egged to be allowed time to consider that. He acknowledged to the
Queen--on her remark that he had contributed to bring her into the
present difficulties--that he was bound to do what he could to help
her out of them; and on the Queen's question what he could do, he
answered that depended very much on what the Queen would wish him to
do.

[Footnote 23: This Memorandum, though signed by the Queen, was
written by the Prince.]

[Footnote 24: Colonel Phipps thus describes Lord Aberdeen's
comment on Lord John Russell's words:--"I told Lord Aberdeen
that Lord John had said that he thought that he could form a
Government. He laughed very much, and said: 'I am not at all
surprised at that, but whom will he get to serve under him?
Has he at present any idea of the extent of the feeling that
exists against him?' I replied that I thought not, that it was
difficult for anybody to tell him, but that I thought that it
was right that he should know what the feeling was, and that
he would soon discover it when he began to ask people to join
his Government. Lord Aberdeen said that was very true...."]

She commissioned him finally to meet Lord Lansdowne and Lord
Palmerston, to consult together, and to let Lord Lansdowne bring her
the result of their deliberation this evening, so that she might see a
little more clearly where the prospect of a strong Government lay.

We had some further discussion upon Mr Roebuck's Committee, which
he thinks will not be as inconvenient as all his friends suppose.
It would meet with great difficulties, and might be precluded from
drawing up a report. On Lord Grey's Motion[25] and the Army question
he declared that he held to his Memorandum of the 22nd January which
the Duke of Newcastle had read to the House of Lords, and acknowledged
the necessity of maintaining the office of the Commander-in-Chief,
although subordinate to the Secretary of State, and retaining the Army
Patronage distinct from the Political Patronage of the Government.

[Footnote 25: See _ante_, 30th January, 1855, note 17.]

I omitted to mention that Lord John, in answer to the question whether
Lord Clarendon would serve under Lord Palmerston, answered that he
could not at all say whether he would; he had mentioned to him the
possibility, when Lord Clarendon drew up and made a long face.

VICTORIA R.

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _2nd Fe