rse, this would be agreeable to me as it gave us another
chance. I said it would be awkward if they resigned Thursday, on
account of the Birthday. Lord Melbourne said I could wait a day and
only send for Peel on Saturday, that that wouldn't signify to Peel,
as he could come down to Claremont.... I asked, in case they meant to
bring on this Corn Law question, when would they do so. 'Perhaps about
the 30th,' Lord Melbourne said. It would be a more dangerous question,
but it would make them (the Tories) show their colours, which is a
great advantage. He said they prevented Sir Edward Knatchbull from
speaking last night."

[Footnote 37: After eight days' discussions of Lord Sandon's
Motion, the Ministers were defeated by 317 to 281.]

[Pageheading: RESIGNATION POSTPONED]

_Wednesday, 19th May._

"At twenty minutes to one came Lord Melbourne.... I returned him Lord
John Russell's letter, and talked of it, and of John Russell's saying
the division and Peel's speech made it absolutely necessary to decide
_to-day_ whether to _resign_ or _dissolve_. I asked what Peel had
said in his speech about the Corn Laws. 'I'll tell you, Ma'am, what he
said,' Lord Melbourne replied, 'that he was for a sliding duty and
not for a fixed duty; but he did not pledge himself as to what rate of
duty it should be. I must say,' Lord Melbourne continued, 'I am
still against dissolution. I don't think our chances of success are
sufficient.' I replied that I couldn't quite believe that, but that I
might be wrong. Lord John is for dissolving. '_You_ wish it?' I said I
always did. Talked of the feeling in the City and in the country being
so good. Lord Melbourne don't think so much of the feeling in the
country. Talked of the majority of thirty-six having not been more
than they expected.... Lord Melbourne said people thought the debate
was lengthened to please me. I said not at all, but that it was more
convenient for me. Anyhow I need do nothing till Saturday. The House
of Commons was adjourned to the next day, and the House of Lords to
Monday. 'Mr Baring says,' he said, 'if there was only a majority
one way or another, it would be better than this state of complete
equality.'

"At twenty minutes past four Lord Melbourne returned. 'Well, Ma'am,'
he said, 'we've considered this question, and both the sides of
it well, and at last we voted upon it; and there were--the Lord
Chancellor for dissolution, Lord Minto[38] for it, Lord Norm