him, now
that she had seen Lord Derby, Lord John, and Lord Lansdowne, it would
remove any impression that there were personal objections to him
entertained by the Queen, which would much facilitate the position of
the new Government. They then discussed the whole question of
offices, agreed that Lord Panmure would be the best person for the War
Department; that Lord Grey could not be asked to join, as his views
on the Foreign Policy differed so much from theirs, and he had always
been an intractable colleague; that if Mr Gladstone could not be
prevailed upon to join, Mr Labouchere,[26] although an infinitely
weaker appointment, might be Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Sir F.
Baring replace Sir J. Graham, if he could not be got to stay.

[Footnote 26: He had been President of the Board of Trade in
the former administration of Lord John Russell.]

Lord John then saw Mr S. Herbert, who declared to him that it was
impossible for any of the Peelites to join his Government, connected
as they were with Lord Aberdeen and the Duke of Newcastle, but that
they would infinitely prefer a Government of Lord John's to one of
Lord Palmerston, whose views on Foreign Policy, uncontrolled by Lord
Aberdeen, they sincerely dreaded.

Lord John then went to Lord Clarendon, and was surprised to find that
he could not make up his mind to remain at the Foreign Office under
his Government. Lord John thought that the expression of a wish on
the part of the Queen would go a great way to reconcile him. His
objections were that he had always received the handsomest support
from the Peelites, and thought the Government too weak without their
administrative ability.

Lord John had seen none of his own friends, such as Sir G. Grey, Sir
C. Wood, Lord Lansdowne, and Lord Granville, but had not the smallest
doubt that they would cordially co-operate with him.

Lord John is to come again at a quarter before six o'clock. The Queen
has appointed Lord Palmerston for three o'clock, and Lord Clarendon at
four.

[Pageheading: ATTITUDE OF THE PEELITES]

[Pageheading: THE FOREIGN OFFICE]

[Pageheading: LORD CLARENDON]

_Memorandum by Queen Victoria._[27]

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _3rd February 1855._

[Footnote 27: This Memorandum, though signed by the Queen, was
written by the Prince.]

In the Audience which the Queen has just granted to Lord Palmerston,
he thanked her for the message which she had sent him through Lord
John Rus