t
Palmerston is endeavouring to form, provided it can be constructed
upon a basis sufficiently broad to give a fair prospect of duration.

Mr Gladstone, Mr Sidney Herbert, and the Duke of Argyll have declined
chiefly on the ground of personal and political attachment to the Earl
of Aberdeen, against whom, as well as against the Duke of Newcastle,
they say they consider the vote of the House of Commons of last week
as having been levelled. Viscount Palmerston has not yet been able to
ascertain the decision of Sir James Graham, but it will probably be
the same as that of his three colleagues.

Viscount Palmerston hopes, nevertheless, to be able to submit for your
Majesty's consideration such a list as may meet with your Majesty's
approval, and he will have the honour of reporting further to your
Majesty to-morrow.

[Pageheading: THE PEELITES]

_Memorandum by Queen Victoria._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _6th February 1855._

We came to Town to hear the result of negotiations, and saw Lord
Palmerston at one o'clock. He said there were circumstances which
prevented him from submitting a List of the Cabinet, but would at all
events be able to do so in the afternoon.

Lords Lansdowne, Clarendon, Granville, Sir G. Grey, Sir C. Wood,
Sir William Molesworth, and the Chancellor had consented to
serve--unconditionally--having withdrawn their former conditions in
consequence of the very general opinion expressed out of doors that
the country could not much longer be left without a Government. He
heard this had also made an impression upon the Peelites, who had
refused to join. He submitted their letters (declining) to the
Queen, of which copies are here annexed. They had been written after
consultation with Sir J. Graham, but Lord Aberdeen and the Duke of
Newcastle having heard of it, have since exerted themselves strongly
to prevail upon them to change their opinion, and it was still
possible that they would do so. Lord Clarendon had suggested that if
Lord Aberdeen himself was invited to join the Government, and could
be induced to do so, this would obviate all difficulty. He had in
consequence asked Lord Lansdowne to see Lord Aberdeen on the subject,
as his joining could only be agreeable to him. Many of the Peelites
not in the late Cabinet had strongly disapproved of the decision
taken by Mr Gladstone and friends, and offered their services, amongst
others Lord Canning, Lord Elcho,[30] and Mr Cardwell.

[Footnote 3