usion, and he was
convinced that they would have been practically removed by what had
passed. He said that neither Lord Stanley nor Sir James Graham knew
a word of what had passed. That Mr Greville had asked his friend Mr
Arbuthnot whether some understanding had not been entered into between
Lord Melbourne and him. That Mr Arbuthnot had replied that he was
certain that nothing of the sort could have passed,[45] as, if it had,
Sir Robert Peel would have informed him (Mr Arbuthnot) of the fact.
Again, Lady de Grey, the night of the ball at the Palace, came up to
him and said the Duke of Bedford had been speaking to her about the
resignation of the Duchess of Bedford, and asking her whether she
thought it necessary. She volunteered to find out from Sir Robert
whether he thought it requisite. She asked the question, which Sir
Robert tried to evade, but not being able, he said it struck him that
if it was a question of doubt the best means of solving it, was for
the Duke of Bedford to ask Lord Melbourne for his opinion.

I added that if the dissolution was a failure, which it was generally
apprehended would be the case, I felt convinced that Sir Robert would
be dealt with in the most perfect fairness by Her Majesty.

[Footnote 45: "After I had been told by the Duke of Bedford
that Peel was going to insist on certain terms, which was
repeated to me by Clarendon, I went to Arbuthnot, told him
Melbourne's impression, and asked him what it all meant. He
said it was all false, that he was certain Peel had no such
intentions, but, on the contrary, as he had before assured me,
was disposed to do everything that would be conciliatory
and agreeable to the Queen."--_Greville's Journal_, 19th May
1841.]

[Pageheading: VOTE OF WANT OF CONFIDENCE]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _24th May 1841._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has to
acquaint your Majesty that in the House of Commons this evening
Sir Robert Peel gave notice that on Thursday next he would move a
resolution to the following effect: "That Her Majesty's Ministers not
possessing power sufficient to carry into effect the measures
which they considered necessary, their retention of office was
unconstitutional and contrary to usage."[46] These are not the exact
words, but they convey the substance. This is a direct vote of want of
confidence, and Lord Melbourne would be incl