[Pageheading: INTERVIEW WITH PEEL]

[Pageheading: HOUSEHOLD APPOINTMENTS]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S DISTRESS]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

WINDSOR CASTLE _30th August 1841._

... The first interview with Sir Robert Peel has gone off well, and
only lasted twenty minutes; and he sends the Queen to-morrow, in
writing, the proposed arrangements, and will only come down on
Wednesday morning. He first wished to come to-morrow, but on the
Queen's saying that he need not to do that, but might send it and only
come down Wednesday, he thought the Queen might prefer having it to
consider a little, which she said she certainly should, though she
meant no want of confidence. The Queen, in the first instance, stated
that she concluded he was prepared for her sending for him, and then
stated exactly what Lord Melbourne wrote, viz., the resignation having
taken place in consequence of the Addresses--the Queen's great regret
at parting with her present Ministers--the confidence she had in them,
and her only acceding in consequence of the Addresses in Parliament,
and then that consequently she looked to him (Sir Robert Peel) as
possessing the confidence of both Houses of Parliament to form an
Administration. He made many protestations of his sorrow, at what must
give pain to the Queen (as she said to him it did), but of course said
he accepted the task. The Duke of Wellington's health too uncertain,
and himself too prone to sleep coming over him--as Peel expressed
it--to admit of his taking an office in which he would have much to
do, but to be in the Cabinet, which the Queen expressed her wish he
should. He named Lord De Grey[76] as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland,
and Lord Eliot[77] as Secretary for Ireland, who, he said, were both
moderate people. The Queen said she gave up to him the officers of
State and those of her Household who were in Parliament, and he then
asked if Lord Liverpool would be agreeable as Lord Steward (the Queen
said he would), and if she would object to Lord Jersey as Master of
the Horse (she said she would not), as she believed he understood it
perfectly. He said he was so anxious to do everything which could be
agreeable to the Queen, that he wished her to name whom she should
like as Lord Chamberlain; she said he might suggest some one, but as
he would not, and pressed the Queen to name whoever she pleased,
she said she should like the Duke of Rutland, and he said he would
certainly name i