said, within her own borders at that moment, of the Chartist excitement; of the O'Connel movement; of the human misery (too real) just then discovered in her collieries; of the disasters to English arms in Affghanistan, and of her approaching war with China. From these things, all co-existent at that precise epoch, and dwelt upon with intensity of emphasis throughout great classes in her own dominions, many of our own people were inclined to infer the probability-almost certainty-that she would yield to us; yet, what was her actual course in that important negotiation, and what is her situation, at present, in reference to those sources of difficulty and darkly painted dangers? Where are they now? Making this incidental allusion to Lord Ashburton, I cannot avoid saying, what I believe Americans of all parties who knew him in Washington would be ready to say; namely, that it would be difficult to determine which was most conspicuous in him, superior intelligence of mind, with skill in affairs—or an uniformly discreet and most conciliating temper, to cooperate with the powers of his understanding, in dealing with affairs. A stranger to the existing generation among us on his first arrival, he left our shores with universal public respect; although all did not like the treaty which he, and the highly gifted negotiator on the American side, concluded. It experienced a fate common to most treaties be

tween great nations-was inveighed against on both sides; thereby starting the inference, of there being redeeming characteristics in it for both.

March 10. Dined with Sir Edmund Antrobus. We had the Earl of Hardwicke, the Earl of Caledon, Lord Binning, Sir George Warrender, Mr. Bagot, Mr. Stratford Canning, and others.

፡፡

Cobbett's name was mentioned. Lord Hardwicke spoke of the esteem in which he was held in England many years ago, particularly by Mr. Windham, and told the following anecdote. That Mr. Pitt once came up to Windham in the House of Commons, and said, "Windham, do you dine at home to-day?" "I do," said Windham. "Then," said Pitt, "I will come and dine with you." Agreed," said Windham, "but I fear that you won't like your company, for Cobbett is to dine with me." "Never mind that," said Pitt; "as I do not take him at breakfast, (meaning that he did not take his paper,) I shall have no objections to meeting him at dinner," and accordingly went. This was during the time when Cobbett's extraordinary pen was defending the gov

ernment.

March 11. Dined at Mr. Holland's, Russell Square, formerly mentioned as of the firm of Messieurs Barings. The company consisted of

Doctor Holland, Mr. Lenox of New York, Mr. Greeg, Mr. Park, and a few others.

Dr. Holland is known by his professional eminence, and as having been travelling physician to the Princess of Wales, now Queen; and not less known by the accomplishments of his mind. His conversation marks his knowledge on literary and other subjects. We had, as a topic, the authorship of Junius, no new light appearing as yet to have been shed upon the question by the death of George the Third, as was once anticipated. Dr. Holland represented the public belief as at length, in a great degree, settled down on Sir Philip Francis-the best informed men in England who had attended to the subject, were beginning to think so; and, for himself, he considered the evidence as good as it could be, this side of positive proof.

Speaking of Mr. Walsh's book on the United States and England, his opinion was, that it would do good; and so thought others, he added, with whom he was in intercourse. It would serve to spread much information new to English readers, and at least show on how many points America was misunderstood; and, from want of information, erroneously judged in England. I said that I had read the work with great interest, under hopes that it would spread useful light before both countries.

CHAPTER XV.

DINNER AT THE MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE'S.

INTER

VIEW WITH EARL BATHURST ON THE SUBJECT OF PRESENTS TO THE AMERICAN INDIANS. FUNERAL OF MR. WEST, PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY. DUELS BETWEEN NAVAL OFFICERS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND BRITISH OFFICERS AT GIBRALTARINTERVIEW WITH THE COLONIAL SECRETARY OF STATE ON THIS SUBJECT.

DINNER AT THE MIDDLE

TEMPLE WITH MR. GEORGE JOY.

DINNER AT LORD

HARROWBY'S; AT LORD CASTLEREAGH'S; AT MR. ROBINSON'S.

March 18. Dined at the Marquis of Lansdowne's, where we had Mr. De Neuman of the Austrian Embassy, Mr. Lamb, of the Melbourne family, and several members of Parliament.

Before going to dinner, Lord Lansdowne, referring to the late revolution in Spain, mentioned that the King had consented to accept the constitution of 1812. Such, he said, were the accounts of the day.

We were soon at table. The dinner proceeded

as all dinners in that classic dining-room, where elegant hospitalities are so often dispensed.

The courses over, and servants out of the room, the conversation grew to be general; this marking the time when it usually becomes the most completely so, at English dinners.

What subject should then come to be talked over, but the old Spanish Armada! How it got uppermost, or who introduced it, I scarcely know. It seemed to have slipped itself in by some chance-possibly from the Cato street conspiracy having produced an allusion to Babington's conspiracy. Instead of crossing our path transiently and disappearing, it got to be the topic, excluding others for its time. My curiosity was awakened to know what would be said. The Armada had been in my fancy since school days; I had got passages of Elizabeth's speech to her troops by heart, as thousands of American boys, probably, also had; and had settled it, as part of a boy's creed, not only that the invincible Armada was beaten, but that if the Spaniards had landed, they would have been beaten still worse on terra firma.

Not so thought the company, at least not all; opinion was divided; in fact, the preponderance was decidedly with Spain. I took no part. I left all to the English gentlemen, sufficiently taken up in listening to the topic, thus handled in the heart of Old England. Those who sided with Spain, held that