success as Head
Master of Harrow has not been such as to overcome the objection which
applies on general grounds to the succession of a father by a son in
an office of this description.

Professor Whewell is a member of Trinity College of the highest
scientific attainments. His name is probably familiar to your Majesty
as the author of one of the Bridgewater Treatises,[129] and of other
works which have attracted considerable notice.

He is a general favourite among all who have had intercourse with him
from his good temper and easy and conciliatory manners. Though not
_peculiarly_ eminent as a divine (less so at least than a writer on
scientific and philosophical subjects), his works manifest a deep
sense of the importance of religion and sound religious views. The
Archbishop of Canterbury[130] and the Bishop of London[131] (himself
of Trinity College) incline to think that the most satisfactory
appointment upon the whole would be that of Professor Whewell.

Sir Robert Peel, after making every enquiry into the subject, and with
a deep conviction of the importance of the appointment, has arrived at
the same conclusion, and humbly therefore recommends to your Majesty
that Professor Whewell should succeed Dr Wordsworth as Master of
Trinity College, Cambridge.

[Footnote 126: Then Knightsbridge Professor of Moral
Philosophy.]

[Footnote 127: Francis Martin, afterwards Vice-Master, died
1868.]

[Footnote 128: Christopher Wordsworth, afterwards Bishop of
Lincoln.]

[Footnote 129: By the will (dated 1825) of the eighth Earl
of Bridgewater--who must not be confounded with the third and
last Duke, projector of inland navigation--L8,000 was left
for the best work on the "Goodness of God as manifested in
the Creation." The money was divided amongst eight persons,
including Whewell, who wrote on Astronomy considered in
reference to Natural Theology.]

[Footnote 130: William Howley.]

[Footnote 131: O. J. Blomfield.]

[Pageheading: QUEEN ISABELLA]

[Pageheading: THE SPANISH MARRIAGE]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen._

_17th October 1841._

The Queen received Lord Aberdeen's letter yesterday evening, and quite
approves of the draft to Mr Aston, and of Lord Aberdeen's having sent
it off at once. Her earnest wish is that the English Government should
be firm, and uphold the Regent as far as it is in our power. The Queen
has perused M. Gu