It has produced an impression which strongly confirms the observations which I took the liberty of making to your Royal Highness on Sunday evening.
I trust, however, that my decided contradiction of the paragraph will put a stop to further surmise and discussion on the subject.
To Mr Borthwick's note I add one of several letters addressed to me, which shows the proneness to speculate upon constitutional novelties.
I have the honour to be, Sir, with sincere respect, your Royal Highness's most faithful and obedient Servant,
Robert Peel.
Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel.
Windsor Castle, 24th March 1845.
The Queen has received Sir Robert Peel's box containing his recommendation relative to the filling up of the vacant Bishopric of Ely. The Queen quite approves of the present Dean of Westminster7 as the new Bishop. As Sir Robert has asked the Queen whether she would like to see Archdeacon Wilberforce succeed to the Deanery of Westminster in case the Dean should accept the Bishopric, she must say that such an arrangement would be very satisfactory to us, and the Queen believes would highly please the Archdeacon. This would again vacate, the Queen believes, a stall at Winchester, which she would like to see filled by a person decidedly adverse to Puseyism.
The Queen approves of the Bishop of Lichfield8 being transferred to the See of Ely in case Doctor Turton should decline it.