he Ministry were
defeated in the Commons.]

Before leaving Town Sir R. Peel addressed a letter to Lord John
Russell, informing him that he was going to the Isle of Wight in order
to tender his and his colleagues' resignation to the Queen, that he
did not the least know what Her Majesty's intentions were, but that in
case she should send for Lord John, he (Sir Robert) was ready to see
Lord John (should he wish it), and give him any explanation as to
the state of public affairs and Parliamentary business which he could
desire. Sir Robert thought thereby, without in the least committing
the Queen, to indicate to Lord John that he had nothing to fear on his
part, and that, on the contrary, he could reckon upon his assistance
in starting the Queen's new Government. He hoped likewise that this
would tend to dispel a clamour for dissolution which the Whigs have
raised, alarmed by their defeats upon the Catholic Bill.

ALBERT.

[Pageheading: END OF THE OREGON DISPUTE]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

HOUSE OF COMMONS, _29th June 1846._

Sir Robert Peel, with his humble duty to your Majesty, begs leave to
acquaint your Majesty that he has just concluded his speech notifying
to the House the resignation of the Government.

He thinks it was very well received.[11] Lord Palmerston spoke after
Sir Robert Peel, but not very effectively, but no other person spoke.
Sir Robert Peel is to see Lord John Russell at ten to-morrow morning.

Sir Robert Peel humbly congratulates your Majesty on the intelligence
received _this day_ from America. The defeat of the Government on
the day on which they carried the Corn Bill, and the receipt of the
intelligence from America[12] on the day on which they resign, are
singular coincidences.

[Footnote 11: He expressed his hope to be remembered with
goodwill "in the abodes of those whose lot it is to labour,
and to earn their daily bread by the sweat of their brows,
when they shall recruit their exhausted strength with abundant
and untaxed food, the sweeter because no longer leavened with
a sense of injustice."]

[Footnote 12: The Convention for adjusting the dispute as to
the Oregon boundary had been accepted by the United States
Government.]

[Pageheading: PEEL'S TRIBUTE TO COBDEN]

_The Bishop of Oxford[13] to Mr Anson._

61 EATON PLACE, _29th June 1846._ (_Midnight._)

MY DEAR ANSON,--Your kind letter reached me half an