The Greville Memoirs, Part 2 (of 3), Volume 1 (of 3): A Journal of the Reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1852Greville, Charles
History
The Greville Memoirs, Part 2 (of 3), Volume 1 (of 3): A Journal of the Reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1852
Greville, Charles
Great Britain -- History -- Victoria, 1837-1901
The Cabinet met yesterday, and resolved to take the Government
again; they hope to interest the people in the Queen's quarrel,
and having made it up with the Radicals they think they can
stand. It is a high trial to our institutions when the wishes of
a Princess of nineteen can overturn a great Ministerial
combination, and when the most momentous matters of Government
and legislation are influenced by her pleasure about her Ladies
of the Bedchamber. The Whigs resigned because they had no longer
that Parliamentary support for their measures which they deemed
necessary, and they consent to hold the Government without the
removal of any of the difficulties which compelled them to
resign, for the purpose of enabling the Queen to exercise her
pleasure without any control or interference in the choice of the
Ladies of her household. This is making the private gratification
of the Queen paramount to the highest public considerations:
somewhat strange Whig doctrine and practice! With respect to the
question of unfettered choice, a good deal may be said on both
sides; but although it would be wrong and inexpedient for any
Minister to exercise the right, unless in a case of great
necessity, I think every Minister must have the power of advising
the Queen to remove a Lady of her Court, in the same way as he is
admitted to have that of removing a man. Notwithstanding the
transaction of 1812, and Lord Moira's protection of George IV. in
the retention of his household, it is now perfectly established
in practice that the Royal Household is at the discretion of the
Minister, and it must be so because he is responsible for the
appointments; in like manner he is responsible for every
appointment which the Sovereign may make; and should any of the
Ladies conduct herself in such a manner as to lead the public to
expect or require her dismissal, and the Queen were to refuse to
dismiss her, the Minister must be responsible for her remaining
about the Royal person.
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