t consulted his own personal interests in
yielding to it. After a time there will be a reaction and justice will
be done; but resistance at present would be ineffectual, and would
only increase irritation.

Viscount Palmerston is not as yet prepared to submit for your
Majesty's consideration the arrangement which will become necessary
for filling up the gap thus made in the Government....

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._

OSBORNE, _13th July 1855_.

The Queen is much concerned by what Lord Palmerston writes respecting
the feeling of the House of Commons. Lord John's resignation, although
a severe loss, may possibly assuage the storm which he had chiefly
produced. But she finds that Sir E. Lytton's Motion will be equally
applicable to the Government after this event as it would have been
before it. She trusts that no stone will be left unturned to defeat
the success of that Motion, which would plunge the Queen and the
executive Government of the Country into new and most dangerous
complications. These are really not times to play with the existence
of Governments for personal feeling or interests!

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._

OSBORNE, _14th July 1855_.

The Queen has received Lord Palmerston's letter of yesterday, and
returns Lord John Russell's letter,[64] which reflects the greatest
credit on him. The resignation had become unavoidable, and Lord
Palmerston will do well to let the Debate go by before proposing a
successor, whom it will be difficult to find under any circumstances.
Having expressed her feelings on the position of affairs in her letter
of yesterday, she will not repeat them here.

She grants her permission to Lord Palmerston to state in Parliament
what he may think necessary for the defence of the Cabinet. She could
have the Council here on Wednesday, which day will probably be the
least inconvenient to the Members of the Government.

The Queen has just received Lord Palmerston's letter of last night,
which gives a more cheering prospect.[65]

[Footnote 64: Stating that his continuance in office would
embarrass and endanger the Ministry.]

[Footnote 65: In consequence of Lord John's resignation, the
motion of censure was withdrawn.]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

OSBORNE, _24th July 1855_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I feel _quite_ grieved that it must again be _by
letter_ that I express to you all my feelings of love and