The Letters of Queen Victoria, Volume 1 (of 3), 1837 to 1843)

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_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_8th May 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and is
much grieved that he did not answer your Majesty's letter yesterday
evening, as your Majesty desired, but he did not get it till late, and
he felt much tired and harassed by all that had passed during the day.
The situation is very painful, but it is necessary for your Majesty to
be prudent and firm. It is of all things necessary not to be suspected
of any unfair dealing. Whilst Lord Melbourne holds his office,
everything of course may be written to him as usual; but still the
resolutions for the formation of the new Government will now commence,
and it will never do, whilst they are going on, either for appearance
or in reality, that Lord Melbourne should dine with your Majesty, as
he did before this disturbance. It would create feeling, possibly lead
to remonstrance, and throw a doubt upon the fairness and integrity
of your Majesty's conduct. All this is very painful both to do and to
say, but it is unavoidable; it must be said, and it must be done. Lord
Melbourne will wait upon your Majesty at eleven.[31]

[Footnote 31: Lord Melbourne had made the not unnatural
mistake of recommending to the Queen, as members of her first
Household, ladies who were nearly related to himself and his
Whig colleagues. No doubt these were the ladies whom he knew
best, and in whom he had entire confidence; but he ought to
have had sufficient prescience to see that the Queen would
probably form strong attachments to the ladies who first
served her: and that if the appointments had not in the first
instance a political complexion, yet that the Whig tendencies
which these Ladies represented were likely to affect the
Queen, in the direction of allying her closely with a
particular party in the State.]

[Pageheading: THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON]

[Pageheading: SIR ROBERT PEEL]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

_8th May 1839._

The Queen told Lord Melbourne she would give him an account of what
passed, which she is _very_ anxious to do. She saw the Duke for about
twenty minutes; the Queen said she supposed he knew why she sent for
him, upon which the Duke said, No, he had no idea. The Queen then said
that she had had the greatest confidence in her late Ministry, and
had parted with them with the greatest reluctance; upon which the Duke
observed that he could assure me no one felt more pain in hearing the
announcement of their resignation than he did, and that he was deeply
grieved at it. The Queen then continued, that as his party had been
instrumental in removing them, that she must look to him to form a
new Government. The Duke answered that he had no power whatever in
the House of Commons, "that if he was to say black was white,[32] they
would say it was not," and that he advised me to send for Sir Robert
Peel, in whom I could place confidence, and who was a gentleman and a
man of honour and integrity. The Queen then said she hoped he would at
all events have a place in the new Cabinet. The Duke at first rather
refused, and said he was so deaf, and so old and unfit for any
discussion, that if he were to consult his own feelings he would
rather not do it, and remain quite aloof; but that as he was very
anxious to do anything that would tend to the Queen's comfort, and
would do everything and at all times that could be of use to the
Queen, and therefore if she and her Prime Minister urged his accepting
office, he would. The Queen said she had more confidence in him
than in any of the others of his party. The Queen then mentioned the
subject of the Household, and of those who were not in Parliament. The
Duke did not give any decisive answer about it, but advised the Queen
not to begin with conditions of this sort, and wait till the matter
was proposed. The Queen then said that she felt certain he would
understand the great friendship she had for Lord Melbourne, who had
been to her quite a parent, and the Duke said _no one felt and knew
that better than he did, and that no one could still be of greater
use to the Queen than Lord Melbourne_. The Duke spoke of his personal
friendship for Lord Melbourne, and that he hoped I knew that he had
often done all he could to help your (Lord Melbourne's) Government.
The Queen then mentioned her intention to prove her great _fairness_
to her new Government in telling them, that they might know there was
no unfair dealing, that I meant to see you often as a friend, as I
owed _so_ much to you. The Duke said he quite understood it, and knew
I would not exercise this to weaken the Government, and that he would
take my part about it, and felt for me. He was very kind, and said he
called it "a misfortune" that you had all left me.

The Queen wrote to Peel, who came after two, embarrassed and put out.
The Queen repeated what she had said to the Duke about her former
Government, and asked Sir Robert to form a new Ministry. He does not
seem sanguine; says entering the Government in a minority is very
difficult; he felt unequal to the task, and far from exulting in what
had happened, as he knew what pain it must give me; he quite approved
that the Duke should take office, and saw the importance of it; meant
to offer him the post of Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and if he
refused, Lord Aberdeen; Lord Lyndhurst, Chancellor; hoped to secure
Stanley and Graham; Goulburn to be the candidate for the Speaker's
Chair; he expects a severe conflict then, and if he should be beat
must either resign or dissolve Parliament. Before this the Queen said
she was against a dissolution, in which he quite agreed, but of course
wished no conditions should be made; he felt the task arduous, and
that he would require me to demonstrate (_a certain_ degree, if _any_
I can only feel) confidence in the Government, and that my Household
would be one of the marks of that. The Queen mentioned the same thing
about her Household, to which he at present would give no answer, and
said nothing should be done without my knowledge or approbation. He
repeated his surprise at the course you had all taken in resigning,
which he did not expect. The Queen talked of her great friendship for,
and gratitude to Lord Melbourne, and repeated what she had said to the
Duke, in which Peel agreed; but he is such a cold, odd man she can't
make out what he means. He said he couldn't expect me to have the
confidence in him I had in you (and which he never can have) as he has
not deserved it. My impression is, he is not _happy_ and sanguine. He
comes to me to-morrow at one to report progress in his formation of
the new Government. The Queen don't like his manner after--oh! how
different, how dreadfully different, to that frank, open, natural and
most kind, warm manner of Lord Melbourne.[33] The Duke I like by far
better to Peel. The Queen trusts Lord Melbourne will excuse this long
letter, but she was so very anxious he should know all. The Queen was
very much collected, and betrayed no agitation during these two
trying Audiences. But afterwards again _all_ gave way. She feels Lord
Melbourne will understand it, amongst enemies to those she most relied
on and esteemed, and people who seem to have no heart; but what is
worst of all is the being deprived of seeing Lord Melbourne as she
used to do.

[Footnote 32: _Sic_: an obvious mistake for "black was
black."]

[Footnote 33: Lady de Grey had written to Peel on 7th
May:--"The Queen has always expressed herself much impressed
with Lord Melbourne's open manner, and his truth. The latter
quality you possess, the former not.

"Now, dear Peel, the first impression on so young a girl's
mind is of immense consequence, accustomed as she has been
to the open and affectionate manner of Lord Melbourne, who,
_entre nous_, treats her as a father, and, with all his
faults, feels for her as such."--_Sir Robert Peel_, Parker,
vol. ii. p. 389.]

[Pageheading: LORD MELBOURNE'S ADVICE]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_9th May 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has read
with the greatest attention the very clear and distinct account which
your Majesty has written of that which passed at the Audiences which
your Majesty has given to the Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert Peel.
Nothing could have been more proper and judicious than your Majesty's
conduct, and they appear to have acted upon their part with propriety
and sincerity. Lord Melbourne has no doubt that both with respect
to him (Lord Melbourne) and to themselves and their own feelings and
position, they expressed what they really think. The Duke was right in
saying that in general, in affairs of this nature, it is best not to
begin with conditions; but this matter of the Household is so personal
to yourself, that it was best to give an intimation of your feelings
upon it in the first instance. Lord Melbourne has little doubt that if
they could have acted from themselves, they would have acceded to your
Majesty's wish at once; but your Majesty must recollect that they have
others to satisfy, and must not attribute entirely to them anything
that is harsh and unreasonable. Lord Melbourne advises your Majesty
to urge this question of the Household strongly as a matter due to
yourself and your own wishes; but if Sir Robert is unable to concede
it, it will not do to refuse and to put off the negotiation upon it.
Lord Melbourne would strongly advise your Majesty to do everything to
facilitate the formation of the Government. Everything is to be
done and to be endured rather than run the risk of getting into the
situation in which they are in France, of no party being able to form
a Government and conduct the affairs of the country.[34]

The Dissolution of Parliament is a matter of still more importance,
and if this should be again pressed upon your Majesty, Lord Melbourne
would advise your Majesty to reserve your opinion, not to give a
promise that you will dissolve, nor to say positively that you
will not. You may say that you do not think it right to fetter the
Prerogative of the Crown by previous engagements, that a dissolution
of Parliament is to be decided according to the circumstances at the
time, that you mean to give full confidence to the Government that
shall be formed, and to do everything in your power to support them,
and that you will consider whether Parliament shall be dissolved, when
you are advised to dissolve it, and have before you the reasons for
such a measure.

Lord Melbourne earnestly entreats your Majesty not to suffer yourself
to be affected by any faultiness of manner which you may observe.
Depend upon it, there is no personal hostility to Lord Melbourne nor
any bitter feelings against him. Sir Robert is the most cautious and
reserved of mankind. Nobody seems to Lord Melbourne to know him, but
he is not therefore deceitful or dishonest. Many a very false man has
a very open sincere manner, and _vice versa_....

Lord Melbourne earnestly hopes that your Majesty is better this
morning.

[Footnote 34: Alluding to the successive failures of Soult,
Thiers, and Broglie.]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _9th May 1839._

The Queen cannot sufficiently thank Lord Melbourne for his most kind
letter, and for his excellent advice, which is at once the greatest
comfort and of the greatest use to her; the Queen will follow it in
every respect, and nothing of importance shall be done without due
reflection; and she trusts Lord Melbourne will help her and be to her
what she told him he was, and begged him still ever to be--a father to
one who never wanted support more than she does now.

Lord Melbourne shall hear again after she sees Peel this morning....

The Queen has just now heard Lord Liverpool is not in town.

The Queen hopes Lord Melbourne is able to read her letters; if ever
there is anything he cannot read, he must send them back, and mark
what he can't read.

[Pageheading: LORD PALMERSTON'S GRATITUDE]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

STANHOPE STREET, _9th May 1839._

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs
to return your Majesty his grateful thanks for your Majesty's gracious
communication of this morning. It affords Viscount Palmerston the most
heart-felt satisfaction to know that his humble but zealous endeavours
to promote the interests of his country and to uphold the honour of
your Majesty's Crown, have had the good fortune to meet with your
Majesty's approbation; and he begs most respectfully to assure
your Majesty that the deep impression produced by the condescending
kindness which he has upon all occasions experienced from your Majesty
can never be effaced from his mind.

[Pageheading: THE HOUSEHOLD]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_9th May 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs to
suggest that if Sir Robert Peel presses for the dismissal of those of
your Household who are not in Parliament, you may observe that in so
doing he is pressing your Majesty more hardly than any Minister ever
pressed a Sovereign before.

When the Government was changed in 1830, the principal posts of the
Household were placed at the disposal of Lord Grey, but the Grooms and
Equerries were not removed.

When Sir Robert Peel himself became Minister in 1834, no part of the
Household were removed except those who were in Parliament.

When I became Prime Minister again in 1835, none of the Grooms or
Equerries were removed because none of them were in Parliament.

They press upon your Majesty, whose personal feelings ought from your
circumstances to be more consulted, a measure which no Minister before
ever pressed upon a Sovereign.

If this is put to him by your Majesty, Lord Melbourne does not see how
he can resist it.

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _9th May 1839._

The Queen writes one line to prepare Lord Melbourne for what _may_
happen in a very few hours. Sir Robert Peel has behaved very ill,
and has insisted on my giving up my Ladies, to which I replied that I
never would consent, and I never saw a man so frightened. He said
he must go to the Duke of Wellington and consult with him, when both
would return, and he said this must suspend all further proceedings,
and he asked whether I should be ready to receive a decision, which I
said I should; he was quite perturbed--but this is _infamous_. I said,
besides many other things, that if he or the Duke of Wellington had
been at the head of the Government when I came to the Throne, perhaps
there might have been a few more Tory Ladies, but that then if you had
come into Office you would never have _dreamt_ of changing them. I was
calm but very decided, and I think you would have been pleased to see
my composure and great firmness; the Queen of England will not submit
to such trickery. Keep yourself in readiness, for you may soon be
wanted.

[Pageheading: PROPOSED NEW CABINET]

_Extract from the Queen's Journal._

_Thursday, 9th May 1839._

_At half-past two_ I saw the Duke of Wellington. I remained firm, and
he told Sir Robert that I remained firm. I then saw Sir Robert Peel,
who stopped a few minutes with me; he must consult those (of whom I
annex the List) whom he had named:

THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON _Secretary for Foreign Affairs_
SIR JAMES GRAHAM _Secretary for the Home Department_
LORD STANLEY _Secretary for the Colonies_
LORD LYNDHURST _Lord Chancellor_
LORD ELLENBOROUGH _President of the Board of Control_
SIR H. HARDINGE _Secretary at War_

and he said he would return in two or three hours with the result,
which I said I should await.[35]

[Footnote 35: It was a curious circumstance, much commented
on at the time, that in the _Globe_ of 9th May, a Ministerial
evening paper, which would probably have gone to press at two
o'clock in the afternoon, the following paragraph appeared:
"The determination which it is well known Her Majesty has
taken, not to allow the change in the Government to interfere
with the ladies of her Court, has given great offence to the
Tories."]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _9th May 1839._

The Queen has received Lord Melbourne's letter. Lord Melbourne will
since have heard what has taken place. Lord Melbourne must not think
the Queen rash in her conduct; she saw both the Duke and Sir Robert
again, and declared to them she could not change her opinion. The
Ladies are not (as the Duke imagined was stated in the Civil List
Bill) in the _place_ of the Lords; and the Queen felt this was an
attempt to see whether she could be led and managed like a child;
if it should lead to Sir Robert Peel's refusing to undertake the
formation of the Government, which would be absurd, the Queen will
feel satisfied that she has only been defending her own rights, on
a point which so nearly concerned her person, and which, if they had
succeeded in, would have led to every sort of unfair attempt at power;
the Queen maintains _all_ her ladies,--and thinks her Prime Minister
will cut a sorry figure indeed if he resigns on this. Sir Robert is
gone to consult with his friends, and will return in two or three
hours with his decision. The Queen also maintained the Mistress of the
Robes, for as he said _only_ those who are _in Parliament_ shall be
removed, I should like to know if they mean to give the _Ladies_ seats
in Parliament?

We shall see what will be done. The Queen would not have _stood so
firmly_ on the Grooms and Equerries, but her _Ladies_ are _entirely_
her own affair, and _not_ the Ministers'.

[Pageheading: THE CRISIS]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_9th May 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. Lord
Melbourne had certainly never expected that this demand would be
urged, and therefore had never advised your Majesty as to what was to
be done in such a case. Lord Melbourne strongly advises your Majesty
to hear what the Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert Peel urge, but to
take time before you come to a peremptory and final decision.

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_9th May 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. This is a
matter of so much importance, and may have such grave results,
that any advice which Lord Melbourne could give would be of little
importance unless it coincided with the opinions of others, and
particularly of all those who were and intend still [to] continue to
be his colleagues.

It will depend upon their determination whether your Majesty is to be
supported or not. The best course will perhaps be that you should
hear Sir Robert Peel's determination, say nothing, but send for Lord
Melbourne, and lay the matter before him. Lord Melbourne will then
summon a Cabinet to consider of it.

[Pageheading: THE LADIES OF THE BEDCHAMBER]

_Extract from the Queen's Journal._

_9th May 1839._

At half-past six came Lord Melbourne and stayed with me till ten
minutes past seven.

[Pageheading: THE LADIES]

I then began by giving him a detailed account of the whole proceeding,
which I shall state here as briefly as possible. I first again related
what took place in the two first interviews, and when I said that
the Duke said he had assisted my Government often very much, Lord
Melbourne said: "Well, that is true enough, but the Duke did all he
could about this vote." "Well, then," I said, "when Sir Robert Peel
came this morning, he began first about the Ministry. I consented,
though I said I might have my personal feelings about Lord Lyndhurst
and Lord Aberdeen, but that I would suppress every personal feeling
and be quite fair. I then repeated that I wished to retain about me
those who were not in Parliament, and Sir Robert _pretended_ that
I had the preceding day expressed a wish to keep about me those who
_were_ in Parliament. I mentioned my wish to have Lord Liverpool, to
which Sir Robert readily acceded, saying he would offer him the place
of Lord Steward, or of Lord in Waiting. He then suggested my
having Lord Ashley,[36] which I said I should like, as Treasurer or
Comptroller. Soon after this Sir Robert said: 'Now, about the Ladies,'
upon which I said I could _not_ give up _any_ of my Ladies, and
never had imagined such a thing. He asked if I meant to retain _all_.
'_All_,' I said. 'The Mistress of the Robes and the Ladies of the
Bedchamber?' I replied, '_All_,'--for he said they were the wives
of the opponents of the Government, mentioning Lady Normanby[37] in
particular as one of the late Ministers' wives. I said that would not
interfere; that I never talked politics with them, and that they
were related, many of them, to Tories, and I enumerated those of my
Bedchamber women and Maids of Honour; upon which he said he did not
mean _all_ the Bedchamber women and _all_ the Maids of Honour, he
meant the Mistress of the Robes and the Ladies of the Bedchamber; to
which I replied _they_ were of more consequence than the others, and
that I could _not_ consent, and that it had never been done before. He
said I was a Queen Regnant, and that made the difference. 'Not here,'
I said--and I maintained my right. Sir Robert then urged it upon
_public grounds only_, but I said here I could not consent. He then
begged to be allowed to consult with the Duke upon such an important
matter. I expressed a wish also to see the Duke, if Sir Robert
approved, which he said he did, and that he would return with the
Duke, if I would then be prepared for the decision, which I said I
would. Well," I continued, "the Duke and Sir Robert returned soon, and
I first saw the Duke, who talked first of his being ready to take the
post of Secretary for Foreign Affairs, which I had pressed Peel
to urge on him (the Duke having first wished to be in the Cabinet,
without accepting office), and the Duke said, 'I am able to do
anything,' for I asked him if it would not be too much for him. Then
I told him that I had been very well satisfied with Sir Robert
yesterday, and asked the Duke if Sir Robert had told him what had
passed about the Ladies. He said he had, and then I repeated all my
arguments, and the Duke his; but the Duke and Sir Robert differed
considerably on two points. The Duke said the _opinions_ of the Ladies
were nothing, but it was the _principle_, whether the Minister could
remove the Ladies or not, and that he (the Duke) had understood it was
stated in the Civil List Bill, 'that the _Ladies were instead of the
Lords_,' which is quite false, and I told the Duke that there were not
_twelve Lords_, as the expense _with the Ladies_ would have been too
great." Lord Melbourne said: "There you had the better of him,
and what did he say?" "Not much," I replied. I repeated many of my
arguments, all which pleased Lord Melbourne, and which he agreed to,
amongst others, that I said to the Duke, Was Sir Robert so weak that
_even_ the Ladies must be of his opinion? The Duke denied that. The
Duke then took my decision to Sir Robert, who was waiting in the next
room; after a few minutes Sir Robert returned. After stopping a
few minutes, as I have already stated, Sir Robert went to see his
colleagues, and returned at five: said he had consulted with those who
were to have been his colleagues, and that they agreed that, with
the probability of being beat the first night about the Speaker, and
beginning with a Minority in the House of Commons, that unless
there was _some_ (_all_ the Officers of State and Lords I gave up)
demonstration of my confidence, and if I retained all my Ladies
this would not be, "they agreed unanimously they could not go on." I
replied I would reflect, that I felt certain I should not change my
mind, but that I should do nothing in a hurry, and would write him my
decision either that evening or the next morning. He said, meanwhile,
he would suspend all further proceedings.

[Footnote 36: Afterwards Earl of Shaftesbury, the well-known
Philanthropist.]

[Footnote 37: J. W. Croker wrote to the King of Hanover:--

"_11th May 1839._

"... This is the sum of the whole affair. Sir R. Peel could
not admit that broad principle that all were to remain.
Lady Normanby (whom the Queen particularly wishes for), for
instance, the wife of the very Minister whose measures have
been the cause of the change, two sisters of Lord Morpeth, the
sisters-in-law of Lord John Russell, the daughter of the Privy
Seal and the Chancellor of the Exchequer....

"Her Majesty's ball last night was, I am told, rather dull,
though she herself seemed in high spirits, as if she were
pleased at retaining her Ministers. She has a great concert on
the 13th, but to both, as I hear, the invitations have been on
a very exclusive principle, no Tories being invited who could
on any pretence be left out. These are small matters, but
everything tends to create a public impression that Her
Majesty takes a personal and strong interest in the Whigs--a
new ingredient of difficulty."--_Croker Papers_, II. 347.]