h May, a Ministerial
evening paper, which would probably have gone to press at two
o'clock in the afternoon, the following paragraph appeared:
"The determination which it is well known Her Majesty has
taken, not to allow the change in the Government to interfere
with the ladies of her Court, has given great offence to the
Tories."]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _9th May 1839._

The Queen has received Lord Melbourne's letter. Lord Melbourne will
since have heard what has taken place. Lord Melbourne must not think
the Queen rash in her conduct; she saw both the Duke and Sir Robert
again, and declared to them she could not change her opinion. The
Ladies are not (as the Duke imagined was stated in the Civil List
Bill) in the _place_ of the Lords; and the Queen felt this was an
attempt to see whether she could be led and managed like a child;
if it should lead to Sir Robert Peel's refusing to undertake the
formation of the Government, which would be absurd, the Queen will
feel satisfied that she has only been defending her own rights, on
a point which so nearly concerned her person, and which, if they had
succeeded in, would have led to every sort of unfair attempt at power;
the Queen maintains _all_ her ladies,--and thinks her Prime Minister
will cut a sorry figure indeed if he resigns on this. Sir Robert is
gone to consult with his friends, and will return in two or three
hours with his decision. The Queen also maintained the Mistress of the
Robes, for as he said _only_ those who are _in Parliament_ shall be
removed, I should like to know if they mean to give the _Ladies_ seats
in Parliament?

We shall see what will be done. The Queen would not have _stood so
firmly_ on the Grooms and Equerries, but her _Ladies_ are _entirely_
her own affair, and _not_ the Ministers'.

[Pageheading: THE CRISIS]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_9th May 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. Lord
Melbourne had certainly never expected that this demand would be
urged, and therefore had never advised your Majesty as to what was to
be done in such a case. Lord Melbourne strongly advises your Majesty
to hear what the Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert Peel urge, but to
take time before you come to a peremptory and final decision.

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_9th May 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble d