most strenuous efforts were made,
the most urgent entreaties and remonstrances were employed, to
induce people to support him on this occasion, but with a success
not at all commensurate with these exertions. Vivian offered to
resign, but could not be prevailed on not to vote.[6] So
disgusted was John Russell with the result of this division, that
it was with the greatest difficulty he was prevented from
resigning; and yesterday it was reported all over the town that
he had resigned. It is remarkable that in contemplation of his
resignation, Morpeth is the man talked of as his successor as
leader of the House of Commons, a man young enough to be the son
of half the Cabinet Ministers, and not in the Cabinet; but in
such low estimation are all Lord John's colleagues, that not one
of them is deemed capable of taking his place in the event of his
giving it up. However, there is not much use in speculating about
Lord John's successor if he secedes, for the whole concern would
in that case inevitably fall to the ground. Indeed, it is not
likely that it will, under any circumstances, go on much longer.
When once the leader of the House of Commons has become
thoroughly disgusted and dissatisfied with his position, either a
change or a dissolution of the Government may be anticipated, and
in this case any attempt at change can scarcely fail to break up
this rickety firm.

[6] Vivian's Cornish petition was signed by 2,100 or 2,200
freeholders, the same number who had voted for him at
the election, but of these there were 200 who had voted
for Eliot.

[Page Head: POLICY OF SIR ROBERT PEEL.]

The circumstances which enable them to go on at all I take to be
these: the extreme repugnance of the Queen to any change, and the
necessity in which Melbourne finds himself on her account to go
on as long as he possibly can; and on the other hand, the
reluctance of Peel to assault the Government in front. I know no
more of Peel's opinions and designs than what I can gather from
his conduct and what he is likely to entertain under present
circumstances; but it must be his object to delay coming into
office till he can do so as a powerful Minister, and till it is
made manifest to Parliament and the country that he is demanded
by a great public exigency, and is not marching in as the result
of a party triumph. If the resignation of the present Government
should take place under any circumstances which a