obtained
when wanted. Horses to be used by one set of people and kept and fed
by another will never do. Servants and subordinate agents in England
are quite unmanageable in these respects. If they get [matters] into
their hands neither the Deity nor the Devil, nor both together, can
make them agree. Lord Melbourne writes this in ignorance of the actual
facts of the case, and therefore it may be inapplicable.

[Footnote 11: Master of the Horse.]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

_8th April 1840._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has
the honour to state that Sir James Graham yesterday brought forward
his motion on China in a speech of nearly three hours.[12] He was
answered by Mr Macaulay in a manner most satisfactory to his audience,
and with great eloquence. Sir William Follett spoke with much
ingenuity, but in the confined spirit of a lawyer.

[Footnote 12: The motion was to censure Ministers for their
want of foresight in their dealings with China in connection
with the extension of commerce, and with the opium trade. The
motion was rejected by 271 to 262.]

[Pageheading: ENGLAND AND CHINA]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

_9th April 1840._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has
the honour to report that the debate went on yesterday, when Mr Hawes
spoke against the motion. In the course of the debate Mr Gladstone[13]
said the Chinese had a right to poison the wells, to keep away the
English! The debate was adjourned.

[Footnote 13: Mr Gladstone had been member for Newark since
1832.]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_2nd May 1840._

Mr Cowper has just come in and tells me that they have determined to
begin the disturbance to-night at the Opera, at the very commencement
of the performance.[14] This may be awkward, as your Majesty will
arrive in the middle of the tumult. It is the intention not to permit
the opera to proceed until Laporte gives way.

Lord Melbourne is afraid that if the row has already begun, your
Majesty's presence will not put an end to it; and it might be as
well not to go until your Majesty hears that it is over and that the
performance is proceeding quietly. Some one might be sent to attend
and send word.

[Footnote 14: A _fracas_ took place at the Opera on 29th
April. The Manager, Laporte, not having engaged Tamburini
to sing, the