What Lady Palmerston says about Sir R. Peel is very unjust. There
is no shabbiness whatever in his not coming to a decision upon the
factory question.[87]

[Footnote 87: Lady Palmerston (no doubt in sympathy with Lord
Ashley) expected some factory legislation to be announced.]

_Queen Victoria to the Countess of Gainsborough._[88]

CLAREMONT, _6th September 1841._

MY DEAREST LADY GAINSBOROUGH,--I had the pleasure of receiving your
two kind letters of the 24th and 25th ult. yesterday, and thank you
much for them. I am so happy that you are _really_ better....

I hoped that you would be pleased at what you thank me for; you see
I _did not_ forget what you told me once at Windsor when we were
out driving, and I assure you that Lord Melbourne was very anxious
to do it. Last week was a most painful, trying one to me, and this
separation from my truly excellent and kind friend Lord Melbourne,
_most_ distressing. You will understand _what_ a change it must be to
me. I am, however, so happy in my home, and have such a perfect angel
in the Prince, who has been such a comfort to me, that one must be
thankful and grateful for these blessings, and take these hard trials
as lessons sent from above, for our best.

Our little girl makes great progress, and suffers comparatively but
very little from her teething. We came here to be _quiet_ for a few
days, as this place is so very private.

The Baroness will write to Lord Gainsborough to say that I wish much
you would take Lady Lyttelton's waiting, which begins on 23rd of
November.

The Prince begs to be kindly named to you, and I to Fanny and your
brother, and pray believe me always, dearest Lady Gainsborough, ever
yours most affectionately,

VICTORIA R.

Pray thank Fanny for her kind letter.

[Footnote 88: Formerly, as Lady Barham, a Lady of the
Bedchamber. Lord Barham had been created Earl of Gainsborough
in the course of the year (1841).]

[Pageheading: LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S DEPARTMENT]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel._

_7th September 1841._

The Queen wishes that Sir Robert Peel would mention to Lord De la
Warr[89] that he should be very particular in always naming to the
Queen any appointment he wishes to make in his department, and always
to take her pleasure upon an appointment before he settles on them;
this is a point upon which the Queen has always laid great stress.
This applies in great measure to the appointment of