Your Majesty's Government, about to attempt to reply to it, gave way to Lord Palmerston, who changed the feeling of the House, and indeed entirely carried it away in a speech of extraordinary vigour and high-spirited tone.
The Ministers were willing to have taken the division on his Lordship sitting down, but as the late Government wished to reply, the Chancellor of the Exchequer would not oppose the adjournment of the debate.
The elements of calculation as to the division are very complicated, but the Chancellor of the Exchequer is still inclined to believe that the second reading of the Bill will be carried.
Footnote 32: This tactical blunder, much condemned at the time, estranged many of the Whigs from Lord John.
Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby.
THE BUDGET
Buckingham Palace, 25th April 1852.
The Queen wishes to remind Lord Derby that the time for the presentation of the Budget to the House of Commons being very close at hand, none of the Measures referring to the finances of the country which the Government may have to propose have as yet been laid before her.
Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby.
Buckingham Palace, 26th April 1852.