It was borne with great patience by the rest of the Cabinet, although Mr.
Rice,[14] against whom the greater part of Lord Howick's speech was directed, felt himself most deeply hurt, and so expressed himself in private afterwards to Lord Melbourne.

Upon the whole, Lord Melbourne cannot but consider that affairs are in a most precarious state, and that whilst there is so much discontent fermenting within the Cabinet itself, there must be great doubt of Lord Melbourne's being much longer able to hold the Administration together.
[Footnote 14: The Chancellor of the Exchequer.] _Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._ _10th February 1839._ Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and is very sorry that his communication has occasioned your Majesty so much alarm and uneasiness.

Lord Melbourne hopes that there is nothing imminent and immediate, but this sort of outbreak and contention may so soon become serious, that Lord Melbourne thought it his duty to take an early opportunity of informing your Majesty of what had taken place.
Lord Melbourne would wait upon your Majesty without delay, but trusts that this letter will be sufficient to dispel any disquietude which his former communication may have excited.
[Pageheading: THE DUKE OF LUCCA] _Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._ WILTON CRESCENT, _20th February 1839._ Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has the honour to report that Mr Charles Villiers[15] moved yesterday, after a very able speech, that the petitioners against the Corn Laws should be heard at the Bar of the House.
Sir Robert Peel opposed the Motion on the ground that he meant to resist any change in the Corn Laws.

He made a very skilful use of the returns of cotton, etc., exported.
[Footnote 15: M.P.for Wolverhampton 1835-1898, becoming "Father of the House."] _Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._ STANHOPE STREET, _5th March 1839._ Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and requests to be honoured with your Majesty's commands upon the accompanying letter from Count Pollon.[16] Viscount Palmerston at the same time begs to state that he has reason to believe, from what Count Pollon said to him in conversation two days ago, that the Duke of Lucca[17] has a notion that Sovereign Princes who have had the honour of dining with your Majesty, have been invited by note and not by card.

If that should be so, and if your Majesty should invite the Duke of Lucca to dine at the Palace before his departure, perhaps the invitation might be made by note, instead of by card, as it was when the Duke last dined at the Palace.