apprehend the Delegates assembled in
Manchester, _the very moment_ that the law will warrant their
apprehension, and Sir Robert Peel should not be surprised to hear of
their committal to Lancaster Castle in the course of to-day.

Every vigilance will be exerted with reference to _Cooper_[73] (whom
your Majesty names) and all other itinerant agitators.

As might be naturally expected, the movements and disorderly spirit
spreading from the centre (Manchester) are appearing in remote points;
but when peace and confidence are thoroughly restored at Manchester,
the example will quickly tell in the circumjacent districts.

Birmingham is tranquil and well-disposed. The accounts from Scotland
are favourable.

[Footnote 73: A Leicester Chartist, who was afterwards tried
for sedition.]

[Pageheading: PARLIAMENT PROROGUED]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _17th August 1842._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He is going
down to-day to Brocket Hall with Lord and Lady Beauvale. Lord and Lady
Palmerston are coming down to-morrow, and Lord and Lady Cowper will
probably come over from Panshanger.

Your Majesty read extremely well in the House of Lords on Friday
last.[74] Lord Melbourne can judge better of this from the body of the
House than he could when he stood close to your Majesty. Nothing can
be more clear and distinct, and at the same time more natural and free
from effort. Perhaps if your Majesty could read a tone louder it would
be as well. Charles Buller, who was amongst the House of Commons, told
Lord Melbourne that, where he stood, the voice, although well heard,
sounded somewhat weak. But this should not be attempted unless it
can be done with perfect ease. Nothing injures reading so much as the
attempt to push the organ beyond its natural powers.

Lord Melbourne hopes that these tumults in the manufacturing districts
are subsiding, but he cannot conceal from your Majesty that he views
them with great alarm--much greater than he generally thinks it
prudent to express. He fears that they may last in the form of strike,
and turn out much longer than is looked for, as they did in 1832 and
1833.

There is a great mass of discontented feeling in the country arising
from the actual state of society. It arises from the distress and
destitution which will fall at times upon a great manufacturing
population, and from the wild and extravagant opinions which