THE NOTTINGHAM ELECTION
South Street, 28th April 1841.
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has himself seen the result of the election at Nottingham15 without the least surprise, from his knowledge of the place and his observation of the circumstances of the contest. What John Russell reported to your Majesty was the opinion of those who act for us in that place, but as soon as Lord Melbourne saw that there was a disposition upon the part of the violent party, Radicals, Chartists, and what not, to support the Tory candidate, he knew that the contest was formidable and dubious. The Tory party is very strong, naturally, at Nottingham, and if it received any accession of strength, was almost certain to prevail. This combination, or rather this accession of one party to the Tories, which has taken place at Nottingham, is very likely, and in Lord Melbourne's opinion almost certain, to take place in many other parts of the country in the case of a general election, and forms very serious matter for consideration as to the prudence of taking such a step as a dissolution of the Parliament.
Lord Melbourne will wait upon your Majesty after the Levée. It signifies not how late, as there is no House of Lords.
Footnote 15: Where Mr Walter, a Tory, was elected with a majority of 238.
Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.
THE BUDGET
Wilton Crescent, 1st May 1841.
Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has the honour to report that Mr Baring yesterday brought forward the Budget in a remarkably clear and forcible speech.
The changes in the duties on Sugar and Timber,16 and the announcement made by Lord John Russell of a proposal for a fixed duty on Corn, seemed to surprise and irritate the Opposition.