affect the discipline of the Army, by subjecting the interior
management of regiments to be brought continually under the inspection
and control of the House of Commons upon complaints of officers
against their superiors, or even of private men against the officers.

The danger of the whole of Lord Cardigan's proceedings has been lest
a precedent of this nature should arise out of them. The question is
whether it is not more prudent to prevent a question being brought
forward in the House of Commons, than to wait for it with the
certainty of being obliged to yield to it or of being overpowered by
it. But of course this cannot be done unless it is consistent with
justice and with the usage and prestige of the Service.

Lord Melbourne has desired the Cabinet Ministers to assemble here
to-day at four o'clock, in order to consider the subject. Lord
Melbourne has seen Lord Hill again this morning, and Lord Hill has
seen and consulted the Duke of Wellington, who has stated his opinion
very fully.

The opinion of the Duke is that the Punishment on Sunday was a great
impropriety and indiscretion upon the part of Lord Cardigan, but not a
Military offence, nor a breach of the Mutiny Act or of the Articles of
War; that it called for the censure of the Commander-in-Chief, which
censure was pronounced by the General Order upon which the Duke was
consulted before it was issued, and that according to the usage of the
Service no further step can be taken by the Military Authorities. This
opinion Lord Melbourne will submit to-day to the Cabinet Ministers.

Lord Melbourne perceives that he has unintentionally written upon
two sheets of paper, which he hopes will cause your Majesty no
inconvenience.

[Pageheading: THE NOTTINGHAM ELECTION]

_Lord Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _28th April 1841._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has
himself seen the result of the election at Nottingham[15] without the
least surprise, from his knowledge of the place and his observation of
the circumstances of the contest. What John Russell reported to your
Majesty was the opinion of those who act for us in that place, but as
soon as Lord Melbourne saw that there was a disposition upon the part
of the violent party, Radicals, Chartists, and what not, to support
the Tory candidate, he knew that the contest was formidable and
dubious. The Tory party is very strong, naturally, at Nottingham,
and if it