling just such stories; he is delighted with my note of it. Charles Kemble talked of his daughter and her success--said she was twenty, and that she had once seen Mrs. Siddons in 'Lady Randolph' when she was seven years old. She was so affected in 'Mrs. Beverley' that he was obliged to carry her into her dressing-room, where she screamed for five minutes; the last scream (when she throws herself on his body) was involuntary, not in the part, and she had not intended it, but could not resist the impulse. She likes Juliet the best of her parts.
February 28th, 1830 {p.280}
Dined yesterday with Lord Stanhope; Murray the bookseller (who published 'Belisarius'), Wilkie the painter, and Lord Strangford; n.o.body else of note. Wilkie appears stern, and might pa.s.s for mad; he said very little. Murray chattered incessantly; talked to me a great deal about Moore, who would have been mightily provoked if he had heard him. An odd dinner, not agreeable, though Lord Stanhope is amusing, so strange in his appearance, so ultra-Tory and anti-Liberal in his politics, full of information and a good deal of drollery. Murray told me that Moore is going to write a 'Life of Petrarch.' Croker would have written Lawrence's Life if Campbell [the poet] had not seized the task before anybody else thought of laying hold of it. He has circulated a command that all persons who have anything to communicate will send their letters to _his secretary_, and not to him.
[Page Head: FOR ITALY]
March 2nd, 1830
To-morrow I set out to Italy, after many years of anxiety to go there, without violent expectations of pleasure, but not thinking of disappointment. I care not for leaving London or anything in it; there are a few people whose society I regret, but as to friends or those who care for me, or for whom I care, I leave few behind.
CHAPTER VIII.
Calais--Beau Brummell--Paris--The Polignac Ministry--Polignac and Charles X.--The Duke of Orleans--State of Parties--Talleyrand-- Lyons--First Impressions of Mountain Scenery--Mont Cenis-- Turin--Marengo--Genoa--Road to Florence--Pisa--Florence--Lord and Lady Burghersh--Thorwaldsen--Lord Cochrane--Rome-- St. Peter's--Frascati--Grotta Ferrata--Queen Hortense and Louis Napoleon--Coliseum--Death of Lady Northampton--The Moses-- Gardens--Palm Sunday--Sistine Chapel--The Cardinals--Popes-- Cardinal Albani--The Farnese Palace--A Dead Cardinal--Pasquin-- Statue of Pompey--Galleries and Catacombs--Bunsen--The Papal Benediction--Ceremonies of the Holy Week--The Grand Penitentiary--A Confession--Protestant Cemetery--Illumination of St. Peter's--Torlonia--Bunsen on the Forum.
[Page Head: PARIS IN MARCH 1830]
Paris, March 6th, 1830 {p.282}
I left London at three o'clock on Wednesday, the 3rd, and arrived at Dover between twelve and one. Went over in the packet at nine on Thursday, which was not to have sailed till twelve, but did go at nine, princ.i.p.ally because they heard that I had got despatches, for I had armed myself with three pa.s.sports couched in such terms as were most likely to be useful. A good but rather long pa.s.sage--near four hours--and the day magnificent. Landed with difficulty in boats. Detained at Calais till seven. There I had a long conversation with Brummell about his Consuls.h.i.+p, and was moved by his account of his own distresses to write to the Duke of Wellington and ask him to do what he could for him. I found him in his old lodging, dressing; some pretty pieces of old furniture in the room, an entire toilet of silver, and a large green macaw perched on the back of a tattered silk chair with faded gilding; full of gaiety, impudence, and misery.
Lord Tweeddale came over in the packet, and we dined together. He was full of the Duke of Richmond's speech about the Duke of Wellington the other night, which he said had annoyed the Duke of Wellington more than anything that ever happened to him, and that the Duke of Richmond was now equally sorry for what he had said.
He (Tweeddale) was employed to carry a message from the one Duke to the other, which, however, the Duke of Wellington did not take in good part, nor does it seem that he is at all disposed to lay aside his resentment. Tweeddale ranks Richmond's talents very highly, and says he was greatly esteemed in the army.
Left Calais at seven; travelled all night--the roads horrid in most parts--and arrived at Paris last night at half-past twelve.
Found everything prepared--an excellent apartment, _laquais de place_, and courier. Called on Lady Stewart and old Madame Craufurd, and wandered about the whole day. Paris looking gay and brilliant in the finest weather I ever saw. I find the real business is not to begin in the Chambers till about the 10th, so I shall not wait for it. Polignac is said to be very stout, but the general opinion is that he will be in a minority in the Chambers; however, as yet I have seen n.o.body who can give good information about the state of parties. For the first time (between Calais and Paris) I saw some new houses and barns building near Abbeville and Beauvais, and the cottages near Monsieur de Clermont-Tonnerre's mansion had a very English look.
It is Lent, and very little going on here. During the Carnival they had a ball for the benefit of the poor, which was attended by 5,000 people, and produced 116,000 francs. Immense sums were given in charity, and well appropriated during the severe weather. There are also nuns (_soeurs de charite_), who visit and tend the sick, whose inst.i.tution is far more practically useful than anything of which our Protestant country can boast. I shall only stay here a very few days.
[Page Head: IMPENDING CRISIS IN FRANCE]
March 8th, 1830 {p.283}
It will be difficult to get away from this place if I don't go at once; the plot thickens, and I am in great danger of dawdling on, Yesterday morning I walked about, visiting, and then went through the Tuileries and the Carrousel. The Gardens were full of well-dressed and good-looking people, and the day so fine that it was a glorious sight. The King is, after all, hardly master of his own palace, for the people may swarm like bees all around and through it, and he is the only man in Paris who cannot go into the Gardens. Dined with Standish, Brooke Greville, Madame Alfred de Noailles and her daughter, and then went to Madame de Flahault's to see the world and hear politics. After all, n.o.body has an idea how things will turn out, or what are Polignac's intentions or his resources. Lord Stuart[1] told me that he knew nothing, but that when he saw all the Ministers perfectly calm and satisfied, and heard them constantly say all would be well, although all France and a clear majority in both Chambers seemed to be against them, he could not help thinking they must have some reason for such confidence, and something in reserve, of which people were not aware. Lady Keith,[2] with whom I had a long talk, told me that she did not believe it possible they could stand, that there was no revolutionary spirit abroad, but a strong determination to provide for the stability of their inst.i.tutions, a disgust at the obstinacy and pretensions of the King, and a desire to subst.i.tute the Orleans for the reigning branch, which was becoming very general; that Polignac is wholly ignorant of France, and will not listen to the opinions of those who could enlighten him. It is supposed that the King is determined to push matters to extremity, to try the Chambers, and if his Ministry are beaten to dissolve them and govern _par ordonnance du Roi_, then to try and influence the elections and obtain a Chamber more favourable than the present. Somebody told her the other day of a conversation which Polignac had recently had with the King, in which his Majesty said to him, 'Jules, est-ce que vous m'etes tres-devoue?' 'Mais oui, Sire; pouvez-vous en douter?' 'Jusqu'a aller sur l'echafaud?' 'Mais oui. Sire, s'il le faut.' 'Alors tout ira bien.' It is thought that he has got into his head the old saying that if Louis XVI. had got upon horseback he could have arrested the progress of the Revolution-- a piece of nonsense, fit only for a man 'qui n'a rien oublie ni rien appris.' It is supposed the Address will be carried against the Government by about 250 to 130. (It was 221 to 180. ---- has a _tabatiere Warin_ of that day, with the names of the 221 on the lid.) All the names presented to the King yesterday for the Presidency are obnoxious to him, but he named Royer Collard, who had twice as many votes as any of the others. It was remarked at the _seance royale_ that the King dropped his hat, and that the Duke of Orleans picked it up, and they always make a great deal of these trifles. The Duke of Orleans is, however, very well with the Court, and will not stir, let what will happen, though he probably feels like Macbeth before the murder of Duncan--
If chance will have me King, why let chance crown me Without my stir.
[1] [Lord Stuart de Rothesay was then British Amba.s.sador in Paris.]
[2] [Married to Count de Flahault; in her own right Baroness Keith and Nairn. She died in 1867.]
March 8th, 1830, at night {p.285}