the short Session before Christmas,
and to defend all that had been done; but that he was determined to
retire after Christmas. An observation being made that it would be
unconstitutional to go into Parliament with such a determination, he
replied that, if such was the opinion, he would request Lord Aberdeen
to convey his resignation to-morrow morning to your Majesty, which, at
all events, would be perfectly constitutional.

Lord Aberdeen feels it to be his duty to state to your Majesty that,
whatever may be the real cause, Lord John has made up his mind to act
in the manner he has announced.

In this situation it is Lord Aberdeen's desire to come to your
Majesty's assistance by any means in his power. Lord John's defection
will be a great blow, from which it is very doubtful if the Government
could recover; but Lord Aberdeen will come to no conclusion or form
any decided opinion until he shall have had the honour of seeing your
Majesty.

[Pageheading: CABINET DISSENSIONS]

_Memorandum by the Prince Albert._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _9th December 1854._

Lord Aberdeen arrived yesterday evening, leaving the Cabinet sitting,
revising the Speech from the Throne.[70] He had come to no decision.
Sir James Graham and Mr Gladstone had been anxious that he should
accept Lord John's resignation at once. He himself felt reluctant to
do anything which might be considered harsh towards Lord John, and
might make him a martyr hereafter. There was no doubt, however, that
they could not go on with Lord John. The universal feeling of the
Cabinet seemed to be one of indignation ... at Lord John's conduct.
Nobody had expressed himself stronger about it than Lord Lansdowne to
Lord Clarendon, feeling it, as he said, "quite a necessity to speak
out." The Chancellor said he owed his political allegiance to Lord
John as well as his office; but as a man of honour he could not go
with him. Lord Granville feels the same. Lord Palmerston had written
a long and very able letter to Lord John, proving the impossibility
of joining the offices of Secretary at War and Secretary of State for
War. Lord John had now, however, dropped his proposal altogether,
and made it quite clear that it was Lord Aberdeen he wished to have
removed. He said to Lord Palmerston: "When the Cabinet was formed,
I always understood that Lord Aberdeen would soon give me up my old
place; it has now lasted more than two years, and he seemed to get
enamoured with office, an