rrangement, and was determined not to break
down the present arrangements; Lord John Russell was agreed herewith,
and Sir George Grey would take office knowing this to be Lord
Aberdeen's firm decision. But there was in fact no choice. Mr Rich
would this afternoon bring forward a Motion in the House of Commons
for the consolidation of all military offices under one Department and
a Civil Head, and Lord John Russell, to whom Lord Aberdeen had said
that the Queen still hesitated about admitting the separation of the
duties of Secretary of State, declared to him angrily, if that was
so, he would go down to the House and vote for Mr Rich's Motion!! The
Motion would be carried without fail in the House.

So this important measure had been carried by storm (as the Queen
could only give way under these circumstances), and carried without a
definite plan, leaving everything to the future!!

Lord John is to be Lord President, and he insisted upon Sir George
Grey taking the Colonies. Lord Aberdeen fears much dissatisfaction
from Lord Canning, Mr Cardwell, and Mr Peel, and just dissatisfaction;
the Cabinet are very angry at the whole proceeding. Lord Granville
behaved exceedingly well, putting himself and his office entirely at
Lord Aberdeen's disposal.[38]

It is supposed that in the House expressions will be dropped in favour
of Lord Palmerston's taking the conduct of the War in his hands. The
Duke of Newcastle, whom we saw, also states the extreme difficulty of
_defining_ the duties of the Secretary of State, but promises to do
so, as far as possible, for the Queen's convenience.

ALBERT.

[Footnote 37: Lord John Russell had some time before proposed
the separation of the War and Colonial Departments, with a
view of filling the Colonial Office himself, "which, in every
point of view." wrote Lord Aberdeen to the Queen, "would have
been a most satisfactory arrangement."]

[Footnote 38: Lord Fitzmaurice, in his _Life of Lord
Granville_, points out that Mr Strutt was really the person
who had a right to complain. He was abruptly removed from the
Chancellorship of the Duchy, and replaced by Lord Granville to
suit Lord John's convenience.]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _26th June 1851._

The Queen has not yet acknowledged Lord Aberdeen's letter of the 24th.
She is very glad to hear that he will take an opportunity to-day of
dispelling misapprehe