CALIFORNIA

November 22nd, 1820. Was with Vansittart by appointment. We had some politics. He hoped and believed things would cool after the prorogation on the 23rd; and, as to next session, had more fear about the Palace than the Liturgy. He grounded this on Wilberforce, and those who had been most for the restoration before, giving it up for the reasons stated. What would they now after such evidence? Met the Duke just come to town. He took me under the arm, and walked me to Ld. Bathurst's. He was in excellent

having, as he said,

humour, and asked what news; been a country gentleman for two days. I said I thought the heat a little, and but a little, subsiding. He observed he thought so too, and that it would more after to-morrow, the prorogation. He was more convinced than ever of the wisdom of that measure, and of withdrawing the Bill."

The remaining portion of Mr. Ward's diary, though embracing many curious and interesting political details, and professedly intended for publication, appears to me to comprehend a period too recent to make its continuance expedient. It will be seen by the extracts already given, that he both entertains and expresses very decided opinions as to the political conduct of his opponents, and even occasionally of his own party. I know, too, from the warm kindliness of his nature, he would have been the last to wish that any pain

should be given to their surviving connexions, through expressions of opinion which he considered justified, and even required, by the events upon which he was commenting. It is upon this principle that many omissions of names and of particular anecdotes have been determined on, and it is with the same views that I have stopped short at a period when such omissions would too frequently interrupt the continuity of the journal.

As a party politician, taking strong views and expressing them openly, brought in contact, as we have seen, with men of both sides, both in and out of the House, and put forward on many occasions to receive and repel official attacks, I believe few have retired from the political arena with more cordial feelings of personal good-will.

CHAP. IV.

FIRST COMMENCEMENT OF NOVEL-WRITING.

"TREMAINE" PUB

-OTHER

LISHED BY COLBURN. -REASONS FOR PRESERVING INCOGNITO. LETTERS TO AND FROM MR. AND MRS. AUSTEN, ROBERT SOUTHEY, THE LATE DR. COPLESTON, BISHOP OF LLANDAFF, AND OTHERS. -ODD CONSEQUENCES OF HIS INCOGNITO. -VISITS MULGRAVE CASTLE. LETTERS THENCE TO MR. AND MRS. AUSTEN. FASHIONABLE NOVELISTS IN THE FIELD.-CRITICISM ON VIVIAN GREY."-"DE VERE." - LETTERS THEREON FROM CANNING, FROM AN ANONYMOUS CORRESPONDENT, AND FROM B. D'ISRAELI, ESQ.

THE death of that beloved wife to whom he had been now united for upwards of a quarter of a century affected him deeply, and he began to think of retiring from active public life, in which he had been so long engaged during times of unexampled interest and excitement. He gave up his seat at the Board of Ordnance, and retired from Parliament after the session of 1823, being soon afterwards appointed Auditor of the Civil List. Before, however, he took leave of the House of Commons, he had occasion to make a reply to a vehement attack of Mr. Hume on the Ordnance Estimates, which called forth the following congratulatory letter from one of his oldest college friends.

Sir Michael Shaw Stewart to R. Ward, Esq.

"I have just been reading your admirable reply to Hume, and I feel an impulse that I cannot resist, to congratulate you on the complete drubbing which you so genteely gave him, and to express the satisfaction I experienced in the ample proofs which you so forcibly brought forward of the fair, honourable, and disinterested conduct of all the individuals concerned in the appointment he so illiberally attacked.* Nothing could be more ef fectually done; and, recollections of former times occurring, I really felt as if I had a share in the triumph of my old and valued friend. But what a beautiful and unprecedented epoch in parliamentary history this is; when in our annals was ever an exposé of a Chancellor received as the last? Clouds and darkness did indeed seem to rest upon us; partly from actual distress, but more from the dismal croakings and exaggerated statements of the agricultural meetings; when, at once, the sun burst forth in splendour, an unchallenged, uncontroverted display of our wealth and prosperity is made manifest, and Opposition itself is disarmed. Long may this new feeling,' as Ld. Milton calls it, last; and long may the plan and principles of

* The appointment alluded to is that of Lord Beresford as Lt.-General of the Ordnance. The debate was also graced by a brilliant speech from Mr. Canning, who refused to allow the motion to be withdrawn. It was, therefore, rejected by 200 to 73.

Ministers make it a pride to their opponents to abandon their enmity to Government

"My three sons, who are here, all participate in the feelings of their father, and my wife, who is 'no politician,' sympathises most cordially in our general joy at your success.

"If you have a spare moment I shall be most happy to hear from you, and of your family; your son I know is well disposed of abroad. Adieu, my dear Ward, and, with the united best wishes of me and mine, believe me ever

"Most sincerely yours,

"MICH. SHAW STEWART."

It was at this time that Mr. Ward began an undertaking upon which his reputation and the interest that attaches to his name will mainly depend. The political events of the day are soon fogotten, and still sooner the names of those who took any except the principal part in them; but long after this will live the memory of him who, having amused and instructed in his day, can still continue to call forth a reader's sympathies in after time by any sterling literary performance of permanent interest.

Mr. Ward had before now done great service with his pen, and had exercised it upon the most varied topics. History, law, poetry, and jurisprudence; questions, personal and national, connected with the politics of the day; official reports and financial calculations, had all in turn employed his energies: but, having now retired from the turmoil of politics, he was induced to devote the restless energies of