ecessary" measures; but the question soon arose, What is
"necessary"?

Lord Palmerston thought the Militia Bill "necessary," upon which the
League[26] immediately rose and denied that conclusion.

There seemed in the House a great reluctance to avoid a violent
course, but a very general wish, on the Opposition side, for as speedy
a Dissolution as public necessity would permit.

The evening, however, was not disadvantageous to the Government. All
which is most humbly submitted to your Majesty, by your Majesty's most
dutiful Subject and Servant,

B. DISRAELI.

[Footnote 26: The members belonging to the Manchester School
of Politics.]

[Pageheading: THE QUESTION OF DISSOLUTION]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

OSBORNE, _17th March 1852._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I delayed writing till to-day as I wished to see
the papers first, and be able to give you an account of the first
Debate in the two Houses. They are not satisfactory, because both Lord
Derby and Mr Disraeli refuse to give a straightforward answer as to
their policy, the uncertainty as to which will do serious harm.[27]
The Opposition are very determined, and _with_ right, to insist on
this being given, and on as early a Dissolution as possible. The
Government will be forced to do this, but it is very unwise, after all
_this_ agitation for the last five years and a half, _not_ [to] come
forward manfully and to state what they intend to do. We tried to
impress Lord Derby with the necessity of this course, and I hoped we
had succeeded, but his speech has not been what it ought to have been
in this respect.

The President seems more occupied at home than abroad, which I trust
he may remain.

Stockmar is well.... _One_ thing is pretty _certain_--that _out_ of
the _present state_ of confusion and discordance, a _sound state_ of
_Parties_ will be obtained, and _two Parties_, as of old, will again
exist, without which it is _impossible_ to have a _strong_ Government.
_How_ these Parties will be formed it is impossible to say at present.
Now, with Albert's love, ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 27: This uncertainty led to the Anti-Corn-Law
League, which had been dissolved in 1846, being revived.]

_Mr Disraeli to Queen Victoria._

HOUSE OF COMMONS, _19th March 1852._
(_Friday night, twelve o'clock._)

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, with his humble duty to your Majesty,
lays before your Majesty