In the summer of 1833 Lord Durham was deepatohed on n special mission to Russia, with the object of inducing the emperor to soften the eevcrity of the proceedings against the unhappy persons who had been engaged in the late Polish insurrection ; but it was not attended with any success. From the time of his return to England, after a few months' absence, he may be regarded as having more distinctly joined the section of the Liberal party which advocated still further reforms In the representation, and as having thus gone to a certain extent Into opposition to the existing government. The difference of Iowa that had arisen between his lordship and his former colleagues was proclaimed somewhat explosively at the great dinner given to Lord Grey at Edinburgh, on the 15th of September 1831 • and he followed up this beginning by a succession of similar in various parts of the country during the remainder of the year. A collection of his speeches upon these occasions was afterwards pub lished. In 1835 however he was removed from that noisy scene by being a second time sent out to Russia, as ambassador at the court of St. Petersburg; and he retained that post till the summer of 1837, and wads himself, it is said, extremely acceptable to the emperor.
Lord Durham's last political undertaking was perhaps his most important—the pacification of the troubles and dissensions of Canada, to which country he was-sent out as high commissioner and governor general, with extraordinary powers, in 1839. He arrived at Quebec ou the 27th of May, succeeded in allaying the -jealousies of the French party in Lower Canada, and published an act of indemnity for those engaged in the previous rebellious outbreak. But a mis
understanding or difference of views soon arose between him and the ministry at home ; and, conceiving that he was not aupportod as lie ought to be, without having been either recalled or having obtained leave to return, he re-embarked from the same port on the pat of November following. His arrival in London on the 7th of December was speedily followed by the publication of a report addressed to the Queen, dated "London, 31st of January 1839," of great ability and interest, detailing the history of his colonial administration, vindi cating his conduct, and explaining the principles on which he had pro ceeded, and on which he conceived that the management of the affairs of Canada ought to be conducted. But his unprecedented step of leaving his government without permission occasioned a rebuke, and he was not allowed to land under the usual salute. He in consequence made his wife resign her place In the Queen's household.
The state of his health now no longer permitted him to take any part in public affairs, at least beyond attending occasionally in the House of Lords. At last, early in the summer of 1810, he retired, with no hopo of recovery, to the Isle of Wight; and he died at Cowes, on the 28th of July. A son, the present earl, and three daughters, one of whom is since dead, survived