Yesterday Buxton moved an instruction to the Committee on the Slavery Bill, which the Government opposed, and which I supported.

It was extremely painful to me to speak against all my political friends; so painful that at times I could hardly go on.

I treated them as mildly as I could; and they all tell me that I performed my difficult task not ungracefully.

We divided at two this morning, and were 151 to 158.

The Ministers found that, if they persisted, they would infallibly be beaten.