Duke did, and when Peel
received it, he went to the Palace (in full dress according to
etiquette), and received her commands to form a Government. She
received him (though she dislikes him) extremely well, and he was
perfectly satisfied.

While the Tories were rejoicing in their victory, the Whigs,
greatly exasperated, were already beginning to meditate the
organisation of a strong Opposition, and providing the means of
carrying on an effectual war against the new Government. They do
not choose to look upon their expulsion as attributable to the
defection of their allies, but as the work of the Tories upon a
mere party question, and that a very unjustifiable one, and
treated in a very unjustifiable manner. I met Ellice and
Labouchere in the street, and found them full of menace and
sinister prediction, and to my assertion that all would go well
and _easily_, they shook their heads, and insisted that the
conduct of their opponents entitled them to no forbearance, and
that finding none, their difficulties and embarrassments would be
very great; and I found in other quarters that there is a
disposition to rally and marshal the party, and commence
offensive warfare; but others of the Whigs entertained no such
views, and looked upon the game as quite lost for the present;
and in point of fact, nothing is settled, fixed, combined, or
arranged as yet; and there has not been time to ascertain the
disposition or intentions of the leaders.

[Page Head: THE BEDCHAMBER DIFFICULTY.]

While, however, there was yesterday this uncertainty and
agitation in the Whig camp, and the Tories were waiting in
perfect security for the tranquil arrangement of the new
Government, a storm suddenly arose, which threatens to scatter to
the winds the new combinations, and the ultimate effects of which
it is impossible for anybody to foresee. The Queen insisted upon
keeping the ladies of her household, and Peel objected, but
without shaking her determination. He begged her to see the Duke
of Wellington, and she agreed to see the Duke and him together.
He had, however, before this gone to the Palace with Lord
Ashley,[16] whom he had taken with him, fancying that because he
had been in the habit of seeing a great deal of the Queen, he
might have some influence with her--a notion altogether
preposterous, and exhibiting the deficiency of Peel in worldly
dexterity and tact, and in knowledge of character. Ashley made no
impression on the Queen. When t