ld wish that a Minister who has the whole machine of the Government
before him should be necessarily thwarted or interfered with in the
selection of those whom he may be desirous to employ. Lord Melbourne
would therefore by no means advise your Majesty to throw difficulty in
the way of the diplomatic arrangements which may be proposed, unless
there should be in them anything manifestly and glaringly bad. The
nomination of Lord ---- would have been so, but otherwise it cannot
very greatly signify who is the Ambassador at Vienna, or even at
Petersburg or Paris. Stuart de Rothesay[94] and Strangford[95] are not
good men, either of them, but it will be difficult for Lord Aberdeen
to neglect their claims altogether. Heytesbury[96] is an able man, the
best they have. Sir Robert Gordon[97] is an honest man, slow but not
illiberal. It would be well if your Majesty showed Lord Aberdeen that
you know these men, and have an opinion upon the subject of them.

Canada is another matter. It is a most difficult and most hazardous
task. There has been recent rebellion in the country. A new
Constitution has lately been imposed upon it by Parliament. The two
Provinces have been united, and the united Province is bordered by a
most hostile and uncontrollable community, the United States of North
America. To govern such a country at such a moment requires a man of
great abilities, a man experienced and practical in the management
of popular assemblies.... It is possible that matters may go smoothly
there, and that if difficulties do arise Sir C. Bagot may prove more
equal to them than from his general knowledge of his character Lord
Melbourne would judge him to be....

Upon the subject of diplomatic appointments Lord Melbourne has
forgotten to make one general observation which he thinks of
importance. Upon a change of Government a very great and sudden change
of all or many of the Ministers at Foreign Courts is an evil and to be
avoided, inasmuch as it induces an idea of a general change of policy,
and disturbs everything that has been settled. George III. always set
his face against and discouraged such numerous removals as tending to
shake confidence abroad in the Government of England generally and to
give it a character of uncertainty and instability. It would be well
if your Majesty could make this remark to Lord Aberdeen.

[Footnote 94: The new Ambassador to St Petersburg.]

[Footnote 95: Percy, sixth Viscount Strangford (