nor with the radicals, but with Peel and his party. It is a pity that they should be opposed to the government, and perhaps things will work round so as to include Peel in the ministry, when the cause would be impregnable in parliament. I almost envy you your quiet pursuits and peaceable way of life.

Ever your affectionate uncle,
E. LLANDAFF.

'March 12. Having heard almost daily from Exeter of my father's declining health and excessive debility, resolved to put off all my engagements of next week, and to set out for Exeter.'

'March 14. On this day the committee of privileges were to decide on the Courtenay claim for the earldom of Devon. Having attended this business throughout, I wished much to hear the final decision, but would not retard my journey on that account. The Lord Chancellor had told me on Sunday that there was no doubt.'

' March 16. Arrived at Exeter, taking up my brother at Honiton. Found my father weak, but not near so ill and reduced as I had expected. Received a letter from Mr. Courtenay, informing me of the resolution of the committee in favour of the Courtenay claim.'

March 18. Administered the sacrament to my father and mother, their two sons and two daughters partaking with them.'

March 23. Took leave of my father, mother, and sisters, and returned to London.'

'April 3. Easter day. Preached twice at St. Paul's, a large and very attentive congregation.

'April 9. Received intelligence, which I had been long daily expecting, from my brother, of my father's decease. He expired without a struggle, his natural powers having been completely exhausted. My brother, and sister Caroline were by his bed-side when he died. The progress

of decay had been rapid for six weeks. During the last fortnight he was free from pain, and in the last week perfectly tranquil. He was born July 15th, 1749, O. S., and was thus nearly eighty-two years of age.'

April 15, Friday. Attended the remains of my dear and honoured father from Exeter to Offwell, my brother and his two eldest sons being in the same coach. I saw the coffin deposited in a vault made by my father himself about twenty years ago. Having performed this pious office with great solemnity, we passed the remainder of the day at the parsonage. On the following Sunday Mr. Lewis preached a very appropriate sermon, and there was a large attendance in the church.'

'April 22. Went to the House at half-past four, but too late, the king having prorogued Parliament in person, with a view to dissolution upon the division against ministers. Great agitation. I regretted that I missed the scene in the House of Lords, which was said to be more turbulent than was ever known.'

'April 27. Dined with the king at St. James's; four archbishops, four bishops besides myself, Lord MountEdgcumbe, Lord Tenterden, Lord Wynford, &c.—eighteen in all. There being a general illumination in favour of Reform, authorised by the Lord Mayor, I returned over the bridges instead of going through the Strand. Many windows of houses not illuminated were broken, especially the United Service Club, Crockford's, Northumberland House, Morning Post Office. My own windows were saved by placing a few candles in the first-floor.'

'April 30. Dined at the Royal Academy; a splendid entertainment. Among the guests were the Dukes of Sussex, Norfolk, Somerset, Devonshire, Argyll, archbishop of Canterbury, Lord-chancellor Brougham, who made a very elegant and eloquent speech in praise of painting and the beneficial effects of the fine arts.'

'May 7. Called on old Patrick Gibson, who is well and hearty, but weaker in body than last year. His voice is still firm and strong, his ideas clear, and his mode of speaking remarkably intelligent and vigorous, especially when relating any transaction in which he was himself engaged. He wrote several signatures of his name at my request, and was full of thanks for the visit, declaring that it did him much good and elevated his spirits.'

'May 10. Took Captain Bond to call upon old Patrick Gibson, who was in high glee, and conversed much with Captain Bond on naval occurrences. Among other things he related a dinner he gave on board the Princess Royal, of 98 guns, in 1784, on his birthday, he being then 64. Captain Browell, lieutenant-governor of Greenwich Hospital, was one of the party, and confirmed the story.'

'June 2. Meeting of the charity schools at St. Paul's. Ram Mohun Roy, a Christian Brahmin, there. A good sermon from Dr. Inglis, bishop of Nova Scotia. About 90 of the company partook of refreshments at the deanery after church.'

'June 10. Dined at the Duchess of Kent's, about thirty at table; Lord and Lady Amherst, Colonel and Lady Caroline Wood, &c. Sat next Prince Leopold, with whom I had much conversation about the state of society, and the atheism prevalent in France.'

'June 22. Called upon old Patrick Gibson, at Chelsea, whom I found in bed, not likely to live many days. He had been seized the Saturday before with a shivering fit at dinner, and had been growing worse ever since. He was pleased with my visit as soon as they made him understand who I was squeezed my hand, and asked about the Merthyr riots, expressing his satisfaction that they were subdued. At parting, he said he hoped I should enjoy as good health as he had done.'

'July 2

Called again at old Patrick Gibson's, not

expecting to find him alive; he had died the day before, at eight in the morning. His nephew, Mr. Gibson, who had served several years in the navy, gave me this account, observing that July 1st was the anniversary of the battle of the Boyne. He died in the communion of the Church of Rome, although he had been bred, and was for the greatest part of his life, a Protestant.'

'October 3. Rose at five, and went from Cardiff to Llansanfraed to breakfast, thence, after making some preparation, proceeded on my journey to London as far as Witney.'

'October 4, Tuesday. Breakfasted in Oxford with my nephews at Oriel, posted on to London, and went to the House of Lords about seven, it being the second night of the debate on the Reform Bill, in good time to hear the commencement of that night's debate, viz.-Lord Harrowby's speech against the bill.'

'October 8, Saturday. This morning, about six o'clock, the house divided on the Reform Bill. I had been desirous of voting that the bill might go into committee with a view to amendment, but the declaration of Lord Grey, that no material amendment would be agreed to, determined me and several others to vote against the second reading. Went to bed much exhausted at seven; rose at nine, to break fast at Dr. Hughes's, where I met Sir Walter Scott, much recovered from his seizure, but by no means what he was in his best days. At twelve I went to the opening of King's College, which lasted till four.'

'October 11, Tuesday. Many attacks being made on the bishops and clergy generally in the House of Lords, spoke shortly in vindication of the part I had taken on the Reform Bill.'

I am happy in being permitted to insert here the following letter from the Earl of Ripon, with the

bishop's answer. They are valuable documents, as giving the impression of two powerful and disinterested minds upon a political subject of the deepest importance.

My dear Lord,

Carlton Gardens, Nov. 24, 1831.

I am well aware that I have no right to trouble your lordship upon any subject of a political nature, and I should not have ventured to do so if I had not flattered myself that, at all events, you would not ascribe it to any motive inconsistent with the entire respect which I bear to your high character and station. But I feel too strongly the eventful nature of the present crisis of our affairs not to be anxious that, if possible, all who love their country, and are competent, under Providence, to share in guiding its destinies, should be induced to consider whether the question of Parliamentary Reform is not one which, from the force of uncontrollable circumstances, requires an effective adjustment. I cannot pretend to say that every provision of the bill which the vote of the House of Lords rejected, was such as to command the acquiescence of every individual who might feel that some reform in the representation of the people was become indispensable: but I cannot avoid reasoning with regard to other men's minds in the same manner that I came to my own conclusions upon this most difficult subject. The necessity of reform, then, appeared to me to arise out of the course of public events which the last fifty or sixty years had produced. I had opposed it as a speculative measure of abstract improvement, as long as I saw any probability of such an opposition proving effectual: but I had long thought that a great reform could only be obviated by the timely adoption of minor measures: that policy was not pursued by parliament, and (unhappily, in