e 85: Sir Henry T. de la Beche, an eminent geologist.]

[Pageheading: MELBOURNE'S LAST OFFICIAL LETTER]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _2nd September 1841._

....Lord Melbourne hopes and trusts that when to-morrow is over your
Majesty will recover from that depression of spirits under which your
Majesty now labours. Lord Melbourne never doubted that it would be
so, but is glad to learn from your Majesty the support and consolation
which your Majesty finds in the advice and affection of the Prince.

This is the last letter which Lord Melbourne will send in a box. He
will to-morrow morning return his keys to the Foreign Office, and
after that your Majesty will be good enough to send the letters, with
which you may honour Lord Melbourne, through Mr Anson.

Lord Melbourne most anxiously wishes your Majesty every blessing.

[Pageheading: COUNCIL AT CLAREMONT]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _3rd September 1841._

Lord Melbourne earnestly hopes that your Majesty is well after this
trying day.[86] Lord Melbourne has thought and felt for your Majesty
all this morning. But now that the matter is settled it will be
necessary that your Majesty should take a calm and composed view of
the whole situation, which Lord Melbourne trusts that your Majesty
will find by no means unsatisfactory.

And first with respect to public affairs. In the concerns of a
great nation like this there will always be some difficulties and
entanglements, but upon the whole the present state is good and the
prospect is good for the future. There is no reason to expect that
Sir Robert Peel will either be desirous or be able to take a very
different course from that which has been taken by your Majesty's late
servants, and some difficulties will certainly be removed, and some
obstacles smoothed, by the change which has lately taken place.

With respect to the effect which will be produced upon the comfort of
your Majesty's private life, it would be idle in Lord Melbourne,
after what your Majesty has said, to doubt of the manner in which your
Majesty will feel the change, which must take place in your Majesty,
to long accustomed habits and relations. But your Majesty may rest
assured of Lord Melbourne's devoted and disinterested attachment
to your Majesty, and that he will devote himself to giving to your
Majesty such information and advice as may be serviceable to your
Majesty with