ferent
departments of one office. The first division was into two, and they
were called the Secretary for the Northern and the Secretary for
the Southern department. They drew a line across the world, and each
transacted the business connected with the countries within his
own portion of the globe. Another division then took place, and the
Foreign affairs were confided to one Secretary of State, and the Home
and Colonial affairs to the other; but the present arrangement was
finally settled in the year 1793, when the junction was formed between
Mr Pitt on the one hand, and those friends of Mr Fox who left him
because they differed with him upon the French Revolution. The Home
affairs were placed in the hands of one Secretary of State, the
Foreign of another, and the Colonial and Military affairs of a third,
and this arrangement has continued ever since.[149] The persons then
appointed were the Duke of Portland,[150] Lord Grenville,[151] and Mr
Dundas,[152] Home, Foreign, and Colonial Secretaries.

Writing from recollection, it is very possible that Lord Melbourne may
be wrong in some of the dates which he has ventured to specify.[153]

[Footnote 149: A fourth Secretary of State was added at
the time of the Crimean War, so as to separate Colonial and
Military affairs, and a fifth after the Indian Mutiny to
supersede the President of the Board of Control. _See_ Lord
Melbourne's letter of 31st December 1837, _ante_, p. 100.
(Ch. VI, 'State Departments')]

[Footnote 150: Third Duke (1738-1809).]

[Footnote 151: William Wyndham, Lord Grenville (1759-1834).]

[Footnote 152: Henry Dundas (1742-1811), afterwards Lord
Melville.]

[Footnote 153: See _post_, pp. 358, 359.
(Ch. X, 'The English Constitution', et seq.)]

[Pageheading: THE ENGLISH CONSTITUTION]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _4th November 1841._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has this
morning had the honour and pleasure of receiving your Majesty's letter
of yesterday....

Lord Melbourne sends a letter which he has received from his sister,
which may not be unentertaining. Lady Palmerston is struck, as
everybody is who goes to Ireland, with the candid warmth and vehement
demonstration of feeling. England always appears cold, heartless, and
sulky in comparison....

With respect to the questions put to me by your Majesty at the desire
of His