Aberdeen will see the Duke to-day.

All the other members of the Government cordially approved of Sir
Robert Peel's determination not to abandon your Majesty's service.

There was no question about details, but if there is any, it shall not
alter Sir Robert Peel's course.

[Footnote 39: _See_ next letter.]

_The Duke of Buccleuch to Sir Robert Peel._

MONTAGU HOUSE, _20th December 1845._

MY DEAR SIR ROBERT,--That which has occurred this evening, and that
which you have communicated to us, the very critical state in which
the country now is, and above all the duty which I owe to her Majesty
under the present circumstances, has made a most strong impression
upon my mind. At the risk, therefore, of imputation of vacillation
or of any other motive by others, may I ask of you to give me a few
hours' time for further reflection, before finally deciding upon the
course which I may feel it to be my duty to pursue? Believe me, my
dear Sir Robert, yours most sincerely,

BUCCLEUCH.

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

WHITEHALL, _22nd December 1845._

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has the
utmost satisfaction in informing your Majesty that Mr Gladstone is
willing to accept the Seals of the Colonial Office should your Majesty
be pleased to confide them to him.[40]

Sir Robert Peel thinks this of great importance, and that immediate
decision in filling up so eminent a post will have a good effect.

[Footnote 40: Mr Gladstone, by accepting office, vacated the
seat at Newark which he had held through the influence of the
Protectionist Duke of Newcastle. He did not seek re-election,
and though a Secretary of State, remained without a seat in
Parliament.]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S ESTIMATE OF PEEL]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _23rd December 1845._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Many thanks for your two kind letters of the
17th and 19th, which gave me much pleasure. I have little to add to
Albert's letter of yesterday, except my _extreme_ admiration of
our worthy Peel, who shows himself a man of unbounded _loyalty_,
_courage_, patriotism, and _high-mindedness_, and his conduct towards
me has been _chivalrous_ almost, I might say. I never have seen him
so excited or so determined, and _such_ a good cause must succeed. We
have indeed had an escape, for though Lord John's _own notions_ were
_very_ good and moderate, h