AIDE.

[Footnote 92: Miss Agnes Strickland (1808-1874), who also
edited _Letters of Mary Queen of Scots_, etc.]

_Memorandum by Mr Anson._

CLAREMONT, _9th September 1841._

The Ministerial arrangements are now nearly completed. Writs for new
elections moved last night.

Wrote to Sir Robert, telling him the Queen ought to have heard from
him respecting the adjournment of the House of Commons, instead of
seeing it first in the public papers. Told him also of its being the
Queen's wish that a short report of the debates in each House should
always be sent to Her Majesty, from him in the Commons and from the
Duke of Wellington in the Lords.

The Queen had a letter to-day from the Queen Dowager, which was kindly
meant, but which made Her Majesty rather angry, complimenting Her
Majesty on the good grace with which she had changed her Government,
and saying that the late King's blessing rested upon her for calling
the Duke of Wellington and Peel to her Councils, etc....

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN CRITICISES APPOINTMENTS]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel._

_9th September 1841._

The Queen takes this opportunity of writing to Sir Robert Peel
_confidentially_ about another person: this is about Lord ----. The
Queen is strongly of opinion that Lord ---- should _not_ be employed
in any post of importance, as his being so would, in her opinion,
be detrimental to the interests of the country. The Queen wishes Sir
Robert to state this to Lord Aberdeen as her opinion. The Queen is
certain that Sir Robert will take care that it should not be known
generally that this is her opinion, for she is always most anxious to
avoid anything that might appear personal towards anybody. The Queen
cannot refrain from saying that she cannot quite approve of Sir
Charles Bagot's appointment,[93] as from what she has heard of his
qualities she does not think that they are of a character quite to
suit in the arduous and difficult position in which he will be placed.
At the same time the Queen does not mean to object to his appointment
(for she has already formally approved of it), but she feels it her
duty to state frankly and at all times her opinion, as she begs Sir
Robert also to do unreservedly to her. For the future, it appears to
the Queen that it would be best in all appointments of such importance
that before a direct communication was entered into with the
individual intended to be proposed, that the Queen sh