to
whom Lord John Russell had written) of what had passed. He was much
affected, and expressed his concern at the failure of Lord John to
form a Government, seemed hurt at Lord John's not having shown more
confidence in the integrity of his (Sir Robert Peel's) motives. He
would have supported Lord John in _any_ measure which he should have
thought fit to introduce, and many would have followed his example. He
blamed the want of deference shown to the Queen, by not answering
her call with more readiness; he said it was quite new and
unconstitutional for a man to take a week before he undertook to form
a Government, and to pass that time in discussion with other people,
to whom the Sovereign had not yet committed the task; and he had been
certain it would end so, when so many people were consulted. He in
1834 had been called from Italy, had travelled with all haste and
had gone straight to the King, had told him that he had seen nobody,
consulted nobody, but immediately kissed the King's hand as his
Minister.

He was now prepared to stand by the Queen, all other considerations
he had thrown aside, he would undertake to deal with the difficulties,
and should have to go down alone to the House of Commons. He had
written to his colleagues that he would serve the Queen if she called
upon him to do so, that he expected them to meet him at nine o'clock
that evening, and that he would tell them what he meant to do. Those
who would not go with him, he would dismiss at once. He did not wish
to avail himself of any undue advantage, and therefore would not
advise an Order in Council, but go at once to Parliament, laying his
measure before it: "Reject it, if you please; there it is!"

He called the crisis an alarming one, which determination alone could
overcome.

We showed him Lord John Russell's statement, with which he declared
himself very much satisfied. He advised the Queen to write a letter
to Lord John, announcing to him Sir Robert's consent to go on with the
Government, and wrote a draft of it, which follows here.

He had heard strange instances of disagreement amongst the men whom
Lord John had assembled in town.

Sir Robert seemed throughout much moved, and said with much warmth:
"There is no sacrifice that I will not make for your Majesty, except
that of my honour."

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _20th December 1845._

Sir Robert Peel has just been here. He expressed great regret