. de Ste-Aulaire, on the recent attempt
in favour of Queen Christina in Spain. Your Majesty will see that
although M. Guizot denies, with every appearance of sincerity, all
participation of the French Government in this attempt, he does not
conceal that it has their cordial good wishes for its success. These
feelings, on the part of such a Government as that of France, will
probably be connected with practical assistance of some kind, although
M. Guizot's declarations may perhaps be literally true.

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen._

The Queen must say that she fears the French are at the bottom of it,
for their jealousy of our influence in Spain is such, that the Queen
fears they would not be indisposed to see civil war to a certain
degree restored rather than that Spain should go on quietly supported
by us.[125] The Queen, however, hopes that, as far as it is possible,
the English Government will support the present Regent, who is
thoroughly attached to England, and who, from all that the Queen
hears of him, is the fittest man they have in Spain for the post he
occupies; and indeed matters till now had gone on much more quietly
than they had for some time previous, since Espartero is at the head
of the Government. The French intrigues should really be frustrated.
The Queen certainly thinks that M. Guizot's veracity is generally not
to be doubted, but the conduct of France regarding Spain has always
been very equivocal.

[Footnote 125: See _post_, p. 349. (Ch. X, 17th October, 1841)]

[Pageheading: MASTERSHIP OF TRINITY]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

_16th October 1841._

Sir Robert Peel, with his humble duty to your Majesty, begs leave to
acquaint your Majesty that the Master of Trinity College, Cambridge,
has formally signified his wish to retire from the duties of that
important trust.

Sir Robert Peel has reason to believe that it would be advantageous
that the selection of a successor to Dr. Wordsworth should be made
from members of Trinity College who are or have been fellows of the
College. Of these, the most eminent in respect to the qualifications
required in the office of Master, and to academical distinction,
are:--

Professor Whewell.[126]
The Rev. Mr Martin,[127] Bursar of the College.
The Rev. Dr Wordsworth,[128] Head Master of Harrow School,
and son of the present Master of Trinity.

The latter is a highly distinguished scholar, but his