Sir Robert Peel seems to have been anxious to act with the utmost respect and consideration for your Majesty, and your Majesty most properly and wisely met him half-way.

In the spirit in which the negotiation has been commenced I see the prospect of a termination of it, which will be not so unsatisfactory to your Majesty as your Majesty anticipated, and not, Lord Melbourne trusts, disadvantageous to the country....
Lord Melbourne concludes with the most anxious wishes for your Majesty's happiness and with expressing a great admiration of the firmness, prudence, and good sense with which your Majesty has conducted yourself.
Lord Melbourne begs to be remembered to His Royal Highness most respectfully, most affectionately.
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._ _31st August 1841._ Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has just received your Majesty's letter.

Lord Melbourne rejoices much to learn that your Majesty feels more composed and that you are well.

Recollect how precious is your Majesty's health, and how much health depends upon tranquillity of mind....
Lord Melbourne will either write to Sir Francis Chantrey[79] to-morrow morning, or call upon him and settle without further delay about the Bust.

There is no end of subscriptions to Monuments, but perhaps your Majesty will do well to subscribe to Sir David Wilkie's.[80] Your Majesty is very good about the blue Ribband, but Lord Melbourne is certain that upon the whole, it is better for his own position and character that he should not have it.
[Footnote 79: Sir Francis Chantrey, the sculptor, born in 1781, died on 25th November 1841.] [Footnote 80: Sir David Wilkie, Painter-in-Ordinary to the Queen, had died on 1st June, aged fifty-six.] [Pageheading: PEEL'S RECEPTION] _The Earl of Clarendon[81] to Viscount Melbourne.[82]_ GROSVENOR CRESCENT, _31st August 1841._ MY DEAR MELBOURNE,--You may like to know that Peel was perfectly satisfied with his reception yesterday, and does full justice to the Queen's declaration of her regret at parting with her Ministers, which he said it was quite natural she should feel, and quite right she should express.