nt Palmerston._
{_Lord John Russell._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _11th June 1859_.

The Queen gives these lines to Lord Granville, whom she has entrusted
with the task of forming an administration on the resignation of Lord
Derby. She has selected him as the Leader of the Liberal Party in the
House of Lords. She feels that it is of the greatest importance that
both Lord Palmerston and Lord John Russell should lend their services
to the Crown and country in the present anxious circumstances, and
thought at the same time that they might do so most agreeably to their
own feelings by acting under a third person. They having both served
the Queen long and faithfully as her First Minister, she must not
conceal from Lord Palmerston (John Russell) that it is a great relief
to her feelings not to have to make the choice of one of them, and
she trusts that they will feel no difficulty to co-operate with one in
whom they have both been in the habit of placing confidence. From
the long experience the Queen has had of Lord Palmerston's (John
Russell's) loyal attachment to her and the service of the Crown, she
feels confident she may rely on Lord Palmerston's (John Russell's)
hearty assistance.[49]

[Footnote 49: In reply, Lord Palmerston (in a letter printed
in Ashley's _Life of Lord Palmerston_, vol. ii. p. 155)
accepted his responsibility for uniting with others to
overthrow the Derby Ministry, and undertook to serve under
either Lord John Russell or Lord Granville, but stipulated
that any Government he joined must be an efficient and
representative one.]

[Pageheading: LORD GRANVILLE UNSUCCESSFUL]

_Earl Granville to Queen Victoria._

BRUTON STREET, _12th June 1859_.
(2 A.M.)

Lord Granville presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs
to submit that he saw Lord Palmerston immediately after he had left
Buckingham Palace. Lord Granville stated what had passed there,
omitting any reference to your Majesty's objection to the effect
likely to be produced on the Continent by Lord Palmerston's name, if
he had the direction of the Foreign Affairs. Nothing could be more
frank and cordial than Lord Palmerston's manner. He agreed to lead the
House of Commons; he said that he had certainly anticipated that your
Majesty would have sent for either Lord John or himself, but having
taken a part in the defeat of the present Government, he felt bound to
put aside any personal obje