Occupied as usual and very busy. Scarcely had the new administration been formed and Mr Denman appointed Attorney General than he presented, or rather caused to be presented a bill to the London Grand Jury a bill against Richard Carlile for a libel. This was an exceedingly absurd proceeding – as it could forward no one purpose of the government, deter no one from writing, and cause a very large circulation of the obnoxious matter of which a very small quantity had been sold. I saw Carlile on the 6 Jany his trial had then been fixed for the 11 at the Old Bailey, and he was in a state of high exultation. On the 7 I wrote a letter to Coln Jones – (see it in Political letter book) – respecting this prosecution in the hope that it might be abandoned. Coln Jones took the letter to the Right Honbl Edward Ellis and read it to him. Ellis seemed to think the prosecution was injudicious, and recommended Jones to go to George Lamb, he did so and Lamb promised to lay it before his brother Lord Melbourne the minister of the home department.