sty.

In obeying your Majesty's commands Lord Aberdeen thinks it his duty,
at the same time, to state to your Majesty that, with the exception of
some alterations and additions of little importance, the Treaty in
its present form had existed for a considerable time in the Foreign
Office. He found, also, that there had been a reluctance to sign it on
the part of the French Government; but as the objection was chiefly of
a personal nature, it was speedily removed. The only share, therefore,
which Lord Aberdeen can properly be said to have had in this
transaction is that of having been enabled to afford your Majesty
the great satisfaction of completing this blessed work at an earlier
period than would otherwise have been the case.

[Footnote 8: The treaty conferred a mutual right of search.]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _1st February 1842._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has to
thank your Majesty for the letters of the 28th and the 31st ult., the
last of which he received this morning.

Lord Melbourne is very glad that your Majesty opens the Parliament
in person. Your Majesty knows Lord Melbourne's opinion, that it ought
always to be done, when it can be, without reference to Ministers,
politics, or political questions. Lord Melbourne hopes to be able to
go to the House in the evening, but he fears that it would be too much
for him if he were to attempt to attend also in the morning.

Lord Melbourne was in despair at hearing of poor Eos.[9] Favourites
often get shot; Lord Melbourne has known it happen often in his time.
That is the worst of dogs; they add another strong interest to a life
which has already of itself interest enough, and those, God knows!
sufficiently subject both to accident and decay.

Lord Melbourne is sorry to do anything that could trouble your Majesty
in the slightest degree, but he doubts not that your Majesty is
already aware of the matter, and therefore he has less scruple in
sending to your Majesty a letter[10] which he has received from the
Duke of Sussex. Upon the plea of not being well, Lord Melbourne has
put off seeing the Duke upon this subject until after Monday next,
and when he does see him, he will try to keep him quiet, which your
Majesty knows when he has got a thing of this sort into his head, is
no easy matter.

[Footnote 9: A favourite greyhound of the Prince, accidentally
shot by Prince Ferdinand.