nce.

Should he not be able to obtain strength from the Peelites, he could
not be able to form a creditable Government; he must give up the task,
and thought the Queen might try some other combinations with Lord John
Russell or Lord Lansdowne, etc.

He did not think a reconstruction of the old Government would be
accepted by the country; however, whatever Government was formed to
carry on the war, should not only not be opposed by him, but have
his cordial support, provided it raised no question of general
constitutional importance.

Should all attempts fail, he would be ready to come forward to the
rescue of the country with such materials as he had, but it would be
"a desperate attempt."

Lord Derby returned a little before two from Lord Palmerston, to whom
he had gone in the first instance. Lord Palmerston was ready to accept
the Lead of the House of Commons, and acknowledged that the man
who undertook this could not manage the War Department besides. He
undertook to sound Mr Gladstone and Mr S. Herbert, but had, evidently
much to Lord Derby's surprise, said that it must be a coalition, and
not only the taking in of one or two persons, which does not seem
to suit Lord Derby at all--nor was he pleased at Lord Palmerston's
suggestion that he ought to try, by all means, to retain Lord
Clarendon at the Foreign Office. Lord Palmerston was to sound the
Peelites in the afternoon, and Lord Derby is to report the result to
the Queen this evening.

VICTORIA R.

[Pageheading: LORD CLARENDON]

_The Earl of Derby to Queen Victoria._

ST JAMES' SQUARE, _31st January 1855._
(9:30 P.M.)

Lord Derby, with his humble duty, hastens to submit to your Majesty
the answer which he has this moment received from Viscount Palmerston
to the communication which he made to him this morning by your
Majesty's command. Lord Derby has not yet received from Mr Sidney
Herbert and Mr Gladstone the answers referred to in Lord Palmerston's
letter; but, from the tenor of the latter, he fears there can be no
doubt as to their purport. With respect to Lord Clarendon, Lord
Derby is fully sensible of the advantage which might accrue to your
Majesty's service from the continuance in office of a Minister of
great ability, who is personally cognizant of all the intricate
negotiations and correspondence which have taken place for the last
two years; and neither personally nor politically would he anticipate
on the part of his frien