Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 7.djvu/58

 42 NOTES AND QUERIES. (i2svn. JULY 17, 1020; refused* : Lord Grey, with great expressions o cordiality, has declined. Lord Ellenborough has accepted the Board o Control. There never was, for a moment, a question that Lord Derby and myself should go to the Treasury. Indeed, he said, he would not under- take the office if we were separated. Nor has there been the slightest question about the leader- ship of the House of Commons. Indeed, that question has long been settled by the party, which can alone practically decide upon such points. Tho' so little, apparently, is decided at present, my belief is that after a general meeting of the late Derby Cabinet which is called for the first time, for to-morrow at two o'clock, every- thing will be found arranged, tho' one or two individuals, of good and great name, may appear in the eventual list, which never appeared before, and old ones may figure in new characters. The difficulties on the surface are no doubt great, but we must remember the country is tired of cliques and vain and personal coteries, and that principle of party, which of late years has been so much derided, has by severe experience, com- menced again to influence opinion. You must understand, tho' this I mention in our utmost confidence, however it may govern your tone, that Lord Derby has accepted this task at the personal solicitation of the Queen ; that, sent for on Sunday night, he detailed the political situation to H.M., the rivalry of J. Russell and Palmerston, the limited minority which he could alone command, and while, he said, he was ready to undertake the office, he told the Queen that the choice of her servants was one of the few, but one of the most precious, privi- leges left to her, and therefore, she should not decide offhand, but she should be free for second thoughts ; but not himself and his friends. So that if after sleeping over the strange conjuncture and deeply considering all things, after his frank narrative, she still should be of opinion that he should undertake the office, she might count on him. H.M. accepted this offer, and next day wrote to Lord Derby that after prolonged and mature consideration, she retained her opinion ; that his was the only organized party in the country, and that it was not only her wish, but she believed it was " the expectation of the country," that in the present state of affairs he should take the helm. We should have been miserables to refuse. But by this conduct on his part, though some might have thought it hazardous, Lord Derby has entirely gained the good feelings of the Queen, who is really working as heartily as ourselves, to form the Cabinet, using her personal influence, and among other things, I give it you as a trait ; Duke of Newcastle came up to town to-day from Clumber, in consequence of a letter by messenger from Lord Derby. His Grace said he thought it disrespectful not to come up, &c., but refused - the stereotyped refusal of the Peelites -I believe really, jealousy of my lead in the Commons. The Queen, when she heard the interview was in- effectual, said " I will see him." ing left, if he liked. I suppose this is as about as imprudent a letter as was ever written, but it is written u>, our old spirit of camaraderie, I never forget your generous support of me in 1852. My opponents, for the struggle is against me, assume that this will be a repetition of that year. Humbly,. I doubt it. The Court was*then against us it is now with us. The country was then more than- Prejudiced against us. It is certainly now not ostile. We have no absurd pledges to hamper us ; we shall be able to settle France admirably ; and we have a dissolution in o.ur pocket which, as in 1852, we shall not be forced immediately to make use of. Certainly, there is a great intellectual array against us, but it is of a past or mature age. We have, I think, a rising crop, and whatever happens we have what Lord Palmerston never had, a real party. After the meeting of to-morrow I will send you. something authentic. Yours sincerely, D. I need not impress upon you the extreme confidence of these details. Lord Malmesbury is not appointed to the Foreign Office, but the Queen has expressed he? satisfaction if he be. J. DELANE, ESQ. [at foot of first sheet] Two other letters of Disraeli to Delane,. of later date, may perhaps be added here :-^ Hughenden Manor, Sept. 23rd, 1862. DEAR DELANE, Will you never taste the air of the Chiltem Elills ? In case you are not at Damascus, or anent, I write this, by Mrs. Disraeli's orders, to say, that she would be very happy, indeed, to see- you, before the Equinox bursts, and while our jeechwoods and trout streams are still bright. What say you to Thursday, or Friday, or Saturday ? Lord and Lady Salisbury are here at present more of our particular mutual friends ] expect towards the end of the week. The access s very easy, Wycombe our station, and only two short miles from this. Yours sincerely, D. 2, Whitehall Gardens, S.W., April 27th, 1874. DEAR DELANE, Lord and Lady Bradford are going to pass their Whits un at Hughenden, and one or two other igreeable friends. They assemble on Tuesday, iay 26th, and stay till the following Saturday, when we must all come up to town for our Birth- day dinners. Would your engagements permit rou to form one of the party ? It would give hem all great pleasure, and particularly, Yours sincerely, D. This last letter is of interest on account of )he mention of Lady Bradford, Disraeli's romantic attachment to whom is now known the world through Mr. Buckle's bio- graphy. Delane, it appears, was unable to accept the invitation. C. W. B.
 * There was no offer to Herbert, but an open-