say that the Baron appears to him to have
much reason in what he urges, and in the view which he takes. It is
absolutely required that confidence should be reposed in those who
are to have the management and bear the responsibility, and that they
should not be too much interrupted or interfered with.

[Footnote 154: Daughter of Lord North (afterwards Earl of
Guilford) and wife of Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. John Lindsay.
She lived till 1849--a link with the past.]

[Pageheading: SECRETARIES OF STATE]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _5th November 1841._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. Not feeling
satisfied of the correctness of the information which he had given to
your Majesty respecting the office of Secretary of State, he yesterday
evening requested Mr Allen[155] to look into the matter, and he has
just received from him the enclosed short memorandum, which he has the
honour of transmitting to your Majesty. This shows that Lord Melbourne
was quite wrong with respect to the period at which two Secretaries
of State were first employed, and that it was much earlier than he had
imagined.

The year 1782, when the third Secretary of State was abolished, was
the period of the adoption of the great measure of Economical Reform
which had been introduced by Mr. Burke in 1780.

The present arrangement was settled in 1794, which is about the time
which Lord Melbourne stated.

[Footnote 155: Secretary and Librarian at Holland House.]

[Pageheading: LORD MELBOURNE'S POSITION]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _7th November 1841._

... Your Majesty asks whether Lord Melbourne thinks that Prince
Metternich holds the opinion of Sir Robert Gordon, which he expresses
to Lord Beauvale. It is difficult to say what Prince Metternich's
real sentiments are. Lord Melbourne takes him not to have a very high
opinion of the abilities of others in general, and he is not unlikely
to depreciate Sir Robert Gordon to Lord Beauvale. Sir Robert Gordon is
a man of integrity, but he is tiresome, long and pompous, which cannot
be agreeable to the Prince, who has about him much of the French
vivacity, and also much of their settled and regular style of
argument....

With respect to the latter part of your Majesty's letter, Lord
Melbourne returns for the expressions of your Majesty's kindness his
warm and grateful thanks. Your Majesty may res