ed for your Majesty's consideration, and especially whether, if
your Majesty should be graciously pleased to raise him to the Peerage,
such an Honour would be agreeable to him. He said that perhaps in the
autumn such an act of favour on the part of your Majesty might fall in
with his views and would be gratefully received, but it would not do
at present, and should not be mentioned....

[Footnote 62: Lord John Russell had, as stated above, favoured
the proposals of Count Buol at Vienna, compromising the Third
Point to the advantage of Russia. The Ministry had disavowed
this view, but Lord John had remained in office. On the 24th
of May, Mr Disraeli moved a vote of censure on the Government
for its conduct of the war, fiercely assailing Lord John for
his proceedings both at Vienna and as Minister. In repelling
the charge, Lord John made a vigorous speech disclosing no
disposition to modify the British attitude towards Russian
preponderance in the Black Sea, and Mr Disraeli's Motion was
lost by a majority of 100. On a subsequent night he made a
further speech strongly antagonistic to Russia, his attitude
as to the Austrian proposals being still undisclosed to the
public. But these speeches caused Count Buol to reveal the
favourable view taken of his proposals by the English
and French Plenipotentiaries, and Lord John Russell's
inconsistency aroused widespread indignation.]

[Footnote 63: This Motion was one of censure on Lord John
Russell for his conduct at Vienna, and it was deeply galling
to be informed by subordinate members of the Government that,
unless he resigned, they would support the vote of censure.
Lord John bowed before the storm and retired from office.]

[Pageheading: LORD JOHN RUSSELL RESIGNS]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

PICCADILLY, _13th July 1855_.

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and
submits for your Majesty's gracious acceptance the resignation of Lord
John Russell's office, which Viscount Palmerston trusts your Majesty
will think is expressed in terms highly honourable to Lord John
Russell's feelings as a man and as a Minister.

The step, Viscount Palmerston regrets to say, has become unavoidable.
The storm of public opinion, however much it may exceed any just or
reasonable cause, is too overbearing to be resisted, and Lord John
Russell has no doubt bes