cts, and co-operate with me; and that there
was no person whom he should prefer or even like as much as myself. He
added that his co-operation must depend upon my being able to form a
strong Government. Lord Granville then saw Lord John Russell, and
had a very long conversation with him. Lord John had no objection
to serving under Lord Granville, but thought that he could not give
effect to his political views unless he was either Prime Minister
or Leader of the House of Commons, and he doubted whether he had
confidence in any one but Lord Palmerston for the Foreign Office. Lord
Granville again saw Lord Palmerston, who informed him that if he had
been sent for, he should have objected to go to the House of Lords,
and that he could not now give up the lead of the House of Commons
(which Lord Granville had already proposed to him to retain) to Lord
John. This answer rendered it unnecessary for Lord Granville to allude
to the objections to his holding the Foreign Office. Lord Granville
has seen Lord Clarendon, who acted up to the full spirit of your
Majesty's letter, but deprecates strongly the attempt to form a
Government without Lord John Russell. Sir George Grey is of the same
opinion. Sir George Lewis, Mr Herbert, and Mr Gladstone think every
effort should be made to secure Lord John, but that it would not be
impossible to form a Government without him. Mr Milner Gibson, with
whom Lord Granville had a more reserved conversation, considered it a
_sine qua non_ condition of support from the Liberal Party below the
gangway, that Lord John should be a member of the Government. Lord
Granville thinks that in his third interview with Lord Palmerston he
observed more dissatisfaction at not being sent for by your Majesty.
Lord Palmerston suggested that Lord John's absence from the Government
would make it more difficult for a Leader of the House, who was not
Prime Minister, to hold his position.

Lord Granville has written to Lord John asking for a final answer
before he informs your Majesty, whether he is able to attempt the task
which your Majesty has with so much kindness and indulgence laid upon
him.[50]

[Footnote 50: This letter, and Lord John's reply declining to
occupy only the third office in the State, and expressing
his anxiety for adequate security in the handling of Foreign
Affairs and Reform, are printed in Walpole's _Life of Lord
John Russell_, vol. ii. chap. xxvii.

Lord Granville the