otnote 25: Lord John Russell's actions at this period
of his career seem often incomprehensible; but his private
domestic anxieties seem to have weighed him down. Having made
the great sacrifice, for an ex-Premier, of taking office under
an old opponent, he was now engaged in trying to regain the
first place for himself. Lord Aberdeen had always contemplated
retiring in his favour, but would not give up the Premiership
in the face of the dangers threatening the country. Moreover,
he had believed his continuance in office to be a guarantee
for peace. Lord John Russell, after accepting the Foreign
Office, had then insisted on being a Minister without office;
later still, by displacing Mr Strutt and transferring Lord
Granville to the Duchy, he himself became Lord President of
the Council, an office which no commoner had held since the
reign of Henry VIII. By such action, coupled with perpetual
threats of resignation, he marred his prospects of succeeding
Lord Aberdeen, and, as will be seen, failed in his attempt to
construct an Administration when the opportunity was offered
him.]

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _10th April 1854._

The Queen received Lord John Russell's letter last night. She is much
grieved that he should be "affected by deep feelings of mortification
on reviewing the proceedings of the Cabinet." From all the Queen
had heard of the views of the different members of the Cabinet, she
believes them to have been fully convinced that the present moment
would be inopportune to press the Reform Bill, but _quite_ prepared
to take it up again on the first fitting opportunity; she, of course,
does _not_ speak of Lord Palmerston.

The Queen would, no more than Lord John, wish to see "the Reform Bill
set aside in order to keep together a Ministry," but does not consider
the decision of the Cabinet at all to imply this, whatever Lord
Palmerston's personal wishes may be, and trusts that the Country will
fully understand and appreciate the motives which have guided the
Government. Lord Aberdeen and Lord John will always receive every
support from the Queen when they shall think it right to propose the
re-introduction of the measure.

[Pageheading: LORD JOHN RUSSELL]

_Memorandum by the Prince Albert._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _10th April 1854._

Lord Aberdeen has just left the Queen, after an interview