WINDSOR CASTLE, _20th December 1845._

(_12 o'clock._)

We just saw Lord John Russell, who came in order to explain why he had
to give up the task of forming a Government. He had written to all his
former colleagues to join him in his attempt, amongst others to Lord
Grey, who answered, "that he could only belong to a Government which
pledged itself to the principle of absolute free trade and abolition
of all protection; that he had his own views upon the sugar question
(as to which he advocated the admission of slave labour) and upon
the Irish question (as to which his principle was to establish entire
religious equality); that he hoped that in the formation of a new
Government no personal considerations should stand in the way of a
full attention to public Duty."

Lord John replied that he advocated free trade, but as the immediate
question before them was the _Corn Laws_, he thought it wiser not to
complicate this by other declarations which would produce a good deal
of animosity; that the sugar question and Ireland might be discussed
in Cabinet when circumstances required it; that he agreed entirely in
the last sentence.

After this Lord Grey declared himself quite satisfied. Lord John
considered now with his colleagues the peculiar measure to be
proposed, and Mr Baring thought he could arrange a financial scheme
which would satisfy Lord Lansdowne's demands for relief to the landed
interest. They all felt it their duty to answer the Queen's call upon
them, though they very much disliked taking office under such peculiar
difficulties. Now Lord John undertook to apportion the different
offices. He saw Lord Palmerston, and told him that the Queen had some
apprehension that his return to the Foreign Office might cause great
alarm in other countries, and particularly in France, and that this
feeling was still more strongly manifested in the city; whether under
these circumstances he would prefer some other office--for instance,
the Colonies? Lord Palmerston declared that he was not at all anxious
for office, and should much regret that his accession should in any
way embarrass Lord John; that he was quite prepared to support him out
of office, but that his taking another department than his former one
would be a public recognition of the most unjust accusations that
had been brought against him; that he had evinced throughout a long
official life his disposition for peace, and only in one instance
broke with France;[