tion what has taken place in your own
case.

Hallam is, in Lord Melbourne's opinion, right about Ireland. Her
advocates are very loud in their outcry, but she has not really much
to complain of.

Lord Melbourne was very glad to hear of the marriage of Prince
Augustus of Coburg with the Princess Clementine, as he apprehends that
the connection must be very agreeable to your Majesty.

Lord Melbourne begs to be respectfully and affectionately remembered
to His Royal Highness.

[Pageheading: COMMITTAL OF MACNAGHTEN]

_Sir James Graham to Queen Victoria._

WHITEHALL, _28th January 1843._

Sir James Graham, with humble duty, begs to inform your Majesty, that
the prisoner Daniel MacNaghten was fully committed for trial this
afternoon. He was not defended before the Magistrates; but in his
manner he was quite cool, intelligent, and collected; he asked no
questions, but he expressed a wish to have copies of the Depositions.

His trial will probably commence on Friday or Saturday next, and there
is reason to believe that, at the request of his relatives in Glasgow,
counsel will be retained, and that the plea of insanity will be raised
in his defence.[8]

Every preparation is in progress to meet this vague and dangerous
excuse. It will turn out that the pistols were bought at Paisley by
MacNaghten on the 6th of August last; and information has reached
Sir James Graham, which, he thinks, will prove that MacNaghten is a
Chartist, that he has attended political meetings at Glasgow, and
that he has taken a violent part in politics. He yesterday saw a
Presbyterian clergyman, who prayed with him; who pointed out the
atrocity of his crime, the innocence of his victim, the pangs
of sorrowing relatives, and who exhorted him to contrition and
repentance. Some impression was made at the moment; but his general
demeanour is marked by cold reserve and hardness of heart.

[Footnote 8: He was defended by four counsel, including Mr
Cockburn, afterwards Lord Chief Justice.]

[Pageheading: THE ROYAL FAMILY AND POLITICS]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

BROCKET HALL, _2nd February 1843._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thanks
much for the letter of the 30th ult., which he received here yesterday
morning. He believes it is more prudent not to go to London, but he
greatly regrets that his not doing so will deprive him for so long a
time of the honour and pleasure of seei