Should the Address be voted to-night, and reported tomorrow, it may be presented to your Majesty by Lord Marcus Hill71 on Saturday.
But should the debate be continued over this night, the report of the Address can hardly take place till Monday. This, however, is not very likely.
Footnote 70: Cobden had just been elected for the first time for Stockport.
Footnote 71: Son of Lord Downshire, and M.P. for Evesham; afterwards (under a special remainder) the third Lord Sandys.
Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria.
South Street, 27th August 1841.
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. Upon his arrival he found that there was no precedent of the House meeting again after an Address, without receiving an answer from the Crown. Lord Erroll therefore delivered the answer in the terms which had been submitted by Lord Melbourne to your Majesty, and it appeared to give satisfaction. The debate will probably terminate in the House of Commons to-night; at the same time it may not. If it does we must place our resignation in your Majesty's hands on Saturday, and it must be announced to the Houses of Parliament on Monday. Your Majesty will then do well not to delay sending for some other person beyond Tuesday. Lord Melbourne will write to your Majesty more fully upon all these subjects tomorrow, when he will know the result of the night's debate, and be able more surely to point out the course of events.
Lord Melbourne received the Eau-de-Cologne, and returns your Majesty many thanks for it.
Lord Melbourne understands that the Duke of Wellington is, in fact, very desirous of having the Foreign Seals,72 and that if your Majesty feels any preference for him in that department the slightest intimation of your Majesty's wish in that respect will fix him in his desire to have it.
Footnote 72: The Duke had been Foreign Secretary in 1835.