Page:The Letters Of Queen Victoria, vol. 3 (1908).djvu/35

1854] PEMBROKE LODGE, 9th April 1854. Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty; he cannot think it consistent with fairness to conceal from your Majesty the deep feelings of mortification which affect him on reviewing the proceedings of the Cabinet yesterday.

Lord Aberdeen was the only person who behaved with due regard to the honour of the Administration. The rest appeared ready to sacrifice everything in order to keep the Ministry together; and Lord John Russell feels bound to warn your Majesty that, although he was quite willing to waive the consideration of the Reform Bill for the present Session, he is not ready to consent that it shall be entirely set aside in order to keep together a Ministry whose continuance would be dearly bought at the price of the welfare of the Country, and the consistency of public men. Lord John Russell must reflect further on this subject before he comes to a final determination.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, 10th April 1854, The Queen received Lord John Russell’s letter last night. She is much grieved that he should be “ affected by deep feelings of mortification on reviewing the proceedings of the Cabinet.’ From all the Queen had heard of the views of the different members of the Cabinet, she believes them to have been fully convinced that the present moment would be in- opportune to press the Reform Bill, but quite prepared to take it up again on the first fitting opportunity ; she, of course, does not speak of Lord Palmerston.

The Queen would, no more than Lord John, wish to see “the Reform Bill set aside in order to keep together a Ministry,’ but does not consider the decision of the Cabinet at all to imply this, whatever Lord Palmerston’s personal wishes may be, and trusts that the Country will fully understand and