merston. The addresses were presented to the Queen on the
3rd of April.]

[Pageheading: THE REFORM QUESTION]

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _9th April 1854._

The Queen is anxious to express to Lord John Russell the extreme
satisfaction she experiences at the communication Lord Aberdeen
yesterday evening made her of the settlement of the Reform Question,
viz., of its postponement for the present Session, with the
understanding that it is to be brought forward again whenever the
state of affairs will admit of its being fairly and calmly considered
by Parliament.[24] The sacrifice of personal feeling which no doubt
this may cost Lord John will, she is certain, be amply compensated by
the conviction that he has done so for the interest and tranquillity
of his Sovereign and Country, to whom a dissolution of the present
Government would have been a source of immense danger and evil.

[Footnote 24: From a memorandum, made by Prince Albert, of
interviews with Lord Aberdeen, it appears that before the
Cabinet of the 8th of April Lord Palmerston declared that
under neither present nor any future conditions could he vote
for the second reading of the Reform Bill. Lord John thereupon
tendered his resignation; this Lord Aberdeen asked him to
suspend until after the meeting of the Cabinet.]

[Pageheading: DISSENSION IN THE CABINET]

[Pageheading: LORD JOHN RUSSELL]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

PEMBROKE LODGE, _9th April 1854._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty; he cannot
think it consistent with fairness to conceal from your Majesty the
deep feelings of mortification which affect him on reviewing the
proceedings of the Cabinet yesterday.[25]

Lord Aberdeen was the only person who behaved with due regard to the
honour of the Administration. The rest appeared ready to sacrifice
everything in order to keep the Ministry together; and Lord John
Russell feels bound to warn your Majesty that, although he was quite
willing to waive the consideration of the Reform Bill for the present
Session, he is not ready to consent that it shall be entirely set
aside in order to keep together a Ministry whose continuance would
be dearly bought at the price of the welfare of the Country, and the
consistency of public men. Lord John Russell must reflect further on
this subject before he comes to a final determination.

[Fo