Peel proceeded to notice certain
misrepresentations with regard to his conduct in this affair, and
to vindicate his policy in requiring the change alluded to in those
letters. Lord John Russell replied at great length, and in reference
to the point which proved a stumblingblock to Sir Robert Peel in
his efforts to form an administration, said, that her majesty, after
relating all the circumstances, was pleased to ask him whether he
thought she was justified in making the refusal of a change in her
household to the required extent? His lordship said, he replied that he
thought her majesty was justified; and then she was pleased to observe,
that as in the exercise of the powers of the crown she had hitherto
given her support to the administration, she hoped I would consider
myself bound now to support her majesty in return. His lordship
then proceeded to state that on the next day a cabinet was held in
Downing-street, at which her majesty's confidential servants having
taken into consideration the letter addressed by her majesty to Sir
Robert Peel, and the reply of the right honourable baronet, were of
opinion that for the purpose of giving to the administration that
character of efficiency and stability, and those marks of the
constitutional support of the crown, which are required to enable it
to act usefully to the public service, it is reasonable that the great
officers of the court, and situations held in the household by members
of parliament, should be included in the political arrangements made
in a change of the administration; but they were not of opinion that a
similar principle should be applied or extended to the offices held by
ladies in her majesty's household. Lord John Russell concluded by saying
that he conceived that those who thought her majesty justified in what
she had done, should not refuse to assume the responsibility which
belongs to their opinion; and that they should neither conceal nor evade
the avowal of it, but should trust to the opinion of parliament, and of
the country as to the result. In reply Sir Robert Peel said that Lord
John Russell had relieved him from the greatest load of anxiety he had
ever suffered under during his whole life; and as there was no important
difference in their explanations, he thought it would be more respectful
to her majesty to let the matter rest where it was. On the following
evening a supplementary explanation of these matters was given in the
lords; but as