e exact
moment at which to offer it to him, as Sir George is so very delicate
in his feelings of honour. Lord John Russell will probably have
to give up the task of forming an Administration on account of Sir
George's declining to join him. If the pension were offered to him by
Lord Aberdeen during the progress of negotiations, he could not help
feeling, she thinks, exceedingly embarrassed.

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

CHESHAM PLACE, _4th February 1855._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He saw
last night Sir George Grey, who is extremely averse to the formation
of a purely Whig Government at this time. Since that time he has
received the two notes enclosed: one from Lord Palmerston, the other
early this morning from Lord Clarendon.[29]

It only remains for him to acknowledge your Majesty's great kindness,
and to resign into your Majesty's hands the task your Majesty was
pleased to confide to him.

[Footnote 29: Lord Palmerston wrote:--

"144 PICCADILLY, _3rd February 1855._

"MY DEAR JOHN RUSSELL,--I certainly inferred from what
Clarendon said this afternoon at your house, that he had
pretty well made up his mind to a negative answer, and I could
only say to you that which I said to Derby when he asked me
to join him, that I should be very unwilling, in the present
state of our Foreign relations, to belong to any Government in
which the management of our Foreign Affairs did not remain in
Clarendon's hands.

"George Grey, by your account, seems to tend to the same
conclusion as Clarendon, and I think, from what fell from
Molesworth, whom I sat next to at the Speaker's dinner this
evening, that he would not be disposed to accept any offer
that you might make him.

--Yours sincerely, PALMERSTON."

Lord Clarendon wrote:--

"GROSVENOR CRESCENT, _3rd February 1855._

"MY DEAR LORD JOHN,--The more I reflect upon the subject, the
more I feel convinced that such a Government as you propose to
form would not satisfy the public nor command the confidence
of the Country.

"To yourself personally I am sure it would be most injurious
if you attempted to carry on the Government with inadequate
means at this moment of national danger.

"On public and on private grounds, therefore, I should wish to
take no part in an Administration that cannot in my opinion be