hes for a book
relating to what passed from one hundred to two hundred years ago,
Lord Melbourne would strongly recommend the Private Memoirs of the
Lord Chancellor Clarendon (Edward Hyde), not the great work, _The
History of the Rebellion_, though that is well worth reading, but the
_Memoirs_, and Bishop Burnet's History of his own time. The reigns
of Charles II., James II., and the Revolution are very curious in
the latter. During Queen Anne's reign the Bishop was not so much
consulted, and his work is therefore not so interesting. If your
Majesty wishes to turn your attention to more recent events, Professor
Smyth's[96] lectures upon Modern History, and particularly upon
the French Revolution, seem to Lord Melbourne sound, fair, and
comprehensive. Lord Mahon's[97] is also a good work, and gives a good
account of the reigns of George I. and George II. He has been thought
by some in his last volume to have given too favourable a character of
the Chevalier, Charles Edward Stuart.

Lord Melbourne is much touched by what your Majesty says of the
Princess Royal, and the delight and comfort which your Majesty finds
in her, as well as by the whole picture which your Majesty draws of
your domestic happiness. When your Majesty refers to what passed
three years ago, your Majesty may be assured that it is with no small
pleasure that Lord Melbourne recalls any share which he may have had
in that transaction, and congratulates himself as well as your Majesty
and the Prince upon results which have been so fortunate both for
yourselves and for the country. Lord Melbourne ventures to hope that
your Majesty will convey these feelings to the Prince, together with
the assurance of his respectful remembrance.

[Footnote 94: The _Constitutional History_, published in
1827.]

[Footnote 95: Louis Rouffroy, Duc de Saint-Simon, author of
the celebrated _Memoires_, published 1829-30.]

[Footnote 96: William Smyth (1765-1849), Regius Professor of
Modern History at Cambridge.]

[Footnote 97: Afterwards fifth Earl Stanhope: the book
referred to is his _History of England from the Peace of
Utrecht to the Peace of Versailles_.]

[Pageheading: WALMER CASTLE]

_The Duke of Wellington to Sir Robert Peel._

WALMER CASTLE, _26th October 1842._

MY DEAR PEEL,--Arbuthnot has shown me your letter to him respecting
this house.

Nothing can be more convenient to me than to place it at Her Majesty's
d