posts, which is a great security against
possible dangers. The Queen is sure that the Prince and herself
may ever rely on his valuable support and advice in all times of
difficulty, and she now concludes with the expression of her
warmest thanks for all his kindness and devotion, as well as of her
unalterable friendship and esteem for him, and with every wish for his
health and happiness.

[Footnote 31: The Hon. Arthur Gascoigne Douglas (1827-1905),
son of the nineteenth Earl of Morton; Bishop of Aberdeen and
Orkney, 1883-1905.]

[Pageheading: LEADERSHIP OF THE LORDS]

[Pageheading: THE NEW CABINET]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

PICCADILLY, _7th February 1855_.

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs
to state that a difficulty has arisen in regard to the reconstruction
of the Administration, which your Majesty might perhaps be able to
assist in removing. It is considered by the Members of the proposed
Cabinet to be a matter of great importance that Lord Lansdowne should
not only be a Member of the Cabinet, but that he should also be the
Organ of the Government in the House of Lords.

Viscount Palmerston pressed this upon Lord Lansdowne yesterday
afternoon, and was under the impression that Lord Lansdowne had
consented to be so acknowledged, with the understanding that Lord
Granville, as President of the Council, should relieve him from the
pressure of the daily business of the House, while Lord Clarendon
would take the burthen of Foreign Office discussions, and that thus
the ordinary duties of Leader of the House of Lords would be performed
by others, while Lord Lansdowne would still be the directing chief,
who would give a character and tone to the body. But Viscount
Palmerston learns this morning from Lord Granville and Lord
Bessborough that Lord Lansdowne does not so understand the matter,
and is unwilling to assume the ostensible Leadership, even upon the
above-mentioned arrangement, and that he wishes Lord Granville to be
the Leader in the House of Lords.

Lord Granville, however, with reason urges that there are many members
of the House of Lords who would show to Lord Lansdowne, from his long
standing and high political position, a deference which they would not
show towards Lord Granville, so much younger a man. If Lord Lansdowne
were in Town, Viscount Palmerston would have gone to him strongly to
entreat him to be the person to announce i