ct towards
those two ladies, who cast a lustre on the society in which they
move, less by their rank than their accomplishments and virtues; but
still, they stand in the situation of the nearest relatives of the
two Members of the Government, whose policy was approved by this
House, and disapproved by me. Now, I ask any man in the House,
whether it is possible that I could, with propriety and honour,
undertake the conduct of an Administration, and the management of
Irish affairs in this House, consenting previously, as an express
preliminary stipulation, that the two ladies 1 have named, together
with all others, should be retained in their appointments about the
court and person of the Sovereign? Sir, the policy of these things
depends not upon precedent--not upon what has been done in former
times; it mainly depends upon a consideration of the present. The
household has been allowed to assume a completely political
character, and that on account of the nature of the appointments
which have been made by Her Majesty's present Government I do not
complain of it--it may have been a wise policy to place in the chief
offices of the household, ladies closely connected with the Members
of the Administration; but, remember that this policy does seriously
to the public embarrassment of their successors, if ladies, being the
nearest relatives of the retired Ministers, are to continue in their
offices about the person of the Sovereign."

So Lord Melbourne, returned to power.

[Picture: Child's play. Chorus:--"Can't get out!"--"Can't get out." 14
June, 1939]

The genial Caricaturist John Doyle, as there were no illustrated comic
papers in those days, illustrated this incident in his H. B. Sketches.
No. 591 is "A Scene from the farce of _The Invincibles_, as lately
performed in the Queen's Theatre"--in which the Duke of Wellington and
Sir Robert Peel are being expelled at the point of the bayonet, by ladies
clad as soldiers. Sir Robert says: "These Household Troops charge in a
most disorderly manner, but they are too many for us." While the Duke
observes: "Our position is no longer tenable; draw off in good order,
while I cover the retreat." No. 592 is "The Balance of Power. The
figure proposed to displace the old one of Justice at the top of
Constitution Hill." It shows a statue of the Queen, as Justi