Finally, in 1859, he went back to the Foreign Office, where he remained until he succeeded Palmerston as Premier in 1865.
The Government also contained three future Premiers, Aberdeen, Stanley, and Gladstone.] [Pageheading: INTERVIEW WITH PEEL] [Pageheading: HOUSEHOLD APPOINTMENTS] [Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S DISTRESS] _Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._ WINDSOR CASTLE _30th August 1841._ ...

The first interview with Sir Robert Peel has gone off well, and only lasted twenty minutes; and he sends the Queen to-morrow, in writing, the proposed arrangements, and will only come down on Wednesday morning.

He first wished to come to-morrow, but on the Queen's saying that he need not to do that, but might send it and only come down Wednesday, he thought the Queen might prefer having it to consider a little, which she said she certainly should, though she meant no want of confidence.

The Queen, in the first instance, stated that she concluded he was prepared for her sending for him, and then stated exactly what Lord Melbourne wrote, viz., the resignation having taken place in consequence of the Addresses--the Queen's great regret at parting with her present Ministers--the confidence she had in them, and her only acceding in consequence of the Addresses in Parliament, and then that consequently she looked to him (Sir Robert Peel) as possessing the confidence of both Houses of Parliament to form an Administration.

He made many protestations of his sorrow, at what must give pain to the Queen (as she said to him it did), but of course said he accepted the task.