So many interests are affected by this Sugar question, the West Indian, the East Indian, the opponents of Slavery and others, that no small number of our supporters will be induced either to stay away or to vote against us, and this must place us in a minority upon the main points of our Budget.

In this we can hardly acquiesce, nor can we adopt a different policy and propose other taxes, when in our opinion the necessary revenue can be raised without imposing them.

This state of things imposes upon us the alternative of dissolution or of resignation, and to try the former without succeeding in it would be to place both your Majesty and ourselves in a worse situation than that in which we are at present.
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._ SOUTH STREET, _8th May 1841._ Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty.

We have been considering this question of dissolution at the Cabinet, and we have had before us a general statement of the public returns for England and Wales.

It is not very favourable, but Lord Melbourne fears that it is more favourable than the reality would prove.