. that she must carefully abstain from
playing the same part she did, again, on Sir R. Peel's attempt to form
a Ministry, for that nothing but the forbearance of the Tories had
enabled himself and his colleagues to support H.M. at that time. He
feared Peel's doggedness and pertinacity might make him insist, as a
point of honour, on having all discretion granted to him in regard
to the removal of Ladies. I told him of the Prince's suggestion that
before the Queen saw Sir R. Peel some negotiation might be entered
into with Sir Robert, so that the subject might be avoided by mutual
consent, the terms of which might be that Sir Robert should give up
his demand to extort the principle. The Queen, on the other hand,
should require the resignation of those Ladies objected to by Sir
Robert. Lord Melbourne said, however, that the Prince must not have
personal communication with Sir Robert on this subject, but he thought
that I might through the medium of a common friend.

[Pageheading: LORD MELBOURNE'S ADVICE]

_Memorandum by Mr Anson._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _5th May 1841._

Saw Lord Melbourne after his interview this morning with the Queen. He
says Her Majesty was perfectly calm and reasonable, and seemed quite
prepared for the resignation of the Government. He said she was
prepared to give way upon the Ladies if required, but much wished
that that point might be previously settled by negotiation with Sir R.
Peel, to avoid any discussion or difference. Lord Melbourne thinks I
might do this. He would also like Peel to be cautioned not to press
Her Majesty to decide hastily, but to give Her Majesty time, and that
he should feel that if he acted fairly he would be met in the same
spirit by the Queen.

With regard to future communication with Lord Melbourne, the Queen
said she did not mean that a change should exclude her from Lord
Melbourne's society, and when Lord Melbourne said that in society Her
Majesty could not procure Lord Melbourne's opinion upon any subject,
and suggested that that should be obtained through the Prince, Her
Majesty said that that could pass in writing under cover to me, but
that she must communicate direct.

The Queen, he says, leans to sending for the Duke of Wellington. Lord
Melbourne advised that Her Majesty should make up her mind at once to
send for Sir Robert. He told me that it would not be without precedent
to send for both at once; this it appears to me would obviate every
objection. T