or favourable presumptions, and
in the absence of conscientious difference on important
questions, for support.

"I have had an opportunity of seeing Lord Aberdeen and Sidney
Herbert, and they fully concur in the sentiment I have just
expressed."]

[Footnote 10: See _ante_, 31st October, 1855, note 87.]

[Pageheading: THE CHANCELLORSHIP]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _22nd February 1858_.

The Queen acknowledges Lord Derby's letter of yesterday, and returns
him these three letters. She much regrets that he cannot reckon on the
support and assistance in the Government, which he is about to form,
of such able men. The Queen authorises Lord Derby to offer the office
of Lord Chancellor with a Peerage to Mr Pemberton Leigh; but she fears
from what passed on previous occasions that he is not likely to accept
it.[11]

[Footnote 11: He declined the office, and the Great Seal was
offered to and accepted by Sir Frederick Thesiger, who was
created Lord Chelmsford.]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _22nd February 1858_.

The Queen has had a long conversation with the Duke of Newcastle,
which however ended, as Lord Derby will have expected from what the
Duke must have told him, in his declaring his conviction that he could
be of no use to the new Government by joining it, or in persuading his
friends to change their minds as to joining. The Duke was evidently
much pleased by the offer, but from all he said of his position, the
Queen could gather that it was in vain to press him further.

[Pageheading: THE NEW CABINET]

_The Earl of Derby to Queen Victoria._

ST JAMES'S SQUARE, _25th February 1858_.

Lord Derby presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and fears that
after your Majesty's most gracious acceptance of the propositions
which he has made, he may appear to your Majesty very vacillating, in
having at the last moment to submit to your Majesty another change....
But he finds that Lord John Manners, though he consented to take the
Colonial Department, would infinitely prefer resuming his seat at the
Board of Works; and on the urgent representation of his Colleagues
that the Government would be strengthened by such a step, Lord Stanley
has consented to accept office; and the arrangement which he would now
venture humbly to submit to your Majesty would be the appointment of
Lord Stanley to the Colon