hn Russell does not return to business
as readily as Mr Maule had hoped that he would, and Lord Melbourne
fears that he will not do whilst he remains at Cassiobury with
the children. Solitude and retirement cherish and encourage grief.
Employment and exertion are the only means of dissipating it.

[Footnote 33: Declining to join the Government. The original
is not preserved among the Queen's papers.]

[Pageheading: CANADA AND LORD DURHAM]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_22nd November 1838._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs to
acknowledge your Majesty's gracious communication received yesterday.
Lord Melbourne had nothing particular to lay before your Majesty, but
still regrets that he did not write, as your Majesty might have wished
to hear from him.

Lord Melbourne returns the King of Portugal's[34] letter, which, as
your Majesty observes, is very rough and ill-tempered with reference
to Lord Howard.[35] Lord Melbourne read it with much concern, as it
shows so much dislike and alienation, as renders it very improbable
that they should ever go on together well and in a friendly spirit.
Lord Melbourne fears that the epithets applied to Lord Howard, though
very severe and full of resentment, are not entirely ill-chosen and
inappropriate.

All the Ministers, except Lord Duncannon[36] and Lord John Russell,
dined here yesterday, and they all appeared to be in very good-humour
and disposed to co-operate in order to meet the difficulties by which
we are surrounded....

With respect to Canada, Lord Melbourne feels that it may be considered
somewhat presumptuous in him to undervalue danger, which is considered
by those upon the spot to be so great and so imminent, but still he
cannot feel the alarm which seems to be felt there. Lord Durham, Lord
Melbourne is convinced, exaggerates the peril in order to give greater
_eclat_ to his own departure. The worst symptom which Lord Melbourne
perceives is the general fear which seems to prevail there, and which
makes every danger ten times as great as it really is.

[Footnote 34: The birth of an heir on 16th September 1837
conferred on Prince Ferdinand the right to the title of King.]

[Footnote 35: See _ante_, p. 131. (Ch VII, Footnote 30)]

[Footnote 36: Lord Duncannon (1781-1847), at this time Lord
Privy Seal and First Commissioner of Woods and Forests,
was afterwards (as Earl of Bessbor