be
obtained. But Lord Melbourne has little to add to what he wrote to
your Majesty yesterday. So many interests are affected by this Sugar
question, the West Indian, the East Indian, the opponents of Slavery
and others, that no small number of our supporters will be induced
either to stay away or to vote against us, and this must place us in
a minority upon the main points of our Budget. In this we can hardly
acquiesce, nor can we adopt a different policy and propose other
taxes, when in our opinion the necessary revenue can be raised without
imposing them. This state of things imposes upon us the alternative
of dissolution or of resignation, and to try the former without
succeeding in it would be to place both your Majesty and ourselves in
a worse situation than that in which we are at present.

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _8th May 1841._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. We have been
considering this question of dissolution at the Cabinet, and we have
had before us a general statement of the public returns for England
and Wales. It is not very favourable, but Lord Melbourne fears that it
is more favourable than the reality would prove. The Chancellor,[23]
Palmerston, and Hobhouse are strongly for dissolution, but the opinion
of the majority is the other way, and in that opinion Lord Melbourne
is strongly inclined to agree.

Lord Melbourne will have the honour of waiting upon your Majesty
to-morrow at three.

[Footnote 23: The Earl of Cottenham.]

[Pageheading: SIR ROBERT PEEL]

_Memorandum by Mr Anson._

NOTES UPON AN INTERVIEW WITH SIR ROBERT PEEL (NO. 1).[24]

_9th May 1841._

Told Sir Robert that I had wished to have sought him through the
medium of a common friend, which would have given him a greater
confidence than I had now a right to expect at his hands, but I
felt upon so delicate a mission it was safer, and would be more in
accordance with his wishes, to come direct.

That the Prince had sent me to him, with the object of removing
difficulties upon his coming into office.

That Her Majesty was anxious that the question of the removal of the
Ladies of the Bedchamber should not be revived, and would wish that
in any personal communication with Sir Robert this question might be
avoided.

That it might be arranged that if Sir Robert would not insist upon
carrying out his principle, Her Majesty might procure the resignation
o