y....

Pray give my affectionate love to Aunt Louise and the children, and
believe me, always, your most affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Pageheading: LORD DURHAM'S RESIGNATION]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_8th December 1838._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has
just received your Majesty's letters. Lord Durham arrived yesterday
evening, and Lord Melbourne has just seen Mr. Stanley, who has seen
him. He represents him as calm, but much hurt and vexed at the last
despatch which expresses your Majesty's disapprobation of his conduct
in issuing the proclamation.[42] Lord Durham said that he should
immediately write an answer to it, in which he should state that he
would communicate to the Government all the information which he had
collected upon the state of the Canadas. That he should not ask an
audience of your Majesty. This is his present decision. He may alter
it; if he should, and through any channel request an audience, Lord
Melbourne is now clearly of opinion that your Majesty should merely
say that an answer will be sent and the propriety of granting an
audience may then be fully considered by your Majesty's confidential
servants. Mr Stanley represents Lord Durham as not speaking with much
violence or asperity, but seeming to feel much the censure conveyed in
the last despatch.

Your Majesty will receive from the Colonial Office a _precis_ of
Sir John Colborne's despatches. Nothing can be more honourable. The
American force which made an incursion into Upper Canada have all been
taken prisoners....

Lord Melbourne thinks that as long as Lord Durham is here and some
communication has been received from him, he had better remain
to-night in London. He will return to Windsor to-morrow....

[Footnote 42: Lord Durham stated at Devonport: "I shall, when
Parliament meets, be prepared to make a representation
of facts wholly unknown here, and disclosures which the
Parliament and people have no conception of."]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_8th December 1838._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs to
acquaint your Majesty that Lord Glenelg has this evening received
a letter from Lord Durham, tendering formally his resignation, and
stating that his general report upon the affairs of Canada must be
delayed until the gentlemen connected with his Mission return from
that country, which they wer