I said, besides many other things, that if he or the Duke of Wellington had been at the head of the Government when I came to the Throne, perhaps there might have been a few more Tory Ladies, but that then if you had come into Office you would never have _dreamt_ of changing them.

I was calm but very decided, and I think you would have been pleased to see my composure and great firmness; the Queen of England will not submit to such trickery.

Keep yourself in readiness, for you may soon be wanted.
[Pageheading: PROPOSED NEW CABINET] _Extract from the Queen's Journal._ _Thursday, 9th May 1839._ _At half-past two_ I saw the Duke of Wellington.

I remained firm, and he told Sir Robert that I remained firm.

I then saw Sir Robert Peel, who stopped a few minutes with me; he must consult those (of whom I annex the List) whom he had named: THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON _Secretary for Foreign Affairs_ SIR JAMES GRAHAM _Secretary for the Home Department_ LORD STANLEY _Secretary for the Colonies_ LORD LYNDHURST _Lord Chancellor_ LORD ELLENBOROUGH _President of the Board of Control_ SIR H.HARDINGE _Secretary at War_ and he said he would return in two or three hours with the result, which I said I should await.[35] [Footnote 35: It was a curious circumstance, much commented on at the time, that in the _Globe_ of 9th May, a Ministerial evening paper, which would probably have gone to press at two o'clock in the afternoon, the following paragraph appeared: "The determination which it is well known Her Majesty has taken, not to allow the change in the Government to interfere with the ladies of her Court, has given great offence to the Tories."] _Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._ BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _9th May 1839._ The Queen has received Lord Melbourne's letter.