John Lindsay.
She lived till 1849--a link with the past.] [Pageheading: SECRETARIES OF STATE] _Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._ SOUTH STREET, _5th November 1841._ Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty.

Not feeling satisfied of the correctness of the information which he had given to your Majesty respecting the office of Secretary of State, he yesterday evening requested Mr Allen[155] to look into the matter, and he has just received from him the enclosed short memorandum, which he has the honour of transmitting to your Majesty.

This shows that Lord Melbourne was quite wrong with respect to the period at which two Secretaries of State were first employed, and that it was much earlier than he had imagined.
The year 1782, when the third Secretary of State was abolished, was the period of the adoption of the great measure of Economical Reform which had been introduced by Mr.Burke in 1780.
The present arrangement was settled in 1794, which is about the time which Lord Melbourne stated.
[Footnote 155: Secretary and Librarian at Holland House.] [Pageheading: LORD MELBOURNE'S POSITION] _Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._ SOUTH STREET, _7th November 1841._ ...

Your Majesty asks whether Lord Melbourne thinks that Prince Metternich holds the opinion of Sir Robert Gordon, which he expresses to Lord Beauvale.

It is difficult to say what Prince Metternich's real sentiments are.