the country so strong,
and daily increasing. They would lose the counties, Lord Melbourne
thinks, and the question is whether their successes in the
manufacturing towns would be sufficient to counterbalance that. The
debate may last longer, Lord Melbourne says, as J. Russell says he
will continue it as long as their friends wish it. Many of their
friends would be very angry if we did not dissolve, Lord Melbourne
says. 'I say always,' said Lord Melbourne, 'that your Majesty will
be in such a much worse position' (if a majority should be returned
against us), 'but they say not, for that the others would dissolve.'
I said that if that was so we _must dissolve_, for then that it would
come to just the same thing, and that that changed my opinion very
much. 'You would like us then to make the attempt?' Lord Melbourne
asked. I said 'Almost.' I asked if he really thought they would
dissolve. 'I've great reason to believe they would,' he replied.
'Hardinge[34] told Vivian[35] "we shall prevent _your_ dissolving, but
_we shall_ dissolve."' ... I asked did Lord Melbourne think they (the
Conservatives) would remain in long, and Melbourne said: 'One can't
tell beforehand what may happen, but you would find their divisions
and dissensions amongst themselves sufficient to prevent their staying
in long.' ...

"Saw Lord John Russell, who didn't feel certain if the debate would
end to-night. Talked of the very good feeling in the country. He said
he understood Sir Edward Knatchbull[36] was exceedingly displeased at
what Peel had said concerning Free Trade, and said in that case Peel
would be as bad as the present Government. He thinks the Tories, if in
power, might try and collect the Sugar duties without Law, which would
do them a great deal of harm and be exceedingly unpopular. He does
_not_ think the Tories intend _certainly_ to dissolve. He thinks they
would not dissolve now, and that they would hereafter get so entangled
by their own dissensions, as to render it unfavourable to them."

[Footnote 33: James, sixth Duke. The Duchess was afterwards a
Lady of the Bedchamber.]

[Footnote 34: Sir Henry Hardinge (1785-1856) had been
Secretary at War, and Chief Secretary for Ireland, under
former Tory Governments.]

[Footnote 35: Master-General of the Ordnance.]

[Footnote 36: M.P. for East Kent. He became Paymaster-General
in Peel's Cabinet.]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_