ON]

_Extract from the Queen's Journal._

_Thursday, 13th May 1841._

"Saw Lord Melbourne at a little past four.

"... 'We have had a Cabinet,' Lord Melbourne said, 'and we have been
considering the question of dissolution and what is the best course
to be pursued; if we were to dissolve, John Russell,' he said, 'would
pursue quite a different course; he would then announce the Sugar
Duties at once. I (Lord Melbourne) said, that I had been considering
well the whole question, and the Chancellor's letter, but that
altogether I did not think it advisable to have recourse to a
dissolution--and I think the greater part lean towards that opinion;
but there _are_ a few who are very much for a dissolution--the
Chancellor and Hobhouse very much so, and Palmerston. They have,
however, not quite finally decided the matter. I understand the debate
will certainly go over to-night,' he said, 'and that they would have
time on Saturday and Sunday to consider about Lord John's amendment.'"

_Extract from the Queen's Journal._

_Saturday, 15th May 1841._

"Lord Melbourne came to me at twenty minutes past one, and we talked
about this question of dissolution. 'We shall have a long debate upon
it this morning at the Cabinet,' Lord Melbourne said. 'The worst thing
is, that if we carry the Sugar Duties, we must dissolve. If we were to
dissolve,' he continued, 'and were to have the parties equal as they
are now, it would be very bad; if we _were_ to have a _majority_, it
would be a great thing; _but_ if we were to have a minority it would
be still worse.... We know that Charles I. and Charles II., and even
Cromwell, appealed to the country, and had a Parliament returned
into their very teeth' (so strong an Opposition), 'and that produced
deposition, and convulsion, and bloodshed and death; but since then
the Crown has always had a majority returned in favour of it. Even
Queen Anne,' he continued, 'who removed Marlborough in the midst of
his most glorious victories and dissolved Parliament, had an immense
majority, though her measures were miserable; William IV.,' he said,
'even though he had a majority against him which prevented him from
keeping his Ministers, had a much stronger feeling for him in that
Parliament, than he ever had before. But I am afraid,' he added, 'that
for the first time the Crown would have an Opposition returned smack
against it; and that would be an affront to which I am very unwilling
to expose the