Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.
Wilton Crescent, 20th February 1839.
Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has the honour to report that Mr Charles Villiers15 moved yesterday, after a very able speech, that the petitioners against the Corn Laws should be heard at the Bar of the House.
Sir Robert Peel opposed the Motion on the ground that he meant to resist any change in the Corn Laws. He made a very skilful use of the returns of cotton, etc., exported.
Footnote 15: M.P. for Wolverhampton 1835-1898, becoming "Father of the House."
Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria.
THE DUKE OF LUCCA
Stanhope Street, 5th March 1839.
Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and requests to be honoured with your Majesty's commands upon the accompanying letter from Count Pollon.16 Viscount Palmerston at the same time begs to state that he has reason to believe, from what Count Pollon said to him in conversation two days ago, that the Duke of Lucca17 has a notion that Sovereign Princes who have had the honour of dining with your Majesty, have been invited by note and not by card. If that should be so, and if your Majesty should invite the Duke of Lucca to dine at the Palace before his departure, perhaps the invitation might be made by note, instead of by card, as it was when the Duke last dined at the Palace. Your Majesty may think this a small matter, but the Duke is a small Sovereign.