'I say always,' said Lord Melbourne, 'that your Majesty will be in such a much worse position' (if a majority should be returned against us), 'but they say not, for that the others would dissolve.' I said that if that was so we _must dissolve_, for then that it would come to just the same thing, and that that changed my opinion very much.

'You would like us then to make the attempt ?' Lord Melbourne asked.

I said 'Almost.' I asked if he really thought they would dissolve.

'I've great reason to believe they would,' he replied.
'Hardinge[34] told Vivian[35] "we shall prevent _your_ dissolving, but _we shall_ dissolve."' ...

I asked did Lord Melbourne think they (the Conservatives) would remain in long, and Melbourne said: 'One can't tell beforehand what may happen, but you would find their divisions and dissensions amongst themselves sufficient to prevent their staying in long.' ...
"Saw Lord John Russell, who didn't feel certain if the debate would end to-night.