TON.
The VISCOUNT HOWICK.
The VISCOUNT MORPETH.
Sir JOHN HOBHOUSE, Bart.
The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER.
Mr. POULETT THOMSON.

Her Majesty's Confidential Servants having taken into consideration
the letter addressed by Her Majesty to Sir Robert Peel on the 10th of
May, and the reply of Sir Robert Peel of the same day, are of opinion
that for the purpose of giving to an Administration that character of
efficiency and stability and those marks of the constitutional support
of the Crown, which are required to enable it to act usefully for the
public service, it is reasonable that the great offices of the Court
and the situations in the Household held by members of either House of
Parliament should be included in the political arrangements made on a
change of Administration; but they are not of opinion that a similar
principle should be applied or extended to the offices held by Ladies
in Her Majesty's Household.[41]

[Footnote 41: This paragraph was read by Lord John Russell
to the House of Commons during the course of the Ministerial
explanations on 13th May.]

Her Majesty's Confidential Servants are therefore prepared to support
Her Majesty in refusing to assent to the removal of the Ladies of her
Household, which Her Majesty conceived to be contrary to usage, and
which is repugnant to her feelings, and are prepared to continue in
their offices on these grounds.

Viscount Howick concurs in the opinion expressed in the foregoing
Minute that the removal of the Ladies of Her Majesty's Household
ought not to form part of the arrangements consequent upon a change
of Administration, and shares in the readiness his colleagues have
declared to support Her Majesty in acting upon this opinion; but
he thinks it his duty to state his conviction that the immediate
resumption of their offices by Her Majesty's Confidential Servants is
not the mode in which their support can be most effectively afforded
and is not calculated to promote the good of Her Majesty's service.

He conceives that before it is determined that the present
Administration should be continued, further explanation should be
sought with Sir Robert Peel, by which it is not impossible that his
concession to Her Majesty's just objection to the removal of the
Ladies of her Household might have been obtained, while the endeavour
to arrive at this result, even though unsuccessful, would at all
events tend to secure additional support to Her M