ountenance and compression of lips. He said on concluding
it: "This is a most decided opinion indeed, quite an '_apple[114]
opinion_.'" Anson told him that the Prince felt that if the Queen's
confidence in Peel was in a way to be established, it would be
extremely shaken by his (Lord Melbourne's) visit at such a moment. He
felt that it would be better that Lord Melbourne's appearance should
be in London, where he would meet the Queen only on the terms of
general society, but at the same time he (the Prince) was extremely
reluctant to give an opinion upon a case which Lord Melbourne's own
sense of right ought to decide. Anson added how he feared his speech
of yesterday in the House of Lords[115] had added another impediment
to his coming at this moment, as it had identified him with and
established as the head of the Opposition party, which he (Anson) had
hoped Melbourne would have been able to avoid. Melbourne, who was then
sitting on the sofa, rushed up upon this, and went up and down the
room in a violent frenzy, exclaiming--"God eternally d--n it!"
etc., etc. "Flesh and blood cannot stand this. I only spoke upon
the defensive, which Ripon's speech at the beginning of the session
rendered quite necessary. I cannot be expected to give up my position
in the country, neither do I think that it is to the Queen's interest
that I should."

Anson continued that the Baron thought that no Ministry could stand
the force of such an undercurrent influence, that all the good that
was to be derived from pacifying the Queen's mind at the change had
been gained, and that the danger which we were liable to, and which
threatened him in particular, could only be averted by his own
straightforward decision with the Queen. Anson asked him if _he_ saw
any danger likely to arise from this correspondence. After a long
pause he said, "_I certainly cannot think it right_," though he
felt sure that some medium of communication of this sort was no new
precedent. He took care never to say anything which could bring his
opinion in opposition _to Sir Robert's, and he should distinctly
advise the Queen to adhere to her Ministers in everything,[116]
unless he saw the time had arrived at which it might be
resisted_.[117] The principal evil, replied Anson, to be dreaded from
the continuance of Lord Melbourne's influence was, according to the
Baron's opinion, that so long as the Queen felt she could resort to
Lord Melbourne for his advice, she never wo