The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume I Part 76

[Pageheading: THE NEW CABINET]

THE CABINET OF LORD MELBOURNE,

_As it stood in September 1841._

_First Lord of the Treasury_ VISCOUNT MELBOURNE.

_Lord Chancellor_ LORD (afterwards Earl of) COTTENHAM.

_Chancellor of the Exchequer_ Mr FRANCIS BARING (afterwards Lord Northbrook).

_Lord President of the Council_ MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE.

_Lord Privy Seal_ EARL OF CLARENDON.

_Home Secretary_ MARQUIS OF NORMANBY.

_Foreign Secretary_ VISCOUNT PALMERSTON.

_Colonial Secretary_ LORD JOHN (afterwards Earl) RUSSELL.

_First Lord of the Admiralty_ EARL OF MINTO.

_President of the Board of Control_ Sir JOHN CAM HOBHOUSE (afterwards Lord Broughton).

_Secretary at War_ Mr T. B. (afterwards Lord) MACAULAY.

_President of the Board of Trade_ Mr LABOUCHERE (afterwards Lord Taunton).

_Chief Secretary for Ireland_ VISCOUNT MORPETH (afterwards Earl of Carlisle).

_First Commissioner of Land Revenue_ VISCOUNT DUNCANNON (afterwards Earl of Bessborough).

_Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster_ Sir GEORGE GREY.

THE CABINET OF SIR ROBERT PEEL,[75]

_As formed in September 1841._

_First Lord of the Treasury_ Sir ROBERT PEEL.

_Lord Chancellor_ LORD LYNDHURST.

_Chancellor of the Exchequer_ Mr. H. GOULBURN.

(_Without Office_) DUKE OF WELLINGTON.

_Lord President of the Council_ LORD WHARNCLIFFE.

_Lord Privy Seal_ DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

_Home Secretary_ Sir JAMES GRAHAM.

_Foreign Secretary_ EARL OF ABERDEEN.

_Colonial Secretary_ LORD STANLEY (afterwards Earl of Derby).

_First Lord of the Admiralty_ EARL OF HADDINGTON.

_President of the Board of Control_ LORD (afterwards Earl of) ELLENBOROUGH _Secretary at War_ Sir HENRY (afterwards Viscount) HARDINGE.

_President of the Board of Trade_ EARL OF RIPON.

_Paymaster-General_. Sir EDWARD KNATCHBULL.

[Footnote 75: The Peel Ministry of 1841 was unique in containing three ex-Premiers: Sir Robert Peel himself, the Earl of Ripon, and the Duke of Wellington, who succeeded Lord G.o.derich as Premier in 1828. Ripon's career was a curious one; he was a singularly ineffective Prime Minister, and indeed did not, during the course of his Ministry (August 1827-January 1828), ever have to meet Parliament. He was disappointed at not being invited to join the Wellington Ministry, subsequently joined the Reform Ministry of Lord Grey, but followed Lord Stanley, Sir James Graham, and the Duke of Richmond out of it. In August 1841 he moved the vote of want of confidence in the Melbourne Ministry, and became President of the Board of Trade in Peel's Government. In 1846 it fell to him, when President of the Board of Control, to move the Corn Law Repeal Bill in the Lords.

The only later instance of an ex-Premier accepting a subordinate office was in the case of Lord John Russell, who, in 1852, took the Foreign Office under Aberdeen, subsequently vacating the office and sitting in the Cabinet without office.

In June 1854, he became Lord President of the Council, and left the Ministry when it was menaced by Roebuck's motion.

When Lord Palmerston formed a Ministry in 1855, Lord John, after an interval, became Colonial Secretary, again resigning in five months. Finally, in 1859, he went back to the Foreign Office, where he remained until he succeeded Palmerston as Premier in 1865.

The Government also contained three future Premiers, Aberdeen, Stanley, and Gladstone.]

[Pageheading: INTERVIEW WITH PEEL]

[Pageheading: HOUSEHOLD APPOINTMENTS]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S DISTRESS]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

WINDSOR CASTLE _30th August 1841._

... The first interview with Sir Robert Peel has gone off well, and only lasted twenty minutes; and he sends the Queen to-morrow, in writing, the proposed arrangements, and will only come down on Wednesday morning. He first wished to come to-morrow, but on the Queen's saying that he need not to do that, but might send it and only come down Wednesday, he thought the Queen might prefer having it to consider a little, which she said she certainly should, though she meant no want of confidence. The Queen, in the first instance, stated that she concluded he was prepared for her sending for him, and then stated exactly what Lord Melbourne wrote, viz., the resignation having taken place in consequence of the Addresses--the Queen's great regret at parting with her present Ministers--the confidence she had in them, and her only acceding in consequence of the Addresses in Parliament, and then that consequently she looked to him (Sir Robert Peel) as possessing the confidence of both Houses of Parliament to form an Administration. He made many protestations of his sorrow, at what must give pain to the Queen (as she said to him it did), but of course said he accepted the task. The Duke of Wellington's health too uncertain, and himself too p.r.o.ne to sleep coming over him--as Peel expressed it--to admit of his taking an office in which he would have much to do, but to be in the Cabinet, which the Queen expressed her wish he should. He named Lord De Grey[76] as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and Lord Eliot[77] as Secretary for Ireland, who, he said, were both moderate people. The Queen said she gave up to him the officers of State and those of her Household who were in Parliament, and he then asked if Lord Liverpool would be agreeable as Lord Steward (the Queen said he would), and if she would object to Lord Jersey as Master of the Horse (she said she would not), as she believed he understood it perfectly. He said he was so anxious to do everything which could be agreeable to the Queen, that he wished her to name whom she should like as Lord Chamberlain; she said he might suggest some one, but as he would not, and pressed the Queen to name whoever she pleased, she said she should like the Duke of Rutland, and he said he would certainly name it to him. The Queen said that Lord Melbourne had always been very particular to name no one who might be disagreeable to her in the Household, and Sir R. Peel said he felt this, and should be most anxious to do what could be agreeable to me and for my comfort, and that he would even sacrifice any advantage to this. The Queen mentioned the three Ladies' resignation, and her wish not to fill up the three Ladies' places immediately. She mentioned Lady Byron,[78] to which he agreed immediately, and then said, as I had alluded to those communications, he hoped that he had been understood respecting the _other_ appointments (meaning the Ladies), that provided I chose some who had a leaning towards the politics of the Administration, I might take any I liked, and that he quite understood that I should notify it to them. The Queen said this was her rule, and that she wished to choose moderate people who should not have scruples to resign in case another Administration should come in, as changing was disagreeable to her. Here it ended, and so far well. He was very anxious the Queen should understand _how_ anxious he was to do everything which was agreeable to the Queen. The Queen wishes to know if Lord Melbourne thinks she should name the d.u.c.h.ess of Buccleuch Mistress of the Robes, on Wednesday, and if she shall ask Sir Robert to sound the d.u.c.h.ess, or some one else, and then write to appoint her?

She thinks of proposing Lady de la Warr and Lady Abercorn by and by as the two Ladies, but these she will sound herself through other people, or Lady Canning, or Lady Rosslyn, in case these others should not take it. She should say she meant to sound those, and no more. What the Queen felt when she parted from her dear, kind friend, Lord Melbourne, is better imagined than described; she was dreadfully affected for some time after, but is calm now. It is very, very sad; and she cannot quite believe it yet. The Prince felt it very, very much too, and really the Queen cannot say how kind and affectionate he is to her, and how anxious to do everything to lighten this heavy trial; he was quite affected at this sad parting. We do, and shall, miss you so dreadfully; Lord Melbourne will easily understand what a change it is, after these four years when she had the happiness of having Lord Melbourne always about her. But it will not be so long till we meet again. Happier and brighter times will come again. We anxiously hope Lord Melbourne is well, and got up well and safe. The Queen trusts he will take care of his valuable health, now more than ever.

[Footnote 76: Thomas, Earl de Grey (1781-1859); he was the elder brother of Lord Ripon, who had been previously known as Mr Robinson and Viscount G.o.derich, and whose son, besides inheriting his father's and uncle's honours, was created Marquis of Ripon.]

[Footnote 77: Afterwards third Earl of St Germans.]

[Footnote 78: Lady Byron had been Miss Elizabeth Chandos-Pole.]

_Memorandum by Mr Anson._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _31st August 1841._

I was sent up to Town to-day to see Lord Melbourne and Sir Robert Peel. I found Lord Melbourne as usual up in his bedroom. He had received the account of Her Majesty's first interview with Peel, which he thought very satisfactory. Sir Robert very much regretted that he should have been the instrument of obliging Her Majesty to change her Government. The Queen had said to Sir Robert that though she did not conceive the Minister could demand any of the Household appointments, still it was Her Majesty's intention to give up to him the great offices of State, and all other places in the Household filled by people in Parliament. He was to send his proposed list for offices the next day and be at Windsor the morning after that. Lord Melbourne had written to the Queen the night before, stating his opinion of the Prince--that he had great discretion, temper, and judgment, and that he considered him to be well worthy of Her Majesty's confidence, and that now was the time for Her Majesty to feel comfort and a.s.sistance from giving him her fullest confidence. He had just received the Queen's answer to this, saying what "pleasure it had given the Queen to receive his letter with this expression of his opinion of her beloved husband, and that what he said could not fail to increase the confidence which she already felt in him. He was indeed a great comfort to her in this trying moment; at times she was very low indeed though she strove to bear up. It would always be a satisfaction to her to feel secure of Lord Melbourne's faithful and affectionate friends.h.i.+p to her and the Prince. She hoped after a time to see him here again, and it would always be a pleasure to her to hear from him frequently."

From South Steet I went to Sir Robert Peel's. I told him I came to speak to him about Lord Exeter, whom the Prince proposed to make the head of his Household, should it not interfere with any of Sir Robert's arrangements for the Queen. Sir Robert said he was so good a man and one that he felt sure the Prince would like, and he therefore thought he had better propose the situation to him at once.

[Pageheading: MELBOURNE'S OFFICIAL FAREWELL]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _31st August 1841._

Lord Melbourne had the pleasure of receiving last night both your Majesty's letters, the one dated four o'clock, and written immediately after your Majesty's interview with Sir R. Peel, the other dated half-past nine. Lord Melbourne thanks your Majesty much for them both, and for the expressions of kindness contained in them. Lord Melbourne will ever consider the time during which your Majesty is good enough to think that he has been of service to your Majesty the proudest as well as the happiest part of his life.

Lord Melbourne has read with great care your Majesty's very clear and full account of what pa.s.sed. It appears to Lord Melbourne that nothing could be better. Sir Robert Peel seems to have been anxious to act with the utmost respect and consideration for your Majesty, and your Majesty most properly and wisely met him half-way. In the spirit in which the negotiation has been commenced I see the prospect of a termination of it, which will be not so unsatisfactory to your Majesty as your Majesty antic.i.p.ated, and not, Lord Melbourne trusts, disadvantageous to the country....