hes that at some fit opportunity[29] a mark of favour
should be bestowed upon him....

The Queen hopes Sir Robert will think of this.

[Footnote 29: Lord Cardigan was promoted Major-General in
1847. He became Inspector-General of Cavalry, and received the
K.C.B. in 1855.]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _26th April 1842._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and
acknowledges with many thanks your Majesty's letter of the 24th inst.,
which he received yesterday morning. Lord Melbourne learns with the
greatest satisfaction that Lady Lyttelton has undertaken the important
and interesting charge, for which she is so well fitted. Lord
Melbourne is most sincerely of opinion that no other person so well
qualified could have been selected. Lord Melbourne will keep the
matter strictly secret; he has not yet mentioned it to any one, nor
has he heard it mentioned by any other person, which, as it must be
known to some, rather surprises him. Unreserved approbation cannot
be expected for anything, but when it is known, Lord Melbourne
anticipates that it will meet with as general an assent as could be
anticipated for a choice in which all the community will take, and
indeed have, so deep an interest.

[Pageheading: GOETHE AND SCHILLER]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

BROCKET HALL, _15th May 1842._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He is
very sorry indeed, and entreats your Majesty's pardon for his great
omission on Monday evening. He was never told that he was to pass
before your Majesty at the beginning; at the same time he admits
that it was a blundering piece of stupidity not to find this out of
himself. After this he never saw the glimmer of a chance of being able
to get near to your Majesty.

Lord Melbourne wonders much who could have whispered to your Majesty
that he felt or expressed anything but the most unqualified admiration
of the ball, which was the most magnificent and beautiful spectacle
that he ever beheld. Lord Melbourne also believes it to be very
popular, for the reasons which your Majesty mentions.

Your Majesty having generally chosen handsome and attractive girls for
the Maids of Honour, which is very right, must expect to lose them in
this way. Lord Melbourne is very glad of the marriage. Lord Emlyn[30]
always seemed to him a very pleasing young man, and well calculated to
make a woman happy.