inst the Government just at the
time he was thinking of coming. That this attack had identified him as
the leader of his Party, at a moment when I had been most anxious
that he should abstain from taking an active part, and by withdrawing
himself from politics he would enable himself to become the more
useful friend to Her Majesty. The Queen had not seen the speech,
was sorry he had felt himself obliged to make it, but it would
be difficult for him to avoid it after having been so long Prime
Minister.

Her Majesty told me that previous to the exit of the late Government,
Lord John had earnestly cautioned Her Majesty not to propose any
new grant of money, as it would in the case of L70,000 for the new
stables, however unfairly, bring great unpopularity upon the Queen. I
said in regard to any increase to the Prince's annuity, I thought
it would be very imprudent in him to think of it, except under very
peculiar circumstances which might arise, but which could not yet be
foreseen. The Queen said that _nothing_ should induce Her Majesty to
accept such a favour from these Ministers. Peel probably now regretted
his opposition to the grant, but it was, and was intended to be, a
personal insult to herself, and it was followed up [by] opposition
to her private wishes in the precedency question, where the Duke of
Wellington took the lead against her wishes, as Peel had done in the
Commons against the Prince's grant. She never could forget it, and no
favour to her should come from such a quarter. I told Her Majesty I
could not rest the Prince's case on Her Majesty's objections if they
were the only ones which could be brought forward. If the case again
rose I feared Her Majesty would find many who before, from Party
views, voted according to Her Majesty's wishes, would now rank on the
opposite side.

Her Majesty asked Dr Hawtrey the evening before who was the cleverest
boy at Eton.

Dr Hawtrey made a profound bow to the Queen and said, "I trust your
Majesty will excuse my answering, for if I did I make 600 enemies at
once."

_Memorandum by Baron Stockmar._

_6th October 1841._

The Queen had asked Lord Melbourne whether he would soon visit her at
Windsor. He had not replied on that point, but had written to Prince
Albert in order to learn first the Prince's opinion on the feasibility
of the matter.

The Prince sent for me and consulted with me. I was of opinion that
the Prince had better refrain from giving an ans