he future. He was much impressed with the movement among
a body of members of parliament against having any peer for prime
minister. I signified briefly that I did not think there should be
too ready a submission to such a movement. There was not time to
say a great deal, and I had something serious to say, so we
adjourned the conversation till half past eleven, when I should
return from St. George's.

He came at that time and opened on the same lines, desiring to
obtain from me whatever I thought proper to say as to persons in
the arrangements for the future. I replied to him that this was in
my view a most serious matter. All my thoughts on it were
absolutely at the command of the Queen. And I should be equally at
his command, if he inquired of me from her and in her name; but
that otherwise my lips must be sealed. I knew from him that he was
in search of information to report to the Queen, but this was a
totally different matter.

I entered, however, freely on the general question of the movement
among a section of the House of Commons. I thought it impossible
to say at the moment, but I should not take for granted that it
would be formidable or regard it as _in limine_ disposing of the
question. Up to a certain point, I thought it a duty to strengthen
the hands of our small minority and little knot of ministers in
the Lords, by providing these ministers with such weight as
attaches to high office. All this, or rather all that touched the
main point, namely the point of a peer prime minister, he without
doubt reported.

The council train came down and I joined the ministers in the
drawing-room. I received various messages as to the time when I
was to see the Queen, and when it would be most convenient to me.
I interpret this variety as showing that she was nervous. It ended
in fixing the time after the council and before luncheon. I
carried with me a box containing my resignation, and, the council
being over, handed it to her immediately, and told her that it
contained my tender of resignation. She asked whether she ought
then to read it. I said there was nothing in the letter to require
it. It repeated my former letter of notice, with the requisite
additions.

I must notice what, though slight, supplied the only incident of
any interest in this perhaps rather me