ding to the Queen, as members of her first
Household, ladies who were nearly related to himself and his
Whig colleagues. No doubt these were the ladies whom he knew
best, and in whom he had entire confidence; but he ought to
have had sufficient prescience to see that the Queen would
probably form strong attachments to the ladies who first
served her: and that if the appointments had not in the first
instance a political complexion, yet that the Whig tendencies
which these Ladies represented were likely to affect the
Queen, in the direction of allying her closely with a
particular party in the State.]

[Pageheading: THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON]

[Pageheading: SIR ROBERT PEEL]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

_8th May 1839._

The Queen told Lord Melbourne she would give him an account of what
passed, which she is _very_ anxious to do. She saw the Duke for about
twenty minutes; the Queen said she supposed he knew why she sent for
him, upon which the Duke said, No, he had no idea. The Queen then said
that she had had the greatest confidence in her late Ministry, and
had parted with them with the greatest reluctance; upon which the Duke
observed that he could assure me no one felt more pain in hearing the
announcement of their resignation than he did, and that he was deeply
grieved at it. The Queen then continued, that as his party had been
instrumental in removing them, that she must look to him to form a
new Government. The Duke answered that he had no power whatever in
the House of Commons, "that if he was to say black was white,[32] they
would say it was not," and that he advised me to send for Sir Robert
Peel, in whom I could place confidence, and who was a gentleman and a
man of honour and integrity. The Queen then said she hoped he would at
all events have a place in the new Cabinet. The Duke at first rather
refused, and said he was so deaf, and so old and unfit for any
discussion, that if he were to consult his own feelings he would
rather not do it, and remain quite aloof; but that as he was very
anxious to do anything that would tend to the Queen's comfort, and
would do everything and at all times that could be of use to the
Queen, and therefore if she and her Prime Minister urged his accepting
office, he would. The Queen said she had more confidence in him
than in any of the others of his party. The Queen then mentioned the
subject of the Household, and of