el that the same general secrecy which your Majesty has always
observed respecting public affairs is more particularly necessary at
the present moment.

Lord Melbourne earnestly hopes that your Majesty is well and composed,
and with the most anxious wishes for your Majesty's welfare and
happiness, remains ever your Majesty's most devoted and attached
Servant, and he trusts that he may add, without presumption, your
Majesty's faithful and affectionate Friend.

[Footnote 73: Who now became Colonial Secretary.]

[Pageheading: THE HOUSEHOLD]

_Memorandum: Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

Your Majesty might say, if to your Majesty it seems good, that in
consequence of the Addresses voted by both Houses of Parliament, your
Majesty's servants had tendered their resignations, and that for the
same reason your Majesty had accepted those resignations. That your
Majesty's present servants possessed your Majesty's confidence,
and that you only parted with them in deference to the opinion of
Parliament.

That your Majesty naturally had recourse to Sir Robert Peel as
possessing the confidence of the great Party which constitutes the
majority of both Houses, and that you were prepared to empower him to
form an Administration.

That your Majesty did not conceive that the giving him this commission
of itself empowered him to advise the removal of the officers of your
Majesty's Household; that you conceive that all that the Constitution
required was that the Sovereign's Household should support the
Sovereign's Ministers; but that you were prepared to place at his
disposal, and to take his advice upon all the offices of the Household
at present filled by members of either House of Parliament, with
the exception of those whom your Majesty might think proper to
name, _i.e._, Lord Byron[74]--and it should be understood that this
exception was not to extend further than to him.

If Sir Robert Peel should wish that in case of Lord Byron's remaining
it should be considered as a fresh appointment made by his advice,
this wish might properly be acceded to.

_The Ladies._--If any difficulty should arise it may be asked to be
stated in writing, and reserved for consideration. But it is of great
importance that Sir Robert Peel should return to London with full
power to form an Administration. Such must be the final result, and
the more readily and graciously it is acquiesced in the better.

Your Majesty must take care