ourne will have acquainted your Majesty with the result
of the Cabinet of yesterday. It appears to Lord John Russell that the
Liberal party, with some explanation, will be satisfied with the
state of things for the present, and that the great difficulties which
attend the complete union of the majority will be deferred till
the commencement of next Session. It is always well to have some
breathing-time.

[Footnote 44: The Jamaica Bill for the temporary suspension of
the Constitution.]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

WILTON CRESCENT, _11th June 1839._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has
the honour to state that the division of last night was extremely
encouraging to the future prospects of the Government.

Combined with the division on the Speakership,[45] it shows that the
Liberal party have still a clear though small majority in the House
of Commons, and that it may probably not be necessary to resort to a
dissolution. Indeed, such a measure in present circumstances would be
of very doubtful issue.

Lord John Russell stated last night that he would not divide on the
Canada resolutions, but move for leave to bring in a Bill.

[Footnote 45: Mr Shaw Lefevre was elected by 317 against 299
for Mr Goulburn.]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

_6th July 1839._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has
the honour to report that Mr. Rice yesterday brought forward his
financial statement with great ability.

He moved a resolution in favour of a penny postage, which Sir Robert
Peel declared it to be his intention to oppose on the report. This
will be on Friday next. This seems a mistake on the part of the
Opposition.[46]

[Footnote 46: The penny postage scheme came into operation on
10th January 1840.]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN AND PRINCE ALBERT]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _12th July 1839._ (_20 minutes to 12._)

The Queen is really quite shocked to see that her box was taken to
Lord Melbourne to Park Lane, and she fears (by the manner in which
Lord Melbourne's note is written) that he was at dinner at Lady
Elizabeth H. Vere's when he got it. The Queen had imagined that the
House of Lords was still sitting, and therefore desired them to take
the box there, but never had intended it should follow him to dinner;
she begs Lord Melbourne to excuse this mistake wh