1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and is very
sorry that his communication has occasioned your Majesty so much alarm
and uneasiness. Lord Melbourne hopes that there is nothing imminent
and immediate, but this sort of outbreak and contention may so soon
become serious, that Lord Melbourne thought it his duty to take an
early opportunity of informing your Majesty of what had taken place.
Lord Melbourne would wait upon your Majesty without delay, but trusts
that this letter will be sufficient to dispel any disquietude which
his former communication may have excited.

[Pageheading: THE DUKE OF LUCCA]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

WILTON CRESCENT, _20th February 1839._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has
the honour to report that Mr Charles Villiers[15] moved yesterday,
after a very able speech, that the petitioners against the Corn Laws
should be heard at the Bar of the House.

Sir Robert Peel opposed the Motion on the ground that he meant to
resist any change in the Corn Laws. He made a very skilful use of the
returns of cotton, etc., exported.

[Footnote 15: M.P. for Wolverhampton 1835-1898, becoming
"Father of the House."]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

STANHOPE STREET, _5th March 1839._

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty,
and requests to be honoured with your Majesty's commands upon the
accompanying letter from Count Pollon.[16] Viscount Palmerston at the
same time begs to state that he has reason to believe, from what Count
Pollon said to him in conversation two days ago, that the Duke of
Lucca[17] has a notion that Sovereign Princes who have had the honour
of dining with your Majesty, have been invited by note and not by
card. If that should be so, and if your Majesty should invite the
Duke of Lucca to dine at the Palace before his departure, perhaps the
invitation might be made by note, instead of by card, as it was when
the Duke last dined at the Palace. Your Majesty may think this a small
matter, but the Duke is a small Sovereign.

[Footnote 16: For many years Sardinian Minister in England.]

[Footnote 17: Lucca was an independent Italian State.]

[Pageheading: PORTUGAL]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_9th March 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and feels
very deeply the very kind and gracious concern w