36] that that matter was gone by, and that nobody
had stronger conviction of the necessity to keep in amity with that
Power than himself. Upon this Lord John said that he could not form a
Government without him, and showed himself quite satisfied with Lord
Palmerston's declaration.

[Footnote 36: In reference to affairs in Syria in 1840.]

Suddenly Lord Grey, who had heard of this, cried out: "This was an
infringement of their compact"; that no _personal_ consideration
should interfere with the discharge of public duty, and that he must
decline entering the Government, as he considered Lord Palmerston's
return to the Foreign Office as fraught with danger to the peace
of Europe. Lord John could not, under these circumstances, form a
Government. He read to us a long letter from Lord Grey, written with
the intention that it should be seen by the Queen, in which Lord
Grey enters more fully into his motives, and finishes by saying
that therefore _he_ was not answerable for the failure to form an
Administration.[37]

[Footnote 37: Lord Grey's attitude was condemned by Macaulay
in a letter to a Mr Macfarlan, who unwisely communicated it to
the Press.]

Lord John gave the Queen a written statement[38] of the causes which
induced him to relinquish the Government, and of the position he means
to assume in Parliament. (He is most anxious that Sir R. Peel should
re-enter and successfully carry his measures.)

[Footnote 38: Printed in _Annual Register_, 1846, p. 20.]

The arrangements Lord John had contemplated have been--

Lord PALMERSTON, _Foreign Secretary_.
Lord GREY, _Colonial Secretary_.
Sir GEORGE GREY, _Home Secretary_.

(Sir George was anxious later to retire from Parliament, and willing
to go as Governor-General to Canada.)

Mr BARING, _Chancellor of the Exchequer_.
Lord CLARENDON, _President of the Board of Trade_.

(The Vice-Presidency was to have been offered to his brother, Mr
Villiers, but finally, by his advice, to Mr Cobden!! (Lord Grey wanted
Mr Cobden to be in the Cabinet!!!) This Lord John thought quite out of
the question.)

Lord LANSDOWNE, _President of the Council_.

[Pageheading: CHIVALROUS ATTITUDE OF PEEL]

[Pageheading: PEEL RESUMES OFFICE]

_Memorandum by the Prince Albert._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _20th December 1845._

(_4 o'clock_ P.M.)

We saw Sir Robert Peel, who had been apprised by Sir James Graham (