FAREWELL INTERVIEW WITH PEEL

Still more interesting is an interview with the fallen minister himself,
written ten days after it took place:--

_July 24._--On Monday the 13th I visited Sir R. Peel, and found him
in his dressing-room laid up with a cut in one of his feet. My
immediate purpose was to let him know the accounts from New Zealand
which Lord Grey had communicated to me.... However _I_ led on from
subject to subject, for I thought it my duty not to quit town, at
the end possibly of my political connection with Sir R. Peel, that
is if he determined to individualise himself, without giving the
opportunity at least for free communication. Though he opened
nothing, yet he followed unreluctantly. I said the government
appeared to show signs of internal discord or weakness. He said,
Yes; related that Lord John did not mean to include Lord Grey, that
he sent Sir G. Grey and C. Wood to propitiate him, that Lord Grey
was not only not hostile but volunteered his services. At last I
broke the ice and said, 'You have seen Lord Lyndhurst.' He said,
'Yes.' I mentioned the substance of my interview with Lord
Lyndhurst, and also what I had heard from Goulburn of his. He said,
'I am _hors de combat_.' I said to him, 'Is that possible? Whatever
your present intentions may be, can it be done?' He said he had
been twice prime minister, and nothing should induce him again to
take part in the formation of a government; the labour and anxiety
were too great and he repeated more than once emphatically with
regard to the work of his post, 'No one in the least degree knows
what it is. I have told the Queen that I part from her with the
deepest sentiments of gratitude and attachment; but that there is
one thing she must not ask of me, and that is to place myself again
in the same position.' Then he spoke of the immense accumulation.
'There is the whole correspondence with the Queen, several times a
day, and all requiring to be in my own hand, and to be carefully
done; the whole correspondence with peers and members of
parliament, in my own hand, as well as other persons of
consequence; the sitting seven or eight hours a day to listen in
the House of Commons. Then I must, of course, have my mind in the
principal subjects connected with the various depart