t
possession of the person of the young Queen. Queen Christina
denied complicity, but the Regent, Espartero, suspended
her pension on the ground that she had encouraged the
conspirators.]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _12th October 1841._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and returns
many thanks for the letter received yesterday informing Lord Melbourne
of the time of your Majesty's coming to London. Lord Melbourne
earnestly hopes that your Majesty continues well.

Lord Melbourne is very glad to hear of the appointment of Lord
Ellenborough. The reasons which your Majesty gives are sound and just,
and it is of great importance that a man not only of great ability but
of high station, and perfectly in the confidence of the Government at
home, should be named to this important post. Lord Ellenborough is a
man of great abilities, of much knowledge of India, of great industry
and of very accurate habits of business, and Lord Melbourne knows of
no objection to his appointment, except the loss of him here, where,
whether in or out of office, he has always been of great service.
He has hitherto been an unpopular man and his manners have been
considered contemptuous and overbearing, but he is evidently much
softened and amended in this respect, as most men are by time,
experience, and observation. Lord Fitzgerald[124] is a very able
public man, Lord Melbourne would say one of the most able, if not the
most able they have; but Lord Melbourne is told by others, who know
Lord Fitzgerald better, that Lord Melbourne overrates him. He is a
very good speaker, he has not naturally much industry, and his
health is bad, which will probably disable him from a very close and
assiduous attention to business. It is, however, upon the whole an
adequate appointment, and he is perhaps more likely to go on smoothly
with the Court of Directors, which is a great matter, than Lord
Ellenborough.

[Footnote 124: On Lord Ellenborough becoming Governor-General,
Lord Fitzgerald and Vesci, an ex-M.P., and former Chancellor
of the Irish Exchequer, succeeded him at the Board of
Control.]

[Pageheading: FRANCE AND SPAIN]

_The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria._

FOREIGN OFFICE, _16th October 1841._

Lord Aberdeen, with his most humble duty, begs to lay before
your Majesty a private letter from M. Guizot, which has just been
communicated to him by M