of triumph which usually issues from a majority after
a vote upon an important occasion....

[Footnote 11: Augustus Stafford (formerly Stafford O'Brien),
Secretary of the Admiralty in the Derby Ministry of 1852.]

[Footnote 12: Secretary of the Admiralty, who, contrary to
modern practice, criticised on this occasion the action of his
own colleagues.]

[Footnote 13: Maurice Frederick Fitzhardinge Berkeley,
1788-1867, M.P. for Gloucester 1831-1857.]

[Footnote 14: M.P. for Bristol.]

[Footnote 15: M.P. for Birmingham.]

[Footnote 16: M.P. for Finsbury.]

[Pageheading: LORD ABERDEEN RESIGNS]

[Pageheading: LORD DERBY SUMMONED]

_Memorandum by Queen Victoria._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _30th January 1855._

Lord Aberdeen arrived here at three. He came from the Cabinet, and
tendered their unanimous resignation. Nothing could have been better,
he said, than the feeling of the members towards each other. Had it
not been for the incessant attempts of Lord John Russell to keep
up Party differences, it must be confessed that the experiment of a
coalition has succeeded admirably. We discussed future possibilities,
and agreed that there remained nothing to be done but to offer the
Government to Lord Derby, whose Party was numerically the strongest,
and had carried the Motion. He supposed Lord Derby would be prepared
for it, although he must have great difficulties, unless he took in
men from other Parties, about which, however, nothing could be known
at present.

Lord Aberdeen means to behave more generously to Lord Derby than he
had done to him, and felt sure that his colleagues would feel a desire
to support the Queen's new Government.

He said Lord Grey's plan[17] had not met with the approbation of the
House of Lords. The indignation at Lord John's conduct on all sides
was strongly on the increase.

Lord Aberdeen was much affected at having to take leave of us.

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 17: For concentrating in a single department the
business connected with the administration of the Army.]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _30th January 1855._

The Queen would wish to see Lord Derby at Buckingham Palace (whither
she is going for a few hours) to-morrow at half-past eleven.

_Queen Victoria to the Duke of Newcastle._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _31st January 1855._

The Queen has just received the Duke of Newcastle's letter.

S