The very difficult and embarrassing situation in which Lord Durham and the Canadas and the Ministry are left by the vote of the House of Lords of last night, requires that a Cabinet should be held to-day, and Lord Melbourne has directed one to be summoned at two.

Lord Melbourne will wait upon your Majesty either before that hour or after, about four o'clock.

The vote of last night and the Bill of Lord Brougham[24] is a direct censure upon Lord Durham.

Lord Durham's conduct has been most rash and indiscreet, and, as far as we can see, unaccountable.

But to censure him now would either be to cause his resignation, which would produce great embarrassment, and might produce great evil, or to weaken his authority, which is evidently most undesirable....
[Footnote 24: This Bill (which emphasised the illegality of Lord Durham's ordinance) was read a second time by 54 to 36.
On the following day Lord Melbourne announced to the Peers that Ministers had resolved to advise that the ordinance should be disallowed.] _Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._ _10th August 1838._ Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs to inform you that the Cabinet have determined to advise your Majesty to disallow Lord Durham's ordinance, and to announce the same to the House of Lords.[25] This is absolutely necessary, but very disagreeable, and will be very much so to Lord Durham.
[Footnote 25: _See_ Introductory Note for the year, _ante_, p.