The first part of the letter,
relative to Lord John's amendment, we think good, but the other
part we can't quite agree in. 'There is to be a Cabinet to-morrow
to consider what is to be done,' said Lord Melbourne, 'for the
Chancellor's opinion must be considered. There is a preferment amongst
our people for dissolution,' Lord M. added. The feeling in the country
good. I asked Lord M., 'Must they resign directly, the next day, after
the division (if they intended resigning)?' 'Why,' he said, 'it was
awkward _not_ to do so if Parliament was sitting; if the division were
only to take place on Friday, then they needn't announce it till Monday,'
which we hope will be the case, as we agreed it wouldn't do for me to
have a ball the day Lord M. had resigned, and before I had sent for
anybody else, and therefore I hoped that it could be managed that the
division did not take place till Friday. Lord M. said that in case they
resigned, he wished Vernon Smith[27] to be made a Privy Councillor; the
only addition to the Peers he mentioned the other day he wished to make
is Surrey;[28] we agreed that too many Peers was always a bad thing."

[Footnote 26: To Lord Sandon's resolution on the Sugar Duties.]

[Footnote 27: Robert Vernon Smith (1800-1873), Under-Secretary
for War and the Colonies, afterwards Lord Lyveden.]

[Footnote 28: The Earl of Surrey (1791-1856) was now M.P. for
West Sussex, and Treasurer of the Household, and was afterwards
thirteenth Duke of Norfolk.]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_11th May 1841._

... I am sure you will forgive my writing a very short letter to-day,
but I am so harassed and occupied with business that I cannot find
time to write letters. You will, I am sure, _feel_ for me; the
probability of parting from so kind and excellent a being as Lord
Melbourne as a _Minister_ (for a _friend_ he will _always_ remain) is
very, _very_ painful, even if one feels it will not probably be for
long; to take it philosophically is my great wish, and _quietly_
I certainly shall, but one cannot help _feelings_ of affection and
gratitude. Albert is the greatest possible comfort to me in every way,
and my position is much more independent than it was before.

I am glad you see the French feeling in the right light. I rejoice
that the christening, etc., went off so well. Believe me, ever, your
devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Pageheading: QUESTION OF DISSOLUTI