justice and of freedom.

The cheering was frequent and enthusiastic. The debate was adjourned
till Thursday, when it will probably close.

The expectation is that Ministers will have a majority, but on the
amount of that majority must depend their future course.

[Footnote 22: It lasted from dusk till dawn, and the Minister
asked for a verdict on the question whether, "as the Roman in
days of old held himself free from indignity when he could
say, _Civis Romanus sum_, so also a British subject, in
whatever land he may be, shall feel confident that the
watchful eye and the strong arm of England will protect
him against injustice and wrong." Peel, who made his last
appearance in the House, voted against Palmerston.]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

_Chesham Place_, _27th June 1850._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has
the honour to state that the prospects of the division are rather more
favourable for Ministers than they were.

Ministers ought to have a majority of forty to justify their remaining
in office.[23]

Mr Gladstone makes no secret of his wish to join Lord Stanley in
forming an Administration.

Lord John Russell would desire to have the honour of an audience of
your Majesty on Saturday at twelve or one o'clock.

The division will not take place till to-morrow night.

[Footnote 23: In the result, Ministers succeeded by 310 to
264, although opposed to them in the debate were Mr Gladstone,
Mr Cobden, Sir Robert Peel, Mr Disraeli, Sir James Graham,
and Sir William Molesworth. Next to the speeches of Lord
Palmerston and Lord John Russell, the most effective speech
on the Government side was that of Mr Alexander Cockburn,
afterwards Lord Chief Justice of England.]

[Pageheading: PEEL'S ACCIDENT]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _2nd July 1850._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--For two most kind and affectionate letters I offer
my warmest and best thanks. The good report of my beloved Louise's
improvement is a great happiness. By my letter to Louise you will have
learnt all the details of this certainly very disgraceful and very
inconceivable attack.[24] I have not suffered except from my head,
which is still very tender, the blow having been extremely violent,
and the brass _end_ of the stick fell on my head so as to make a
considerable noise. I own it makes me ne