pose him should
he form a Government, whilst they would be willing to support a Derby
Government.

VICTORIA R.

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

CHESHAM PLACE, _26th January 1855._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and is
very grateful for your Majesty's communication of yesterday.

He confesses his resignation was very abrupt, but it is the
consequence of many previous discussions in which his advice had been
rejected or overruled.

Lord John Russell acknowledges the repeated instances of your
Majesty's goodness in permitting him to leave the Foreign Office,
and subsequently to serve without office as Leader of the House
of Commons. These changes, however, were not made without due
consideration. To be Leader of the House of Commons and Foreign
Secretary is beyond any man's strength. To continue for a long time
Leader without an office becomes absurd. Lord Aberdeen at first
meant his own continuance in office to be short, which justified the
arrangement.

[Pageheading: MR ROEBUCK'S MOTION]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._[7]

144 PICCADILLY, _26th January 1855._

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs
to state that Lord John Russell having made his statement, concluding
with an announcement that he did not mean to vote on Mr Roebuck's
Motion, and Viscount Palmerston having made a few remarks on that
statement, Mr Roebuck rose to make his Motion; but the paralytic
affection under which he has for some time laboured soon overpowered
him, and before he had proceeded far in his speech he became so unwell
that he was obliged to finish abruptly, make his Motion, and sit down.

Mr Sidney Herbert, who was to reply to Mr Roebuck, rose therefore
under great disadvantage, as he had to reply to a speech which had not
been made; but he acquitted himself with great ability, and made an
excellent statement in explanation and defence of the conduct of the
Government. He was followed by Mr Henry Drummond,[8] Colonel North
for the Motion, Mr Monckton Milnes against it; Lord Granby who, in
supporting the Motion, praised and defended the Emperor of Russia; Mr
Layard, who in a speech of much animation, gave very strong reasons
to show the great impropriety of the Motion, and ended by saying he
should vote for it; Sir George Grey, who made a spirited and excellent
speech; Mr Walpole, who supported the Motion and endeavoured, but
fruitles