d Derby and his party would never have done, but now he had allied
himself with Lord Ellenborough, who was determined to have the conduct
of the war....

Lord Aberdeen thought yet, that on him[6] devolved the responsibility
of replacing what he wantonly destroyed. The Queen insisted, however,
that Lord Aberdeen should make one appeal to the Cabinet to stand by
her, which he promised to do to the best of his ability, but without
hope of success. The Cabinet will meet at twelve o'clock to-day, but
at five the Ministers will have to announce their determination to the
Houses of Parliament, as Mr Roebuck's Motion stands for that hour.

ALBERT.

[Footnote 6: _I.e._, Lord John Russell.]

[Pageheading: LORD JOHN'S JUSTIFICATION]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

CHESHAM PLACE, _25th January 1855._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has
received with deep regret the imputations of deserting the Government.

Lord John Russell, after being at the head of the Ministry for more
than five years, and being then the leader of a great party, consented
to serve under Lord Aberdeen, and served for more than a year and a
half without office.

After sacrificing his position and his reputation for two years, he
has come to the conclusion that it would not be for the benefit of
the country to resist Mr Roebuck's Motion. But it is clear that the
enquiry he contemplates could not be carried on without so weakening
the authority of the Government that it could not usefully go on.

In these circumstances Lord John Russell has pursued the course which
he believes to be for the public benefit.

With the most sincere respect for Lord Aberdeen, he felt he could
not abandon his sincere convictions in order to maintain the
Administration in office.

It is the cause of much pain to him that, after sacrificing his
position in order to secure your Majesty's service from interruption,
he should not have obtained your Majesty's approbation.

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _25th January 1855._

The Queen has received Lord John Russell's letter of to-day in
explanation of his resignation. She has done full justice to the
high-minded and disinterested manner in which Lord John sacrificed
two years ago his position as former Prime Minister and as Leader of a
great party, in consenting to serve under Lord Aberdeen, and hopes she
has sufficiently expressed this to h