rne earnestly hopes that your Majesty is better this
morning.

[Footnote 34: Alluding to the successive failures of Soult,
Thiers, and Broglie.]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _9th May 1839._

The Queen cannot sufficiently thank Lord Melbourne for his most kind
letter, and for his excellent advice, which is at once the greatest
comfort and of the greatest use to her; the Queen will follow it in
every respect, and nothing of importance shall be done without due
reflection; and she trusts Lord Melbourne will help her and be to her
what she told him he was, and begged him still ever to be--a father to
one who never wanted support more than she does now.

Lord Melbourne shall hear again after she sees Peel this morning....

The Queen has just now heard Lord Liverpool is not in town.

The Queen hopes Lord Melbourne is able to read her letters; if ever
there is anything he cannot read, he must send them back, and mark
what he can't read.

[Pageheading: LORD PALMERSTON'S GRATITUDE]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

STANHOPE STREET, _9th May 1839._

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs
to return your Majesty his grateful thanks for your Majesty's gracious
communication of this morning. It affords Viscount Palmerston the most
heart-felt satisfaction to know that his humble but zealous endeavours
to promote the interests of his country and to uphold the honour of
your Majesty's Crown, have had the good fortune to meet with your
Majesty's approbation; and he begs most respectfully to assure
your Majesty that the deep impression produced by the condescending
kindness which he has upon all occasions experienced from your Majesty
can never be effaced from his mind.

[Pageheading: THE HOUSEHOLD]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_9th May 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs to
suggest that if Sir Robert Peel presses for the dismissal of those of
your Household who are not in Parliament, you may observe that in so
doing he is pressing your Majesty more hardly than any Minister ever
pressed a Sovereign before.

When the Government was changed in 1830, the principal posts of the
Household were placed at the disposal of Lord Grey, but the Grooms and
Equerries were not removed.

When Sir Robert Peel himself became Minister in 1834, no part of the
Household were removed ex