your people are appointed by you and not by me (nominally), and
therefore, unless they were to vote against my Government (which would
be awkward), they need not change. You may rely upon my care that you
shall have proper people, and not idle and not too young, and Lord
Melbourne has already mentioned several to me who would be very
suitable...._

I have received to-day an ungracious letter from Uncle Leopold. He
appears to me to be nettled because I no longer ask for his advice,
but dear Uncle is given to believe that he must rule the roast
everywhere. However, that is not a necessity. As he has written to
Melbourne, Melbourne will reply to him on every point, and will also
tell him that Stockmar ought to come here as soon as possible to
arrange everything about the treaty. That will be a very good thing,
because Stockmar understands all English things so well.

The _Second_, as you always called Palmerston, is to be married within
the next few days to Lady Cowper, the sister of my Premier (_Primus_);
I have known this for a long time, but Melbourne asked me not to tell
it to any one. They are, both of them, above fifty, and I think that
they are quite right so to act, because Palmerston, since the death
of his sisters, is quite alone in the world, and _Lady C._ is a very
clever woman, and _much_ attached to him; still, I feel sure it will
make you smile.

[Footnote 76: Mr George Anson had been Private Secretary to
Lord Melbourne; it was on Lord Melbourne's recommendation that
the Queen appointed him Private Secretary to Prince Albert.
The Prince was inclined to resent the selection, and to think
that in the case of so confidential an official he should have
been allowed to make his own nomination. But they became firm
friends, and the Prince found Mr Anson's capacity, common
sense, and entire disinterestedness of the greatest value to
him. Later he became keeper of the Prince's Privy Purse, and
died in 1849.]

(_Continued on the 9th_).--To-day I have had a _Conseil_, and then I
knighted the Mayor of Newport[77] (who distinguished himself so much
in that _riot of the Chartists_[78]); he is a very timid, modest man,
and was very happy when I told him orally how exceedingly satisfied I
am with his conduct.... The officers have been rewarded too.... I am
plaguing you already with tiresome politics, but you will in that find
a proof of my [confidence] love,[79] because I must