e
Government till then.

One of the difficulties which we likewise discussed was the position
of the financial measures which required almost immediate attention,
and still ought to be left open for the consideration of the future
Government.

We agreed that the pressing on the Papal Measure was the chief point,
and that it ought to be altered to meet the objections (as far as they
are reasonable) of its opponents, strengthening the declaratory part,
however, to please Lord Stanley; and the Queen promised to call upon
Lord Stanley to give this so modified Bill the support of himself and
his Party, which we thought she could in fairness claim after all that
had happened.

The Queen reiterated her objections to Lord Palmerston, and received
the renewed promise that her wishes should be attended to.

ALBERT.

[Pageheading: A COALITION IMPOSSIBLE]

_Memorandum by the Prince Albert._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _3rd March 1851._

Lord John Russell arrived at the hour appointed (twelve o'clock), and
was sorry to inform the Queen that all hope of a Coalition must be
given up. He had found that his Party was very much averse to it. On
proposing to his former colleagues the plan of keeping Office now,
and vacating it after the Aggression Bill had passed, many of them,
amongst which were Lord Grey, Sir Charles Wood, Sir Francis Baring,
declared they would not be _warming-pans_ (an expression used at the
time of the Grey-Grenville Coalition), and would resign at once. The
Duke of Wellington, whose opinion the Queen had asked, had recommended
the return of the old Cabinet to power. He (Lord John) could therefore
only advise that course, although he was conscious that it would be a
very weak Government, and one not likely to last any length of time.

He then read the Memorandum which he had drawn up and which follows
here.[11]

The Queen now asked whether Lord John proposed a modification of
his own Cabinet, to which Lord John replied, None, except perhaps
an exchange of Office between Sir C. Wood and Sir F. Baring, if Sir
Charles were to refuse bringing in a different budget from the one he
had already propounded; he was for maintaining the Income Tax, whilst
Sir Francis was for repealing it by degrees. The Queen then reminded
Lord John of her objections to Lord Palmerston, and his promise
that Lord Palmerston should not again be thrust upon her as Foreign
Secretary. Lord John admitted to the promise, but said he coul