not possibly serve under Lord John or even with him
after what had happened; that he felt the strongest objections to
serving under Lord Palmerston. They were one and all for the vigorous
prosecution of the war, but in order to attain a speedy peace. Lord
Palmerston was known to entertain ulterior views, on which he was
secretly agreed with the Emperor of the French; and when it came to
the question of negotiations, the Government was sure to break up on
a ground most dangerous to the country. Lord Lansdowne could but agree
in all this, and added he had been tempted to feel his pulse to know
how much it had gone down since he had been with Sir James.

The meeting between Lord Palmerston and Lord John had just taken place
in his presence. They had discussed everything most openly, but being
both very guarded to say nothing which could lead the other to believe
that the one would serve under the other. He confessed everything was
darker now than before. They both seemed to wish to form a Government,
but he could really not advise the Queen what to do under the
circumstances.

I summed up that the Queen appeared to me reduced to the necessity
of now entrusting one of the two with a _positive_ commission. It
was very important that it should not appear that the Queen had any
personal objection to Lord Palmerston; on the other hand, under such
doubtful circumstances, it would be safest for the Queen to follow
that course which was clearly the most constitutional, and this was,
after having failed with Lord Derby, to go to Lord John, who was the
other party to the destruction of the late Government. The Queen might
write such a letter to Lord John as would record the political reasons
which led to her determination. Lord Lansdowne highly approved of
this, and suggested the addition of an expression of the Queen's hope
of seeing Lord Palmerston associated in that formation.

I drew up the annexed draft which Lord Lansdowne read over and
entirely approved.

He has no idea that Lord John will succeed in his task, but thinks it
a necessary course to go through, and most wholesome to Lord John to
have his eyes opened to his own position, of which he verily believed
he was not the least aware.

VICTORIA R.

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _4th February 1855._

The Queen quite approves of the pension to Sir G. Grey, which he has
fully earned, but would wish Lord Aberdeen well to consider th